How Do You Think We Stay So Happy?*Final Thoughts & Farewells* 10/7 p100

[MEK]

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Jack of all trades, master of none!

Oh No - You are master of many!

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Thank you I can't wait to be roomies again.

1 year and 2 weeks?????

Originally Posted by Poolrat

I will need that after a long trip. I look forward to spending a little over an hour there in a couple of weeks. But just not yet. I want time to slow down somewhat for the next 12 days.!!!!

I hope you like the airport. I do. It's small, its clean, its friendly!

Originally Posted by Poolrat

I enjoyed this TR. Travelling with Girlfriends is great. Travelling with Disney Girlfriends is even better. It seems like you had the right balance of whatever you need for a great trip.

Thanks for joining in. So glad you enjoyed it! It was exactly that - a very balanced trip! I hope you have another wonderful food and wine trip!!!! Enjoy!

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I love your trip recaps! I had forgotten about the loneliest bus stop that ever stood!

[MEK]

Originally Posted by Stringbean&Wingnut

I love your trip recaps! I had forgotten about the loneliest bus stop that ever stood!

Thanks! Yeah - I forgot about that bus stop until I saw the picture again. Only time in Disney I was ever nervous to be out alone!

[mickeysmyboy]

Originally Posted by MEK

I am going to try to post a trip review tonight, but I thought it might be fun to post a little tribute to my traveling companions, the East Meets West Gals.

I will proceed in the order that I met each lovely lady during our actual trip.

Melissa Oh Melissa. If I could only use one word to sum you up it would be Super Mom! (Ok that's actually two words). When I met you and I saw how competently and lovingly you handled your kids and your husband I thought, gee if I was a little kid I would definitely want Melissa to be my mom! You really do live the saying, "family first". I am so glad you were able to get a little "alone" time because I know your summer was run, run, run, and hectic, hectic, hectic. I also appreciate you making and remaking our ADRs. Thanks for being our uber planner. I hope you have a wonderful F&W trip and I can't wait until we meet again next year at F&W 2012.

Jen Not only are you "Teacher of the Year" material, you have that gentle presence that lets people know right away that you a geniune, caring, sincere person. You are also clearly a very patient and dedicated person. It's not so much in what you say, its all in how you carry herself and interact with others. You also know HM like no other. My only regret is we did not get to ride it together. But, Jen, I am very much hoping to see you again in June of 2012 and if I have to pick a spot for the meet it will definitely be the HM! Thank you, also, Jen for being chauffer to Cynthia and I during our first full park day.

CynthiaWhat can I say about Cynthia??? Cynthia - I couldn't have asked for a better roommate. You really helped me out when I was in a complete funk from my stupid headache and my lack of sleep. You helped pull me out of my funk and brightened my day. You are full of energy and just a pleasure to be around! Cynthia, you truly are a Jack of All Trades. You know a lot about alot. You are a computer wiz and you know a heck of a lot about wine, beer, and spirits. I don't know how I will travel to the world in December without you. How will I ever pick my own wine?????Cynthia - I know you'll be back in the world for F&W 2012 and I can't wait to see my roomie again. I hope we are able to continue to share Disney memories for a lifetime!

Christine I met you C for the first time two years ago. The first thing I remember about you, C, is in the glow in your smile and the sparkle in your eyes. You are clearly a Disney junkie who has had your fair share of koolaids. (Disney koolaid, that is). You know how to find the subtle, off the beaten trail beauty of Disney and its fabulous resorts. Christine, you were also clearly the comedian of our group. Your quick wit and dry delivery had everyone in fits of laughter. You were responsible for most of the one liners we used here on the trip report! C - I hope you have a fab time during F&W this year and I look forward to reuniting with you next year. And who knows - maybe by then they really will have shooters in Fantasy land

Tracy What can I say about Tracy? Well, just like I want Melissa to be my mom, I want you to be my aunt because you have to be the coolest aunt on the planet. If I was about 10 years younger and we had known each other in college I know we would have been at every party on campus together. Tracy, you are the "go-to" person if you're feeling a little nervous about riding a particular attraction. Your are my thrill ride idol. I mean- come on - you got stuck on EE (not this trip) and sat there calmly taking pictures. I bet you never back down from an adventure. So for F&W 2012 I propose a group T0T Dismeet with you as the leader! I hope you and your neice have a fabulous F&W and post lots of FB updates!

