12 Days in Florida -- Disney World and Marco Island

[Panotchr]

I am in! Loving all the pictures.
I am so happy you had such good weather and a good time.

xo
Kelly

 

[KatMark]

Day 2 -- Sunday, September 20.

I was supposed to get up at 7:00, but was tired from lack of sleep on departure day and running all day on Saturday. So I decided a little sleep wouldn't hurt me and I got up at 7:45. While I took my shower and tried to do something with my hair (I love humidity, but it reeks havoc on my hair...hence I decided to just put it in the ponytail and forget about it--who cares what I look like, I'm at Disney! , Mark ate his cereal, drank his milk with his pill and drank his OJ. While Mark got in the shower, I walked over to the Pepper Market to get his coffee and cappucino once again. I took a couple of pictures of the gift shop as I walked by:

(I love this little guy)

On the way back to the room to get Mark to hit the road, I took a few of these:

I got Mark and we were ready to go:

As we were leaving the CSR, I saw this sign (in seven previous stays I had NEVER seen the sign):

We arrived at Epcot around 8:45 (I had wanted to be there by 8:30...that didn't work).

They started letting us in shortly after we arrived and Mark and I walked to the far right to head toward Soarin'. Took this picture on the way:

They did the countdown and let everyone in and we walked "briskly" (Mark doesn't do FAST) towards The Land. We went down the escalator and saw these guys:

We got a fast pass for Soarin' and then got in line to ride it.

We were in and on the ride within five minutes. Unheard of on any of our other trips.

From there we headed over to Test Track. We walked through the mechanics of the car and were told to go in Door 1 and the "preshow" had ended just as we got there and we walked right through to get on the cars.

After Test Track, it was time for me to go sit down so that Mark could ride Mission. I did it once and will NEVER do it again. Sorry...not happening.

While Mark was in Mission, I called oldest son, Andy, who was taking care of our sweet Cookie while we were gone. I had told him before we left that he needed to sleep in my bed with her (she sleeps with Mark and I every night). He said that after the first night of sleeping in our bed, he took her up the next night and she jumped out of bed and ran back downstairs; he brought her up again and she pulled on her leash and would NOT go in the room. Seems she missed us and didn't want to be in "our" room. My poor son ended up sleeping on the sofa in the family room while Princess Cookie slept on my husbands recliner chair. This was to be the way it would go the rest of the trip...Cookie refused to go in our room and Andy slept on the couch for 11 nights. What a good son!

Mark came out of Mission and I met him in the store. We bought Mickey decals for our car while there. We walkedk back to Soarin' to use our Fast Passes and then walked over to Finding Nemo. I know a lot of people HATE this ride, but I think it is really cute. Mark loves being out in front with the "Mine Mine" birds.

We then headed over to Journey Into Imagination. Along the way, I took this picture:

Before going into Journey, I was hungry and asked Mark to get me a pretzel and he got a Diet Coke for us to share.

Journey is another ride that gets bashed. I know it is not as good as the first one, but it is a heck of a lot better than the second one. I enjoy watching people's faces who have never been on it...especially when we get to the "smell" portion.

Up next, lunch at LeCellier and then an afternoon swim at the CSR.

 

[KatMark]

After seeing Figment, we headed towards World Showcase as we had an ADR at LeCellier for 12:55. We had a little time before we checked in 15 minutes prior to our time so we stopped at the two shops on the way. It has become a tradition every year for Mark to try on silly hats and for me to take his picture. Here are a few of those "silly" pictures:

We then headed toward Canada and saw these cute guys:

Of course, we had to stop and try on a couple of more hats:

The gardens on the way to check in at LeCellier:

We checked in at the podium at LeCellier and realized we would have a wait. It ended up being about 25 minutes...the longest wait we had at any table service restaurant. But it was so well worth it--LeCellier remains our favorite table service restaurant:

I won't go into the reviews of the food as I did a dining review, but Mark and I both had the mushroom filet (me minus the mushrooms) and they were cooked perfectly and had wonderful flavor:

After LeCellier, we walked to MouseGears and got Mark his Disney 2010 calendar and our 2009 t-shirts and then headed to the car to go back to the CSR and have ourselves a little down time before evening extra magic hours at the MK.

Another hat:

Some random shots:

Mark and I both went to the quiet pool in the Cabanas section. There were two women sitting together and a young girl, her mother and grandmother. I'm not sure why I didn't take pictures at the quiet pool; I think it is probably because I was really ticked off. One of the two women that were together at the pool was sitting on the ledge of the pool and she was smoking a cigarette. It really infuriated me. Then two of their gentlemen friends came a short time later and one of them got in the pool and was smoking a cigarette in the pool. At this point, I decided to leave the pool and make a phone call to the front desk to report them. After I made the phone call, I took a few pictures (and I saw a gentleman from security approaching the quiet pool on his bike!).

Up next, Extra Magic Hours at the MK.

 

[Elevationist]

I love your photos so much! The silly hats are great! And that one photo you took of the side of Spaceship Earth is really gorgeous, it looks like something out of a magazine.

Gosh, that picture of the mushroon filet just makes me wish even more that I could snag a Le Cellier reservation. My mouth is watering, YUM!

 

[KatMark]

You guys are so sweet to give Danya a ride! Meeting DISers is such a fun part of our vacations!!!

We didn't know how long she'd have to wait for a cab and we thought it was the least we could do since she took a bus over to meet us.

Kathy, your pictures are fabulous! Every single one is great!!

You are getting me very excited for my trip with Tracy! Gosh, it has been so long...2 yrs this December, almost to the day we arrive, since I was there last ~ waaay to long for a Disney nut.

