Oh the Pressure to do a PTR -- We're Home & Surprise Video up on Facebook

[MHTeacher]

Great updates! I was so behind, but I think I'm caught up with your MK day-AK/Epcot day.

Y'all are going to have so much fun on this trip. I'm sure you're counting down the weeks!

 

[that's nice]

Hey Kat-

Just catching up. Love your AK & Epcot days. I could go for a frosty beverage right now. We lost power this morning and just got it back about an hour ago. Hot as heck in the house... got the a/c pumping now. Hope you guys are doing OK.

 

[jenseib]

I can't believe you are making us wait for the ADr!

 

[KatMark]

hmmm dinner at Epcot....first guess Coral Reef....second guess Chefs De France so you can meet Remi!

Nice guesses...answer comign in the next update...soon.

all caught up...

end of day 2 with wishes sounds perfect.

starting day 3 at AK sounds fun. I know we like AK. We are animal people...and so we really enjoy seeing them there.

Hopping over to Epcot... I know you are a park hopper. I have never done it...but going with dd on the next trip...she insists it is the way to go. It goes smoothly? Do you use Disney transportation?

And... can't wait to find out where your ADR is for.

We love animals too (we go to the Zoo a lot here).

Yes, we have always been park hoppers. We've done both...drive and take Disney transportation. However, when we park hop, most of the time we go back to the resort for a swim first. When we don't, we've been pretty lucky with buses going to where we are hopping.

Yeah, just leave everybody hanging.

Come on, we don't want everything to be a bed of roses, now do we?

Well, now that's just rude

I missed the AK update, but caught up and read both updates. AK and Epcot sound great!

I am going to guess that your dinner resies are NOT for Le Cellier after last time's trip. You were a bit disappointed and preferred the lunch menu to the dinner menu because the potatoes were missing?

I've never done Dawa either, but then I'm not much of a drinker. My brother and SIL got a drink there and they were impressed. So much that they would have ditched us and hung out there, but they didn't.

You would be right...it is NOT LeCellier.

It's funny, I'll have a rare occasional drink if we go out to dinner at home, but on vacation, I do enjoy my adult beverages.

Ooo! Cliffhanger! I'm going to guess Coral Reef since you're over in that area...

Answer coming soon....I promise.

Aaah...Epcot. Still my favorite park. I'll guess Coral Reef for dinner as well.

I'm leaving tomorrow for vacation, so I'll look forward to catching up with you when I get back!

Mark, sorry I didn't get to wish you and your family a great time. I hope you are having a blast.

Sounds like a good plan to hop over to Epcot!

Can't wait to hear where y'all are having dinner!

Thanks, Amanda; trying to finish responses and then going to try to squeeze in an update.

Well even if you DID show us where your ADR is, I can't see the pictures so I would still be left guessing.

For you, I would type in the words.

 

[KatMark]

Yep, he definitely needs my backpack and lanyard

NOW you understand why I posted that on your thread.

Ms. Kat, I think you have a special place in your heart for EPCOT.

I love Soarin and Turtle Talk!! I didn't go in the last time because Mackenzie thought she was too old for it, but now that I know other adults go in without little kids I'll make sure I make it in this next trip.

I guess you are eating at Coral Reef as well. If not then somewhere in the World Showcase. Where I pressume you'll get lots of photos of your handsome, hat wearing hubby! Say that three times fast, I dare ya! I vote for some girlie hats this trip!!

Hi, Camille. Tell Mackenzie you are NEVER too old for Turtle Talk; it's fun to see the little ones interact with him.

And I'll have you know I tried saying that fast three times..it was hysterical what came out.
Sorry to hi-jack your PTR Ms. Kat. [/COLOR]

Not a problem at all, Camille.

mmm i can smell the land right now.

I'm with you there, Dan. I love the smell of the Land.

Yes posting that opened up a whole can of worms , such innocence on my part and such evil minds on my Dis Buddies
I am going guess Garden Grill for supper !!

Great Update too!!

Thanks, Rosie. Anything you say opens a whole can of worms if Marv is around. Oh yeah, that's right...Marv isn't around.

