So Long, Farewell, I'll Even Say Adieu!

[*NikkiBell*]

Hi All,

This is it! I am leaving for WDW at 5 a.m. and going loooooooooooney (not Lunny, but LOONEY)! Today I confirmed our DVC villa and that we had the DxDP on our ressie. I also made my own lime green Mickey heads at work because mine mysteriously disappeared last night. I really like how they came out! :thumbsup2

I just finished printing our boarding passes and packing my bags. I started last night and thought I was all done until I realized that I was missing something quite important: my underroos! :rotfl: Could you IMAGINE the panic I'd go through when I noticed it tomorrow night? :scared1::rotfl2:

I really need this trip. With all of the health issues that have been thwarted my way coupled with some very nasty bumps in the road this summer, I am wiped. WDW magic is just what I need. I am hoping that it will re-charge me and help me move on. I'm planning on coming back and looking at the months ahead as a new beginning. :cloud9:

I'll try and post updates here in the form of a mini-trip report. I can never commit to writing a full blown one, but I might jot down a few things now that I have my magical iPhone. :woohoo: Speaking of which, I asked on the call-in show a few weeks back what the crew does with their phones in the parks. I'm still paranoid about it getting damaged, but am stocked with Zip Loc baggies. I'll be sure to give a full account of how that goes. :surfweb:

Well, I am off to relax for a few and then hit the hay. Sean's father is picking us up to go to the airport at five!

Hugs & Pixie Dust! :hug: :wizard:

Nikki

[kab407]

Have a great time Nikki. Lord knows you need and deserve it.

[Annette_VA]

Have a wonderful trip, Nikki! You deserve it!

Be sure to post lots of updates - here & on FB

[simonkodousek]

Have a wonderful and well-deserved trip! :)

[daneenm]

Oh Nikki, have a terrific time!

[LMO429]

have a great trip! :goodvibes

[WaltD4Me]

Have a wonderful magical time Nikki! :wizard:

[shellyminnie]

Woohooo!!!

Have a safe flight! See you Saturday!!

[aspen37]

Have a safe trip and an awesome vacation!!!! :goodvibes

[wdwscout]

Yay!- Jersey Week has arrived! :banana::banana:

Enjoy and post whenever you can with that magical phone!

[spaddy]

Have a great trip!!!! I think I have decided to use my Otterbox in WDW, but I would be interested to know how you make out with your iPhone.

[Cyrano]

Have a wonderful trip Nikki. Look forward to hearing all about it :thumbsup2

[chaoscent]

Enjoy and have a magical time. :goodvibes Penny

[NC Belle]

:wizard: Have a great trip!

Let me know if you need me to ask Kevin any questions for this week for ya. ;)

[wildfan1473]

Have a fantastic trip, Nikki. You deserve it!

[TSWJan78]

Hope you have the best trip ever BFF... You are due!!!

[catycatcat4]

HAve fun my mom and brother are gonna be there wensday if you see a tall dude who looks like he is 16 or 17 but really 14 with long curly very gorgus hair and looks like a girl from behinde thats him!

[Justin Jett]

HAve fun my mom and brother are gonna be there wensday if you see a tall dude who looks like he is 16 or 17 but really 14 with long curly very gorgus hair and looks like a girl from behinde thats him!

Love the description!:)

[Justin Jett]

Have a wonderful and restful time!!!!:thumbsup2:thumbsup2:)

[SamSam]

Nikki, Have a wonderful, relaxing time. Enjoy!

[mainegal]

Nikki, you have the most wonderful time in the World! :cool1:

[solar]

Hope you have an awesome trip!

[coinbeach45]

Have a great trip!!!!!! :banana:

[parrotheadlois]

Hey Nikki!

How's the weather?? We're coming down tomorrow (:

Fellow Jerseyites - Lois and Greg

[BriarRosie]

You probably won't see this until you return, so I hope you had a great trip. :goodvibes

[alebisi]

Have a beautiful trip!!:cool1:

[*NikkiBell*]

Hoop Dee Doo! Hoop Dee Doo! Hoop Dee Doo!

Hi Friends,

We had a busy, busy day. After landing in Orlando at 9:40, we got on ME and headed to AKLV. Another couple met up with us soon after. They are friends of Sean's. We all ate a quick bite at Mara (purrrrr zebra domes) and then took a cab to US. For those wondering, it took about 25 minutes and cost $35 or so. We did the entire park in a few hours and then stopped back at AKLV for a few. Our room wasn't ready earlier in the day so they text messaged us when the room was ready. I found this to be an absolutely amazing service. I have heard of it before, but never had to use it. It was just wonderful. They gave us our keys and they were"magically" activated once the text was sent!

