And a Very Happy Birthday to ME!! A Journey in October 2012 That's a Wrap! 4.27.13

[TinksThree]

I thought I would share one reason I have been not on the DisBoards as much. Next week is Spring Break in these parts and we decided to plan our family vacation during this week. Chris will graduate from high school in May and plans to join the military which means once he goes to boot camp...well, we just aren't sure when a family trip will happen. And since we aren't sure what Chris' send off dates will be we decided to be proactive.

The last four years our vacations have focused on Disney World with little trips to Gatlinburg. Keith wanted to do something different and since he has obliged me so much I went along. Plus I love traveling and seeing and learning new things and places. So we decided to plan a trip to Washington DC and Williamsburg, VA.

This meant lots of planning on my part which I gladly tackled with much gusto. I spent two months mapping out my plans and finding the best hotel rates along with new and interesting restaurants! We have been to Williamsburg and all but Keith has been to DC. I have been to DC several times but the last time was 15 years ago! We went to Williamsburg in 2007 and really enjoyed it. But even though we had been before, things change and planning had to be done...aw shucks!!

Well, with work and regular family stuff, this planning took a lot of my time on the computer. Finally, I got it all down!!

Most of the following pictures are borrowed from Photobucket and individuals that do not have privacy settings!

Leaving on Friday we drive to Virginia and arrive in DC Saturday around lunch. We spend Saturday - Monday in DC touring the typical places like

Washington Monument, the National Mall, and the Reflection Pool where we will yell "JENNNNYYYY"...."FOOORRRREESSSTTTT"!!

The Capitol

Lincoln Memorial

The Smithsonians

And The Holocaust Museum

Then on Tuesday we will go to Mt Vernon

Before driving on to Williamsburg!

We will stay in Williamsburg touring and also include Jamestown and Yorktown!

Then we will head home on Saturday!

We love history and this is a trip we all look forward too!!

But then I learn that one of our favorite things in Williamsburg (Revolutionary City) doesn't begin until March 18! Revolutionary City is a two hour skit that moves throughout the streets and re-enacts the days leading up to and after the beginning of the Revolutionary War. It follows townspeople, George Washington, Patrick Henry, the slaves...everyone affected! It is very entertaining and adds to the whole experience. So this is disappointing.

Add to it that the weather has been so unpredicatable that we suddenly fear snow and ice. And since we our from the deep south...well, that doesn't sound too "Spring Break-ish" to us! So all my planning came to an abrubt stop last Tuesday. We now are planning on going at the beginning of the summer break and hope Chris will be able to join us.

But we still need a vacation....work is hard...school is hard.....we need fun in the sun....we need DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So can you plan a trip during Spring Break to Disney in 14 days? Well just try me!! And best of all.....this was Keith's idea!

So new plans!!!

First there was no doubt where we were staying! I had planned to rent DVC points on the next trip but 14 days out was asking too much for that! So that left out next choice!

I called Disney's number to price the military if any were available. No rooms at any moderates were available. So she quoted me a moderate with the Spring Room Only discount. It was $200 more than what I did online for the SAME exact room!

I politely thank her, hang up and wait to see if Dreams Unlimited could do better. But I am impatient and book online with the spring only rate since I had requested a military quote from Dreams Unlimited.

Well, low and behold not only does she do better but she gets me a military room rate! Our room will be $500 less than the quote the Disney CM gave me and $200 less than the online amount! Oh well...I got what I wanted and they refunded my deposit when I called and told them I wanted to cancel...then explained why. I just found that experience completely odd and glad I am knowledgeable enough to price around!

So where will we be staying? Well, it is a place Keith asked about on our October trip (although I haven't gotten there in the report yet!):

CARIBBEAN BEACH!!!

Yes I am an adult and yes I am excited about this...and no I am not ashamed to admit it!!

And mickeystoontown has been posting pictures on her TR which has me even more excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I even got all of the reservations I wanted! Plus some!!! We will not be dining at every one but I haven't had time to make final decisions so I will tell what I have!

First is the most requested now by my family!! This one won't be cancelled!

And second, I wanted to do some place we haven't been before so I booked :

This one will not be cancelled either.

The others I have booked are:

But then Chris asked what where we were eating and added Ohana breakfast (which ironically Keith recommended Saturday night to a friend we are helping plan a trip!) and Sci-Fi for lunch so I added those to the mix. Now we will see what actually transpires!!

I have no real plans other than soaking up the Flower and Garden Festival and the new added food kiosks like they have at the F&W Festival! And seeing the New Fantasyland with lunch at Be Our Guest. Oh and caramels from Germany! Those are my "musts" and Animal Kingdom has been requested as a no go unless we hit is for a quick ride on EE....that was Keith's request!

So this time next week...I am going to DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!

