~A XMAS STORY~decorations, crowds, pixies..AND A BLOODY NOSE~ACTUAL UPDATE 11/9 p190

[jordanyosh]

go chargers.

[punkin413]

go chargers.

when i saw you had posted i knew that was coming.

[jordanyosh]

when i saw you had posted i knew that was coming.

I love the colts as well...but head-to-head I have to go with the Bolts.

Colts made some uncharacteristic bad penalties in OT.

[burly]

That was so cool. Thank you for sharing it with us. :thumbsup2

[punkin413]

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2: You girls are too funny! I was just planning on making comments about what a fun year Dawn and Ray will have while they "think" about having that baby- guess I won't.:bitelip:

Me too! I'm going to Disneyworld THIS year!!!:banana: :banana: :banana:


I love the way you just laughed in the rain - what else can you do when it rains that hard? We were up to our knees one day in Epcot - everyone ran ahead and left me - I was falling out of my crocs! :lmao:

Like Pooh says, "Think, Think, Think!"

wow.....i don't need to tell my parents.....you guys are doing all the work for them! simmer down now -i'm still taking the pill. it will be awhile!

you're going to disney this year!!!!!!! very cool. i'm going next year. hey, it's better than nothin.

Okay - I'm all caught up! Loved the house pics - really nice!:thumbsup2

Too bad about the rain - made it hard to find lunch! It's so fun to see Epcot through Luke's eyes! I love his reaction to Beverly - what a little gentleman!

You do have alot of family to see on Christmas! We can relate - DH's parents are divorced, too. Most of our sibs live out of town, though, so we don't see everyone every year.

Thanks for the "year in review.'" It was really fun re-living all those special days with you! I loved the bonfire pics, and the rock band pics - those were the craziest moments that you shared with us!

Here's to a great 2009 for you and Ray and Eli!

thanks! i'm hoping the running around at christmas time gets a little less once we have a kid. i feel like then we have an excuse to say, "hey, come to our house for christmas!" i hope you guys have a great 2009 too!!!!

Dawn - I had to google it, but I figured it had something to do with Indians due to their emblem on their helmets. They are an Indian Tribe that resides in UT and CO.

Oh, and upon further review of your post, I realized he wouldn't know that player because he was born in 93. :laughing: (didn't ya' love my sports talk? :goodvibes ) Actually, he is a relatively new AL fan. We moved here from GA in 2000, and he became a fan after that sometime. You have to choose AL or AU because they make such a big deal out of it at school (due to the Iron Bowl). You have to be for one or the other, and he chose AL.

I think Saban will be humbled by this loss. Hopefully, he'll go back to the drawing board, and make AL an even better team next year. We won't have to worry about Auburn though, with whathisname? as coach. :rotfl2:

thanks for clearing that up! :laughing:

oh, yeah, i guess being a year old he probably wouldn't remember! okay - now i feel old! your son was born the year before i graduated from high school. :scared1:

I came over from MeMom's report--I've been lurking for a little while and finally decided to say hi. :goodvibes I started reading yours and Erica's report, too, and I love it!

The year in review was awesome. I think I might do one, too, because I think it would be cool to look back. I don't have AS many pictures, but I think I have enough uploaded to make one. I loved your pictures, especially the one of Ray trying to kill you and the one of you guys at the table, sticking your tongue out. :lmao: That's totally something I would do. There's a severe lack of "normal" pictures of me.

Your dogs are absolutely adorable--I almost adopted a beagle a couple of years ago, but he had already been adopted by the time that we went. I love seeing pics of other people's dogs.

Looking forward to more :)

thanks so much for coming over to this report and to the vandy girls one! we love memom recruits! :goodvibes the picture with ray trying to kill me was actually a reinactment. we had a fire outside that night and ray was messing with the axe and didn't realize i was right behind him and almost hit me with it. :eek: thanks about my doggies. they are my babies. beagles are the best!

[punkin413]

go to the previous page and scroll down until you see the red text for a really cool link!!!

loves the report :thumbsup2

thanks so much!

Dawn,
I have seen the year in review on the local news, national news, ET and the morning shows. I can say that I enjoyed your the most.:yay: Thanks for taking us along for the ride. Have a great 2009 too!

awwww.....thanks! you know how to make a girl smile! :)

Just had a chance to get started and I've only read the first page as I've got to rush off to a dr's appointment now, but just wanted to say WOW your condo was really gorgeous. I love all the plants, you must have felt like you were sleeping on a tropical island. And did the owners really frame a bunch of Disney Mickey Head paint chips? That's kind of awesome, I might have to steal that idea. Looking forward to reading more! :surfweb:

glad you're reading, kelly! take your time - we're only on day 1! and yes, the owners really did have the mickey head artwork. wasn't it cute?

Awww poor Eli...how old is he? My dog is 9 and shes on diet food...but shes lazy. Maybe Eli has slow metabolism? :laughing: :confused3 At least he has good owners who want the best for him.

he will only be 4 this month - too young to be that overweight! he's really active. it's just weird. we've had his thyroid checked and had him checked for diabetes and they've found nothing. believe it or not sherman just turned 11! he's in really good shape though. he has seizures but he's had those since he was like 2 years old and he's on phenobarbital for them so they are very rare.

I'm going to Disney on Ice with DD tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait. She's going to love it, she's 3.

You posted somewhere that he looks like a bat, pot belly pig and a dog, that's what I was thinking about. That belly I just want to do raspberries on it.

That movie rocks.

have fun at disney on ice!!!!!! i loved it. i hope you do. let me know what you think - i wanna see pictures! yes, eli's belly is a sight! :laughing: don't you just love "my cousin vinny"? i've seen it like 100 times. myself and a friend did a scene from it in high school, the one where marisa tomei is on the stand and giving her expert opinion on the independent rear suspensions. it was so much fun trying to talk like her! ask tara (she's from new york) - i have a thick southern accent so me as a new yorker is pretty funny!

So, should I tell you how excited my family is about the outcome of the game?;)

and which game would that be? i'm assuming you're talking about the utah game. i know you guys live near there, right? if so, congrats! i'm still bummed that alabama lost but just because they haven't done well in awhile and it was nice to see them going so far.

:rotfl2: Still laughing about that movie clip. "youts" too funny. You have the best memory for stuff.

I still can't get the 'cow bells' out of my head....:rotfl: and now this. :lmao:

i love that movie! see above what i was telling disney laura about it! and cow bells will live forever!!!!

What I want to know is why that wonderful singer you posted the video of didn't make it to your year's best moments? :confused3 :rotfl2:

if you really want to hear it i can post it again. although i don't think i'll be reviewing that video clip any time soon!!!

LOVED your year in review. What an awesome year you had, thanks for sharing it with us. You inspired me to do one on my blog today, thanks! Can't wait to see what 09' has in store for you and Ray ; )
Lesley

thanks! i'm sure your year in review will be awesome! you guys had a great year too. although i know you had your sad moments with your doggie and everything. but he's up in heaven smiling down on his family and happy that they've found a new friend in mickey! :goodvibes

Awwww, little Eli looks so cute!!!! I just want to rub his belly!

i'm sure he wouldn't mind that! :rotfl:

I REALLY enjoyed that thanks!! :goodvibes

you're welcome! you were a big part of that trip down memory lane! :hug:

I love the colts as well...but head-to-head I have to go with the Bolts.

Colts made some uncharacteristic bad penalties in OT.

well the colts weren't my favorite but i do tend to follow them because of peyton. ray has been a fan of his since he was at tennessee and that just sparks my interest, too. plus he seems like a pretty decent, smart guy.

oh, when i saw that last face mask i was like, "GAME'S OVER." :sad2:

[punkin413]

That was so cool. Thank you for sharing it with us. :thumbsup2

you're welcome!

[MAGICFOR2]

wow.....i don't need to tell my parents.....you guys are doing all the work for them! simmer down now -i'm still taking the pill. it will be awhile!

I won't say anything else - Pirate's promise pirate: (It's kind of a guideline)

you're going to disney this year!!!!!!! very cool. i'm going next year. hey, it's better than nothin.

It will be here before you know it!

thanks! i'm hoping the running around at christmas time gets a little less once we have a kid. i feel like then we have an excuse to say, "hey, come to our house for christmas!" i hope you guys have a great 2009 too!!!!

Thank you! I hope you can get the family to come down to your house! We finally put our foot down when the boys were about 9 and 11. We wanted them to have some memories and traditions in their own home. Now they are doing that with their little ones.


I'm looking forward to your next update!popcorn::

[Happy Elf]

well, peyton and the colts are out. ray is NOT happy. he was hoping for a manning/manning superbowl. and the colts lost that game due to defensive penalties in overtime. so ugly. :sad2:



It was a very sad day indeed! I was hoping the Colts would do better!

[xoktenox]

he will only be 4 this month - too young to be that overweight! he's really active. it's just weird. we've had his thyroid checked and had him checked for diabetes and they've found nothing. believe it or not sherman just turned 11! he's in really good shape though. he has seizures but he's had those since he was like 2 years old and he's on phenobarbital for them so they are very rare.

Awww poor Eli AND poor Sherman. Thats probably so scary to see him have a seizure. Like you said, when the weather gets better you'll be able to take them for more walks and stuff and I'm sure Eli will drop the weight. And I just was reading another post you did saying Ray is upset about the Colts being out and no Manning vs Manning super bowl...sorry Ray! :confused3 I'm happy because the Colts are really good and now the Giants have a better chance to win :laughing:

[aldisneygrl]

oh, yeah, i guess being a year old he probably wouldn't remember! okay - now i feel old! your son was born the year before i graduated from high school. :scared1:





Ok, now I feel old. You were in high school when I was becoming a mother. :eek: :rotfl:

[tinawv]

I am lovin your trip report and can't wait to read more. It is so refreshing to see family and friends who really love and care about each other.

Looking forward to more. :)

[NMW]

Go Eli and the Giants. We are subscribing.

[lmillercrew]

Holy CRAP! I had 6 pages to catch up on. And on the DIS, that's a lot of pages. I love your year in pictures. I didn't realize that you had long hair. I like your short hair a lot. I LOVE your big belly doggie. :rotfl:
I thought of you and Erica when i saw Vandy playing last week. Never really thought about it until the DIS boards came a long.

[VandyFan10]

well, peyton and the colts are out. ray is NOT happy. he was hoping for a manning/manning superbowl. and the colts lost that game due to defensive penalties in overtime. so ugly. :sad2:

so now my only hopes are the titans, the giants and the dolphins. other than i don't care about any of the other teams. congrats to anyone whose teams actually played WELL today!

Go Titans!!

go chargers.

GO Titans!!!

I love the colts as well...but head-to-head I have to go with the Bolts.

Colts made some uncharacteristic bad penalties in OT.

GO TITANS!!!!!!!!!

We needed Miami to win today :headache: . I really DO NOT want to be playing Baltimore, but that is the card we draw. It just seems even if you beat them you are so beat up you don't play well the next week

But here's hoping for another Super Bowl for Nashville. It's been so AWESOME this year!!!

I thought of you and Erica when i saw Vandy playing last week. Never really thought about it until the DIS boards came a long.

Awwwww :goodvibes....be sure and go check out our TR I think page 63 I posted my pics from the Music City Bowl.....It was SO much fun!!!:cheer2: GO DORES!! pirate:

[tinkgurl]

Just wanted to let you know that I added April, May, and June now! :cutie:

[DearDaisyinDurham]

:wave: sounds great, can't wait to read more!!:flower3:

[scottny]

just stopping by to say hello

[disneywifey]

Happy new year I loved your photos in review! You make me want to take pictures even more now! Thanks for the video link too! I'm watching it now. Can't wait to hear more from your trip!

[FauntleroyFAN07]

wow that was alot of pages to catch up on, but i got through it, now i can blame you on my TR for not doing an update today, i spent the whole time reading your updates


candi is going to take those mickey head paint chips from home depot to do a memory color game for parker when he gets a little bigger

[punkin413]

hopefully i will be getting my photopass CD tomorrow. if so, i'll have an update tomorrow night. i have court all day tomorrow so it will be later tomorrow night. it's coming, though! :thumbsup2

I'm looking forward to your next update!popcorn::

thanks! i hope my family will be understanding because we do want to spend some holidays at home. not every year, but some years.

It was a very sad day indeed! I was hoping the Colts would do better!

there's always next year! (don't you hate it when people say that?)

Awww poor Eli AND poor Sherman. Thats probably so scary to see him have a seizure. Like you said, when the weather gets better you'll be able to take them for more walks and stuff and I'm sure Eli will drop the weight. And I just was reading another post you did saying Ray is upset about the Colts being out and no Manning vs Manning super bowl...sorry Ray! :confused3 I'm happy because the Colts are really good and now the Giants have a better chance to win :laughing:

it is scary but we're used to it now. we just have to hold him still so he doesn't hurt himself and then when he's done we have to give him some ice cream to get his blood sugar back up to normal. he likes that part! ray is happy that eli is still in it, too! and of course we're pulling for our hometown tennessee titans, too!

Ok, now I feel old. You were in high school when I was becoming a mother. :eek: :rotfl:

we both need to remind ourselves - we're only as old as we feel!!! ;)

I am lovin your trip report and can't wait to read more. It is so refreshing to see family and friends who really love and care about each other.

Looking forward to more. :)

oh, thanks! that's so sweet.

Go Eli and the Giants. We are subscribing.

:laughing: thanks for reading!!!

Holy CRAP! I had 6 pages to catch up on. And on the DIS, that's a lot of pages. I love your year in pictures. I didn't realize that you had long hair. I like your short hair a lot. I LOVE your big belly doggie. :rotfl:
I thought of you and Erica when i saw Vandy playing last week. Never really thought about it until the DIS boards came a long.

oh, yeah. it was midway down my back in december of 2007. i got it cut in december and then i chopped it all off in april of last year. i'm glad that you thought of me when you saw vandy - makes me proud! :goodvibes

Go Titans!!

GO Titans!!!

GO TITANS!!!!!!!!!

We needed Miami to win today :headache: . I really DO NOT want to be playing Baltimore, but that is the card we draw. It just seems even if you beat them you are so beat up you don't play well the next week

But here's hoping for another Super Bowl for Nashville. It's been so AWESOME this year!!!

Awwwww :goodvibes....be sure and go check out our TR I think page 63 I posted my pics from the Music City Bowl.....It was SO much fun!!!:cheer2: GO DORES!! pirate:

hmmmm.....i wonder who erica is pulling for? :rotfl:

i was hoping miami would win too, but only because i will always have a soft spot for them. i was raised in a miami dolphins/vanderbilt household because there was not NFL team in tennessee at the time and my dad grew up in miami. i remember he bought me a miami starbrights (the cheerleaders for the dolphins - not sure they even still call them that) jacket one christmas and i thought that was SO NEAT! i'm with you on baltimore. i really don't want them to do well - i've never liked them, especially ray lewis. sorry baltimore fans!

Just wanted to let you know that I added April, May, and June now! :cutie:

i read it yesterday, i think! just haven't commented yet. your nephew is so cute!!!! and your sister looked really pretty for prom.

:wave: sounds great, can't wait to read more!!:flower3:

thanks, erin! glad you've joined in the fun! :flower3:

just stopping by to say hello

hi, scott! :wave2:

Happy new year I loved your photos in review! You make me want to take pictures even more now! Thanks for the video link too! I'm watching it now. Can't wait to hear more from your trip!

you too! thanks. hope you enjoy the video - i thought it was cute.

wow that was alot of pages to catch up on, but i got through it, now i can blame you on my TR for not doing an update today, i spent the whole time reading your updates


candi is going to take those mickey head paint chips from home depot to do a memory color game for parker when he gets a little bigger

sorry! don't mention that on your TR - i might get some people peeved at me! such a cute idea with the mickey heads!

[rentayenta]

:thumbsup2 I love your year in pictures Dawn and can I say one thing:


Your brother is HOT!

[punkin413]

:thumbsup2 I love your year in pictures Dawn and can I say one thing:


Your brother is HOT!

oh, just....EW!!!! :scared:

i've been told he resembles a jonas brother. i think that's a good thing? :confused3

[rentayenta]

oh, just....EW!!!! :scared:

i've been told he resembles a jonas brother. i think that's a good thing? :confused3



:blush: I know, I know and I debated posting it but felt compelled. ;)



I just love your pictures. The one where your pops is giving you bunny ears is darling! And any man that will kiss a dog, the one with Ray, is a good guy in my book! We are HUGE dog people too. :goodvibes And tell me the story with you and Erica linking arms in Epcot.

[snowbell]

I'm on board.. Just getting started. Sorry I am so late on this one. Still getting over being sick... ugh!

[Camster0307]

oh, just....EW!!!! :scared:

i've been told he resembles a jonas brother. i think that's a good thing? :confused3

Um, I believe that was me who said that! :blush: In our house, that's considered a compliment!

Your year in pictures was so great and I'm quite impressed that you put that all together in the middle of the holidays. Thanks for sharing!

And I can't believe you're getting your photopass cd back already. I JUST got mine back from my trip in the beginning of November! Yes, I'm the queen of procrastination!

[punkin413]

:blush: I know, I know and I debated posting it but felt compelled. ;)

I just love your pictures. The one where your pops is giving you bunny ears is darling! And any man that will kiss a dog, the one with Ray, is a good guy in my book! We are HUGE dog people too. :goodvibes And tell me the story with you and Erica linking arms in Epcot.

i think it's sweet that you think he's hot - i just don't think so! :laughing: but i used to change his diapers and me and my sister used to complain if we had to share a cup with him because he spit food back into his coke. :lmao: he'd die if he knew i told you guys that.

i'm so glad both ray and i are dog people. i'd have 20 of them if i had the room!

oh, the story with me and erica......i'll just paste it from the TR below because i don't feel like typing it all out! :laughing:

---------------------------------------
the funniest thing that happened is he was trying to tell us to lock our hands together and lean away from each other for a really cool picture he ended up taking (which you'll see later in our photopass pics). but then he realized the monorail was going by and instead of finishing his directions about locking our hands together, he stepped to the side to take the picture of the monorail going by. only we didn't realize the monorail was going by because it's really quiet. so we're standing there, holding hands, while he's taking our picture and i was saying through a forced smile, "um......what are we doing????" and erica was saying back to me through another forced smile......"i don't know but i think maybe the monorail is going by" (or something like that). the pictures are hilarious! erica finally says to the guy, "we don't normally hold hands!" it was just a really odd, funny situation! but his pictures turned out great so i'm glad we found him.
----------------------------------------

and here's a link to the photopass pictures we took with him to tell the story!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=27926339&postcount=436


I'm on board.. Just getting started. Sorry I am so late on this one. Still getting over being sick... ugh!

so glad you're here! i hope you feel better soon. :hug:

Um, I believe that was me who said that! :blush: In our house, that's considered a compliment!

Your year in pictures was so great and I'm quite impressed that you put that all together in the middle of the holidays. Thanks for sharing!

And I can't believe you're getting your photopass cd back already. I JUST got mine back from my trip in the beginning of November! Yes, I'm the queen of procrastination!

yes, ma'am, i think you were! thanks about my year in pictures. i was bored. i get REALLY slow with work over the holidays!

[eemmie1]

[QUOTE=punkin413;29514878]i think it's sweet that you think he's hot - i just don't think so! :laughing: but i used to change his diapers and me and my sister used to complain if we had to share a cup with him because he spit food back into his coke. :lmao: he'd die if he knew i told you guys that.

My nephew use to do the same thing with his Coke. It was so gross and it always looked like someone split oil in his cup. My brother in law use to call it oil slicks! :lmao:

[skhermsmeyer]

Just found your post and I love it! Sounds like you always have a blast at DW. :) We just went for the very 1st time and we loved it. Our little guy actually walked up to the characters and gave them hugs on the 3rd day. :lovestruc We live in Roswell/Alpharetta area. where are you from?

[punkin413]

so when i last left you hangin we had just gotten off of SE, where ray and i apparently have no future. :eek:

after that we decided to head up to the front of the park to get some photopass pictures. but first here are some pictures of the christmas topiaries up there.

mickey and minnie (i like this shot because the monorail is going by!)....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/01-1.jpg

goofy, pluto and donald....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/02-1.jpg

and of course you have to take one of these!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/03-1.jpg

ray and i went first. he looks like he's miserable. :lmao:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/image0287.jpg

then anna, chris and luke went. i will show you the good pictures first.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/image0301.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/image0305.jpg

okay, now i'll get to the -- ahem -- other ones!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/image0295.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/image0302.jpg

luke had me CRACKING UP in all the photopass pictures. he generally doesn't like to have his picture made so he just acts goofy the whole time and does random crazy things. it was hilarious!!!

we then decided to do a group shot.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/image0307.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/image0310.jpg

after that we decided to head over to mission space. ray and chris wanted to ride it. i didn't because i hadn't thought to take dramamine before then and i didn't want to feel bad the rest of the day. i've ridden the orange side before and i was fine, but i've never done it without dramamine.

on the way i took some more SE pictures.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/04-1.jpg

the sun was starting to come out and i loved how it was beaming through the clouds in this picture....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/05-1.jpg

anna took this - very cool picture!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/06-1.jpg

the boys headed on over to mission space and me, anna and luke took our time and enjoyed one of the fountains for awhile. he's wearing chris's glasses here!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/07-1.jpg

we stopped by mouse gears on the way over to mission space and luke tried on some hats.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/08-1.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/09-1.jpg

i stayed in the store long enough to find the blanket they were selling for $15 with a $40 purchase and decide i didn't like it and then we left - it was crazy in there!

