This is your 24th Anniversary? But you're so young!~A 5/12 TR!*PTR link pg 49, 9/14!*

[therussells08]

Alright I’m back and I’m catching up!

Haha you’re right, Disney ducks are just ridiculously cute. We took so many duck pictures on our trip!

Awww I love dolphins so much!

Oh you poor thing! Your heat episode sounds terrifying. I’m sorry! It sounds like Brandon was being a good hubby though! I got overheated one day on our trip and got pretty sick, but not that bad! I can only imagine how bad you must have felt!

 

[Nermel9]

I love reading your TR's. It's probably because I find myself thinking I would have done the same thing in a lot of your stories. Then again it just might be the Connecticut connection.

Thank you! Yay, another CT DISer! I always wonder how many of us there are, there seem to be a LOT on here!

I'm still here, just working A LOT.

Ugh! Heat stroke is no fun. I remember I had it so bad one night when I was younger that I woke up shivering and needed to put on layers and layers of clothing and then I'd go to sleep and wake up again only to be sweating bullets. It was horrible.

On the bright side, you got some amazing pictures that day!

Glad you're still here! And hello, I just saw your weight loss ticker, 53 POUNDS? That is AMAZING!!!! I'm so happy for you! God, I can't imagine the happiness I'm going to feel when I get there! I'm going to be happy when I hit 10 pounds (as of last week I'm down 7 pounds and I weigh myself tomorrow...I did pretty good all week so I'm hoping for good results! I really, really need to exercise more though, but it's been so freakin hot I haven't been doing much!)

Heat stroke is so awful! I hate that feeling of being hot, but being cold at the same time...it's one of the reasons I'm such a baby when I'm really sick and have a fever because I can't handle all the temperature changes!

Alright I’m back and I’m catching up!

Haha you’re right, Disney ducks are just ridiculously cute. We took so many duck pictures on our trip!

Awww I love dolphins so much!

Oh you poor thing! Your heat episode sounds terrifying. I’m sorry! It sounds like Brandon was being a good hubby though! I got overheated one day on our trip and got pretty sick, but not that bad! I can only imagine how bad you must have felt!

Yay!

Aren't Disney ducks the best? I wish there was a way to have ducklings in Disney World year round, I'd probably die from happiness!

It was pretty scary! But yes, Brandon was very good about it, really helpful and concerned! I'm sorry you got overheated on your trip! I cannot imagine going in July, I can't even handle the July heat in CT, I don't know what would happen in Florida if I went in July!

 

[Nermel9]

The One Where I'm OK!​

Monday, May 7 Part 3

(Haha, yeah I know, lame title, but really, that's probably the most important detail of this update...I actually recovered from my migraine and heat stroke and went to a park that night! )

(Oh yes, I'm going to be removing my December ticker, my sister and I have changed our plans for our girls Disney trip, but I'll save the details until after she posts it in her PTR! The most important thing is, we're still going, just not in December! )

Anyway, once we made it back to the Beach Club, I immediately went to sleep and didn't wake up until 5:30. Totally unlike me in Disney World, but that morning just wiped me out. I'm happy to report that when I did wake up, I felt fantastic! No headache, no nausea, no signs of heat stroke at all, it was like the morning never happened! I wasn't even annoyed that I slept for so long, since the original plan was to already be in DHS by then, but I figured, as long as we made it to our ADR at 7:30 at Mama Melrose's, we might as well take our time.

We got up and got ready and drove over to DHS at 6:45. It was cloudy and drizzling a little as we walked in, but since it was so hot, the raindrops actually felt cool and refreshing! Rain like that in Disney, I can handle! The rain we had in October and December though, no thank you!

Have I ever told you guys how much I LOVE Hollywood Studios? Because I do, almost obsessively. Epcot is my favorite park, and everyone loves the Magic Kingdom, but DHS is just so different. In a good way. The colors and the buildings and the lights are just so perfect, the feeling you have when you walk in of being transported to "the Hollywood that never was and always will be"...it just makes me so happy. Especially when it's almost dark out. DHS is magical at night.

We went directly to Mama Melrose's and checked in 15 minutes early and sat down at the bar. I noticed these adorable light fixtures for the first time ever:

How cute! I swear, no matter how observant I try to be in Disney, there are always little details that I see for the first time, like those lights.

We sat there for a while, maybe 20 minutes, but we didn't really mind, after all, we were early, and that place is always so busy, it seems like there are always 10 million people waiting to be seated there!

