NMAmy's Trip Report with no catchy title--Last installment FINALLY posted - 4/12/09

[NMAmy]

If you'd like to skip the pre-trip report babbling, feel free to skip ahead to page 7, post #96. That's where the actual trip report starts!

I’m just going to come right out and admit this: We are a family of procrastinators. We always go to WDW in the spring so that was a given. However, my dd is a senior in high school this year—with AP classes and a job and a school newspaper to edit. So I was holding out for her to give me a definite date when she and her pal could go to Disney World this year.

Let’s see…I’ve been asking since about September. I finally found out at the end of Christmas break. Of course, then I had to wait to get vacation approval after I got back to work. I guess, technically, since I was actually ASKING her back in September that would mean I wasn’t a procrastinator. But I wasn’t asking in a very stern and intense way which means that I was fairly okay with putting off any decisions.

And, so, I found myself in the fun-filled position of trying to schedule one glorious week of vacation at exactly 45 days out. I’ve planned trips before with three months notice but this is my first time at a month and a half. Not stressful at all. Did I mention that this is one of my busiest times of the year at work? But I am not a newbie to planning a trip so I have high hopes that I'll get it all sorted out.

Not to bore my old trip report pals who I’m hoping will peek in here but for any newcomers, this is us:

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/17858wdw197-med.jpg

Amy, Alex, Jen, and Caitlin. The procrastinators--well, Jen gets a pass since she's not related. We look normal, don’t we? Well, normal-ish anyway. Our clothes all match—well, not each other but you know, each individual person’s clothes match so we CAN plan ahead a little bit apparently. It helps that Caitlin packs everything she owns for a one week trip. We don’t do the matching shirts thing. The last thing that child wants is to dress like Mommy. Although she’s never really wanted to dress like me, if I’m totally honest.

I'm embarassed to say we had absolutely no photos of the four of us from our last trip so this picture is from two years ago. :lmao:

So, I’m Amy, a 40-something mom. Alex is my 50-something husband and dd’s stepfather. They’re best pals. Caitlin is, as mentioned before, 18 and her pal, Jen, is 17. Jen’s come along with us for the last couple of years and she is a wonderful traveling companion. We heart her. And we’re really glad she comes along with us because I think we’d have a really hard time getting Caitlin to come on vacation with us anymore unless we brought Jen along as bait.

Those of you who have read my trip reports before will vouch that I will tell you every argument that my dd and I have while on vacation. She pushed me down the stairs at Lights, Motors, Action once. Okay, it wasn’t on purpose. But it was fairly spectacular. I didn’t go up in flames like the cars but I was a bit bruised. I must say, though, she was here at Christmas and she was just a delight. So maybe we won’t have any fights. Ha. Who am I kidding?

My procrastination does NOT extend to the trip report, though. I am very speedy at getting everything posted once we return. I think two weeks after we got back was the very latest I ever finished one. If you stick with me, you’ll get the whole story on a timely basis, cross my heart.

Plans are coming up next!

[NMAmy]

The Plan thus far:
We always stay at the Dolphin. It is our happy place. We love the beds, we love the free upgrades, we love the price, and Caitlin loves, loves, LOVES Picabu’s. (Or Tubbi’s as we still call it.) However, the 4/3 deal came along. Which meant I had to do some math. I hate math.:scared1:

And, sadly, since the Dolphin doesn’t seem to be offering very good deals for the end of February, we had to branch out and try something new. My child does not like to try new things. She likes the Dolphin, darn it, and doesn’t ever want to stay anywhere else, ever, ever, ever. We had the same discussion when Caitlin was about 10 and we decided to try the Dolphin for the first time. She was POSITIVE she’d never like the Dolphin more than All Star Movies. Stars on the bedspread, a popcorn light, and giant Disney symbols. What could possibly compete with that? Then she fell in love with the Dolphin.

A couple of years ago, I made the huge mistake of doing a split stay between the Dolphin and the Wilderness Lodge. While we loved the WL, none of us like the isolation. We like being able to walk “home” after the parks close. And it took Alex and I an hour and a half to get back from the MK one night. So, WL was out for this trip.

Anyway, with all my math, once I had added in all the fees, and the town car, and the tip for the town car driver, I realized that it was actually cheaper by $200 (the gift card really was what clinched it) for us to stay at a Disney deluxe. So, we debated. Caitlin wanted the Grand Floridian (which cost a little more but doable)—Alex vetoed this as too “fancy.” I was voting for the Contemporary with an MK view—Caitlin vetoed this as too “Jetson-y.” We all decided that we really prefer the Epcot area so it was narrowed down to the Beach Club or the Boardwalk.

Then I had to take Caitlin to the airport to go back to New Mexico. (She lives in New Mexico with her dad while she’s finishing high school.) I’m an early bird and she’s a night owl. Her internal clock is also set on New Mexico time—two hours behind me. She had an early, early flight to go back so we stayed in a hotel at the airport.

As I tried to sleep while she watched a CSI marathon, I came to realize something. That we REALLY needed our own rooms. I mean, who can sleep after watching people get murdered all night? Umm…Caitlin and my mother (who shares Caitlin fascination with crime scene investigation), apparently, but not me.

I had always shied away from the DVC villas because I felt bad about making the girls sleep on the couch and I didn’t want to spring for a 2 bedroom. Suddenly, with Horatio discussing really icky stuff, I wasn’t feeling so weird about it anymore. (Does anyone else think that Horatio is a bizarre name for a tv character?)

I pulled the pillow off my head and asked Caitlin, “Hey, do you think you and Jen could sleep on a couch at Disney World?”

Caitlin: Why can’t you and Alex sleep on the couch?

Me: Because we’re paying. If you guys slept on the couch in a 1 bedroom villa, you wouldn’t keep us up at night and we wouldn’t be waking you up in the morning.

Caitlin: Oh, sure, that’s a great idea. Yeah, we’ll sleep on the couch. What are the villas like?

Me: They have a full kitchen and a washer/dryer.

Caitlin: If they have a washer/dryer then I definitely want to stay there.

I’m not sure what that was about because I had no idea laundry was so important to her but I went back to sleep after that. Maybe I dreamt that part. :confused3

When I got back home, I started doing more research. Turns out that both the Beach Club Villas and the Boardwalk Villas had 1 bedrooms available and it would only be about $200 more than we’d originally planned on spending. That seems to be the magic number, doesn’t it? EVERYTHING at Disney World is $200. Even a bottle of water or a Mickey bar. ;)

And then, once again, I procrastinated. Neither Caitlin nor Alex cared which one I picked. I posted a thread on the Resorts Board and most everyone confirmed my inclination to go with the Beach Club—mainly due to being closer to Epcot. I was still waffling so I decided to sleep on it.

I woke up, credit card in hand, with a definite decision. This was it. I was booking the Beach Club Villa, darn it! So, I went online and….yep, the 1 bedroom was no longer available for our dates. I kept checking throughout the day and, nope, it was really not available.

That night, I told Alex that I’d check in the morning and if it STILL wasn’t available, then I’d absolutely book the Boardwalk. Alex pretended to care and promptly fell asleep. But I got to thinking—I’d slept on the Beach Club decision and it wasn’t there in the morning. What if the 1 bedroom Boardwalk villas was gone the NEXT morning? Then I’d be back to square one in the waffling department. :sad1:

I hopped out of bed, ran downstairs, and immediately booked the Boardwalk Villas, standard view. And I’m good with that decision. Finally. :cheer2:

Since it was exactly 45 days before our trip, I had to bite the bullet and pay the entire thing all at once. THAT was a little shocking. With our Dolphin trips, I can pay for individual items (tickets, airfare, town car, etc) and you only pay for one night in advance. Seeing it all lumped together made me gulp and plan a trip to the bank to move some money around. :rotfl:

After obsessively combing the internet for all pictures of the Boardwalk Villas, I am very excited and happy with my choice. If nothing else, it will be fun to try someplace new AND Caitlin will be able to walk to Picabu's very easily, thank heavens.

More plans tomorrow!

[dddisrunner]

:cool1: Yay! Another TR with Amy!! Thanks for the PM! I am so glad the "whole" crew is going again!! 45 days:scared1: that is not near enough time for me to changes around my dining ressies the way I like too:rolleyes1 :rotfl: OK what I am MOST excited about is that we are booked in a studio at the Boardwalk villas for our trip this summer in a standard view, I cannot wait to hear what the views are like and what you think! Hey anything without lattice is pretty good right!;) You will have to take lots of "view" pictures especially for me OK?:goodvibes

[NMAmy]

:cool1: Yay! Another TR with Amy!! Thanks for the PM! I am so glad the "whole" crew is going again!! 45 days:scared1: that is not near enough time for me to changes around my dining ressies the way I like too:rolleyes1 :rotfl: OK what I am MOST excited about is that we are booked in a studio at the Boardwalk villas for our trip this summer in a standard view, I cannot wait to hear what the views are like and what you think! Hey anything without lattice is pretty good right!;) You will have to take lots of "view" pictures especially for me OK?:goodvibes

:lmao: Ah, Diane, I can't believe you remember the lattice! I will absolutely take lots of view pictures especially for you. I'm really very curious as to what we'll end up with. It seems that most people posting their BW views online are those with a view of the actual Boardwalk. I'm really okay with anything we end up with but I hope it's not a dumpster, KWIM? :rotfl:

I don't think I'll have a problem with changing ADR's once I get them set. Oh, yeah, I still haven't made those yet. :scared1:

:hug: Thanks for posting, pal. I'm always afraid I'll write a TR and no one will read it.

[Hedy]

I was to PM you looking for this!
I think you'll like BWV, it's a great location, and the laundry is nice.
How's senior year going? Is Cait still going to your college?

[NMAmy]

I was to PM you looking for this!
I think you'll like BWV, it's a great location, and the laundry is nice.
How's senior year going? Is Cait still going to your college?

Hedy! I'm so glad you're here! :hug: I hope you're doing well, my friend.

Cait is doing great with her senior year. She recently decided to quit cheerleading--it's a year round thing at her school and practically every night and I think it was just too much for her. She's now working at Applebee's and really likes it.

She's changed her mind roughly 7 times just since September about where she's going to go to college. :rotfl: I'm not making any plans until she definitely decides.

Did you stay at BWV or the Inn, Hedy? I'd love to hear all about it. I've walked through the lobby and spent a bit of time at the Boardwalk but I'd love to hear about the rooms!

[Hedy]

Hedy! I'm so glad you're here! :hug: I hope you're doing well, my friend.

Cait is doing great with her senior year. She recently decided to quit cheerleading--it's a year round thing at her school and practically every night and I think it was just too much for her. She's now working at Applebee's and really likes it.

She's changed her mind roughly 7 times just since September about where she's going to go to college. :rotfl: I'm not making any plans until she definitely decides.

Did you stay at BWV or the Inn, Hedy? I'd love to hear all about it. I've walked through the lobby and spent a bit of time at the Boardwalk but I'd love to hear about the rooms!

Glad Cait's doing well. :hug: Senior year is so crazy, and I imagine being on the other side of the country doesn't help at times.
The family stayed at BCV, but I could see the plusses of the DVC villa.

[NMAmy]

Glad Cait's doing well. :hug: Senior year is so crazy, and I imagine being on the other side of the country doesn't help at times.
The family stayed at BCV, but I could see the plusses of the DVC villa.

Thanks, Hedy! I'm really looking forward to trying it out.

I'm anxious to get to Florida and just possibly stay there until spring. It's been snowing here non-stop since 11:00 am on Friday! :scared1: I REALLY need to get to the grocery store--I was busy taking Cait to the airport last weekend so we're running low on stuff like milk and bread and eggs. You know, that french toast stuff that people always buy before a storm. ;) It's actually kind of difficult to put a meal together without any of those ingredients. Last night, I made shepherd's pie at Alex's request but had to use all canned ingredients except for the hamburger and potatoes. It was surprisingly good. Luckily, it's stopped snowing now but we got about 5" so hopefully the roads will be cleared enough for us to make it to the store today!

More plans--
I got the hotel all set and then went to work on actually GETTING to Orlando. Procrastination did pay off a bit--the tickets for Cait and Jen actually went down by $25 each by the time I was ready to get them! :lmao: They'll have to change planes in Atlanta and they'll be coming down on Saturday, 2/21. Alex and I are going to fly down the night before again. We're just so much more likely to run into bad weather coming from Michigan in February that I like to give us lots of lead time to get there before the girls. Once again, I'll be working all day and then catching a bus to Detroit and a plane to Orlando. It makes for a rough beginning to the trip but we'll survive.

Procrastination did NOT pay off in another way, though. I'd found a hotel by the airport that I could have gotten for $45 with points but did I book it right then? Oh, heck, no, because I still was setting up the flights. When I went back the next day, the cash and points option was no longer available. :confused3 I don't know why the heck I didn't go ahead and book it and cancel it if I needed to. Well, I'll keep trying and see what happens that way.

We'll be using ME for the first time ever. Apparently, though, since I paid for the entire reservation in one shot, I can't go back in and add our flight info. I guess I'll have to call and get that set up.

Does anyone know if different members of a party can ride ME at different times? We were thinking that Alex and I might take the ME around noon and have the girls just meet us at BWV via Magical Express when they arrive in the afternoon. It would save us from an afternoon of hanging out at the airport.

Next up--ADR's. I'm going to call today and see if I can get any reservations at 41 days out! :lmao: I'm hoping since it's mostly lunches, we'll be ok. I'll keep you posted!

[dddisrunner]

Thanks, Hedy! I'm really looking forward to trying it out.

I'm anxious to get to Florida and just possibly stay there until spring. It's been snowing here non-stop since 11:00 am on Friday! :scared1: I REALLY need to get to the grocery store--I was busy taking Cait to the airport last weekend so we're running low on stuff like milk and bread and eggs. You know, that french toast stuff that people always buy before a storm. ;) It's actually kind of difficult to put a meal together without any of those ingredients. Last night, I made shepherd's pie at Alex's request but had to use all canned ingredients except for the hamburger and potatoes. It was surprisingly good. Luckily, it's stopped snowing now but we got about 5" so hopefully the roads will be cleared enough for us to make it to the store today!

More plans--
I got the hotel all set and then went to work on actually GETTING to Orlando. Procrastination did pay off a bit--the tickets for Cait and Jen actually went down by $25 each by the time I was ready to get them! :lmao: They'll have to change planes in Atlanta and they'll be coming down on Saturday, 2/21. Alex and I are going to fly down the night before again. We're just so much more likely to run into bad weather coming from Michigan in February that I like to give us lots of lead time to get there before the girls. Once again, I'll be working all day and then catching a bus to Detroit and a plane to Orlando. It makes for a rough beginning to the trip but we'll survive.

Procrastination did NOT pay off in another way, though. I'd found a hotel by the airport that I could have gotten for $45 with points but did I book it right then? Oh, heck, no, because I still was setting up the flights. When I went back the next day, the cash and points option was no longer available. :confused3 I don't know why the heck I didn't go ahead and book it and cancel it if I needed to. Well, I'll keep trying and see what happens that way.

We'll be using ME for the first time ever. Apparently, though, since I paid for the entire reservation in one shot, I can't go back in and add our flight info. I guess I'll have to call and get that set up.

Does anyone know if different members of a party can ride ME at different times? We were thinking that Alex and I might take the ME around noon and have the girls just meet us at BWV via Magical Express when they arrive in the afternoon. It would save us from an afternoon of hanging out at the airport.

Next up--ADR's. I'm going to call today and see if I can get any reservations at 41 days out! :lmao: I'm hoping since it's mostly lunches, we'll be ok. I'll keep you posted!

Too funny about all the snow you are getting! We keep praying it will snow here but because we live about 8 miles from the ocean we always just get coastal slush!:sad2: Sorry about the airport hotel, what a bummer!:headache: As far as magical express goes, when you call just make sure you give them your flight info and Caitlins flight info for your arrival flights. If you are going to travel back to MCO with Caitlin and Jen then make sure you use the same info for all four of you for the return flight so that you will all have a ticket for the same Magical Express pick up time. For example...if you register your flight as a 6pm flight Magical express won't pick you up until 3pm (approx.) and if you register the girls flight for 2pm then they will be picked up around 11am. Does that make sense? The only overall problem that you may run into is because the reservation is under your name, I don't know if they will mail Caitlin and Jen's tags to you or to Caitlin. I guess just ask ME when you call to register, unless the girls will just get there own luggage, then you don't need the tags at all:thumbsup2 Geez Amy, I hoped this helped and didn't confuse the heck out of you:rotfl2:

[NMAmy]

Too funny about all the snow you are getting! We keep praying it will snow here but because we live about 8 miles from the ocean we always just get coastal slush!:sad2:

Coastal slush must be a local term--here we don't have coastal slush but we get lake effect snow! :scared1: It's snowing again today and again tomorrow and then we get below zero temps later in the week. Yippee! You all should come visit and I'll let you play in all my snow. ;)


Geez Amy, I hoped this helped and didn't confuse the heck out of you:rotfl2:

:lmao: It made perfect sense, pal! Thanks for the advice. The girls are going to collect their luggage before catching the bus. I don't want to listen to Cait complain that she doesn't have something vital that she needs.

Hey, has anyone reading here used Garden Grocer? I'm going to order some perishables (well, and pop and beer) and I'm wondering how far in advance I need to do this.

[MickeysMommy]

Yummy...more Alex!!! :lovestruc

[NMAmy]

Yummy...more Alex!!! :lovestruc

:lmao: Ah, if Alex only knew the following he had on the DIS boards. I'm not telling him, btw. The ladies he works with are always swooning over his accent as it is.

I've missed you, pal! Everything going well? :hug:

[MickeysMommy]

:lmao: Ah, if Alex only knew the following he had on the DIS boards. I'm not telling him, btw. The ladies he works with are always swooning over his accent as it is.

I've missed you, pal! Everything going well? :hug:

I've missed you too... :hug: :flower3:

[tinkgurl]

I just found this TR and wanted to let you know that I'm hooked and ready for more! :laughing: Oh wow, I remember being a senior in high school. It goes by so fast! Are you going to make it out to New Mexico for her graduation?

[NMAmy]

I just found this TR and wanted to let you know that I'm hooked and ready for more! :laughing: Oh wow, I remember being a senior in high school. It goes by so fast! Are you going to make it out to New Mexico for her graduation?

Welcome, tinkgurl! I'm so glad you're reading along!

I really can't believe that my child is now legally an adult. :scared1: Luckily, she doesn't seem to realize it yet and still calls to check with me on everything. :rotfl: I'm planning on enjoying it while it lasts.

Yep, we're absolutely going out for her graduation. She's having a party with one of my best friend's sons. They've known each other since they were tiny and I'm really tickled that they've decided they'd like to have their graduation party together. He's about the closest thing to a brother that she's ever had. We lived there for about 15 years so it will be really nice to see all our old friends. :thumbsup2

[tinkgurl]

Yep, we're absolutely going out for her graduation. She's having a party with one of my best friend's sons. They've known each other since they were tiny and I'm really tickled that they've decided they'd like to have their graduation party together. He's about the closest thing to a brother that she's ever had. We lived there for about 15 years so it will be really nice to see all our old friends. :thumbsup2

That will be great!:goodvibes

[NMAmy]

Good news! ADR's have been made. Sunday, after several hours of "All circuits are busy--please call again later," I finally got through. What's up with that? I like to call on Sundays because it's usually easier to get through.

The bad news? Well, I got most everything I wanted (even at a mere 41 days out) but Caitlin has severely limited my dining choices. She didn't give me much input this year but did tell me, "Mom. NO breakfasts. And, please, no character meals." What the heck? No character meals? I told her I was leaving her and Jen and taking my 5 and 3 year old great nieces instead. :lmao: I bet they'd go see Mickey with me.

Anyway, here's the reservations thus far:

Sat - Nothing. :rotfl: Well, last year, Caitlin and Jen fell asleep at dinner on their first day. They'd had to leave at like 3:00 am to make their plane and didn't get in until the afternoon. I decided this year, we'd just kind of play it by ear--maybe grab something at Picabu's and let them take a nap. There's no EMH that night which is kinda weird.

Sunday - Lunch at Le Cellier. I might as well admit something. I'm one of the few Americans that don't like steak. :scared1: I do enjoy hot dogs and apple pie, though. I'm pretty sure that's the only reason I'm allowed to remain a citizen. This does relate--I like Le Cellier's lunch options better than the dinner ones--the dinners really run heavy on the steaks. Plus, I've never had an issue with getting a lunch reservation there.

Monday--Nothing again. :confused3 I'd hoped to do dinner at the Prime Time that night but it was the one reservation I'd requested that wasn't available. So, I'll call again and see if I can change it. If not, we'll go to lunch at Planet Hollywood. Caitlin fell in love with those Captain Crunch chicken strips. Really, they taste WAY better than they sound.

Tuesday -Rose & Crown for lunch. Alex is British and this is his one request every year. I think he likes it because every time we go, the place is just chock full of Brits. :lmao: He usually ends up having lived somewhere near where our server lived. Oh, and I like the Harp. :thumbsup2 Here's the girls last year--we had a blast having dinner with some friends we met up with there. They are our vacation buddies. :rotfl:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/March%207%202008/CIMG1177-1.jpg

Wednesday - Ok, I took this time for dinner at Prime Time. It was my original DTD Disney day. Here's the girls sharing the Viewfinder last year.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/March%206%202008/CIMG1123-1.jpg

Thursday - Biergarten for dinner. Caitlin and Jen are still deciding whether they'll come with us. Cait does love the spatzle. And I love the beer. (Are you sensing a theme here?)

Friday - Sci Fi for lunch. I got the Mystery Science Theater 3000 20th Anniversary dvd for Christmas. We had a blast watching them--Cait said it was a warm up for Sci Fi.

Here's one of my all-time favorite pictures of Caitlin from the Sci Fi. When she was a little girl, she used to ask me if she'd be "freakishly tall" when she grew up. :rotfl:

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/17858wdw126-med.jpg

Oh, and Diane, here's a random picture of Caitlin's stormtrooper boyfriend. :lmao: I thought of Eric when I was going through the photos.

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/17858wdw16-med.jpg

[tinkgurl]

I like the idea of sharing your pics from restaurants that you are returning to!

[NMAmy]

I like the idea of sharing your pics from restaurants that you are returning to!

:lmao: Thanks! I was getting bored by my own trip report so I thought I'd jazz it up a little. ;)

[tinkgurl]

:lmao: Thanks! I was getting bored by my own trip report so I thought I'd jazz it up a little. ;)

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[dddisrunner]

Great ADR list Amy!:thumbsup2 :rotfl: That is so funny about Caitlin and the stromtrooper................Eric is still asking me to call Disney to change Star Wars Weekends so we can see them!:rolleyes1 Aren't kids suppossed to forget things quickly:confused3

[NMAmy]

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

tinkgurl, I just wanted to let you know that I'm about halfway through your trip report and I'm loving it! You and your sister are just cute as all get out. When I get caught up, I'll be posting on your thread!

Great ADR list Amy!:thumbsup2 :rotfl: That is so funny about Caitlin and the stromtrooper................Eric is still asking me to call Disney to change Star Wars Weekends so we can see them!:rolleyes1 Aren't kids suppossed to forget things quickly:confused3

If Eric is anything like Cait, he'll never forget it and he'll always kinda blame you for it. :rotfl: You know how mommies control EVERYTHING, don't you? Poor little guy--I really do feel for him.

[tinkgurl]

tinkgurl, I just wanted to let you know that I'm about halfway through your trip report and I'm loving it! You and your sister are just cute as all get out. When I get caught up, I'll be posting on your thread!

Okay great! I'm glad you're joining in!

[MickeysMommy]

popcorn::

[Maleficent13]

Excellent!! :cool1:

This is definite incentive for me to check in more often. I got a netbook for Xmas so I can surf from the couch, if not from work.

I haven't stayed at BWV but I've always wanted to. I predict you will love DVC and will then say "Dolphin? What's a Dolphin?" :p

[MickeysMommy]

popcorn::

:rolleyes1

[NMAmy]

Aren't kids suppossed to forget things quickly:confused3

:rotfl2: Not in my experience. They're kind of like elephants. I figure Caitlin needs some fodder to use in therapy later, KWIM?

Excellent!! :cool1:

This is definite incentive for me to check in more often. I got a netbook for Xmas so I can surf from the couch, if not from work.

