A Disney Engineer, my DH and flat Minnie are sitting in ... Disney Mom's Panel or not

[DisneyRunner2009]

On the way to the food court, we stop for pictures. Flat Minnie.

The girls decided to split a pizza. DH will try a burger and fries, he hasn't had one up to this point. It's day six of the trip. I order cheese fries. The kids get some of these and I get some of the pizza. These pizzas are a very good deal. There is plenty of pizza to share, at least for our family. The price of the meal was somewhere between $35 and $43. As I mentioned previously, some members of the family don't keep track well. The cheese fries were a snack option, valued at $3.72. After lunch we head to DTD. The shops we peruse include: WOD, Little Missmatched, the kitchen wear store and the junk shop. That is what I call the $10 and under store. I believe it is now, the $20 and under store. The girls get banana sluchies at Goofy's Candy Company, $7.86. Done shopping, we get in line for the Dolphin bus. We are picking up a rental car there. While waiting in line, a mother accompanying her daughter, in an ECV with a guide dog, join the line. In all my years of going to Disney, this is the first time I've seen a guide dog that will be boarding a bus. Also joining the line, was a girl coming from BBB. Once boarded, it took about 15 minutes for a bus (we just missed one and I timed it with my ironman watch, it's a game I play), the driver played a message about being on your best behavior, as there is a princess on board the bus. I thought it was cute. We heard this message one more time on a different bus ride.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

At the Dolphin, we receive a three tier upgrade, my coupon was for a two tier upgrade, to a Chevy Impala.

Off to the outlet mall. The stores on the list are Character Premiere, Dooney & Bourke, and Vera Bradley. DH and DD#1 head to Adidas, Callie and I will meet them there. There is so much at Dooney I like, I can't decide, I plan to return. I never made it back. Meeting at Adidas, I want to go to Nike. Just before we left for Disney, I purchased two running skirts at the WI store. I love these skirts and want to see if they have any. Nike doesn't have the skirt, so we move on. A stop at Columbia, to see about shorts for my DH and a back pack for DD#2. Again, we saw this back pack in WI, but buy it in FL. I think it was cheaper in FL. DH eventually found the shorts he likes, but passed on them due to price and size. Converse is the last stop. The kids were both looking for Chuck Taylors. In the past, we've had some luck. The prices were right and a good selection. Not this time. DD#1 was the only one who found something, the price, however, was not the deal of the past.

 

[DizFan101]

Hey!!
I love your trip report..
I might do something similar to this. Probably bring my figment figurine! lol. nothing home-made...

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Hey!!
I love your trip report..
I might do something similar to this. Probably bring my figment figurine! lol. nothing home-made...

Thanks for joining in!

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Back at DTD for dinner. After all you have to drive by it to get to the resort, we eat at Cookes of Dublin. This is a must do for DH. We ate here last year and he it. He ordered the pot pie, so did Callie. She it, too. Deesa had a fish sandwich, I had fish & chips. Three of us had the cupcakes. Those were . The cost, $45.42. After dinner, we walked Pleasure Island. Outside the Adventurers Club was a woman painted silver, with a microphone, posing. It was funny to see the moves she made, as people come up to her. The time has to be close to 8pm or after. Port Orleans resort is the next stop. This resort is my family's favorite.

Another picture with classic silly faces. After walking around both sides of the resort, we head back to POP. Hurricane Irene is moving in. Tomorrow's plan, Typhoon Lagoon???

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Today's plan.

Hurricane Irene is on the move, the question is do we go to TL? It is sunny out, we decide to give it a try. We will be going to TL, via rental car. No swimsuits on the bus, or waiting for a crowded bus on the return trip. Arriving early, we are let in right away. We found the short cut and lined up for Crush n Gusher. My DH finds a seat to wait for the three of us to return. Between riding with the kids, I ride three times. These slides seem short in length, when compared to waterpark slides in the 'Water Capital of the World', the Wisconsin Dells. We live about two hours from the Dells. The plan is to move to the back of the park and find a home base for the day. First a detour at shark reef.