Love, love, love EPCOT. In April I committed a serious Dis-crime: I waited in the stand-by line for Soarin'. And I did it twice! Posted wait times were only 60 mins, so I figured tht wasn't too bad. And it wasn't. Also, I'm fairly certain we didn't wait more than forty-five minutes either time.


Now I just want to know where you're having dinner!

We've waited in line for Soarin' too when we couldn't get a Fastpass; but, I definitely prefer traveling with that fastpass.

Dinner plans coming up.

Enjoy your visit!!!

Thanks, Tam; it was such a shock to see them, but we had great fun.

What a wonderful surprise to come home to! Have a great weekend!

It was so totally unexpected. I'll explain the "arrival" before my next update.

sweet surprise, enjoy having them home!

Thanks, Lisa...I got to spend a lot of time with them; poor hubby, however, did not.

 

[KatMark]

Your plans look great! You are making me want to start planning more for October & to start planning for April!!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Thanks, Amy. The only reason I keep doing this and making these plans is it gives me the faith that we will still go; I'm trying not to think that we may have to cancel the trip because of Mark's mom's situation.

Yay for surprise visits! Have a great weekend!

Thank you.

Oh ... my favourtie park! Sounds like your touring plans are just like ours!! Great minds think alike I guess I am excited to hear where you are going for dinner

It's a girl thing...we know how to make a touring plan.

If everything goes well we should be checking into the Swan around noon on the 20th

LOVE the pictures of you and Tigger, and you guys with Eeyore, those are so adorable!

Well, perhaps we'll get the car reservation squared away and then walk over to the Swan and try to catch you in the lobby? I will definitely PM you or send you message on FB before we leave.

Thanks...I do love my Tigger.

Great Surprise and I am sure you needed a boost in spirits and what could do it better

It really lifted both of our spirits.

Great updates! I was so behind, but I think I'm caught up with your MK day-AK/Epcot day.

Y'all are going to have so much fun on this trip. I'm sure you're counting down the weeks!

Thanks, Michelle. Yes, we are counting down the weeks. We are at nine weeks from this past Saturday or, as of today:

Hey Kat-

Just catching up. Love your AK & Epcot days. I could go for a frosty beverage right now. We lost power this morning and just got it back about an hour ago. Hot as heck in the house... got the a/c pumping now. Hope you guys are doing OK.

Hi, Tim. Thanks; I could go for a frosty beverage myself since it feels like 106 with the heat index today. We lost power the Sunday before 4th of July for 11 hours...it was brutal. I can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Hugs back to you and the family.

I can't believe you are making us wait for the ADr!

Sorry, Jen. Update coming up very soon.

 

[KatMark]

Sorry for the delay in an update, my friends.

But as I posted earlier, Markie and Alisha came in to surprise us for the weekend. Mark was umpping two baseball games after a discouraging meeting with the nursing home, and I was driving home from the grocery store and was about a block away when my phone rang. It was Markie asking me where I was; I told him I was a minute from the house. He asked me to check the mailbox as someone was dropping off a check for their fundraiser t-shirt. So I pulled up to the driveway and put the car in park to go to the mailbox while holding the phone. Just as I approached the mailbox, a red car pulled up and I said to Markie on the phone "Joey is here now"; Markie started laughing and he and Alisha got out of the car. I had paid no attention to the color of the car (which is red, by the way) or the license plate. It was so good to see them. And Andy KNEW they were coming. The kids had asked him if we had any plans over the weekend. Andy told them that Mark was umpping all weekend and that we were going to see Barry Manilow on Saturday night, but other than that, he knew I'd be home.

We had a great visit; we played Scrabble on Friday night and laughed and laguhed; Markie took Alisha to the Woodfield Mall to show her what a "REAL" mall looks like; then we played Scrabble some more when they came back and then Mark got home and after talking to his sister played with them while I took my shower to get ready for Barry; we went to dinner and to the concert and Markie had a few friends over who haven't met Alisha. On Sunday morning, Markie, Alisha, Steve (and his mom)--Markie's best friend, and I went bowling. It was so good to see them; and we'll see them three times next month.

Okay, now that we got that out of the way, back to the trip.