I haven't stayed at BWV but I've always wanted to. I predict you will love DVC and will then say "Dolphin? What's a Dolphin?" :p

:grouphug: I'm so glad you'll be surfing from the couch, my friend. I've missed my identical twin.

I'm very excited about DVC. Not excited enough to buy in necessarily but excited to have a kitchen and a washer/dryer. :thumbsup2

popcorn::

:rolleyes1

I know, I know, more is coming! :rotfl: Nag, nag, nag.

[NMAmy]

Okay, all, sorry I have been such a hopeless slacker. Alex & I had a long weekend with the MLK holiday and we were snowed in for 2.5 days. We snuck out early on Saturday morning as the snow was starting and stocked up on groceries. And we also went to Target so I could get Season Two of The Tudors on dvd. :rotfl: Hey, if I'm going to be snowed in, I want something to watch.

I made great meals that require a lot of prep or cooking time (green chile chicken enchiladas, crock pot pork chops, beef stew with roasted veggies) and I got some much needed cleaning done from after Christmas. You'd think with two weeks off at Christmas that my house would be spotless but you'd be incorrect. I cleaned the extra bedroom, cleaned the pantry, scrubbed the floors--you get the idea. Oh, and I watched The Tudors. So, you can see I didn't have a lot of trip reporting time. :rotfl:

I've always been fascinated with Henry VIII and Elizabeth and all his wives. Hampton Court (one of his palaces) is very close to my SIL's house in England and I love to visit it. Here's a picture from the last trip:

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/17858england_3-med.jpg

It's a great show but don't watch it with the kids in the room--it IS a Showtime series with all that that entails.

Back to the trip report!

I DID manage to accomplish some trip related stuff this week, too.

1. Arrange a dogsitter/housesitter. Check.

Our usual dogsitter isn't available but his brother happily volunteered to stay with our golden retriever, Sunny. It's an easy gig--she's such a mellow dog. He'll stay at the house with her, bring in the mail, and just generally keep an eye on things.

Here she is--she does not like to establish eye contact with the camera. ;)

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/1785837529328-med.jpg

2. Garden Grocer. Check.

I registered and placed our order yesterday. Here's what I've ordered:

12 pack Coke (for the girls)
12 pack Diet Coke (for me!)
6 pack of Corona (definitely for me)
Milk
margerine
bread
bottled water (24 pack)
bagels
cream cheese
Fruity Pebbles (for the girls)
eggs
Orange sweet rolls (for Caitlin--hopefully, she'll share)

I think that should keep us going for breakfasts while we're there. Well, obviously, the Corona isn't for breakfast but you know what I mean.

In my suitcase, I'll be taking:

Raisin Bran (for Alex)
peanut butter - small jar
Kraft mac-n-cheese (for Caitlin) And it has to be "shapes" which means Sponge Bob or Spiderman or Shrek. :rotfl: The regular kind just doesn't taste as good. According to Caitlin.
Microwave popcorn
Poptarts
Powdered laundry soap and dryer sheets
Coffee
Tea

Actually, I think part of this is going in Alex's suitcase, as well.

Oh, speaking of suitcases, has anyone seen ours? Because they have disappeared off the face of the planet. I accused Caitlin of taking them and I hurt her feelings. ;) Well, she comes to stay with one suitcase and always takes two suitcases home. It's logical that she would have them, isn't it? I think her dad probably has more luggage than a suitcase store at this point.

I've looked everywhere I can think of--all the closets, under the beds, storage area. Nothing, nada, no red suitcases. So, we'll be luggage shopping this weekend. And you KNOW that once I buy new luggage, the old stuff will suddenly creep out of its hiding place and pretend like it was there all along.

I think I've finally made a decision on our airport arrival night hotel. The prices around the airport aren't that much lower than a value. I'm calling with a code I found on Mousesavers to see if I can get a discounted price. I'll let you know!

We got our Magical Express stuff and travel documents this week which was very exciting. Well, for me, no one else appeared especially thrilled. :lmao:

Twenty-nine more days! I can officially do the less than 30 day dance now. :cheer2: :cheer2:

Hope you all are doing well!

[Hedy]

:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: 29 day dance.

Good luck getting your suitcases back...;)

[NMAmy]

:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: 29 day dance.

Good luck getting your suitcases back...;)

:rotfl2: I'm resigned to that fact. It's a bummer, too, because one of them was really big and it was my favorite.

[tinkgurl]

Oh, speaking of suitcases, has anyone seen ours? Because they have disappeared off the face of the planet.

Ugh, I hate when that happens! :headache: Now watch, when you come home with brand new suitcases, then you'll find your old ones. :rotfl: Always happens to me. :rolleyes2 By the way, my pictures are working again on my TR so you'll have to go read it! I still have to update my last full day.

[NMAmy]

Ugh, I hate when that happens! :headache: Now watch, when you come home with brand new suitcases, then you'll find your old ones. :rotfl: Always happens to me. :rolleyes2 By the way, my pictures are working again on my TR so you'll have to go read it! I still have to update my last full day.

I absolutely need to get over there and finish your trip report before it's all done! I've loved it so far. :thumbsup2 And I'm a huge slacker for reading and not posting, I'm so sorry.

And, yes, I fully expect to find my suitcases sometime next week! :rotfl2:

[MickeysMommy]

popcorn:: :drinking1

[NMAmy]

I have to mail out Caitlin's plane ticket info and the ME vouchers for her and Jen. We had this discussion the other day:

Me: I'm going to send the vouchers so you two can ride on your own and meet us at the Boardwalk. Do you promise not to lose them?

Cait: (BIG SIGH) Mom. I will not lose them.

I didn't bring up the airport incident. When I took her to the airport after Christmas, we had a little issue. We went the night before since she had an early flight. We stayed at the hotel that is in the airport since Cait has a hard time getting up and moving in the morning.

So, she was rushing around, finishing packing, and as we got ready to leave, I handed her her boarding passes and said, "Do you have your driver's license?"

Caitlin: Jeez, Mom, of course I have my driver's license!!

(You know what's coming, don't you?)

So, we lugged her bags upstairs to check in and waited in an enormously long line. Airline employees were walking up and down the line telling everyone, "Please have your boarding pass and ID ready." Caitlin ignored them. I ignored Caitlin because she's 18 and I have to cut the cord sometime, you know? She's an adult and she functions without me checking up on her for a good chunk of the year.

So, we finally get called up to the counter and Cait opens her purse and says, "Oh, no. I left my wallet in the room."

:scared1: That was me.

On the inside, I was screaming, "I TOLD YOU SO! I TOLD YOU SO!"

On the outside, I calmly said to the counter agent, "Is it ok if I just wait to the side here while she runs back to our room in the hotel?" They agreed and off she went. She did get on the plane just fine but she gave me several new gray hairs. And I don't need anymore.

So--you understand why I might be worried about sending her trip vouchers, don't you?

[dddisrunner]

Ugh! The dreaded suitcase situation! We usually borrow from my mom but this year she had the audacity to plan a trip at the same time!:rotfl: So we are actually on the hunt for a good deal on a suitcase!:thumbsup2

I have learned that I will never believe my kids when they tell me they have "taken care" of something! That ought to win me mother of the year huh!:goodvibes

Love the castle pics!! Sorry about all of the snow, of course we have had none and my poor kids are dying to play in it!! Sounds like Alex was treated to some pretty fine meals!!:goodvibes

[NMAmy]

Ugh! The dreaded suitcase situation! We usually borrow from my mom but this year she had the audacity to plan a trip at the same time!:rotfl: So we are actually on the hunt for a good deal on a suitcase!:thumbsup2

Well, your mother has some nerve! ;) I'll give you the lowdown on the great deals I got in an upcoming post, pal.


I have learned that I will never believe my kids when they tell me they have "taken care" of something! That ought to win me mother of the year huh!:goodvibes

I've been out of the running for that award for many years now!:lmao:

[NMAmy]

So last Friday evening, I was heading home from work and I was a little bummed because I'd gotten kind of used to having mail from WDW every other day and I knew all the reservations/paperwork, etc had arrived already. Seeing as how Mickey is always saying he's my pal and Aladdin has been Caitlin's boyfriend since she was 5, I KNOW we're special to WDW so they ought to be sending me a note every day, right? ;)

I was extremely pleasantly suprised to open my mailbox and more mail from Disney! "Welcome NMAmy Party!" A lovely little letter detailing all the attractions that teenagers love, information about BWV's, and a totally inadequate packing list and ADR list. (THREE Adr's? Who just makes three ADR's??) I was really tickled to know they're so excited we're coming to visit. The trend carried on into yesterday when I got my new planning dvd! I'm hoping they can keep this up until we leave. :thumbsup2

The quest for luggage has been completed. We started at Target. Alex voted for a $200 set. When I mentioned that I wasn't really thrilled with buying top of the line luggage which my ex will end up with, he saw my point.

There was one set of 6 on clearance for $69. Only problem was--I hated the color. It was this greyish green almost bordering on black. I liked the luggage--just not the color. Alex pointed out that if I didn't like the color, Caitlin might not like it either and perhaps we could actually keep it for awhile, I was sold. When the cashier rang it up, it was actually only $49! I told Alex, "Hey, I'm liking the color even better now." ;)

I was also looking for a tote bag with wheels. I have neck issues and carrying my purse plus a carry on bag just kills me. On Sunday, Kohl's had rolling totes for $17 so we checked it out. The bags were kind of flimsy but I decided to get a red medium sized suitcase instead. I still have the big red one from the other set and for $25, we now have two sets of luggage again. I'm ok with Cait stealing the $25 bag. :rotfl2: I'll take the smallest suitcase from the first set and use that to put my purse and everything else for the carryon. I think my luggage issues are all solved now.

Now, I believe I have finally finished planning everything. I called on Saturday night and reserved All Star Sports for our arrival night. All the other values only had preferred rooms available for $20 more. Since we're arriving after midnight and leaving at 11 the next morning, I could care less what our view is and how close we are to the food court. Only problem was, when I went back to check our reservations online, the CM had used my old last name and given Alex that last name, too. I have no idea how she came up with that--I gave her our BWV's reservation to add Cait's flight info and also gave her the name on my credit card to pay for AS Sports and still it came up wrong. She'd misspelled Alex's name, too. :badpc: So, that necessitated one more call to get that all straightened out. It looks ok online but I'm withholding my joy until I get the paper confirmation.

So--hotel reserved, luggage problems resolved, shuttle bus to the airport reserved--all good! I'm waiting to hear back from Garden Grocer since I never got a confirmation from them.

Hey, guess what? We're going to WDW in 24 days! :donald: Now I just have to wait for the weather report so I can decide what to pack. Come on warmer weather!

[Hedy]

Hopefully that luggage will last (unless Cait goes away to college, then you are toast).

[tinkgurl]

I'm a huge slacker for reading and not posting, I'm so sorry.

Hey, don't be sorry! :)

[tinkgurl]

So, we finally get called up to the counter and Cait opens her purse and says, "Oh, no. I left my wallet in the room."

:scared1: That was me.

On the inside, I was screaming, "I TOLD YOU SO! I TOLD YOU SO!"

This would've given me a heartattack for sure! :crazy2:

[NMAmy]

Hopefully that luggage will last (unless Cait goes away to college, then you are toast).

:rotfl2: Ah, Hedy, you're exactly right. I'm hoping this luggage will be too un-cool to go to college.

Hey, don't be sorry! :)

I just like to give feedback! ;)

This would've given me a heartattack for sure! :crazy2:

Luckily, the hotel was IN the airport and right next to the check in area. Hopefully, she won't give me a heart attack in February. She and Jen almost missed their flight last year.

[MickeysMommy]

:wave2:

[NMAmy]

:wave2:

Hi, pal! :wave:

Not too much going on here. I'm home sick today--nothing serious just annoying basically.

I did talk to Caitlin and Jen last night. Between school and her job, Cait and I have spent the last week talking to each other's voice mail. I left her a message on Tuesday night and said, "Hello, you may not remember me, but this is your long lost mother. You can call me Mom. If you'd like to chat and get to know each other, please call me at (my phone number)."

Yesterday at work, I missed a call from Caitlin. This was the message on my voicemail, "Some lady called me from this number claiming to be my mother. Please don't call me again or I'll be forced to notify the police." :rotfl2:

I finally caught up with her and Jen--they were getting pedicures. One of my best friends was at the shop so I chatted with her for a minute, too. Can you tell they live in a small town? ;)

Cait received the ME vouchers and all her flight info. She is once again focused on the washer/dryer. She did ask for some money because apparently none of her shorts fit anymore. Since I can't actually verify that, I'll send her some money. :rotfl: Hopefully, it will be warm enough to actually wear shorts. Heck, it's snowing here again today so I'll be good with just no more white precipitation.

[Maleficent13]

She did ask for some money because apparently none of her shorts fit anymore. Since I can't actually verify that, I'll send her some money. :rotfl:

Um...I could be wrong...but didn't she use this ploy last year, as well? :scratchin I seem to remember something like this. :teeth:

Three ADRS?? I am so with you there! Who makes that many??? ;)

[NMAmy]

Um...I could be wrong...but didn't she use this ploy last year, as well? :scratchin I seem to remember something like this. :teeth:

Three ADRS?? I am so with you there! Who makes that many??? ;)


:lmao: I know you are the queen of no ADR's, pal.

And, yes, Caitlin uses that ploy EVERY year. She's been the same size for a few years now and yet still seems to outgrow her stuff. It's hard to believe but she actually seems to be getting even skinnier now. I'm not sure how she's doing that, she eats like a horse.

[AussieAngel]

Yayyyyyyy, I finally found your pre-trip report!!! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

First of all, I can't believe Caitlin is 18!!!! When did that happen?! I'm sure she was 14 last year. Hehehee, okay, maybe not. In Australia, you can legally drink when you're 18. Lucky you're not in Australia or you might have to share those breakfast Corona's...

Second of all, I totally agree that Horatio is a weird name for a tv character. ::yes:: He doesn't even look like a Horatio. He looks more like a Greg.

Anyway, I really like the sound of your plans so far!! I've always fancied the Boardwalk area, so I'm interested to hear how you like it. And it sounds like you have some yummy restaurants planned! :thumbsup2

I wonder if Jen still has blonde hair!?

I'm so glad you're going back again! You're such a whizz at these trip reports! And you always seem to have such a great time. Such fun to read!!

Yahoooooooo!!!! :yay:

[Maleficent13]

I always wanted to name a son Horatio...the only character with any sense whatsoever in Hamlet.

Lucky for my DD, Horatio is not a gender neutral name. :p

[dddisrunner]

Hey Amy, I hope you are feeling better!:thumbsup2 I would be dealing with an ugly color suitcase for a great price too!:rotfl2:

[NMAmy]

Yayyyyyyy, I finally found your pre-trip report!!! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

I'm so glad you're here! :grouphug:


First of all, I can't believe Caitlin is 18!!!! When did that happen?! I'm sure she was 14 last year. Hehehee, okay, maybe not. In Australia, you can legally drink when you're 18. Lucky you're not in Australia or you might have to share those breakfast Corona's...

Ha, I can't believe it myself. We're actually hoping she'll come along to England with us this summer and Alex's niece and nephews are already planning on taking her to the pubs. :scared1:


Second of all, I totally agree that Horatio is a weird name for a tv character. ::yes:: He doesn't even look like a Horatio. He looks more like a Greg.

:rotfl2: When I asked Caitlin about the Horatio thing, she acted like it was a totally normal name. I think I'll just start referring to him as "Greg" and see what she does.


Anyway, I really like the sound of your plans so far!! I've always fancied the Boardwalk area, so I'm interested to hear how you like it. And it sounds like you have some yummy restaurants planned! :thumbsup2

I wonder if Jen still has blonde hair!?

I'm very excited about the Boardwalk Villas. I'm obsessively looking at pictures online.

I'll ask Cait about Jen's hair for you. Caitlin actually had pink streaks in her hair at Christmas. It was some kind of a fundraiser for breast cancer. I think she's still getting it done because she really liked it. It's actually on a bottom layer of hair in the back so I didn't notice it for 2 days. :lmao: I'm a totally unobservant mom.

Oh, I didn't tell you guys she has plans for a tattoo now, as well. I've tried to talk her out of it but she's 18 and earns her own money so there's not much I can do. She has promised to get it in an unobtrusive area--I think her foot, which sounds like it will hurt like heck.


I'm so glad you're going back again! You're such a whizz at these trip reports! And you always seem to have such a great time. Such fun to read!!

Yahoooooooo!!!! :yay:

You are always so sweet to me--I really appreciate it. Oh, and everyone should take a look at Aussie Angel's dining report. They had some good eats on their last trip! :thumbsup2

[NMAmy]

I always wanted to name a son Horatio...the only character with any sense whatsoever in Hamlet.

Lucky for my DD, Horatio is not a gender neutral name. :p

I would expect nothing less from a woman who named her only daughter "Hepzibah." :rotfl2: I do agree with you on the Hamlet thing. You could have named her Ophelia which is pretty but you run the risk of your child following in her namesake's footsteps and going crazy.

Kidding everyone--Hepzibah is Mal's daughter's code DIS name. And she's adorable--you should pm me a pic soon, Mal, I bet that child is getting big!

[NMAmy]

Hey Amy, I hope you are feeling better!:thumbsup2 I would be dealing with an ugly color suitcase for a great price too!:rotfl2:

Thanks, Diane, I am feeling better! :thumbsup2 Same stuff as last year, unfortunately but at least I'm not contagious. ;)

How is your great suitcase search coming along? I'm going to check in to your pre-TR and see what's new!


Hey, guys, not much going on here--I've gotten my ME stuff for All Star Sports. ( Every time I try to abbreviate it, I realize it's not DIS appropriate. :rotfl2: ) I'm still working on tidying up the house--dusting and cleaning rooms we don't use very often. I'd start packing but have no idea what the weather will be like yet.

Speaking of weather, Cait called last night and asked me what the weather would be like. She seemed a bit annoyed when I told her I wouldn't have any idea for another couple of weeks. :rotfl: My child and my dog both seem to believe that I have complete control over the weather. Trust me, if I was in charge, I wouldn't be getting an inch of snow every darn day. It's too cold for it to melt so getting out of our driveway is getting to be more of an adventure every day! The piles of snow on each side are about 4 feet high.

We'll be having a heat wave tomorrow--the first time over 32 degrees in a couple of weeks. Woo hoo.

That's okay, though. Three weeks from today at this time, I should be all checked in at the Boardwalk Villas and trying to figure out what to have for dinner! :cheer2:

[NMAmy]

Well, I'm not usually the kind of person who changes things a lot. For example, once I move into a house and get the furniture is in place, it is unlikely that it will ever move again except to be pulled out for vacuuming or if we get some new furniture. I think it all over very carefully before committing and once I figure it out, it's set. I'm good. No need to be moving stuff around if it's perfect right now, you know?

And yet I find myself, for probably the first time ever, changing my trip plans around. I usually make the plans and stick with them. I don't call a zillion times for ADR's. I don't change hotels. I make a plan and stick with it. Until now, apparently. We had planned to arrive after midnight on a Friday. But the more I thought about it, the more I REALLY didn't want to do that. It just ruins the whole next day and I end up going to bed at an ungodly early hour. Even for me. Or else I'm crabby and no one wants to see that. So, I'm willing to admit that maybe a midnight flight arrival sounded better in theory a month ago than it does now that it's rapidly approaching.

Luckily, I have a friend who works for the airline that we're flying out on. I managed to rearrange my schedule at work on Friday to leave a little earlier. And now I have my friend checking to see if we can catch a 7:45 flight instead of the later one.

So keep your fingers crossed that we'll be able to get that flight changed. Who knows, if this works out, maybe I'll move some of my living room furniture around this weekend. ;) Right after I reschedule our airport shuttle and the Magical Express. And maybe I'll call Disney Dining to see about that Monday 50's Prime Time Dinner ADR I didn't get last time. Maybe.

[dddisrunner]

My fingers are crossed!! I hope you can switch! We arrived at MCO last April at about 9:40 and by the time we got on Magical Express and got to the AKL which was the 3rd stop it was 11ish...NOT FUN! Hopefully you can get that early flight and be asleep by midnight!:thumbsup2

[Hedy]

Well, I'm not usually the kind of person who changes things a lot. For example, once I move into a house and get the furniture is in place, it is unlikely that it will ever move again except to be pulled out for vacuuming or if we get some new furniture. I think it all over very carefully before committing and once I figure it out, it's set. I'm good. No need to be moving stuff around if it's perfect right now, you know?

And yet I find myself, for probably the first time ever, changing my trip plans around. I usually make the plans and stick with them. I don't call a zillion times for ADR's. I don't change hotels. I make a plan and stick with it. Until now, apparently. We had planned to arrive after midnight on a Friday. But the more I thought about it, the more I REALLY didn't want to do that. It just ruins the whole next day and I end up going to bed at an ungodly early hour. Even for me. Or else I'm crabby and no one wants to see that. So, I'm willing to admit that maybe a midnight flight arrival sounded better in theory a month ago than it does now that it's rapidly approaching.

Luckily, I have a friend who works for the airline that we're flying out on. I managed to rearrange my schedule at work on Friday to leave a little earlier. And now I have my friend checking to see if we can catch a 7:45 flight instead of the later one.

So keep your fingers crossed that we'll be able to get that flight changed. Who knows, if this works out, maybe I'll move some of my living room furniture around this weekend. ;) Right after I reschedule our airport shuttle and the Magical Express. And maybe I'll call Disney Dining to see about that Monday 50's Prime Time Dinner ADR I didn't get last time. Maybe.

Good luck on the changes!

[AussieAngel]

I like the idea of that change!! You know what they say... a change is as good as a holiday! And you'll already be on holidays, so that makes it even better!

Your trip is coming up so quickly!! Yayyyy!! :cheer2:

[MickeysMommy]

:rolleyes1

[jen22984]

Just subscribing. Working on planning our first WDW trip for this fall.

[NMAmy]

My fingers are crossed!! I hope you can switch! We arrived at MCO last April at about 9:40 and by the time we got on Magical Express and got to the AKL which was the 3rd stop it was 11ish...NOT FUN! Hopefully you can get that early flight and be asleep by midnight!:thumbsup2

Thanks, Diane! My friend is still working on it. There are only two seats left on the earlier flight but he seems optimistic. :thumbsup2 It would make me VERY happy if it works out!

Good luck on the changes!


I like the idea of that change!! You know what they say... a change is as good as a holiday! And you'll already be on holidays, so that makes it even better!

Your trip is coming up so quickly!! Yayyyy!! :cheer2:

Thanks, Diane, Hedy, and AussieAngel! My friend is still working on it. There are only two seats left on the earlier flight but he seems optimistic. :thumbsup2 It would make me VERY happy if it works out!

:rolleyes1

I know, I know, I'm a slacker but I'll explain why. ;)

Just subscribing. Working on planning our first WDW trip for this fall.

Welcome, Jen! :wave: How exciting for you! Where are you staying?

[NMAmy]

Well, my apologies for abandoning this thread for so long. Seems like something ALWAYS happens just before we go on vacation, doesn't it? Everybody's health is good this year, so I'm thankful for that. However, there are rumors of layoffs at my work which would be awful but we could survive. Unfortunately, layoffs have also been announced at Alex's work, as well, which kind of threw me into a tailspin. I was feeling incredibly guilty about scheduling this trip. It's all paid for and we have savings and low debt but I was really freaking out.

The news was officially released last night. The odds are that he won't be laid off so we're going ahead as planned. We'll enjoy the trip as usual and when we come back, we'll be very frugal and save, save, save--just in case. So this will probably be our last hurrah until things are more stable. :thumbsup2

On a happier note, I finally spoke with Caitlin last night. I was a little concerned--for the last week and a half, I've only gotten her voicemail. Now, usually, when Caitlin avoids speaking with me, it means she's doing something she doesn't want to tell me about. ;) She knows if she talks to me on the phone, she can't NOT tell me, so she'll just avoid me.

I finally sent her a text on Wednesday and asked her to please respond so I'd know she was ok. I got this message back: "Sorry, Mommy. Really, really busy. I love you!"

Turns out that her job has been scheduling her for close to 40 hours per week. Along with her class load, she was really stressing out. She told me she went in to quit her job last night and they asked her to stay and promised to reduce her hours dramatically. So that's good news. Schoolwork first.