I promise to have a update tomorrow or Thursday for this TR!

 

[shan23877]

First, I can't imagine what a mixture of pride and fear you must be experiencing having your son going into the military. My hat's off to Chris.

So, I was reading along thinking "Oh D.C.-that's nice. She'll take some nice pictures there. Yeah she has a point it might be too cold to enjoy it. That's too bad that they won't be taking their spring break trip." Then I was thinking "Yay!!!!!!". You'll love CBR and F&G!!!!

Can't wait to see your pictures! Have a great time!

 

[solana131]

So exciting! I planned a trip in 3 months and I thought that was good....you go girl

I too love Williamsburg, but sorry...there's no comparison to Disney! Plus...your son will gave enough millitary coming up soon. This will give him a sort of "last hurrah" at childhood.

Good luck. You will have a wonderful time!

 

[Angies1274]

First of all....YAY! How exciting to be going back to Disney!! I love going in the spring! The weather is perfect and the F&G festival is so beautiful! You're going to have a great time!!

Loved all your pictures in the WS! I really need to make it to the F&W festival one of these trips!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Booyaah! I'm so happy that ya'll are going to try out the CBR! Want me to add a little more excitement to your trip? I'll be posting more pictures in just a little bit. I'm also sending you a couple of PMs.

 

[TinksThree]

First, I can't imagine what a mixture of pride and fear you must be experiencing having your son going into the military. My hat's off to Chris.

So, I was reading along thinking "Oh D.C.-that's nice. She'll take some nice pictures there. Yeah she has a point it might be too cold to enjoy it. That's too bad that they won't be taking their spring break trip." Then I was thinking "Yay!!!!!!". You'll love CBR and F&G!!!!

Can't wait to see your pictures! Have a great time!

With Keith having retired from the Air Force, there are definitely a mixture of emotions! This is something Chris has wanted for a long time...to follow in his dad's footsteps.

I was trying to lead up to "Surprises!!" I am so excited about CBR!! I almost can't contain myself!! And F&G!!! I foresee thousands of pictures!!

So exciting! I planned a trip in 3 months and I thought that was good....you go girl

I too love Williamsburg, but sorry...there's no comparison to Disney! Plus...your son will gave enough millitary coming up soon. This will give him a sort of "last hurrah" at childhood.

Good luck. You will have a wonderful time!

I have been quite impressed in what I have actually been able to do! I have even made and cancelled and rearranged ADRs (because even with only 14 days I can't leave it alone!! ) Williamsburg is one of our Top 5 destinations but Chris was much more excited about Disney so that proved we had made a wire decision!

First of all....YAY! How exciting to be going back to Disney!! I love going in the spring! The weather is perfect and the F&G festival is so beautiful! You're going to have a great time!!

Loved all your pictures in the WS! I really need to make it to the F&W festival one of these trips!

Spring is definitely one of my favorite times to go! I really hope the weather holds up for us! It has been cooler here in March than all winter! This has been a crazy winter for sure!!

Glad you enjoyed the pictures in WS and I have more to come!! We spent lots of time there.

Booyaah! I'm so happy that ya'll are going to try out the CBR! Want me to add a little more excitement to your trip? I'll be posting more pictures in just a little bit. I'm also sending you a couple of PMs.

I am so excited!!! Only a few more hours and I will be there!!! Thanks again so much for your information. It is wonderful! And the pictures were great! I think rain tomorrow so I can relive your rainy day walk! And the lows this week...almost into the 30s!! Oh well, I can deal with it!!

 

[TinksThree]

Sorry... I really wanted to get a post up the other day but wrapping things up at work proved very time consuming!! Anyhoo...here is a new update!!!

We exited Epcot and walked up the ramp to the monorail. It was about this time that Keith commented that Disney really isn’t that great. Why? Well, we had just exited Future World and everyone knows in the future people can transport themselves. If it were really the future we wouldn’t have to walk up the ramp but instead transport ourselves to the platform. See what I have to deal with!!!????

Once we got to the TTC we decided to ride the ferry…we were going to the Magic Kingdom!!!!

Now Keith doesn’t care for MK very much so I was glad to get to go. More than anything, I wanted to see the Halloween decorations!

Once we arrived I tried to snap a picture of the train station but Keith liked photo-bombing a lot on this trip!!

One more try!

Some of the beautiful decorations I snapped pictures of…

I really enjoyed looking at the fall decorations!!

We made our way down Main Street and then to Monster’s Inc. I love the Laugh Floor and it didn’t disappoint!!

After filling the laugh canister, we made our way to Carousel of Progress.

This is another attraction I love to see.

Then Keith decided to stop for one of his favorite treats: a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bar!!

After enjoying our snack, we wander through Fantasyland and I got a sneak peek into the New Fantasyland area.