We ordered right away, since we both knew what we wanted, we love this restaurant, and when Brandon and I find a place we like, not only do we keep going back, but we always order the same thing! Boring, right? Actually, I think he was considering ordering the steak that they have, but of course, he changed his mind!

I got the chicken parm

which I always get whenever I got to an Italian restaurant. Chicken parm is probably my favorite thing in the world to eat, so when I see it on a menu, it's hard for me not to order it!

Brandon got the Chicken Campanelle pasta with shrimp

which is what he ordered the last time we ate there, and loved it! See what I mean about how boring we are? We should really broaden our horizons a little when it comes to eating...I'd love to do a Disney trip and only eat at restaurants that are new to us. That way I'd have to be brave and finally try Jiko!

Brandon actually wanted to SKIP dessert...which is when I pretty much told him he can do whatever he wants but there's no way I'm skipping dessert! I really wanted Tiramisu, but the tiramisu there is weird, it's kind of layered in a cup and it's a bit disappointing, from what I remember, so I tried something new...the Chocolate Amarettini Cheesecake!

Oh. My. God. It was SO good. Those little cookies on top were so amazing, I wish I had a box of them right now, I love anything almond flavored, so of course, I devoured them immediately! And the cheesecake was fantastic too, it was yummy and chocolatey, and the texture was perfect, nice and creamy, but not too heavy. I love cheesecake but sometimes if it's really rich, you almost feel sick after eating it...definitely did not feel that way after this!

Brandon got the Chocolate Cannoli Cake

which I actually didn't even try, because I was too consumed with my cheesecake. It's funny that he suggested skipping dessert because once his cake got there, he had no problem finishing it!

Once we finished eating, we ventured back outside, only to find that it was raining harder than before.

Not pouring, but pretty steady rain. And while it still felt nice, since it was so hot and humid, I didn't really feel like getting soaked, so we ducked into the Muppet store for a little while.

We looked around for a while, I found a cute shirt to get for my friend (who hates Disney but loves the Muppets ) and I spotted the elusive Beeker hat that Stringbean was looking for throughout her TR (if you're reading her TR, you will know what I'm talking about!)

We then decided to trade one of our Vinylmations, and since the store was basically empty, the CM there actually took out every single Vinyl she had in the black box and let us pick which one we wanted. She was a CM who was doing the college program and I think she was bored because she kept talking to us and telling us about each Vinyl, she was really sweet! I actually don't even remember which Vinyl we ended up taking, because they were all pretty awful, so I'm guessing whatever one we kept we traded away.

We went back outside where the rain let up a little, and I decided I wanted a picture with the snowman near the Christmas shop (WHICH, by the way, is NEVER open when I'm in DHS. I always want to go in there and it is seriously never open...it's just like the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant...you know it's there, you see it all the time, but you can never go there! AHHHHHH!!!)

So I stood next to the snowman, had Brandon take like 10 different pictures of me, from all different angles, and not one of them came out ok! I mean, I suppose I am super critical of myself in pictures, but there are really no good ones from this trip!

We didn't really have any plans for what to do next, so we just wandered around. Brandon wanted to get a drink, so we went into the Tune In Lounge.

We went in here one other time, but didn't stay because it was kind of busy, but since it was kind of late and magic hours were about to start, there weren't many people there. This place is SO adorable! I am not a fan of the 50's at all, but I had to appreciate the theming in this place, it was adorable!

We probably stayed there for at least 30 minutes, it was just so cozy and perfectly Disney, so relaxing! We also took a peek into the restaurant part, and we both agreed that we had to eat there on our next trip! (Which I did make an ADR for, but I'm thinking of canceling, I'm getting nervous about the antics!)

When we left, magic hours were in full swing, and I was ready to ride the Tower of Terror until the end of the night!

Up next...Extra Magic Hours fun?

 

[MEK]

Your entrees look delish. Mama Melrose was my first TS ADR ever in Disney. I really don't know why it gets a bad rap because I have enjoyed every meal I have had there. I think its time to go back.

Glad you woke up feeling good.

I agree that HS looks pretty darn cool at night.

So the December trip has changed. Jen, seriously, I can not keep up with you. Please spill your latest plans. I must know all the details (and hopefully keep them straight).

