25 years and we're still smiling!....Our Anniversary trip. (Chapter 4a is up on pg 3)

[zdad]

Chapter 4…..”Race Car Mama”

Today we have a date with Destiny. Zmom, who is not particularly into sports, has decided that she wants to be a Race Car Passenger. Not sure where that came from, but what the heck, let’s have some fun. We have a light breakfast at Whispering Canyon and make our way to the TTC.

Just outside the kennel entrance is a small road sign for “The Richard Petty Experience.”. We make our way there and hop onto the shuttle van, and we are off to the race track. It is a mile and a half oval, a legitimate NASCAR track, although the are no grandstands surrounding it. It sits in the back of the MK parking lot. Zmom, now know as Race Car Mama (RCM for short), suits up and we head to the pits. She is first in line. The handler takes her through the safety procedures, how to get in and out of the car, and what to expect. Onto the track, RCM sees she’ll get to ride in the Home Depot #20. Now she knows nothing of NASCAR, but her oldest son works at Home Depot after school, so she got the car she wanted. Getting in wasn’t so bad. They strap her in, including a HANS device, and they’re off. It’s four laps around the track. Average speed is ~145mph. When they came back in and she got out, I have never seen a more excited look on her face. It was everything she had hoped. You can tell by the smile on her face. Now she is considering doing the Driving Class next trip.

Race Car Mama Getting Ready

RCM Ready to go

Blast off !!!

A video of part of her run (I hope this works)

Exiting the Vehicle

Ya think I had fun ???

Of course, that little rascal Flora had to get in on the act. She didn’t want to ride, she wanted to drive. Then to beat the band, she was caught hob-knobbing with the rich and famous !!

NASCAR Flora

Flora & Richard Petty

Up next….Chapter 4A: “Pasquale’s Serenade”

 

[KathyRN137]

Wow! Zdad, 145 mph! That's Z-Fast!! Glad your sweetie had so much fun!

Kathy

 

[jcc0621]

Zdad: Loving the TR.

Lansdale, US Air, Philly International??

Janet

 

[Renee1061]

Test Track just isn't going to cut it for RCM anymore, is it?

By the way, I am so jealous of Flora!! She gets to live at the Happiest Place on Earth!!

 

[zdad]

Chapter 4A: “Pasquale’s Serenade”

First, I need to back up. I didn’t tell you about the cool surprise awaiting us when we returned to our room the night prior. After a wonderful dinner at Kona Café and then Wishes, when we open our room door there are Anniversary balloons and a card waiting on our bed. The card from none other Mickey and Minnie themselves. It now is proudly hung on the wall in our home. How cool is that ????

Anniversary Wishes from the Big Cheese

Back to our story….after Race Car Mama revealed herself, we decided to make a trip to MGM. So we hopped a bus from the transportation center and were whisked away. Our first stop had to be Tower of Terror.

I think everybody has taken this picture !

I used to hate this ride. I am deathly afraid of heights. Over the years though, I really have come to enjoy it. After ToT, we Fastpassed Rock n Roller Coaster. Zmom doesn’t like this ride, but was willing to do it once for me. (Ain’t she sweet?) It was a late Fastpass, so we did a few other rides in the meantime…..The Indiana Jones Show (it was soso) and The Big Movie Ride (always a fav with us). At this point things were beginning to queue up for the 3PM parade. We were a bit tired, so we found a couple walking toward RnR and gave them our FastPasses. Our own little bit of pixie dust for someone else. The parade was great. Our first chance to see the MGM afternoon parade. I got some great pics of the parade.

Buzz Lightyear !

Jack from the Muppets ("Jack not name....Jack job !")

Mulans' Mushu

and my fav pic.......Evil Lord Vadar

We headed back to the Lodge for some shut eye at this point. Tonight was dinner at our favorite restaurant (at least until tomorrow night) Alfredo’s. We were up and out in plenty of time for our ressie. I forgot the Flower Festival was underway. Here are a couple pics of the topiaries…..

The Peter Pan Topiary at the Entrance

A really Goofy Topiary

We get to Alfredo’s an have about a 5 minute wait for our table. We get a nice table for two, at a window overlooking the square. It was very nice. Our waiter was Alessandro. He was training a couple of other waiters too, and at times services was a bit slow. He was sure to apologize profusely and did everything he could to make amends. The food was wonderful, as always. As dessert neared, the strolling accordionist wandered by, Pasquale is his name. He stopped by, obviously knew we were celebrating our Anniversary, and serenaded us for about 10 minutes. He played two or three complete songs. During the third song, the wait staff brought over a giant cannoli (for show) and two smaller ones for us to eat. They also joined in on a rousing rendition of That’s Amore.