She was at a friend's house working on a school project. They had to rewrite The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as a new poem. Apparently, their teacher does not think Coleridge did a good enough job the first time. :rotfl: They read what they had so far and thought it was hilarious when I told them that their version sounded a bit Dr. Seuss-y.

Thanks all for sticking with me! I'll give some more updates over the weekend.

[MickeysMommy]

:hug:

[Hedy]

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[AussieAngel]

Sorry to hear about your job worries. It's definitely a scary time. Hopefully everything will be fine, and I'm sure you'll have a blast at Disney!! :banana:

You must be getting excited to leave soon!!! :cool1:

[dddisrunner]

Amy, I am so sorry to hear about the job worries!:sad2: I am glad to hear though that Alex's looks pretty good! Enjoy Disney especially if it is a last hurrah of sorts for awhile! Also, with Caitlin going to college next year, it might not be so easy to schedule a trip all together like this so ENJOY it!! You deserve it!:goodvibes

[Maleficent13]

She was at a friend's house working on a school project. They had to rewrite The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as a new poem. Apparently, their teacher does not think Coleridge did a good enough job the first time.

:faint: :rotfl:

I am so sorry for your stress. I'm glad Alex seems to be safe so far. It's sucking out there.

[NMAmy]

Thanks, everyone! Just think good thoughts for us. I'm taking a page from Monty Python and looking on the bright side of life and appreciating what we have instead of worrying about what might happen. :thumbsup2

So...my dog tried to kill me last night. She's usually a mild mannered golden retriever. At night, we have to take her out on a leash because our back yard is like Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom after dark--raccoons, opossums, skunks, bunnies, the occasional deer, and the neighbor's cat are all regular visitors. While I'm not that concerned about the bunnies or the cat but opossums are scarey and skunks are stinky so I don't want her to tangle with either one.

I have her trained so that if I see something, I tell her "No, leave it," and she'll ignore whatever is out there and stay by me. Last night, for some reason, our motion detector light didn't come on as I took her out and I didn't see the bunny hiding in time to tell Sunny no. She took off the deck in a flying leap and pulled me all the way across the deck and slammed me into the railing. I have no idea why I didn't just drop the leash but apparently, I was being a hero. :lmao: I have this issue with the vertebrae in my neck and, of course, the jerking and the sudden stop had me all bent over like Quasimodo last night. I'm all doped up on muscle relaxers. So...woo hoo. :rotfl:

Alex and I have been cleaning house all day in preparation for our house sitter. We're not messy people but the clutter seems to collect in the wintertime and I just don't notice it. Nothing like having someone live in your house for a week to make you clean up the areas that are usually out of public view!

I hope you're all having a great Valentine's Day. I've told Alex in the past how sexy men are when they're vaccuming and cleaning so he's been helping me in honor of the day. We'd agreed not to get each other gift's this year since our trip will be our gift but he got me a box of Mickey & Minnie Mouse Chocolates! They're actually really very good. He said he couldn't resist them.

One week from today, I'll be checking into the Boardwalk Villas! :cheer2: I'm very excited even though the weather report isn't quite as warm as I'd hoped. Since we got 4" of snow last night, I really can't complain about 65 degree weather. We had a little peek of spring last week and everyone was very excited when it hit 60 degrees. It's been below 20 degrees for the entire month of January.

[Hedy]

One week! :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:
I was thinking of you and Cait today, some local restaurant was on a show being all "our chicken fingers are made with captain crunch, we are unique." I may or may not have told the TV that they were liars because PH has them, too.

[NMAmy]

One week! :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:
I was thinking of you and Cait today, some local restaurant was on a show being all "our chicken fingers are made with captain crunch, we are unique." I may or may not have told the TV that they were liars because PH has them, too.

:lmao: That's hilarious, Hedy! I kind of wish that we had a "unique" local restaurant like that so we could hit some other restaurant at DTD. I'm thinking Alex and I may head over there one day because I really want to eat at Raglan Road.

Those big liars.

[AussieAngel]

Heheheheee. Is it wrong to giggle at your dog chasing the bunny story?! Because... heheheee! :goodvibes

I'm sorry you hurt your neck though, ouch! :headache:

How sweet of Alex to buy you Mickey and Minnie chocolates! Aw!

Also, I have an idea. How about we swap weather for a couple of days? You can have our stinking hot summer weather (it reached 117 degrees last weekend!) and I'll have your chills! Wahoo! :thumbsup2

I'm so excited for you! Only 1 week to go!! :yay: :yay: :yay:

[NMAmy]

Heheheheee. Is it wrong to giggle at your dog chasing the bunny story?! Because... heheheee! :goodvibes

I'm sorry you hurt your neck though, ouch! :headache:

How sweet of Alex to buy you Mickey and Minnie chocolates! Aw!

Also, I have an idea. How about we swap weather for a couple of days? You can have our stinking hot summer weather (it reached 117 degrees last weekend!) and I'll have your chills! Wahoo! :thumbsup2

I'm so excited for you! Only 1 week to go!! :yay: :yay: :yay:

:rotfl: It is absolutely fine to laugh! I think I probably looked like a yo-yo being snapped back up as I flew across the deck.

I'll trade you weather for a few days although those wildfires down there have looked terrible. I hope they are dying down now. We used to get them when I lived in New Mexico and they're very scarey. I remember attending a friend's child's birthday party and we had to go inside because ash was falling like snow when Mesa Verde was on fire.

[NMAmy]

Well, rats. I typed up a long update yesterday, hit submit, and the boards were down for an hour. Of course, I hadn't cut and pasted so you will all just have to take my word for it that it was extremely witty and interesting. ;)

I'm getting a bit bummed by the weather forecast. 35 degrees is the low the night we arrive??? What the heck?? Highs in the 60's? I was REALLY looking forward to leaving my winter coat in the car before we left. I'm so sick and tired of that coat.

I had to send a text to Caitlin and tell her, "Bring winter coats, gloves, and REAL shoes. Late night at MK will be 45 degrees." One year we visited it was cold and the only footwear the kid had brought was flip flops! Not exactly warm and toasty when the temps dip down to freezing.

So, I pulled most of the shorts out of my suitcase and added more jeans and sweatshirts. Which means I now have to bring a bigger suitcase. It looks like it may warm up later in the trip and luckily we'll have a washer/dryer in the villa. So, I'm preparing for every eventuality by bringing short sleeved t's, long sleeved t's, sweatshirts, cardigans, jeans, shorts, one skirt, a raincoat, a fleece jacket and my (UGH!) winter coat. Hopefully, I'll be ready for any weather eventuality now! :thumbsup2

Three more sleeps, guys! Four more work days! I'm very excited. :cheer2:

[Hedy]

4 more days! :cool1: :cool1:

[tinkgurl]

I'm getting a bit bummed by the weather forecast. 35 degrees is the low the night we arrive??? What the heck?? Highs in the 60's? I was REALLY looking forward to leaving my winter coat in the car before we left. I'm so sick and tired of that coat.:

Ugh, I hear ya! I'm so ready to put that coat away!

Three more sleeps, guys! Four more work days! I'm very excited. :cheer2:

Oh my gosh, so exciting!!! :banana:

[MickeysMommy]

Um...Hello?!?

Where's the new tag? :rolleyes1

Edit...I didn't see the new sig...I need to have my contacts changed. Love ya pal :hug:
and...I'm still jealous! ;)

[Hedy]

Um...Hello?!?

Where's the new tag? :rolleyes1

Edit...I didn't see the new sig...I need to have my contacts changed. Love ya pal :hug:
and...I'm still jealous! ;)

Omigawd like TOTALLY you're jellus of her, duh! ;)
I'm kindajellus of her two more days, myself.

[MickeysMommy]

Omigawd like TOTALLY you're jellus of her, duh! ;)
I'm kindajellus of her two more days, myself.

Yeah, but it's not because she's going to WDW... ;)

[NMAmy]

Omigawd like TOTALLY you're jellus of her, duh! ;)
I'm kindajellus of her two more days, myself.

Yeah, but it's not because she's going to WDW... ;)

:lmao: MM is jealous of me because I'm married to the totally dreamy Alex. It's his British accent that does it every time.

Two more work days--one more sleep! Tomorrow night I'll be sleeping at the totally cool All Star Sports! Rah, rah, rah! :cheer2:

Oh, yeah, and guess who has a cold? That would be me. Figures--I've avoided it all winter long and then I succumb two days before I go on vacation. Luckily, it's fairly minor but I'm really tired by the time I get home. Now all my preparations seem like a big chore that is interfering with my quality time with a bottle of Ny-Quil. ;)

It might be interesting when I arrive to see what I actually ended up packing. :rotfl: I have a feeling I'm going to forget something really important.

Tonight I'll finish packing and tomorrow morning before work, I'll throw in all the stuff I use daily. Alex has the day off, the dirty dog. The bills are paid but I need to do a quick tidy up tonight.

Yesterday, I had lost my Disney mojo but I think I'm getting it back today!

Oh, and Alex was trying to watch something non-stressful last night and chose the Weather Channel. Huge mistake. I purposely sent the girls through Atlanta because every time I send them through Dallas, they end up with weather delays due to thunderstorms.

I'd like to personally apologize to the citizens of Atlanta for being the one responsible for the thunderstorms that rolled through there last night. ;) Keep your fingers crossed that the weather will stay clear there through Saturday! We're supposed to have clear weather here tomorrow with a big snowstorm coming in on Saturday so we're happy to miss that.

Hope you all are doing well!

[MickeysMommy]

:lmao: MM is jealous of me because I'm married to the totally dreamy Alex. It's his British accent that does it every time.
:faint: :love2:

I'm sorry you have a cold, pal....hope you feel better soon!
I can't wait to hear all about it! Take tons of pics of Alex....oops, I mean of everybody :rolleyes1

[jen22984]

Only 1 more day! YAY!!!:cool1: I've still got 7 months!!! I cant wait! You asked before....we are staying at Pop Century.

[dddisrunner]

I can't believe you are leaving already!:scared1: I hope you are feeling better and have a GREAT trip! I can't believe we still have 4 months!:sad2: I will be thinking of you! Say hi to Mickey for me;)

[AussieAngel]

Wow, your trip has come around so soon!!! :banana: :yay: :woohoo: :cool1:

I hope your cold goes away very soon! And those nasty storms too!!

But yayyyy, you're going to Disney World!! :dance3:

[NMAmy]

:faint: :love2:

I'm sorry you have a cold, pal....hope you feel better soon!
I can't wait to hear all about it! Take tons of pics of Alex....oops, I mean of everybody :rolleyes1

I'm feeling a bit better already, thanks, MM! :thumbsup2 I think I've just talked myself out of the cold. I'll take plenty of pics of Alex for his fan club of you and Mal. :rotfl:

Only 1 more day! YAY!!!:cool1: I've still got 7 months!!! I cant wait! You asked before....we are staying at Pop Century.

That's the one advantage of putting a trip together quickly--you don't have to wait too long for the vacation to arrive! ;) I had hoped to spend our first night at Pop Century but I didn't want to pay for a preferred view that we wouldn't see. It looks like a lot of fun--I'd love to hear all about it when you get back!

I can't believe you are leaving already!:scared1: I hope you are feeling better and have a GREAT trip! I can't believe we still have 4 months!:sad2: I will be thinking of you! Say hi to Mickey for me;)

Thanks, Diane! I will absolutely say hi to Mickey for you. I wish we were able to stay as long as you'll be staying this summer. :thumbsup2

Wow, your trip has come around so soon!!! :banana: :yay: :woohoo: :cool1:

I hope your cold goes away very soon! And those nasty storms too!!

But yayyyy, you're going to Disney World!! :dance3:

I know, I'm so excited! :cheer2: :cheer2: But I have to get through a day of work. I'm all packed and ready to head over to the shuttle when Alex picks me up. He has the day off so I've given him some errands to complete for me. ;)

[SunnieRN]

Just found your PTR and I hope you have a wonderful trip!! Can't wait for the trip report!!

[AussieAngel]

Ooooh, have a FANTASTIC time at Disney World, Amy!!! :yay: :yay: :yay:

I can't wait to hear all about your fun adventures when you return! Hope the weather warms up for you a little bit!

Have a funnel cake for me!! ;)

[NMAmy]

Just found your PTR and I hope you have a wonderful trip!! Can't wait for the trip report!!

:welcome: Sunnie! I'm glad you're here. Thanks so much for the good wishes.

Ooooh, have a FANTASTIC time at Disney World, Amy!!! :yay: :yay: :yay:

I can't wait to hear all about your fun adventures when you return! Hope the weather warms up for you a little bit!

Have a funnel cake for me!! ;)

I will absolutely have a funnel cake for you. I'll probably share it with Caitlin. ;)

2 hours and 22 minutes until I can leave work. :rotfl: That seems like it should be ominous, doesn't it?

I'm absolutely worthless at this point. :lmao: I'll be sleeping at Disney World tonight!

[SunnieRN]

Will you please have a mickey rice krispy treat also?? Love those!!!
Have a wonderful time!!!

[NMAmy]

Will you please have a mickey rice krispy treat also?? Love those!!!
Have a wonderful time!!!

:rotfl: You all are bound and determined to make me gain weight this trip, aren't you? Oh, all right. I GUESS I can eat a Mickey rice krispy treat. I'm only doing it for you, though, Sunnie. ;) Heaven knows I'd never eat sweets except as a favor to my friends. Gosh, I like you guys!

[NMAmy]

Oops, forgot to give the latest countdown. One hour and five minutes to go. Am I annoying you all as much as I'm annoying my co-workers?

[MickeysMommy]

Have a wonderful time, pal. :hug:

[Maleficent13]

It makes me happy to think of you there, even while I'm stuck here in a blizzard. Have a fabulous time!!! :hippie:

[jen22984]

I hope you are having a wonderful time right about now!

[dddisrunner]

Thinking about you guys! I hope you are having a GREAT time! Have a safe flight home!:thumbsup2

[NMAmy]

Have a wonderful time, pal. :hug: Thanks, MM! :hug:

It makes me happy to think of you there, even while I'm stuck here in a blizzard. Have a fabulous time!!! :hippie:
Aww...that's so sweet, Mal. I'm pleased to tell you that we missed about 6" of snow according to my housesitter--and it all melted before we got back. :thumbsup2

I hope you are having a wonderful time right about now!

Thanks so much, jen! We had a blast.

Thinking about you guys! I hope you are having a GREAT time! Have a safe flight home!:thumbsup2

:hug: Hiya, Diane! I am actually sitting here just barely awake waiting to hear from Caitlin that her flight got there finally. We got up at 3:30 this morning to catch a 5:20 Magical Express bus. Cait's flight left at 8:30 and ours left at 11:00. I got a call from Caitlin at 10:30 telling me that they had landed but were stuck on the runway and their connecting flight left at 11:15. :scared1: I spent my whole flight not knowing what was going on. They missed the flight and had to wait until 4:55 pm for the next one, bless their hearts.

We had a great time with a few hiccups. Alex got a very nasty stomach bug and was out of commission for a couple of days. Caitlin was fighting a cold and by Friday, she wasn't feeling well, either. There were huge crowds which surprised me since the UG Crowd Calculator had showed most days as 5's. :confused3 I've learned to pay attention to what date Mardi Gras falls on. :rotfl:

We loved, loved, LOVED the 1 br Boardwalk villa. I don't know if we'll ever be able to stay in a regular hotel room at WDW again. It was really a godsend since everyone was sick.

I took a bunch of pictures and I'll get started downloading them after I get to the store tomorrow and stock up on groceries and other necessities. And do some sleeping!

Hope you all had a great week!

Oh, and Aussie Angel, Jen's hair is no longer blonde! :thumbsup2

[Hedy]

Poor Alex and Cait. Although I found senior year to be a germ-fest anyway, I think life is drawing your energies from germ-fighting, or something.

[AussieAngel]

Welcome back!!! :banana: :dance3: :yay: :cool1: :thumbsup2 :woohoo:

I've been thinking about you and wondering how your trip was going. Bummer about the sicknesses, but I'm sure you had plenty of fun times too. :)

Ooh, Jen's hair is no longer blonde! I wonder what colour it is then!! I guess I'll wait and see!

Can't wait to start hearing about your trip!! :yay:

[dddisrunner]

Welcome home Amy!! So sorry to hear that poor Alex and Caitlin weren't feeling well!! That is the worst when you are on vacation:sad2: Glad to hear you loved the BWV and I can't wait to hear all about your trip!!:thumbsup2

[NMAmy]

The first installment is about our travel time--sorry, there are no pictures in this installment. It was late at night and we mostly just saw the inside of airports and buses. ;) You all know what those look like.

Friday, 2/20/09

I managed to get out of work right on time and Alex was waiting for me. We took the Michigan Flyer from East Lansing to the Detroit airport. We’ve been doing this for a few years now and just finally realized that there is a skyway from the parking ramp to the pick up area across the street. Duh. :confused3 So for once, we didn’t have to dodge cars while balancing several suitcases and carry on items.

We had an uneventful trip down and got our luggage checked very easily. There was a huge line for security but one of the security guards sent us to the totally empty security check point at the hotel in the terminal. It was great!

We had a wonderful gourmet meal at McDonald’s and waited for our flight. It was a totally full flight but we were just really tickled to be leaving earlier. As we were boarding, a woman and her family cut in front of me which wasn’t a big deal except she blocked the aisle for a full five minutes while she struggled with getting a too big backpack into the overhead compartment. Just a slight vent but does anyone else wish that the airlines would just go back to charging a bit more and checking luggage for free? I'm really tired of everyone carting along all their belongings on the plane now--and using up all the overhead space.

There were also a lot of parents to whom boarding passes and seat assignments appeared to be a complete mystery. Honestly, if your kids are teens, hand them a boarding pass and have them sit down--it's only for 2.5 hours. Some folks spent 15 minutes with everyone in the family switching seats like it was a game of musical chairs with no catchy song playing.

Then, the cutter woman was standing up and complaining as everyone went past about how awful it was that she wasn’t sitting with her children. I could understand if her kids were tiny but they appeared to be about 9, 7, and 5. The three children were all sitting together in the row in front of her. It’s not like they were miles away and I’m not sure if she expected the airline to add a fourth seat for her or what. The minute we were in the air, that woman stood up and hovered over her children’s seats in front of her and stayed there until we were landing and the flight attendants made her sit her behind down. She drove me insane. I told Alex she definitely had the Best Mommy EVER award all locked up for this year. Personally, I have never been in the running for that award. I’d have been like the other mother who got to hear the Best Mommy’s story as she was passing by and said breezily, “Oh, yeah, my kids are up there somewhere.” She waved a hand languidly toward her seat and was thankful to be able to have some alone time.:rotfl:

We got in to MCO on time and made our way down to baggage claim. Since we were arriving so late to a value resort and were checking out in the morning, it just seemed safer to pick up our own luggage. It was no big deal—our luggage came in on the B side so we collected it and headed down one more floor to the ME check in. Just a note on the luggage—I think with everyone using ME or carrying all their worldly belongings on to the plane, it’s SO much easier and faster for the luggage to make it to the carousel now. Our bags had just come out as we arrived and there were only a few bags that joined ours.

We went down one more set of escalators and began the long walk toward the ME counter. For some reason, I was expecting it to be on the left side so it took me awhile to realize that it was on the right side as we were walking down there. The line was very short and we checked in fairly quickly although there was some confusion about the girls coming in the next day and all of us leaving at the same time from a different resort on the way home. (I like to make things complicated.) Alex got annoyed because the guy who waited on me made him go stand at the end of the counter and yet there were whole families camped out with kids running around in the same area.

We were the only ones in the waiting area and were quickly ushered to our bus. I had a horrible headache by this point and, of course, there were some really cute little kids on the bus with REALLY high pitched, screechy voices. Luckily for Alex, the pitch was high enough that he couldn’t hear them but he told me he could tell every time one of them would let out a yell because I’d flinch. Their parents did try to quiet them down and the dad cracked me up by telling the kids that they needed to talk in “teeny, tiny voices.” Once we got on the road and the movie started, they settled right down. I knew they were just excited—normally, I’d have been excited, too, but by that time, I was ready to go to sleep.

Our bus driver’s name was Omar and he did his best to get his bus full of sleepy passengers excited about vacation but the kids were the only ones who really responded. It did make me smile when we got to the WDW gates and he yelled, “We’re here! Happy Vacation, everyone!”

All Star Sports was the first stop and only a couple of people got off the bus there. We checked in without waiting in line and found out we were in one of the football buildings. I don’t remember what that’s called but in my exhausted state, I remember thinking I must have heard the guy wrong when he told me that our building would be the football helmet on the left.

Sadly, it was only about 37 degrees and as we walked, we could see our breath. Although I’d hated to do it, I was glad that I’d brought along the heavy winter coat. After walking past the outdoor bar and hearing a bunch of inebriated people, we made it to the football helmet on the left and caught the elevator to the second floor. Our room was on the backside of the building which was fine with us. There was something about the cement walls of the resort that reminded me of a locker room which I guess was fitting for our particular hotel. We had made it from landing at 10:15 to actually getting into our room at 11:55. We both grabbed our jammies out of the suitcase and fell asleep almost immediately.

Next up--a more exciting day and PICTURES. :thumbsup2

[MickeysMommy]

Glad you're back, pal :hug: Can't wait to read more!!!

[MickeysMommy]

Where's Sunny? :confused3

[OhMari]

I'm glad you enjoyed the BW.
I usually rent points from another DIS member. I thought the whole resort was DVC, I guess I learned something again. Can I ask what the price is for the nite at BW?

Sorry about the sickness.
We were all sick last week too, I think it was an epidemic.

[NMAmy]

Where's Sunny? :confused3

Hiya, pal! :hug: Sunny? She spent the week with my friend's son who house sat for us. She was very excited when we got home on Saturday night and then spent all day yesterday sleeping. :lmao: He wore her out--she likes to play but she really needs her beauty rest.

I'm glad you enjoyed the BW.
I usually rent points from another DIS member. I thought the whole resort was DVC, I guess I learned something again. Can I ask what the price is for the nite at BW?

Sorry about the sickness.
We were all sick last week too, I think it was an epidemic.

The BWV's are all DVC but if members aren't using the rooms, they're available to rent. Particularly if you procrastinate and book fairly late. ;) I'm not sure what the per night cost was--we got the 4/3 package which included tickets, too. I've got all my notes at home--I'll look at them later and see what it ended up costing. (Although I might be better off not knowing.) ;)

I'm sorry you all were sick last week, as well. Alex had the worst of it--he really thought it might have been food poisoning. He was the only one who got sick. It would have been a nightmare if we'd all come down with it.

[MagicShell]

Hi! I just read your PTR, so you planned your trip, went on your trip, and got home from your trip all in the same day. I am looking forward to hearing all about it.

[MickeysMommy]

Hiya, pal! :hug: Sunny? She spent the week with my friend's son who house sat for us. She was very excited when we got home on Saturday night and then spent all day yesterday sleeping. :lmao: He wore her out--she likes to play but she really needs her beauty rest.

:rotfl:

[NMAmy]

Hi! I just read your PTR, so you planned your trip, went on your trip, and got home from your trip all in the same day. I am looking forward to hearing all about it.

:lmao: It does seem like it went pretty much that fast. Actually, all of last week seems like it went by quicker than just today at work.

[AussieAngel]

Yayyyy, you've started!! :cool1:

Sounds like a relatively pleasant start to your trip, apart from the noisy kids and over-bearing mothers on the plane! And brrr, so cold!!

What did you think of All-Star Sports?

Just to let you know, I've finally started my trip report! So now I've got a dining review and a trip report going, eeeek! :scared1: The link is in my signature if you want to check it out, but don't feel like you have to!

Can't wait to hear about more of your trip!! :dance3:

[saratogadreamin09]

Can't wait to read more:)

[tinkgurl]

Yay you have arrived! Woo hoo! :woohoo: I love going under the gates. :goodvibes

[NMAmy]

Yayyyy, you've started!! :cool1:

Sounds like a relatively pleasant start to your trip, apart from the noisy kids and over-bearing mothers on the plane! And brrr, so cold!!

What did you think of All-Star Sports?

Just to let you know, I've finally started my trip report! So now I've got a dining review and a trip report going, eeeek! :scared1: The link is in my signature if you want to check it out, but don't feel like you have to!