So - to all the ladies, I sincerely enjoyed spending time with each one of you and getting to know you all a little better. Our trip itself was an adventure because how many people can say they threw caution to the wind and traveled with internet strangers. The best part is I hope we have many more adventures together!

And thank you all for the lovely gifts and awesome birthday cake and wishes. I still get choked up when I see pictures of that cake! Amazing!!!!!!

Oh my good MEK! You're too kind! I couldn't have picked a better group of ladies to spend my first "alone" vacation with!! What an absolute blast it was!!! I can't say enough about how much fun we had!! I love you all like my sisters!

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by MEK

Doh - I know - OKW is so much easier to type than KEY WEST. I need to remember to drop the "O".

Can you try to rent points for Vero? That would certainly make it more affordable. I know that Clearwater is supposed to be beautiful. Check out VRBO as an option. You might be able to get a partial week rental through someone. I use that site all the time. I really like renting directly from the owner and have never had a bad experience. You have sooooooooo many options when it comes to a beach vacation. I like Daytona because you can (1)drive on the beach (2) easily find a place beach front where you can literally walk back and forth from the beach to the pool and (3) my friends live there. Happy planning!

Actually points isn't that much cheaper. It's odd as all the info say that the 1B's sleep only 4 yet the site will let me book it for 5 but it's so crazy expensive that even for 5 it's not worth it. With points it'd be about the same for the 2 bedroom as cash for the 1 I think. Either way, a lot of cabbage!

I have used VBRO many times and most likely will again, $400 a night just isn't in my wallet for a beach condo! Either way though I need to wait and see if we even keep the cruise booking.

Originally Posted by MEK

Oh No - You are master of many!

1 year and 2 weeks?????

Works for me!

[MEK]

Originally Posted by mickeysmyboy

Oh my good MEK! You're too kind! I couldn't have picked a better group of ladies to spend my first "alone" vacation with!! What an absolute blast it was!!! I can't say enough about how much fun we had!! I love you all like my sisters!

Ditto! Can't wait to do it again!!!!

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Actually points isn't that much cheaper. It's odd as all the info say that the 1B's sleep only 4 yet the site will let me book it for 5 but it's so crazy expensive that even for 5 it's not worth it. With points it'd be about the same for the 2 bedroom as cash for the 1 I think. Either way, a lot of cabbage!

They used to sleep 4, but now its 5. They are the same layout as OKW. They are a very large 1 BR. They could easily sleep 5. But $400 a night is too much. that's ridiculous!

Originally Posted by eandesmom

I have used VBRO many times and most likely will again, $400 a night just isn't in my wallet for a beach condo! Either way though I need to wait and see if we even keep the cruise booking.

Sounds reasonable. You have plenty of time!

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Works for me!

Yeah!

[MEK]

Day 3 Sunday May 1, 2011

Not My Best Day. At least it didn't start out that well because of my headache and lack of sleep. But that didn't stop me from taking pictures......

Good bye POR. You are a beautiful resort!













Hello BC! (But I didn't take any pictures of my arrival)

Hello Epcot







Hello butterflies





Hello Epcot time line









Tigger - Is that You?



Hello Canada







Hello England



Hello Peter



Good Bye Epcot



Time to Check out our new digs at the BC









Continued.......

[MEK]

Continued......

The view




The pool



Our duck friends





The ladies who CAN noodle





Blue Zoo












Cheers


Yumminess










To be Continued.....(having photobucket issues)

[eandesmom]

Late to the party, sorry I didn't get this up before the recap but...oh well!

After a visit to the hundred acre wood it was time to head back to Epcot for one last Soar.

The crowds were definitely in force!



Still, I couldn’t resist one last shot of lotso





And Donald too!



Heading over to Soarin’, though I had a FP and was a single rider it just never seems all that fast and as a result, my last glide had me running a bit late for lunch.



Late as usual, the ladies were seated and I hurried to order and catch up.
I love the interior here!











