A bachelor party, a wedding, and a birthday - That was an eventful week (Completed 10/15)

[Stacybaeasm]

I like your Ears and now you can wear them when Villian's Land opens.

Oh yes! Oh the plans I have when this land opens. I have 3 pairs of ears and many, many shirts to wear. I can't wait!!!

Very nice!! That's a great Birthday present.

The ring is lovely. I wear it every day! I'm already dreaming of what I can buy to go with it when I visit at Thanksgiving.

I need to remember this. Storybook Circus for better treats and I bet it's less crowded too.

There was actually a lot of people in there but almost no line for the treats. Now that I know where the fudge is, I guarantee I'll be back.

I always have a hard time saying goodbye to WDW, but MK is the hardest for me. It's my favorite.

Mine too. I cry when I see the castle for the first time every trip and then cry again when I leave (and probably a few other times in between.) But I'm ok with that.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Day 6, Part 3
All good things must come to an end
​

Sorry I've been MIA on this report. The start of this school year is just kicking my behind. We go into tech for our first show tonight. I can't believe we have rehearsed and built one show and auditioned/cast 2 more. We will audition the last show of the season in October. It's been a lot but all good!

When we last left off, I was headed out to the buses to go back to Pop. I had the entire afternoon to fill and I wanted the pool. I am such a summer girl and pool time is my favorite. I spend at least 2 hours every day at the pool during the summer. I almost never take the time to go while I am at Disney though. I had gone earlier in the trip with Lindsey and loved it so I decided that was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. Once I got back to the room, I quickly changed and put together my pool bag. Book? check. Phone? Check. Snacks since I hadn't eaten lunch? Check. Water? Check. Sunscreen applied? Check. And time to head out.

I went to the Hippie Dippie pool at Pop again. I love the main pool. It has good music, great people watching, and I actually don't mind the distraction of the games. Those can be entertaining to watch sometimes. It took a bit to find a chair. The pool was super busy today. I ended up going about 3/4 of the way around the pool before I found an open lounger. Bonus - it was in the shade. While I love the sun, I really didn't want to sunburn before my 12 hour drive back and the shade meant I could stay longer since I was still pretty much my winter ghost color (except for the bit of sunburn I had for the wedding.) I picked up a couple of fresh towels and settled in with my book and some Lays Sour Cream and Onion chips for lunch. I didn't want to eat a lot because dinner was at Steakhouse 71 tonight and I was saving room for cake!!!

I spent a lovely 2 plus hours at the pool, reading and people watching mostly. I only got in once. Somehow, it felt chilly in the water today so a dip in and out was all I really needed. This is the picture I sent back to all my friends at school who were in our LONG day of tech - 8 hours in a dark theatre.


It was probably about 4 pm when I headed back to my room. I spent some time packing and getting organized so it was easy to load the car and leave in the morning. It usually doesn't take me long at the end of a vacation to pack. I am one of those people who completely unpacks when I get to the hotel. I need to feel settled in, ya know? This means that I can pack as I go at the end of each night. When I get undressed each day, I refold my dirty clothes and put them in their packing cubes. So all I really had to do was throw the packing cubes in the suitcases today. I wasn't going to put all my shopping in the suitcases, electing to just put the bags in the car (and put the chocolate stuff on the floor of the front seat under one of the AC vents to keep it from melting on the drive.) All I had to do in the morning was gather my toiletries and chargers and load the car.

Finally, it was time for my birthday dinner at Steakhouse 71!!! I'd eaten here once before (on the trip where I celebrated my 50th birthday) so it was fitting to go back for this birthday. I must have changed my clothes like 3 times before I settled on what to wear tonight. And I don't know why. I am not that person usually but for some reason, I didn't want to wear park clothes but I also had already worn the nicer outfits I packed for wedding stuff. Weird but sometimes that's the way it is. Soon, Scotty and Stephen were picking me up and we were on our way to the Contemporary!

When we got there, there were limos and high schoolers in formals everywhere. Guess one of the local schools had their prom at the Contemporary. It certainly made for good people watching while we waited for our table. We also had another friend join us tonight. Brad, another one of my former students who now works at Disney! He is a scheduler on the monorail. Every time something happens with a monorail, I text him "What did you do this time?" He is never actually working when something goes wrong so he can always text back - "Wasn't me!"