Can't wait to hear about more of your trip!! :dance3:

I wasn't that thrilled with All Star Sports--my review will be coming up soon. ;)

And I LOVE your trip report. Just a little shout out--if you'd like to read a trip report that also includes Hawaii AND NYC, check out Aussie Angel's report. She writes really great ones and this is no exception.

Can't wait to read more:)

:welcome: saratogadreamin! Thanks so much for reading.


Yay you have arrived! Woo hoo! :woohoo: I love going under the gates. :goodvibes

:rotfl: I love that, too! When I'm awake enough to realize what's going on. ;)

[MickeysMommy]

:rolleyes1

[nessz79]

I'm in :)

[NMAmy]

:rolleyes1

:rotfl: I'm working on it. It's taking FOREVER to download my pictures for some reason.

I'm in :)

:welcome: I'm glad you're here!

I'm hoping to post the first installment with pictures after dinner, guys! If not, first thing in the morning.

[dddisrunner]

Woo Hoo! Glad to hear you arrived albeit cold and not feeling 100%:sad2: I sure hope things get better and as always I am looking to hearing all about it!:goodvibes

[MickeysMommy]

:rotfl: I'm working on it. It's taking FOREVER to download my pictures for some reason.

You know if I weren't so jealous of you I would be putting another smilie like this :rolleyes1 here

:snooty:

[NMAmy]

Saturday, 2/21/09

We woke up fairly early in our teeny, tiny room. The bed was so close to the wall that it gave me a nightmare. I dreamt that the wall opened up and Caitlin got stuck underneath it and sucked in. I woke up kneeling on the floor, trying to get my hand under the wall. :lmao: That's why the rooms are so inexpensive--they eat people.

I was surprised that the room bothered me as much as it did—I guess we’ve become spoiled since we stayed at AsMo in 2000 when Caitlin was about 9 years old. I thought it was fine then. Now I'm all hotel snobby. I think we could make it work if it were just Alex and I. But there was no way I could stand it with Caitlin and Jen and all their junk. ;)

Here’s what I didn’t like:

--I hated the window that opened on to the corridor. We were on the backside of the building but even so I felt weird opening the window and having people walk by and see us sitting on the beds. So we sat in the dark with the lights on until we were getting ready to leave.

--I didn’t like the bathroom. It was so small that I just about killed myself in the night when I tried to close the door before standing on the other side of the toilet.

--There’s no closet. :confused3 I've gotten weird about not leaving my clothes in the suitcase on vacation.

--Alex and I had to take turns getting dressed because our suitcases were in the corner and only one person could fit over there at a time. And I certainly couldn’t get dressed in the bathroom!

--The food court. More on that later.

Here’s what I did like:

--The outside theming. Even though we’re not sporty folk, we did enjoy walking around and looking at everything. :thumbsup2 It was cute and upbeat and just fun.

So—after the wall eating Caitlin and the bathroom door biting my leg, it was way too exciting of a night for me. Caitlin called around 7:30 and said they were on their plane and ready to take off. She was sounding a bit grown up and annoyed with having to check in so I told her just to call from Atlanta if she had an issue. Otherwise, I’d assume everything was ok. I was warned not to go to any park without her.

Our view wasn't bad--I actually kind of enjoyed not having to look at the football field. ;)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1450.jpg

We got up and showered and then decided to head to the food court. It was a busy madhouse there. Little kids running around, zillions of people everywhere. We each got a really awful rubbery Western omelet. I only ate about a quarter of it but Alex ate the whole thing. He told me it was fuel. We ended up buying refillable mugs because we didn’t see a way to get just a regular cup. I like the mugs, anyway, but it wasn’t very convenient to use them at the Boardwalk. But I enjoy using them at home to remind me of WDW.

We headed back to the room for a little rest and then went for a walk around the resort. It was a beautiful day—fairly cold (in the 40’s) but it was SO nice to see the sun after a dismal Michigan winter.

Here's our room--the football helmet on the left. ;)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1453.jpg

Random pictures around the resort:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1451.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1454.jpg

For some reason, Alex was fascinated with the bleachers and made me take a picture.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1455.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1457.jpg

Huey, Dewey, and Louie were apparently in time out. (They'd actually just been painted.)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1458.jpg

My buddy, Donald:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1460.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1456.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1452.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1472.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1471.jpg

Oops--too many pictures!

[NMAmy]

Then, since we were right by All Star Music, we went for a stroll over there, too.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1469.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1468.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1467.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1465.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1464.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1463.jpg

We found it hilarious that this particular picture is hanging over the bed in a Disney hotel. We then tried to predict the pictures in the other areas of the hotel. ;)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1474.jpg

Check out time was at 11:00 but by 10:30, we were ready to be on our way. There was no wait at checkout and a taxi was right outside waiting so we hopped aboard for the Boardwalk. The taxi ride was $15 including tip in case anyone was wondering. Unfortunately, our room wasn’t ready yet but we picked up our KTTW’s and also our $200 gift card and then checked our luggage with bell services. We sat out on the porch and just enjoyed our surroundings for a little bit.

Caitlin called from Atlanta to let me know their next flight was on time and to remind me that I was not to set foot in any other park. Alex and I were hungry and we were walking on the Boardwalk at that time. She was very suspicious of all the noise she heard. She told me it sounded like Epcot. I can neither confirm not deny if we actually went to Epcot. :lmao:

I'll continue the rest of the day as soon as I download more pictures, folks!

[NMAmy]

Rats! Sorry the pictures are so big, guys. I'll fix them later!

[Hedy]

I'm giggling over the "touchdown"
Interesting to hear your perspective on the value resort.

[AussieAngel]

Thanks for your lovely comments about my trip report, Amy!

All Star Sports look quite fun! It reminds me a lot of Pop. I'd forgotten about the windows opening up to the hallway! We never opened the curtain when we stayed at Pop in 2006. Now that I think of it, I totally agree with you! That's a silly design!

Funny photo of Huey, Duey and Louie in time out!! Poor little ducks!!

I chuckled at Alex saying the omelette was fuel. I thought he must have meant it tasted like fuel, and I was going to say, "Ewwww!" But no, I think he meant it was giving him energy!! :lmao:

Thanks for all the great photos!!

[MickeysMommy]

popcorn::

[MagicShell]

I have never seen all the AS Sports icons. They are really cute. We have stayed at Movies and Pop and like them both. I'm waiting on the fun to start.

[nessz79]

I didn’t like the bathroom. It was so small that I just about killed myself in the night when I tried to close the door before standing on the other side of the toilet.

LOL about that one! Been there! We have stayed at the ASMo resort and you have to kind of contort yourself to get into the bathroom!

[OhMari]

I agree about the beds.
I don't think they are full size.
I was afraid of falling out all nite.

You could of had Disney transport your luggage.
We moved 3 times when we went.
Luckily the first time, our dd had her car, so the move from POP to the BC was easy, and I trusted the BC to get our stuff over to POR.

[NMAmy]

Woo Hoo! Glad to hear you arrived albeit cold and not feeling 100%:sad2: I sure hope things get better and as always I am looking to hearing all about it!:goodvibes

:thumbsup2 Things got better for me but not so much for Alex, poor guy. We did have a good time, though!

You know if I weren't so jealous of you I would be putting another smilie like this :rolleyes1 here

:snooty:

:lmao: I'm really having issues with that darn Photobucket.

I'm giggling over the "touchdown"
Interesting to hear your perspective on the value resort.

:rotfl: The touchdown sign was hilarious.

Thanks for your lovely comments about my trip report, Amy!

All Star Sports look quite fun! It reminds me a lot of Pop. I'd forgotten about the windows opening up to the hallway! We never opened the curtain when we stayed at Pop in 2006. Now that I think of it, I totally agree with you! That's a silly design!

Funny photo of Huey, Duey and Louie in time out!! Poor little ducks!!

I chuckled at Alex saying the omelette was fuel. I thought he must have meant it tasted like fuel, and I was going to say, "Ewwww!" But no, I think he meant it was giving him energy!! :lmao:

Thanks for all the great photos!!

You're welcome for the trip report shout out, Julie. I love seeing all your pictures and hearing about your trips! Yes, Alex refers to any food that isn't particularly tasty as "fuel." It will hold him over until he can get a better meal. I'm pickier. ;)

I think the window bothers me so much because I just really wanted to see the sun but I didn't want other people to see ME.

I have never seen all the AS Sports icons. They are really cute. We have stayed at Movies and Pop and like them both. I'm waiting on the fun to start.

Thanks for reading along, MagicShell! The icons were really cute and it was a glorious sunny day!

LOL about that one! Been there! We have stayed at the ASMo resort and you have to kind of contort yourself to get into the bathroom!

:rotfl2: Ha! I knew I wasn't making that up. It was ok with the lights on but at night, I tend to leave the lights off when I'm wandering and that's when I forgot and got trapped between the toilet and the door!

I agree about the beds.
I don't think they are full size.
I was afraid of falling out all nite.

You could of had Disney transport your luggage.
We moved 3 times when we went.
Luckily the first time, our dd had her car, so the move from POP to the BC was easy, and I trusted the BC to get our stuff over to POR.

The beds were a bit weird--we sleep in a full sized bed at home (in fact, I had issues with the king sized bed at BWV just because I'm not used to sleeping in a bed that big!) The bed was so close to the wall that it threw me off.

We could have had Disney transport our luggage but we decided for less than $20, a taxi ride would get rid of any worry about the luggage. I was worried enough about Caitlin and Jen arriving that day!

Thanks so much, everyone, for reading along! I appreciate it!

[dddisrunner]

OK your post had me cracking up...biting doors, swallowing walls!:rotfl: Too funny but you what you are right those rooms are SMALL! I am a hotel snob now too! When you were talking about walking around the Boardwalk I closed my eyes and I swear I could smell the bakery!:cloud9:

[NMAmy]

Oops--got ahead of myself

[NMAmy]

Okay, I’ll spill the beans to you guys but you can never, never tell Caitlin about this. Alex and I went to Epcot. Yes, I’m a bad mommy but, man, we were RIGHT THERE! I could see it. My notes say, “We were really tired and yet, oddly, bored so we went to Epcot.” We wandered around World Showcase for a little bit and then I remembered that I had originally planned for Alex and I to go to Raglan Road for lunch. Duh. There is absolutely no photographic evidence that we entered Epcot because I didn’t want Cait busting me by looking through the pictures.

When I explained Raglan Road to Alex, he was game. We caught the bus from the Boardwalk and got off at the Pleasure Island stop. DTD was packed with people but there was no waiting at all to get into Raglan Road. That was a relief—I thought I was going to drag him over there and then not be able to get in without a reservation.

More than half the tables in the restaurant were empty—it was very strange. I have to say that Raglan Road was my favorite meal of the whole trip. I got the Whole Lotta Lobster Sandwich which was just heaven on bread, in my opinion. It was lobster, avocado, hard boiled egg and cilantro in some kind of flavored mayo. YUM! Alex got the Guiness sausage which came with pickled onions. I know they were pickled onions because he had me taste them and identify them for him. He must have liked it, he practically licked his plate. We both had chips as a side with malt vinegar. It was a delicious meal.

After that, we did a little shopping. We walked past the T-Rex Restaurant (which had a line to get in):

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1475-1.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1476.jpg

Then we stopped at the World of Disney store. It was wall to wall people. I was really surprised by all the Sale signs in the store. Toys were 35% off and so were stuffed animals. We did a little browsing but decided to wait to buy anything until one of the weekdays. I did check out the make your own t-shirt store. I knew Caitlin would love it.

We decided to head back to the resort and check on our room. We rode back with a delightful little boy named Jack who had just purchased a WALL-E and was making him answer questions by nodding his head. He and his family were actually from Michigan and were flying back that day. I bummed them out by telling them about the snowstorm that was expected that day. I was just spreading sunshine.

We got back to the Boardwalk around 2:15 and we sat out on the rockers on the porch to call about the room and HOORAY! it was ready! We picked up our luggage and headed to Room 2095. As usual, it was all the way at the end of the hallway (I have no idea why we’re always put at the end of the hallway—maybe we just look like we’re bad). It was a beautiful room with a view of the quiet pool, the Community Hall, and the canal to MGM.

Here are a few of the pictures I've downloaded so far. I have many more!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1479.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1481.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1489.jpg

No biting doors in this bathroom!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1487.jpg

Although it's funny--I spent all fall painting the three bathrooms in my house that were painted this same color pink!

Our view:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1495.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1496.jpg

Our big balcony:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1494.jpg

Caitlin called and they had arrived. I gave them instructions on how to pick up their luggage and how to get to the ME check in counter. She called a bit later to let me know they were on their way.

The girls were really excited and they loved the room as much as I did. I unpacked the groceries while the girls gussied up to go get something to eat.

Jen in the sink: :confused3

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1501.jpg

Alex & Caitlin:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1503.jpg
Of course, Caitlin wanted to go to Picabu’s at the Dolphin. The girls each ordered hot wings, Alex got a ham sandwich and I had a wonderful greek salad with about 2 lbs of feta cheese. It was a huge hit with everyone—I shared it because it was enormous.

At Picabu's:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1504.jpg

On the way back to the Boardwalk:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1505.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1506.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/WDW%202009/CIMG1507.jpg

The girls had been traveling since about 3:00 am so they were pretty exhausted after we ate. We made a stop at the General Store to get some Hot Pockets for the girls, some cheese to make grilled cheese sandwiches, and some chips and dip for me because I was on vacation, I love chips and dip, and that’s the only time I allow myself to eat it.

Since we were all tired, we decided to have a quiet night in the room. Caitlin had forgotten to bring any movies and, of course, didn’t like any of mine so we went to the Community Hall to see what they had. Movies for non-members cost $5 so they got one movie to watch. The Community Hall is great—they have crafts, movies to rent, board games, a ping pong table, a foose ball table, and lots of tv’s with video games that were full up with little boys every time we went there.

Caitlin made the mistake of lying down and promptly fell immediately asleep. It was only about 5:30 and she told me the next day that she was awake again around 11:00 pm. We watched tv for a bit but I’m pretty sure Alex and I were both sound asleep by 7:30 or so. Woo hoo! We are big party people, aren’t we?

[tinkgurl]

The Boardwalk looks so nice! Haha, Jen in the sink looks like something my sis would do!

Isn't having the kitchen nice? We love it for breakfast....and late night snacks. :thumbsup2

[Maleficent13]

Is that a new accessory Caitlin is sporting? :scratchin: Or am I just really out of touch these days and missed it before?

I cannot wait for more adventures!! I am sorry Alex and Cait got sick...that sucks.

I TOLD you you'd love the room!! Swan, Schman. :p :teeth:

[Hedy]

I love Jen in the sink.
I like Caitlin's sunglasses, as well as her other accessory (unless you don't, in which case shame shame shame on her her her ;) ).

[saratogadreamin09]

Great update


The boarwalk is such a nice area and the villas there are so nice. That was one of the places my family wanted to stay last trip but we couldn't get in so we settled (hate to put it that way because we loved it so much:) ) for SSR.

Next year we might try to get into Boardwalk (or beachclub, or first choice) again. But we enjoed SSR so much we might just go back there. And then my mom wants to stay at Bay Lake Towers, so for the first time in my family's disney history we have no clue where we're staying next year yet!!!!!!!!!!!


But back to your TR, sorry for the rambling

[AussieAngel]

Whao!! Caitlin has a lip ring!! Hehehee. Is that even what it's called!? At first I thought it was a speck on my computer screen, but no!! Ouch!!

And Jen has nice short(er) brown hair again! And she has a new-found love for sinks!! :confused3

I'm so glad you and Alex enjoyed Raglan Road. We love it! :thumbsup2

Your Boardwalk villa looks awesome! So spacious! And what a great kitchen!

I like that photo of Caitlin and Alex. They look so comfy and happy! Vacation!!

Thanks for another fun chapter!

[dddisrunner]

Bad bad mommy, going to a park after your daughter forbid it!:rotfl: I was cracking up when you said that in your notes read "we were bored":rotfl2: OMG Amy LOVING the BWV pictures! Thank you for taking such great ones!! Caitlin and Jen look as beautiful as ever!!:goodvibes Hopefully a good nights sleep will leave you ready to hit the ground running in the morning!:thumbsup2

[NMAmy]

The Boardwalk looks so nice! Haha, Jen in the sink looks like something my sis would do!

Isn't having the kitchen nice? We love it for breakfast....and late night snacks. :thumbsup2

I LOVED having the kitchen! Eating too much restaurant food does a number on my stomach so being able to just make some toast or have a peanut butter sandwich was fabulous. :thumbsup2

Is that a new accessory Caitlin is sporting? :scratchin: Or am I just really out of touch these days and missed it before?

I cannot wait for more adventures!! I am sorry Alex and Cait got sick...that sucks.

I TOLD you you'd love the room!! Swan, Schman. :p :teeth:

Yes, on the lip ring! She got that just before Christmas break. I had to listen to some family members insinuate that I was a bad mom but at this point, I don't have much say. She's 18 and has a job and therefore her own money. :confused3 Oddly, my mother stuck up for me on that one and told the family that if that was all Caitlin was doing, she didn't think I'd done such a bad job. :lmao: I hate it, though, but I've been noncommittal when discussing it with Cait.

I love Jen in the sink.
I like Caitlin's sunglasses, as well as her other accessory (unless you don't, in which case shame shame shame on her her her ;) ).

I cracked up to find Jen in the sink and had to run for my camera! :rotfl: I'm living with the lip ring and hoping for the day when she gets sick of it. ;)

Whao!! Caitlin has a lip ring!! Hehehee. Is that even what it's called!? At first I thought it was a speck on my computer screen, but no!! Ouch!!

And Jen has nice short(er) brown hair again! And she has a new-found love for sinks!! :confused3

I'm so glad you and Alex enjoyed Raglan Road. We love it! :thumbsup2

Your Boardwalk villa looks awesome! So spacious! And what a great kitchen!

I like that photo of Caitlin and Alex. They look so comfy and happy! Vacation!!

Thanks for another fun chapter!

Julie, I love that photo of Cait and Alex, too. :love: We loved the villa and we loved Raglan Road--I really had the urge to try it after reading your reviews so thanks for the tips! I like Jen's hair better this way, too. I don't know if you can see the pink in Cait's hair in any of the pictures I took but keep an eye out for it.

Bad bad mommy, going to a park after your daughter forbid it!:rotfl: I was cracking up when you said that in your notes read "we were bored":rotfl2: OMG Amy LOVING the BWV pictures! Thank you for taking such great ones!! Caitlin and Jen look as beautiful as ever!!:goodvibes Hopefully a good nights sleep will leave you ready to hit the ground running in the morning!:thumbsup2

I am bad. ;) I'm glad you liked the BWV pictures. I have a ton more that I'll post as I get to them. I also took some pictures around the BW Inn, as well.

Thanks for reading everyone! I appreciate it.

[NMAmy]

Great update


The boarwalk is such a nice area and the villas there are so nice. That was one of the places my family wanted to stay last trip but we couldn't get in so we settled (hate to put it that way because we loved it so much:) ) for SSR.

Next year we might try to get into Boardwalk (or beachclub, or first choice) again. But we enjoed SSR so much we might just go back there. And then my mom wants to stay at Bay Lake Towers, so for the first time in my family's disney history we have no clue where we're staying next year yet!!!!!!!!!!!


But back to your TR, sorry for the rambling

Well, rats, I'm sorry, I lost your post in my multi-quoting!

We really love to stay in the Epcot area and I think either the Beach Club or the BW would be a great choice. And even though I'm not crazy about the design of the resort, I'd really love to stay at either BLT or the Contemporary sometime--just because it's so close to the MK.

I think you'll like whatever resort your family chooses! :thumbsup2

[MickeysMommy]

popcorn::

The lip ring made me :scared1: but, you are right - pick your battles...Look at that spoken like *Mickeys* Mommy...not a human mommy... :laughing:

[NMAmy]

popcorn::

The lip ring made me :scared1: but, you are right - pick your battles...Look at that spoken like *Mickeys* Mommy...not a human mommy... :laughing:

:lmao: Just wait until Mickey starts nagging you about getting his lip pierced!

I never have these kind of issues with Sunny. ;) She's my good kid. Hairy, but easy to deal with, you know? She NEVER talks back.

[Hedy]

:lmao: Just wait until Mickey starts nagging you about getting his lip pierced!

I never have these kind of issues with Sunny. ;) She's my good kid. Hairy, but easy to deal with, you know? She NEVER talks back.

And that's the difference between cats and dogs..my cats are constantly back-talking me.
"You eat in half an hour, you know that."
"Myah!"

[NMAmy]

Caitlin ended up waking up around 11:30 that night and was up until 2:00 am. Apparently, I’d just missed her because I was wide awake at 2:30. I did manage to fall back to sleep eventually and still woke up pretty early. Alex and I had toast in the room and then got up to take a walk around the resort. The parks didn’t open until 9:00 and we wanted to do a little exploring.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1510.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1511.jpg

I loved these little elephants:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1512.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1514.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1515.jpg

And the scary, scary pool:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1513.jpg

I mean what's scarier than a clown that spits children out of his mouth? I have to wonder what these people were thinking. Wait until you see a nighttime shot--his eyes light up. He looks like Pennywise from It. :scared1:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1516.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1517.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1518.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1519.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1520.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1521.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1522.jpg

Here's our room from the outside--the two windows on the second floor. It was pretty handy--there was a stairwell right outside our door so we just had to go down one flight of stairs, out the door, and we were right outside near the quiet pool. I loved being on the second floor. That's the same floor as the lobby so we didn't have to take the elevator.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1523.jpg

We came back to the room and couldn’t get the girls up—they were exhausted.

I'm going to divvy this up into two parts because of all the photos.

[NMAmy]

Sunday, Continued:
Our plan was to go to MGM to check out Toy Story Mania so Alex and I carried on without them. The place was just packed. It was weird—every day we went to MGM, it was wall to wall people. The rest of the parks did not seem anywhere near as busy. I have no idea why that was.

There was a woman behind us that I wanted to smack. According to her, her husband had absolutely picked the wrong line, “we’ll never be able to go on Toy Story, this line is SOOO much slower than the others, why on earth did you pick this line?” She was lucky she wasn’t traveling with me or I’d have told her she was definitely in charge of line picking for the rest of the trip.

When we arrived at TSM, the line to get a fast pass was just ridiculously long. We got in the stand by line and had a 25 minute wait which wasn’t bad but was kind of wacky considering it was now 9:05 am. I only took a couple of pictures outside because I was trying to get into the line but took many more in the queue since we had a while to admire it all.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1524.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1525.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1526.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1528.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1530.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1531.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1534.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1536.jpg

Scrabble board and Lego ceiling. :thumbsup2
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1537.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1538.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1540.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1542.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1543.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1545.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1546.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1548.jpg

As you can see by our scores, my accuracy was better but Alex got the higher score. My score is on the left and Alex's is on the right.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1550.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1551.jpg

Next up--Lunch at Le Cellier.

[NMAmy]

And that's the difference between cats and dogs..my cats are constantly back-talking me.
"You eat in half an hour, you know that."
"Myah!"

:rotfl: Sunny tries to herd me but she doesn't talk back. I like cats but I'm allergic. The only one I've had a lot of interaction with was Alex's cat. She LOVED me. But she was very bossy and chatty, too.

[tinkgurl]

Oh that is so nice you were on the 2nd floor and it was the same floor as the lobby! I HATE elevators!

Isn't the queue for TSM so cute?! :goodvibes

[MickeysMommy]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1546.jpg

Ahh...Alex :lovestruc :love: :love2:

[NMAmy]

Oh that is so nice you were on the 2nd floor and it was the same floor as the lobby! I HATE elevators!

Isn't the queue for TSM so cute?! :goodvibes

We loved not having to mess around with elevators. I usually ask for a higher floor but I didn't make any requests this time around. We were upgraded from a standard view to a water view so no complaints at all here!

The queue IS really cute. Which was good because we looked at it for quite a long time. ;)

Ahh...Alex :lovestruc :love: :love2:

Poor Alex would be embarassed and a bit mystified if he knew he had groupies. :lmao:

[MickeysMommy]

You posted his pic just for me...didn't you, pal?

