*8/7 Chp.7* The Incredible Shrinking Woman Turns 40...TWO trip reports in one!

[Native NYer]

Rope drop and early mornings at WDW are just the best.
I agree with you about Captain EO. It is 80s fromage at its best!

 

[ortholablady]

If you do Spaceship Earth on your next trip go later in the day. There's always a long line first thing in the morning since it's the first thing people come to. When we come in through the main entrance we save save SE for the way out. By then it's usually a walk on.

 

[shannn]

I'm guessing the quote is from the Princess Bride?

And you know what? I actually opted not to see Captain EO when I was there on my last trip. I was so excited, and so amped up, and then when I was there, I thought, you know what? This will never be as good as it was in my memory. So I chose not go.

Therefore, I still think it's cool!

And I loved Michael. I was so sad when he passed.

Splitting an entree at Rose and Crown looks like it was a good idea, it looks so filling!

You got it~ Princess Bride, of course!!

I loved Michael too; but he had gotten to be a joke by the time of his death.

I never saw Captain EO before but like you, I thought it was hilariously bad but I will never get those minutes back.

I love that you love Mary Poppins! She is my favorite character to meet in the park, she is practically perfect in every way.

Yes, I've laughed at Eo once now...I don't ever need to do it again!

Mary Poppins is my dream of what a teacher/mother should be! When we went to see MP on Broadway, Lily got the Practically Perfect tshirt and she wears it all the time. I think my favorite song is "The Perfect Nanny" ~~ I just love the description by Jane & Michael. It makes my heart melt.

When we have met Mary Poppins in the parks, she has always been so great! She commented once on my tiny "carpet bag" and how did I fit everything into it? I should have said, it's just like yours. But I just told her that my DH had the larger bag. She was TOTALLY in character with everyone she met. She reminded my girls to stand up straight in the picture, even said "spit spot", which I LOVE!

Very cool that you shared the magic by handing off your FPs.

And I wholeheartedly agree with you on the parenting follow through. I have had to make my DD miss a school party because of that. It was almost as hard on me as it was on her. But I had no choice if I wanted to maintain any integrity as a parent.

Mary was perfect with me! She discussed my birthday and asked where on earth my children were. When I explained that they were left with my practically perfect motherinlaw, she agreed that she was an acceptable nanny.

Parents who threaten and don't follow through drive me nuts!

I am signing on!! We share a hometown and I love hearing about your report. I too had read about your mom on Dawn's report. I am so sorry. I feel the same as you about just waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
I lost my brother suddenly 2 years ago, my father became very ill and was put on dialysis and had an amputation, my mother is not well either and my youngest son had a scary accident that sent him in an ambulance to the ER. So, you can say I have a little bit of issues with anxiety. I am constantly worried about everyone. It is hard losing a loved one or seeing them become ill and not the person you remember. You will have your times, but it does get better. I still think of my brother everyday and I still have my moments. I went to the Hard Rock Cafe in Maui last week and had to leave the store because I burst in to tears. It hit me that I always made sure my Mom bought my brother his certain Hard Rock t-shirt where ever we went and I would not be doing that anymore. It is tough. I have constant anxiety about my parents, but I realize that I just have to love them while they are here and cope as much as I can.
Sorry for being a downer! Love the trip report and congratulations on the weight loss. I am a physician here in Knoxville and you are an inspiration to me! Can't wait to hear more!!
BTW, the quote has to be from Princess Bride. One of my favorites, but I like to say, "Wove, true wove". LOL

WELCOME!! I'm so glad you're here (here in knoxville and virtually here )

Losing people is so very hard, and I think the shakeup of my belief in the inevitability of good things is a big part of what I have to get over. (That is a convoluted sentence, but maybe I made my point?) I can't even imagine losing my brother!

What part of Knoxville do you live in? We're in Halls.

And you get a too. Love that movie, and we quote it all the time around here.

Rope drop and early mornings at WDW are just the best.
I agree with you about Captain EO. It is 80s fromage at its best!

OMG, Jen, I love that description~ 80s fromage is perfect!!

If you do Spaceship Earth on your next trip go later in the day. There's always a long line first thing in the morning since it's the first thing people come to. When we come in through the main entrance we save save SE for the way out. By then it's usually a walk on.

We did actually follow that tip in March and got on without too much of line.

 

[TarzansKat]

Wuv! Twue wuv!

So many good lines from that movie.