Anyway, our table was ready right on time. As we sat, Scotty and Stephen said they were treating me for my birthday. That was so nice!!! They also had cast coupons for the meal. Have I mentioned how spoiled I am with all my former student CMs?? Anyway, it didn't take us long to order. We started with the bread on the appetizer menu, I believe Brad got a salad, Scotty and Stephen got a drink, and Brad and I stuck with Diet Coke. I was really pushing the envelope with Diet Coke at this point but hey - if you can't do terrible things to your body on your birthday when can you? After the bread came, we quickly ordered our meals. I think all of us got steaks with various sides. I got the mashed potatoes this time. I had the au gratin potatoes on my last visit and didn't love them, honestly. But this meal was delicious!!! Oh, I also told the waiter to apologize to the chef. I AM one of those people who has to have their steak medium well to well done. And I just realized I didn't take a picture of the dinner.

BUT - it was time to order dessert. And I knew I was getting this beauty for my birthday!!


Totally delicious. And big enough to share. The waiter had also heard the guys wish me happy birthday and brought this out as well.


I shared both with everyone and I think Brad also got a dessert - maybe the creme brulee?? I need to take better notes. Anyway, bellies full and the bill paid, I said good bye to Brad and then Scotty and Stephen drove me back to Pop. It was sad to say goodbye but again - it was just goodbye for now. We talked a little about the wedding and everything and then they left to go home and I headed in for my last sleep in Disney.

Up next: travel home, wrap up, and news about my Thanksgiving trip!

 

[vamassey1]

I went to the Hippie Dippie pool at Pop again. I love the main pool. It has good music, great people watching, and I actually don't mind the distraction of the games. Those can be entertaining to watch sometimes

I'm a people watcher too.

I am one of those people who completely unpacks when I get to the hotel. I need to feel settled in, ya know?

I do this too. I finally got my oldest daughter to do this in July and she actually liked it. She had 2 boys and it really helped to keep their stuff organized, each boy had a drawer with zip lock bags labeled for each day. It was so much better than digging in a suitcase. She usually makes fun of DH and I for unpacking.

. I must have changed my clothes like 3 times before I settled on what to wear tonight. And I don't know why. I am not that person usually but for some reason, I didn't want to wear park clothes but I also had already worn the nicer outfits I packed for wedding stuff. Weird but sometimes that's the way it is.

I can understand this, nice Birthday Dinner in a nice restaurant.

As we sat, Scotty and Stephen said they were treating me for my birthday. That was so nice!!! They also had cast coupons for the meal. Have I mentioned how spoiled I am with all my former student CMs??

That's very sweet. We take advantage of DD's CM discounts and coupons as much as possible, but we're usually the one paying the bill too.

. I think all of us got steaks with various sides.

I've only been to dinner once and we did the steaks too. You're making me hungry and wanting to go back.

BUT - it was time to order dessert. And I knew I was getting this beauty for my birthday!!

That looks really good!

Totally delicious. And big enough to share. The waiter had also heard the guys wish me happy birthday and brought this out as well.

Very sweet of your server.

Up next: travel home, wrap up, and news about my Thanksgiving trip!

Looking forward to this. We won't be going back until January.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I do this too. I finally got my oldest daughter to do this in July and she actually liked it. She had 2 boys and it really helped to keep their stuff organized, each boy had a drawer with zip lock bags labeled for each day. It was so much better than digging in a suitcase. She usually makes fun of DH and I for unpacking.

I honestly don't understand people who don't unpack (unless they are only staying overnight). You really want to drag your suitcase out every day and dig through it to get dressed?

That's very sweet. We take advantage of DD's CM discounts and coupons as much as possible, but we're usually the one paying the bill too.

It was so sweet of them. They are very good at sharing their discounts (as allowable). I always feel bad if I ask, but usually Scotty offers before I even have to ask.

I've only been to dinner once and we did the steaks too. You're making me hungry and wanting to go back.
That looks really good!

The cake is to die for. I hear really good things about the breakfast and lunch menu there as well but I don't think you can get the cake at either of those meals so I'm going to stick to dinner!

Very sweet of your server.

It was. I always appreciate when the CM's sprinkle pixie dust. But I certainly don't expect it. I think too many people have posted about it on social media and now folx going to the park just expect that they are goin to get free stuff for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I plan and do the trip that I want and can afford. If I get pixie dusted with a dessert or some kind of upgrade or whatever, that is a bonus.

Looking forward to this. We won't be going back until January.

I am literally counting the days at this point. Today was my 60 days and even though I was in tech rehearsal until 11:30 last night, I was up at 6am making reservations for Thanksgiving week. And so much was already gone. I figured by checking in the Sunday before, I would find more availability but not so much. Luckily, I found close to what I wanted.

