How EMH saved our trip-Doing the World on West Coast Time! Completed. Stop by my PTR!

As dry as Wall-E was going to get, we headed over to the AI finale for the day. The 3 of us that had been earlier were quite curious to see how our girl stacked up against the other finalists for the day.

Here they are, the final six for the day!

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a slightly different line up of judges
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Close ups... the winner from the show we'd seen earlier is 2nd from the left, for some reason I didn't take a close up of her although I did shoot some video.

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and...the winner!
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we'll see if he makes it far on the "real" auditions with his fast pass to the front of the line. They ALL were surprisingly good. This guy clearly had more experience. But most of them should really try out, for real.

Scrooge and Steven were blown away by the talent, they apparently hadn't believed my texting and our conservations about how good people really were.

Shows over for the day, we headed to PTC to check in. Now we'd been burned a couple of times with people getting a drink, etc and not being with us when our pager went off so the gang was under strict instructions not to move.

Scrooge and Steven were freaking out as our ressie was at 7....the EMH switch over and they were dying to run and grab FP's. The place was a MOB scene. So many families turned away, trying to get a bite to eat. They were sold out for the entire night through EMH, so for the next 3 hours! It reminded me of our trip 4 years prior when we hadn't made a single ADR (who knew? We didn't! We do now!). Scrooge really appreciated all the planning at that point. He'd been concerned about being "limited" by our ADR's but not once did we have an issue (well, other than missing fireworks!).

Finally we were taken to our table. I had NOT warned the kids about the "show" at all. Our CM launched right in, seizing on Steven and Tink.

"Did you wash your hand's?"

Yes

"What color was the soap"


uh

uh

uh


Tink looks at me....

uh

uh

pink?

WRONG ANSWER!

She was pretty abused for the rest of the night but oh, our guy was hysterical and the service impeccable. We ordered drinks, a picnic punch for me and a beer for Scrooge. Then Steven and Scrooge ran to get FP's and our jackets (but left rest of the stuff in the locker...something we'd regret later).

Their mission? TSM for 4 of us, RRC for the 2 big guys. They were gone forever!

My drink arrived.
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Tink was hassled.

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I was abused...our CM joking that we'd been ditched and they were never coming back.

We wondered what the heck was going on!

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Our CM kept calling Goofy "Scooter" which we all though was hysterical. He didn't think so although I'm not sure why.

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Our view. the kids were very entertained by the old shows,

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FINALLY they arrived. After the food! TSM did NOT reset for FP's and they'd gone there first. So instead they got 4 RRC and 2 TOT.

Yep. WALL-E had been dying to go on TOT all day. All week actually. Which is pretty funny when you consider that he'd been traumatized by it as a 4 year old. Which meant I got to go on it with him (Scrooge is not a TOT fan). It is not my favorite kind of ride, at all. But heck, if Wall-E of all people can handle it, I figured I had to.

The food was the BOMB! Best tuna noodle casserole ever!

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Tink's salmon
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Steven's pot roast. For some reason he didn't realize this is what pot roast was and was initially taken aback by the onions but he said the flavor was outstanding.
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The boys drinks (we let them use our adult drinks at each meal lol)
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Tink checking out the dessert menu
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We ordered dessert even though we did not have an ounce of room for it. I recall a cobbler and a bread pudding...I think. They were good, but we were so stuffed we didn't enjoy them and took only token bites. Kind of sad!

Next..

Will I survive TOT?

What about those wine glasses for my mom, will I remember?

Will we ever get on TSM??????????
 
Wow! Really fun post about the 50's prime time and your day at DHS!!! I have an ADR there for lunch, can't wait to try it!

I don't know much about the AI show, I just know it wouldn't be interesting for our DS's -- too young, and I don't know that I would want to sit through it. Not a big fan of the regular show, sooo..

Anyway, looking forward to the TOT tale!!!
 
Wow! Really fun post about the 50's prime time and your day at DHS!!! I have an ADR there for lunch, can't wait to try it!

I don't know much about the AI show, I just know it wouldn't be interesting for our DS's -- too young, and I don't know that I would want to sit through it. Not a big fan of the regular show, sooo..

Anyway, looking forward to the TOT tale!!!