I left you off with doing several things in Future World until our ADR time for dinner. For those of you who guessed this, you were right:

Yes, we are going to Coral Reef. Mark hasn't been in about 10 or 12 years, and I was there for lunch with Mary and the girls in January and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure the dinner menu appeals to me too much, but I do like the crab cakes and ceasar salad and may go with that. I am definitely having this for dessert though:

YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY IN MY TUMMY! (It may be the only dessert I have on the trip because as it turns out, I may have to lose weight for the wedding a lot faster than anticipated...the kids are seriously considering moving the wedding from 2014 to 2013....now let's see how many of you catch that and don't skim

After dinner, we will head over to World Showcase which we both really enjoy. I don't know if we'll get all of it done, or just part of it. Mark does NOT like missing a single shop while we are there, so it could take longer than we'll have once dinner is over.

But, I'm sure we'll stop at a few countries, including tehse on this first night at Epcot:

And, of course, I'll be having a Grand Mariner Slushie while here.

I'm not sure if we will stop for Illuminations or not. Truly, it is my least favorite night time show (okay, stop flaming me people ), but if Mark wants to, we will.

Up next, Day 4. Where do we go on this day? Does it involve EMH's?

 

[dizneeat]

Great weekend with the kids! You are excused for being absent here.

Okay, on to the planning........

We haven't been to CR in a long time. We had a very unpleasant visit the last time we went and so we haven't been back. Maybe we should, the dessert you chose looks yummy.

Love, how you want to spend the rest of the evening. And I love the photo of Mark in the glasses.
I just checked my own pre-trip report and in 4 weeks we will only be able to fit in Illuminations once. So maybe you will have to watch it for me too.

And to when in 2013 are Markie and Alisha thinking of moving their wedding? A spring one? Must be so exciting .... please keep us posted.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Am glad you had a great time catching up with everyone.

I've seen quite a few plans/reviews of Coral reef but still haven't eaten there...that chocolate desert looks YUMMY though!

Hope you enjoy strolling WS and am loving all the pics from previous trips :

 

[mickeystoontown]

It sounds like you had a great weekend and I know that you were super happy to get to spend time with the kiddos. Speaking of kiddos, yes, I did catch the part about them possibly moving the wedding up. After having done all the wedding planning with Lacey and Jesse, I'm all for having a wedding sooner rather than later. Less time to stress out over everything.

Back to Disney, I had the steak at Coral Reef and it was really really good. If you like salmon, Lacey says it's some of the best she's had.

 

[mommy2mrb]

for Coral Reef, I guessed good didn't I
I always get the steak there, not a seafood lover but love the big tank! and the chocolate wave


I didn't skim, great Markie and Alisha are thinking of moving the wedding up, except for less time to plan and save, whenever it is, it will be the best day

happy you had a fun weekend with everyone! hope Mark's mom is doing well

 

[amandaw]

I'm so happy to hear that y'all had a terrific weekend! And how exciting that the wedding may be moved up to next year!! Do they have a date they're thinking of moving it to?

I think the plans for the night in Epcot sound lovely. I haven't tried Coral Reef yet. Seems like I hadn't heard much good about it & then all of a sudden I have been hearing more good about it. So, I may have to check it out in the future. I hope y'all get to all (or most) of the countries & their shops.

 

[KatMark]

Great weekend with the kids! You are excused for being absent here.

Okay, on to the planning........

We haven't been to CR in a long time. We had a very unpleasant visit the last time we went and so we haven't been back. Maybe we should, the dessert you chose looks yummy.

Love, how you want to spend the rest of the evening. And I love the photo of Mark in the glasses.
I just checked my own pre-trip report and in 4 weeks we will only be able to fit in Illuminations once. So maybe you will have to watch it for me too.

And to when in 2013 are Markie and Alisha thinking of moving their wedding? A spring one? Must be so exciting .... please keep us posted.

Thank you for excusing me.

Well, if you need me to watch it for you, I guess I will.

They want to keep the same date which would be June 14 -- the day they started dating. This would be a Friday next year, but Friday weddings are cheaper.

Am glad you had a great time catching up with everyone.

I've seen quite a few plans/reviews of Coral reef but still haven't eaten there...that chocolate desert looks YUMMY though!

Hope you enjoy strolling WS and am loving all the pics from previous trips :

You must try CR...especially for the Chocolate Wave and to see the fish...it's a great experience.