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29515728&postcount=281

[punkin413]

we decided to just find a bench near mission space and relax for awhile. as you can see, it was starting to turn into a pretty day.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/10-1.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/11-1.jpg

anna was thinking that she and chris may go back to the condo after dinner to get luke some dry pants. everyone was still sort of damp from the rain and she was afraid if he stayed at epcot with wet pants on after it got dark and cooled off, he'd get sick. they decided to play it by ear and see if he was still damp after dinner. here he is enjoying the fountains near mission space. i'm sure he wanted to go in but anna told him not to because we were just getting dry!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/12-1.jpg

while we were waiting on the boys we saw our first of many brazilian tour groups. they were CRAZY!!! they'd have a person in front carrying a flag and a person in back doing the same and they'd usually be clapping and chanting something. very spirited, that's for sure! :upsidedow

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/13-1.jpg

i walked over to check the wait at test track and it was at 50 minutes. :headache: nope. we didn't get fastpasses because the return time was too late and i knew we'd be in WS by then. ray and chris got off mission space not too long afer that and they had bought some astronaut ice cream.....yum!!! (really i think it's kinda gross so i didn't try any! :laughing: )

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/14-1.jpg

by that time it was a little after 3:00. our fastpasses for soarin were at 3:48 and we had ADRs at teppan edo at 4:30. so we decided to go on over back to the land so we could get in line for soarin right at 3:48 and then head straight to japan afterwards for dinner. i figured maybe we could do livin with the land if we got over there by 3:15 or so.

as we passed the character connection i went to check out the wait, just to see, and the line was out the door. :headache: nope again! we'll just have to meet characters later. i'm so used to being there when it's not crowded. i knew it would be more crowded than i'm used to this trip - but i didn't think it would be that bad.

we got over to the land and we had to take a potty break again. while we were in that area next to garden grill, ray noticed a tag engraving machine and we made dog tags for sherman and eli. they're really cute - both mickey heads! luke made one for his dog, molly, in the shape of nemo. but it took FOREVER for it to engrave the tags so we ended up just kinda hanging out in that area instead of riding living with the land. it was okay - we needed a break anyway!

luke had gotten a figment car at some point that day and he was entertaining himself while we waited!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/15-1.jpg

me and anna being silly.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/16-1.jpg

finally around 3:40 we headed down to soarin to wait. anna had debated on whether or not luke would be okay riding. the biggest thing he's ever ridden is goofy's barnstormer and he didn't like that. well, he said he liked it but when they asked him if he wanted to ride it again, he said no. :lmao: but he was only 2 (almost 3) when he rode that, so that was almost 2 years ago. i told her just to tell him soarin was like a big swing set where you feel like you're flying.

he only asked a couple of times what kind of ride it was and we just told him we were gonna go flying. he really didn't seem too concerned, so we forged ahead!

1 more minute!!!!!!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/17-1.jpg

finally the clock turns to 3:48 and we go in. i love the waiting area!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/18-1.jpg

once we got almost up to the part where they tell you where to go, the line STOPPED. for awhile. :rolleyes: i was worried because we had 4:30 ADRs and i wanted to wait for the front. so i told anna that as soon as we got off the ride, me and ray would speedwalk to japan and check in at teppan edo and they could catch up with us. we just move quicker than they do because we don't have a 4 year old! we can move in and out of crowds without worrying about losing a little one.

so finally we get over to where they ask how many and i say, "5 but we want to wait for the front, please." he said no problem and directed us to wait in the corner. :thumbsup2

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29515746&postcount=282

[punkin413]

waiting to soar!!!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/19-1.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/20-1.jpg

finally it was our turn! i took this picture as we were sitting down and it was 4:14. we're cutting it close! look at luke holding their hands! he was kinda nervous but he did really great.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/21-1.jpg

they all LOVED the ride. luke kept saying, "cool!" every time they'd change the scene. and anna looked at me at one point and said, "i don't want it to end!" :goodvibes ray was even impressed. he's only ridden it once before and we were either on the 2nd or 3rd row where you could see feet. being on the first row makes all the difference!

after the ride ray and i grabbed our stuff and RACED towards japan. i don't remember what time it was but i think we had like 5 minutes. they hold your ADR for 15 minutes anyway so i wasn't too terribly worried.

as we were walking through the area between future world and canada, there were birds EVERYWHERE!!!!!!! :scared1: i've never seen so many birds in one place. and they weren't just sitting, they were dive-bombing people's heads! :scared: i grabbed ray's hand, closed my eyes and kept my head down. i don't know what i missed but i'm glad i missed it!

of course i didn't take any pictures during our speedwalk but anna took some on their way to japan. here are some of them....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1117.jpg

i think luke is chasing the birds here!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1119.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1120.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1121.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1123.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1124.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1126.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1129.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1133.jpg

i love the colors in this picture....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1134.jpg

and the clouds look cool in this one.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1137.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/December10-112008DisneyDay1142.jpg

next up.....dinner hibachi style with saki and the strongest martini i've ever had! :woohoo:

[hlrababy]

Cool update!! I am so glad Luke liked Soarin!! It is now my favorite ride at Epcot!!! I just can't wait for Hollie to ride it!!!
:lmao: Those birds!! Now, I had pet parakeets my whole life, but I would NOT want a big bird nose diving at my head!!!! I would freak out!!

[Lynn5700]

Aww the picture of you all in front of Spaceship Earth are all so cute. I love your haircut..I forgot to tell you that.

The picture Anna took is so cool! I love it.

[CW4DW]

Great report... Can't wait for the rest! I love going at Christmas time... It's my favorite.

[VandyFan10]

Awesome Update!

I'm pretty sure where you saw all those birds was where we saw this guy walking away from the McD fries place. He had a tray FULL of fries and some drinks and this bird swooped down and did look like he was dive bombing him :scared1:

It was crazy. I told Matt he better be glad I wasn't carring that tray b/c it would have all been straight up in the air and on the ground if that had been me :laughing:

[starlight_003]

Great update, just love the picture's in front of spaceship earth. Soarin is my ds favorite ride. In April we're going and ds had to make sure we fit that ride in.

[tinkgurl]

An update! :woohoo: Luke is so entertaining. Love the photopass pics. We always have to wait for 1st row at Soarin' too! It's just not the same in the other rows. As for the birds, I would have been worried about either being dive-bombed in the head or being pooped on! :scared:

[MadiMouse]

Yay! An update from Dawny girl! I'm glad that everyone enjoyed Soarin. While at DLR in Sept, I cried like a baby on Soarin and a stranger (nice lady) took my hand and held it during the ride. She didn't say anything, but just held my hand and smiled as if I made her day!! See, we had to do baby swap b/c DH had to wait with Madi and I was all by myself! ;)

[jordanyosh]

Dawn,

I would point out all the pictures that I love, but there are too many. You take such awesome pix. I wish I had your knack for non people filled shots. You rival Erica for great pix......

Sake....mmmmmmmmmm..and Teppan Edo....peeps for sure.

[rentayenta]

:thumbsup2 I love this set of pictures. I love after a good rain, when the clouds begin to part, and the sun shines through. Gorgeous! :cloud9:


And on the subject of Brazilian tour groups. I guess you could consider the couple in front of us at Typhoon Lagoon a tour group.............they were the most disgusting humans ever! :scared: He was in a speedo and far too hairy and she was in a thong and far too cheesy. If that were not bad enough they proceeded to pick and pop and mess with each others back and neck acne while in line. :faint: My children were mortified, DH and I were disgusted, and the two pimple poppers had not a care in the world. :scared1:

[jordanyosh]

:thumbsup2 I love this set of pictures. I love after a good rain, when the clouds begin to part, and the sun shines through. Gorgeous! :cloud9:


And on the subject of Brazilian tour groups. I guess you could consider the couple in front of us at Typhoon Lagoon a tour group.............they were the most disgusting humans ever! :scared: He was in a speedo and far too hairy and she was in a thong and far too cheesy. If that were not bad enough they proceeded to pick and pop and mess with each others back and neck acne while in line. :faint: My children were mortified, DH and I were disgusted, and the two pimple poppers had not a care in the world. :scared1:

that story...I think I threw up a little in my mouth....

[winkers]

I noticed everyone still looked pretty wet in the photo pass pictures.

I've yet to run into brazilian tour groups, and pray that my streak continues!

I have to admit that every time I read about he brazilian groups my mind automatically adds "wax" to the sentence.;)

[winkers]

:
And on the subject of Brazilian tour groups. I guess you could consider the couple in front of us at Typhoon Lagoon a tour group.............they were the most disgusting humans ever! :scared: He was in a speedo and far too hairy and she was in a thong and far too cheesy. If that were not bad enough they proceeded to pick and pop and mess with each others back and neck acne while in line. :faint: My children were mortified, DH and I were disgusted, and the two pimple poppers had not a care in the world. :scared1:

I apologize for my behavior..................
I promise to never wear a thong again.

[jordanyosh]

I apologize for my behavior..................
I promise to never wear a thong again.

:scared1: :scared1: Didn't know DJay was that hairy....:rolleyes1

[winkers]

:scared1: :scared1: Didn't know DJay was that hairy....:rolleyes1

:) I've probably scarred you for life now.

[MAGICFOR2]

I apologize for my behavior..................
I promise to never wear a thong again.

:scared1: :scared1: Didn't know DJay was that hairy....:rolleyes1

:) I've probably scarred you for life now.

You two get the funniest award! :worship: :worship: :worship:

Nice update Dawn! It is so fun to see people enjoying Soarin for the first time - especially front row! Your pics are great! Luke was really funny in the Christmas pics! And Ray looked so happy!

As for the Brazilians - :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: Do they HAVE Tvs? I mean Yellow sweat suits and Fanny packs - and they look like they're under 30!:rotfl2:

I'm glad you survived the bird attacks!:thumbsup2

[timandlesley]

Dawn,
I am so glad the sun came out for you guys and turned out to be an awesome day. LOVED the sunny picture at Mission space. Luke is so stinkin' cute, glad you got him on Soarin' and you all had a good ride. We've done every row in soarin', and row number 1 is by far the best, I've never asked to wait but I will this year.
Great pics, can't wait for more. You will be eating at one of our favorites so can't wait to see what you think, we thought they refurbished that place to look incredible too.
Lesley

[MeMom]

To soar or not to soar?
To soar, of course!
Always to soar!
That is my favorite ride of all!

Great pictures, as always!

I'm glad to see you made it bravely through the dive-bombing birds.

Keep the pictures coming for about the next seventy days until I get back there again.

[Happy Elf]

Great update! You have some awesome pictures! Glad to hear Luke went on Soarin! I wonder if Hannah will like it. She will be 4 when we go in June.

[iluv2go2disney]

Great pictures. I love the first PhotoPass one of you and Ray. My DH usually has the same "smile" in pictures. :rotfl:

[disneymom1980]

My DH has the same smile in pictures too.....he says he can't really smile in the picture unless he's allowed to look at me :rolleyes: .

I wish that we could have gotten Anna to ride Soarin with us. I know she would have liked it, and she would have been fine. However, since we'd never ridden it before, I couldn't give her any idea of what it was like, and I think that's why she was so worried.

Of course you have to leave me hanging on the Teppan Edo review popcorn:: . I hope you guys enjoyed it since I'm still trying to convince DH he'll like it.

[LISAMWDW]

All caught up! Great updates!

Can't wait to hear how your dinner went!

[KristinAnne]

Yay! I'm glad Luke went Soarin'! I'm looking forward to hearing how you like Teppan Edo! Great pictures too. The sky was really blue when it finally got nice!!

[DisneyLaura]

just thought i would share this with you guys. my sister's boyfriend send it to me. it's a documentary that was recently entered into the national film registry about a family's trip to disneyland in 1956. it's about 34 minutes long and the disneyland part starts around 20 minutes in. it's really just heart-warming and you can see how that magical feeling we all get when we go there now was the same back then!

http://www.archive.org/details/barstow_disneyland_dream_1956

That was really cool. Thanks for sharing. Kind of cool since they were from CT like me.

well, peyton and the colts are out. ray is NOT happy. he was hoping for a manning/manning superbowl. and the colts lost that game due to defensive penalties in overtime. so ugly. :sad2:

atlanta also lost today. so that's another one of my teams that's out.

and alabama lost yesterday. WHAT IS UP WITH FOOTBALL THIS WEEK????? (other than the vandy win on wednesday, of course! ;) )

so now my only hopes are the titans, the giants and the dolphins. other than i don't care about any of the other teams. congrats to anyone whose teams actually played WELL today!

I wanted Miami to win, they're my team ever since I was a little girl.

have fun at disney on ice!!!!!! i loved it. i hope you do. let me know what you think - i wanna see pictures! yes, eli's belly is a sight! :laughing: don't you just love "my cousin vinny"? i've seen it like 100 times. myself and a friend did a scene from it in high school, the one where marisa tomei is on the stand and giving her expert opinion on the independent rear suspensions. it was so much fun trying to talk like her! ask tara (she's from new york) - i have a thick southern accent so me as a new yorker is pretty funny!

Disney on Ice was cool but not the same one you saw :sad1: It was Mickey and Minnie's Adventure, I forgot the name of it. She loved it. Of course as I went to take a picture with the brand new batteries I put in the camera in the parking gargage that I just bought from Target on sale for 25 cents, yeah they didn't work, so no pictures for you. I was so upset because the pictures would have been great. She stood in front of me the whole time until almost the end. Tinkerbell was there but with Peter Pan. She was asking for the Princesses though but she was happy with Tink.

And on the subject of Brazilian tour groups. I guess you could consider the couple in front of us at Typhoon Lagoon a tour group.............they were the most disgusting humans ever! :scared: He was in a speedo and far too hairy and she was in a thong and far too cheesy. If that were not bad enough they proceeded to pick and pop and mess with each others back and neck acne while in line. :faint: My children were mortified, DH and I were disgusted, and the two pimple poppers had not a care in the world. :scared1:

That is just gross

Dawn - great update and pictures of SE. I love taking pictures of that. Especially when different light hits it. Loved all of your photopass pictures too. That Luke is such a cutie pie.

[Philadisney]

Wow after the rain it looks like it was beautiful out! The sky looks gorgeous in your Mission Space pictures. I can't wait to read about your dinner in Japan, I haven't been to the restaurant there since they rehabbed it but I used to love it!

[jerseygirl81]

I found your TR last night and with the bonus of a snow day I was able to catch up with it this morning. Nice condo, sorry about the rain, I'm glad Luke liked Soarin that is one of my fav rides. I love your pics and I'm looking forward to more. Linda :)

[IndianaHoosier]

I LOVE ready your trip reports!!!

I made my dog Hoosier a dog tag in the Land building while I was there too!
You are right...it took forever...but worth it. It looks so cute on his collar!!!

You always take such great pics....You've got skillz!!!!

[Spartangirl]

The pics in front of SE are great! :goodvibes

I never noticed the engraving machine in the Land before...I'll have to make my dogs tags next time! :)

Glad everyone enjoyed Soarin'...it really is worth the extra wait for the front row! :thumbsup2

I can't wait to read about your dinner in Japan.......the last few times we've gone to Epcot, we've debated eating there...still haven't made it yet! :rolleyes:

[troobabiee7]

Great update! I love all the Spaceship Earth pictures. And Anna took some gorgeous pictures of the World Showcase! I'm glad everyone liked Soarin', it's definitely my favorite ride. Can't wait to hear about dinner!

[shane&jakesmom]

Love all of your great pictures. I have been reading your TR but have not posted anything. I liked the photo pass pictures. Can't wait to read more. Oh, great condo also.

[punkin413]

My nephew use to do the same thing with his Coke. It was so gross and it always looked like someone split oil in his cup. My brother in law use to call it oil slicks! :lmao:

ewwww.....that's how brett's was too! it was so gross. he'd always get his own coke though because no one wanted to share with him. maybe he did it on purpose!

Just found your post and I love it! Sounds like you always have a blast at DW. We just went for the very 1st time and we loved it. Our little guy actually walked up to the characters and gave them hugs on the 3rd day. :lovestruc We live in Roswell/Alpharetta area. where are you from?

thanks so much! glad you guys made it to WDW and loved it!!! so cute about your little boy. i'm actually from nashville (tennessee), but i live near athens now. so not too far from you!

Cool update!! I am so glad Luke liked Soarin!! It is now my favorite ride at Epcot!!! I just can't wait for Hollie to ride it!!!
Those birds!! Now, I had pet parakeets my whole life, but I would NOT want a big bird nose diving at my head!!!! I would freak out!!

me too! i was worried he'd freak out but he liked it. my family had a pet parakeet and i hated that bird. :rotfl:

Aww the picture of you all in front of Spaceship Earth are all so cute. I love your haircut..I forgot to tell you that.

The picture Anna took is so cool! I love it.

oh, thanks! i got it all chopped off last april and haven't looked back since. i like it short - easier to take care of. but i do have to get it cut once a month - it grows fast!

Great report... Can't wait for the rest! I love going at Christmas time... It's my favorite.

thanks! yes, we really loved all the christmas decorations. we will be back for sure!

Awesome Update!

I'm pretty sure where you saw all those birds was where we saw this guy walking away from the McD fries place. He had a tray FULL of fries and some drinks and this bird swooped down and did look like he was dive bombing him :scared1:

It was crazy. I told Matt he better be glad I wasn't carring that tray b/c it would have all been straight up in the air and on the ground if that had been me :laughing:

yeah, i probably would've FREAKED out if that happened to me. i might have even fainted. you never know with me and birds. :laughing:

Great update, just love the picture's in front of spaceship earth. Soarin is my ds favorite ride. In April we're going and ds had to make sure we fit that ride in.

thanks! be sure to get fastpasses for soarin! i don't think i've ever ridden it without a fastpass.

An update! Luke is so entertaining. Love the photopass pics. We always have to wait for 1st row at Soarin' too! It's just not the same in the other rows. As for the birds, I would have been worried about either being dive-bombed in the head or being pooped on! :scared:

thanks! yes, luke is always good for a laugh! with the birds, poop is a secondary thought to me when i'm having irrational, terrifying thoughts of them landing on my head and pecking my eyes out! :scared1:

Yay! An update from Dawny girl! I'm glad that everyone enjoyed Soarin. While at DLR in Sept, I cried like a baby on Soarin and a stranger (nice lady) took my hand and held it during the ride. She didn't say anything, but just held my hand and smiled as if I made her day!! See, we had to do baby swap b/c DH had to wait with Madi and I was all by myself! ;)

were you scared or just emotional? either way, i'm glad you made a friend. that's so sweet!!!!

Dawn,

I would point out all the pictures that I love, but there are too many. You take such awesome pix. I wish I had your knack for non people filled shots. You rival Erica for great pix......

Sake....mmmmmmmmmm..and Teppan Edo....peeps for sure.

wow....thanks! i love the sky behind mission space but i can't take credit from mother nature for that one! :laughing: and yes, there will be peepage at teppan edo. LOTS of it!

:thumbsup2 I love this set of pictures. I love after a good rain, when the clouds begin to part, and the sun shines through. Gorgeous! :cloud9:

And on the subject of Brazilian tour groups. I guess you could consider the couple in front of us at Typhoon Lagoon a tour group.............they were the most disgusting humans ever! :scared: He was in a speedo and far too hairy and she was in a thong and far too cheesy. If that were not bad enough they proceeded to pick and pop and mess with each others back and neck acne while in line. :faint: My children were mortified, DH and I were disgusted, and the two pimple poppers had not a care in the world. :scared1:

yeah, it's so pretty after it rains, especially in florida!

OMG, THAT IS JUST GROSS!!!!! :scared: i'm so glad i didn't witness that.

it's so funny because my cousin married a girl from brazil and she's not hairy! :rotfl:

that story...I think I threw up a little in my mouth....

same here.

I noticed everyone still looked pretty wet in the photo pass pictures.

I've yet to run into brazilian tour groups, and pray that my streak continues!

I have to admit that every time I read about he brazilian groups my mind automatically adds "wax" to the sentence.;)

yeah, we were still sorta damp, but drying off pretty quickly. anna and chris had on jeans and they were taking longer than the rest of us to dry off. definitely hope your lack of brazilian tour groups continues! they are crazy. luckily i didn't witness anything that needed to be waxed. :rotfl2:

I apologize for my behavior..................
I promise to never wear a thong again.

