The Sea Witch Stole My Voice! Our Two Week Land and Sea Adventure! COMPLETE 4/12

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

that was a funny flooding story, nice job using what they had to try and stop the problem.

Yeah they were very creative. I felt bad for the guests who sought shelter there thinking they would stay dry.

Have you been on any other cruises besides a Disney cruise? Just wondering what you thought about them...

Thank you, Stacy

Nope this was our first cruise ever!

Does anyone else find it ironic that the CM was using a "Caution - Wet Floor" sign to divert the water!?

I loved the VOL video. I heard them sing The Star Spangled Banner and I nearly cried my eyes out. They are truly amazing. check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErV-Fmviebo

Great job so far.... I am loving your report!!

I did find that rather funny with the wet floor sign.

Amazing video!

You weren't kidding when you said you have some bad luck with Disney and rain!! I can't believe how deep that got! Insane!

Yeah, I don't joke when it comes to Disney and rain.

December 97

Sea of ponchos watching the parade

July 07

August 08

OMG ! That was some rain and flooding in Japan. The poor CM trying to unclogg the drain. That is what HS looked was like on our day there. The park was above ankle deep in some places. Anyway great WS pics. Kaylee and I meant to try a Kaki Gori but never had a chance. It looks yummy though.

Yeah, I felt bad for her, did not look like a very pleasant job.

Hi Lessa I tooo experienced the flooding at Epcot not sure if the same day but the drainage needs work for sure !!!

We got to see the Voices of Liberty, too! (Well, Ally and I did at least) I didn't get any pics b/c Brent was outside with a sleeping Claire--I might borrow some of your pics if you don't mind. They were FABULOUS! Sent chills up my spine! Great pics of the rain! I didn't get any of that either as I was too afraid that I might get my camera wet. I'll have to show Ally your videos--she'll love them!! Can't wait to hear more!

Don't mind at all, feel free to borrow.

Because kicking water always prevents flooding...

Excellent stalking skills!

Well since it wasn't a Focker encounter we were guaranteed to remember a photo. I still think it is so funny picturing her reaction when I, a "stranger", approached her and knew who she was.

Ok--Claire's down for a nap and I was able to share your videos with Ally! She really enjoyed them! When we got to the Voices of Liberty ones Ally said, "That's where we got to be dry!" Yep, we got a break from the rain to see them sing!! We can't wait to show these to Brent tonight since he didn't get to see this! Thanks for posting them!!

Hope Brent enjoys the videos!

Nice update Lessa Great pictures & video of the Fire and Drum Corps and also the Voices of Liberty ! Would love to see them preform myself but the kiddies are still little to young to sit still for all the wonderful shows at the American Pavilion. Oh well one day they will appreciate history as much as there Mom and then I will get to watch . LOL

I know what you mean about the kids being too young. When my brothers and I were little we moved a lot due to my dad's job in the Navy and we always drove when we moved. Our parents took us to all these historical sites and national parks and we had no appreciation and well we don't really remember much now anyways.

Then to top it off a flood so crazy , hope it clears up in the next post !

 

[debraW76]

Great update Leesa. You are making me want to do a solo trip or maybe one with just me and my mom. I would really like to take in more of the shows around WS and to also shop in all the little stores but *sigh* with all the kids I just wouldn't enjoy it because it would be too much work.

Sorry bout the rain. Oh, and I can't watch videos at work so I will have to watch them tonight.

 

[stacopp]

I just wanted to say that I read your trip report so far...whew! You have done a great job! I have really enjoyed it- thanks for helping me miss Disney less. I look forward to more.

 

[Mysteria]

OMG The guy helping with the flood using the wet floor sign struck a funnybone. Good for them though to help the shop people out!

That was some wicked rain. I agree about epcot and the flooding. They need to figure something out. I was there once in 2004 when it was deep like that. Not fun.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Great update Leesa. You are making me want to do a solo trip or maybe one with just me and my mom. I would really like to take in more of the shows around WS and to also shop in all the little stores but *sigh* with all the kids I just wouldn't enjoy it because it would be too much work.

Sorry bout the rain. Oh, and I can't watch videos at work so I will have to watch them tonight.

I think an adults-only trip sounds like it would be a blast.

I just wanted to say that I read your trip report so far...whew! You have done a great job! I have really enjoyed it- thanks for helping me miss Disney less. I look forward to more.

Thank You! So glad that you are enjoying the read.