Now, how I managed to NOT take pictures of all the eye candy around me is frankly beyond me. Apparently I was more interested in enjoying my food, the view and Mary Ellen’s reactions.

I really really enjoyed via Napoli and look forward to going back with my family someday. Leaving lunch we all said our goodbyes. As Mary Ellen mentioned, we had different ME buses. Walking out it seems Mary Ellen and I stopped for one last PP picture before splitting.













I had one last shopping item to pick up, some hand made soaps. Walking over, though England, I enjoyed seeing this CM provide some on the spot play, for a moment I wished I was 7. Or that I had her job.





And then much to my delight, I finally got to see Off Kilter! It had been a source of frustration to me that not once when I’d walked by during the week, which had been countless times, had they been out but I’d seen Serveur Amusant at least 3 times! Though I didn’t have much time to listen to them, it made me really happy to hear them, if even for a moment.









Soaps selected and in hand, I slowly walked out and…that was that!
DME was magically depressing and there was some huge delay pulling in, as if the bus didn’t know where to go to let us off. Since they give you a bazillion hours to get there, it wasn’t an issue. Arriving I went in and changed into warmer clothes for the flight and headed out to my gate. With some time to kill, I decided a snack was in order. I was also hoping ot charge my phone as it was dead but finding an outlet without sitting on the floor seemed elusive so I did that for long enough to let Jeff know things were on time but my phone was going to die and then gave up.

Apparently I didn’t take another picture until…this one. I guess my phone wasn’t so dead I couldn’t torture my husband long distance.



It was Cinco de Mayo after all! It was a lovely lovely margarita I must admit and I couldn’t have been more pleased that there was a Mexican joint near my gate. I had an app of some sort, I think an artichoke dip with chips and was truly a happy camper.

Jeff however was NOT so happy with the picture I texted him, responding, “THAT’S IT! I’m making Margarita’s this weekend!”
And he did.

Flight was uneventful and going back to work the next morning, not so much fun.

It was a wonderful wonderful trip and I can’t wait to do it again next year!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MEK]

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Apparently I didn’t take another picture until…this one. I guess my phone wasn’t so dead I couldn’t torture my husband long distance.



It was Cinco de Mayo after all! It was a lovely lovely margarita I must admit and I couldn’t have been more pleased that there was a Mexican joint near my gate. I had an app of some sort, I think an artichoke dip with chips and was truly a happy camper.

Jeff however was NOT so happy with the picture I texted him, responding, “THAT’S IT! I’m making Margarita’s this weekend!”
And he did.

Flight was uneventful and going back to work the next morning, not so much fun.

It was a wonderful wonderful trip and I can’t wait to do it again next year!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice - you did torture Jeff quite a bit with rita pictures, if I'm not mistaken. I forgot it was Cinco de Mayo.

I actually had a memory recall. I think after we had the PP pictures you went over to England and I went to France to watch the movie before I left. I had just enough time. I love that movie. The scenery is gorgeous and, unlike the Canadian movie, there are comfy seats. Watching the France movie before I leave seems to be a tradition for me.

Can't wait to do it again!

[jenjolt]

Mary Ellen, thank you so much for your kind words!!! I really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with you ladies!! I wish it could have been more!! I have learned to adore my girls trips!!! I am definitely up for 2012!!!!!!!!

[MEK]

Originally Posted by jenjolt

Mary Ellen, thank you so much for your kind words!!! I really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with you ladies!! I wish it could have been more!! I have learned to adore my girls trips!!! I am definitely up for 2012!!!!!!!!

that's so funny that I pm'd you as you were writing. You know what they say about great minds!!!!!

So glad I was able to meet you in May and I look forward to seeing you in June (before you cruise) and again next October!!!!!!

[Captain_Oblivious]

96 pages?! I have my work cut out for me.

[MEK]

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

96 pages?! I have my work cut out for me.

Welcome! Why Yes You do!!!!!!!

[tinacaplan]

Mary Ellen, love the recap pictures. I just looked at them with Max and he wanted to know when we could go there.

Cynthia, not bad for a last day..and one last margarita to finish it up! Nice.