Pasquale's Serenade

The Big Cannoli

Alessandro Sings Along

Saying goodbye (Zdad, Alessandro, & Zmom)

Everyone else in the restaurant must have wondered what was going on. What a wonderful way to end the night. We walked back to the WL bus as fireworks light up the sky…….wow romance at Disney is kinda cool.

Next Chapter….. “Are we there Yet(i)”, and “Oh my Gawd, this the best food I ever ate!”

 

[jcc0621]

Another great chapter. I'm glad you enjoyed Alfredo's. I had been hearing not so great reviews about it lately. DH and I were debating on whether we should try it again or not (We really enjoyed it the last time we were there). I think wea re going to skip it though since we will be there about a week before it closes.

 

[DisneyJo]

What great chapters your DS does not look 14 Great achievement

The racing day sounds great fun and the smile on DW's face says it all, lovely surprise from Mickey and sounds like a great meal at Alfredo's too!

 

[OhMari]

What dates were you there in April.

I gave my dh the Richard Petty Driving Experience for our 25th Wedding Anniv. He did it on our last day of our vacation. I should have scheduled it his first day. I don't think he came off his "high clouds" all day.

He had to be at the race track at 7:30 a.m. and I went over there t 9:30. Anyway, it rained the day before and when I got there I saw all these cars going around the track. They were drying the track off. My dh was in our rental PT Cruise helping. The shuttle driver asked me if I wanted to sit in the shuttle and drive around the track a few times to help dry it off. So I got 10 laps in a shuttle van. Anyways, my dh wants to go out to Vegas, his instructor told him that track is awesome and he wants to do the "all day experience" which is $800.

Really enjoying your report. I wish I would of seen another DIS member, let alone a Focker Member.

Ohmari
Trip report modertor

 

[rentayenta]

Fun report and great photos! Happy Anniversary!


Did you finish the whole cannoli?

 

[zdad]

What dates were you there in April.

We were there 21-27 April. Did the RPDE on the 23rd. 100% sunshine the entire trip for us. Super for vacationers...terrible for the locals who need the rain.

 

[zdad]

Did you finish the whole cannoli?

The big cannoli was for show (somehow I think you knew that ). The smaller ones were chocolate filled and quite tasty.

 

[rentayenta]

The big cannoli was for show (somehow I think you knew that ). The smaller ones were chocolate filled and quite tasty.

I really didn't I thought maybe it was like that kitchen sink sundae only in a cannoli version. It looked fabulous! I love cannoli and so does DH!

 

[pooksma]

Love your report. I hope DH and I can go for our 25th and look as happy together as you guys do.

 

[puggymom]

A couple of great installments. Love the giant cannoli

That RPDR does sound like fun and I don't even like Nascar.

Sounds like a great time at Alfredo's, nice to hear they are keeping it up even with the impending closing.

 

[LaraK]

Wonderful updates ZDad! We have to figure out a way to do it all over again at the same time!

 

[KathyRN137]

Romance at Disney is very cool!!

Kathy

 

[Tanya90210]

Very cool trippie.... I hope I can talk DH into an anniversary trip one of these years....

 

[wilma-bride]

Wow ZDad, I am so glad I found this trippy (thanks for the pointer Lara) You two make a really cute couple and it's lovely that you are so happy and celebrating a major milestone at the happiest place on Earth.

We are celebrating our Anniversary at WDW in August (only our 3rd though) and I can't think of a better place to be.

Hats off to ZMom (or RCM) for the Richard Petty - there's no way I could have done that

Looking forward to more.

 

[Renee1061]

Patiently waiting for the Focker report.

 

[roberrl187]

I'm really enjoying your report.


DH and I are celebrating our anniversary 9/22-10/1 and are leaving the kiddos home (14 & 18). I was wondering how it went with the kids being home. DD(14) is trying to convince me that they are old enough to stay home for a week. We live in a condo and there are 5 other familys within spitting distance, so I'm inclined to let them. But my ex isn't as thrilled with that idea.