 

[Elleshoodat]

That cake looks amazing and right up my alley!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

That cake looks amazing and right up my alley!

It is SOOO good. Someone told me recently that there isn't any actual chocolate in that cake??!!! But I don't care. It is delicious.

 

[leebee]

Sounds like you had a great trip! In August, DD31 and I did 3 nights at the Poly, no park tickets. It was STUPIDLY expensive, but we'd always wanted to stay there. She had a bounceback from a trip in April so we had a great room discount, and even tho it was expensive we also realized it'd probably never be cheaper, so... off we went. All this to say, on this trip, DD"s present to herself was the cream/gold spirit jersey you bought, and MY present to myself was the same Mickey ring you bought!! I'm looking at it right now! Not sure when your November trip is but I'll be at ASMusic Nov. 9-14, solo, if you want to grab a drink or something! Have a good semester- I teach at UMaine and this semester is kicking my butt, too!

 

[erinch]

Just binge read your report ! Such fun!
You look fabulously gloriously beautiful in the pics! Where did you get the flowing pants/divided skirt thing that went with the evil queen t-shirt?

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Sounds like you had a great trip! In August, DD31 and I did 3 nights at the Poly, no park tickets. It was STUPIDLY expensive, but we'd always wanted to stay there. She had a bounceback from a trip in April so we had a great room discount, and even tho it was expensive we also realized it'd probably never be cheaper, so... off we went. All this to say, on this trip, DD"s present to herself was the cream/gold spirit jersey you bought, and MY present to myself was the same Mickey ring you bought!! I'm looking at it right now! Not sure when your November trip is but I'll be at ASMusic Nov. 9-14, solo, if you want to grab a drink or something! Have a good semester- I teach at UMaine and this semester is kicking my butt, too!

I love that you all got the same things! I'm wearing my ring right now as well. It has become my daily left pinkie finger ring. I'm going to miss you in November. I'm going for Thanksgiving week - Nov. 24-30.

What do you teach?? I swear, this semester has been HARD. But, we open our first show tomorrow night so one thing accomplished.

Just binge read your report ! Such fun!
You look fabulously gloriously beautiful in the pics! Where did you get the flowing pants/divided skirt thing that went with the evil queen t-shirt?

Thank you! I think I got those from Rose Gal - like Shein but a different name. I also have a longer pair that have each leg split in the front so they flow open. I have found, as a pooh size girl, that Rose Gal and Bloom Chic are great places to find clothes in my size for a decent price.

 

[Mich123]

Totally enjoying your report and glad you were feeling better by the end of your trip!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Totally enjoying your report and glad you were feeling better by the end of your trip!

Thanks!! I was glad to be better. But it also gave me the push I needed to buy my annual pass and plan the next trip.

I'm also thinking about the early days of this trip as I sit at my desk today with bronchitis. I would have stayed home if I didn't teach 2 classes today. Mask on, teach, and then head out to get my meds and go back to bed. My schedule this semester has me teaching or in a standing meeting every single day of the week so never any time for a sick day. YUCK!!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Wrap Up and Look ahead to Thanksgiving
​

Wow does time get away from me this semester. It's been WEEKS since I promised to come back to wrap up this trip. All I can say is this semester is definitely kicking my behind BUT 40 days until I check in to Pop for Thanksgiving week!!!

So, to wrap up this trip - the drive home was 12 hours in the car. Thank goodness for Sirius XM and 80's on 8. I had myself a Gen X 80's dance party for those 12 hours. The only unusual thing that happened was about 11:30am, I looked down at the GPS display to see how many more hours (like you do.) And it read something like 6 hours 15 minutes. Ok that's right on schedule. I drove some more and probably 15 minutes passed. I looked down again - 6 hours and 20 minutes. WHAT??? I drove for 3 more songs (I remember keeping track of that.) 6 hours and 45 minutes. HOW was that possible? I had been driving for at least a half hour and I LOST 30 minutes??? It was about that time that I decided to pull off to get gas, go to the bathroom, and find lunch. I quickly got gas and the place I stopped was a combo gas station/McDonalds. Cheeseburger and fries and a fresh bottle of water in hand, I headed back to the car and got back on the interstate. Time left still read 6 hours and 45 minutes. SIGH. About 10 minutes later, Google maps suddenly decided that I should leave the interstate and get on a different road. The drive down was all interstate so what?? I saw a couple of cars in front of me also take the exit so I went with it. I looked behind me and about 10 more cars also took the exit. Ok, Google maps was telling everyone to get off the interstate. I spent about 45 minutes on some state roads - you know - 1 lane of traffic each way and a 55 mph speed limit plus slowing down for lots of small towns in South Carolina. But when Google put me back on the interstate I had somehow caught up by over an hour. There must have been quite the traffic back up somewhere. The only other snag I ran into was in Charlotte. Came to a dead halt for about 20 minutes. I certainly didn't expect to hit that kind of traffic on a Sunday but I finally got home and started the sad process of unpacking/laundry/etc to get ready to go back to classes the next day.