:lmao:

:scared1: :scared1: Didn't know DJay was that hairy....:rolleyes1

:eek: :rotfl2:

[punkin413]

Nice update Dawn! It is so fun to see people enjoying Soarin for the first time - especially front row! Your pics are great! Luke was really funny in the Christmas pics! And Ray looked so happy!

As for the Brazilians - :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: Do they HAVE Tvs? I mean Yellow sweat suits and Fanny packs - and they look like they're under 30!:rotfl2:

I'm glad you survived the bird attacks!:thumbsup2

thanks! you are so right about the brazilians' fashion taste (or lack of it)! and every person we saw was younger than 25 i'd say!

Dawn,
I am so glad the sun came out for you guys and turned out to be an awesome day. LOVED the sunny picture at Mission space. Luke is so stinkin' cute, glad you got him on Soarin' and you all had a good ride. We've done every row in soarin', and row number 1 is by far the best, I've never asked to wait but I will this year.
Great pics, can't wait for more. You will be eating at one of our favorites so can't wait to see what you think, we thought they refurbished that place to look incredible too.
Lesley

wasn't that sky at mission space just so pretty? yeah, definitely ask for soarin. usually you only have to wait like 5 minutes, if that. stay tuned for teppan edo! i should be able to get that out in a couple of days.

To soar or not to soar?
To soar, of course!
Always to soar!
That is my favorite ride of all!

Great pictures, as always!

I'm glad to see you made it bravely through the dive-bombing birds.

Keep the pictures coming for about the next seventy days until I get back there again.

of course! i knew we would all soar - just wasn't sure about luke but he did great. the only way i made it through those birds was by closing my eyes. there was no other way i could've done it! i promise to keep the pics coming for you for awhile as long as you promise to do so for me for the next two years! :laughing:

Great update! You have some awesome pictures! Glad to hear Luke went on Soarin! I wonder if Hannah will like it. She will be 4 when we go in June.

thanks! just tell her it's like a big swing set at first and then you get to pretend like you're a bird!

Great pictures. I love the first PhotoPass one of you and Ray. My DH usually has the same "smile" in pictures. :rotfl:

thanks! :laughing: ray looked so thrilled in that first one!

My DH has the same smile in pictures too.....he says he can't really smile in the picture unless he's allowed to look at me :rolleyes: .

I wish that we could have gotten Anna to ride Soarin with us. I know she would have liked it, and she would have been fine. However, since we'd never ridden it before, I couldn't give her any idea of what it was like, and I think that's why she was so worried.

Of course you have to leave me hanging on the Teppan Edo review popcorn:: . I hope you guys enjoyed it since I'm still trying to convince DH he'll like it.

awww.....that's so sweet!!!! :love: next time maybe anna can ride now that you'll know what it is. you guys are leaving in two weeks, right? i should be able to get teppan edo done before then! ;)

All caught up! Great updates!

Can't wait to hear how your dinner went!

thanks! you will see dinner hopefully in a couple of days.

Yay! I'm glad Luke went Soarin'! I'm looking forward to hearing how you like Teppan Edo! Great pictures too. The sky was really blue when it finally got nice!!

me too! i hope to get teppan edo done in a couple of days. yes, the sky was GORGEOUS when the sun came out!

That was really cool. Thanks for sharing. Kind of cool since they were from CT like me.

you're welcome! jon (my sister's boyfriend who sent it from me) grew up in connecticut so i'm sure he thought it was cool too.

I wanted Miami to win, they're my team ever since I was a little girl.

me too!

Disney on Ice was cool but not the same one you saw :sad1: It was Mickey and Minnie's Adventure, I forgot the name of it. She loved it. Of course as I went to take a picture with the brand new batteries I put in the camera in the parking gargage that I just bought from Target on sale for 25 cents, yeah they didn't work, so no pictures for you. I was so upset because the pictures would have been great. She stood in front of me the whole time until almost the end. Tinkerbell was there but with Peter Pan. She was asking for the Princesses though but she was happy with Tink.

bummer about your camera! glad you guys enjoyed the show. i think there are a few different ones - i'm sure they're all good!

Dawn - great update and pictures of SE. I love taking pictures of that. Especially when different light hits it. Loved all of your photopass pictures too. That Luke is such a cutie pie.

thanks! and yes, luke's cute - and he knows it!

Wow after the rain it looks like it was beautiful out! The sky looks gorgeous in your Mission Space pictures. I can't wait to read about your dinner in Japan, I haven't been to the restaurant there since they rehabbed it but I used to love it!

that sky in the mission space shot is so pretty! i remember thinking that but i didn't really realize how blue it was until i saw the picture. stay tuned for dinner!

I found your TR last night and with the bonus of a snow day I was able to catch up with it this morning. Nice condo, sorry about the rain, I'm glad Luke liked Soarin that is one of my fav rides. I love your pics and I'm looking forward to more. Linda :)

thanks for joining in! :goodvibes

I LOVE ready your trip reports!!!

I made my dog Hoosier a dog tag in the Land building while I was there too!
You are right...it took forever...but worth it. It looks so cute on his collar!!!

You always take such great pics....You've got skillz!!!!

thanks so much! i try on the pics. i really want to get a mack daddy camera before we go back. right now i just have a point and shoot.

The pics in front of SE are great! :goodvibes

I never noticed the engraving machine in the Land before...I'll have to make my dogs tags next time! :)

Glad everyone enjoyed Soarin'...it really is worth the extra wait for the front row! :thumbsup2

I can't wait to read about your dinner in Japan.......the last few times we've gone to Epcot, we've debated eating there...still haven't made it yet! :rolleyes:

thanks! the engraving machine is between the bathroom area that's upstairs and the entrance to garden grill. there are several benches along the wall next to it. hopefully i'll have dinner done in a couple of days!

Great update! I love all the Spaceship Earth pictures. And Anna took some gorgeous pictures of the World Showcase! I'm glad everyone liked Soarin', it's definitely my favorite ride. Can't wait to hear about dinner!

thanks! anna always takes good pictures.

Love all of your great pictures. I have been reading your TR but have not posted anything. I liked the photo pass pictures. Can't wait to read more. Oh, great condo also.

thanks for saying hello! glad you're reading along.

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I love all your Epcot pics...the one you liked with the colors is gorgeous! We love Teppan Edo. They have some yummy food! (And my kids LOVE the monorail dishes!) I think it's the new "in" place to eat. Le Cellier used to get all the hype but TE is so much better!

Soarin' is a great ride. My mama loves it! This was their first time riding it. It's her new favorite!

Looking forward to hear the next installment!

[MadiMouse]

I was emotional...not scared! LOL

[xoktenox]

So glad to see your day at Epcot wasn't all rain. The sky looks like it was really beautiful in some of those pictures. You get a big :thumbsup2 for walking through those birds! I would have done the same thing, grabbed BF's arm and just made a run for it. But if one of them came near me idk what I'd do :laughing: I love all the photopass shots too, especially the silly ones of Luke. That boy is just too cute!

[IluvXU]

Okay... just noticed your new siggie.... love the Tink pic. I cannot wait to hear/see how that happened!

[jordanyosh]

it's so funny because my cousin married a girl from brazil and she's not hairy! :rotfl:


:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

[CanadianWDWfan]

Very cute Photopass pics, I always like the seasonal borders. :)

Luke is such a character himself, always seems like he is enjoying himeself. :thumbsup2

Love the topiaries, alot of work must go into them. So pretty. :flower3:

Soarin'... what isn't to like about it. Amazing ride. Glad you had fastpasses and could still make your ADR.

Your pups may have gotten some Disney magic in those dog tags.:dogdance:

Can't wait to hear bout Tepan Edo, it's on my ADR list for August. popcorn::

[scottny]

great update and pics.

ooh Brazilian tour groups. we did not see any while we were there but I am sure IN June we will.

Glad he liked Soarin'.

Birds, Biff would have walked around the other way. no matter how long it took.

[shane&jakesmom]

When I was there in July there were a lot of Brazilian tour groups. They sure have a lot of pep. Even in 90+ degrees they were singing and having a great time.

[punkin413]

I love all your Epcot pics...the one you liked with the colors is gorgeous! We love Teppan Edo. They have some yummy food! (And my kids LOVE the monorail dishes!) I think it's the new "in" place to eat. Le Cellier used to get all the hype but TE is so much better!

Soarin' is a great ride. My mama loves it! This was their first time riding it. It's her new favorite!

Looking forward to hear the next installment!

thanks! we've eaten at le cellier and it was good but honestly ray can grill a better steak for me at home. i guess i'm a lucky girl! :laughing: glad to hear your mom liked soarin! it's a great ride but i have to admit the first time i rode it was like, "is that it?" i think it was because of all the hype. but now i love it! it's grown on me.

I was emotional...not scared! LOL

oh, okay! i figured that since you'd rode ToT but i wasn't sure!

So glad to see your day at Epcot wasn't all rain. The sky looks like it was really beautiful in some of those pictures. You get a big :thumbsup2 for walking through those birds! I would have done the same thing, grabbed BF's arm and just made a run for it. But if one of them came near me idk what I'd do :laughing: I love all the photopass shots too, especially the silly ones of Luke. That boy is just too cute!

it really did turn out to be a pretty day after all that rain. about the birds, i don't know if one of them came near me or not because i honestly did have my eyes closed and told ray to walk fast while i was holding his arm!

Okay... just noticed your new siggie.... love the Tink pic. I cannot wait to hear/see how that happened!

:laughing: you're the first one to say something about it! you will have to wait for our MK day to see. ;)

Very cute Photopass pics, I always like the seasonal borders. :)

Luke is such a character himself, always seems like he is enjoying himeself. :thumbsup2

Love the topiaries, alot of work must go into them. So pretty. :flower3:

Soarin'... what isn't to like about it. Amazing ride. Glad you had fastpasses and could still make your ADR.

Your pups may have gotten some Disney magic in those dog tags.:dogdance:

Can't wait to hear bout Tepan Edo, it's on my ADR list for August. popcorn::

thanks! i love those borders, too. luke is a trip - plain and simple! my pups have gotten lots of disney magic with all the trips we've taken over the last 2 years! :laughing:

great update and pics.

ooh Brazilian tour groups. we did not see any while we were there but I am sure IN June we will.

Glad he liked Soarin'.

Birds, Biff would have walked around the other way. no matter how long it took.

thanks! i can't believe you guys didn't see any! we saw them a lot. come to think of it, i think saturday (the day i saw you) was the last day we saw them so maybe they left when you guys showed up! lucky! :rotfl: oh, believe me, if it wasn't for our ADR being in 5 minutes i wouldn't have walked through those birds, either! but i knew that was the quickest way and so i just closed my eyes and grabbed ray. i'm sure it was a funny sight!

When I was there in July there were a lot of Brazilian tour groups. They sure have a lot of pep. Even in 90+ degrees they were singing and having a great time.

they sure do! every time we saw them they were chanting!

[VandyFan10]

You rival Erica for great pix......

I know.....I'm the best :lmao:

Keep the pictures coming for about the next seventy days until I get back there again.

Our TR might still be going in 70 days :laughing: ....we haven't moved very quickly on it but I've enjoyed dragging it out. I don't want it to be over :sad2:


Dawn, Like the new siggie pic....I'm kind of jealous though ;)

[Megablocks]

I love your new siggie picture!! I'm hoping to be able to meet the fairies next month.

Luke cracks me up in the pictures, especially the Photopass ones. I know you said that he doesn't really like to have his picture taken, but I would not have known that if you hadn't said it. It's great that he acts silly instead of getting mad. I also think that he is pretty polite for not making a scene with the Beverly and just quietly dumping it out.

I'm looking forward to reading about Teppan Edo. I also might need to find that tag engraving machine--I think my dog might like a new one. :rolleyes1

[MeMom]

Our TR might still be going in 70 days :laughing: ....we haven't moved very quickly on it but I've enjoyed dragging it out. I don't want it to be over :sad2:


I like people dragging their reports out. That way, between everyone's comings and goings and then making them last longer, we're kinda always there!

[LISAMWDW]

I like people dragging their reports out. That way, between everyone's comings and goings and then making them last longer, we're kinda always there!

I agree!! :thumbsup2

[jordanyosh]

I know.....I'm the best :lmao:


I can't deny that you're among the best I've seen....:thumbsup2 :cloud9:

[rentayenta]

:wave2: Hi kids!

[End_User-X]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/12-1.jpg

Look at Luke chillaxin' all cool like :cool2: ....that's pretty funny.

[mansionterror]

Just subbing so I can find it to read over the weekend.

[glennbo123]

Just to confess, I'm another lurker who now feels like I've officially turned stalker. :tiptoe:

I think I was originally going through one of Eeyore's Tailfinder's restaurant reviews, then saw the Vandy girls link and started reading that one. It was so enjoyable, with all of the pics and stories, that off and on over the last couple of weeks, I've gone through that one and now am caught up through this one. :surfweb: It's been great reading your diary, I mean, trip reports. It's getting me psyched-up for our family's trip to the new Animal Kingdom villas (Kidani) in June. So...thanks for posting!

[punkin413]

I know.....I'm the best :lmao:

Our TR might still be going in 70 days :laughing: ....we haven't moved very quickly on it but I've enjoyed dragging it out. I don't want it to be over :sad2:

Dawn, Like the new siggie pic....I'm kind of jealous though ;)

it's okay - we need to drag it out so i can still pretend i'm there! :lmao: the only problem is i hate TV so i kill time when i don't want to work by updating my TR. good thing i have this one too! :rotfl:

don't be jealous - i have like 5 best friends: tink, melanie, anna, erin and you. :grouphug: or did you mean you were jealous that i met tink?

I love your new siggie picture!! I'm hoping to be able to meet the fairies next month.

Luke cracks me up in the pictures, especially the Photopass ones. I know you said that he doesn't really like to have his picture taken, but I would not have known that if you hadn't said it. It's great that he acts silly instead of getting mad. I also think that he is pretty polite for not making a scene with the Beverly and just quietly dumping it out.

I'm looking forward to reading about Teppan Edo. I also might need to find that tag engraving machine--I think my dog might like a new one. :rolleyes1

well, let me tell you - i won't give much away but we went over to toontown as soon as the park opened and waited. i got to the rope there at like 9:10. they opened it at 9:45 and we met her by 10:02. :thumbsup2

luke is such a HAM! yeah, i'm glad he acts silly....usually at least!

teppan edo comin up!

I like people dragging their reports out. That way, between everyone's comings and goings and then making them last longer, we're kinda always there!

::yes::

I can't deny that you're among the best I've seen....:thumbsup2 :cloud9:

i agree! :goodvibes

:wave2: Hi kids!

hi, jenny. :wave:


Look at Luke chillaxin' all cool like :cool2: ....that's pretty funny.

:laughing: he's one cool dude....that's for sure.

Just subbing so I can find it to read over the weekend.

welcome and thanks for reading!

Just to confess, I'm another lurker who now feels like I've officially turned stalker. :tiptoe:

I think I was originally going through one of Eeyore's Tailfinder's restaurant reviews, then saw the Vandy girls link and started reading that one. It was so enjoyable, with all of the pics and stories, that off and on over the last couple of weeks, I've gone through that one and now am caught up through this one. :surfweb: It's been great reading your diary, I mean, trip reports. It's getting me psyched-up for our family's trip to the new Animal Kingdom villas (Kidani) in June. So...thanks for posting!

thanks for saying hello! did eeyore's tailfinder ever start on her TR/dining review from this last trip? if so i've somehow missed it! yes, these are like my diaries except i don't share the bad stuff. :laughing: glad to help with getting you excited about your trip!

[punkin413]

ray and i barely made it for our ADR at teppan edo and checked in right at 4:35, 5 minutes late! when i checked in they asked if our entire party was there yet and i told them that the rest of them were on their way. they said that was fine and told us to have a seat. all the hostesses at teppan edo were VERY friendly and SMILEY. :teeth:

this was the first i'd been in here. it was so pretty! this is the tokyo dining area.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/01-2.jpg

and this was the area going back to teppan edo.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/02-2.jpg

anna, chris and luke showed up within about 5 minutes and the very smiley hostess gave me a buzzer. don't the boys look happy????

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/03-2.jpg

within about 10 minutes we were shown to our seats. the hostess that took us to our seats was also very nice and smiley. :teeth: she told us her name (which i don't remember) and bowed to us and said, "saaaaaaaaank you," before she showed us to our table.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/04-2.jpg

she handed out the menus and did her little schpill and then anna asked her to take our picture.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/05-2.jpg

we had another family on the other end of the table - a mom, dad and a little girl. but the dad was gone about 90 percent of the meal, walking around and talking on his cell phone. i felt bad for his wife. :sad2:

they gave us warm towels to wash our hands with - i thought this was such a nice touch. luke, however, wasn't impressed.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/06-2.jpg

i thought the menu was really pretty.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/07-2.jpg

our server showed up and her name was yoko. and i'm not kidding. i'm not making fun of her - i think that's an AWESOME name. i wonder how many beatles jokes she hears and doesn't get?

she also gave a little speech about where she was from and how the restaurant works. then she too said, "saaaaaaaaaank you," and bowed with a big smile. :teeth:

this is her making the rubber-banded chopsticks for kids and the chopstick-inept like me.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/08-2.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/08a.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/09-2.jpg

we ordered drinks and ray and chris decided on a sake flight. i have no idea what kinds of sake came with this but they were all.....sake!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/10-2.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/11-2.jpg

i got a green tea martini. it sounded good and it was good.....if all you care about is getting tanked! it was the strongest drink i've ever had besides straight liquor. it tasted like cough syrup. not horrible - i mean, i drank the thing. but i don't think i'd order it again. i don't remember tasting any green tea at all.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/12-2.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/13-2.jpg

while we were waiting for yoko to come back and take our order, ray and chris worked on their sake flights....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/14-2.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/16-2.jpg

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29578000&postcount=334

[punkin413]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/17-2.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/18-2.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/18a.jpg

notice in that last picture that luke has a camera? well, this is the picture he took!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/19-2.jpg

pretty good for a 4 year old! :laughing:

yoko came back with a big smile :teeth: and a bow and took our orders. ray and i decided on tori (chicken breast) and new york strip steak (i guess there's no japanese word for that). we were each gonna get a combo but we figured we'd save some money and then just share the chicken and steak. :teacher:

i think the sake started to go to ray's head after that.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/20-2.jpg

he was really being silly and luke was getting a kick out of him. i'm glad nobody else in the restaurant was paying attention! :rotfl:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/21-2.jpg

then my husband proceeded to do this thing where he moves his finger up the chopstick but it looks like he's moving the chopstick up his nose.....nice. yes, he's 37 years old.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/22-1.jpg

luke was TRIPPING out over it!!! :rotfl2:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/23-1.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/24-1.jpg

i'm pretty sure nobody used those chopsticks. :rolleyes:

luke's food came out first, which i love. i used to be a server and i would always ask if parents wanted their kids' food out first because i know how it can make life so much easier for everyone!

he got chicken tempura and it came with broccoli, rice and fruit....ON A MONORAIL PLATE! so cool! :thumbsup2

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/26-1.jpg

i love his face in this one!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/25-1.jpg

anna asked yoko for ketchup and of course she brought it back with a smile :teeth: and a bow and said, "saaaaaaaank you."

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/26a.jpg

anyone notice the mickey head? so cute!

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29578008&postcount=335

[punkin413]

next our hibachi chef showed up. so i'm waiting for his name and i'm expecting some really ethnic japanese name that i can't pronounce and what does he say his name is? TOM. :lmao:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/27.jpg

doing his thing!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/28-1.jpg

a mickey head volcano!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/29.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/30.jpg

a choo-choo train!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/31.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/32.jpg

tom was really nice. he was from hawaii, not japan. oh, well. but he was good at what he did so that's all that matters. someone asked him what brought him to florida and he kind of paused and smiled. i believe chris said, "it was a woman, wasn't it?" and he just smiled and laughed. :laughing:

then he brought out the raw meat to cook. luke didn't think it looked too appetizing....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/33.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/34.jpg

go, tom! go, tom! it's your birthday! :woohoo:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/35.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/36.jpg

here's our food before we mixed it all together to share. ray's new york strip steak....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/37.jpg

you can kind of see the sauces back there too. i liked the two brown sauces and not so much the white one.

here's my chicken.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/38.jpg

it was all very yummy! i tasted some of anna's shrimp and it was SO GOOD. i wish i would've gotten that!

dinner was very good and i'd definitely eat here again. :thumbsup2 our service was good and yoko was a trip. :teeth: i'm really not making fun of the servers and hostesses here - i think they're awesome! i'm fascinated by their culture and they were so polite and friendly. they bowed EVERY time they would talk to us and then say, "saaaaaaaaaaank you." it was really an experience! :goodvibes

the only complaint i have is that this restaurant is not on the DDE card, so no discount for us. but i knew that going in so it wasn't a surprise. i don't think it's on the DDP, either. i wonder why?

by the end of dinner someone was out!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/39.jpg

i'm going to leave you here and return with the rest of our night at epcot! i will have video in the next installment. however, that means i'll have to wait until i get my DVDs back. i sent off my hi-8 tapes to have them converted to DVD about 2 weeks ago so they should be back soon. until then...you'll have to wait! popcorn::

[disneymom1980]

I'm so GLAD to hear that you enjoyed your dinner here. However, note to me, don't order the Green Tea martini......I'm not a big fan of drinks that actually taste like alcohol.