Continued in the following post....

 

[TinksThree]

The week before the general public could go in but as luck would have it, only Cast Members and their families were able to tour the week we were there.

From there we headed to Libertyland and Haunted Mansion but the line was 60 minutes!! And as we walked towards Frontierland the crowd was as thick as molasses! I chose to leave…it was too crowded! And for me to think it was way too crowded…well, it was crowded!!

So we head back to Main Street and I snap a few more pictures along the way:

Keith notices the stairs at the train station and we walk up where I snap a few more pictures.

We then decide to take a train ride.

Continued in the following post....

 

[TinksThree]

We wait for about 15 minutes and then it is our turn to get all aboard!!!

As we travel along we see Woody and Jessie in Frontierland…

And Big Thunder Mountain...

And Indian encampments…

And the cards from Alice in Wonderland…

The Contemporary Resort…

And then the trip is over!!

We exit and I snap one last picture (this one was also photo-bombed but I am sparing you!)

We decide on our next moves and so it results in us walking to the Contemporary to catch a bus.

Along the way a monorail passes overhead:

We sit on the bus stop benches and wait and wait…

And wait and wait and wait…

Finally a bus comes after 30 minutes or so!! By this time it is around 4pm.

We eventually make it to our next destination:

Anyone that read my July TR will remember our final day: we made it to 4 Parks in 1 Day! Well guess what folks…we have done it again!!

Next: Only a little time for DHS and then dinner!!

 

[saintstickets]

I'm away from the DISboards for 10 days and during that short time, you plan a trip to Williamsburg/DC, cancel that and then plan a trip to WDW?!?! It's official...you're definately a "Super Planner"! I bow to your fortitude!

 

[TinksThree]

I'm away from the DISboards for 10 days and during that short time, you plan a trip to Williamsburg/DC, cancel that and then plan a trip to WDW?!?! It's official...you're definately a "Super Planner"! I bow to your fortitude!

I am amazing! It comes from being a Mississippi gal! LOL! It was a great trip!! And Keith made SO many decisions!! Yay! I have a huge deadline at work that if I don't meet it, the whole school will go down...well maybe not completely but it wouldn't be good! An update coming soon!!

But saintstickets and any one that knows the answers ...I need some DVC opinions and advice. A Dis podcast I listened to today highly recommends purchasing resale. It seems confusing. But Keith is asking me questions I can't answer ! Help!!!!

 

[saintstickets]

I am amazing! It comes from being a Mississippi gal! LOL! It was a great trip!! And Keith made SO many decisions!! Yay! I have a huge deadline at work that if I don't meet it, the whole school will go down...well maybe not completely but it wouldn't be good! An update coming soon!!

But saintstickets and any one that knows the answers ...I need some DVC opinions and advice. A Dis podcast I listened to today highly recommends purchasing resale. It seems confusing. But Keith is asking me questions I can't answer ! Help!!!!

We've purchased DVC through resale 6 times now and are looking for another contract! (It's a disease called "addonitis") I can probably answer most of your questions. I am unable to receive messages on the DISboards so email me with this name at yahoo.

 

[TinksThree]

We've purchased DVC through resale 6 times now and are looking for another contract! (It's a disease called "addonitis") I can probably answer most of your questions. I am unable to receive messages on the DISboards so email me with this name at yahoo.

Thank you!!! I will formulate my questions and e-mail you!!

 

[TinksThree]

I left off with Keith and I arriving at Hollywood studios....But what to do?! We wander along the streets…

Then we decide to go to 50’s Primetime Café or more specifically The Tune-In Bar.

Keith orders a beer and I order a Mowie Wowie which had a cool glow to it!!

We sit and relax, taking in our surroundings and pretty much enjoying the moment.

By the time we leave it is getting dark.

It has gotten to be around 6pm or so and we need to be at Ft Wilderness soon! So we head to the bus stop and catch a bus to Ft Wilderness.

Soon we are at Ft Wilderness and ready to enjoy one of our most favorite things to do at Disney World…Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue!!!

When we checked in, we lined up for our picture:

We are seated pretty close to the front but off to the side. Having only two at a table seems to mean you get pushed to the side but we still had pretty decent seats.

The salad was delicious as always.

And the cornbread was awesome! We got two of these although the second one didn’t get eaten much.

Soon the stage coach could be heard and our entertainment came busting in!!

Continued in the following post...

 

[TinksThree]

There was music….there was laughter….there was singing….there was hilarity all around!!!

Then the main food came out…ribs, chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, and cowboy beans. Yummy!!!!!

We stuffed ourselves and enjoyed more of the show.

Before long the Strawberry Shortcake tribute begins along with the wait staff dancing out with our sweet treat!!

It was all wrapping up…

But the day was so fun, so relaxed and full of good food and great memories!!!!!