 

[407-W-DISNEY]

Yeah! Glad you felt great after you nap! Thats awesome! I love naps! Lol
I think you will like the 50's PTC, we have gone there every trip and havent had any over the top servers, maybe we have just been lucky, but i think you will be fine. If your not sure, eat at the bar. We did that once when we did a walk-up, the restaurant was full, but we could sit at the bar.... That was just like sitting at the bar at your neighborhood restaurant. Cant wait to hear when you rescheduled your sister trip for?
Thanks for the update and looking forward to reading more. Now, off to go play with my bobby valentine voodoo doll...grrrr!

 

[pinkxray]

I think you would really like 50's PTC. Our server didn't do any antics, but if you happen to have on that did I am sure Brandon would play along enough for the both of you.

I never really realized that xmas store was closed. I always see the snowman in TR's and wonder why I haven't been in the store. I guess that explains it.

I really need to update my PTR and get our new dates up. I've just been so lazy lately and not on the Dis much.

I really want one of those Muppet hats. I just don't know if I would really wear it.

 

[Queenofallthings]

We cancelled our ADR at Mama Melrose this past trip because when we went in 2004 we didn't love it...now after looking at your food I wish we had gone!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

We looked around for a while, I found a cute shirt to get for my friend (who hates Disney but loves the Muppets ) and I spotted the elusive Beeker hat that Stringbean was looking for throughout her TR (if you're reading her TR, you will know what I'm talking about!)

OH COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously? This would have made my quest a billion times easier!!!

I know what you mean about the chicken parm - I usually end up ordering that too! I've never been to MM, but it looks good!

I didn't know about the Tune In Lounge until fairly recently, we have to visit sometime! The themeing there looks awesome!

 

[marDgreen88]

So glad you got to feeling better!!!!

Dinner looks pretty good! I don't know why, but I always (and I mean ALWAYS) forget about Mama Melrose! I'm gonna have to try it one of these days!!

HAHAHA, poor Stringbean! That display would have made her search a heck of a lot easier!

NO NO NO please don't cancel your ADR at 50's! Suck it up girl!!! It'll be so fun! You just have to go along with it, it's nothing serious! Or you can just tell them right off the bat that you're shy and they'll surely go easy on yall!

 

[Mrs T 2009]

SO GLAD that after your nap you felt better!!!!

We've only eaten at Mama Melrose once, and my hubby didn't enjoy it, so we haven't been back.. He is kind of a picky eater lol I'd LOVE to try both of those desserts though! They look so yummy!!!

Never heard of the tune-in-lounge until now! How cute!!!

 

[MHTeacher]

Glad you got to feeling better and were able to go out and enjoy your dinner at Mama Melroses. It looks delish-We've never eaten there! Speaking of looking delish-your cheesecake looks yummilicious!!Is that a word? If it's not, I just made it one.

Riding ToT all evening sounds fun!

 

[smile4stamps]

I LOVE Almond flavored items as well!! Yumm!! So disappointed Starbucks doesn't have almond flavoring anymore!! Almond Cappuccinos are my favorite!!

When we went to 50's PT in '09 we had very few antics... which was actually disappointing to me but would work for you!! I think they pick up on if you are into it or not! The Fried Chicken is so good there though!! Unfortunately I changed to HBD for our trip for something new!

 

[Nermel9]

Your entrees look delish. Mama Melrose was my first TS ADR ever in Disney. I really don't know why it gets a bad rap because I have enjoyed every meal I have had there. I think its time to go back.

Glad you woke up feeling good.

I agree that HS looks pretty darn cool at night.

So the December trip has changed. Jen, seriously, I can not keep up with you. Please spill your latest plans. I must know all the details (and hopefully keep them straight).

Thank you! I think it was one of our first TS ADR's in Disney too! I didn't know people did say anything bad about it, I've heard people complain about Tony's but not MM! It's always been so good!

Thanks, me too! And DHS is beautiful at night, isn't it? I can't wait to be back!

Haha, well there's really not much to keep up with! Our November trip is still the same (although of course, with me, there have been resort chages, but you guys won't hear about that til I start my PTR!) and the trip with my sister in December has gotten pushed back for a few months, which I will tell you guys about soon! I will say this though-we will be staying in one of my dream resorts!