[heaven2dc]

I just stumbled onto your TR and am having the time of my life!! What a great story teller you are :thumbsup2

I'm glad you chose the BW - I've gotten spoiled staying there 3 times now. Our first visit in 1997 we stayed in a 1-bedroom overlooking the quiet pool on the 4th floor and loved the view (we could see ToT). We stayed 10 days and there were 12 of us (4 adults and kids ranging from 15-21). I barely saw my 3 teenage kids (who wants to hang out with Mom - NO ONE!!) We loved being able to walk or take a boat to MGM or Epcot. I didn't get to go back until Jan 2008 and had a studio over the Gallery and had a HUGE balcony. You could have fit 6 chairs out on it. Finally my ultimate stay was in December 2008 in a one-bedroom villa with Boardwalk view :cloud9: Don't you just love the long walks to the elevator? (but having stairs close by works out great esp if you don't have to lug a stroller like my daughter would have had to if they hadn't have moved our room from rm 2001 to 3041).

I'm anxious to see if you got to see the Beach Club and if you would have preferred it over BW.

[Maleficent13]

Poor Alex would be embarassed and a bit mystified if he knew he had groupies. :lmao:

You mean he doesn't KNOW??? :sad2:

We must rectify this, MM!

[MickeysMommy]

You mean he doesn't KNOW??? :sad2:

We must rectify this, MM!
ITA! You want to call him or do you want me to?

[AussieAngel]

Oh my goodness, that clown slide thing really is terrifying!! He really does look the It clown. Ewwwww!! You can't have that at Disney World!!

But the rest of the Boardwalk looks beautiful!! :thumbsup2

The TSM queues look fun! We didn't get to see them properly since we went through the Fastpass line instead. Bummer! That's one queue I would have quite liked standing in! :confused3

[MagicShell]

I have never seen the scary clown slide in person, but when I see it in pictures I often wonder if I am the only one who thinks it is creepy. I am glad to know that I am not.

I don't blame you for going to Epcot. I couldn't sit and look at a park without going in either. I am looking forward to more.

[NMAmy]

I just stumbled onto your TR and am having the time of my life!! What a great story teller you are :thumbsup2

I'm glad you chose the BW - I've gotten spoiled staying there 3 times now. Our first visit in 1997 we stayed in a 1-bedroom overlooking the quiet pool on the 4th floor and loved the view (we could see ToT). We stayed 10 days and there were 12 of us (4 adults and kids ranging from 15-21). I barely saw my 3 teenage kids (who wants to hang out with Mom - NO ONE!!) We loved being able to walk or take a boat to MGM or Epcot. I didn't get to go back until Jan 2008 and had a studio over the Gallery and had a HUGE balcony. You could have fit 6 chairs out on it. Finally my ultimate stay was in December 2008 in a one-bedroom villa with Boardwalk view :cloud9: Don't you just love the long walks to the elevator? (but having stairs close by works out great esp if you don't have to lug a stroller like my daughter would have had to if they hadn't have moved our room from rm 2001 to 3041).

I'm anxious to see if you got to see the Beach Club and if you would have preferred it over BW.

Thank you so much for the nice compliment and welcome! I really enjoyed the BWV's so much--it's just a lovely resort. We were kind of used to long treks to the elevator after our many stays at the Dolphin. But I was quite happy not to have to use one this time! :thumbsup2

We did make it over to the Beach Club one day. I've got some nice pictures (and a hilarious one, as well) and I'm happy with our choice of BWV's although I'm sure we'd have enjoyed the Beach Club, too. I was telling Alex how much I'd have enjoyed it if we'd managed to snag one of those rooms that's REALLY close to Epcot!

You mean he doesn't KNOW??? :sad2:

We must rectify this, MM!

ITA! You want to call him or do you want me to?

:lmao: Sure. That wouldn't freak him out at all.

Oh my goodness, that clown slide thing really is terrifying!! He really does look the It clown. Ewwwww!! You can't have that at Disney World!!

But the rest of the Boardwalk looks beautiful!! :thumbsup2

The TSM queues look fun! We didn't get to see them properly since we went through the Fastpass line instead. Bummer! That's one queue I would have quite liked standing in! :confused3

Caitlin was traumatized by a babysitter watching the movie version of It in her presence and has had an issue with clowns ever since. I think she successfully avoided the clown slide for the whole trip! :lmao:

The queue for TSM was a lot of fun. At least it kept me occupied during our wait. During the trip, though, I kept seeing waits of up to 120 minutes and I thought, "Well, it was fun but not two hours worth of waiting fun." ;)

I have never seen the scary clown slide in person, but when I see it in pictures I often wonder if I am the only one who thinks it is creepy. I am glad to know that I am not.

I don't blame you for going to Epcot. I couldn't sit and look at a park without going in either. I am looking forward to more.

You're absolutely not the only person who is creeped out. The weather was a little chilly but I didn't notice that many people using the slide or that pool now that I think about it. There were quite a few people at the quiet pool, though. It could just be a coincidence but I'm guessing folks are freaked out by that thing. :rotfl:

I'm glad I have some support on my foray into Epcot. :thumbsup2 I felt pretty guilty but, heavens, Spaceship Earth was staring right at me!

[MickeysMommy]

Freak him out? He has 2 totally gorgeous, hot women who LOVE how he talks! Plus, he's a hottie! ;)

[NMAmy]

Sun, continued:

Cait called as we were leaving TSM. I got a fast pass for her and Jen but the fast pass time was already for between 2 and 3 pm. I thought for sure the rest of the park must be empty since it was so busy there but ToT had a 60 minute wait and RnR had a 40 minute wait. It was madness. The only reason I could think of was that there were two Fantasmic showings that night. :confused3 Maybe people without Park Hoppers were going to MGM and spending the whole day. According to the UG guide, it was only supposed to be a 5 that day. (Those are my notes from that day--it doesn't explain why MGM was a madhouse every single day we ventured over there. It was really weird.)

We decided to go to Muppetvision 3D. We were the first to arrive in the line but it was also the first time we had to sit through the whole preshow. It was kind of crazy how people were crowding the doors. Alex and I waited in the middle and so got a seat in the middle.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1555.jpg

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http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1554.jpg

I :love: the Muppets. We took a quick tour of the Muppets gift shop.

After that, we headed back to the BW to pick up the girls. We had a lunch reservation at Le Cellier. Here they are, finally ready to go!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1556.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2022/CIMG1557.jpg

Lunch was quite good and we had little wait. Epcot was way emptier than MGM. Caitlin had Portobello mushroom ravioli, Jen had the prime rib sandwich, I had a salmon BLT and Alex had a chicken sandwich. Our waitress was great until the end of the meal and I was just furious by the time we left. I'm really not one to fuss about service in a restaurant. But--well, you'll see. ;)

The girls were done so we let them leave. Cait had ordered a chocolate moose before the rest of us were done eating and had eaten half of it. I wanted one to go and told the waitress. I KNOW she understood what I was asking because she said, "Sure. Is it okay if I just bring yours in a to go box and then add the leftover chocolate moose to the same box? That way you'll only have one box to carry." I was okey dokey with that.

After about 15 minutes, she came back with an empty box for Caitlin's leftover moose. :confused3 I reminded her that I needed one to go and she told me she must have misheard me. I was fine--mistakes happen. She cleared our table completely except for Caitlin's plate and went back to place my order. Another 15 minutes later and she brought the bill. A few minutes after that, my moose arrived but with no silverware to place it in the box. When she came back to pick up my card and the bill, I asked for a spoon. She brought back a spoon and my bill for me to sign. Except now it was the wrong bill—about $30 less. Every time she came by another table, I’d try to flag her down, and she’d studiously look the other way. I finally grabbed another server and asked her to get our waitress.

When she came back finally, she told me, “I hear you SUMMONED me?” That’s when I lost it. :scared1: For real? I said, “Well, yes, I did. This is NOT my bill. Could you remove this one from my charge card and give me the correct one?” She flounced off and finally brought it back about another 10 minutes later. I asked if the other bill had been removed from my card and she said very snottily, “Well, of course. I did that right away before I charged this meal.” Whatever, woman, you do realize you have made several mistakes, been rude to me, AND I haven’t added your tip yet, don’t you? She got less than a 10% tip after all that. It took almost 45 minutes from the time we finished our meal until we finally got out of there. I’ve never been so frustrated at a Disney restaurant before.

I shook it off, though, and Alex and I headed back to the hotel for a little rest. Neither of us was feeling great. Later that afternoon, we headed back to Epcot and since it was much busier, contented ourselves with some of the less popular rides—SE, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, Figment, and Innoventions.

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We walked over to Morocco so I could have dinner at Tangierine Café. Alex wasn’t hungry but I, of course, was ravenous—he had a pistachio cheesecake and a bit of my lamb platter—which was fabulous. See--I made it through that meal without getting in a fight with anyone but it WAS counter service.

Since Alex wasn’t feeling so great, we headed on back to the hotel. As a special treat and on the advice of Aussie Angel, I stopped on the Boardwalk and got a funnel cake with chocolate. I believe my American citizenship was going to be revoked since I had never in my life had a funnel cake. When I talked to Caitlin about it earlier in the day, she told me, "You don't like them--they taste like fry bread." :rotfl: For those who haven't had Navajo fry bread, it's very popular in the southwest and is either stuffed like a burrito with cheese and meat and beans or is sprinkled with powder sugar or sometimes with chocolate. I decided to try it anyway because unlike Caitlin, I'm not one to say I don't like something if I haven't actually tasted it. ;)

It was ENORMOUS and very good. I cut it into quarters and shared it with Alex, Caitlin, and Jen. As I was carrying it into the hotel, several women in the lobby asked me where I’d gotten it and if I’d consider sharing it with them. When I declined sharing it, they got directions to the place where I'd gotten it on the Boardwalk. :rotfl: I could make Disney a fortune by just carrying a funnel cake back and forth across the lobby all day.

Caitlin and Jen came back but headed out again to go to EMH’s at MK. I tried to wait up for them but it ended at 1:00 am and I only managed to stay awake until 10. I slept the best I’d slept since we’d arrived and was just out like a light although I did wake up when they came in. Alex wasn’t so lucky. (DUM DUM DUM!--that's foreboding music, in case you wondered.)

[NMAmy]

Freak him out? He has 2 totally gorgeous, hot women who LOVE how he talks! Plus, he's a hottie! ;)

:lmao: Don't forget YOUNG. Most of the women who fawn over him are of a certain age. He totally doesn't get the fascination with his accent. But it does get him special treatment so he goes with it.

[MickeysMommy]

:lmao: Don't forget YOUNG. Most of the women who fawn over him are of a certain age. He totally doesn't get the fascination with his accent. But it does get him special treatment so he goes with it.
Are you kidding! His accent is HOT...and so is he!!! :lovestruc

Ahh, pal, you're kinda cute too!!! :hug:

[dddisrunner]

Oh my goodness, this trip just doesn't seem to be going very well so far!! I feel bad that you and Alex weren't feeling well! What an idiot that waitress was...HELLO...no tip marked in yet and being rude:rolleyes1 Too funny about the funnel cake and EWWW that strangers asked you for some!:sick:

[NMAmy]

Are you kidding! His accent is HOT...and so is he!!! :lovestruc

Ahh, pal, you're kinda cute too!!! :hug:

:lmao: You're very sweet, pal.

Oh my goodness, this trip just doesn't seem to be going very well so far!! I feel bad that you and Alex weren't feeling well! What an idiot that waitress was...HELLO...no tip marked in yet and being rude:rolleyes1 Too funny about the funnel cake and EWWW that strangers asked you for some!:sick:

Oh, I'm sorry if I'm making it sound like a bad trip! It had its downside this time but we really did have a good time. Any day we don't have to go to work is a good day. ;) I did tell Alex that he'd have to take me back so we could do all the stuff we missed out on this time. Like that wasn't the plan already.

[NMAmy]

Monday, 2/23-

Well, I slept like a rock for the first time since we'd arrived. I woke up when the girls got back home and promptly fell immediately asleep again. When I woke up in the morning, I heard someone being violently ill in the bathroom. Poor Alex was soooo sick. I was really grateful we'd gotten the villa with the bathroom and the kitchen.

For some reason, Alex had brought coffee but no tea bags along with him. (He's British--he drinks tea all the time.) It was the only thing he really wanted so I waited for the General Store to open at 8:00 and went to find some. The only thing they had was Lipton's and, after Alex drank it, he told me he thought it had been sitting there on the shelf for awhile. ;) It did the trick, though, and was the only thing he kept down. Surprisingly, on Friday, I found where all the good tea at WDW is--The Villain's Shop in MGM. :confused3 They had a big box of different tins of tea with Alice characters on it. If only I'd known!

Alex managed to go back to sleep and the girls were sound asleep. Luckily, I had no dining reservations that day. My plan had been to go to DTD for lunch and then whatever we wanted for the rest of the day.

I read on the balcony for a while and then got bored and decided to go explore the Boardwalk Inn. Here are some pictures of my little tour. I was surprised by how dry the grass and gardens were.

First the hallway outside our room:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1560.jpg

I like the way it looks like a picket fence with a garden.

The doorway to the stairs right outside our room (our room was to the left):

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1562.jpg

Sitting area before going outside to the Boardwalk Inn:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1563.jpg
(I love that sofa)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1564.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1565.jpg

Hidden Mickey on a garden suite gate:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1566.jpg

The garden suites are so cute:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1567.jpg

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BWI Quiet Pool:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1571.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1572.jpg

Back into the lobby again:

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And then outside again:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1576.jpg

The villas around the front of the Boardwalk (by the main entrance)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1577.jpg

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http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1579.jpg

Continued next post!

[NMAmy]

Monday Continued:

The girls finally woke up around 11:30 and took until 1:30 to be beautiful enough to leave the hotel. :rolleyes:

We caught the bus to the Pleasure Island and had no wait to go to Planet Hollywood. I had a $15 off voucher and Caitlin loves the Captain Crunch chicken strips there. At first she wanted to order the big appetizer tray but I reminded her that she NEVER eats that much and talked her into the smaller order and a house salad. She only ended up eating about half of her little meal so I was glad I hadn't forked out the big bucks. :rotfl: I got a wedge salad with bacon, tomatoes, and blue cheese which was very tasty. Jen got a turkey club. I also ate one of Cait's chicken strips and it IS very good. I wonder if I could recreate that at home. I like the slight sweetness.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1580.jpg

I stopped on the way out to get our free gift which was a tiny keychain that Caitlin quickly confiscated.

Raglan Road:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1581.jpg

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Almost mmediately after we left, Caitlin remembered that she was now hungry for a churro. :rotfl: This was funny--I had to take the annual churro picture but the way they were holding them, all you could see was the white paper around them. When I said that, they each moved their arm up to show off the churro.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1585.jpg

We picked up some gifts at World of Disney and got our annual Christmas ornaments at the Christmas store. Cait got a beautiful one with a castle on the top and we had her name and the year added. It would be delivered on Wednesday.

We then did the make your own t-shirt thing for both the girls. They got Rex and wrote, “Vote Yes to Save the Dinosaurs” with their names underneath it. They got a kick out of putting the little t-shirt in the machine and pushing the button so it went up the tube back to the t-shirt workshop. DTD was no where near as busy as the last time so we didn't have to fight anyone for the machines.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/CIMG1587.jpg

I was not feeling so hot and left them to wait for the hour it would take until the t-shirts were done. Alex was feeling better but not great and stayed in bed resting. He’d been able to eat a cheese sandwich and a hardboiled egg while we were gone. I had chips and dip and then got us ice cream from the Sweets store for dessert. Chips and dip and ice cream for dinner--must be on vacation, huh? :thumbsup2 I got chocolate for myself and cookies and cream for Alex. It was really delicious.

The girls went to EMH’s at MGM while Alex slept and I did laundry and watched House. I went to bed hoping for a more exciting day tomorrow!

[AussieAngel]

Awwww, sorry to hear both you and Alex weren't feeling well. That's just awful when you're at Disney!! :hug:

It sounds like you still had a fun couple of days though, apart from your grumpy server at Le Cellier. That place can be pretty hit and miss with their servers, I reckon!!

The Boardwalk looks beautiful. Compared to our grass here in Australia, I that that grass looks lush and fantastically green!! Hehee.

And yayyyyyy, you had a funnel cake!! Hehee! I'm so proud!! :thumbsup2 And you got lots of nice comments and everything! How funny! Glad you liked it - although if you didn't, it sounds like you could have made a profit from the leftovers anyway! :banana:

You're so speedy with your updates!! It's great!! Thank you!

[NMAmy]

Awwww, sorry to hear both you and Alex weren't feeling well. That's just awful when you're at Disney!! :hug:

It sounds like you still had a fun couple of days though, apart from your grumpy server at Le Cellier. That place can be pretty hit and miss with their servers, I reckon!!

The Boardwalk looks beautiful. Compared to our grass here in Australia, I that that grass looks lush and fantastically green!! Hehee.

And yayyyyyy, you had a funnel cake!! Hehee! I'm so proud!! :thumbsup2 And you got lots of nice comments and everything! How funny! Glad you liked it - although if you didn't, it sounds like you could have made a profit from the leftovers anyway! :banana:

You're so speedy with your updates!! It's great!! Thank you!


Thanks, Julie! And thanks for the heads up on the funnel cake. :thumbsup2 It was very tasty.

I was surprised the grass was so brown--it reminded me a bit of New Mexico.

[NMAmy]

Tuesday, 2/24 -

Alex still wasn’t feeling great but, bless his heart, dragged himself out of bed to accompany me for the day. A whole day of lying in bed had aggravated his back so we decided to go to the MK because there is a greater percentage of non-jarring rides there. Poor guy, if it wasn't one thing, it was another for him that week.

We arrived just as they were allowing people onto Main Street and dodged the clang, clang trolley dancers. Luckily, the dancers were distracting a lot of the guests so we got in front of them and headed toward Adventureland.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1588.jpg

Isn't this just an idyllic view? I was SOOO happy to be at the MK and out of the room that day!

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I thought Pirates would be a nice way to start the day--AND it wouldn't aggravate Alex's back.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1591.jpg

It was a walk on and we had the required two children aboard who needed reassurance that it was NOT scary. ;) By the end of the ride, both of them were begging to go back on it again.

Davy Jones wasn’t working this morning which probably helped with the scare factor but I missed him. I asked Cait later and she said she hadn't seen him when she rode Pirates the day before either. :confused3

Caitlin's favorite fountain--she was just fascinated by this when she was little.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1592.jpg

Splash Mountain--too bouncy for today but I was enjoying how empty the park was!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1593.jpg

We then decided to go to the Haunted Mansion—which surprisingly didn’t have as many frightened children. Or much of anyone--look at the empty queue!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1594.jpg

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By the time we were done, though, poor Alex was white as a sheet so we went back to the hotel for him to rest up some more. The girls were still asleep, of course.

Alex took a nap. I was bored and hungry so I decided to head over to Epcot for some fish & chips. Since Alex wasn't feeling well, we'd decided to forget our lunch reservation at the Rose & Crown but that didn't mean I wasn't craving something with malt vinegar. ;) I stopped by the check in desk to cancel our reservation and then got in the Yorkshire County Fish & Chips line (which was enormous!)

Epcot was much more crowded and when I finally got my order, there were no tables available in that area. I remembered my favorite place in the UK at Epcot--the little square back behind all the shops. I headed back there and it was empty. I found a park bench and settled in to eat my lunch.

That's when my newest boyfriend showed up. ;) We have a joke at my house--I am a magnet for little children and older gentlemen. This works out great with my FIL's, btw. So, I was sitting there, minding my own business, when an older gentleman in a motorized scooter rolled up to me. I said hello, and that was all it took. :lmao:

He asked me, "Do you mind telling me why you chose this week to go on vacation?"

I laughed and told him that it was the week that worked out with my dd's school but if I'd known the entire state of Louisiana was going to be there, I'd have tried for a different time.

He told me that he and his wife lived an hour north of Disney World and they just weren't expecting it to be busy that day. Then he told me about all his kids and grandkids and the cruise he and his wife had been on. Then his wife rolled up to join the conversation. She told me that she should have known she'd have found him with a young woman. (I loved her immediately after that comment!) And that all of the numbers in his cell phone were for women--his bank rep, his travel agent, his dental hygienist. :rotfl: They were a lovely couple and kept me company while I ate my meal.

When I was done, I told my new friends goodbye and headed back to the BW. When Alex woke up, he apologized because I had to eat lunch on my own. When I told him I had a new boyfriend, he asked, "Is he short or is he old?" knowing it was either a child or an older man. :lmao:

Don't worry--this wasn't the end of our day--we did more! To be continued...

[Hedy]

:rotfl: :rotfl: at your boyfriend.
Sorry Alex was sore-is it he or you who has the torn mensicus?

[saratogadreamin09]

UPDATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY


Cant wait for more MK

[NMAmy]

:rotfl: :rotfl: at your boyfriend.
Sorry Alex was sore-is it he or you who has the torn mensicus?

Hedy, your memory is amazing, pal! That's Alex that has the meniscus problem. He's got something going on with his shoulder, as well. When we reach a certain age, we just start falling apart it seems. :rotfl:

UPDATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY


Cant wait for more MK

Coming right up, my friend! :thumbsup2

[NMAmy]

Tuesday, Continued--

Alex felt bad for not being my usual amiable travelling companion so he was adamant that we WERE going back to the MK now that he'd had a nap to refresh himself. We hopped back on the bus and we were once again on our way back into the MK.

It didn't look too bad here--everyone else was further into the park, though. :lmao:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1597.jpg

We took the long way around to Fantasyland (the front of the castle was blocked off.)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1598.jpg

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http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1601.jpg

Our first stop was Philharmagic and it worked wonders. It felt like we were REALLY at Disney World for the first time all week. It's really my favorite, I think, in all of WDW. I always love to watch the little ones try to grab Ariel's jewels.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1602.jpg

The park was pretty crowded but we forged on to Tomorrowland. We rode the TTA first--check out all the people! Luckily, there was no line for the TTA.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1603.jpg

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http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1608.jpg

People are always asking about the "secret" pathway to Toontown from Tomorrowland so I thought I'd take an arial shot.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1609.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1610.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1611.jpg

Next we rode Buzz Lightyear (I was in charge of moving the car and I failed abysmally—neither of us got over 5000 points). The line for this was surprisingly short.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1612.jpg

And then, we visited my old pal, Carousel of Progress. There were three young men in their young 20’s in there who I think wandered in by accident. They were polite and quiet but seemed confused by the whole thing. :lmao: Everyone else was older and was singing along.

I was worried about Alex by that point, so we headed back to the bus stop. That's when we discovered where all the people had gone--the parade! Duh. I haven't seen a parade at WDW since Caitlin was little. It's just something we skip nowadays. I hadn't tried to dodge it for awhile and picked the wrong side of the street to sneak through the stores and when we got to the Emporium, we were stuck so we sat back to enjoy the end of the parade as it left. I enjoyed it a lot!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1613.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1624.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1614.jpg

One of my little great-nieces is in love with Cinderella. Caitlin and I have tried repeatedly to talk her out of it--I mean, the woman just loses a shoe and waits for a guy named Charming to find it. Caitlin's favorite was Belle because she reads and she saved the Beast. Little great-niece is having none of it. Cinderella rocks, according to her. I've given up hope and now just give her Cinderella stuff. So I took these pictures for her. :rotfl:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1615.jpg

Is he pointing at me here? That man IS Charming, I must admit.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1616.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1617.jpg

And here's Belle and the Beast although the Beast was so large, I never did get a good picture of Belle!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1618.jpg

My other great niece is in love with Ariel.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1621.jpg

Too many pictures--continued!

[NMAmy]

Continued--

More of the parade.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1622.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1623.jpg

And here's MY favorite--Mr. Duck:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1625.jpg

We finally managed to get out of the park and we headed for the bus stop. The line for the BW bus was huge but there were only a few people in the YC/BC line and there was actually a bus there. We decided to ride that one and just take the boat over to our hotel. The poor BW folks were still waiting as we left.

On the way over, Alex was thinking about ice cream for dinner. Since I really wanted dinner for dinner tonight, I remembered Beaches & Cream. We’d never been before and wandered around a bit to find it (the pool construction made things more difficult.) We got in with no wait—I had a delicious burger and onion rings and Alex had a mint chocolate ice cream shake. With all the construction, it was pretty difficult to find our way out of the BC and over to the dock. I did see this on the way over and found it hilarious!

Here's the construction:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1626.jpg

See that tiny little puddle of water? Well, if you zoom in closer, this is the sign you see:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1627.jpg

:lmao: I just kept picturing someone floundering in the sand there with no lifeguard around to help.