Hoop Dee Doo tonight was great tonight as usual. We are planning on relaxing a bit now. Tomorrow we are dining with a Disney Imagineer!!!

[NC Belle]

I'm so glad that your first day went so well. I have always wanted to do Hoop Dee Doo.

:wizard: Have magical dreams and an awesome day 2!

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Sounds like a great start to your vacation. Have fun!!!

[*NikkiBell*]

Morning!

We are on the bus going to Dine with an Imagineer. Very exciting! We had an interesting convo with a cast member just now at the AKLV bus stop. He saw that I have on my podcast shirt and listens. We talked quite a bit and he was full of as much sarcasm and comedy as Pete and the crew. At first, he started yelling, "That's a lie! You are biased!" I nearly fell over as he continued. He then took his bus microphone off and we talked to him for a bit. He said that he listened to the show religiously before he started working at WDW. He said he doesn't have as much time to listen now, but that it's much different listening as a CM.

Well, that was the first hour with my podcast shirt on! Let's see what happens next!

[insoin]

Have a great trip! Hope to hear/see how it all goes soon!

:cool1::thumbsup2:banana:

[tlcoke]

Enjoy the Dine with an Imagineer lunch. I hope you get a good Imagineer.

[*NikkiBell*]

Jambo! Heh, imagine a gal with a Jerzy accent saying that. Lol

Yesterday was the best day ever! Dine with an Imagineer was incredible! We were there for almost three hours. We had Joni Van Buren as our imagineer. She was hysterical!

After doing some shopping and Art of Disney Animation (where yours truly met the Up characters along with Sorcerer Mickey --- no line!!!), we headed over to Epcot. A couple we are friends with is down here too so we met them for EMH and dinner. I wasn't feeling too hot after dinner, but got my second wind soon.

After dinner, we met up with the lovely Kathy W. for a bit. It was definitely like seeing an old friend. She is a delight! We went through Nemo and gabbed a bit before Illuminations and EMH. We hit Test Track and a few others during EMH and then hit the hay.

Today we already had breakfast at Boma (good, but not as good as dinner) and are heading to MK now. :)

[Mouse Skywalker]

Nikki. Sounds like you are having a fantastic trip so far. My family and I love Hoop Dee Doo! Dine with an Imagineer sounds like a lot of fun. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

[ADP]

Sounds great Nikki! Glad you got to meet up with Kathy. A trip to Orlando isn't complete without a meet with kathy! :)

[TSWJan78]

Glad to hear you are having fun!!!

[daneenm]

Sounds like you are having a great time!

[*NikkiBell*]

What a dayyyy!!!

California Grill was fabulous last night. We did MK during the day. The iPhone app for wait times was a huge help. Our longest wait was only 15 minutes!!! I love Jerzy Week!!! :D

We spent much of it at Epcot with two cast member friends of mine. We did all of Food & Wine and then Jiko tonight.

Tomorrow: MK with Shellt and Citricos at night for dinner! Wahoooo!!!

[*NikkiBell*]

So, Nikki is back in the garbage state. I had a wild time at the airport. It involved Homeland Security, several TSA agents, and, of course, my carry on bag. I don't know if I could do this story justice over the computer. Hey Pete, when's the next call in show? LMAO

More to follow....

[catycatcat4]

you gonna write a trip report?

[*NikkiBell*]

Yesterday, we spent the day at Animal Kingdom. After doing resort airline check-in, we hopped the bus for the two minute drive from the Lodge to the park. We rode Everest (twice), Dinosaur, Kilamanjaro Safari, and then did two of the trails. We also had lunch at Tusker House and saw Festival of the Lion King.

We got back to the resort in time for a few more purchases at Zawadi Marketplace and then hopped the Magical Express bus. We never go through security right away because we are always delayed and ME gets you there so dang early. We walked around and shopped some more (I bought more Vinylmations --- totally addicted now --- and a glittery pink Disney Princess tracksuit to wear home each trip).