OMG The guy helping with the flood using the wet floor sign struck a funnybone. Good for them though to help the shop people out!

That was some wicked rain. I agree about epcot and the flooding. They need to figure something out. I was there once in 2004 when it was deep like that. Not fun.

Yes it was definitely very nice of the guests to try and help the CM too bad it was a losing battle. It is a good thing that the main store in Japan is on a bit of an incline or else it would have flooded as well. Luckily the flood waters never reached Mom and I in our shelter.

Back in July 07 we got caught in a huge rain storm in Epcot and we had only one poncho among the four of us. We were at Universe of Energy and had to make it all the way to Italy for a dinner reservation. Alek and Erich decided to sacrifice themselves and ran pretty much all the way across Epcot while Mom and I shuffled our way over while trying to share the poncho (we were both wearing white). Anyways I don't know how they managed to run there so quickly as the flooding that day was nearly as bad as it was that day in Japan.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

OK OK.....Disney needs to be paying you to go there at this point!! LOL They are lucky that you are still willing to go back! Those pix speak volumes!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

OK OK.....Disney needs to be paying you to go there at this point!! LOL They are lucky that you are still willing to go back! Those pix speak volumes!

We have had some nice weather as well but the predominant theme is definitely rain! We love WDW though and always have a blast no matter what the weather is like.

 

[jcc0621]

Well since it wasn't a Focker encounter we were guaranteed to remember a photo. I still think it is so funny picturing her reaction when I, a "stranger", approached her and knew who she was.

LOL. I have 3 meets planned in August, I already told Jim his only job is to take pictures

 

[GeminiAngel]

Did he really think that was going to work?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

LOL. I have 3 meets planned in August, I already told Jim his only job is to take pictures

Did he really think that was going to work?

I guess they were desperate!

 

[troobabiee7]

Wow, now THAT'S some rain! That's crazy!

I loved your video of Voices of Liberty. When I went with school back in 2001 the trip was run by my history teacher, so our meet-up/group activity on our Epcot day was watching the Voices of Liberty before the American Adventure. I remember being in awe of how beautiful the music sounded in that rotunda!

 

[morgtroy]

That was certainly a downpour. Then all your past trips, rain photos.
Love all your WS pics, only us disney freaks can truly appreciate all the detailed pics of lights and ornamental trimmings. Super!!
I have these kind of pics and the "not so disney" people say, oh a light fixture. "No silly that's not just a light fixture, it's a disney light fixture with a hidden Mickey on it." You have no idea how much we when we found it.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wow, now THAT'S some rain! That's crazy!

I loved your video of Voices of Liberty. When I went with school back in 2001 the trip was run by my history teacher, so our meet-up/group activity on our Epcot day was watching the Voices of Liberty before the American Adventure. I remember being in awe of how beautiful the music sounded in that rotunda!

The rain that week really was nutso!

I think it would have been so fun to go to WDW with school, our Physics Fair trip to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg was a blast so I can only imagine what a trip to WDW would have been like!

That was certainly a downpour. Then all your past trips, rain photos.
Love all your WS pics, only us disney freaks can truly appreciate all the detailed pics of lights and ornamental trimmings. Super!!
I have these kind of pics and the "not so disney" people say, oh a light fixture. "No silly that's not just a light fixture, it's a disney light fixture with a hidden Mickey on it." You have no idea how much we when we found it.

Our rain luck has been pretty bad but don't worry we have had some nice weather sprinkled in every now and then among the rain showers.

I totally agree, people are always astounded when I tell them about the thousands of pictures I take each vacation and then they don't appreciate much of them unless they are a Disney nut like us.

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Lessa from another NUT!!!!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

We waited out the storm in Japan, no way I was going out in that! I think we were "stuck" there for 30-45 minutes. It was a good long while. Eventually the rain stopped so we hesitantly made our way out from our shelter. The skies were still looking pretty threatening so we made sure to wear our ponchos just in case.

There were some lovely bonsai displays set up for the Flower and Garden Festival so I went over to check them out and to take pictures. It was spitting rain still so I was trying to be careful with the camera.

We decided to make our way over to Canada as that was the only pavilion we had not yet visited on this trip.

As we were walking through England I noticed the tea garden display. It was too cute! The tea plants were planted in tea cup shaped planters!

As we were approaching Canada it started to POUR again. We hustled into the gift shop, browsed around and then decided to go catch the O Canada movie. I just love the song that Eva Avila (Canadian Idol) sings during the movie. Here's a video I found of the song on YouTube.