I read about a viewing area, but it really turned out to be a bust. No swimming with the sharks for my family. A location for our belongings was secured, we head to the family raft ride. Across the rocks, rocks with water and a bridge (I think) we make it to our destination. As we board the raft, it starts to sprinkle. With this situation upon us, DH and I head back to our secure location to retrieve our items. Back across the rocks and water DH and I go. The kids go on a few other slides. DH and I take the tunnel this time back to meet the girls. After securing the belongings, again, we meet up with the girls. Now, we are off to the body slides. Those were ok, I prefer to sit up on slides of this type. Wave pool, here we come. After a few of the giant waves, the bobbing waves start. It is time to go back to our second home base for the day. Wouldn't you know, it starts to garden shower again. At this point it is drawing near 11am. I'm getting hungry anyway. We decide to head to the front of the park to leave. A good garden variety shower is underway. Through the park we go in swimsuits and flip flops. Deesa comments on being at a water park in the rain. For me, it is more fun, if it's hot and sunny. Rides can also shut down with lightning in the area. We stop at the main gift shop, in hopes the rain will let up. It does and we reach the car. Lunch is at POR, costing roughly $51.68. I could spend the rest of the day here, but DD#1 wants to go back to TL to take pictures. By this time it is nice and sunny. I've always wanted to rent a surrey. Last year was not my year, but this year was.

I never knew how hilly POR was. I've walked that path a million times and don't remember inclines. It's harder than it looks. When you are peadling 200 pounds plus your body weight, it's tough. I workout six days a week, which includes strength training, running, biking and other cardio. So, it's not like I'm out of shape. My legs were burning at points through out the ride.

After that adventure, we head back to TL to take pictures. Here are some of mine.

The wave pool.

Flat Minnie, making an appearance.

I got yelled at for taking this picture. I didn't see the area was off limits, I shouldn't be here.

Flat Minnie fell into a puddle, while I'm taking pictures here.

Good thing Minnie is laminated! Lilo is out, as I walk by.

It starts to sprinkle again. I've had enough. Off to DTD for Doh bars.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I have not abandoned this tread. I guess I've been busy.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I've always wanted to try these, as soon as I learned of the existence. The cost against the QSDP, $5.01. The Doh bar tasted like a warm, rich, chocolate chip cookie. Of which, I am not a fan. I'm glad I tried it, though. After a few more shops at DTD and three banana slushies from Goofy's Candy Company, $11.79, we headed back to POP. Up next was some wash. When we got back to the room Callie said, "We have a bow on the toilet." "What?'' Her is what she meant.

It turned out to be a nice late afternoon, to sit by the pool while doing wash. I headed to the Hippy Dippy laundry room first, it was busy and some machines were out of order. I ended up at the bowling pin laundy room. The change machine was labeled out of service, but a gentleman tried it and it worked.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

After doing laundry, DH and I went to POFQ for dinner. I had the chicken and rib dinner, juice and beignets. DH had The pot roast dinner, a Fuze and a shake. The cost $40.20, QSDP $0. The kids stayed back at POP and used the pizza entitlement, $27.32. They also used two snacks, $?. As I've mentioned some are not keeping track, as well as I would like. At this point we still have 43 snack credits left to use. We leave the day after tomorrow. After dinner DH and I run back to the outlet mall for a quick stop at Vera Bradley and Character Premiere. Vera Bradley took a little longer than I anticipated. We headed back to POFQ and took the bus to DHS. My DH likes to walk from the boardwalk back to DHS. We can see the EPCOT fireworks as we wait for the boat. As we are taking the boat from DHS to Swolphin, I feel rain. Maybe, it's spray from the water. No, it's raining, again. Now we have to walk back to DHS in the rain? I hope not. Dropped off at Boardwalk, we start to make our way to DHS. It starts to sprinkle. We make it to the POFQ bus stop, with little rain damage. We won't make it on this bus, but the next one wasn't far behind. Or, I was very patient at that moment. The next bus arrives and it is not very full after the POFQ queue fills in. Now, they offer the bus to the POR queue. Which is nice, but the POFQ people have to get off before the POR crowd. What to do on our last full day?