We loved PTC, I will look forward to hearing how your lunch is! It was definitely one of my favorite meals of the trip, I'm trying to duplicate that tuna noodle casserole (egg noodles but with red and green peppers and then a full seared ahi steak on top with bread crumbs...not my mom's tuna noodle casserole for sure!). I did it once and while it was quite tasty, it wasn't the same. Need to keep trying :)

Re: AI. Yeah, if you aren't into the show IRL then I can see it not being much of a draw. We enjoy AI (well further into the show at any rate) but for the singing only. We tend to DVR it and FF through all the judges comments. Our kids loved it but at the ages you have...I'd skip it too!

TOT.:scared1:
 


I'm really enjoying reading your TR. I found it yesterday and spent the afternoon catching up.:goodvibes Great pictures!! Can't wait for more...popcorn::
 
Full, and with fast passes in hand, we split up. Big kids and Scrooge to RRC, Wall-E and I to..

TOT.

Now, TOT is not my favorite ride. But Wall-E is my timid guy, my "geek" if you will. He finds his thrills in books, in science, in nature. His idea of adventure is taking on work that is 2 grades above him. But if someone ELSE is driving...and he isn't the one having to be in control it's

Faster Faster Faster!

Higher Higher Higher!


He was not always this way and I love the dichotomy of it all.

So...off to TOT we go.

We breeze to the front, not even enough time for me to get freaked out. I have falling issues. I can do some pretty intense coasters but falling, I really don't like. But hey, he's 8 and he's all over it. Almost immediately we are in our elevator, seated in the back row.

I've done this before.

I should be prepared.

Bag in lap I remind Wall-E to take off his hat so it doesn't go flying.

And we go.

UP

Dowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn



Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Downnnnnnnnnnnn.........


My purse pop opens and the contents go

UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

and Down.......................

I grab stuff, sitting on it, jamming it back in and we go


Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and Down........

and my camera goes


Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and Down............

My phone goes

Up!!!!!!!!!!!!

and Down..........

I was EXHAUSTED by the end.

Not to mention the fact that I screamed my head off the entire time. I'd look outside when the doors opened, freak out, my stuff would go flying...and then THUMP land in my lap, oh my!

Wall-E's hat went up and down too but I was too freaked out about my camera and phone to notice.

I did NOT have a big bag with me. A clutch really, nicely placed under my belt in my lap (no pockets to hold stuff or I missed that somehow).

Whew!!

Ride over we went to check out the pictures. Sadly people in front of us had their arms up so Wall-E was completely blocked.

Texting the rest of the crew, they weren't even on RRC yet, even with FP's. So what's a girl to do?

Go shopping.

I had gifts to get.

I got my mom these. She's bought some on their last trip and my aunt somehow broke them? I didn't want to know....

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And my sister this. She'd specifically requested any Disney game, in a tin. This seemed appropriate!

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Wall-E and I headed over to TSM. The plan was to meet there and try to get on it. It still was showing a crazy wait but we figured what the heck, just do it. It took those 4 FOREVER to get there. First they sent Tink and Wall-E ahead, the big boys wanted to go on RRC again. Great idea but I needed their KTTW cards. So they had to come back and get them to me.

Would we make it?

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No joke...2 minutes before EMH ended we were in line for TSM! Finally! After what felt like days of trying!

I have no pictures. All I can say is Scrooge was a Scrooge to pass up TSM for yet another ride on RRC. He didn't know what he was missing. My arm was SORE afterwards.

And with that we headed back to the cabin.

Next...a LAZY day, A massage and some serious spinning.
 


Great Update:thumbsup2 I've never rode TOT before but your description made me feel like I was riding right along with you!! That was too funny reading about your stuff going up and then down.:rotfl: (although, I'm sure it wasn't for you at the time.) I hoping to talk the boys into riding it when we head back in August. My oldest son is timid also and although my youngest is somewhat of a daredevil, he didn't want to ride last time if his big brother didn't.:confused3

Glad you finally got to ride TSM:goodvibes and with only 2 minutes to spare...wow!!
 
Hooray!! I'm so happy that you finally got to go on TSM!!

We love 50's PTC! I think it's hysterical that you didn't "warn" the kids about the schtick!!

And the Up...Down...Up...Down... sequence was a riot! :rotfl2:

Looking forward to more...