We managed to find our way back to the dock but the sun had gone down and it was really cold on the dock with no boat in sight so we hoofed it over to the BW instead.

I did take a couple of pictures before Alex dragged me off the dock:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1628.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1629.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1630.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1631.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1632.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1633.jpg

I bought a few things at the General Store and then we headed to the room. Alex had me take these pictures in the lobby. Along with the scary, scary pool, the Boardwalk has this scary, scary child's sized chair by the fireplace in the lobby. I can't imagine any child wanting to risk sitting in this chair!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1634.jpg

Then Alex pointed this out to me. See the elephant over the mantel?

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1636.jpg

Doesn't this look like Mary Poppins in the window on the left?

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2023/Feb%2024/CIMG1635.jpg

I'd never noticed it there until he pointed it out!

The girls called a bit later and asked if I’d meet them at the Bakery. I'd given the girls charging privileges and couldn't figure out why they weren't using it to eat. Turns out Cait was still nervous about charging to the room. I'd given her so many talks on the dangers of credit cards that apparently I'd paralyzed her when it came to actually charging something! :rotfl: I walked her through it at the Sweet Shop. I still don't think she used it for food after that, bless her heart, even after explaining that I'd done it so she wouldn't have to carry cash around and I had plenty of money to cover their meals. I ended up giving her the $200 gift card that was part of our package and she had no issues using that!

After much deliberation, they chose a couple of items and I got two dark chocolate, peanut butter pretzels that were delish. I'd meant one of them to be for Alex but he wasn't interested and I couldn't let it go to waste, could I? :lmao:

The girls and I went the Community Hall to rent another movie for them. They had an early night and so did I. Even though we didn't do as much as we usually do, we'd still had a great day!

[jen22984]

Loving your trip report!!! It us making me wish it were September already!

[AussieAngel]

Sounds like a fun, relaxing day!! The Boardwalk really is so pretty! (Except for that creepy chair... he's just nasty!)

We love Philharmagic too, and we loooove Tomorrowland Transit Authority!! It became our little joke actually - to see how many times we could ride it this past trip! It's so slow and relaxing. Heh.

I hope Alex's back recovered! Poor thing! He was having a rough trot! (Do you use that expression in the US?! I hope so!)

[saratogadreamin09]

I had the same problem with Belle and the Beast as you.

My mom lovs Belle so I wanted to get a really good picture of Belle but I never could, the Beast just always got in the way

[MickeysMommy]

:hug:

[MagicShell]

Wow, so many updates! I'm sorry to hear about the sickness, but it does sound fun to tour WDW in a more relaxing way. Maybe one day I will try that.

Philharmagic is one of my favorites as well. I could watch it over and over again.

Belle is my daughter's favorite princess too. She loves Belle because she reads as well. My daughter LOVES to read.

[NMAmy]

Loving your trip report!!! It us making me wish it were September already!

I'm glad you're enjoying it, jen! I hope the time until September goes quickly for you. That is one advantage of planning a trip at the last minute--it arrived before I knew it! ;)

Sounds like a fun, relaxing day!! The Boardwalk really is so pretty! (Except for that creepy chair... he's just nasty!)

We love Philharmagic too, and we loooove Tomorrowland Transit Authority!! It became our little joke actually - to see how many times we could ride it this past trip! It's so slow and relaxing. Heh.

I hope Alex's back recovered! Poor thing! He was having a rough trot! (Do you use that expression in the US?! I hope so!)

Isn't that chair just icky? I told Alex that it looks like it will put it's arms around you and run off with you. I have no idea what the Boardwalk decorators were thinking!

We don't really use the expression "rough trot" in the U.S. but I think I've heard my IL's use it before. :lmao: I do know what you mean--and the poor soul really did have a rough trot with this trip. We both got awful colds when we got back home--we'd kind of fended off all the viruses all winter and apparently just waited until vacation time to succumb.

I had the same problem with Belle and the Beast as you.

My mom lovs Belle so I wanted to get a really good picture of Belle but I never could, the Beast just always got in the way

;) Belle's just so tiny and the Beast is so big. I did see the Beauty and the Beast show later so I got some pictures of her then, I think. Coming up soonish!

:hug:

:hug: Hiya, pal!

Wow, so many updates! I'm sorry to hear about the sickness, but it does sound fun to tour WDW in a more relaxing way. Maybe one day I will try that.

Philharmagic is one of my favorites as well. I could watch it over and over again.

Belle is my daughter's favorite princess too. She loves Belle because she reads as well. My daughter LOVES to read.

I tried to get a few updates in all at one time because I knew it would be a few days before I could post again. I'll try to post another installment tonight. I just got all the pictures resized and fixed up. That takes me the longest.

Both Cait and I love to read so we love Belle. Caitlin says that Alex got me the best gift ever when he built floor to ceiling bookshelves on 3 walls of our living room. He got me a library. :love:

[NMAmy]

Wednesday, 2/25

The girls really wanted to get up early to go to the AK. Of course, they didn’t, but I had the fun job of trying to wake them up. ;)

Since Alex still wasn’t feeling himself, we decided to go back to the MK again.

We had breakfast in the room—hard boiled eggs sliced up on toast. We caught the bus and managed to get there in time for the opening show.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1637.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1638.jpg

Isn't that a nice way to start the day? Maybe I'd enjoy going to work every morning if we counted down before starting time and then threw confetti and sang.

Since Alex still wasn't feeling up to being thrown around on a ride, we headed to Fantasyland or as I like to call it, Strollerville. ;) If toddlers could handle these rides, then I knew Alex could. Plus, I LOVE these rides.

Stopping by to say hello to Walt and Mickey.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1639.jpg

I told Alex I wished I had some little ones to ride the carousel with me.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1640.jpg

Look how nice & empty the park was!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1641.jpg

We walked on to both Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. My plan was working so far.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1642.jpg

No we didn't ride Dumbo but look--no big line!
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1643.jpg


http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1644.jpg


http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1645.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1646.jpg

The park was really very empty which was surprising after the crowds at MGM. Alex thought he’d like to do Splash Mountain and, again, a walk on.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1647.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1648.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1649.jpg

They did have the water turned up—I’d removed my light cardigan sweater and Alex was teasing me about it’s water deflecting properties. However, at the end of the ride, he was soaked and I had a damp sweater and a dry body. My sweater does have magical water deflecting properties. :rotfl:

I could tell Alex was getting tired. He did not even argue when I suggested we ride It's A Small World next. :lmao:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1652.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1654.jpg


Alex hadn’t eaten much all week and was feeling hungry now so we headed over to the Main Street Bakery. Again, not much of a line. I got Alex an enormous cinnamon roll and I had a chocolate croissant which was fabulous.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1655.jpg

Fortified, we headed back to Tomorrowland and rode Buzz Lightyear again. We both had a much improved score and I kicked butt. Alex was steering this time.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1656.jpg

We had fun on Monsters, Inc after that. It was getting close to lunchtime so we headed back to the hotel again.

To be continued!

[AussieAngel]

Isn't that a nice way to start the day? Maybe I'd enjoy going to work every morning if we counted down before starting time and then threw confetti and sang.

Haaaa!! You should totally try that at work tomorrow Amy, and see what happens! :lmao:

Great news that MK was so quiet! Sounds like you got to go on lots of rides! :yay:

[Maleficent13]

You have to admit, Cinderella's dress beats Belle's dress all hollow. DD loves Cindy as well, and some of it's about the dress, I think. ;)

Lazy days at MK are the best, I think. DD says she'll ride the carousel with you anytime, but she'll insist on Dumbo and the teacups as well. :wizard: :teeth:

[tinkgurl]

Whoa! The MK was EMPTY! How awesome for you! :woohoo:

[MagicShell]

I enjoyed your update. Fantasyland is so empty. I wish it had been that way when we were there in December.

[saratogadreamin09]

MK looks so quite.

The first couple hours in the morning are crucial if you want to do a lot of rides:thumbsup2

Can't wait to read more

[momforchrist7778]

I must say I am thoroughly enjoying your review and can't wait for my trip back but until then I will have to live vicariously through the dis boards!

[dddisrunner]

Great update Amy! I got a little choked up looking at your openeing ceremony pictures! Those were such incredible memories!! LOVE how empty the Magic Kingdom looks!! Huge cinnamon roll....I can't image anything making me feel better then that!:thumbsup2

[NMAmy]

Dagnabit! I typed a reply out to everyone yesterday but lost my internet connection. I haven't forgotten you all!

Haaaa!! You should totally try that at work tomorrow Amy, and see what happens! :lmao:

Great news that MK was so quiet! Sounds like you got to go on lots of rides! :yay:

You know, I did try that at work, Julie. My co-workers are now considering committing me. :rotfl:

You have to admit, Cinderella's dress beats Belle's dress all hollow. DD loves Cindy as well, and some of it's about the dress, I think. ;)

Lazy days at MK are the best, I think. DD says she'll ride the carousel with you anytime, but she'll insist on Dumbo and the teacups as well. :wizard: :teeth:

Hey, now, I LIKE the yellow dress. Cait's talking about getting one like it for prom.

I will absolutely ride the carousel and Dumbo with Miss Hepzibah but she'll have to go with Caitlin on the teacups. I don't do spinny. :rotfl: Too bad we can't coordinate a trip together. We'd love to borrow a little one to go on the little kid rides with us.

Whoa! The MK was EMPTY! How awesome for you! :woohoo:

It was great! Wish it had been like that all the time.

I enjoyed your update. Fantasyland is so empty. I wish it had been that way when we were there in December.

I'm glad you liked it! Did you go at Christmas? We went once but never again. It's too bad, really, I get two weeks off at Christmas--it would work out perfectly if I could keep everyone else out of WDW. ;)

MK looks so quite.

The first couple hours in the morning are crucial if you want to do a lot of rides:thumbsup2

Can't wait to read more

Alex and I are early birds, saratogadreamin. We love to go early in the morning. Caitlin--not so much. She hits her stride about 10:00 pm. :rotfl2:

I must say I am thoroughly enjoying your review and can't wait for my trip back but until then I will have to live vicariously through the dis boards!

I'm so glad you found my report and I'm glad you're enjoying it! Welcome! I also live vicariously through trip reports until I can get back to WDW. I'm a little sad now that I have a whole year to wait!

Great update Amy! I got a little choked up looking at your openeing ceremony pictures! Those were such incredible memories!! LOVE how empty the Magic Kingdom looks!! Huge cinnamon roll....I can't image anything making me feel better then that!:thumbsup2


Awww, Diane. I do love the opening at the MK. That cinnamon roll was as big as his head. I couldn't believe he ate that thing!

Sorry I haven't updated recently. I'm getting over a cold and I usually get the updates together in the morning before work. Lately, I've been lying around like a lump watching season 1 of The Tudors. :laughing: The time change has kind of thrown me off, too. I'm hoping to post an update tomorrow for you all.

In related Disney news, we had a phone call the other day from Boardwalk Lost & Found saying that they found Caitlin's pillow. I called back and had them mail it to me. Can you believe they spent $24 to ship a $10 pillow? :rotfl2: I've got to send it on to Cait but I'm not sending it overnight or anything.

For the first time ever, I also got a survey card from BWV's. :thumbsup2 I gave them a glowing review!

[NMAmy]

Wednesday--Continued:

Okay, when I last posted, Alex and I had spent a fun morning at the MK and went back to the hotel for lunch. I have no idea what we did for lunch that day--I didn't note it so I think I must have had a peanut butter sandwich in the room. I probably ate chips and dip but I can't confirm that for sure. :rotfl: But I know there were chips and dip in the room and I can't imagine just letting them sit there. I do know that Alex took another nap, bless his heart.

Surprise, surprise, the girls were still in bed. I tried to get them to go to MGM with me but they were lollygagging around. About 2:00, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I threw a book in my purse in case I got lonely and headed to MGM on my own. I'd stolen Caitlin's copy of Coraline before I left home--it was small enough to carry easily and also easy to read in a busy area. I did read a bit while waiting on the boat dock and on the boat.

The park was absolutely packed to the gills again. There was a 120 minute wait for Toy Story Mania. :scared1:

I needed to get my great nephew a birthday present so I went to Star Tours to find him a Jedi Training Academy t-shirt. Even the Star Tours store was packed. I had thought about getting him one of those make your own light sabers but the line for that stretched out the door.

Here's some pictures from my stroll:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1660.jpg


Outside Toy Story Mania:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1662.jpg

I'd have taken a picture of the crowd there but, frankly, all those people were freaking me out. It was like leaving the MK after Wishes.

I have always wanted to see One Man's Dream and had never taken the time. Well, now I had the time and even this place was busy.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1663.jpg

You know I think one reason I've always loved Walt Disney was because he reminded me of my grandfather. Here's Walt:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1664.jpg

And here's my grandparents:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/nanaandpayounger134.jpg

And Pa on his own:
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/nanaandpayounger110.jpg

And Walt:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1668.jpg

Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled tour. ;)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1665.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1666.jpg

Sleeping Beauty Castle:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1667.jpg

Animatronics:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1669.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1670.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1671.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1672.jpg


The girls called and said they were on their way—of course, the parade was going on so the entrance was wall to wall people. I met up with them by Starring Rolls. The wait for RnR was 90 minutes. :confused3

We waited in a really long line just to get a drink and the girls both got a healthy snack—carrots and apples with dip. This was the first time I saw them eat something healthy during the whole trip so I had to document it. :rotfl:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1673.jpg

I wanted to see Beauty and the Beast but the girls really wanted to see The American Idol Experience. Just a note--you cannot even eat in the line to get into the theater at AI. :confused3 We had no problem waiting and still getting in, though.

We got into the 4:00 show. The contestants were great—the winner was a man who sang Sweet Home Alabama. We ended up sitting right behind his wife and baby and the family of a 16 year old girl who was another contestant. I did see the families peek around to see how others were voting--no pressure. :lmao: I was impressed that 16 yo had the confidence to do this.

Of course, now Caitlin really wanted to do this. Cait is a really good singer and I'd been trying to get her to try out all week. When I told her the auditions were early in the morning, we knew it probably wasn't in the cards for her. :rotfl2:

To Be Continued.

[NMAmy]

Aargh--I'm so irritated. I typed up a new installment this morning and apparently, I lost it somehow. :scared1:

[MagicShell]

We were at WDW Dec. 15-21 and MGM was totally packed every time we were there. We have been a week earlier than that before and it wasn't nearly as busy. We did get lucky about the TOT though. The line for that was not too bad. Tower of Terror is my daughter's favorite ride. She can't wait to see the American Idol show. I am glad that you all enjoyed it. Too bad auditions are in the morning. I am not a morning person either, but I force myself to be at WDW.

[MickeysMommy]

Um...the Noodle Poodle wants to see pics of Aunt Amy! popcorn::

[NMAmy]

Aargh--I'm so irritated. I typed up a new installment this morning and apparently, I lost it somehow. :scared1:

I'm having some weird DIS stuff going on. When I checked this thread this morning, the last update wasn't here. Now it is. :confused3

Oh, and my apologies--I forgot to resize the pictures!

We were at WDW Dec. 15-21 and MGM was totally packed every time we were there. We have been a week earlier than that before and it wasn't nearly as busy. We did get lucky about the TOT though. The line for that was not too bad. Tower of Terror is my daughter's favorite ride. She can't wait to see the American Idol show. I am glad that you all enjoyed it. Too bad auditions are in the morning. I am not a morning person either, but I force myself to be at WDW.

You know, the whole week was so weird at MGM. It was packed on the day we went to the Sci-Fi and yet 3/4 of the tables there were empty. I hope your dd enjoys the American Idol show. I still can't believe I liked it. :rotfl:

Um...the Noodle Poodle wants to see pics of Aunt Amy! popcorn::

Hey, guess what? There is a picture of me in Thursday's installment! Some nice man who was waiting for his family at EE took a picture of Alex & I together. So there is proof that I actually went on this vacation.

:hug: to the Noodle Poodle! :lmao:

[AussieAngel]

I wonder why Hollywood Studios / MGM was so busy!! :confused3

I'm glad you went by yourself anyway... We didn't do One Man's Dream this time but really enjoyed it in 2006.

And your grandfather is totally Walt Disney!!!! Wow!! :scared1:

[NMAmy]

I wonder why Hollywood Studios / MGM was so busy!! :confused3

I'm glad you went by yourself anyway... We didn't do One Man's Dream this time but really enjoyed it in 2006.

And your grandfather is totally Walt Disney!!!! Wow!! :scared1:

It was kind of weird going on my own. I kept wanting to make jokes or tell someone something and there was no one to do that with! :rotfl: It's funny--I have no problem going to a movie or out to eat on my own but apparently WDW on my own isn't in my comfort zone.

And with my grandfather--I think he and Walt had the same mustache and hair. ;) The resemblance always made me feel very kindly toward Walt Disney--I was very fond of my Grandpa.

[saratogadreamin09]

Wow, your grandfather looked so much like Walt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Great update, I cant belive how packed DHS always is. IMO its the worst of the disney parks and TSM and AIE dont add too much to it (though I do want to see AIE someday)

[NMAmy]

Wednesday - Continued:

After we were done with American Idol, we noticed that Star Tours only had a 10 minute wait so we hopped on that. We reminisced about how when Cait was about 5, she’d made me ride that over and over and OVER at DL. She just was :lovestruc over Star Tours. It did take some persuading to get her in there, though, after the stormtrooper incident she had before. :rotfl:

I made a pit stop at the ABC Commissary. For some reason, there was a little boy about 7 just blocking the door to the ladies room by standing there and playing with the door as people were trying to come in and out. :confused3 This other older woman was trying to get in an he wouldn't move. Cait thought it was hilarious when I stepped around the lady and told the little boy, "Honey, you have to move out of the way so people can get in and out" and he scooted out of the way immediately. I told her that it takes a village and I have no problem being the mean older lady who makes kids behave when their parents aren't doing it. :rotfl:

She found this Ugly Betty sign on the way out and had me take her picture. She loves Ugly Betty.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1674.jpg

It was almost time for dinner so I headed over to Prime Time to meet up with Alex. The girls went to see what time Fast Passes were available for RnR.

Here's a few pictures I took on the way over:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1675.jpg

I found these shipping boxes:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1676.jpg

And this one was particularly appropriate. It's a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite movies and one of my friends at work is similarly obsessed with it. She can quote almost the whole movie verbatim. And will. All the time at Christmastime. :rotfl: I made a copy of this picture for her, as well.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1677.jpg

Indiana Jones was letting out so I found a bench and waited for the crowd to clear. When it thinned out, I found him on another bench by the front door of the restaurant. The poor guy had gotten bored by himself in the hotel room but hadn't brought his cell phone on the trip with us so he couldn't track us down to join us earlier.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1678.jpg

The check in and Dad's Living Room at the Prime Time was just packed with people. The girls met up with us and then we stood around waiting to be called--it took forever. Cait told me I wasn't allowed to schedule dinner here again. :lmao: Lunch doesn't seem quite so busy. Around 6, we finally made it in to meet our Uncle Herman. There was another server who was an older guy and he was hilarious. An old clip came on about dating and he was telling these little kids, "Now, you pay attention to this! When you go out on a date, you need to behave correctly." :rotfl:

Jen got the salmon, Alex got meat loaf, I had fried chicken, and Cait got onion rings and chicken noodle soup. Her onion rings were great, I thought. She was eating the breading and leaving the onions, though. :confused3

We got a good laugh when a young woman was seating a family with teens at a table near us. She told one young man, "You'd better take that hat off before Uncle Herman sees you! You're wearing it backwards AND you're texting at the table. You are going to be in BIG TROUBLE!" Cait decided elbows on the table were okay because Uncle Herman had so much ammunition at the other table.

Alex had finally gotten his appetite back and he got a sticker for being a member of the Clean Plate Club. :lmao: I think he seriously considered licking the plate--he ate every smidge. I cannot eat a half a chicken so I didn’t get one but I didn't get in trouble because I'd eaten everything else. Mom gives too much food.

Cait and Jen, of course, had not come close to cleaning their plates and had to be fed with airplane noises.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1679.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1680.jpg

Jen doesn't look like she think's Cait's chicken soup looks very appetizing.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1681.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1682.jpg

Alex showing off his sticker:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1683.jpg

The girls went over to check out the wait for RnR after dinner. Alex and I headed back to the BW to pick up jackets since it had gotten so cold. We returned our movie to the Community Center and then walked over to Epcot for Illuminations. I got my yearly margarita in Mexico and we sat in China for awhile and chatted. It was funny--we heard people arguing in every country until we got to China. Alex thought it might be the soothing music. As we got to the border of China, we heard a woman fussing at her husband and we both burst out laughing!

Rats--too many pictures!

[NMAmy]

Wednesday--Continued!

The park was really very empty—it was wonderful after the chaos at MGM. We walked to the very well lit American Pavilion and got Alex an ice cream. Alex thought it was funny that America was so bright when everything else was kind of dim. It was just so quiet there in the World Showcase.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1687.jpg

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Strolling through Japan:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1694.jpg

We found an empty bench in Morocco and settled in to watch Illuminations:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1697.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/Feb%2025/CIMG1706.jpg

Afterward, we headed out toward the International Gateway and back to the Boardwalk. We walked over instead of waiting for the boat. I really love being just 5 minutes from Epcot! I stopped and picked up Cait’s Christmas ornament at the Screen Door. It turned out wonderfully. It was our first full day and it was great.

When we got home, the girls were already at the Boardwalk. Jen told me she overheard a mother and a little girl in the bathroom.

Mother: We got here on Sunday and today is Wednesday. What does that mean?

Little Girl: It’s been four days since I’ve peed my pants! :rotfl2:

[Hedy]

It's been 4 days since I peed my pants. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
I'm disappointed Cait didn't do AI-Dniece14 is considering doing it, so DSIL is looking for experiences.

[nessz79]

Great update and I LOVED the pics of your grandfather vs. Walt Disney. They really did look alike! I can't wait to see One Man's Dream. I've never seen it, but it looks really nice and sentimental.

[dddisrunner]

WOW! You have been busy posting!! I am glad you got to go into One Man's Dream...I LOVE it in there!! Too funny about 50's Prime Time and Uncle Herman feeding the girls!:thumbsup2 Good for Alex getting the Clean Plate Club, no small feat for a man that wasn't feeling well!:goodvibes Great nighttime shots at Epcot...and too funny about the little girl saying 4 days since I peed my pants!:rotfl:

[AussieAngel]

Sounds like a fun evening!! And I'm so glad Alex was feeling better and had his appetite back!! Onion rings, yum!

I think we have the exact same photo of Snow White and Dopey! (I think it's Dopey!?) Funny!

What pretty Illuminations photos!! :thumbsup2

[NMAmy]

:lmao: Everybody was busy posting this morning while I was out running errands and out to breakfast! Now I'm working on my Disney scrapbook.

Wow, your grandfather looked so much like Walt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Great update, I cant belive how packed DHS always is. IMO its the worst of the disney parks and TSM and AIE dont add too much to it (though I do want to see AIE someday)

I think you're exactly right about DHS. Because there isn't much else to do for those with little ones or that don't like thrill rides. I think that's why TSM is such a madhouse. They need to add some other stuff for folks that aren't all about RnR and ToT.

It's been 4 days since I peed my pants. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
I'm disappointed Cait didn't do AI-Dniece14 is considering doing it, so DSIL is looking for experiences.

:rotfl2: We spent the whole rest of the trip saying, "It's Thursday. Do you know what that means?" "FIVE days since I peed my pants!"

I was disappointed that Caitlin didn't do it either. She'd made up her mind to do it on Friday and then woke up with a terrible sore throat. It was our trip for illness. She'd been coughing all week and refused to take the $10 cough syrup I'd bought her at the Screen Door.

Great update and I LOVED the pics of your grandfather vs. Walt Disney. They really did look alike! I can't wait to see One Man's Dream. I've never seen it, but it looks really nice and sentimental.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it nessz! I'd been meaning to do One Man's Dream for a long time and it always got put off when I was with the rest of the family. When I found myself on my own, it seemed like the perfect thing to do. There are a lot of really interesting items in there including Walt's office.