Yeah! Glad you felt great after you nap! Thats awesome! I love naps! Lol
I think you will like the 50's PTC, we have gone there every trip and havent had any over the top servers, maybe we have just been lucky, but i think you will be fine. If your not sure, eat at the bar. We did that once when we did a walk-up, the restaurant was full, but we could sit at the bar.... That was just like sitting at the bar at your neighborhood restaurant. Cant wait to hear when you rescheduled your sister trip for?
Thanks for the update and looking forward to reading more. Now, off to go play with my bobby valentine voodoo doll...grrrr!

Thanks! Haha, I love naps too, they are so essential in Disney!

I have to really give 50's PT some thought...I want to eat there, I want to be brave and just go along with the antics, but the thought of it just makes me so uncomfortable! Not only that, I want to go to Sci Fi too, and I can't find a place to fit that in! Ugh! Eating at the bar is a great idea, though, I didn't know you could do that!

Hey, the Red Sox actually won a game last night! I'm getting antsy, the trade deadline is coming up and as usual, seems like they're not going to do anything...UGH!!!!

I think you would really like 50's PTC. Our server didn't do any antics, but if you happen to have on that did I am sure Brandon would play along enough for the both of you.

I never really realized that xmas store was closed. I always see the snowman in TR's and wonder why I haven't been in the store. I guess that explains it.

I really need to update my PTR and get our new dates up. I've just been so lazy lately and not on the Dis much.

I really want one of those Muppet hats. I just don't know if I would really wear it.

I'm sure we would have one, just because I don't want one! However, I did survive eating at Whispering Canyon a few times, so I guess I could live though 50's PT...and I'm sure Brandon would have no problem playing along!

I'm guessing there is a time when that Christmas store is open, but I'm never over there when it is!

I just saw your cruise update, wow that cruise ship looks gigantic!

I want one of those Muppet hats too, but I know I'd never wear it! They're so cute!

We cancelled our ADR at Mama Melrose this past trip because when we went in 2004 we didn't love it...now after looking at your food I wish we had gone!

Mama Melrose is really good, we've been there 3 times now, I think, and it's always been very good! The only thing I didn't like was the tiramisu, and not because it tasted bad, I just didn't like that it was like, layered ice cream with coffee poured over it, I wanted authentic tiramisu! You should give it another try!

OH COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously? This would have made my quest a billion times easier!!!

I know what you mean about the chicken parm - I usually end up ordering that too! I've never been to MM, but it looks good!

I didn't know about the Tune In Lounge until fairly recently, we have to visit sometime! The themeing there looks awesome!

Haha, that's the first thing I thought of when I saw that hat there!

MM is good, you should give it a try!

I didn't know about it either, but I'm glad we found it, it's adorable! It's the kind of place that you can just hang out for hours and not even care that you're wasting valuable Disney time!

 

[Nermel9]

So glad you got to feeling better!!!!

Dinner looks pretty good! I don't know why, but I always (and I mean ALWAYS) forget about Mama Melrose! I'm gonna have to try it one of these days!!

HAHAHA, poor Stringbean! That display would have made her search a heck of a lot easier!

NO NO NO please don't cancel your ADR at 50's! Suck it up girl!!! It'll be so fun! You just have to go along with it, it's nothing serious! Or you can just tell them right off the bat that you're shy and they'll surely go easy on yall!

Thank you, me too!!

That's funny that you always forget about MM, there are so many Disney restaurants that I forget about that I always want to try! We just seem to have this habit of going back to our favorites!

Haha, I know right? As soon as I saw that hat I thought of her!

OMG I feel like if I told them I was shy, I'd make it worse for myself! I think if I go to 50's, I'll play along and just die of embarrassment after we leave or something! Or who knows, maybe I can just get over myself and have a good time! That's what Disney is all about, after all!

SO GLAD that after your nap you felt better!!!!

We've only eaten at Mama Melrose once, and my hubby didn't enjoy it, so we haven't been back.. He is kind of a picky eater lol I'd LOVE to try both of those desserts though! They look so yummy!!!

Never heard of the tune-in-lounge until now! How cute!!!

Thank you!!

I really like Mama Melrose's, I mean, it's not the best Italian food, but it's good, and it is definitely way better than Tony's! Maybe someday you can convince your DH to go back!

The Tune In Lounge is kind of hidden, I mean, that sign is outside, but other than that, you can just walk right past it! It's really cute, I'm glad we found it, it's one of Brandon's favorite places now!

Glad you got to feeling better and were able to go out and enjoy your dinner at Mama Melroses. It looks delish-We've never eaten there! Speaking of looking delish-your cheesecake looks yummilicious!!Is that a word? If it's not, I just made it one.