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

DH and I started out the last full day at Disney with a run. Then it was time to sit by the pool and use a snack credit. I had a chocolate croissant and DH had the usual, yogurt parfait, $7.55. We used the refillable mugs for drinks. Both of us rinsed off in the appropriated locker rooms. DH reported no soap in the mens locker room. The womens had no hot water. After meeting up with the girls, back at the room, we drove over to AKL to shop, eat and wonder the resort. As a family, we like the AKL gift shop, as it has some unique items. Lunch was at Mara. Deesa, Callie and flat Minnie have never been there. DH and I ate here a few years ago. I had the african stew. I was unsure at first, but the CM showed me a list of ingredients in it. This was a . The stew was very good. Deesa had the falafel. She really wanted this at EPCOT, so this made up for it. DD#2 and DH had the african chicken nuggets and african angus burger, respectively. The total, with beverages and desserts, $63.19. Here is a picture of flat Minnie at Mara, with her animal friends.

Flat Minnie enjoying the zebra domes.

After lunch we hit the savannah veiwing spots. I've never seen a truck on the savannah, so I took a picture.

Callie.

Minnie by the fire pit. Good thing she is there during the day, not at night, if you get my drift.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

We finished up at AKL, the car had to be returned to the Dolphin, but not before stopping at Fantasia Gardens for some mini golf. DH and the two kids played. I was given a club by mistake and over heard the manager talking about it. I returned my club. I was feeling bad and I'm all about karma. Here are two random pictures I took.

I was expecting rain, because over the last few days it always rains around 3pm. Not today. After dropping the car off, we caught a bus to MK. The wait wasn't to bad. I thought we would have to make the resort loop, nope. We were the only ones on the bus. It was a quick trip to MK. We were hot, that Disney bus AC was . Arriving at the MK, we rode Disney transportation to WL. First stop, something to drink. We used four snack credits on fountain drinks, $11.89. I know it may be a waste of a snack credit, but we are leaving tomorrow and after this purchase we still have 37 credits to use up. I'm saving some of my credits for the Minnie's Bake Shop cookies. I those. We sat at a table in Roaring Forks for a while.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Heading to the CR via boat from WL. The plan catch the monorail, transfer at TTC and ride the monorail loop through EPCOT. The monorail was very crowded and the A/C was not working to capacity. The time was around 5:30pm when we returned to the Comtemporary Resort. Looking at the menu we decided to eat dinner here. The bill includes: drinks, four cupcakes, two hot beef sandwiches, chicken alfredo, and a mahi sandwich, $72.62, . Don't worry we are on the QSDP . The black forest infused cupcake.

The strawberry cupcake.

The hot beef sandwich.

I remember, the ordering is done on a kiosk just like Captain Cook's. I tried checking in for our flights at the Conetemporary, but I did not have the confirmation numbers with me. Back to POP, via MK bus stops. DD#1 mentioned, the walking pace turning into the Amazing Race.

 

[Mombits]

I lift the paint brush straight up over my head and shout, "Bryan." I was super excited. I ask him to take a picture of me painting the fence.

Woo HOO! You are the first one I've ever seen that actually found the paintbrush!

Very cool!

 

[Mombits]

Wow, those were some unusual characters to see in Epcot, weren't they? I think that is the first Mickey or Minnie pic I've seen from Epcot and also the first pic, not even sure who he is- is he from Aristocats? Plus Pooh Bear! It's really cool that you got so many character pics! How fun. I like the one of you with Donald.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Woo HOO! You are the first one I've ever seen that actually found the paintbrush!

Very cool!

Thanks for reading. In the past, I tried looking for the paintbrush in the morning, right as TSI opens, but no luck. I was beginning to wonder, if this secret really existed. In regards to the characters, my DD#1 thought the cat character was from Pinocchio. I saw Donald do that pose, so I copied him. Then I was thinking maybe that is the natural arm position for Donald.

 

[jennyf2]

Hello from MN Great TR--LOVE Minnie, great idea!!!

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Hello from MN Great TR--LOVE Minnie, great idea!!!

Thanks for joining in and .

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I was hoping to return to my trip report with some good news, that is why the lack of updates. I was hoping to tell everyone that I made the Disney Mom's Panel, but I did not make it into round three. Now, I'll have to continue with the last few hours of our trip.