Looking forward to your next update.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Entering into the EO debate!
We've been a few times. Yes, the movie is a bit cheesy! Prior to the preshow, I love it when they make everyone move to the corner and there isn't hardly anyone there... The cms are so serious about their jobs!
Baylor really likes it and I adore the music! I always walk out singing.

 

[shannn]

Wuv! Twue wuv!

So many good lines from that movie.

Looking forward to your next update.

One of my all-time favorite quotable movies!! And, it doesn't hurt that Cary Elwes was awfully lickable in it (and of course Robin Wright was in my favorite soap ever Santa Barbara....)

Entering into the EO debate!
We've been a few times. Yes, the movie is a bit cheesy! Prior to the preshow, I love it when they make everyone move to the corner and there isn't hardly anyone there... The cms are so serious about their jobs!
Baylor really likes it and I adore the music! I always walk out singing.

Oh, I had forgotten that, Anita. There were like 3 people in the theatre and the CMs still did the "move all the way to the end of the row" schmiel.

The music is fun, and the whole thing is fun if you go in expecting cheese! I don't think Sam would agree but he was never a pop or MJ fan, even in the 80s. I think he spent all of his teenage years in the corner playing his Eagles & Steve Miller Band albums over and over!!

 

[shannn]

We slept until 4:45 although it was not great sleep for me. Our studio was a lockout where it could be used as part of a 2BR. That meant that you could hear the noise coming from the room next door. It just so happened that there was a family there with little kids, and apparently this was a day that they decided to spend the afternoon playing in their room It wasn't their fault that we were trying to sleep and I eventually did get some (I'm a very light sleeper...Sam can sleep through anything.), but I did think that I would have been really upset if this had been a naptime for a baby, not 2 40-something-year-olds... Something to think about if you're planning to get a DVC studio. I actually ended up turning on the a white noise machine to try and drown them out.

When we woke up, we got ready for the Halloween party. I had a shirt that someone had made for me the year before and it still fit well, so I wore that. I love costumes, but I don't love walking around in them and I didn't think one would really fit in at our signature dinner either!

We decided to drive to the Wilderness Lodge. I was excited to see it, as it and AKL were the only deluxe hotels we hadn't seen (and AKL was on the agenda for later). My view of WL is very skewed because of where I live. It is incredibly beautiful, to be sure. But living so close to the mountains and Gatlinburg, the theming is just nothing special to me. When I'm on vacation, I want something different than what I get at home so that's not "mountain cabin" for me. That being said, we really enjoyed seeing it all the same.

Sam especially enjoyed the bunnies that were hopping around everywhere and wondered if Disney had bused them in just to add to their theming. There was an adorable little girl who was taken with them (and yes, I asked if it was okay to take a pic of her). I couldn't help but think of how much Lily would have loved them too.

From the back:

On my fireworks cruise in December, our captain told us that the back of WL was supposed to look like a bear. I told Sam but we never really could see what they were talking about.

Soon, our buzzer went off and Artist Point was ready for us. I can't believe there aren't more pictures of the restaurant, but the paintings were beautiful. I guess we were too hungry for scenery, and once again we were sharing a dinner.

Smokey Portobello Soup - with Roasted Shiitakes and Chive Oil

This was yummy, especially the oil floating on top, but it didn't have much protein so I didn't eat too much of it and soon turned the bowl over to Sam who finished it off.

After reading several dining reviews, I knew we just had to try the Char-grilled Buffalo Striploin Steak - with marble potatoes, garden vegetables, and Shiraz Gastrique .

It did not disappoint and I gobbled up that yummy proteiny goodness, although I still couldn't finish my plate (which, remember when you're looking at it, was only half of a portion).

But then, we had my favorite dessert of the trip, which of course I don't see on the menu anymore. It was a Coffee Trio

Let's see if I can remember: Chocolate almond cake, mouse, sorbet~ all coffee infused.

That mousse in the middle doesn't look like much, but OH! that was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten!!

They also brought us a Berry Mousse with Chocolate Ganache, Vanilla Ice Cream and Fresh Berries as a birthday treat.

This was good as well, although I only had one bite as I was savoring that coffee-y goodness!

Bellies completely stuffed we headed off to get on the boat to the MK because Mickey was throwing me a birthday party!!

Along the way, we saw more bunny friends. Isn't this the cutest picture?

and we stopped by the beautiful waterfall: (I do absolutely love the peaceful grounds behind the WL.)