Teppan Edo is on the dining plan, although they were one of the last restaurants to sign on. My guess is that the reason the don't take the DDE is the same reason it took them forever to sign on to the plan. They're not owned by Disney. We were actually going to cancel the reservation if they didn't sign on to the plan. We didn't want to pay for the Deluxe Dining plan and then still have to pay out of pocket for a meal.

Oh, and LOVE the pics of Ray with the chopsticks :lmao: !

[KatGarcia]

I want a monorail plate- how neat was that! I actually think I wanna try eating there, usually I'm anti asian food elsewhere because we have really good stuff here...but the more I read the more I may try it.

[tinkgurl]

Oh wow! It looks like you had a great meal! I've never eaten there before, but you definately have me interested in trying it!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/28-1.jpg

I LOVE Teppan Edo! It is on the DDP. We ate here twice using the plan. See the guy in the background of your picture? That was my waiter this past time. He had some girls working with him but he was the main attraction. He had such an accent....extremely nice but you could barely understand him and he can barely understand us too. My sister had a crazy time trying to order ICE CREAM! It was hilarious! :rotfl2: I can't wait to go here again. I think it's my new favorite Epcot restaurant. I'm not crazy over the dessert selection though. "Saaaaaank you for a wonderful update!" :lmao:

[Megablocks]

That looks like such a great place. I LOVE the monorail plate--how cute is that?!

Honestly, all the Japanese CM's I have encountered are SO sweet. My mom, my sister, and I picked a pearl last year and the CM doing it was awesome--she got really excited over each pearl, and after doing the three of ours, lined them up and pointed out subtle differences in them that we probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise, like the different tinges of color each one had.

I was cracking up at the pictures of Ray! Those are priceless. :lmao:

ETA: I totally forgot to tell you thanks for the info about meeting Tink!! I think that we are trying for an early day at MK at least once so I will definitely try what you did.

[xoktenox]

Wow Teppan Edo looks great! I love Japanese hibachi and I'm sure its even better in WDW. The food and atomosphere look amazing. Luke is such a trip with all the faces he makes. So is Ray with his disappearing chopsticks :rotfl: That is DEFINITELY something my BF would do, sake or no sake. :lmao:

[IluvXU]

So you added a must try restaurant out for next time. I love the monorail plate--- too cool!

[timandlesley]

I am so glad you got to experience this place. We went right after it was remodeled last year and it was so beautiful. Weird question, but did you check out the restrooms? I think it is the most beautiful room inthe place :rotfl: . SERIOUSLY! The food there is so yummy, service incredible. I've read some poor reviews here on the Dis and just can't understand it. It is on the dining plan so we plan on returning again this year, your pics made me hungry for more. Loved the pics of Ray and the chopsticks, too funny. Did they like the Saki? For some reason I thought that was served warm:confused3 . I had the Tokoyo Sunrise when we went, YUM YUM DOUBLE YUM!!! I recommend that next time, really fruity and a teenie strong (I could feel it a bit) but so good!!! Great installment, can't wait for more!popcorn::
Lesley

[KristinAnne]

I love hibachi grills! So fun!! LOVE the monorail plate!!! I would've gone crazy over it as a kid...heck I'd go crazy over it now!

[Charleston Princess]

We had such a great time at Teppan Edo last year that seeing all your pictures reminded me of it! Wasn't it fun? We laughed more at Teppan Edo than at all of our other meals combined. I will have to remember not to order the Green Tea Martini next time. ;)

[glennbo123]

did eeyore's tailfinder ever start on her TR/dining review from this last trip? if so i've somehow missed it!

No, she started the thread, but hasn't posted any reviews yet. I really like her reviews with the ratings she and Els assign.

[Happy Elf]

Great update! The food looks wonderful!!!! Luke is so cute and what a cool kids meal!

[jwwi]

Dawn,
loved the Teppan Edo review. Looks like a really fun place to go. And Luke's Monorail plate is really cool, do they sell those anywhere at WDW? I was surprised that you said he got chicken, I swear in first picture of his food it looks like Shrimp, it has a tail! It all looks good.

Have you ever been to a Stir Crazy? Newer chain in our town, the food is so good, esp the appetizer platter. You can go thru a station where you pick your main protein, ie beef/chicken/shrimp then add veg and seasonings. The chef then cooks it fresh. I am afraid I will not season things right so I always order from the menu, and have not been disappointed. Maybe I will head back again soon?:rotfl2:

Just loving the antics of Ray, my DH has still never grown out of his childhood silliness. Very fun with our kids, I sometimes refer to him as my 4th child! All in a good way though, he is a go to Dad for the kids.:hug:

[MadiMouse]

great update! I love Japanese food!

[DisneyLaura]

Oh we went to that restaurant the last time we were at WDW (in 2004). I love Japanese too! Ray's face looks really red so I'm sure the sake was making him very silly. So funny about your cook because my DH was saying the same thing and our guy was from NY and his name was something very american as well. I'm posting some pictures of our trip (I hope you don't mind). When I looks back at these pictures they look so little. They were 5 and almost 3, now they are 9 and 7.

Here's one of the kids enjoying their meal. Chicken teryiaki (I'm sure I spelled that one wrong). You can see back then no monorail plates for the kids meal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/cm22nm/ry3D400.jpg

Here's our guy. He was really young but the kids loved him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/cm22nm/cwvDm9asA3Lw9aMmAbl5etmbAg.jpg

I can't wait to go back again. So glad to hear they are on the dining plan. We have a place right down the street from us that we go every once in a while but it's quite expensive with 5 people going so we only go on special occasions, birthdays, etc.

Thanks for letting me share.

Laura

[VandyFan10]

don't be jealous - i have like 5 best friends: tink, melanie, anna, erin and you. :grouphug: or did you mean you were jealous that i met tink?

I was speaking of the BFF part ;) ......I figured Anna would be jealous too but I wasn't going to speak for her :rotfl:

i agree! :goodvibes

Awww saaaaaanks :blush:
And thank YOU Jordan! :goodvibes

but the dad was gone about 90 percent of the meal, walking around and talking on his cell phone. i felt bad for his wife. :sad2:

At least he did NOT sit at your table and do that. But yes I agree with you I feel sorry for his wife :sad2:

they gave us warm towels to wash our hands with - i thought this was such a nice touch. luke, however, wasn't impressed.....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/06-2.jpg

Isn't it funny what we love now as adults and children think we are crazy! Oh well he will appreciate in the future :laughing:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/16-2.jpg

Look at those glasses.....SO cool!!
Chris doesn't look like that tasted so good. Did they enjoy their sake?

The chopstick installment deserves it's own separate response....will be back soon for that :rotfl:

Weird question, but did you check out the restrooms? I think it is the most beautiful room inthe place :rotfl: . SERIOUSLY!

Jordan if it's not already you will have to put this on your list :thumbsup2

[iluv2go2disney]

I loved seeing the pictures. I haven't seen alot from Teppan Edo. It was great hearing all about it because I think we're planning on going there in June. We have a place like that nearby, where they cook at your table and my kids just love it.

[winkers]

Tepan Edo is a must do for us. My kids LOVE that place! They are still talking about the rubber band chopsticks! Totaly fascinated them!

The pictures of Ray are too funny! Looks like the sake was working!:lmao:

[rentayenta]

:cool1: Awesome review Dawn. I think Anna's hubby looks like a handsome Jack Black.

I want that monorail plate!!!!! That is the coolest thing ever!

We have a teppan style place that the kids love and now I am wondering if we should try Teppan Edo? :surfweb:

I think Flat Dawn would enjoy it. pirate:

[VandyFan10]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/18a.jpg

All these pictures of picture taking are cracking me up!! That earlier one was anna pointed your way!

i think the sake started to go to ray's head after that.....
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/21-2.jpg

This is HILARIOUS!!! :rotfl2:

nice. yes, he's 37 years old.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/24-1.jpg

Yep....I've decided they are all the same no matter what age.
Tooooooo funny!!

he got chicken tempura and it came with broccoli, rice and fruit....ON A MONORAIL PLATE! so cool! :thumbsup2
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/26-1.jpg

Looks like he has a piece of shrimp on top.....YUM!!!!

[MAGICFOR2]

What a fun place to eat! We got hooked on Teppanyaki when we were stationed in Okinawa. The Japanese people are the most friendly and gracious I've ever seen.
We don't get to go that often, but we do have a Mongolian Grill here - same type of flavor, but you fill up your plate with raw ingredients, then you add the sauces and they cook it for you on a huge round grill. Not nearly as entertaining!

Thanks for sharing your fun evening! Looks like Ray was having the most fun! :goodvibes

Oh, and thanks for sharing the video of the DL trip in the 50's! I've heard about the "old days" from DH and his uncle - really fun to see!

[troobabiee7]

Great update! The pictures of Ray are hilarious :laughing: And that monorail plate is SO cool! I'm glad you all had a good time!

[kschafer]

I am generally not a big fan of asian style food but Teppan Edo always looks like so much fun! I have never seen the Micky volcano before, so cool!

Did Ray and Chris like their Sake? I was going to try it at the Sake stand in the gift shop but my hubby who spent a summer in Japan in college told me it tastes like lighter fluid :lmao: I opted for the plum wine instead!

[lmillercrew]

Great update. Too bad it took me four days to read it! :rotfl: I really like the black and white photo of all of you. I'm so happy the flood water stopped. That makes for a long/wet day in the parks when it's raining.
Luke's face, when the chef was cooking the meat, was hilarious!!
Ray does a very good walrus impression.:rotfl2:

[MeMom]

I want that monorail plate!!!!!


Make that two, please.
They should sell those, of course!

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

uh oh...I am hooked!

Great trip report, I can't wait for more!

[Spartangirl]

Glad to hear that Teppan Edo was so great......I definitely want to go there next time we're in WDW! :goodvibes That monorail plate was so unique and cute............and Ray with the chopsticks...classic! :lmao:

[aldisneygrl]

so when i last left you hangin we had just gotten off of SE, where ray and i apparently have no future. :eek:

after that we decided to head up to the front of the park to get some photopass pictures. but first here are some pictures of the christmas topiaries up there.

mickey and minnie (i like this shot because the monorail is going by!)....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/01-1.jpg



Sorry, I know this is a late reply, but I think that guy in the background left something back at the hotel......his kid! :scared1: :laughing:

Loved all of your updates, and I'm glad I'm all caught up!

That Teppan Edo looks great!

Loved the monorail plate, great Disney touch. :love:

What time was it when you finished for Luke to be asleep like that? :confused3 Did it take that long for dinner, or was he just tuckered out from no nap?

[punkin413]

just FYI - i was told on the food picture thread that luke's monorail was in fact not a monorail, but a bullet train like they have in japan. but because we were at epcot, i'm going to continue to say it was a monorail! :rotfl:

I'm so GLAD to hear that you enjoyed your dinner here. However, note to me, don't order the Green Tea martini......I'm not a big fan of drinks that actually taste like alcohol.

Teppan Edo is on the dining plan, although they were one of the last restaurants to sign on. My guess is that the reason the don't take the DDE is the same reason it took them forever to sign on to the plan. They're not owned by Disney. We were actually going to cancel the reservation if they didn't sign on to the plan. We didn't want to pay for the Deluxe Dining plan and then still have to pay out of pocket for a meal.

Oh, and LOVE the pics of Ray with the chopsticks :lmao: !

oh, okay. i knew they hadn't signed on awhile back. thanks for clarifying! i'm currently planning THREE trips for different friends of mine and i need to get this stuff straight!

I want a monorail plate- how neat was that! I actually think I wanna try eating there, usually I'm anti asian food elsewhere because we have really good stuff here...but the more I read the more I may try it.

i know - so cool! it was good - not too asian-y. he didn't put a whole lot of sauce on the food. you could add your own or just dip it in the sauce or whatever. if i you like chicken/steak/shrimp and rice and noodles and veggies, you'd be fines.

Oh wow! It looks like you had a great meal! I've never eaten there before, but you definately have me interested in trying it!

we did! you guys need to try it. i bet you'd like it!

I LOVE Teppan Edo! It is on the DDP. We ate here twice using the plan. See the guy in the background of your picture? That was my waiter this past time. He had some girls working with him but he was the main attraction. He had such an accent....extremely nice but you could barely understand him and he can barely understand us too. My sister had a crazy time trying to order ICE CREAM! It was hilarious! :rotfl2: I can't wait to go here again. I think it's my new favorite Epcot restaurant. I'm not crazy over the dessert selection though. "Saaaaaank you for a wonderful update!" :lmao:

cool that i got your waiter in my picture! :laughing: i loved it there. i can't decide on my favorite restaurant at epcot!

That looks like such a great place. I LOVE the monorail plate--how cute is that?!

Honestly, all the Japanese CM's I have encountered are SO sweet. My mom, my sister, and I picked a pearl last year and the CM doing it was awesome--she got really excited over each pearl, and after doing the three of ours, lined them up and pointed out subtle differences in them that we probably wouldn't have noticed otherwise, like the different tinges of color each one had.

I was cracking up at the pictures of Ray! Those are priceless. :lmao:

ETA: I totally forgot to tell you thanks for the info about meeting Tink!! I think that we are trying for an early day at MK at least once so I will definitely try what you did.

i agree about the japanese CMs. so cute about the pearls! i wanna do that one day. you're welcome on the tink info. good luck - let me know how it goes!

Wow Teppan Edo looks great! I love Japanese hibachi and I'm sure its even better in WDW. The food and atomosphere look amazing. Luke is such a trip with all the faces he makes. So is Ray with his disappearing chopsticks :rotfl: That is DEFINITELY something my BF would do, sake or no sake. :lmao:

it was great! you should try it someday. ray is funny with me but he doesn't act like that in public a lot - it was cute!

So you added a must try restaurant out for next time. I love the monorail plate--- too cool!

it was great - i bet you guys would love it!

I am so glad you got to experience this place. We went right after it was remodeled last year and it was so beautiful. Weird question, but did you check out the restrooms? I think it is the most beautiful room inthe place :rotfl: . SERIOUSLY! The food there is so yummy, service incredible. I've read some poor reviews here on the Dis and just can't understand it. It is on the dining plan so we plan on returning again this year, your pics made me hungry for more. Loved the pics of Ray and the chopsticks, too funny. Did they like the Saki? For some reason I thought that was served warm:confused3 . I had the Tokoyo Sunrise when we went, YUM YUM DOUBLE YUM!!! I recommend that next time, really fruity and a teenie strong (I could feel it a bit) but so good!!! Great installment, can't wait for more!popcorn::
Lesley

actually, i didn't see the restrooms but anna did and she commented about them! :laughing: i think you can get the sake warm. i know at places like PF chang's you can get it warm or cold. i don't like it warm and neither does ray. it's really a strong drink anyway and drinking it warm is just.....YUCK!!!

I love hibachi grills! So fun!! LOVE the monorail plate!!! I would've gone crazy over it as a kid...heck I'd go crazy over it now!

me too! :rotfl:

We had such a great time at Teppan Edo last year that seeing all your pictures reminded me of it! Wasn't it fun? We laughed more at Teppan Edo than at all of our other meals combined. I will have to remember not to order the Green Tea Martini next time. ;)

it was great! yeah, avoid that martini. it wasn't undrinkable but it was just so strong and hard to enjoy!

[punkin413]

Great update! The food looks wonderful!!!! Luke is so cute and what a cool kids meal!

it was!

Dawn,
loved the Teppan Edo review. Looks like a really fun place to go. And Luke's Monorail plate is really cool, do they sell those anywhere at WDW? I was surprised that you said he got chicken, I swear in first picture of his food it looks like Shrimp, it has a tail! It all looks good.

Have you ever been to a Stir Crazy? Newer chain in our town, the food is so good, esp the appetizer platter. You can go thru a station where you pick your main protein, ie beef/chicken/shrimp then add veg and seasonings. The chef then cooks it fresh. I am afraid I will not season things right so I always order from the menu, and have not been disappointed. Maybe I will head back again soon?:rotfl2:

Just loving the antics of Ray, my DH has still never grown out of his childhood silliness. Very fun with our kids, I sometimes refer to him as my 4th child! All in a good way though, he is a go to Dad for the kids.:hug:

they don't sell them anywhere that i know of. but i'm not positive. if anywhere i'd look at that huge store under teppan edo. yep, that was chicken. he doesn't eat shrimp so i know it wasn't shrimp. probably just an odd-shaped piece. plus tempura batter fries weird sometimes. we have places like stir crazy in tennessee (we visit there a few times a year because of my family) only they're called genghis grill. you put everything in a bowl and it's raw, add your seasonings and sauce, choose rice or noodles and they cook it for you - really good! ray doesn't act like that in public a lot - it was really funny!

great update! I love Japanese food!

me too! it was great.

Oh we went to that restaurant the last time we were at WDW (in 2004). I love Japanese too! Ray's face looks really red so I'm sure the sake was making him very silly. So funny about your cook because my DH was saying the same thing and our guy was from NY and his name was something very american as well. I'm posting some pictures of our trip (I hope you don't mind). When I looks back at these pictures they look so little. They were 5 and almost 3, now they are 9 and 7.

Here's one of the kids enjoying their meal. Chicken teryiaki (I'm sure I spelled that one wrong). You can see back then no monorail plates for the kids meal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/cm22nm/ry3D400.jpg

Here's our guy. He was really young but the kids loved him.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/cm22nm/cwvDm9asA3Lw9aMmAbl5etmbAg.jpg

I can't wait to go back again. So glad to hear they are on the dining plan. We have a place right down the street from us that we go every once in a while but it's quite expensive with 5 people going so we only go on special occasions, birthdays, etc.

Thanks for letting me share.

Laura

of course i don't mind! i love looking at pictures. thanks for sharing! your boys were so young. :goodvibes

I was speaking of the BFF part ;) ......I figured Anna would be jealous too but I wasn't going to speak for her :rotfl:

she probably hasn't even seen it yet. she checks her e-mail and myspace account like once a month!

Awww saaaaaanks :blush:

:rotfl2:

Isn't it funny what we love now as adults and children think we are crazy! Oh well he will appreciate in the future :laughing:

he didn't complain about it but his face says it all. he wasn't happy! :laughing: i thought it was cool.

Look at those glasses.....SO cool!!
Chris doesn't look like that tasted so good. Did they enjoy their sake?

you know how boys are - they enjoy things that make them cringe. so yes, they enjoyed it.

I loved seeing the pictures. I haven't seen alot from Teppan Edo. It was great hearing all about it because I think we're planning on going there in June. We have a place like that nearby, where they cook at your table and my kids just love it.

it was great - i recommend it! your kids would love it i'm sure.

Tepan Edo is a must do for us. My kids LOVE that place! They are still talking about the rubber band chopsticks! Totaly fascinated them!

The pictures of Ray are too funny! Looks like the sake was working!:lmao:

it was a lot of fun! i used the rubber band chopsticks too because i've never been able to master the skill of eating with chopsticks. i'm too much of a klutz.

yes, the sake worked just enough to be silly but not obnoxious! :laughing:

:cool1: Awesome review Dawn. I think Anna's hubby looks like a handsome Jack Black.

I want that monorail plate!!!!! That is the coolest thing ever!

We have a teppan style place that the kids love and now I am wondering if we should try Teppan Edo? :surfweb:

I think Flat Dawn would enjoy it. pirate:

:lmao: that's hilarious! i won't tell her that - she will not be able to get the scene in "tropic thunder" where he's tied to a tree and craving heroin out of her head. i don't know if you've seen that movie but if you have you know what i'm talking about! you guys would like teppan edo but if you've already got a plan you like just save it for next time. flat dawn will be happy just sitting on a bench ANYWHERE on property the whole time. ;)

All these pictures of picture taking are cracking me up!! That earlier one was anna pointed your way!

we did that a few times this trip!

Yep....I've decided they are all the same no matter what age.
Tooooooo funny!!

:rolleyes:

Looks like he has a piece of shrimp on top.....YUM!!!!

someone else said that but i know he hates shrimp so that's chicken - it's just shaped funny or something!

What a fun place to eat! We got hooked on Teppanyaki when we were stationed in Okinawa. The Japanese people are the most friendly and gracious I've ever seen.
We don't get to go that often, but we do have a Mongolian Grill here - same type of flavor, but you fill up your plate with raw ingredients, then you add the sauces and they cook it for you on a huge round grill. Not nearly as entertaining!