After having dinner, we went to security. We had just over 45 minutes before our flight was to take off and plenty of time. Well, that is, until they thought Nikki was a terrorist. Yes, you heard me right! We put our carry on bags through the screener and heard those words that are feared at airports everywhere: BAG CHECK! BAG CHECK!!!!!! And, of course, it was *MY* DVC carry on bag that was the one in question.

To put a long story short, I had apparently not realized how I placed things in the bag when I packed it that morning. Against the side I had my pink Mickey ears antenna with the curly wire and against that a dedication plaque collectible. Right in front of those things was a box containing a mini Partners statue with a small round clock. After the Homeland Security officers dumped my entire bag and scanned EVERYTHING separately, they realized that the way I had things placed made it look like a bomb was in my bag. LMAO...Sean just shook his head the entire time and said how dumb I was! lol Oh, and yes, you can better BELIEVE I went Jerzy on them during the process!!

We literally had to RUN to the gate after this fiasco because Jet Blue decided it was going to take off early. We got off of the monorail and heard the last call warning and bolted. I'm sorry, but if an airline is going to leave 20 minutes before the posted departure time, they need to notify passengers somehow. The TV screens in the airport didn't even note this. Sheesh!

All in all, it was a great trip and we had a lot of fun. We ate until we were stuffed (and then some!) and enjoyed the low crowds and weather.

Next up...DAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tlcoke]

I had to go through the through bag check from Texas to Florida leg of my trip. I bought a DVD at the conference and it was in my carry-on bag. I wasn't aware that DVD's were on the take out of your bag list, like a laptop. Needless to say, I made sure all dvd's, cd's etc...were in my Checked suitcase when I left Florida.

[MAKHayes-DisneyDiva]

Great story about the clock! I had something similar happen while carrying my sister's diaper bag (diapers for the kid, not her!) because she had a travel alarm clock in the bag that was somehow suspicious. Not fun!!

Sounds like a wonderful trip!!

[DisneyKevin]

Yesterday, we spent the day at Animal Kingdom. After doing resort airline check-in, we hopped the bus for the two minute drive from the Lodge to the park. We rode Everest (twice), Dinosaur, Kilamanjaro Safari, and then did two of the trails. We also had lunch at Tusker House and saw Festival of the Lion King.

We got back to the resort in time for a few more purchases at Zawadi Marketplace and then hopped the Magical Express bus. We never go through security right away because we are always delayed and ME gets you there so dang early. We walked around and shopped some more (I bought more Vinylmations --- totally addicted now --- and a glittery pink Disney Princess tracksuit to wear home each trip).

After having dinner, we went to security. We had just over 45 minutes before our flight was to take off and plenty of time. Well, that is, until they thought Nikki was a terrorist. Yes, you heard me right! We put our carry on bags through the screener and heard those words that are feared at airports everywhere: BAG CHECK! BAG CHECK!!!!!! And, of course, it was *MY* DVC carry on bag that was the one in question.

To put a long story short, I had apparently not realized how I placed things in the bag when I packed it that morning. Against the side I had my pink Mickey ears antenna with the curly wire and against that a dedication plaque collectible. Right in front of those things was a box containing a mini Partners statue with a small round clock. After the Homeland Security officers dumped my entire bag and scanned EVERYTHING separately, they realized that the way I had things placed made it look like a bomb was in my bag. LMAO...Sean just shook his head the entire time and said how dumb I was! lol Oh, and yes, you can better BELIEVE I went Jerzy on them during the process!!

We literally had to RUN to the gate after this fiasco because Jet Blue decided it was going to take off early. We got off of the monorail and heard the last call warning and bolted. I'm sorry, but if an airline is going to leave 20 minutes before the posted departure time, they need to notify passengers somehow. The TV screens in the airport didn't even note this. Sheesh!

All in all, it was a great trip and we had a lot of fun. We ate until we were stuffed (and then some!) and enjoyed the low crowds and weather.

Next up...DAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wasnt it Sean who told me that you NEVER need two hours advance time at the airport?

Has he ever traveled with YOU before?

:lmao::lmao::lmao:

[Bornteach]

Wasnt it Sean who told me that you NEVER need two hours advance time at the airport?

Has he ever traveled with YOU before?

:lmao::lmao::lmao:

You mean Nikki the terrorist???
:laughing::laughing:

[*NikkiBell*]

LMAO...Kevin, you're right about that! Sean DID in fact tell you he doesn't see the need for extra time at the airport! This is all his fault then!!! :::running to phone:::