Kathy
 
I'm here, I'm here, I'm here! :yay::yay::yay:

Hi. :wave:

It took me a couple days, but I finally made it through your thread. :goodvibes First of all, you have a lovely family. Second of all, I lov reading about them!

You have a lot of moments that are so similar to mine, I just have to laugh.

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know."

I swear, it's the curse of traveling with that many people, I know it is! :rotfl2:
 
I'm here, I'm here, I'm here! :yay::yay::yay:

Hi. :wave:

It took me a couple days, but I finally made it through your thread. :goodvibes First of all, you have a lovely family. Second of all, I lov reading about them!

You have a lot of moments that are so similar to mine, I just have to laugh.

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know."

I swear, it's the curse of traveling with that many people, I know it is! :rotfl2:

Welcome welcome welcome!:dance3:

and thank you thank you thank you :) I rather like them....most of the time!

We have the "I don't know" syndrome all the time. At Disney it is about what do you want to do. At home we have.


"What do you want to eat?" (for breakfast, for lunch, for snack....)

"I don't know"

At night it's "what do you want to watch?" (on tv)

"I don't know"


Hmmmn...

"What do you know?"

"I don't know"

:)
 
I rather like them....most of the time!

And that pretty much sums up how I feel about my family! :lmao:

We have the "I don't know" syndrome all the time. At Disney it is about what do you want to do. At home we have.


"What do you want to eat?" (for breakfast, for lunch, for snack....)

"I don't know"

At night it's "what do you want to watch?" (on tv)

"I don't know"


Hmmmn...

"What do you know?"

"I don't know"

:)

Well, glad to know I'm not the only one who has to deal with this. Except here, it's more like,

"Mama, I'm hungry."

"Okay, what would you like?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want strawberries?"

"No."

"Do you want toast?"

"No."

"Do you want an apple and cheese?"

"No."

"GO IN THE FRIDGE AND PICK SOMETHING!!!!!!" :rotfl2:

Granted, he is four, but most of our struggles are that he wants something he shouldn't have for breakfast like...ice cream. :lmao:
 
Day 6 dawned absolutely lovely. Today was "my" day. We had tried to schedule one "special" thing for each person during the trip.

  • Scrooge got to go fly
  • Steven got to go to HOB. He has another one still coming (and he doesn't know) and he got to go watch the Richard Petty experience.
  • Tink got her pedicure
  • Goofy and Wall-E went to the MSB.

This morning I woke up before the rest of the crew. Scrooge, being the love that he is, popped up and made me coffee. I used Tink's refillable mug so I could take it to go. I strolled out to the bud stop and it was so lovely, and i had enough time, I just kept walking until one came by. I headed down to the marina. Where was I going?

I hopped on a very empty boat and soon my destination began to show.

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I had never been to the WL before and decided to stroll a little bit. I figured out where I needed to go so I wouldn't be late and then since I was still early and decided to burn some of those CS credits with breakfast at the Roaring Fork. I had a lovely yogurt parfait from their "bar", some oj, a banana and a nice refill on the coffee. So far so good.

My time was drawing near so I headed out.

And down.

And through.

Into the WLV.

To...

the Fitness Center!

Which also has

MASSAGE!


This was my birthday present from the boys. My birthday had been the previous week (so no button or free entry for me, wah!) and this is what I'd wanted.

I checked in.

They didn't have me down. Or at least not at the time I had written down!

They’d had me down for an hour earlier than I had written down. Thankfully they were able to get me in a mere half hour later and it was not a problem at all. I was able to get a little workout in while I waited which was really nice. Rachel was my masseuse, I believe the famous Rachel R (for anyone looking through the spa threads) and I did tell her that I preferred firm. She asked if I wanted deep tissue and I said I’d LOVE that, she mentioned it would be an up charge which I said was fine.

I had a 50 minute massage and it was just heavenly. Definitely plenty of pressure, on the verge of too much which is actually perfect as it does the job so much better for me once we are done! I thought she was fabulous and at check-out there was no up-charge and the rates seemed about $18 lower than what I thought I’d seen online so that was a nice treat! I would absolutely go back and it was a nice little gym as well.

After I was done I called the crew.