All in all, it was a great trip! I experienced a Disney wedding - which is beautiful and very well run; I celebrated my actual birthday in the parks; and I had a much needed Disney break. My unfortunate illness at the beginning of the trip kept me from some of my plans but that's ok. I mean - first world problems and all. I still had an amazing time AND the things that I missed motivated me to break down and get my annual pass again. I'd been an annual passholder for about 5 years but when I moved to VA, I took a 2 year break from it. But I'm back baby!!! And there is a trip just over the horizon.

My Thanksgiving trip is really shaping up. I originally planned for a mostly solo trip with Scotty and friends joining in when work schedules allowed. I'm driving down on Saturday and spending the night with Scotty and Stephen before checking into Pop on Sunday. But suddenly - my aunt (who lives in Sarasota) said "maybe I can come??" So Barb is joining me Sunday-Wednesday. Because she has a Florida resident pass, she is blocked out of Thanksgiving and beyond. Then, the opportunity to do a Christmas party came up. I have done Halloween MANY times but never the Christmas party. So Barb and I got tickets to the Tuesday night party. Matching t-shirts and Christmas ears have been ordered!!! So - right now the trip looks like this - Pop reservation Sunday-Saturday. Steakhouse 71 dinner on Monday night. Christmas party Tuesday (new to me). Breakfast at Riviera Wednesday morning (new to me.) Thanksgiving dinner at Diamond Horseshoe. I had tried for LTT but they were already booked up but as I recall Diamond Horseshoe is the same menu - just a different venue. As long as I get turkey, mashed potatoes, and Ooey Gooey toffee cake - I'm golden. Friday is Epcot for the opening of Festival of the Holidays and then drive home. I'm so excited and I'm planning to do another trip report.

So, thanks for reading!! I hope the journey was as entertaining for you as it was for me. Sending you all faith, trust, and pixie dust!!!

 

[vamassey1]

Thanks for sharing your trip report.

I can relate to the added drive time when something unexpected happens. I usually trust Waze when it tells me to exit.

Thanksgiving plans sound fabulous. It's great you have some time with family and some alone time.

Have a great time at the party!

 

[disneyAndi14]

I enjoyed your report! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to your next trip report! Andi and I traveled over Thanksgiving week and we loved it! It wasn’t even crazy busy, of course this was pre pandemic Enjoy your trip!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Thanks for sharing your trip report.

I can relate to the added drive time when something unexpected happens. I usually trust Waze when it tells me to exit.

Thanksgiving plans sound fabulous. It's great you have some time with family and some alone time.

Have a great time at the party!

Thanks for reading!!! This was the first time I have driven to Disney (well, since the time I lived in Sarasota which is 2 hours away lol.) I usually trust the GPS. Do you prefer Waze to Google maps? I haven't tried it.

Thanksgiving is going to be great! I actually haven't seen my aunt in person since 2018 (although we talk on the phone regularly). I'm really looking forward to time with her.

I enjoyed your report! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to your next trip report! Andi and I traveled over Thanksgiving week and we loved it! It wasn’t even crazy busy, of course this was pre pandemic Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for reading along!! I've done Thanksgiving before - both pre and post pandemic. It's busier than I like but not Christmas busy. I can usually plan how busy it will be based on what is left for hotels and restaurants. Which reminds me to go check on that!

 

[vamassey1]

Thanks for reading!!! This was the first time I have driven to Disney (well, since the time I lived in Sarasota which is 2 hours away lol.) I usually trust the GPS. Do you prefer Waze to Google maps? I haven't tried it.

We drive from Baton Rouge at least for half of our visits. We are usually bringing something to Danielle or bringing something back.

I haven't really used Google maps, so Waze is my comfort zone.

 

[Mary Pops In]

I binged your TR. Sounds like you had a dream trip with your friends and solo experiences. Good for S & S having the wedding of their dreams. Happy birthday! Celebrating your actual birthday in MK is pure joy.
The birthday cake looks devine, how can it not have any chocolate? That makes me sad. I look forward to reading about your Thanksgiving trip. Congratulations on buying the AP, what a terrific year ahead of you!