Thanks for sharing your fun evening! Looks like Ray was having the most fun! :goodvibes

Oh, and thanks for sharing the video of the DL trip in the 50's! I've heard about the "old days" from DH and his uncle - really fun to see!

very cool about okinawa! i was telling someone above that there's a place in tennessee that we go to almost every time i'm home called genghis grill that's just like your mongolian grill place. i love it! glad you enjoyed the DL video!

[punkin413]

Great update! The pictures of Ray are hilarious :laughing: And that monorail plate is SO cool! I'm glad you all had a good time!

he can be a funny guy when he wants to be! we had a blast there.

I am generally not a big fan of asian style food but Teppan Edo always looks like so much fun! I have never seen the Micky volcano before, so cool!

Did Ray and Chris like their Sake? I was going to try it at the Sake stand in the gift shop but my hubby who spent a summer in Japan in college told me it tastes like lighter fluid :lmao: I opted for the plum wine instead!

it's not overly seasoned or sauced, so if you like chicken/steak/shrimp, rice, noodles and veggies, you'd like the food here i think. well, i had the sake at the sake stand in japan last april and it didn't take like lighter fluid (or at least i don't think it did), but it's just a really bold flavor. it's not at all sweet. it's hard to describe. just know that it's STRONG, but bearable. lots of people like it served warm but that's just too intense for me.

Great update. Too bad it took me four days to read it! :rotfl: I really like the black and white photo of all of you. I'm so happy the flood water stopped. That makes for a long/wet day in the parks when it's raining.
Luke's face, when the chef was cooking the meat, was hilarious!!
Ray does a very good walrus impression.:rotfl2:

thanks! yeah, i loved luke's face looking at that raw meat! :rotfl: i told ray what you said about the walrus impression and his face got a little red.

Make that two, please.
They should sell those, of course!

i think so too!!! chris was thinking they could keep it but i just laughed and shook my head no.

[punkin413]

uh oh...I am hooked!

Great trip report, I can't wait for more!

thanks so much for reading! and welcome.

Glad to hear that Teppan Edo was so great......I definitely want to go there next time we're in WDW! :goodvibes That monorail plate was so unique and cute............and Ray with the chopsticks...classic! :lmao:

you guys should try it next time! i bet you'd like it.

Sorry, I know this is a late reply, but I think that guy in the background left something back at the hotel......his kid! :scared1: :laughing:

Loved all of your updates, and I'm glad I'm all caught up!

That Teppan Edo looks great!

Loved the monorail plate, great Disney touch. :love:

What time was it when you finished for Luke to be asleep like that? :confused3 Did it take that long for dinner, or was he just tuckered out from no nap?

:lmao: about the guy with no kid! i didn't even notice that. our ADR was for 4:30. we got sat around 4:45 and i took that picture at 5:52. he was tired from no nap. their nap time at his school is 12:00 and so he was WAY past that! he only slept for about 30 minutes though.

[OneTreeHillAddict]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/cm22nm/cwvDm9asA3Lw9aMmAbl5etmbAg.jpg

This was our chef last time. :goodvibes He still looks exactly the same!

:rotfl2: Don't tell baby DS that's not a monorail dish. He will freak and call you names. :rotfl2:

[MAGICFOR2]

they don't sell them anywhere that i know of. but i'm not positive. if anywhere i'd look at that huge store under teppan edo. yep, that was chicken. he doesn't eat shrimp so i know it wasn't shrimp. probably just an odd-shaped piece. plus tempura batter fries weird sometimes. we have places like stir crazy in tennessee (we visit there a few times a year because of my family) only they're called genghis grill. you put everything in a bowl and it's raw, add your seasonings and sauce, choose rice or noodles and they cook it for you - really good.

yes, the sake worked just enough to be silly but not obnoxious! :laughing:


very cool about okinawa! i was telling someone above that there's a place in tennessee that we go to almost every time i'm home called genghis grill that's just like your mongolian grill place. i love it! glad you enjoyed the DL video!

That's awesome that you have Genghis Grill! That DL video was just so sweet - the people were so naive!

[CanadianWDWfan]

Looks great! I'm keeping it on my list for August. So glad it's on the dinning plan. :)

I'm so glad you showed pics of the elastic chopsticks, DD was afraid to go because she said she can't eat with chopsticks. I've been trying to tell her they have 'special' ones, and you solved my problem. Thanks! ;)

OT- My husband got drunk on Sake at his bachelor party, I've never seen him that out of it, it must be strong. :rotfl2:

Ray is such a cool guy, any guy that can be funny is alright with me. He was entertaining Luke, and it worked. :laughing:

Did you have dessert?

[2xcited2sleep]

Great updates. That Luke is SUCH a cutie! His expressions are priceless. And add me to the list of those who want a monorail/bullet train plate. That's awesome!

Love that the green tea martini tasted like something like cough medicine and you drank it anyway! :laughing: That is totally something I would do. We can't let good alcohol go to waste! And the sips always get easier as you have more...;)

[tinkgurl]

Dawn, I just watched your teacup video that you put up over on DisneyJo's TR and had to let you know that I laughed out loud. It was nice to put your voice to your face! And when Ray was spinning you really fast while you yelled at him to stop? That's SO me and my B/F.:laughing:

[rentayenta]

:lmao: that's hilarious! i won't tell her that - she will not be able to get the scene in "tropic thunder" where he's tied to a tree and craving heroin out of her head. i don't know if you've seen that movie but if you have you know what i'm talking about! you guys would like teppan edo but if you've already got a plan you like just save it for next time. flat dawn will be happy just sitting on a bench ANYWHERE on property the whole time. ;)







I haven't seen Tropic Thunder but I was thinking more Shallow Hal. :rotfl2:


Disney should be selling that as a Monorail plate! :thumbsup2

[DisneyLaura]

This was our chef last time. :goodvibes He still looks exactly the same!

That was taken in 2004. He was really good. The kids loved him how he flipped food into his hat and everything.

[mommy2theAteam]

I noticed you went at Thanksgiving -- we are going the week of Thanksgiving 2009 -- and I wondered how the crowds were? Also - did you do the Mickey and Minnie's Christmas Party? What is it and was it worth it?

[punkin413]

This was our chef last time. :goodvibes He still looks exactly the same!

:rotfl2: Don't tell baby DS that's not a monorail dish. He will freak and call you names. :rotfl2:

like i said before, because we were at epcot, it was the monorail. period. i don't care what it was SUPPOSED to be!

That's awesome that you have Genghis Grill! That DL video was just so sweet - the people were so naive!

i know! it was really neat though.

Looks great! I'm keeping it on my list for August. So glad it's on the dinning plan. :)

I'm so glad you showed pics of the elastic chopsticks, DD was afraid to go because she said she can't eat with chopsticks. I've been trying to tell her they have 'special' ones, and you solved my problem. Thanks! ;)

OT- My husband got drunk on Sake at his bachelor party, I've never seen him that out of it, it must be strong. :rotfl2:

Ray is such a cool guy, any guy that can be funny is alright with me. He was entertaining Luke, and it worked. :laughing:

Did you have dessert?

yeah, you will enjoy it, i bet. they do have forks there but of course, when in rome. that's why i was glad they had the the rubberband chopsticks for kids and klutzy adults like me. i have a question - why did you see your husband at his bachelor party??? :laughing: yeah, ray is usually pretty quiet and introverted but he comes out of his shell sometimes! no, we didn't have dessert. i knew we were gonna head out and walk around WS so i wanted to save room for some liquid dessert! ;) plus everyone was pretty full.

Great updates. That Luke is SUCH a cutie! His expressions are priceless. And add me to the list of those who want a monorail/bullet train plate. That's awesome!

Love that the green tea martini tasted like something like cough medicine and you drank it anyway! :laughing: That is totally something I would do. We can't let good alcohol go to waste! And the sips always get easier as you have more...;)

yep, he's a cutie pie. he's always being silly and anna doesn't know where he gets it but i seet it - he acts JUST LIKE her! and i hear ya on letting good alcohol go to waste! it was drinkable, so i finished it! :laughing:

Dawn, I just watched your teacup video that you put up over on DisneyJo's TR and had to let you know that I laughed out loud. It was nice to put your voice to your face! And when Ray was spinning you really fast while you yelled at him to stop? That's SO me and my B/F.:laughing:

yeah, i don't know what got into him that night! he usually is the one telling me to slow down on the teacups. i don't remember if you read it or not but that's from my april/may 2008 TR (linked below in green).

I haven't seen Tropic Thunder but I was thinking more Shallow Hal. :rotfl2:

Disney should be selling that as a Monorail plate! :thumbsup2

tropic thunder is funny but i wouldn't watch it with my kids. especially that scene. it's hilarious but very vulgar. i'm sure they'd sell those things like hotcakes but i didn't see any anywhere.

That was taken in 2004. He was really good. The kids loved him how he flipped food into his hat and everything.

our chef did that with a piece of shrimp, i think!

I noticed you went at Thanksgiving -- we are going the week of Thanksgiving 2009 -- and I wondered how the crowds were? Also - did you do the Mickey and Minnie's Christmas Party? What is it and was it worth it?

first of all, WELCOME TO THE DISBOARDS!!! i'm sure you're feeling overwhelmed right now but just keep reading and posting and you'll be a disney expert in no time. :thumbsup2

our dates were actually december 10th - 15th. so we were there a couple of weeks after thanksgiving. if you scroll through my TR (trip report) and find a post by memom, look for the link in her signature to her TR that's entitled "over the river and through the fun." go to that link and start checking out her TR. they went the week of thanksgiving this year so that might help you with your questions. and if you post on there and ask anything, i'm sure memom will be glad to help you!

yes, we did the christmas party, but that's the last thing we did this trip and i'm currently on the first day of my TR, so i don't want to give too much away. here' s a GREAT website that describes it for you: http://allears.net/tp/hol_mk.htm stay tuned though - i will get to that part eventually!

[Camster0307]

Ok, I've only gotten to your posts about Teppan Edo, but thought I'd better reply now before I forget what I want to say!

We love that restaurant! So good - esp. the steak. We haven't gone in awhile because I think it's definitely more fun if you're there with a bigger group.

Green Tea martini - never tried that. I'll put it on the list. I've gotten their Sake Martini - sake and gin and I don't think anything else. YIKES!!! That drink will grow hair on your chest!

Had to laugh at your chef Tom. We have a chinese restaurant by us that we go to all the time. It's so good and we often get the same waiter. He's such a nice guy, speaks broken english. I finally asked his name - he tells me Tommy! Not what I was expecting!:laughing:

[TigerKat]

Great update! That Luke is just too cute.:goodvibes

[tinkgurl]

yeah, i don't know what got into him that night! he usually is the one telling me to slow down on the teacups. i don't remember if you read it or not but that's from my april/may 2008 TR (linked below in green).

Yep, I read that one. I guess I forgot about the video. :laughing:

[Lynn5700]

Aww you all look like you had a blast at Teppan Edo. My DH would love to go there..we have not yet. He would love the sake flight.

[CanadianWDWfan]

Well, I wasn't exactly at 'the bachelor party' but it went on into the next morning and lets just say I saw what was left of him, semi passed out and mumbling nonsense that he was soo sorry....:lmao: I think he slept until the next day. :rotfl: At least it was the weekend before our wedding. :laughing: In hindsight, I should have seen it as a sign our marriage was doomed. :rotfl2:

I've never touched the stuff because of that day. :)

[IggyLans]

just FYI - i was told on the food picture thread that luke's monorail was in fact not a monorail, but a bullet train like they have in japan. but because we were at epcot, i'm going to continue to say it was a monorail! :rotfl:

Absolutely, it was a monorail! We thought exactly the same thing when we ate there!

[mansionterror]

Hi Dawn!

I am all caught up now, great report! I think it is great that you spend the trip with your friends and their son. Luke is such a cute little boy and I love all the pics!

[scottny]

great update and pics.

we ate at Tokyo Dining but walked by there and it looked fun.

[FauntleroyFAN07]

i also say a monorial, we really want to go there on our next trip in 2010, just have to talk teh parents into it, they dont like to spend alot of time eating at restraunts when we are in the park.

but i will try and see i can convince them to do it...they have never eaten at a place like that, i have and loved it.

[Becky521]

Hi. I just started your report. I am on the beginning of page 5 where you have donned your Disney ponchos and are heading out into the rain to Epcot.

We just returned from our third Disney Christmas and this was the first we didn't stop at the Boardwalk. Darn! The Donald and Daisy gingerbread display is too cute. Your pictures of the Beach club display are much better than mine.

Looking forward to reading the rest of your report. Thanks for taking us along with you.

Becky

[angela3676]

Hi punkin413, i just found your trip report today. Love what I've read so far, and I loved the 2008 year in review! Waiting for more. Love all the pictures too!

[jordanyosh]

All I'm gonna say about your last update...there's 99.99999999% nice and polite Japanese.....and then there's me....;)

The food looks good....I haven't eaten today yet.....

[Philadisney]

You look so thrilled in that picture where you're holding the green tea martini :rotfl: I love green tea but I find that in green tea flavored "things" the green tea flavor seems to disappear....like green tea ice cream tastes like frozen milk :crazy2: I also once made muffins from a green tea muffin mix and they were vile!

Right now I would do just about anything to have a dish of Tom's freshly prepared delights in front of me! Everything looks so good. Much more delicious than the miso soup in a box that I had for lunch today.

At least I only have...2 MONTHS til I go back! :banana:

PS: That monorail plate - I WANT. You didn't happen to accidentally drop it in your purse after he was done eating did you? ;) OK, I would never do that - but I would want to!

[Eventer98]

I'm finally here Dawn! I will catch up soon :)

[MeMom]

yeah, you will enjoy it, i bet. they do have forks there but of course, when in rome. that's why i was glad they had the the rubberband chopsticks for kids and klutzy adults like me. i have a question - why did you see your husband at his bachelor party??? :laughing: yeah, ray is usually pretty quiet and introverted but he comes out of his shell sometimes!

first of all, WELCOME TO THE DISBOARDS!!! i'm sure you're feeling overwhelmed right now but just keep reading and posting and you'll be a disney expert in no time. :thumbsup2

our dates were actually december 10th - 15th. so we were there a couple of weeks after thanksgiving. if you scroll through my TR (trip report) and find a post by memom, look for the link in her signature to her TR that's entitled "over the river and through the fun." go to that link and start checking out her TR. they went the week of thanksgiving this year so that might help you with your questions. and if you post on there and ask anything, i'm sure memom will be glad to help you!




I'm going to have to go for forks. After seeing Ray's pictures, I'm not sure I'll ever look at chopsticks the same way again!

I second the welcome to the Disboards. There are many, many good people around here who will help answer all of your questions.

If one of us hasn't done it, the other one has.
And if none of us have done it, it doesn't exist! :rotfl:

[englishrose47]

Subbing and trying to catch upam on Page 5!!!

[punkin413]

Ok, I've only gotten to your posts about Teppan Edo, but thought I'd better reply now before I forget what I want to say!

We love that restaurant! So good - esp. the steak. We haven't gone in awhile because I think it's definitely more fun if you're there with a bigger group.

Green Tea martini - never tried that. I'll put it on the list. I've gotten their Sake Martini - sake and gin and I don't think anything else. YIKES!!! That drink will grow hair on your chest!

Had to laugh at your chef Tom. We have a chinese restaurant by us that we go to all the time. It's so good and we often get the same waiter. He's such a nice guy, speaks broken english. I finally asked his name - he tells me Tommy! Not what I was expecting!:laughing:

if you're at teppan edo then you're caught up! we loved teppan edo, too! i don't think that green tea martini had much but alcohol in it, either! it was really strong. but gin and saki? holy cow!

Great update! That Luke is just too cute.:goodvibes

thanks! yep, he's a cutie.

Aww you all look like you had a blast at Teppan Edo. My DH would love to go there..we have not yet. He would love the sake flight.

it's a really great place - maybe you can try it next time!

Well, I wasn't exactly at 'the bachelor party' but it went on into the next morning and lets just say I saw what was left of him, semi passed out and mumbling nonsense that he was soo sorry....:lmao: I think he slept until the next day. :rotfl: At least it was the weekend before our wedding. :laughing: In hindsight, I should have seen it as a sign our marriage was doomed. :rotfl2:

I've never touched the stuff because of that day. :)

gotcha! are you guys still together? not to be nosey - just curious. since you said your marriage was doomed and you're laughing about it, i figured it wasn't a sore subject! :laughing: i totally understand about not touching the stuff. i've gotten sick twice from drinking - once on boone's farm strawberry hill and once from a thing called, "call a cab" from wet willie's in savannah. the call a cab was a red, fruity frozen drink made with pure grain alcohol. that stuff will sneak up on you - i only had 2 and i was sick! anyway, i won't go near either one of those now! just brings back the bad memroies and nausea.

Absolutely, it was a monorail! We thought exactly the same thing when we ate there!

i agree!

Hi Dawn!

I am all caught up now, great report! I think it is great that you spend the trip with your friends and their son. Luke is such a cute little boy and I love all the pics!

thanks! and thanks so much for reading. happy to have you here.

great update and pics.

we ate at Tokyo Dining but walked by there and it looked fun.

it was a blast! i think if you go back with biff's family you should go there - it's more fun with lots of people.

i also say a monorial, we really want to go there on our next trip in 2010, just have to talk teh parents into it, they dont like to spend alot of time eating at restraunts when we are in the park.

but i will try and see i can convince them to do it...they have never eaten at a place like that, i have and loved it.

oh, the food at disney is half the fun for me! but i love to eat. i'm sure they'd like it - it's not all that exotic or anything.

Hi. I just started your report. I am on the beginning of page 5 where you have donned your Disney ponchos and are heading out into the rain to Epcot.

We just returned from our third Disney Christmas and this was the first we didn't stop at the Boardwalk. Darn! The Donald and Daisy gingerbread display is too cute. Your pictures of the Beach club display are much better than mine.

Looking forward to reading the rest of your report. Thanks for taking us along with you.

Becky

hi! thanks for reading! yeah, the donald and daisy gingerbread thing was really cute!

Hi punkin413, i just found your trip report today. Love what I've read so far, and I loved the 2008 year in review! Waiting for more. Love all the pictures too!

thanks for joining in! and thanks for your sweet compliments.

All I'm gonna say about your last update...there's 99.99999999% nice and polite Japanese.....and then there's me....;)

The food looks good....I haven't eaten today yet.....

it was like afternoon when you wrote that.....why hadn't you eaten? you silly boy - you need your nutrition! ray's the same way - he won't eat for hours and i don't get it. i have to have like 4 meals a day or i get grumpy!

anyway, yes, all those peeps were very nice and polite. and then there's you. but we love you anyway!

You look so thrilled in that picture where you're holding the green tea martini :rotfl: I love green tea but I find that in green tea flavored "things" the green tea flavor seems to disappear....like green tea ice cream tastes like frozen milk :crazy2: I also once made muffins from a green tea muffin mix and they were vile!

Right now I would do just about anything to have a dish of Tom's freshly prepared delights in front of me! Everything looks so good. Much more delicious than the miso soup in a box that I had for lunch today.

At least I only have...2 MONTHS til I go back! :banana:

PS: That monorail plate - I WANT. You didn't happen to accidentally drop it in your purse after he was done eating did you? ;) OK, I would never do that - but I would want to!

i agree about green tea flavored things. i got the green tea plum wine slushie in china once and all i tasted the plum wine - yuck! sounds like your BF needs to take you to eat hibachi sometime soon. ;) nope, not ganking the monorail plate here. although anna's purse is so big we probably could've. actually, i don't think we had any purses there - only our backpacks which were filled to the brim!

I'm finally here Dawn! I will catch up soon :)

yay!!!! i'm glad you're here! i was wondering the other day where you were! ;)

I'm going to have to go for forks. After seeing Ray's pictures, I'm not sure I'll ever look at chopsticks the same way again!

seriously! he's such a silly boy sometimes. but he doesn't act like that often so when he does i get a kick out of it.

Subbing and trying to catch upam on Page 5!!!

thanks for coming over! i'm glad to have you here. :goodvibes

[punkin413]

just a non-update for you. i e-mailed the place where i send my videotapes off to get them converted to DVD and they said they were sent in the mail to me yesterday, so i should have them soon. when i get those, i can continue with my TR! the next installment will have video so i have to wait on those.

i also have to share this with you all. when i went to disney world with erica in september, i bought an 11x14 print of the walt disney "vision" poster that i've been wanting for so long. i finally got around to buying a frame for it and hanging it in my office.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00024.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00026.jpg

in case you can't tell, the quote on the bottom (in blue) says, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." -Walt Disney

i just love this picture! there's something about it that makes me smile. :goodvibes here is where i have it hanging in my office - right above my head!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00023.jpg

oh, and this is worth sharing, too. i took this picture a few minutes ago. i have a space heater under my desk and apparently sherman is fond of it too! i can't believe his nose isn't on fire! :laughing:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00029.jpg

[tinkgurl]

I've seen that Walt picture before! It looks great hanging up!

Aw sherman....poor doggie must've been cold! I know I am! It's 1 degree here! :eek:

[aldisneygrl]

OH, to be a dog! :cloud9: Our Trixie loves to lay right in front of the fireplace when my DH comes home for lunch and turns it on. She loves being warm! :love:

[englishrose47]

Had tocomment on"Crimson Tide" DSIL is from Alabama and a big Tide fan !! DGS has his bedroom in Alabama and Crimson Tide !!Not what you'd call the Norm up her in the North!!

[aldisneygrl]

englishrose47 - I'm not a fan, but my DS (15) is. Actually, I was converted this year since they did so well. My DS got the AL sheets and comforter set for Christmas. :thumbsup2 Of course, where we live it IS the norm! :thumbsup2

[englishrose47]

Okay I am now u to Page 20 !! Have to dosome work around here then I wil be back to knoc off a few more pages !! Great review , am loving it !!

[jerseygirl81]

I like that picture of walt with the castle, and your dog looks cute all curled up with the heater. Linda :)

[Happy Elf]

Sherman looks quite comfy! My 2 dogs LOVE our heated mattress pad! I think they love anything warm. Cool poster!

[troobabiee7]

I LOVE that poster! I always see it when we're down there and think about how much I love it :laughing: It looks great in your office. Is that a home office?? It looks so nice!

[hlrababy]

just a non-update for you. i e-mailed the place where i send my videotapes off to get them converted to DVD and they said they were sent in the mail to me yesterday, so i should have them soon. when i get those, i can continue with my TR! the next installment will have video so i have to wait on those.

i also have to share this with you all. when i went to disney world with erica in september, i bought an 11x14 print of the walt disney "vision" poster that i've been wanting for so long. i finally got around to buying a frame for it and hanging it in my office.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00024.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00026.jpg

in case you can't tell, the quote on the bottom (in blue) says, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." -Walt Disney

i just love this picture! there's something about it that makes me smile. :goodvibes here is where i have it hanging in my office - right above my head!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00023.jpg

oh, and this is worth sharing, too. i took this picture a few minutes ago. i have a space heater under my desk and apparently sherman is fond of it too! i can't believe his nose isn't on fire! :laughing:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00029.jpg

Awww, I love that picture!! Where did you buy it? It looks really good!!

Aww, poor Sherman!! He must have been cold!!! :hug:

[iluv2go2disney]

I love the Walt picture. I haven't ever seen it before. It looks great in your office. Sherman is so cute. I'm sure he appreciates you putting that heater there just for him. :laughing:

[Spartangirl]

LOVE the Walt picture.........it really looks great in your office! :thumbsup2 I've never seen that one before! Sherman is way too cute in front of the heater. One of my dogs always stands in front of our heater too and pants the whole time. You'd think she'd get the picture that standing in front of it makes her too hot, but nope! :lmao:

[punkin413]

another season of american idol has started!!! let the obsessing begin. :happytv:

gimme a break - i don't watch much TV. AI, so you think you can dance, big brother and jon & kate plus 8 are my guilty pleasures.

oh, and they're playing coldplay right now. that rocks.

I've seen that Walt picture before! It looks great hanging up!

Aw sherman....poor doggie must've been cold! I know I am! It's 1 degree here! :eek:

thanks! 1 degree???? yikes!!! the high here saturday is supposed to be 11 and that's WAY colder than what i'm used to.

OH, to be a dog! :cloud9: Our Trixie loves to lay right in front of the fireplace when my DH comes home for lunch and turns it on. She loves being warm! :love:

sherman and eli both love that heater and our fireplace but i've never seen his nose touching it like that!

Had tocomment on"Crimson Tide" DSIL is from Alabama and a big Tide fan !! DGS has his bedroom in Alabama and Crimson Tide !!Not what you'd call the Norm up her in the North!!

i was disappointed they didn't win that last game, but they had a great season!

Okay I am now u to Page 20 !! Have to dosome work around here then I wil be back to knoc off a few more pages !! Great review , am loving it !!

thanks! wow - you're going fast! i've only gotten a few updates up. i'm taking my time because we're not going back for awhile and i figure something's got to tide me over. :rotfl:

I like that picture of walt with the castle, and your dog looks cute all curled up with the heater. Linda :)

thanks! he's my baby!

Sherman looks quite comfy! My 2 dogs LOVE our heated mattress pad! I think they love anything warm. Cool poster!

he was! he's such a big lazy bum - he's asleep next to me on the couch right now!

I LOVE that poster! I always see it when we're down there and think about how much I love it :laughing: It looks great in your office. Is that a home office?? It looks so nice!

thanks! yep, that's my office at home. i'm a court reporter and so i work from home when i'm not in court or at a deposition. that's actually our 3rd bedroom. so if/when i get pregnant that will become the baby's room and i'll move my office upstairs to our bonus room. we have to keep the other guest bedroom because i have family from out of town and i like to have a place for them to sleep. :)

Awww, I love that picture!! Where did you buy it? It looks really good!!

Aww, poor Sherman!! He must have been cold!!! :hug:

thanks! i got it at the art of disney store on main street at MK. i've also seen them at the art of disney store at DTD. it was cold in the house today so i'm sure he was!

I love the Walt picture. I haven't ever seen it before. It looks great in your office. Sherman is so cute. I'm sure he appreciates you putting that heater there just for him. :laughing:

thanks! it's really one of my favorites - i just love the meaning behind it. sherman is my baby and he knows i'd do anything for him!

LOVE the Walt picture.........it really looks great in your office! :thumbsup2 I've never seen that one before! Sherman is way too cute in front of the heater. One of my dogs always stands in front of our heater too and pants the whole time. You'd think she'd get the picture that standing in front of it makes her too hot, but nope! :lmao:

thanks! yeah, i saw that on our first trip and i've been wanting it ever since. doggies are so funny! i don't know what we'd do without them.

[IluvXU]

We just finished watching it... been a long time since I laughed that hard. These nights get old... but fun after a long break to see American Idol back.

[troobabiee7]

I love the paint color in there, it's so bright. And :lmao: about American Idol, I was just posting about it in my PTR! I loved season 1, was obsessed with season 2, hated seasons 3, 4, 5, and 6 and then LOVED season 7. David Cook, Michael Johns and Jason Castro were my FAVORITES. I loved Kelly but every other season I rooted for someone who didn't win! I've seen a bunch of past idols in Broadway shows though and they're all so talented, it's so cool to get to watch these people get discovered on TV!

[punkin413]

We just finished watching it... been a long time since I laughed that hard. These nights get old... but fun after a long break to see American Idol back.

i love the first few shows when they show all the ridiculous people. you know those people are asking to be laughed at, so i don't feel bad! :laughing:

I love the paint color in there, it's so bright. And :lmao: about American Idol, I was just posting about it in my PTR! I loved season 1, was obsessed with season 2, hated seasons 3, 4, 5, and 6 and then LOVED season 7. David Cook, Michael Johns and Jason Castro were my FAVORITES. I loved Kelly but every other season I rooted for someone who didn't win! I've seen a bunch of past idols in Broadway shows though and they're all so talented, it's so cool to get to watch these people get discovered on TV!

green has always been my favorite color so i decided to go with that! it's nice and cheery. i've been an AI fan since the beginning, too. kelly remains my favorite idol. that was my favorite season and i'm so glad she won! she is just really talented. i like carrie underwood too but i'm not really into country music so i don't really follow her all that much. and last year i was SO happy that david cook won - i loved him! i don't know if you remember or not but there was a girl on season two that got third place - kimberly locke. she was on celebrity fit club, too, although i didn't really watch that. i went to high school with her. she was two years behind me and had a crush on my best friends boyfriend! :rotfl: it was really neat to follow her and root for her!

[troobabiee7]

green has always been my favorite color so i decided to go with that! it's nice and cheery. i've been an AI fan since the beginning, too. kelly remains my favorite idol. that was my favorite season and i'm so glad she won! she is just really talented. i like carrie underwood too but i'm not really into country music so i don't really follow her all that much. and last year i was SO happy that david cook won - i loved him! i don't know if you remember or not but there was a girl on season two that got third place - kimberly locke. she was on celebrity fit club, too, although i didn't really watch that. i went to high school with her. she was two years behind me and had a crush on my best friends boyfriend! :rotfl: it was really neat to follow her and root for her!

Of course I remember Kimberley! She was so good. I was in love with Clay that season and convinced we'd be married within a few years (oh lord... :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:) so I went to the tour all three nights they were in the area and she sounded amazing! That's so cool that you went to school with her :thumbsup2

I can't wait for Kelly's new stuff to come out. She has such an awesome voice but she's disappeared these past few years! I think her new CD comes out in March.

[tinkgurl]

kimberly locke. she was on celebrity fit club, too, although i didn't really watch that. i went to high school with her. she was two years behind me and had a crush on my best friends boyfriend! :rotfl: it was really neat to follow her and root for her!

That is so cool Dawn!

[punkin413]

so as i was uploading all the pictures for my next installment, i figured out i could break it up into two because i had 78 pictures set aside for it! :scared1: so i will continue writing until we get to the point where ray started videotaping, then in a few days i'll hopefully have our DVDs so i can continue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

after our VERY yummy and entertaining dinner at teppan edo, we came out of the restaurant and it was starting to get dark. it was almost 6:00 at this point. we stood outside the restaurant for a minute talking and they started to light up the buildings - i was able to catch a picture of the lights. for some reason they were flashing them on and off randomly.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/01-3.jpg

we decided to go look around that HUGE store in japan because anna wanted to see if she could find a teapot she liked. ray found a friend on the way....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/02-3.jpg

this store is so ginormous! but i love looking around in there. ray and chris were very happy looking at all the anime stuff. they love all that! we watched the pick a pearl ladies for a minute. here she is drumming away!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/03-3.jpg

pick a pearl????

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/04-3.jpg

when we finally dragged the boys away from the store we went outside and the drummers were starting. it was pretty dark by then so i didn't get very good pics....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/05-3.jpg

anna was carrying luke around and he was getting heavy so chris decided to go get a stroller from the international gateway entrance. while he went over there we took more pictures of world showcase at night!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/06-3.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/07-3.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/08-3.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/09-3.jpg

by this time it was around 6:20. do you remember how we really wanted to see the santas in world showcase? well, that's pretty much impossible to do if you have a dinner ADR there! most of them stop their storytelling by like 7:00 and so i knew it was a lost cause. you really need two days to do epcot and get everything in, especially at christmas time. oh, well! another thing to add to the list of "we'll do that next time." so far on this trip that makes 2 of those: kitchen sink and holiday storytellers. not too bad so far! i've seen worse. :laughing:

we decided to go on over to morocco. anna wanted to go back through the countries they'd rushed through on the way to japan. remember - she's never been to epcot before, at least not as an adult. luke had woken up by then and she, ray and luke all had to go to the restroom, so i told them i was gonna get a drink and meet them back at the restrooms.

i got in line at a kiosk in morocco and got a sultan's colada....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/10-3.jpg

i had heard good things about it and wanted to try one! well, the way they have this kiosk set up, the guy making the drinks is standing WAY up high and so i had to kind of reach to give him the money and get my drink. somehow in doing that i tipped over the drink a little bit and got sticky frozen alcohol all over my hands. nice! :headache: i don't know why they have that kiosk set up so high! thank goodness for the fresh wipes in the backpack!

so in that mess i forgot to take a picture of the drink. sorry! it was really good though! i could really taste the almond liquer in it and it was awesome.

i also got 2 pieces of pistachio baklava at this kiosk. yum!!!!

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29658940&postcount=413

[punkin413]

i went back to the where the restrooms are and i couldn't find ray and anna ANYWHERE! i did get a picture of mo-rockin while i was looking. we didn't stop to watch them but they were sounding really good!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/11-3.jpg

while i was looking, my phone rang and it was chris on his way back to meet us with the stroller. so i met him in front of the tangerine cafe and we found a table to sit at while we waited on one of them to call us. finally ray called and said they were back at the kidcot area. so i led chris back there and we met up with them.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/12-3.jpg

luke had made a mask!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/13-3.jpg

we then left morrocco and headed towards france. we stopped at the famous frozen slushie kiosk and ray got a orange grand marnier slushie and chris got a lemon grey goose one. i was still nursing my colada so i didn't get one. chris LOVED that grey goose - he talked about it all week! :laughing:

i love these pictures! i'm pretty sure anna took both of them. i can't decide which one i like better!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/14-3.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/15-2.jpg

i think france is my second-favorite pavilion next to morocco. i just think it's so pretty!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/16-3.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/17-3.jpg

the stroller was a hit with luke and chris and anna ended up getting one every day for the rest of the trip. oh, and i have to say that disney strollers ROCK! i'm a big sister and have pushed many strollers in my life and these are awesome. they're very light and easy to maneuver. :thumbsup2

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/18-3.jpg

onward we go to england. i had to make a pit stop at the restroom so chris and ray decided to continue their drinking around the world by getting a black and tan at the rose and crown. they ended up having to go inside because the outside stand didn't have them. here they are with their black and tan mustaches! i think ray dipped his nose in it, too! :rolleyes:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/19-3.jpg

great - now he smells like beer! :lmao:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/20-3.jpg

taking a stroll through england.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/21-3.jpg

as we came into canada, off kilter was playing. i think we stopped for a minute to watch them but then kept going.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/22-2.jpg

okay....i have to stop here because this is where we saw the christmas tree and ray started filming. hopefully i'll have my video soon so i can continue! :goodvibes

[tinkgurl]

well, the way they have this kiosk set up, the guy making the drinks is standing WAY up high and so i had to kind of reach to give him the money and get my drink. somehow in doing that i tipped over the drink a little bit and got sticky frozen alcohol all over my hands. nice! :headache: i don't know why they have that kiosk set up so high! thank goodness for the fresh wipes in the backpack!

Well then...now I know I'm never getting a drink from there! I'm too freakin' short!:laughing:

[troobabiee7]

That Sultan's Colata sounds so good! Was it like a Pina Colata?? Love all the WS pics!

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Love all the night shots. I like the first fountain pic the best. You guys seem like you'd be so much fun to hang with at Disney.

I totally agree. It's a multi day thing if you want to do all the holiday stuff in WS. I went two times and still missed a lot of stuff!

I wonder why they kept flipping the lights on and off? :confused3

[scottny]

great update and pics.

I always thought i had a Moroccantini but maybe it was the moroccanrita. either way it was good.

I will what you had next time.

[katiebug86]

I totally agree about having two (OR MORE!) days in Epcot. We only went for one and I only got to see two of the countries in WS. Oh well I'll be back. ;)

Oh and you said you watch American Idol .. that "deep voiced guy" cracked me up!

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, I remember my Sultan's Colada so well -- I just loved it! Can't wait to get another one this summer!

Those night pictures of France are beautiful! Was it cold that night?

[Princesswanabee]

Dawn, thanks for the tip about the Sultan's Colada...I'm definately getting one of these on my next trip! :thumbsup2

[shannon47142]

loved the fountain pictures!! The first one is my favorite:goodvibes

[FauntleroyFAN07]

the santa story tellers are another reason i want to go back at christmas as well, i saw 2 of them in all of the countries, the one at germany is really funny

[DisneyJo]

All caught up Dawn and it sounds as though you're having a great trip so far!

The villa looks lovely, very spacious and wow you did get a lot of rain, I didn't see any from the 4th to 9th of December :confused3

I love Tepp too and it's just been put onto the DDP :thumbsup2

[carol-lamb]

Just found your trip report and had fun catching up. I love the first picture of the fountain in France. I have to remember to show that to my son the next time he comes over. We were at WDW for our 4th Annual Christmas this past December. After my first time at Christmas in 2005, I was hooked. I never thought I would ever go at Christmas and I can't believe I have been lucky enough to go the past four years! I'm looking forward to your next installment with video!

[hobbester]

My cat does the same thing with our foot heater. He lays so close, I have pushed him back before, when he gets up his fur is so warm.
I know what you mean about the story tellers, we didn't see any in December either. There is just too much to do. - Lisa

[disneybound2010]

I'm loving the trip report! After seeing the pics of Teppan Edo, I am seriously reconsidering my dinner ideas for the trip:) I am a huge fan of anything having to do with Japan and DH and I both love Japanese cuisine.

The pictures of the fountain are beautiful. The first one almost looks like it is a frozen fountain. Absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait to read more.

[Megablocks]

I LOVE the "vision" print that you got! I might have to find that for my room.

The picture of Sherman in front of the heater made me laugh because my dog does the same thing! We have a vent in our living room, and as soon as he hears the heat come on, he gets up from wherever he is and goes to lie down in front of it, with his paws pressed up against it. Sometimes he'll even go over there when it's not on and just wait for it.

The pictures of the fountains are so pretty! I love the World Showcase at night. I think that I'm going to try a sultan's colada, too, but I might have to have my dad reach it for me, or be smart like you and make sure that I have wipes in my bag.

[Camster0307]

Ok, Dawn - you're giving me ANOTHER drink I need to try! I don't think I've ever got a beverage in Morocco before - probably because we hit France first and I'm still working on my GreyGoose slushie!

Oh it was a sad day when Lauren didn't fit into the Disney strollers anymore. It was so easy whipping around the parks with her in that thing and we would always pile all of our stuff in their too.

Sherman looks so cute in front of the space heater!

(and we're obsessed with Jon & Kate plus 8 in our house too!)

[burly]

Love Love LOve the grey goose slushie....
Just reading in lurkdom as usual. Great! :thumbsup2 Love your trip reports.:cool1: popcorn::

[winkers]

I love the parks at night! They seem even more magical than during the day!

[rentayenta]

:goodvibes Okay, so one of things I like most about you is you appear so laid back while at WDW. I am so envious. I always feel like the Tasmanian Devil. :hyper:

[KristinAnne]

Seems like a nice stroll around the World Showcase! I"m glad Ray learned to like Epcot!

[jordanyosh]

1. Pistachio Baklava....mmmmmm
2. Grey Goose Slushie....mmmmm
3. Black and Tan.....mmmmmmm
4. Beerstaches....:rotfl2: :rotfl2:

[lmillercrew]

I LOVE the color of your office!!
And, I think that I like the France Pavillion too. Not only is the Eiffle Tower there, but they also have PASTRIES!!! Yummy

[hlrababy]

The fountain pictures are awesome!!!!! Glad to hear the sultan drink was good. That is going on my list for next time!:lmao:

I have to agree with you on the strollers! Those are the best strollers I have ever pushed in my life!! We are definately getting one for Hollie when we go in November! She can walk some, but when she gets tired she will need it!

[MeMom]

I love the Japan shop - so many beautiful, delicate things in there!

The France movie is wonderful. The music and the scenery are beautiful.

Pistachio baklava is delicious, but oh, so sweet!

Your pictures are great. I could picture myself right there walking around with you!

We saw several storytellers this trip. They do add an extra bit of fun to Epcot.

Tell Luke he did a great job on his mask. He's so cute. How's he liking his school? I bet he has all kinds of stories to tell about things he does with his friends.

[Philadisney]

YAY you got a Sultan's Colada! My newfound love....I got one on our august trip and adored it. I love the store in Japan too, one of these days I have to get a pearl! Your pictures of the fountain in France are gorgeous too.

Oh just have to add....I am watching AI right now, I am an avid fan too...ever since season 1! When I was in college my mom took me to meet Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson at one of their concerts and when it was my turn to say hello to Clay I almost fainted :rotfl:

[punkin413]

Of course I remember Kimberley! She was so good. I was in love with Clay that season and convinced we'd be married within a few years (oh lord... :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:) so I went to the tour all three nights they were in the area and she sounded amazing! That's so cool that you went to school with her :thumbsup2

I can't wait for Kelly's new stuff to come out. She has such an awesome voice but she's disappeared these past few years! I think her new CD comes out in March.

that's so funny about clay! :rotfl:

That is so cool Dawn!

i thought it was cool too when i saw her on TV! :laughing:

in case anyone's interested, i pulled out my old yearbooks and found her pictures. and in case you're completely lost, we're talking about kimberly locke from season 2 of american idol. i went to high school with her.

this is from her freshman year (top right).....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/Picture1257.jpg

and her cheerleading picture from that year (top left)....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/Picture1256.jpg

she actually won a talent contest that year. go figure! :laughing:

and because i know it's unavoidable, here is my senior picture. yes, i was a blonde. (bottom middle)

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/Picture1259.jpg

[punkin413]

Well then...now I know I'm never getting a drink from there! I'm too freakin' short!:laughing:

you can have your boyfriend get it for you!

That Sultan's Colata sounds so good! Was it like a Pina Colata?? Love all the WS pics!

it was great! and it was better than a pina colada in my opinion. less sweet with an almond flavor.

Love all the night shots. I like the first fountain pic the best. You guys seem like you'd be so much fun to hang with at Disney.

I totally agree. It's a multi day thing if you want to do all the holiday stuff in WS. I went two times and still missed a lot of stuff!

I wonder why they kept flipping the lights on and off? :confused3

thanks! you guys would be fun to hang out with too! well, we're planning on going back in december 2010 so i'll get another chance at it. who knows about the lights. we'd see them come on and then we'd get the cameras out and then they'd turn them out. and this happened like 3 times!

great update and pics.

I always thought i had a Moroccantini but maybe it was the moroccanrita. either way it was good.

I will what you had next time.

thanks. it was good - that's all that counts! :laughing: the sultan's colada was good - i bet you'd like it.

I totally agree about having two (OR MORE!) days in Epcot. We only went for one and I only got to see two of the countries in WS. Oh well I'll be back. ;)

Oh and you said you watch American Idol .. that "deep voiced guy" cracked me up!

just another excuse to go back! yes, that guy was hilarious! i can't figure out if his voice was real or not.

Oh, I remember my Sultan's Colada so well -- I just loved it! Can't wait to get another one this summer!

Those night pictures of France are beautiful! Was it cold that night?

i think you're the reason i remembered it! :thumbsup2 yeah, it was chilly and it got colder as the night went. i'm thinking it was about 50 degrees or maybe 55.

Dawn, thanks for the tip about the Sultan's Colada...I'm definately getting one of these on my next trip! :thumbsup2

you will love it! ;)

[hlrababy]

i thought it was cool too when i saw her on TV! :laughing:

in case anyone's interested, i pulled out my old yearbooks and found her pictures. and in case you're completely lost, we're talking about kimberly locke from season 2 of american idol. i went to high school with her.

this is from her freshman year (top right).....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/Picture1257.jpg

and her cheerleading picture from that year (top left)....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/Picture1256.jpg

she actually won a talent contest that year. go figure! :laughing:

and because i know it's unavoidable, here is my senior picture. yes, i was a blonde. (bottom middle)

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/Picture1259.jpg

OH MY GOSH!!!! I mean, that is cool you went to school with her, but I am talking about Dawn with blond hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried that once and when I came home my mom told me to take my wig off! Which....it wasn't a wig!!!! It was terrible!!!! I have decided to just stick with the dark colors. But, you dont' look bad at all with blond hair! And of course, besides the hair color you still look the same!!!!!!

[Leleluvsdis]

Oh my!!! You are def making me want to spend more time in Epcot. I normally do Epcot in less than a day, but seeing all the pics of the shops I'm thinking I will have to browse all the shops when we are there in May!!!

[punkin413]

oh, no.....they're playing fantasia on AI!!!!! someone plug my ears!!!!!!! :scared:

loved the fountain pictures!! The first one is my favorite:goodvibes

i will tell anna you said so....i think she took them. i took one but mine wasn't as good.

the santa story tellers are another reason i want to go back at christmas as well, i saw 2 of them in all of the countries, the one at germany is really funny

we got to see one but that will come later. you really have to spend all day in WS to see more than a couple!

All caught up Dawn and it sounds as though you're having a great trip so far!

The villa looks lovely, very spacious and wow you did get a lot of rain, I didn't see any from the 4th to 9th of December :confused3

I love Tepp too and it's just been put onto the DDP :thumbsup2

yeah, it was nice. this was sort of a bonus trip and we really needed to not spend too much, so off property it was. it was nice but i think we're going back to disney next time! ray likes being able to get to and from the resort so easily to take breaks. i guess we got all your rain! :rotfl:

Just found your trip report and had fun catching up. I love the first picture of the fountain in France. I have to remember to show that to my son the next time he comes over. We were at WDW for our 4th Annual Christmas this past December. After my first time at Christmas in 2005, I was hooked. I never thought I would ever go at Christmas and I can't believe I have been lucky enough to go the past four years! I'm looking forward to your next installment with video!

thanks for reading! ray and i are planning on going back in december 2010. who knows? it may become a tradition for us too!

My cat does the same thing with our foot heater. He lays so close, I have pushed him back before, when he gets up his fur is so warm.
I know what you mean about the story tellers, we didn't see any in December either. There is just too much to do. - Lisa

pets are so funny! i've got two doggies asleep on either side of me right now. they are such lazy bums! yeah, there was no way to get everything in that we wanted to, but that's always the case.

I'm loving the trip report! After seeing the pics of Teppan Edo, I am seriously reconsidering my dinner ideas for the trip:) I am a huge fan of anything having to do with Japan and DH and I both love Japanese cuisine.

The pictures of the fountain are beautiful. The first one almost looks like it is a frozen fountain. Absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait to read more.

oh, then you would love it! you sound like me - you're planning your trip 2 years from now! :lmao: thanks for reading!

I LOVE the "vision" print that you got! I might have to find that for my room.

The picture of Sherman in front of the heater made me laugh because my dog does the same thing! We have a vent in our living room, and as soon as he hears the heat come on, he gets up from wherever he is and goes to lie down in front of it, with his paws pressed up against it. Sometimes he'll even go over there when it's not on and just wait for it.

The pictures of the fountains are so pretty! I love the World Showcase at night. I think that I'm going to try a sultan's colada, too, but I might have to have my dad reach it for me, or be smart like you and make sure that I have wipes in my bag.

that's so funny about your dog - it's like he's warming his hands by the fire! :laughing: yeah, definitely get someone to help you if you're on the shorter side like me. that kiosk is so wierd!

Ok, Dawn - you're giving me ANOTHER drink I need to try! I don't think I've ever got a beverage in Morocco before - probably because we hit France first and I'm still working on my GreyGoose slushie!

Oh it was a sad day when Lauren didn't fit into the Disney strollers anymore. It was so easy whipping around the parks with her in that thing and we would always pile all of our stuff in their too.

Sherman looks so cute in front of the space heater!

(and we're obsessed with Jon & Kate plus 8 in our house too!)

another drink? oh, darn! ;) i think i want to steal one of those strollers for when ray and i have a baby! oh, i love jon and kate. i want to kidnap alexis. she's a riot!

Love Love LOve the grey goose slushie....
Just reading in lurkdom as usual. Great! :thumbsup2 Love your trip reports.:cool1: popcorn::

thanks for popping in to say hi!

I love the parks at night! They seem even more magical than during the day!

yeah, world showcase especially at night as SO PRETTY! that was the first time ray had seen it after the sun went down and i think he liked it!

:goodvibes Okay, so one of things I like most about you is you appear so laid back while at WDW. I am so envious. I always feel like the Tasmanian Devil. :hyper:

:rotfl2: OMG.....you don't know how funny this is because ray refers to me as the disney nazi! :lmao: i actually copied the link to your post and sent it to ray, my sister and anna because i knew they'd all get a kick out of it!

Seems like a nice stroll around the World Showcase! I"m glad Ray learned to like Epcot!

it was! yeah, it's growing on him. he really liked illuminations - that's coming up later!

1. Pistachio Baklava....mmmmmm
2. Grey Goose Slushie....mmmmm
3. Black and Tan.....mmmmmmm
4. Beerstaches....:rotfl2: :rotfl2:

you sound like homer simpson! :lmao: i'm so glad you're back, jordan! you can't disappear again when you return from china! ;)

I LOVE the color of your office!!
And, I think that I like the France Pavillion too. Not only is the Eiffle Tower there, but they also have PASTRIES!!! Yummy

thanks! green has always been my favorite. i've never had a pastrie in france - i'll have to remember that!

The fountain pictures are awesome!!!!! Glad to hear the sultan drink was good. That is going on my list for next time!:lmao:

I have to agree with you on the strollers! Those are the best strollers I have ever pushed in my life!! We are definately getting one for Hollie when we go in November! She can walk some, but when she gets tired she will need it!

yep, another drink for you to try! ;) yes, i loved the strollers. i wonder if they'd sell me a used one for cheap! :rotfl:

[punkin413]

I love the Japan shop - so many beautiful, delicate things in there!

i do too! i wish i'd have more time to really take my time and look at everything. i always feel rushed in there!

The France movie is wonderful. The music and the scenery are beautiful.

i've never seen it. another thing on my to-do list!

Pistachio baklava is delicious, but oh, so sweet!

but OH, SO GOOD!!!!

Your pictures are great. I could picture myself right there walking around with you!

thanks! i'm glad i could take you along on the trip.

We saw several storytellers this trip. They do add an extra bit of fun to Epcot.

i wish we could've seen more. we saw some in mexico, which i will get to shortly.

Tell Luke he did a great job on his mask. He's so cute. How's he liking his school? I bet he has all kinds of stories to tell about things he does with his friends.

i will tell him! as far as i know, he loves school. he made a story book where he filled in blanks (kind of like mad libs) and he said that his parents were 10,000 years old. :lmao:

YAY you got a Sultan's Colada! My newfound love....I got one on our august trip and adored it. I love the store in Japan too, one of these days I have to get a pearl! Your pictures of the fountain in France are gorgeous too.

Oh just have to add....I am watching AI right now, I am an avid fan too...ever since season 1! When I was in college my mom took me to meet Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson at one of their concerts and when it was my turn to say hello to Clay I almost fainted :rotfl:

oh, it was soooo good! i wish i hadn't spilled some! that's so funny about clay! i think i'm the only person on earth that didn't like him. i know - how horrible! of course i was rooting for kimberly that season but once she was gone i just couldn't cheer for him - he was too showtune-y for me. which is funny because i love musicals! i think he's really talented though. i hear here's awesome in spamalot!

OH MY GOSH!!!! I mean, that is cool you went to school with her, but I am talking about Dawn with blond hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried that once and when I came home my mom told me to take my wig off! Which....it wasn't a wig!!!! It was terrible!!!! I have decided to just stick with the dark colors. But, you dont' look bad at all with blond hair! And of course, besides the hair color you still look the same!!!!!!

:laughing: my hair has been EVERY color under the sun! i was a lifeguard the summer before that school year and those pics were taken at the beginning of the school year, so i was still really blonde from the sun. i didn't color it, believe it or not! my hair is naturally really dark blonde and i darken it now because it looks like dish water!

Oh my!!! You are def making me want to spend more time in Epcot. I normally do Epcot in less than a day, but seeing all the pics of the shops I'm thinking I will have to browse all the shops when we are there in May!!!

yes, shopping at epcot is a MUST! there's SO MUCH to look at and wish you could buy! :laughing:

[lmillercrew]

I'm with you on the whole Fantasia thing. Don't care for her voice at all!
And, you HAVE to go to the bakery in France when you get back to Disney!

[tinkgurl]

Thanks for sharing the yearbook pics! And Dawn......you haven't changed very much since high school! Still gorgeous as ever.

[disneymom1980]

I missed that there was a new update :(. I was going back in the posts to show DH the pictures from Teppan Edo, and I'm glad that I did, otherwise I might have missed that update all together.

What is it with guys and that statue in Japan? DH insisted on having his picture in front of it while we were at Epcot. The Sultan's Colada sounds really good, but I'll have to be careful not to let DH have any if I order one. He's extremely allergic to nuts, so the almond liquor in it could pretty much do him in. I don't want to add a trip to the ER into our vacation.

[englishrose47]

Slooowly catching up !! Those pix of Teppan Edo are delish !! I may have t change my dining plans yet again !! I love Shrimp and that loked sooooo good !! Someonesaid the train wasn't a monorail but sure looks like it to me and what an awesomeidea for the kids ! My DGS would LOVE it !!

[FauntleroyFAN07]

did they make everyone wear the same dress, all you girls look to have the same dress on , and tuxes for the guys?

[VandyFan10]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/december%20TR/14-3.jpg

I LOVE this pic....so awesome!! :yay:

Is this the night I talked to you??? :upsidedow

[punkin413]

I'm with you on the whole Fantasia thing. Don't care for her voice at all!
And, you HAVE to go to the bakery in France when you get back to Disney!

i think she sounds like an injured bird when she sings. and when she performed on idol last year......:scared:

Thanks for sharing the yearbook pics! And Dawn......you haven't changed very much since high school! Still gorgeous as ever.

awwww...thanks! i think i've changed just because i see every little wrinkle and gray hair!

I missed that there was a new update :(. I was going back in the posts to show DH the pictures from Teppan Edo, and I'm glad that I did, otherwise I might have missed that update all together.

What is it with guys and that statue in Japan? DH insisted on having his picture in front of it while we were at Epcot. The Sultan's Colada sounds really good, but I'll have to be careful not to let DH have any if I order one. He's extremely allergic to nuts, so the almond liquor in it could pretty much do him in. I don't want to add a trip to the ER into our vacation.

glad you saw the update! i don't know about that statue but ray had to jump over a chain to get to it! :confused3 definitely keep your DH away from that drink! i don't know that it has real nuts in it but i'm sure there's a great possibility that it does!

Slooowly catching up !! Those pix of Teppan Edo are delish !! I may have t change my dining plans yet again !! I love Shrimp and that loked sooooo good !! Someonesaid the train wasn't a monorail but sure looks like it to me and what an awesomeidea for the kids ! My DGS would LOVE it !!

teppan edo was great! anna had the shrimp and they were DELICIOUS!

did they make everyone wear the same dress, all you girls look to have the same dress on , and tuxes for the guys?

those are our formal senior pictures. they had the girls put this drape-like thing on. it wasn't a full dress - just the top of one and we had jeans or whatever on because you can't see the bottom half anyway. and yes, the guys wore tuxes on the top half. did you guys not have that done? i thought every high school did that! my mom and dad even did it in the early '70's!



I LOVE this pic....so awesome!! :yay:

Is this the night I talked to you??? :upsidedow

thanks! i think anna took it. yep, that's the night i called you. that picture is coming up soon! anna snapped a pic while i was on the phone with you! :laughing:

[ktmetke]

What does the grey goose slushie taste like? Just curious cause so many people love them.....like a Mike's hard lemonade?

[rentayenta]

:rotfl2: Love the AI chatter. I work with Carmen Rasmusen's dad from AI, I think the same season as Kimberly Locke. Carmen is so cute and her dad is the best!

[winkers]

oh, no.....they're playing fantasia on AI!!!!! someone plug my ears!!!!!!! :scared:

:rotfl2: I felt the same way.....her voice is like nails on a chalkboard.:scared:

[winkers]

What does the grey goose slushie taste like? Just curious cause so many people love them.....like a Mike's hard lemonade?

I think it's like a goose that has been through the food processer and then frozen..........served in a cute glass with a straw,;)

[xoktenox]

Loved the update, as usual. Those black and tan mustaches are too funny :laughing: It sounds like you guys all tried some great drinks, I'm definitely going to have to try a grey goose slushie, all I've heard are great things about it! And just so you know, you made my BF and I to have Teppan Edo be our Epcot dinner res, not Coral Reef like we had originally planned! I'll be sure not to try the green tea martini though, too much vodka doesn't sit so well with me. I had a S'mores martini over the holidays at a restaurant and I nearly got sick it was so strong!

Anna's pictures of the fountain are so beautiful, as is the one that you hung in your office. And speaking of pictures, great senior picture! You really don't look bad as a blonde which is something most people with dark hair can't say!

[Brenle]

Hi Dawn,

Just checked out your new TR. Great read/lots of good photos. No Disney trip in 2009? No 2009 TR? What in the world are you going to do with all your free time? ;)

[LISAMWDW]

All caught up again! Your Dinner ADR looks great! I'll have to go there sometime. Your right Epcot is 2 days to enjoy everything!

I can't believe you walked past Off Kilter! They are great! The front man is kinda hot!;)

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

just a non-update for you. i e-mailed the place where i send my videotapes off to get them converted to DVD and they said they were sent in the mail to me yesterday, so i should have them soon. when i get those, i can continue with my TR! the next installment will have video so i have to wait on those.

i also have to share this with you all. when i went to disney world with erica in september, i bought an 11x14 print of the walt disney "vision" poster that i've been wanting for so long. i finally got around to buying a frame for it and hanging it in my office.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00024.jpg
oh, and this is worth sharing, too. i took this picture a few minutes ago. i have a space heater under my desk and apparently sherman is fond of it too! i can't believe his nose isn't on fire! :laughing:

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00029.jpg

Dawn that picture is stunning . . . where did you get it from?

Sherman is so like my dogs! They adore the heat and hog it so me and DH sit there cold!!

[VandyFan10]

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00023.jpg

VERY COOL!!! :thumbsup2


http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/DSC00029.jpg

So cute! And yes I would think that is HOT! :teeth:

And does anyone else besides me notice that the smiley's get changed around from time to time ??? Strange...and I can't seem to find the little guys I want :crazy2:

[arkie]

Hi Dawn,

Loving your report can't wait for the next update.

[CanadianWDWfan]

My DD loves the Japan gift shop. She is a Pokemon freak! I have to drag her out of there. :rotfl:

I never noticed the statue, very cool.

The fountain pics are beautiful, I could picture myself there drinking a 'Sultan'. :goodvibes

Luke must have loved the stroller, its so much better that he could rest and not have to walk so much, even sleep.

I havn't noticed him with any souveniers, was he not interested? I can't keep my DD out of the toy stores. ;)

The picture in your office is so nice, a very neat way they captured his dream with reality. :thumbsup2

Cute pic of your pup by the heater, I know how he felt. This past week it was freezing here. My car was even coughing when I started it. I wish I could have wrapped it in a large blanket. :lmao:

[troobabiee7]

I love those Yearbook pictures! How cool that Kimberly's in there. And I never, ever would have recognized you if you hadn't told us that was you! You look good blond! I colored my hair blond a few years ago and well... let's just say "never again" :laughing:

[punkin413]

What does the grey goose slushie taste like? Just curious cause so many people love them.....like a Mike's hard lemonade?

it's cool! it's not as malty as a mike's hard lemonade. and of course it's not carbonated either. i think it's a little lighter than mike's. i'm sure you'd like it!

:rotfl2: Love the AI chatter. I work with Carmen Rasmusen's dad from AI, I think the same season as Kimberly Locke. Carmen is so cute and her dad is the best!

cool! i think i remember her. blonde, right?

:rotfl2: I felt the same way.....her voice is like nails on a chalkboard.:scared:

::yes:: :scared:

I think it's like a goose that has been through the food processer and then frozen..........served in a cute glass with a straw,;)

:rotfl2: nice.

Loved the update, as usual. Those black and tan mustaches are too funny :laughing: It sounds like you guys all tried some great drinks, I'm definitely going to have to try a grey goose slushie, all I've heard are great things about it! And just so you know, you made my BF and I to have Teppan Edo be our Epcot dinner res, not Coral Reef like we had originally planned! I'll be sure not to try the green tea martini though, too much vodka doesn't sit so well with me. I had a S'mores martini over the holidays at a restaurant and I nearly got sick it was so strong!

Anna's pictures of the fountain are so beautiful, as is the one that you hung in your office. And speaking of pictures, great senior picture! You really don't look bad as a blonde which is something most people with dark hair can't say!

well, i can't speak for coral reef but we loved teppan edo. i don't know - there's just something about sitting there, watching fish and then eating seafood that bugs me. :rotfl: my sister ate there last july and gave it so-so reviews. i hope you like teppan edo! believe it or not, my hair is naturally very dark blonde. it looks like dirty dishwater so i always color it.

Hi Dawn,

Just checked out your new TR. Great read/lots of good photos. No Disney trip in 2009? No 2009 TR? What in the world are you going to do with all your free time? ;)

thanks for reading!!! well, hopefully in about 6 months i will be spending that time trying to get pregnant. :lmao: that's the plan anyway.

i saw your avatar and just thought i'd mention i just started reading "twilight." i've held out for awhile now just because i usually don't read a lot of mainstream stuff. but one of my best friends is about to die for me to read it, so she let me borrow hers. unfortunately with my job i don't get a lot of free time (other than my DISing time, of course), so i tend to read during lunch breaks where i'm eating alone or while i'm waiting for court to start (i'm a court reporter). i'm sure i'll love it! i just started - right now edward just spoke to bella for the first time.

All caught up again! Your Dinner ADR looks great! I'll have to go there sometime. Your right Epcot is 2 days to enjoy everything!

I can't believe you walked past Off Kilter! They are great! The front man is kinda hot!;)

it was good - i bet you'd like it! we stopped for a second to listen but i'm thinking we wanted to get to the christmas tree and it was just around the corner, so we kept walking. they sounded good though!

Dawn that picture is stunning . . . where did you get it from?

Sherman is so like my dogs! They adore the heat and hog it so me and DH sit there cold!!

i got it at the art of disney store on main street in MK. i also saw it at the art of disney store at DTD. i bet if you called they could ship you one! ;)


So cute! And yes I would think that is HOT! :teeth:

And does anyone else besides me notice that the smiley's get changed around from time to time ??? Strange...and I can't seem to find the little guys I want :crazy2:

he apparently isn't phased by that heater - he's always laying up against it. but i would think that his little cold nose would hurt when it gets hot! and yes, i've noticed the smileys.....it's annoying! i'm too lazy to hit "more" and find the one i want! :rolleyes2

Hi Dawn,

Loving your report can't wait for the next update.

thanks so much for reading!