Up next...more firsts!!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Your view at the Hoop Dee Doo Review wasn't bad at all even if it was off to one side. I love the food there (with the exception of the cowboy beans which are too hard for my liking) but it's the entertainment that makes the meal!

 

[TinksThree]

Your view at the Hoop Dee Doo Review wasn't bad at all even if it was off to one side. I love the food there (with the exception of the cowboy beans which are too hard for my liking) but it's the entertainment that makes the meal!

It wasn't really bad at all! I was more behind the stone wall but moved around so it worked out perfectly! Also, we weren't bumping into other tables either! I am not crazy about the beans either but the mashed potatoes are so good!!!! And it really is about the entertainment which makes the whole experience worthwhile!!

 

[TinksThree]

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

“What you had yesterday is only memories; what you will have tomorrow is your dreams and what you will do today, let it be love.”
― Santosh Kalwar

We awoke Tuesday morning to more beautiful weather although a tad chilly! There was something I had to do in the lobby so we headed that way first. The crazy thing is I have no idea why I had to go there! I can vividly see myself speaking to the Manager and whatever the issue was had a quick resolution. (Edit since I typed this a while back…on our trip in March, out of the blue it hit me! I was looking for the postal box since I had a bill to mail!) While I was handling whatever Keith’s attention was drawn to the walls. I wandered over as well and soon we were walking down memory lane……

The beginning of it all!!!!

Smiley Faces, Lava Lamps and Tab!!! I remember drinking Tab and thinking I was so “cool”!!

Disco, YMCA, The BeeGees, and platform shoes!!!!!

There are some styles I am thankful I never had to wear! Although some of those styles have reinvented themselves!

Get your kicks out on Route 66!!!

The timeline across the top was handy to nail down some of those milestones!!

My childhood memories!! I had most of these things growing up!! Cabbage Patch dolls, Rainbow Bright, Strawberry Shortcake, Simon Says, Rubix Cube, The Smurfs….on and on I could go!! Gotta love the 80’s!!!

And what would we do without the microwave and asking “Where’s the Beef?”!?

Yep….I had one of these little game systems as well!

More great memories!!! The Dukes of Hazard and The Cosby Show, MTV which I remember thinking was one of the greatest inventions ever!! (But maybe not so much now!)

We took one last glance at the lobby and headed off!

We actually had a goal in mind today!! Epcot!!!

See how gorgeous that sky is!?!?!

We made our way to The Land, grabbed something special and then grabbed breakfast at Sunshine Seasons. Well Keith had breakfast, I on the other hand wanted to save my calories for the Food and Wine Festival!!

After breakfast it was time for our special tour! We were going “Behind the Seeds”!!!

“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?”
― Albert Einstein

We love going on the Living with the Land attraction and I had heard great things about the Behind the Seeds tour. When we went to purchase our tickets I noticed a military discount so we asked about it. Regular tickets are $18 and with the military discount the cost was $15 each. So for $30 we spent a wonderful 1 hour and 45 minutes seeing how all of the experiments and growing things happen! This is one tour I highly recommend. It really has to be one of the best bargains at WDW but don’t say that too loud because they will undoubtedly begin charging more!!

The ticket counter is by Soarin’ and once you purchase your tickets (if it isn’t time for the tour) you can do other things (like grab breakfast). Everyone gathers on the benches outside of the restrooms about 15 minutes before the tour and then your tour guide arrives!

Our tour guide was Nicole and she was so sweet and knowledgeable. She arrived, gathered us all up and took us into a little room. After a briefing of what was to come, we entered into the “growing areas”.

Everybody sees the regular LWTL pics but here are some a little different. I don’t want to say too much though because I think this is something everyone should try!! And I don’t want to give their whole spiel! So I will entice you with pictures….tease you a little….maybe cause you to want to know a little bit more…and then you can go and see for yourself!!

Continued in the following post....

 

[TinksThree]

More of the Behind the Seeds tour....

Sweet Potatoes!! Huge sweet potatoes…no MASSIVE sweet potatoes!!

A lemon…yes that really is a lemon!!!! (That is also our sweet tour guide Nicole!)

Growing Mickey head pumpkins!!

Moving on down the walkway we see sugar cane and cotton!

And then the fishy section!!! And alligators!!!!

Continued in the following post....

 

[TinksThree]

More of the fish...

Guests enjoying Living with the Land...

And finally the end where we got to play a little game before we exited the greenhouses and bid our farewells!

Cute fall decorations outside The Garden Grill:

We left out of The Land and began to make a trek to find food!!

We stopped at the bench in front of the Imagination fountains and a kind stranger offered to take our picture!!

Then it was time to begin our trek around the world for food!! More Food And Wine Festival pictures!!!