It sounds like you had a great weekend and I know that you were super happy to get to spend time with the kiddos. Speaking of kiddos, yes, I did catch the part about them possibly moving the wedding up. After having done all the wedding planning with Lacey and Jesse, I'm all for having a wedding sooner rather than later. Less time to stress out over everything.

Back to Disney, I had the steak at Coral Reef and it was really really good. If you like salmon, Lacey says it's some of the best she's had.

Proud of all of you who caught my little note about the kids changing the wedding date, POSSIBLY. Unfortunately, Alisha's parents are not thrilled with the idea and they are having a talk with the kids tonight. I'm not sure why they are against it. They said something about "you just bought a house". The reason they weren't getting married until 2014 is so Alisha could finish school; however, she is on a 3-year wait list for radiological technician school, so why not just do it sooner and get it over with. It will be cheaper next year than it will be in 2014!

Maybe I'll have the steak since you recommend it highly. I don't eat salmon (if Andy was there, he would!).

for Coral Reef, I guessed good didn't I
I always get the steak there, not a seafood lover but love the big tank! and the chocolate wave


I didn't skim, great Markie and Alisha are thinking of moving the wedding up, except for less time to plan and save, whenever it is, it will be the best day

happy you had a fun weekend with everyone! hope Mark's mom is doing well

You are a great guesser, Lisa!

I love seafood, but nothing they have on the menu. But I could just have two slices of the Chocolate Wave instead. Oh wait, I have to diet for the wedding.

I'm so happy to hear that y'all had a terrific weekend! And how exciting that the wedding may be moved up to next year!! Do they have a date they're thinking of moving it to?

I think the plans for the night in Epcot sound lovely. I haven't tried Coral Reef yet. Seems like I hadn't heard much good about it & then all of a sudden I have been hearing more good about it. So, I may have to check it out in the future. I hope y'all get to all (or most) of the countries & their shops.

It really was fun having the kids here...I just wish Mark had more time with them.

I think it sounds like a great night in Epcot and we can take our time and just browse if we want. Yes, you should check out Coral Reef.

As mentioned above, the date would remain the same -- June 14 -- just a Friday instead of a Saturday.

 

[onelilspark]

I haven't been to Coral Reef in ages. Has it gotten better? I assume if you're going back it's worth a visit?

 

[MEK]

I so need those beer mug glasses for F&W.

Well, a 2013 wedding? That's awesome. Keep us posted. and woo hoo for a surprise visit!

I have to admit that dessert looks fabulous and I am really thinking I need a Coral Reef ADR in the near future.

 

[Poolrat]

I left you off with doing several things in Future World until our ADR time for dinner. For those of you who guessed this, you were right:

Ate there once I enjoyed my meal but would probably enjoy it more if the company i was with was better and not so cranky.

.now let's see how many of you catch that and don't skim

I hope that all works out. If they can swing it - they should go for it.

And, of course, I'll be having a Grand Mariner Slushie while here.

MMMMM

I'm not sure if we will stop for Illuminations or not. Truly, it is my least favorite night time show (okay, stop flaming me people ), but if Mark wants to, we will.

I love IllumiNations for the music and the fireworks. My favorite part is afterward though. When they play EPCOT music as the park closes. The old parade Tapestry of Dreams and another verison of the finale fireworks.

 

[englishrose47]

Great Update and I think I guessed Coral Reef also !!! 2013 it is !!See I caught that!! You are so right with Marv picking on me innocent little thing that I am !!!

 

[KatMark]

Well, although Alisha's parents are NOT happy about it, the wedding is now 99.5% Friday, June 14, 2013! I am very happy and think they should go for it. They just have to be sure the Church or the outdoor place are available for that date (the hall, photographer and DJ are!).

 

[amandaw]

Well, although Alisha's parents are NOT happy about it, the wedding is now 99.5% Friday, June 14, 2013! I am very happy and think they should go for it. They just have to be sure the Church or the outdoor place are available for that date (the hall, photographer and DJ are!).

That is so exciting! Hope it all comes together well!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Well, although Alisha's parents are NOT happy about it, the wedding is now 99.5% Friday, June 14, 2013! I am very happy and think they should go for it. They just have to be sure the Church or the outdoor place are available for that date (the hall, photographer and DJ are!).

hope Alisha's parents agree with the change!