This elevator leads directly to THE GIFT SHOP! A Dec. 2011 TR from BWI - FINAL 8-27

[kwitcherkicken99]

But it would've been a fantastic workout!

I would beat paying for a temporary gym membership...

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

But it would've been a fantastic workout!

I would beat paying for a temporary gym membership...

I guess but then I WOULD HAVe gained 20 lbs since you would have been carting my caboose around.


Clerical:
I have seen "Princes and The Frog" many any times, LOVE IT.
We only watched the fireworks on the beach because I left my camera, we were headed to EPCOT to watch Illuminations

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I still hold to my ill-gotten recollection...

I'VE NOT SLEPT SINCE THEN!!

Besides... our plan all along was to eat at Ohana then watch Wishes from the Poly beach.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

I still hold to my ill-gotten recollection...

I'VE NOT SLEPT SINCE THEN!!

Besides... our plan all along was to eat at Ohana then watch Wishes from the Poly beach.

oh I know, but my mom did not trust us and wanted to watch illuminations so off we went

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Your mom cracks me up!

I'm so glad we took this trip. I can't spend enough time with you guys!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I knew today was going to be difficult for me. I hate leaving the parks. I hate losing the feeling that the outside world doesn’t exist. I hate seeing smiling faces waving goodbye. I just hate goodbyes in general.


I was, however, looking forward to my solo Biergarten reservation later that afternoon.


But first things first, E and I had a super-packed morning to squeeze out prior to us parting ways for another year.


E and I decided that we wanted to get one last ride on RnRC and ToT before our last surprise of the trip. We figured that we could easily get the rides in if we made it to DHS for RD, ride the rides, then get back to BWI to pick up MB for our 11-ish date at the Land pavilion, so off we went down to the boat dock for the short ride to the park. I was surprised to see quite a few people walking to DHS in the morning.


We got off the boat and headed up to the gates, got through security – have I mentioned how NICE IT IS TO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH SECURITY WITH MY KIDS????? We found what appeared to be the shortest queue and giggled at the family ahead of us debating over which touring plan to follow between 3 cut out pages of the UG. We held in the line to get into the park for a couple of minutes then headed out to our spot.

We found the best place to stand, one that wasn’t too crowded, and noticed a family “discussing” what their plan of attack should be. Two members of the family wanted to ride ToT and RnRC and the others were going to wait for them and then they were all going to TSM.


Knowing E and I, we couldn’t sit idly-by and let them start their day on the wrong foot. So we interjected. And informed them that they were going about their morning all wrong…


We convinced the mom and son to take all of their tickets and go straight to TSM. Told them they could get a ride or two in while they waited for the dad and daughter to ride the thrill rides. Mom and son took off while the dad and daughter waited with us for official RD.


Once we got them straight, E and I made our plan. We were going to head down to RnRC and ride then ride ToT. I think. I still can’t remember the plan – no wonder I screwed it up!


I headed towards ToT (to get FP??) when I was supposed to have gone to RnRC. E called me and asked where I was and I told her that I was standing in an empty ToT queue waiting for her.


“OMG GET OVER HERE!!!”


I booked it around the corner and I got us stuck in a HUGE-just-after-RD line. I was so ashamed at my screw up, and E wasn’t going to let me easily forget it!


We got our ride in on RnRC after streamlining and working our way to the front of the pack in the pre-show room. We sat closer to the front so we didn’t get whipped around (yay!) and went on our way. E went to go buy something back by Backlot Tour and we were to meet at ToT for our final ride at DHS. After she bolted for Backlot, I decided I would see if there were any pins in the area to trade. And then I spotted it…

 

[momabaarjo]

Yikes...you got caught in the post RD mess! Glad you straightened that family out...

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I saw the bright yellow square from across the courtyard and literally ran towards that poor CM clutching her broom and dust pan. I know I startled her. And I felt really bad about. I exclaimed, “Omigosh! You’ve got it! The pin I’ve been searching for all week!”


I could tell she had no clue what pin trading was about and was probably wearing the lanyard because she had to, but still… she had the elusive yellow completer pin! I thanked her and set on my way back to ToT to wait for E.


We met back up for our ToT ride and we got through the queue rather quickly but we were racing the clock. After the ride was over (it was a really great sequence, but not near as awesome as the one I had last year), we raced back to the front of the park to catch a Friendship back home. Luckily there was one in the dock and we didn’t have to wait long before the push back.


Tick… tock… tick… tock… we were racing the blasted clock! My error first thing in the morning really pressed us for time. We still had to get back to BWI, check out, and check our bags for the flight home and get into EP. Well, the unloading at the Swolphin was taking a good amount of time so I surveyed the area and told E that we needed to get off here and we could hoof it back to BWI faster than the boat would get us there. All we had to do was walk up the dock, cross the bridge, and we were right where we needed to be. We were half way across the bridge before the boat was pushed out of the Swolphin dock and headed towards our resort.