Today was "lazy day at the resort". And since the FW main pool was undergoing rehab, our plan was to use the WL pool...since we could! We had an "official letter" and everything! :cool1:

The original plan had been for them to come over, have breakfast there (again, those darn CS credits that seemed to be breeding and multiplying), hang out at the pool, have lunch there and then play the rest by ear. Dinner was the late show at HDDR so we had lots of time to do...whatever!

The rest of the crew was, however, still on west coast time. The little ones were very anxious to get going but those older ones were NOT moving. Of course part of it "could" have been the fact that I'd let Tink and Goofy hit the quiet pool when we got back to the room at midnight but Goofy had no issues getting up according to Scrooge. As usual it was Steven that he couldn't budge. So Scrooge decided to just ditch him and bring the pool hounds over to WL.

While I was waiting, I did some wandering.

Checked out the geyser.

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Checked out the pool
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and the pool bar. I was clearly right back at home, one of our favorite local brews was on tap at the pool bar. WL is VERY pacific northwest, no doubt. I was excited to see the tap selection. Sad but true, we are beer snobs and it made for something to look forward to for a poolside lunch.

Looking down at the pool.
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Finally, they arrived!

What's first? Lunch or Pool? Pool or Lunch?

I don't know, what do you want to do?

I don't know, what do you want to do?

I don't know, what do you want to do?

oh my goodness! It's 11am...I have NO interest in ruining the relaxation from my workout, massage and lovely healthy breakfast. What's a girl to do?

Head to that poolside bar for a Redhook ESB of course! (to share with Scrooge while the minions debated what to do first).

Next....are we capable of being lazy? really?
 
I love it! A well deserved massage for mom!

You know how to travel, my friend. I really like that each one of you got their own special thing to do, that makes the vacation so nice.

And oh my goodness, are your photos of WL making me very nostalgic. This chapter should have come with a disclaimer. TK, you can't change your resort now, but prepare yourself to drool over your happy place. :lmao:
 
I love it! A well deserved massage for mom!

You know how to travel, my friend. I really like that each one of you got their own special thing to do, that makes the vacation so nice.

And oh my goodness, are your photos of WL making me very nostalgic. This chapter should have come with a disclaimer. TK, you can't change your resort now, but prepare yourself to drool over your happy place. :lmao:

awwww..... thanks!

I think that's why I have PDD. It isn't really so much PDD. It's NTD. No travel depression.

I am a planner and I (we) love to travel. We usually have 1-2 fun things planned for each summer. Last summer it was a 2 week road trip to the Grand Canyon.

This summer.

Nada.

Life is getting in the way and it's making me cranky and resentful and I need to get over it. It "is what it is" but...it still bums me out and I need to snap out of it! A planner who can't plan is a frustrated soul. And while we DO have plans for 2010 THV...it's a wee bit early for a PTR and any "real" plans in that area.

I may vent about it, I need to get it out but really, just need to get over it. LOL! Blended life can be a PITA at times suffice to say.

Ah...WL. DH REALLY wants to stay there badly. It reminds me quite a bit of where we got married, a very very special place. Part of me wants to stay there and part of me thinks it really isn't very vacation-like if we pick something so much like home and so "not" away from home! But....the place we got married IS "our happy place" so......there you go :)

Then again, I'm not sure the THV are much of a stretch either. THV wins only b/c is sleeps 9 for less $$ and the layout is the bomb for the tentative group we have going. But I'll tell you this, if we EVER get to go for Thanksgiving or Christmas (and DH did a double take when he saw Free Dining was extended, he actually considered turkey day on his own for 09....for a millisecond), it will be WLV for sure!

We had a GREAT day there...more to come...but the kids want to stay there as their "2nd choice" after FW for the next trip. Having not seen THV they can't quite grasp it but like the idea. I'll miss the boat to the MK though, that's for sure!
 
I know how you feel, hon. The thought of not booking bounceback when I go in September sends my stomach into knots. It's extremely rare that I don't have a Disney vacation planned, at least one per year.

What with DS going to kindergarten in fall of 2010, and my desire to go back to school, I'm just not sure it'll be feasible or financially responsible.

I hate being an adult. :lmao:

I love the Wilderness Lodge, and I had some of the reservations you did. Where I live has a very outdoorsy feel to it, and I thought, is this not enough "away from home" for me. But it so, so is. I love it there. :goodvibes
 

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