pdrlkr
03-25-2007, 11:01 AM
I just read this article fr the Columbus Dispatch. Pretty cool! :thumbsup:
Family wears unexpected glass slipper during vacation
Sunday, March 18, 2007
STEVE STEPHENS
RON WINGET
Brent and Bethany Winget enjoy Cinderella?s hospitality.
Sometimes dreams do come true, even dreams you didn?t know you had. Last month, the Winget family of Fredericktown started on a routine shopping trip and ended up spending the night in Cinderella?s Castle. The magic happened while Ron and Carolyn Winget and children Brent, 5, and Bethany, 2, were visiting relatives near Orlando, Fla., along with Mrs. Winget?s parents, Paul and Marcella Phillips.
Although the children and Mrs. Winget are big Disney fans ("Eeyore was always my favorite," Mrs. Winget said), the family hadn?t planned to visit Walt Disney World until the children were a bit older.
But those plans changed when Brent went for a drink at the water fountain at the Downtown Disney Marketplace mall near Orlando. His drink ? the right place at the right time ? marked him and his family as the winner of the day?s Disney Dream Giveaway.
Before you could say "Bippity boppity boo," the family was whisked away for an all-expensespaid overnight stay in Cinderella?s Castle at Disney World.
"We signed the papers, and they picked us up and took us to the park and a ride in an antiquecar parade," Mrs. Winget recalled.
"The kids thought it was great. They got tired of waving."
The family also spent time in the park, rode some rides and had dinner at Cinderella?s Royal Table, the restaurant at the castle.
The castle?s interior had been planned as accommodations for the Walt Disney family, but that idea was dropped before the park opened. The interior had never been used before ? a lavish guest suite was completed as part of the park?s 2007 "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. On most days this year, one family will be selected randomly at the park or at Downtown Disney Marketplace to receive free accommodations at the castle that night. The Wingets were the fourth contest winners. "After the fireworks display, I think it finally sunk in that everybody was leaving the park and we were staying," Mrs. Winget said. Brent "was in awe of that," she said. The suite featured two queen-size beds and a parlor sofa, perfect for a family of six. The rooms were furnished in a style appropriate for Cinderella, with stained-glass windows, carved wood wall coverings and panels, porcelain accessories and copper sink basins. But perhaps most magical were the 21 st-century touches, Mrs. Winget said. The kids used the huge garden tub as a miniswimming pool. And the 17 th-century-style portrait of Cinderella over the fireplace transformed itself into a high-definition television. "And they could watch any Disney movie, of course," Mrs. Winget said. "They watched Cars." "I love the cars," Brent rejoined. Even the youngest member of the family was impressed. Bethany "has no trouble remembering" the experience, her mother said. "The other day she came in the room and did a little dance and said, "I spent a night in Cinderella?s Castle! " "I really liked staying in the castle," Brent said. "And I saw the glass slipper! " To top things off, the family met Cinderella, Mickey Mouse and, to Mrs. Winget?s delight, the gang from Winnie the Pooh?s 100-Acre Wood, including Eeyore. They did not, however, meet Brent?s favorite character, Donald Duck. "No, he was gone," said Brent, somewhat wistfully. Oh, well. That?s a dream for another day. Steve Stephens is Dispatch travel writer.
Family wears unexpected glass slipper during vacation
Sunday, March 18, 2007
STEVE STEPHENS
RON WINGET
Brent and Bethany Winget enjoy Cinderella?s hospitality.
Sometimes dreams do come true, even dreams you didn?t know you had. Last month, the Winget family of Fredericktown started on a routine shopping trip and ended up spending the night in Cinderella?s Castle. The magic happened while Ron and Carolyn Winget and children Brent, 5, and Bethany, 2, were visiting relatives near Orlando, Fla., along with Mrs. Winget?s parents, Paul and Marcella Phillips.
Although the children and Mrs. Winget are big Disney fans ("Eeyore was always my favorite," Mrs. Winget said), the family hadn?t planned to visit Walt Disney World until the children were a bit older.
But those plans changed when Brent went for a drink at the water fountain at the Downtown Disney Marketplace mall near Orlando. His drink ? the right place at the right time ? marked him and his family as the winner of the day?s Disney Dream Giveaway.
Before you could say "Bippity boppity boo," the family was whisked away for an all-expensespaid overnight stay in Cinderella?s Castle at Disney World.
"We signed the papers, and they picked us up and took us to the park and a ride in an antiquecar parade," Mrs. Winget recalled.
"The kids thought it was great. They got tired of waving."
The family also spent time in the park, rode some rides and had dinner at Cinderella?s Royal Table, the restaurant at the castle.
The castle?s interior had been planned as accommodations for the Walt Disney family, but that idea was dropped before the park opened. The interior had never been used before ? a lavish guest suite was completed as part of the park?s 2007 "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. On most days this year, one family will be selected randomly at the park or at Downtown Disney Marketplace to receive free accommodations at the castle that night. The Wingets were the fourth contest winners. "After the fireworks display, I think it finally sunk in that everybody was leaving the park and we were staying," Mrs. Winget said. Brent "was in awe of that," she said. The suite featured two queen-size beds and a parlor sofa, perfect for a family of six. The rooms were furnished in a style appropriate for Cinderella, with stained-glass windows, carved wood wall coverings and panels, porcelain accessories and copper sink basins. But perhaps most magical were the 21 st-century touches, Mrs. Winget said. The kids used the huge garden tub as a miniswimming pool. And the 17 th-century-style portrait of Cinderella over the fireplace transformed itself into a high-definition television. "And they could watch any Disney movie, of course," Mrs. Winget said. "They watched Cars." "I love the cars," Brent rejoined. Even the youngest member of the family was impressed. Bethany "has no trouble remembering" the experience, her mother said. "The other day she came in the room and did a little dance and said, "I spent a night in Cinderella?s Castle! " "I really liked staying in the castle," Brent said. "And I saw the glass slipper! " To top things off, the family met Cinderella, Mickey Mouse and, to Mrs. Winget?s delight, the gang from Winnie the Pooh?s 100-Acre Wood, including Eeyore. They did not, however, meet Brent?s favorite character, Donald Duck. "No, he was gone," said Brent, somewhat wistfully. Oh, well. That?s a dream for another day. Steve Stephens is Dispatch travel writer.