Riding ToT all evening sounds fun!

Thank you! Mama Melrose's is really good, you should try it sometime! Haha, yes, yummilicious can definitely be a word, because that's what my cheesecake was!

Yes, *Sigh*. Riding ToT all night does sound fun, doesn't it?

I LOVE Almond flavored items as well!! Yumm!! So disappointed Starbucks doesn't have almond flavoring anymore!! Almond Cappuccinos are my favorite!!

When we went to 50's PT in '09 we had very few antics... which was actually disappointing to me but would work for you!! I think they pick up on if you are into it or not! The Fried Chicken is so good there though!! Unfortunately I changed to HBD for our trip for something new!

OMG I didn't even know Starbucks had almond flavored syrup ever! It's a good thing, because I'd probably go there everyday! I'm already counting down the days until they have pumpkin spice lattes again!

I'd love to go to 50's and not have to deal with the antics...I mean, I know they make you set the table and they are kind of rude to you, and I can deal with that, that sounds funny and cute, but I'm not sure I'd like anything over the top! HBD sounds good, Brandon has been begging me to go there, but I just can't fit it in anywhere, ever! If it was up to him, all we would do is eat in Disney!

 

[smile4stamps]

OMG I didn't even know Starbucks had almond flavored syrup ever! It's a good thing, because I'd probably go there everyday! I'm already counting down the days until they have pumpkin spice lattes again!

I'd love to go to 50's and not have to deal with the antics...I mean, I know they make you set the table and they are kind of rude to you, and I can deal with that, that sounds funny and cute, but I'm not sure I'd like anything over the top! HBD sounds good, Brandon has been begging me to go there, but I just can't fit it in anywhere, ever! If it was up to him, all we would do is eat in Disney!

When I worked at Starbucks in 2003 they had Almond but it disappeared soon after! I was SOO Disappointed!

Yeah... My hubby feels the same way about only eating at Disney. Thank goodness we have 2 weeks so we can do all the eating plus have park time! However, even with 2 weeks there are places I want to dine and just don't have room!

 

[amazingact21]

DHS at night is so much fun. To me, it's a little more adult-centered. Not that I don't adore MK, but I like that I can go to DHS and feel like my age.


All your food at Mama Melrose's looks delicious. I finally mastered the art of cooking chicken parm, and I'm like you, if I need an Italian meal, chicken parm is my go-to dish.


That Chirstmas shop really is never open!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Glad to hear you were able to fully revive yourself. That was one scary moment, I can tell!

Good to know the rain wasn't as bad this trip as in last ones, always a plus. That Chandelier in Mama Rose's is pretty cool! Really wish I had made ADRs for that place last time I was in the world. And don't ever find yourself saying your boring for ordering the same thing every time at your favorite restaurant. It will always ensure you have an enjoyable experience even if it is nice sometimes to try new things. But boy, does the chicken parm and the cheesecake look good!

I love those little Muppet hats! I want one so bad. But your friend likes the Muppets but DOESN'T like Disney? I'm so confused here lol Sorry you didn't get a good batch of Vinylmations at the Muppet shop. I really hope this won't be my luck when I start Vinyl trading.

Tune-In Lounge, never heard of that name before in relation to Disney... Well, it's a bar so probably the reason why, but what is the name of the TS connected to it? Looks a lot like 50s to me... because I love that cozy home-style atmosphere. If it is 50s, which I'm pretty sure now, don't cancel your reservation. I'm sure you will have a lot more fun with the antics than you think, I haven't heard one bad complaint yet.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[teekathepony]

I'm so glad you woke up feeling better! And had a great night in DHS too.
I have to say that I love Stringbean's beaker hat, but the Animal one is calling to me...

 

[KatMark]

Jen, I'm glad you woke up feeling better and that you enjoyed your meal at Mama Melrose. I've never understood why it consistently gets bad reviews. We've never had a bad meal here really (our last visit it wasn't quite as good, but I think a lot of that was we were exhausted as we'd been up at 3:30 in the morning).

Great photos of the Studios. As you know, it is my least favorite park, but I agree with you that it really is pretty at night.

 

[solana131]

it's just like the Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant...you know it's there, you see it all the time, but you can never go there!

The Terrace was open last week! It looked like it had a good menu, but it was full of stupid teenie bopper tour groups, so we passed.