We had to stand in a line for the boat to MK, although I didn't mind as I got to see all the adorable families in costume. One thing that bothered me was all the families with tiny tots. The first time we came to WDW in October (2006) my kids were 2 and 4. No way I would have tried to do the Halloween party. I had them in bed by the time the party really got started. I know that some people have different schedules and I respect that, but there were some itty bitty ones in that lines and boy, were they cranky! Hopefully they could sleep in a stroller later?

Soon, we were across the water and heading into the party.

I have written about the party before, but honestly, I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it. The atmosphere of being there after dark, the costumes, the characters in costume...I'm choking up right now because I love it that much. And, my mind is racing because I'm not sure I can live without going every year and October is 2 months away now!

Unfortunately, I don't have as many pictures as I'd like, because stupid me thought I'd bought the photopass pictures for these trips but I forgot to buy them before they ran out. DOH~~

(didn't get permission to have that princess in the shot...)

Continued in the next post:

 

[shannn]

We met up with Dawn and Dan and Stacy (who had on great costumes: read her version of the night here and here)

We had to go immediately to the highlight of a Halloween party~ the Haunted Mansion.

Now is where I wish I had the freakin' adorable Photopass pictures of all of us!! out

After HM (always visit it during the first parade, by the way! Best tip ever!!), we headed over to get a seat on Main Street for the fireworks and, of course, to people watch. I remember several conversations centering around slut costumes (really people? You're at Disney, fer crying out loud!) and parenting. Dawn and I can have fun together anywhere and anytime and this night was no exception!

Hallowishes started up and Sam started in on his photography while I just enjoyed the amazing show:

The villain's show and parade followed, and Sam (of course) was determined to get that perfect Headless Horseman shot. He did pretty good although not quite as good as the year before.

And here's the one from the 2009:

I won't tell you that I clapped and giggled like a 2 year old at Piglet in his little butterfly wings!!

After the parade, we had to ride Splash at night (I wanted to see the park as you head down that big hill and it did not disappoint.) I seem to remember a conversation about Dawn's butt as the model for Brer Bear hanging down (minus the tail) but perhaps my memory is faulty and it was someone else she suggested had modeled for that particular animatronic behind....

We also decided that the boys should come in drag the next year (yet another reason to pout about staying home this year...) and whether Sam could find a costume in his size for "Daddy's favorite princess." Who else, but Princess BellyShow herself~ Jasmine!! I promised to dress as Aladdin to match.

I think we were punch drunk at this point and it was time to head back to bed! After a boat ride back to WL and a drive to BW, we were happy to hear that "Welcome Home" at 1:30 AM.

Would we make our DHS Rope Drop the next morning??

 

[Lady Lallie]

Awww, you make me really want to go to the Halloween party again! I just love the atmosphere at MNSSHP!

Your entree at Artist Point looks so yummy. I had the soup last year and I couldn't eat it, it just didn't do it for me I think the color of it messed with my mind.

 

[tlenzendorf]

I soooo cannot wait to go to MNSSHP this year and now you've made me so much more excited! We still have to finish up our costumes. Doing a Peter Pan theme. I still have to see if I can get Brent to dress as Peter. He is refusing to wear green tights I showed him some pictures where they have guys with brown pants cut like pirate pants and he said maybe. The oldest will be Wendy-she kinda looks like her, the middle will be Tiger Lily, I'm being a pirate and I'm still torn about the youngest. I got her a pirate costume last year at Target for $2.50! And it's really cute, but I think we are going to be missing Tink and it is Ellie's favorite character. Maybe if I can find one cheap enough.

 

[TarzansKat]

Now I really, really miss the Wilderness Lodge. :::sigh:::

I tried to talk Nemo into it for our next trip, but he's in love with the pool at POFQ. Better for my wallet, but my heart yearns.

I love me some MNSSHP. I get choked up, just like you do, it's so awesome to be in the parks for what is really my favorite holiday. Looks like you had a lot of fun!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Shannon, please come play with us in October.....

 

[momof2TNboys]

Love the pics of MNSSHP!! I bought my tickets this weekend and I cannot wait!! I agree about the WL. I really think it is beautiful, but too close to home.
I live in the Karns area of Knoxville. Looking forward to more of your report!!

 

[Native NYer]

Your photos of MNSSHP are terrific! It looks like so much fun.
I love the fireworks shots.

 

[cjwross]

Looking forward to hearing more.