E forgave my morning faux pas for hatching this plan, especially since it worked!


We got back to the room, each of us made about two sweeps of the room apiece to make sure we got everything (and I didn’t – I managed to leave behind 2 Black Cauldron pins that I was working on the set, but WHATEVER…), and headed out the door. We left our carry-ons and miscellaneous small items in the room. We planned to grab the stuff we needed to check with the concierge prior to check out after checking into our flight. Our Mousekeepers bid us farewell, noting that they’d miss our decorations and we were off to the elevator, lugging our junk behind us.


I was going to mail my box of decorations back home, but I really didn’t have the time or energy to walk over to the business center so I decided to check it as a bag. Luckily, E prepaid for some of the bags the night before so my suitcase was taken care of. It was going to cost as much to bring the box on the plane as it was going to cost me to ship it home, so you get the idea.


I went to pre-check in and remembered that I left my camera bag upstairs. In an effort to streamline my park bags, I had been keeping my ID in my camera bag… d’oh! So off I went up the stairs, up the elevator to the 5th floor and back down. The folks at the counter were really nice and charged me $15 for my box, even though they should’ve charged me $20 for the second checked bag. I’ve noticed that the CMs who do the airline check-in have a rogue sense of rules when it comes to bag fees.


We went back upstairs to get our items that needed to be checked with the concierge until we boarded ME – and I needed to enlist their help to transfer one of my boxes of decorations to a fellow Touring Plans member so her family could some decorations the week of Christmas. The process was super easy to do.


We finally finished everything we needed to do at BWI and headed down the dock to board the Friendship to EP for our last trip surprise for MB.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Yikes...you got caught in the post RD mess! Glad you straightened that family out...

It was totally my fault.

I have the attention span of an earthworm and my short-term memory is crap.

At least we did a good Disney deed for the day.

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

?? Didn't we take a cab to Hollywood? I recall there not being a boat and us going to the counter very distraught over missing rope drop.

Also yeah, *** what were you thinking I totally forgot that. Here is the real story. YOu have a bad knee so I sent you a head towards RnRC and I went for FP at ToT and was to meet you at the gate to the coaster. I rushed back to meet you and you were not in site and instead waiting for me so we could ride ToT. I mean come on right? Who rides ToT first... the rule is always RnRC after TSM.

As your readers can see, you still do not know what the plan is there for how could such be implemented.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

?? Didn't we take a cab to Hollywood? I recall there not being a boat and us going to the counter very distraught over missing rope drop.

Oh yeah... daggone it. I really should've done this closer to our trip. I remember seeing a bunch of people walk to DHS when we went the first time.

We DID have to go back to the desk and complain since the boat launch was blocked off.

The cabbie did NOT look happy to get our voucher...

Also yeah, *** what were you thinking I totally forgot that. Here is the real story. YOu have a bad knee so I sent you a head towards RnRC and I went for FP at ToT and was to meet you at the gate to the coaster. I rushed back to meet you and you were not in site and instead waiting for me so we could ride ToT. I mean come on right? Who rides ToT first... the rule is always RnRC after TSM.

As your readers can see, you still do not know what the plan is there for how could such be implemented.

I was in line at ToT. I called you from the queue!

Either way, I blew it.

 

[PrincessInOz]

So....were you supposed to be at RnRC or ToT?

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

So....were you supposed to be at RnRC or ToT?

She was supposed to be with me at RnRC, but instead she got in line at ToT, needless to say by the time she reached me the line for RnRc has reached gigantic after RD proportions, this was the start of the Christmas weekend after all

 

[PrincessInOz]

She was supposed to be with me at RnRC, but instead she got in line at ToT, needless to say by the time she reached me the line for RnRc has reached gigantic after RD proportions, this was the start of the Christmas weekend after all

That doesn't sound like Kwitch at all to be making that sort of Disney strategic mistake! Guess it happens to the best of us.

 

[Blissikins]

I am loving your trip report! I would love to do a Behind the Magic tour, they sound so interesting (though maybe not with Stu...!).

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

HUH...

For the life of me cannot figure out what they censored in my typing. I don't think I would use vulgar language in the DIS

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

That doesn't sound like Kwitch at all to be making that sort of Disney strategic mistake! Guess it happens to the best of us.

It was early and I was decaffeinated.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I am loving your trip report!

Thanks for stopping in!

I would love to do a Behind the Magic tour, they sound so interesting (though maybe not with Stu...!).

 

[momabaarjo]

Yay for the pin score...and we found ourselves getting of the bus at the Swan and walking over the bridge, too...so much faster!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Had the job interview today. There ended up being two positions available. One will deal solely with attendance and the other will deal with the disciplinary issues that come into the Student Services office. I have a good feeling about this one as they asked me for references at the end of the interview!