Peter Pan - back in the '80's & '90's it was always a walk on, but the last several years it became so darn popular!

WedWay -will never be TTA to me either!

Sci Fi - always a favorite, even though the food can be hit or miss. Love that place!!

And dare I say...Stitch....let's just say I am very glad others enjoy him...but I never request a wake-up call anymore - that voice does not make a magical wake-up!

Can't wait for more...so nice you and Mark took some down time at CSR...sigh...what a perfect resort.

Very kind, and typical, for you and mark to give Danya a ride back to POP.

Later, sweetie!

We must have "down" time at the resort. That is part of the reason we pick CSR because it is so relaxing after all the hustle and bustle and crowds/noise at the parks.

I don't know why they can't just go back to Mickey waking you up.

I am in! Loving all the pictures.
I am so happy you had such good weather and a good time.

xo
Kelly

Thanks, Kelly. We had a two-minute drizzle the four days we were at the Magic Kingdom in Mexico in World Showcase. I swear it rains every time we go to Mexico. Other than that, the weather was hot and humid the whole time. We didn't mind the hot/humid though since Chicago never really had a summer this year.

I love your photos so much! The silly hats are great! And that one photo you took of the side of Spaceship Earth is really gorgeous, it looks like something out of a magazine.

Gosh, that picture of the mushroon filet just makes me wish even more that I could snag a Le Cellier reservation. My mouth is watering, YUM!

Keep trying for LeCellier--I got ours at only like 45 days out. It never hurts to keep checking.

There will be more silly hats to follow.

I'll do the next installment tonight. I can't do at work because I've got a really busy day, plus I don't think I uploaded the next segment of pics yet.

 

[trennr]

I R here!!!

 

[KatMark]

I R here!!!

I R glad!!! And, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but GLEN is gone from the CSR. He has been moved.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey Kathy!

I made it over finally. You have done a lot already! I love all of the funny hat pictures. Too cute.

I absolutely hate smokers who arent courteous enough to use the smoking areas. Good for you calling and reporting them. That's what I would have done.

The CSR looks gorgeous. I really like the beach pictures.

Looking forward to more.

Lisa

 

[trennr]

I R glad!!! And, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but GLEN is gone from the CSR. He has been moved.

Crikey!!!

Guess he had to go before he got too big.

 

[KatMark]

Hey Kathy!

I made it over finally. You have done a lot already! I love all of the funny hat pictures. Too cute.

I absolutely hate smokers who arent courteous enough to use the smoking areas. Good for you calling and reporting them. That's what I would have done.

The CSR looks gorgeous. I really like the beach pictures.

Looking forward to more.

Lisa

Lisa, glad you made it over--I know how much you've had on your plate lately!

Crikey!!!

Guess he had to go before he got too big.

Yes, they said GLEN was getting too big and he had to be moved. I didn't see any siblings or anything, but did see Mavis and a lot of her friends...plus a lot of little green frogs this time (but never had the camera when I saw the frogs).

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Kathy, It looks so far like you guys had a great time! It certainly seems like you did great with short wait times! I hope we get that lucky in Dec!!!

I can't wait for your next installment!

 

[Elevationist]

Yes, they said GLEN was getting too big and he had to be moved. I didn't see any siblings or anything, but did see Mavis and a lot of her friends...plus a lot of little green frogs this time (but never had the camera when I saw the frogs).

Oh, I saw those tree frog's earlier today in inkedupmomma's TR. And for the first time, I'm nervous about the CSR. I have a totally irrational phobia of those little green buggers. I know they're completely and totally harmless, but they still totally freak me out for some reason. My poor DBF is gonna have his hands full.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

The two of you look like you are sooo much fun. I, too, call to check on our dogs so I know how a "Cookie Report" can feel.

Thank you for calling in the smokers- my husband is a smoker but would never dream of such low class behavior as those people by the pool.

 

[Elevationist]

Thank you for calling in the smokers- my husband is a smoker but would never dream of such low class behavior as those people by the pool.

Agreed! DBF is a smoker as well, but is very courteous and respects all rules and designated smoking areas. Even when we travel and stay in hotels that offer smoking rooms, he prefers to take a non-smoking room and go outside to the parking lot to have a cigarette, because he doesn't want to smell it in the room himself. I told him that the Disney World resorts have designated smoking areas outside, and he was actually really happy to hear that, says that's how it should be. I wish more smokers would just play by the rules.

 

[Disneymama5816]

I'm in. Better late than never!!! Loving the report!!!

 

[TigerKat]

Awwww, I loved your Cookie story. Your poor baby missed y'all so much. I am thoroughly enjoying your TR, you guys just have that magical Disney glow.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Awwww, I loved your Cookie story. Your poor baby missed y'all so much. I am thoroughly enjoying your TR, you guys just have that magical Disney glow.

Soo true!!!!!

 

[ChelleinNC]

Kathy, your pictures are wonderful! Love the pic of the side of Spaceship Earth

Oh, I saw those tree frog's earlier today in inkedupmomma's TR. And for the first time, I'm nervous about the CSR. I have a totally irrational phobia of those little green buggers. I know they're completely and totally harmless, but they still totally freak me out for some reason. My poor DBF is gonna have his hands full.

I don't want to make it worse, but the tree frogs are all over Disney, not just at CSR.

 

[TigerKat]

Uh oh...I am terrified of frogs.

 

[Panotchr]

I LOVE the picture with the skunk hat. Flower I am guessing????

OMG.. I actually laughed out loud and Lily came running to see.

xo
Kelly