Canada You're a Lifetime Journey

The movie was great, funny and beautiful, not a snoozefest like the France and Norway films.

It was still pouring like crazy when we exited from the movie so we grabbed a seat in the Kidcot/exit area and just looked out at the rain.

Victoria Gardens based off of the lovely Butchart Gardens that are located in Victoria, British Columbia.

If you ever get the chance you should visit the Butchart Gardens, they are breathtaking!

Mom and I were pretty much just killing time now, we had an ADR at Chefs de France for 4:50 and it was right around 3:30. We sat there for a while and finally figured the rain was not going to let up so we decided to not just sit around wasting time.

We went over to England and browsed through the shops there. I found a book on Arthurian legends that looked interesting, I am a big King Arthur buff. I took a picture of it so I could remember to look it up once I got home.

We continued to loiter around the stores while I took pictures.

I call this my "Window Series"

Bored with the UK stores we decided to just go hang out in France until our ADR time.

We hung out in the library for a little bit. There was a photopass photographer in there and she quizzed me on the book titles to see if I could translate the French. I of course was able to translate all of them. ;P

It was 20 minutes out from our ADR now and people were beginning to crowd under the entrance awning to Chefs de France so Mom and I figured we better get over there and reserve our spot in the check-in line if we didn't want to have to fight through all the people.

It was packed by the time the Chefs CM's came out to start checking people in. They pulled a podium out into the middle of the sea of people and had a CM positioned there who would check your name off on the list to verify you were there. Then a few minutes later a host came out and started calling names. Mom and I were the second group to be seated.

It was lovely inside and we got a table right next to the windows.

We did not order appetizers as they provide you with rolls.

I am pretty sure this is what Mom ordered

Bouillabaisse - sauteed scallops, mahi mahi and black tiger shrimp served in a saffron seafood broth with potatoes and fennel

She also ordered a glass of wine as you can see in the picture. I just had water with my meal but I did take a few sips of the wine. It was very good, Mom had the waiter bring her a wine he thought would best compliment her meal and he did an excellent job!

I of course had the Gratin de macaroni - Baked macaroni with cream and gruyere cheese

OH MY GOSH! SO SO GOOD! This was a day chock full of gastronomic delights! It was sinfully delicious, rich and creamy and just perfect!

While eating I spied the "chef" making his way around the room checking to make sure that everybody was enjoying their meals.

Remy eventually made it to our table and he was so cute! He moves around and squeaks as though he is talking to you. It is too bad that he is only going to be there until September, such a nice touch!

Mom says in this picture he was whispering sweet nothings to her.

We bid adieu to Remy and finished up our entrees. We decided to make our meal even more decadent and ordered dessert which we do not usually do.

Not sure what Mom's dessert was called

I had the Creme Brulee, it was the first time I have ever had this dessert. It was good.

This was the priciest meal we had on the trip but my was it good! Totally worth the splurge.

Our tummies pleasantly full and our taste buds satisfied we made our way out of the restaurant. It had stopped raining again so no need for the ponchos.

Click here to continue

 

[jcc0621]

Wow! That rain is really giving Faye a run for her money

Remy is so cute. To bad I will probably never get to see him

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wow! That rain is really giving Faye a run for her money

Remy is so cute. To bad I will probably never get to see him

Yeah, Faye was more like a steady rain whereas this was just constant downpours all the time!

 

[onelilspark]

I'm doing Chefs on my trip and I have my eye on that macaroni!!

And with all your rain, you'll appreciate this story: we were there years ago and the entire week of our vacation (except, of course, our check-out day...) it rained. Every. Day. It got to the point that my younger brother started splashing through puddles at MGM and he let out with "Gee, I didn't know MGM was a water park!!"

 

[emmaca]

I just love the Canadian Pavillion O' Canada movie. It always bring tears to this alien resident's eyes ( you see I am an American). I am so proud of my country, I should someday become a Canadian. If you haven't seen the O' Canada show here are the You tube links. I hope you enjoy and see why I love Canada so much. we have been very fortunate to have lived on both coast of Canada and points in between. Everytime we moved we drove across this great country!.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE9FbpXSwI8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zOoex857Cs&feature=channel

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Mom says in this picture he was whispering sweet nothings to her.

So cute! I'm looking forward to this meal, as Maddie and Evan love, love, love Remy.

Again, lovely photos Lessa. Geeze that rain is crazy, though! Nothing like The Great Rain of Aug '08!