WOW! You have been busy posting!! I am glad you got to go into One Man's Dream...I LOVE it in there!! Too funny about 50's Prime Time and Uncle Herman feeding the girls!:thumbsup2 Good for Alex getting the Clean Plate Club, no small feat for a man that wasn't feeling well!:goodvibes Great nighttime shots at Epcot...and too funny about the little girl saying 4 days since I peed my pants!:rotfl:

Alex was very proud of the Clean Plate Club sticker. He's going to send that picture to his dad. :rotfl: Funny--those two shots of Illuminations were the only ones out of several that turned out good!

Sounds like a fun evening!! And I'm so glad Alex was feeling better and had his appetite back!! Onion rings, yum!

I think we have the exact same photo of Snow White and Dopey! (I think it's Dopey!?) Funny!

What pretty Illuminations photos!! :thumbsup2

I was glad Alex got his appetite back, too. I knew he was on the mend, then!

We DO have the same photo of Snow White (and, yes, that IS Dopey.) I noticed when I read your TR after I posted this installment.

Glad you liked the pictures, Julie!

[tinkgurl]

I'm so glad you did One Man's Dream! We do this every trip and so many people just walk right on by it. We feel like it's paying a tribute to Walt so we always enjoy it. :goodvibes

That's so funny about the boy blocking the bathroom! :rotfl:

I can't wait to do the American Idol Experience! :banana:

Oh gosh, I have to find that crate from It's a Wonderful Life for my dad! Where is it exactly?

[NMAmy]

I'm so glad you did One Man's Dream! We do this every trip and so many people just walk right on by it. We feel like it's paying a tribute to Walt so we always enjoy it. :goodvibes

That's so funny about the boy blocking the bathroom! :rotfl:

I can't wait to do the American Idol Experience! :banana:

Oh gosh, I have to find that crate from It's a Wonderful Life for my dad! Where is it exactly?

I'm glad I did One Man's Dream, too. I think it was your trip report that talked me into it, my friend!

I'll have to look at a map but as you turn left off the main street toward the Prime Time. It was just past that Snow White topiary and they were right in the middle of the walkway. I don't think many people actually read what they said. I love those clever little things in WDW.

[NMAmy]

Thursday, 2/26

Once again I tried to wake the girls up to get to the parks at rope drop. Once again, unsuccessful. :rotfl:

Today, Alex and I were going to the Nimal Kingdom! See?

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1707.jpg

:lmao: Okay, it was the Animal Kingdom. I had a little issue with my first attempt. This is better.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1736.jpg

Alex and I got to Animal Kingdom just before opening. We went along with the crowd to EE and we managed to walk right onto the ride with no waiting. We had an adorable little girl in front of us. First she asked if this was our first time. It wasn’t hers, either. I've never had such long conversations with someone a row in front of me on a moving rollercoaster but she was a chatty little thing. :rotfl:

As we got to the mangled track, she turned around and told me, “I’m sorry. This is my worst favorite part and I’m going to scream really loud.” She apologized again when we got off the ride. She really wasn’t loud but she was very cute AND very polite.

I was trying to decide whether to get the girls a fast pass for EE or for the safari since I knew Caitlin wanted to do both. I’d finally settled on EE and then a nice gentleman took our picture while he was waiting for his family.

So just for the Noodle Poodle--a picture of ME! I DID go on vacation with my family!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1709.jpg

A close up of the shutters above us:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1708.jpg

And inside the gift shop:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1710.jpg

Sadly, Alex wasn't feeling good enough to ride Expedition Everest twice but had done it once for me, bless his heart.

We headed off to go on safari. Along the way:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1711.jpg

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http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1715.jpg

We had the best safari driver EVER, Amber. She rocked—very enthusiastic and engaged and she was just hilarious. She reminded me of Janeane Garafalo. So if anyone here knows a CM named Amber who drives on the safari, please tell her I said, "You rock, Amber!" :thumbsup2 When she dropped us off, I told her, "You did a great job!" and then everyone else in our truck began applauding. She was that good. Most CM's in my experiences on this ride have been so mechanical and sounded so scripted. I didn't take any pictures--I have so many pics of the safari in my scrapbooks that I decided to just sit back and enjoy the ride for once.

We hung around for a few minutes to get the girls a fast pass for the safari, too. I seemed to be spending a lot of early morning time picking up fast passes for the girls. I'm such a good mom. ;)

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1716.jpg

I loved the new stand outside the safari that sells water, fruit, etc. It's about time they added something there for early in the morning. That's always been one of my huge complaints about AK. It was so hard to get a simple snack. So :thumbsup2 WDW! I had a whole lotta love for the AK this morning!

It was starting to get a little crowded, though. We decided to go to Dinoland. A tall man walked in front of my picture of EE. :rotfl: It was so bright that I couldn't see the camera screen and didn't notice this until later.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1718.jpg

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http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1723.jpg

We then went to try Primeval Whirl but there was a 30 minute wait. I wasn't loving that but Alex told me he didn't think he was up to spinning anyway.

Instead we rode Dinosaur. Oh, sure, that didn't throw him around at all.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1724.jpg

My notes say, "And then sat next to the world’s most obnoxious teens at Tough to Be a Bug." They decided to scream in absolute terror at everything in the show--scaring some little ones who probably would have made it through the show without crying if it hadn't been for them. I told them to shush. :rotfl2: Mean lady again. I'm becoming the mean old lady character in tv shows and movies.

Continued--too many pictures!

[NMAmy]

Thursday - Continued:

From the Tough to Be a Bug queue:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1725.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1726.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1727.jpg

The bugs!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1728.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1730.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1732.jpg

It was getting crowded and we decided we were done with AK. I tried to call Caitlin to see where they were in the Park Preparation Process. Cait was in the shower so Alex and I found a quiet bench in the shade near the front of the park to wait for her to call me back. If they were coming here, we'd just wait for them.

Alex was fascinated with these flowers that climbed the trees. They were pretty.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1733.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1734.jpg

There was quite a wind going and it was cool to watch the bamboo sway back and forth. Okay, we're easily amused. Did I mention it was shady and quiet here?

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1735.jpg

Cait called me back and it was decided that we'd meet them at the hotel and we'd all have lunch somewhere. We had to wait quite a while for a bus but finally made it back.

More to come!

[nessz79]

Great pictures! I think those were native orchids on the trees. Very pretty :)

I'm sorry Alex was so sick- it must have made it hard for both of you.

[AussieAngel]

Looks like a great day at Nimal Kingdom!!! :goodvibes

So glad to see you in a photo! It's a nice one, too!

Good on you for ssshhhh-ing those boys in It's Tough to be a Bug! It sounded like they totally needed a good ssshhhh-ing.

That girl on Everest sounded funny though! Cute!

Amber the Safari driver sounded great! :thumbsup2 We had a disasterous tour guide who was still learning for our guide. Hehee. Poor guy. It was kinda funny though. :rolleyes1

Thanks for another fun update!! You must get up really early!! Which works well for me, because I stay up late and get to read your early morning posts! (It's late over here when it's early there - you know what I mean!!)

[dddisrunner]

GREAT update Amy! Man you are ON this report!!:thumbsup2 What a good mommy to collect all those fastpasses!:thumbsup2 SO NICE to see a picture of you..you should do it more often!:thumbsup2 Alex is as cute as ever! Too funny about the little girl apologizing to you...something Eric would NEVER do!;) I was cracking up reading about how you skipped Primevil Whirl cause of the spinning and then I read that you were headed to Dinosaur and I said to myself "oh yeah that's much better" before I saw what you wrote!:rotfl: :rolleyes1 So weird to see you in jeans and sweatshirts...my only experience with the weather in the AK makes we wish I could wear just about nothing, ALWAYS BLAZING HOT!!!:goodvibes

[xoktenox]

Hey, I'm joining in!! I just sat here and read the whole PTR and TR you have so far from page one and its great! Sorry Alex was so sick! I'm subbing popcorn::

[NMAmy]

Great pictures! I think those were native orchids on the trees. Very pretty :)

I'm sorry Alex was so sick- it must have made it hard for both of you.

Ah HA!! I was hoping someone would know what kind of flowers they were--besides "parasites" as Alex called them. :rotfl:

You know, I felt badly that Alex wasn't feeling well but the trip really wasn't bad. I was actually way more relaxed when I got home than I've ever been after returning from a Disney trip. I had lots of time to kick back and read. And Alex sure got plenty of time to rest. ;)

Looks like a great day at Nimal Kingdom!!! :goodvibes

So glad to see you in a photo! It's a nice one, too!

Good on you for ssshhhh-ing those boys in It's Tough to be a Bug! It sounded like they totally needed a good ssshhhh-ing.

That girl on Everest sounded funny though! Cute!

Amber the Safari driver sounded great! :thumbsup2 We had a disasterous tour guide who was still learning for our guide. Hehee. Poor guy. It was kinda funny though. :rolleyes1

Thanks for another fun update!! You must get up really early!! Which works well for me, because I stay up late and get to read your early morning posts! (It's late over here when it's early there - you know what I mean!!)

Amber really rocked--I've never had a safari guide as good as her. Now every other safari driver will have a really difficult time measuring up. :rotfl2:

I DO get up really early--even on the weekend. I told you I'm a little old lady--I'm usually up at 4:30 am. :scared1: I won't even tell you what time I go to bed. :rotfl: I'm a morning person but I need time to putter in the morning before work. I get up at 4:30, watch a little tv (usually a nighttime show On Demand) and go online at the same time, then have breakfast, walk on the treadmill, take a shower, tidy up the house, and then get ready to go to work. I leave around quarter to 7:00 to get to work by 7:30. It's the life of a princess, I tell you!

And I love that you're almost always up when I'm posting in the dark part of the morning. :thumbsup2

GREAT update Amy! Man you are ON this report!!:thumbsup2 What a good mommy to collect all those fastpasses!:thumbsup2 SO NICE to see a picture of you..you should do it more often!:thumbsup2 Alex is as cute as ever! Too funny about the little girl apologizing to you...something Eric would NEVER do!;) I was cracking up reading about how you skipped Primevil Whirl cause of the spinning and then I read that you were headed to Dinosaur and I said to myself "oh yeah that's much better" before I saw what you wrote!:rotfl: :rolleyes1 So weird to see you in jeans and sweatshirts...my only experience with the weather in the AK makes we wish I could wear just about nothing, ALWAYS BLAZING HOT!!!:goodvibes

It's the big joke in our family that I'm hardly ever in the picture unless my sister is around. She's a picture taker, too, so she makes sure to document the fact that I'm around. :rotfl:

I did feel a little bad about taking Alex on Dinosaur but he's been on it before and it was his suggestion. :confused3 He did okay, thank heavens! With all the potholes we have in Michigan right now, I don't think it was any bumpier than our morning commute. :lmao:

About the jeans & sweatshirts--you know, AK can either be Africa hot or colder than Michigan. We were there one year when the temp was only about 35 and we had to leave because Caitlin and I wouldn't leave the gift shops. :rotfl: The only indoor ride is Tough to be a Bug. Even Caitlin when on it on that trip and she HATES that one. But it was warm even if it was bug infested.

By that time in the trip, I was wearing short sleeved t-shirts with a light cardigan--it had warmed up from the beginning of the trip. I found the cardigan really easy to just sling over my purse when I got warm.

Hey, I'm joining in!! I just sat here and read the whole PTR and TR you have so far from page one and its great! Sorry Alex was so sick! I'm subbing popcorn::

:welcome: I'm so glad you're here and that you've enjoyed it! And you've certainly proven that you have stamina if you read all that in one sitting. :rotfl:

Sadly, I just realized I'm almost done--just a day and a half to go. It's almost as sad as ending the actual trip.

[NMAmy]

Thursday - Continued

The girls were finally ready and wanted to have lunch at the Dolphin. We disembarked from the bus at the Swan and waited for them by the bridge to the Boardwalk. There's a small retaining wall by the canal and Alex was tuckered out so he was kind of lying down upon it. Then he asked me for the camera because he thought the bottom side of palm trees were really cool and kinda weird looking. I thought maybe he'd popped some cold medicine when I wasn't looking but no--he was sober. :rotfl: Just weird.

So--you decide. Are palm trees strange when you look at them from directly below?

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1737.jpg

Two palm trees--two different kinds of strange which justifies two pictures. :rotfl:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1738.jpg

The girls decided they would like to go to the Fountain. Alex had a yummy chocolate raspberry torte shake and a BLT. Jen had a BLT, I had a hot dog with sauerkraut and Cait had chili cheese fries. Both the girls had a dessert, as well.

We had some great conversations--Caitlin asked out of the blue, "Mom, why don't you and Alex ever fight?" :rotfl: Then later, she informed me that when she went to college, she'd be getting an apartment and she was going to take Sunny. :scared1: I calmly said, "No, you can't have her. I love her." :rotfl2: She told me that Sunny was her dog and I said, "Yes, she is and you can visit her whenever you want but I have an empty nest and you cannot take Sunny." She also told me that Sunny was way better behaved than any of her dad's dogs which cracks me up because her dad is a K9 cop. :lmao: Sunny is safe--she's too young to go to college. Plus she won't have an apartment anyway; I have no idea what that kid thinks college will be like.

It was around 2:00 by the time we finished and I just knew that our reservation for the Biergarten at 5:00 wasn't going to happen. The girls said they'd go but I knew that no one would be hungry in 3 hours and I didn't want to pay a fortune for a meal that no one really ate. Alex promised me a German beer. :thumbsup2

The girls then left for AK and Alex and I headed off to Epcot. We had not managed to do Soarin’ yet so we went to get a fast pass. We picked one up for 7:25 pm. The sign said a 60 minute wait and Alex decided he wanted to wait. :confused3 I thought he was crazy, but what the heck--it wasn't like I had some big plan. By the time we were done, he remembered why we don’t like to wait in a 60 minute line.:rotfl: I've never actually waited in that stand by line so I was surprised and tickled by the interactive games. That was fun.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1739.jpg

We were both exhausted by the time we got out but we didn't want to leave yet.

I was so glad to see the sun again!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1740.jpg

We took a little ride under the sea with Nemo. No line for that!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1741.jpg

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I just love these little things. They really say "Epcot" to me.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1746.jpg

We picked up a few charms for the little girls at Mouse Gears and then went on the Three Caballeros ride in Mexico. Much better than the old ride.

We stopped in Norway and Alex got a book celebrating his Viking heritage. There was a Norway CM girl wearing a huge winter coat. It seemed a bit wimpy for someone from the frozen north. Even I’d taken off my cardigan by that point. :rotfl:

Peaceful China:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1747.jpg

Germany--hmm...beer. I wanted to wait a bit though.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb26/CIMG1749.jpg

We then did something we’d never caught before—The American Adventure. I liked it—it was dark and we could sit down for 40 minutes. The girls were calling while we were in the movie—they were on their way back from AK.

I was starving by the time we got out. We got me a beer in Germany although the CM thought my choice of a pils was kind of wimpy. He made me try the other beer—I downed the sample and told him I’d lived in Germany for a year and I still preferred the pils. He shook his head sadly and told me that there is no accounting for taste!:rotfl: I do like the other kind but it gives me a headache.

We then walked back to Mexico for some tacos al carbon for me. A woman kind of cut in front of me and then I spent the whole wait in line trying to get the rest of her family to stop cutting in front of me. Honestly, if the other 5 members of your party are back behind me, perhaps you should join them. These were all adults, btw, even though she jumped in front of me, I'd have let kids go in front of me!

The tacos were yummy and so was the guacamole. We heard a little boy who was a duck alarm. He made the most dreadful screech every time a duck came near him. I was more afraid of that bird with the long pointy beak. I told Alex he could poke your eye out but Alex was of the opinion that being bitten by a duck would be worse. We have the most intellectual conversations, don't we? :lmao: No wonder we never fight--we're too goofy.

That was it—we were done! We headed back to the Boardwalk and met the girls outside Epcot to pass off the Soarin’ fast passes. We cracked up my sister by calling to sing Happy Birthday to her over the phone. All of us--standing outside the International Gateway and standing in a circle around my cell phone, singing. Loudly. Yeah, people stopped to look. :rotfl:

I hadn't bought a lot of souvenirs on this trip but I had had my eye on a Boardwalk sweatshirt and after thinking about it for a whole week, I finally stopped at Dundy's Sundries and bought it. Oh, yeah, turns out Caitlin bought the same sweatshirt! We had a mother/daughter outfit without me even trying! :rotfl2: She was thrilled.

I had tried to buy the sweatshirt with our $200 gift card and had a panic attack when I couldn't find it in my purse. I checked everywhere. My whole purse, all my pants pockets, I checked with Caitlin and by then I was freaking out. Several hours later, I hopped out of bed because I'd finally thought to check the safe and found it. Whew!

[saratogadreamin09]

Yum, mexico pavillion food

your making my mouth water

[MickeysMommy]

The Noodle Poodle loved the pic of Aunt Amy! Noodle Poodles Mommy loved the pics of Alex ;)

:hug:

[NMAmy]

Yum, mexico pavillion food

your making my mouth water

I KNOW! It does sound good, doesn't it?

The Noodle Poodle loved the pic of Aunt Amy! Noodle Poodles Mommy loved the pics of Alex ;)

:hug:

:rotfl2:

[MagicShell]

I love EE, but my husband can only ride once even if he is not sick. It is very nice of you to collect FPs for the girls. That is what I need, someone to collect FPs for me while I sleep!

[NMAmy]

I love EE, but my husband can only ride once even if he is not sick. It is very nice of you to collect FPs for the girls. That is what I need, someone to collect FPs for me while I sleep!

:lmao: It really was quite a scam that they were running, wasn't it? I'd love to have someone do my fast pass collecting, too.

[AussieAngel]

I like Alex's palm tree photos!!! I took a similar photo of palm trees in Hawaii when we were there! I love palm trees.

Oh no, I'm glad Sunny isn't leaving! :scared1: She wouldn't like it in an apartment anyway! (Not that I know anything about your dog... hehee!)

We love the Nemo ride!! So cute!

Are the tacos really called Taco al Carbon!? Carbon as in, charcoal? Heheheee. Or did you just call them that because the meat was burnt?! How intriguing!!

Oh noooo, your trip report is almost done!? How can that be!? :sad1:

[DisnLuvr]

I am waiting for my first trip and reading your experiences is really great.. I know I am late and missed great entertainment. I would like to go there are have the fun of my life.. I am counting the remaining days to visit Disney.. Great reading your experiences

[NMAmy]

I like Alex's palm tree photos!!! I took a similar photo of palm trees in Hawaii when we were there! I love palm trees.

Alex doesn't take a lot of pictures but he does notice things that I would ordinarily miss. Like the underside of palm trees. :rotfl:


Oh no, I'm glad Sunny isn't leaving! :scared1: She wouldn't like it in an apartment anyway! (Not that I know anything about your dog... hehee!)

Hey, you know enough about her to agree with me and that's all that counts! ;)


We love the Nemo ride!! So cute!

Are the tacos really called Taco al Carbon!? Carbon as in, charcoal? Heheheee. Or did you just call them that because the meat was burnt?! How intriguing!!

Oh noooo, your trip report is almost done!? How can that be!? :sad1:

I think that's exactly why they call them tacos al carbon. :rotfl: I have no idea why they call them that. That's what it says on the menu, though. They're chicken tacos.

I am waiting for my first trip and reading your experiences is really great.. I know I am late and missed great entertainment. I would like to go there are have the fun of my life.. I am counting the remaining days to visit Disney.. Great reading your experiences

I'm so glad you're here! :welcome: I know the anticipation of a trip is half the fun. I'm a little bummed now that I don't have a trip to look forward to. Where are you staying? Tell me all about it and then I'll live vicariously through you. ;)

[NMAmy]

Sorry I haven't been updating--my mother is back in town and I've been running all her errands since her driver's license expired while she was gone. She flew in last night which meant I had to pick her up in a college town on the biggest bar night of the year. :lmao:

It was crowded but at least we made it out of there before it got too bad.

Hope you all are doing well!

[AussieAngel]

More, more, more!!

(I'm so bossy!)

:surfweb:

[NMAmy]

More, more, more!!

(I'm so bossy!)

:surfweb:

I had big plans to finish up on Sunday and then the boards were down all day! I'm sorry all!

Julie, I got a Boss's Day Card from one of my student employees and he'd written on it, "Thanks for being so bossy!" :lmao: We say that at work all the time now.

[NMAmy]

Ok, time to get the last day posted. Here's a start!

Friday, 2/27 -

The plan was for the girls to join us at MGM this morning. Caitlin had big aspirations to ride EE at AK, RnR at MGM, Test Track at Epcot and then go to the Mk just because. She told me she didn’t feel well and went back to sleep. I thought it was just her normal not getting up ploy but the poor thing really was sick. You know, she used to tell me she wasn't feeling well when she didn't want to go to school. Now at WDW, I'm not exactly going to insist she get up and let me check her temp and make her go to school...err...MGM.

I had thought to arrive just late enough to skip the opening rigamarole. When we arrived, they weren’t allowing anyone through security although there were a lot of people already in the park. Alex got annoyed when two guys jumped the line and the lady they got in front of was too busy futzing around with her stroller for the 7 zillionth time to notice. Alex apparently feels it is the job of every person waiting in a queue to do their part when it comes to stopping cutters. :rotfl:He was going to say something but I told him to just let it go.

MGM was once again mobbed. :scared1: This time, it was the beginning of ESPN weekend.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1755.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1752.jpg

I took a picture of the audition sign so Cait could see what she'd missed:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1756.jpg

I’d thought to go get a fast pass for RnR and then get in line for Toy Story Mania. We got the fp and by 9:15, the wait for TSM was 70 minutes and the fast pass line looked every bit as long. :scared1: We decided to wait until next year to ride it again. If I didn’t have a lunch reservation at Sci-Fi, we would have just gotten out of that mob scene at MGM and gone somewhere else.

So now we had a little time to kill while we waited for our FP time. We hadn’t been to the Great Movie Ride yet and there was no line. Sign us up. It was a walk on—Alex was seated next to the male version of my mom. He thought there were too many overweight people in the park. He talked about every movie scene we saw. During the movie portion, he named every movie shown. He was nice and it’s easier to deal with when it’s not MY mother and we never had to see him again after the show was done. Mom's hearing isn't as good as it used to be so when she thinks she's "whispering," well, let's just say, she is NOT. :lmao:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1780.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1781.jpg

Oh, sidenote--Hedy, you were a GENIUS when you figured out that tiggerbell was talking about Jane with the botox comment. Jane TOTALLY looks like she had botox and I thought of both of you that day! :rotfl2:

Jen’s one request was to ride ToT. Caitlin had volunteered me to go with her because she will not ride it (which was just fine with me!) I picked up two fast passes for ToT and we got in line for RnR.

Alex waiting for me:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1758.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1759.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1761.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1762.jpg

As we were waiting to be let in, the lovely gentleman in front of me asked how many were in our party. When we said 2, he told me to put away our fast passes to use later—he had a special pass for up to 6 people and there were only 4 in his family. They were very nice people.

Since we’d been doing the less exciting rides all week, it was exhilarating to ride RnR. I don’t think it did Alex’s back much good, though. He was great to ride it with me, though. :thumbsup2

To be continued. Really. I promise I'm going to finish this!

[saratogadreamin09]

Wow, I cant belive its the last day alreayd

The TR went by so fast

[nessz79]

Sounds like fun! MGM/HS seemed to be very crowded while you were there. We'll be there in less than 2 weeks and are anticipating crazy crowds (crowd calendar says it'll be a 9). Yikes!

[Hedy]

Aww, I'm touched.

[MickeysMommy]

Yummy, more pictures of Alex!

[AussieAngel]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1756.jpg


I thought that was Caitlin, when I first glanced at it!! She shrank!!! :scared1:

We didn't do the Great Movie Ride this time. I don't really know why - I think we just forgot all about it! Whoops!!

Glad you had fun on Rock'n'Roller Coaster - I love that ride!! Weeeeeee!! :yay:

Poor Caitlin - I hope she felt better after he sleep-in!

[NMAmy]

Wow, I cant belive its the last day alreayd

The TR went by so fast

I know! The trip went by so fast, too. ;)

Sounds like fun! MGM/HS seemed to be very crowded while you were there. We'll be there in less than 2 weeks and are anticipating crazy crowds (crowd calendar says it'll be a 9). Yikes!

I've been at the MK when it was a 10. :scared1: That wasn't very fun but what I liked was that we did a lot of stuff we didn't normally do. I'll bet you're excited! It's coming up soon.