My DD loves the Japan gift shop. She is a Pokemon freak! I have to drag her out of there. :rotfl:

I never noticed the statue, very cool.

The fountain pics are beautiful, I could picture myself there drinking a 'Sultan'. :goodvibes

Luke must have loved the stroller, its so much better that he could rest and not have to walk so much, even sleep.

I havn't noticed him with any souveniers, was he not interested? I can't keep my DD out of the toy stores. ;)

The picture in your office is so nice, a very neat way they captured his dream with reality. :thumbsup2

Cute pic of your pup by the heater, I know how he felt. This past week it was freezing here. My car was even coughing when I started it. I wish I could have wrapped it in a large blanket. :lmao:

ray's nephew loves pokemon so if he ever goes we'll have to take him in there! although i might never get him out, either. yes, luke saw PLENTY of stuff he wanted. i think all he got that day (besides candy/food) was a figment car. but he saw a pluto plush that he was DYING to have and he kept talking about it so i think they bought it the next day. and he gets some other stuff as the trip goes. i know it has to be soooooo cold up there! it was 34 here today and i didn't want to go outside!

I love those Yearbook pictures! How cool that Kimberly's in there. And I never, ever would have recognized you if you hadn't told us that was you! You look good blond! I colored my hair blond a few years ago and well... let's just say "never again" :laughing:

yep, that's me! i was a lifeguard that summer so my hair was REALLY blonde. i used to keep it blonde all the time. it's naturally very dark blonde but it looks like dirty dishwater so i always color it, whether it's lighter or darker. it's just easier to keep it darker.

[rentayenta]

::yes:: Blond, Utah, Mormon.

She has quite a good voice. My girls met her a couple of times and she's as sweet as she is pretty. Our doc got the girls signed posters CDs- they were so excited.

[Brenle]

thanks for reading!!! well, hopefully in about 6 months i will be spending that time trying to get pregnant. :lmao: that's the plan anyway.

i saw your avatar and just thought i'd mention i just started reading "twilight." i've held out for awhile now just because i usually don't read a lot of mainstream stuff. but one of my best friends is about to die for me to read it, so she let me borrow hers. unfortunately with my job i don't get a lot of free time (other than my DISing time, of course), so i tend to read during lunch breaks where i'm eating alone or while i'm waiting for court to start (i'm a court reporter). i'm sure i'll love it! i just started - right now edward just spoke to bella for the first time.


I'm a court reporter too. We talked about thist last year, I think. But I use a steno machine and believe you use the other system . . . . mask is it?

Anyway, I haven't read Twilight but the movie was sooo good. Took my teenager to see it. I've always loved Rob Pattinson. But now it's legal to because he's 21. ::yes:: First saw him as Cedric in a Harry Potter movie. He was just a wee 17 at the time. I know. I know. Shame on me.

[punkin413]

so i still don't have my DVDs. :sad2: they sent them to me on 1/13 so i figured they would've been here by friday or today, but no such luck. so no update until tuesday at the earliest because monday's a holiday and the mail doesn't run.

now on to the exciting news!

and no, i'm not going to disney world. :rolleyes2

anna, me and my sister have been talking about going to new york city for a girls' weekend and we finally booked the trip today!!!!! :hyper: i can't wait! i've never been there before and i just know i'll love it.

i really don't want to give out too many specific trip details because you never know who reads these things, but here are the general details.

we're going in late may. anna and i will fly to NYC from atlanta non-stop (thank goodness - i hate flying and the shorter the time in the air, the better) and brooke (my sister) will either take a train from connecticut or her boyfriend is going to bring her and stay with a friend of his near the city and then she'll take a train back. she's not sure yet.

i can't wait to fly in and see this!!!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/whitneyjamaica/new-york-city.jpg

we got a great deal on a hotel that's literally steps from times square. :thumbsup2 what's so funny is after i found this deal and sent anna the link to the hotel, she realized it's the same hotel she stayed in last year when she went with her mom and her sister! how funny! of all the hotels in new york. anyway, she loved it and so i knew we'd be good with that one. she said the rooms are tiny but i think that's part of the new york city experience! besides, i don't plan on being in the room much anyway - sort of like at disney world. check it out!!!

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/NYC/819233.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/NYC/523763128208_0_ALB.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/NYC/402336128208_0_ALB.jpg

i thought this was cool. it's near the elevators and it tells you what the weather's like outside.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/NYC/657473128208_0_ALB.jpg

the tiny rooms. they were in the process of renovating last year. i'm guessing that's why there are blank paintings as headboards. now they advertise as having works of art for their headboards.

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/NYC/654073128208_0_ALB.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/NYC/579783128208_0_ALB.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll79/punkin1803/NYC/785683128208_0_ALB.jpg

i'm so excited to step out of my hotel to see this!

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p425/fudgexFUNKY/times-square-1024x768.jpg

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29738034&postcount=467

[punkin413]

here are just some of the things we have on our list so far to do while we're there!

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh306/jazziejazz5/wicked.jpg

metropolitan museum of art....

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk124/utahgirlinnyc/027.jpg

st. patrick's cathedral.....

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk67/sofiaelayne/S7301990.jpg

statue of liberty.....

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll54/pink_hippo_photos/statue-of-liberty.jpg

museum of modern art....

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w275/kiz365/NYC%20-%20May%202007/NYC090.jpg

we've opted to see the view from top of the rock at rockefeller center instead of the empire state building. i've heard it's actually a really neat view and the crowds are a bit easier to deal with. AND you can get a pass to go up twice in one day so you can see the day view and the night view.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee206/julesbecker28/P1000265.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o334/sharon8730/rock-center.jpg

madame tussauds. i'm SO getting my picture made with this one! :lmao:

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w353/viviancp/S7301213.jpg

and this one! pirate:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff175/crisvcf/Londres2007/Londres39.jpg

and possibly even this one.

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w353/viviancp/S7301223.jpg

:scared1: :rotfl2:

central park. i plan on running through here while singing, "how does she know" from enchanted. :p

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll34/bmonezzi/aol_time_warner_central_park_wollma.jpg

i also want to see the ground zero area, but i can't find any pics of it. i know there's not much there but i can't go to new york city without seeing it.

and of course, shopping!!!!!

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc310/caitxxx/macys-new-york-city-store.jpg

http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww100/mjdubois89/New%20York%20City/DSCN0035.jpg

i'm gonna need at least half a day for this next one! ;)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/IU_08/New%20York%20City/IMG_1452.jpg

we also plan on hitting soho, little italy and chinatown for some bargain shopping!

and lest we not forget....THE FOOD!!!!!

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/kimberlydvl_2006/P1000039.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/amynarcik/New%20York/077.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x181/christina_sftb/New%20York/3ea8.jpg

i know we're eating at sardi's on the night that we go see wicked. and i know we will go by serendipity 3 to get something of this sort....

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/le3ga8cy/New%20York/PoconoandNewYork306.jpg

but other than that i'm not sure about where we'll eat. we have 4 months to do the research!

i'm really excited - this will help tide me over at least for a few months of my disney hiatus! :rotfl:

[IluvXU]

NY is super fun... the subway system makes sense too! A girls trip to NY-awesome Dawn! That is a fun World of Disney store too! Have you seen Wicked before?

[tinkgurl]

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w353/viviancp/S7301213.jpg

Hellllllllllllllllllllo Justin Timberlake! :thumbsup2

[arkie]

Dawn, I'm so excited for you. Going to NY is a dream of mine. When my oldest daughter graduates from nursing school next year this may be our
celebration trip. I want to hear all about it.

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Congrats on the booking! You'll totally have a blast there. You'll get your character fix at the World of Disney! Ds has been wanting to go to NYC for a while now. Hopefully we can take him sometime soon. The rooms might be small but they're really cute! The art headboard is a great idea.

[Megablocks]

Awesome that you are going to NYC!!!! That's going to be such a blast!

I saw "Wicked" in NYC a couple of years ago, because my friend and I REALLY wanted to see it, but it wasn't coming back to Boston anytime soon. It was an awesome show. I want to go back and be able to do more. I'm so excited for you!

[aldisneygrl]

Oh, how exciting!!!!:hyper: My husband and I LOVED NYC! We stayed at the Quality Hotel on 47th Street. I believe it has been bought out, and has a new name now. :confused3 I still have all my stuff from that trip, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to PM me. ;) We did the Empire State Bldg., and I would say it was a let down based on how long we had to wait. It is still really COOL to see the views, but the wait was ridiculous.

We have talked about a "girls trip" with all of the ladies that work at my preschool. It would be so much fun.

You can go see the princesses on the top floor in the Disney store too. When we were there, there was NO ONE in there. The princesses were standing around waiting for someone to come see them. :confused3

[LMO429]

How exciting you are coming to nyc! Let me know if I can help you with planning..I live in tribeca.

If you are looking for restaurants suggestions here are a few of my faves in nyc:

Buddakan
Morimoto
STK
Bar Americain
Nobu
Uncle Jack's Steakhouse
Tao
Ago
Del Posto
Revel
Ono
Macelleria

[xoktenox]

Dawn you will have such an amazinggggg time in NYC! We try and get out there every couple of months to do one thing or another (its only like an hour train ride on the LIRR for us.) Funny thing is, I've never been to some of the places you just said and I live so close :confused3

Two places I could suggest going, if you're into these types of things:

1- Ripley's Believe It or Not: such a cool place to take a visit to and not very expensive.
2- Comedy clubs: there are a few really good ones but I would suggest Dangerfield's or Caroline's. Some of the comedians are HILARIOUS

That hotel looks so nice! I like how they tell you the weather at the elevator. You could ask Melissa (troobabiee7) for more suggestions as she lives in Brooklyn, I'm just from Long Island so she'd know better :goodvibes

[MeMom]

This should definitely help take the sting out of your non-Disney year! You'll have a great time, I'm sure, and there will be a little Disney touch mixed in with all of the other stuff. You might be able to even plan a meet with a bunch of NY Disers. That would be fun!

I've always said I'd like to go to NY at Christmas time to see the big tree and the skaters and the window displays and just be a part of the hustle and bustle that is NY at Christmas. Maybe someday I will.

It'll be fun to read a trip report and see pictures of somewhere I have never been. I'm sure we'll get to see New York in an entirely different way than we ever have!

That room did look very small. When you're taking pictures of the room, can you try to get at an angle to make it look bigger for my sake, please?
Just seeing the picture, I'm already worrying about you guys suffocating in there! :crazy2:

Maybe if those windows could be wide open, that would help?!?!? Or the door to the outside hallway or something.

On second thought, maybe I won't ever be able to go to New York. Or if I do, maybe I can just sleep outside in the park. :rotfl:

[DisneyJo]

Dawn it looks like you're going to have a great time, my sister moved to NYC about 3 weeks ago so I hopefully will get to visit at some point :thumbsup2

[Charleston Princess]

You are going to have such a great time in NYC!!! How long are you staying for? Looks like you are hitting a lot of the highlights while you are there!

[jwwi]

Dawn you have some cool pictures of NYC and all the fun sites. Last May I visited with my DH. We loved the boat ride to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Try to book a ticket for the boat prior to getting to NYC. The lines are HUGE to get on the boat if you don't have a timed ticket.:crowded: I did not plan ahead as well as I should have so we waited a long time, we arrived very early in the morning too! You can also take the ferry to Staten Island ferry and have the same view of the Statue. Our tour bus driver suggested this, my DH and son did this when they were there in July for the All Star Game. I know that did not take all morning. You do not get off the ferry on either Liberty Island or Ellis Island. So buy the timed ticket on line if you want to go in the base or stop on the Island. It will be fun to read about your plans.

BTW I loved being right in the Heart of Times Square, we stayed at Millenium Broadway. And I loved the Disney Store too. They have very cool NYC Disney gifts.princess:

[KristinAnne]

NYC is great! You should try to get to Stage Deli (I think that's what it's called). Sandwiches are GREAT...it's been on all the food shows. All sorts of stars have been there. I want to go back!!

[Happy Elf]

Congrats on booking your trip to NYC! I bet you girls will have a blast! NYC is on my list to visit "some day."

[Spartangirl]

Congrats on booking a girls' trip to NYC....It's such a fun city to visit!!! :goodvibes You're going to LOVE Wicked....it's such a great musical!

[ktmetke]

Wicked is the best! You will love it........totally changed what I think about the Wizard of Oz!

[jackdis]

You will have an awesome time in NYC!!! Greatest city in the world. We live about an hour north. We try to go in as much as possible. DH and I LOVE to stay overnight too, even though we are so close! Last year we took the girls to see the Christmas Spectacular and a snow storm was expected, so we made a weekend out of it, with the girls. They love it as much as we do!!

Feel free to ask away if you have any questions, or PM me.

Our favorite restaurants in the area you will be staying:
Virgil's BBQ
John's Pizzeria
Ellen's Starlight Diner

Oooohhhhhh......I am excited for you!!!!

[scottny]

did u get the tickets to the show?

if you need any help I am but an email away.

If you would like company at Serendipity let me know, I will make a sacrifice and go. :rotfl2:

[heatherlizz602]

Hey Dawn,


I've been following along. Your trip reports make me laugh. You guys are so cuteeee.

I just wanted to say you HAVE to hit Juniors while in NYC. That is if you are a fan of cheesecake. Its yummy. And they have the most giant cupcakes ever!!! There is another place I can't think of right now but they have something called "train wreck" french fries I think?. I HAVE to find it. It's so good.:faint: And its not too far from everything else. I will let you know when I find it!!!

[scottny]

Hey Dawn,


I've been following along. Your trip reports make me laugh. You guys are so cuteeee.

I just wanted to say you HAVE to hit Juniors while in NYC. That is if you are a fan of cheesecake. Its yummy. And they have the most giant cupcakes ever!!! There is another place I can't think of right now but they have something called "train wreck" french fries I think?. I HAVE to find it. It's so good.:faint: And its not too far from everything else. I will let you know when I find it!!!

this is so true. and it is right there on 45th st between Broadway(or 7th) and 8th.

[hlrababy]

Oh wow!!! I am so excited for you!! I have always wanted to go to NYC!!! It will be so cool to see all your pictures from there!! Once you get back, you will have to give me the name of your hotel! Me and my mother have talked about taking a trip up there and I would love to get a hotel near everything!!

[VandyFan10]

I'm so excited you are going to NYC :yay: .....and a little jealous :rolleyes:. Do you need another sister to make the #'s even :rotfl:

I'm hoping to go one day. But I will also prob have to do a girls trip b/c Matt has NO interest in going there. And he could give a crap less about seeing a broadway show. Which of course is a MUST for me :upsidedow

I know you will have a wonderful time and already can't wait to see your pics!

[troobabiee7]

I'm so excited for you Dawn! You'll absolutely love it here, it's the best! Just make sure you make a list of what you want to do most, because it'll be hard to fit it all in during one weekend. You usually need at least half-a-day each for both Central Park and the MET, both are gorgeous and HUGE! And by the time you get down to Ground Zero, check out the sites, and take a boat out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, that's almost a full-day outing.

And just be prepared for MOMA. While the MET's full of gorgeous works of art from around the world, Egyptian tombs you can walk through, and period houses, MOMA's a lot more offbeat. It's definitely an experience! We went again this past summer and there were a few installation exhibits that were cool, but then there were rooms full of completely blank canvases that people stood there staring it. It was hilarious! There was also video of a naked woman hula-hooping with barbed wire and it was beyond disturbing. It's a unique place but just be prepared!

Have you gotten your Wicked tickets yet? It's one of the few shows that are still doing really well despite the economic downfall, and it usually sells out months in advance. If you want good seats, make sure you get tickets ASAP!

You're definitely doing the right thing by going to the Top of the Rock instead of the Empire State Building. The ESB's nice, but Top of the Rock is much better! My friends and I go a lot since my dad works in the building and gets us the NBC employee discount, and it's SO much fun! The elevator ride to the top of the building is an experience in and of itself. I have some video I may upload to show you later! Plus the views are unparalleled.... you get a great view of the city, the Empire State Building across the way, and all of Central Park. It's beautiful!

And don't forget about Toys'R'Us Times Square! I know a lot of people don't think about visiting Toys R Us on their vacations, but it's officially the biggest toy store in the world and it's so much fun! You can go on a huge ferris wheel, walk through a life-sized Barbie Dream House, and see animatronic dinosaurs and superheroes. It's really cute in there!

Sardis is great but I'd honestly skip Serendipity III. They have good chocolate, but when we went two summers ago we were greeted by some rat friends :scared: The place has been shut down twice already, after repeatedly failing inspections by the Board of Health for being filthy. I know people love it, but it completely skeeves me out. Plus the customer service SUCKS. They cram as many people as they can into a tiny dump of a room, and they don't offer to-go boxes. If you don't finish your food they don't want you taking it with you. The manager is a piece of work, too, who chargers over-the-top prices and then doesn't care about your experience or food once they have your money. I'd stay away, it's way overrated and there are so many better restaurants to try! If you're looking for a fun experience, Ellen's Stardust Diner is so much fun! It's right there on Broadway and set up to look like an old 50's diner. 50's musicals play on a big screen in the center of the restaurant, and all the waiters and waitresses either were or are on Broadway, and they sing as they bring you your food. The food's delicious too, and you get so much of it! It's not the most authentic experience if you're looking for fine dining, but it's definitely authentically New York!

I'd also put Madame Tussaud's last on your list. Between the sightseeing, museums, attractions, shopping and ethnic neighborhoods (don't miss the West Village either, they have the BEST stores!), you won't have time to do everything and the place is a ripoff. It's fun if you have extra time, but they charge an insane amount of money to take pictures by statues that you can see at any other Madame Tussauds. If you have extra time, I'd do the NBC Studio Tour to see some actual celebrities rehearsing for SNL!

OK, I just wrote you a book :laughing: I'm so excited that you're finally getting to see the city! Keep us updated on your plans!

[2xcited2sleep]

Your NYC weekend sounds fabulous! :goodvibes

[englishrose47]

Enjoy NYC Dawn!! It's also on my to again list!!DD would love to go for the Tanxgiving Day Parade !!

[jackdis]

serendipity's.....frozen hot chocolate....mmmmm...
and junior's cheesecake...mmmmmm....can you tell i'm hungry???
and magnolia's bakery...cupcakes.....

ok, add these to my list from earlier and now i must go wipe the drool from my table!!!

lol....

[disneymom1980]

It looks like you'll have a lot of fun in NYC. DH always said that was one place he'd never go (we're not fans of big cities and crowds), but after seeing Beauty and the Beast and the Little Mermaid at DHS, he's convinced that we need to go see a musical. I have a friend here who's obssessed with Wicked. I bet you'll love it!

[TigerKat]

I am so jealous! I've always wanted to go to NYC.:goodvibes

[punkin413]

wow. thanks for all the info, guys! i will respond to you all each individually in a little while but right now i just have to say....

:cheer2: GO STEELERS! :cheer2: i've never been a pittsburg fan but i just don't want the ravens to go to the superbowl!

[lmillercrew]

You don't need to respond to me, I just wanted to wish you a happy trip to NYC. It's one place that DH and I always talk about going to. I really want to go there at Christmas time and see Rockefeller center.

[punkin413]

WARNING: DO NOT EAT WHILE READING THIS OR YOU'RE LIABLE TO LOSE YOUR LUNCH!

okay....so i was gonna take tonight to respond to each of you. but not now. about 30 minutes ago i had an accident. ray and i were upstairs in our bonus room cleaning and i was walking down the stairs, carrying four heavy yearbooks (remember those pics of kimberly locke i posted earlier?) and i lost my footing, tumbled down about 5 stairs and my right arm landed on some computer equipment ray had sitting at the bottom of the stairs to be brought up later. he was vaccuming and didn't see me do it, but within seconds he looked down the stairs and saw me laying there and must've jumped down the entire flight of stairs because it wasn't even a second between when he cut the vaccum cleaner off and when he was next to me. :rotfl: anyway, he thought i had broken my arm. fortunately i didn't but i knew i had cut it. when i rolled my sleeve up there was a little mound of gelatin-like flesh coming out of the slice in my arm. :faint: i know - that SO GROSS!!!!! i just kept screaming - not from the pain but from what i was seeing. i'm 32 years old and i've never seen anything like that. ray just kept telling me to calm down and walked me to the bathroom and put a cold wash rag on it. then he told me to look away and proceeded to kind of put it back in. :scared: i kept asking him if i should go to the ER and he said no, that it's happened to him a hundred times. we cleaned it really good and put neosporin on it, then bandaged it up but it's hurting BAD right now. not really the cut, but my entire arm probably from the way i landed on it. needless to say, i don't feel like typing so i will get back to you guys later! i will NOT do good with a kid because that FREAKED me out! :sad:

[punkin413]

double post.

[troobabiee7]

OMG that's horrible! :scared1: Thankfully you were more in shock than hurt! You're probably going to be really sore tomorrow so just relax and take it easy. I'm glad you're OK!