Aww, I'm touched.

:rotfl2: It's a little weird that when I think of Jane and Botox, I think of you, Hedy.

Yummy, more pictures of Alex!

:lmao: Just for you, pal

I thought that was Caitlin, when I first glanced at it!! She shrank!!! :scared1:[QUOTE=starrzone;30975693]

:rotfl:That is one tiny little CM, isn't it? I hope she didn't have to carry that sign by herself--it looks taller than she is! I think I was so distracted by the sight of her black socks with her dress! :scared1:

[QUOTE=AussieAngel;30970296]
We didn't do the Great Movie Ride this time. I don't really know why - I think we just forgot all about it! Whoops!!

Glad you had fun on Rock'n'Roller Coaster - I love that ride!! Weeeeeee!! :yay:

Poor Caitlin - I hope she felt better after he sleep-in!

I do love the Great Movie Ride and Rock n' Rollercoaster, too!

Poor Caitie. You'll see her soon--she really wasn't feeling so hot.

[NMAmy]

Friday - Continued

We were trying to think of something else to do and I noticed that Beauty and the Beast was just starting. Alex kindly agreed to go with me. I think he was tired after RnR. ;) I had always wanted to see this and had never been so I was really tickled to get the chance finally.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1764.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1766.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1769.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1771.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1772.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1774.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1775.jpg

My notes say, "Those girls had the PINKEST dresses I've ever seen. Pepto Bismol pink." :lmao:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1779.jpg


I really enjoyed it. Alex was happy to rest. :rotfl:

Afterward, we were able to get two more FP’s for RnR for the girls. Alex was done with fast rides for the day.

Alex and I did some shopping and then sat down by the Muppets to wait for the girls to arrive.

Ugh. Look at all the people! Stupid ESPN. On the way to the Muppets.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1783.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1784.jpg

Wasn't this Fievel's dad in An American Tale? ;)
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1785.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1786.jpg

So, we found a nice bench and did some people watching. There are some REALLY big strollers at WDW. I think some of them were bigger (and fancier!) than my CAR.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1787.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1789.jpg

I just love the fountain. I mean, obviously. Since I took enough pictures of it.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1790.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1791.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1793.jpg

I really like the way this one turned out!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1794.jpg

Sorry these are such short entries! I keep trying to get at least part of it done before work and I've been running behind all week.

Next up--we meet the Unabomber's weirder cousin. :scared1:

[dddisrunner]

Great updates Amy! How sweet of Alex to indulge you on both RNRC and Beauty and the Beast!!! That is one of my must do's for June and I am fully prepared to go alone if I have to! GREAT shots of the fountain! Poor Cait, Sorry to hear she wasn't feeling well! I can't get over the crowds!!:headache:

[MickeysMommy]

Poodle wants more pics of Aunt Amy! ;)

[MagicShell]

I have been out of town and I am glad to come back to an update. I am sorry to hear that Caitlin got sick, it must be horrible to be sick at WDW. I bet MGM as REALLY busy with ESPN the weekend. I would like to see that though, I love ESPN. Beauty and the Beast is really great. It is my daughter's favorite show. I am looking forward to hearing about the end of the trip.

[NMAmy]

Great updates Amy! How sweet of Alex to indulge you on both RNRC and Beauty and the Beast!!! That is one of my must do's for June and I am fully prepared to go alone if I have to! GREAT shots of the fountain! Poor Cait, Sorry to hear she wasn't feeling well! I can't get over the crowds!!:headache:

I loved Beauty and the Beast. It's the Reader's Digest Condensed version but I really liked it. I'm glad you liked the fountain pictures--that little thing fascinates me. :rotfl:

Poodle wants more pics of Aunt Amy! ;)

:lmao:Poor Poodle. There are no more pictures of Auntie Amy! Maybe at the end I'll dig a couple of old photos out of me.

I have been out of town and I am glad to come back to an update. I am sorry to hear that Caitlin got sick, it must be horrible to be sick at WDW. I bet MGM as REALLY busy with ESPN the weekend. I would like to see that though, I love ESPN. Beauty and the Beast is really great. It is my daughter's favorite show. I am looking forward to hearing about the end of the trip.

ESPN was mystifying to us. Since Alex is British, he has no knowledge of nor interest in American sports. (Caitlin and I spent quite a while trying to explain baseball to him once. He didn't get it. That was okay because he and his brother tried to explain cricket to me once--talk about a mystery! :rotfl: ) Caitlin actually knows more than the rest of us but even she had no clue who all those famous people were. ESPN weekend is totally wasted on us.

Thanks so much for reading along, Magic Shell!

[MickeysMommy]

Here's a pic of Poodle for Auntie Amy...

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/StaceyRussell/03-31-08_2059.jpg?t=1238074998

[kid-at-heart]

Here's a pic of Poodle for Auntie Amy...

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/StaceyRussell/03-31-08_2059.jpg?t=1238074998



Ahhh, so cute and I am not even a cat person.

[MickeysMommy]

Ahhh, so cute and I am not even a cat person.
Thanks, he really is a cutie!

Amy...sorry to hijack! :flower3:

[NMAmy]

Here's a pic of Poodle for Auntie Amy...

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv153/StaceyRussell/03-31-08_2059.jpg?t=1238074998

How sweet is Mickey? He looks like the most angelic cat ever! That cat would never, ever sit on your table. :rotfl:

Ahhh, so cute and I am not even a cat person.

HEY!!! I know you!!! :hug: I'm so glad you found me here, Kate! I hope I sound the same here as I do in real life. ;)

Thanks, he really is a cutie!

Amy...sorry to hijack! :flower3:

Mickey can always hijack my threads!

[NMAmy]

Friday - Continued -

Caitlin had called and that was when I discovered that she was actually really not feeling well—her cough had turned into a sore throat. But she and Jen still arrived in time and were waiting in the car outside Sci-Fi when we walked over there. (The car was gone on Wednesday and back on Friday—what do they do with it?) This seems to happen every time we're there!

Poor Cait looks miserable here, doesn't she?

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1795.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1796.jpg

As busy as the park was, the restaurant was half empty. It was really weird. CS were mobbed, though. :confused3

Once we got inside the restaurant, she perked up a bit. She and I sang the Blob trailer song which we both love. :rotfl2: We told Jen about the Mystery Science Theater 3000 dvd's I got for Christmas and what a blast Cait and I had watching them.

Feeling better now!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1797.jpg

Then the Unabomber's weirder cousin arrived.

We were seated with a “hitchhiker” who absolutely fit the stereotype. Our server came to the car and the hitchhiker told him immediately, “I want a hamburger, fries and a small Coke and my bill.” Our server leaned over to me and said, "Is it ok if I come back in a minute to get your drink order?" I told him, "YES" hoping he would rush this guy's order. :rotfl:

Our hitchhiker then kept talking to himself—it was creepy. The girls had no clue what was going on but the guy was talking to himself quite urgently but in a voice that was too quiet to actually make out the words.

Our server, bless his heart, got the guy in and out fairly quickly and Alex said he’d been sitting there thinking, "DON'T BRING HIM A STEAK KNIFE!!!" :rotfl: Now I know why my parents were always so adamant about not picking up hitchikers! Don’t pick up strangers and take them to the drive-in with you. Just a word to the wise.

The girls both ordered a turkey sandwich, I got a Rueben, and Alex got a burger and fries. Cait, Jen, and I all got the sci-fi cup with a glow cube. The cubes flash different colors now—red, blue, green. So cool. Cait got cheesecake for dessert and Jen got a fruit plate. Health freak. :rotfl:

Here's my family waiting after I took a pit stop. Cait looks cranky again, doesn't she? :rotfl:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1798.jpg

After lunch, nothing is more fun than being flung upside down at 60 mph. Or dropped up and down an elevator shaft repeatedly. Cait and Jen did RnR while Alex and I waited. After they were done, Jen and I did the ToT.

Caitlin is terrified of the ToT. She refuses to ride it and I actually prefer when she doesn't ride it because it makes her really cranky. I'd found out that Jen really wanted to ride it and so I volunteered to go on it with her.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1757.jpg

The standby was only 20 minutes but I'd picked up a fast pass for the two of us earlier. Jen asked me on the way in, “Is it really scary?” ;-) She and I both laughed the whole time—it was great.

Cait asked us to wait while they rode RnR for the last time and then they’d head back with us. By the time they got back, they’d changed their minds and decided to stay so we headed back on our own. We caught the ducks taking a nap by the boat dock.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1799.jpg

The boat ride back:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1800.jpg

And there's our room--in the red building, second floor:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1801.jpg

It was 3:00 by then and we were both beat. I’d hoped to go to the MK in the afternoon but it just wasn’t going to happen. Instead, we rested for a bit and then I did some packing. The girls got back around dinner time so we went down to the BW.

Oh, I forgot--Caitlin had been nagging me incessantly about getting one of those bizarre Yoda backpacks. At lunchtime today, we'd finally made a deal and I told her she could get one. She told me when they got off the boat at the BW, she could hear everyone whispering about her. "Look at her backpack!" "That's hilarious!" "See the girl with the Yoda backpack?" :rotfl:

So, of course, I had to take some pictures. Sorry they're a bit dark--I'd turned the flash off earlier and forgot to turn it back on.

Alex & Yoda watching tv:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1802.jpg

A little creepy, eh?

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1803.jpg

Hitchhiker theme today:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1804.jpg

Yikes, too many pictures!

[NMAmy]

I wasn’t all that hungry and they all wanted pizza so we had a nice meal at an outdoor table and they had Spoodles pizza. IThe Boardwalk in the evening:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1805.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1806.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1807.jpg

We saw the moon and Venus winking at us:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1809.jpg

It's not WDW until Caitlin makes this face in a picture!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1811.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1813.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1814.jpg

I've told her that as expensive as that Yoda backpack was, she needs to use it as her bag for the prom. :rotfl:She was all for it but he weirds out Cait's boyfriend.

The girls headed off to Epcot to try to get on Test Track and Alex and I went back to the room. We took some pictures on the way back.

The only thing scarier than the clown pool in the daytime is the clown pool at night. :rotfl2:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1815.jpg

One last time for relaxing on the balcony:

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1818.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w6/amywhite63/feb%2027/CIMG1819.jpg

We watched some tv and I fell asleep waiting for the girls to come back. I had to get up at 3:30 AM for our 5:20 ME pick up.

[MickeysMommy]

Oh, Amy...great pics of Alex... I mean, the duck! ;) I loved the duck sleeping so cute. As always, I love your TR's! :hug:

[MagicShell]

That was one spooky update; the hitchhiker, yoda, and the clown pool! :scared: Too bad your trip is ending. I have really been enjoying it.

[hucifer]

Yay! I'm so glad I found your TR, Amy! Now I'm going to have to go to page 7 and start reading...

And BTW, I'm all :scared1: about math, too.

[kid-at-heart]

OK Miss Amy,
You have done it now, Sarah wants a Yoda backpack. I told her she could have Caitlin's when she discards it. :rotfl:

Now I understand why my students have clown phobias. That is one scary night shot. Could you imagine the impact if you were on mind-altering drugs and saw that clown? :lmao:

Yes Amy, you are just as nice and sweet in your dis-life as you are in person. And that is why we all hang around your desk and get you in trouble. Snap at us occasionally and we would leave you alone...

I am glad I found your trip report. It is a great story.

[hucifer]

I finished! I can't believe how much you are on top of writing this TR. I am so BAD about keeping on mine...ugh...imagine how bad I will be when Patrick interrupts me at home afterward.

First of all, your daughter is GORGEOUS.

Second, you are high-larious! You keep cracking me up throughout the report, but because I'm so far behind I didn't quote anything and now I've forgotten most of what made me laugh.

And yes, your grandfather really does look like Walt.

My favorite quote so far in your TR: "It's been five days since I peed my pants." Pretty soon I'll be able to relate to that line.

I love all the pictures, but girl...I want to see more family pictures and less WDW pictures. Family shots are the best. Even better than upside-down palm tree and winking planets.

I've always wanted to stay at an Epcot resort for the very same reason you like it (walking distance to my favorite park). But I'm too cheap to fork out that kind of dough. Next time we go (when Patrick is around 4 1/2), we'll probably stay off-site at one of those Air Force Vacation Club condos that cost $329/week. Like you, I like the idea of having an occasional meal at our room, and I love the idea of not having room service every day. And I looooooooove the price.

Oh, but look at me blabber on. I'll shut up now.

[NMAmy]

Oh, Amy...great pics of Alex... I mean, the duck! ;) I loved the duck sleeping so cute. As always, I love your TR's! :hug:

Isn't that duck the cutest? I'd forgotten about this but Caitlin called me later from the boat launch. She was VERRYYY upset because the other ducks were picking on this one poor duck. I'd seen him earlier--a lot of his feathers had been pulled out, poor thing. She said they were all ganging up on him and wanted to know, "WHY, MOM??? WHY would they pick on him?" I thought for sure she'd be rescuing him and I'd be trying to figure out how to fly a duck home with me. :rotfl: Maybe I could just stick a leash out the window and lead him back to Detroit?

That was one spooky update; the hitchhiker, yoda, and the clown pool! :scared: Too bad your trip is ending. I have really been enjoying it.

:rotfl2: Now that you mention it, it WAS kind of a creepy day! I'm so glad you enjoyed the trip report--I wish our trips were longer, too, and only partially because I could write longer trip reports! It's been a pleasure getting to know you.

Yay! I'm so glad I found your TR, Amy! Now I'm going to have to go to page 7 and start reading...

And BTW, I'm all :scared1: about math, too.

HUCIFER!!! I'm so glad you made it! :hug:

OK Miss Amy,
You have done it now, Sarah wants a Yoda backpack. I told her she could have Caitlin's when she discards it. :rotfl:

Now I understand why my students have clown phobias. That is one scary night shot. Could you imagine the impact if you were on mind-altering drugs and saw that clown? :lmao:

Yes Amy, you are just as nice and sweet in your dis-life as you are in person. And that is why we all hang around your desk and get you in trouble. Snap at us occasionally and we would leave you alone...

I am glad I found your trip report. It is a great story.

Hiya, Kate! Well, the Yoda backpack may be available after Caitlin's prom so I will definitely snag it for my friend, Sarah, if Caitlin decides she's done with it! She told me the other night that she'd gotten something red on his nose and I told her she'd best be looking for a brown marker to fix him. :rotfl2:

I love it when you all hang around my desk--that's my favorite part of working there! I'm glad I didn't create an alternate persona for the DIS boards. :rotfl: That would have been hard to explain to a psychologist.

I'm glad you found me here, Kate!

I finished! I can't believe how much you are on top of writing this TR. I am so BAD about keeping on mine...ugh...imagine how bad I will be when Patrick interrupts me at home afterward.

First of all, your daughter is GORGEOUS.

Second, you are high-larious! You keep cracking me up throughout the report, but because I'm so far behind I didn't quote anything and now I've forgotten most of what made me laugh.

And yes, your grandfather really does look like Walt.

My favorite quote so far in your TR: "It's been five days since I peed my pants." Pretty soon I'll be able to relate to that line.

I love all the pictures, but girl...I want to see more family pictures and less WDW pictures. Family shots are the best. Even better than upside-down palm tree and winking planets.

I've always wanted to stay at an Epcot resort for the very same reason you like it (walking distance to my favorite park). But I'm too cheap to fork out that kind of dough. Next time we go (when Patrick is around 4 1/2), we'll probably stay off-site at one of those Air Force Vacation Club condos that cost $329/week. Like you, I like the idea of having an occasional meal at our room, and I love the idea of not having room service every day. And I looooooooove the price.

Oh, but look at me blabber on. I'll shut up now.

I love it when you blabber on, Wendy! If anyone wants to read a truly hilarious and so touching it will make you cry trip report, check out hucifer's last one. It was fabulous and had such a happy ending. Thank you for all the sweet compliments.

We are always sorely lacking in the family picture department. I'm scanning old pictures to make a dvd for Cait's graduation. There are a few of the two of us from years gone by so I'll try to post them on here before I finish up with the story of our real last day--the boring travel day. ;) Going home is always such a bummer.

Oddly, I think it will be easier to stay off-site at WDW if you have a little one. One reason we fork out the dough is because Caitlin and Jen can go anywhere they want and we don't have to drive them. At least you know that when Patrick is 4 and a half, he's not going to be wanting to go to MGM on his own. :lmao: I know you'll love having a kitchen.

So how much longer until Patrick is 4 and a half? I'm jonesing for another trip report from you!

[Hedy]

For some reason the "don't pick up a hitchhiker while at the drive in" made me LOL.
Yoda is creepy. That goodness the boys didn't want him when I was there.
How is Cait fairing, with april 1 coming up?

[Maleficent13]

*Sorry for the momentary hijack, but...

HUCIFER! I haven't seen you in forevah! :yay: Your peanut is just adorable. :lovestruc

End of hijack*

Now...that is by far the oddest piece of WDW merchandise I have ever seen and I. Want. One! After your comment about how much it cost though, I am scared to ask.

Poor Cait...she does look just miserable. I'm glad she rallied, though.

5:20am ME!! :scared1: Last time I was there I had an 8am ME and I thought THAT was early.

*Another hijack...um...MM...who is Poodle, and what have you done with Mickey? Not that Poodle isn't adorable...I feel so out of the loop. *

[NMAmy]

For some reason the "don't pick up a hitchhiker while at the drive in" made me LOL.
Yoda is creepy. That goodness the boys didn't want him when I was there.
How is Cait fairing, with april 1 coming up?

Yes, Yoda is creepy. And yet he looks hilarious in photos. :lmao: Cait's doing great--she just finished spring break, she got all 5's on her senior project (which is the highest grade you can get), and she told me the yearbook is done so no more editing for that class. I asked her what she does during her yearbook class now and she told me they're planning for prom. :lmao: Senioritis.

*Sorry for the momentary hijack, but...

HUCIFER! I haven't seen you in forevah! :yay: Your peanut is just adorable. :lovestruc

End of hijack*

Hijack away--I'm so tickled to see her, too.


Now...that is by far the oddest piece of WDW merchandise I have ever seen and I. Want. One! After your comment about how much it cost though, I am scared to ask.

:rotfl2: It was $52. I'd gotten the girls each a t-shirt at that design your own place in DTD. Caitlin had wanted a sweatshirt, as well. In fact, I think what changed her mind was that, independently of each other, she and I had picked out the same Boardwalk sweatshirt. I told her we could dress alike--mommy/daughter sweatshirts! :rotfl: So she asked if she could get the Yoda instead.


Poor Cait...she does look just miserable. I'm glad she rallied, though.

5:20am ME!! :scared1: Last time I was there I had an 8am ME and I thought THAT was early.

*Another hijack...um...MM...who is Poodle, and what have you done with Mickey? Not that Poodle isn't adorable...I feel so out of the loop. *

I'm usually awake at 5:20 (umm...well, it's 5:33 right now) but I'm not really dressed and ready to fly off somewhere. It was early, all righty.

I'll let MM tell you about Poodle. ;) I know you'll find it hard to believe that I was teasing her about something.

And you are out of the loop--we miss you, pal! :hug:

[AussieAngel]

Waaaah, creepy hitch-hikers!!! :scared1: I'm glad he didn't hang around too long!

Poor Cait - she looks exhausted and miserable. I'm glad she felt a bit better during lunch though - it was probably that amazingly powerful air-conditioning they have at Sci-Fi!!

That Yoga back-pack freaks me out!! He looks so life-like!! I don't think I'd like him clinging to my back all day. Heh.

The Boardwalk at night is so pretty! Except for that evil clown pool, of course.

Booooo, this can't be your last night!! How did that happen!?! :confused3

[hucifer]

HUCIFER!!! I'm so glad you made it! :hug:

I love it when you blabber on, Wendy! If anyone wants to read a truly hilarious and so touching it will make you cry trip report, check out hucifer's last one. It was fabulous and had such a happy ending. Thank you for all the sweet compliments.

We are always sorely lacking in the family picture department. I'm scanning old pictures to make a dvd for Cait's graduation. There are a few of the two of us from years gone by so I'll try to post them on here before I finish up with the story of our real last day--the boring travel day. ;) Going home is always such a bummer.

Oddly, I think it will be easier to stay off-site at WDW if you have a little one. One reason we fork out the dough is because Caitlin and Jen can go anywhere they want and we don't have to drive them. At least you know that when Patrick is 4 and a half, he's not going to be wanting to go to MGM on his own. :lmao: I know you'll love having a kitchen.

So how much longer until Patrick is 4 and a half? I'm jonesing for another trip report from you!

Amy, I'm so happy to find YOUR trip report. It's also nice to put your adorable face with all your writing. It's funny, I imagine that everyone on the Disboards is a frumpy houselady in her 50s until I see evidence otherwise. I have no idea why I do that. When I see a teen or 20-something tell their age, I'm always taken aback (like they're not allowed on here or something). Go figure. :confused3

Actually, staying on-site with a teenager is a great idea...never even thought they could be totally mobile (yet safe) on property. That's a great idea.

Patrick is turning two April 20, so we are planning our first Disney trip with him in September of 2011. If you think Dan can get into plenty of trouble on his own, I can't even imagine the antics him and Patrick will be getting into. Oh boy, I have to be armed with plenty of pen and paper, that's for sure.

[hucifer]

Hijack away--I'm so tickled to see her, too.


OMG, you guys are going to make me cry.

Mal, it's always great to see you. And thank you! Patrick is truly our miracle baby.

[NMAmy]

Waaaah, creepy hitch-hikers!!! :scared1: I'm glad he didn't hang around too long!

Poor Cait - she looks exhausted and miserable. I'm glad she felt a bit better during lunch though - it was probably that amazingly powerful air-conditioning they have at Sci-Fi!!

That Yoga back-pack freaks me out!! He looks so life-like!! I don't think I'd like him clinging to my back all day. Heh.

The Boardwalk at night is so pretty! Except for that evil clown pool, of course.

Booooo, this can't be your last night!! How did that happen!?! :confused3

:lmao:I find the backpack a bit freaky, too. Luckily, Caitlin did get to feeling a bit better that day. The trip went much too quickly.

Julie--I need to get back over to your trip report. I've fallen behind. I'm putting together this graduation dvd for Caitlin and it's sucked up all of my time. Do you have any idea how many pictures I've accumulated of that child over the last 18 years? :rotfl: I am making one section that will feature all the faces she's made at me when taking her photo over the years. I'm finally getting my payback!

Amy, I'm so happy to find YOUR trip report. It's also nice to put your adorable face with all your writing. It's funny, I imagine that everyone on the Disboards is a frumpy houselady in her 50s until I see evidence otherwise. I have no idea why I do that. When I see a teen or 20-something tell their age, I'm always taken aback (like they're not allowed on here or something). Go figure. :confused3.

:rotfl:Well, Caitlin will tell you that I AM frumpy--all my non-frumpiness comes from her input. For someone who thinks I dress so badly, she sure steals a lot of my clothes! I tend to think everyone here is younger--probably because I hang out with Mal, MickeysMommy, Hedy, Diane, and AussieAngel. ;) They're all young 'uns.


Patrick is turning two April 20, so we are planning our first Disney trip with him in September of 2011. If you think Dan can get into plenty of trouble on his own, I can't even imagine the antics him and Patrick will be getting into. Oh boy, I have to be armed with plenty of pen and paper, that's for sure.

OMG, you guys are going to make me cry.

Mal, it's always great to see you. And thank you! Patrick is truly our miracle baby.

I cannot believe that baby is going to be TWO!! :hug:I can't tell you how much I loved hearing your story. And I'm looking forward to Patrick's first trip to WDW.

[MickeysMommy]

Yeah, Amy making fun of me...can you imagine??? :rotfl:

Mal...WHERE ARE YOU??? I miss you! Poodle IS Mickey. He is also Noodle, Doodle, Mimi and the list goes on! ;)

[schoen]

Hey Fellow Lansing girl here. I always read your trip reports, and always enjoy them. It was a tough winter for us wasn't it? My DH and I went to WDW the first week in Feb and it was really cold for us too. It was in the 30's for much of our trip. DH and I didn't even mind though, it was just nice to see the sun and no snow!

I saw your daughter wearing a state shirt, is she thinking of being a spartan? go green! Thanks for the trip, and the knowledge that I am not the only disney nut in the capitol city!

[hucifer]

ummm.....hello? :confused: