A Post Open-Heart Surgery/Anniversary Trip Report!!! Updated 5/30 PTR started!!

[SheStang94]

I found P&F Mac & Cheese at my Target! My husband looked at my like I was a weirdo when I brought it home

Thanks for the mention of the Hidden Magic of WDW, I went to B&N.com right away and purchased it for my nook. Project Future is next.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

ring = adorable!

DH & I fell in love with the Boardwalk last year when we stayed there. We'll be your neighbors!

Do you have any pictures of Sugar^3? I've never heard of it before! Good idea not going to DHS but I figured you would have ended up at Epcot!

Oh and your review of Kouzzina sounds delish! DH & I tried breakfast there but we might have to try dinner!

Thanks!! I love the jewelry with the little Disney touch! Oooh yes, we can have block parties by Deuling Pianos !

The only picture of Sugar3 I could find was from AllEars. It's tucked in one of the corners off the lobby, a small store but very fun!

Hahaha Epcot is always a safe guess with us!

Kouzzina is great for both breakfast and dinner, I definitely recommend you give it a try! (And it's nice and easy to get to from Epcot...just sayin'...)

I found P&F Mac & Cheese at my Target! My husband looked at my like I was a weirdo when I brought it home

Thanks for the mention of the Hidden Magic of WDW, I went to B&N.com right away and purchased it for my nook. Project Future is next.

Hahaha yay!!! I looked again this past weekend, and all I could find was the Cars version! That's SO not the same!

I hope you enjoy The Hidden Magic! I think it's a fantastic book! I definitely have to read Project Future next.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

On a completely unrelated note, I am entirely obsessed with this song at the moment.

Appropriately, on this day, we woke up to pouring rain.

I know, Disney, I'm sad too.

I scooped up the Magical Express Letter of Sadness from under the door, and told Wingnut what time they were going to be picking us up (2:30 for a 5:20 flight). <-- FORESHADOWING.

Wingnut's sinuses were flaring up with a vengeance again, and he had enjoyed the Captain's Grille for breakfast previously, so we decided to just make it easy and go back there again (originally, we were slated to return to Kona, but admittedly, our lunch experience there was still leaving a bad taste in our mouths).

So back to the Captain's Grille we went!

After breakfast, I took a few pictures of the train set the Yacht Club had set up in the lobby. Admittedly, I was trying to soak up as much atmosphere as possible in those dwindling hours before Magical Express came.







We then looked out at the rain and decided what to do.

Oh, you already know.

We headed to Epcot!

(I figured it wasn't even worth bothering with a cliffhanger with that one.)

We decided to take the boat, and huddled in the little lighthouse with a couple of other people. While we waited, Wingnut took a throat drop.

(Not retouched)



Once we entered Epcot, I strode right past the wheelchair rental hut/kiosk thing, telling Wingnut that he wasn't going to be pushing me today.

1) I couldn't do that to him anymore, especially with his current allergy state.
2) I was determined to walk around Epcot on my own. I envisioned World Showcase as my theoretical victory lap.

Yes, I'm a dork. A determined dork.

First up, Figment!



Sing it with me, "IMAGINATION, IMAGINATION...."



Oh, about the jacket, it wasn't too cold out, just wet. My nifty jacket has a lining that zips out.

I have no idea why I was compelled to tell you that.

Next up, we headed to The Seas.

Get out of the way, fish!



Thank you!





Up next: do I take my victory lap?

 

[glennbo123]

That's a GREAT picture of Wingnut. I'm glad you pointed out that it wasn't retouched, otherwise I would've suspected that it was.

I hope you make it through your victory lap without any issues.

 

[MEK]

I loved your update, but I have to come back later to see wingnut's picture since I can't see anything here today.

Magical express letter of sadness. I'll have to remember that for next time.

Good for you for ditching the wheelchair and setting out on your victory lap!

p.s. I like that song, too and I just heard something else new from Adele yesterday that I really liked A LOT! I have no idea what it was called.

 

[Jennifer48]

Rain on your last day? That's so sad...and wrong

I hope you make the victory lap around WS!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

That's a GREAT picture of Wingnut. I'm glad you pointed out that it wasn't retouched, otherwise I would've suspected that it was.

I hope you make it through your victory lap without any issues.

Hahaha thanks!!! We were standing there, and I knew he was sick of the photo-taking, but I was like "you HAVE to let me take this one!".

I loved your update, but I have to come back later to see wingnut's picture since I can't see anything here today.

Magical express letter of sadness. I'll have to remember that for next time.

Good for you for ditching the wheelchair and setting out on your victory lap!

p.s. I like that song, too and I just heard something else new from Adele yesterday that I really liked A LOT! I have no idea what it was called.

Hahaha there really is no in between with Disney correspondence, is there? Either you're like "YAY MICKEY MAIL IS HERE!" or "boo, I have to leave!"

Was it Rumour Has It? That's a great one too.

Rain on your last day? That's so sad...and wrong

I hope you make the victory lap around WS!

I know!!! But the weather had been clear (albeit, freezing) for the bulk of the trip, so I wasn't TOO bothered!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Boo for rain at Epcot. Sheesh, the weather was sure uncooperative for you this trip. I'm kind of scared of Disney in December now!

I can totally empathize with that hurry-up-and-soak-in-all-the-last-details feeling. Sigh, it happens to me every trip. I think I might need professional help!

OMG, Wingnut is glowing! He could seriously direct planes with that orange tongue, it's soooo vibrant!

Hooray, you went wheelchair-less! I hope it wasn't too taxing though. And you hit up the Imagination Pavillion! I have that CD Four Parks One World and we love that Figment track too!

Looking forward to the Epcot victory lap!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Boo for rain at Epcot. Sheesh, the weather was sure uncooperative for you this trip. I'm kind of scared of Disney in December now!

I can totally empathize with that hurry-up-and-soak-in-all-the-last-details feeling. Sigh, it happens to me every trip. I think I might need professional help!

OMG, Wingnut is glowing! He could seriously direct planes with that orange tongue, it's soooo vibrant!

Hooray, you went wheelchair-less! I hope it wasn't too taxing though. And you hit up the Imagination Pavillion! I have that CD Four Parks One World and we love that Figment track too!

Looking forward to the Epcot victory lap!

Not going to lie, Disney weather in December is INCREDIBLY unpredictable. In 2009, we had a TON of rain, but the temperatures weren't too unpleasant (around the '60's and low '70's). This year, it was FREEZING, but *mostly* dry. But the parks are all decorated and pretty...

Hahaha I start needing to hurry up and soak in all of the last minute details pretty much as soon as we land in Orlando!

I looooooove 4 Parks 1 World! That and the 3 "Disney's Greatest Hits" volumes are in my car right now (I used to also have the Illuminations soundtrack, but that has gone missing...) You should have seen me the day it started skipping on Soarin', I was doing EVERYTHING to try to get it working again (happily, it does! )

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

(Astute readers will have already noticed that I didn't really look at the breakfast link I posted in the last chapter, and that it also contained lunch, and the end of our trip!)

So soon?

Alright, so when we last left off, Wingnut and I were headed off to walk...er...swim around the World Showcase.

See how much it was raining?



Picture spot!



Funny, normal people don't stroll around the World Showcase in a downpour.



While taking a break in Italy, we found a little duck couple enjoying the rain.



"Delightful weather we're having, isn't it?"



I assume they were headed to France for Napoleons and squishees. Great minds think alike, you know.



We trekked on.

It rained.



With a few breaks, Wingnut and I made our way around World Showcase yay and to our lunch reservation at Rose and Crown, where the food was very good, but the restaurant also had the added bonus of being dry. (Scroll past the Mickey waffle.)

After lunch, we stopped in that little shop by the International Gateway (I feel like Traders is in the name?), and bought new socks. (The souvenirs just get more practical as the trip goes on, don't they? ) Our socks at that point were absolutely soaked, and we knew we didn't want to spend the next several hours in gross damp socks.

We headed back to the Yacht Club to wait for Magical Express.

Remember that foreshadowing from before...it comes into play right around now.

Now I had known that Magical Express comes to your resort 3 hours early to take you to the airport. The bus pulled up, and we and one other group got on. All was well. Well, of course we were sad.



But we settled into the bus, as it pulled around to the Beach Club.



Fine. That's alright.

We then pulled around again to the Boardwalk.

Now, each stop was taking awhile. It was now well past 3, and we were still at the Boardwalk. I wasn't getting too nervous yet, but others on the bus were, that this was taking an awful long time.

I checked our flight info, and it was still on time.

When the bus driver got back on board, I asked him "this is the last stop, right? After this, we're going to the airport?"

He said yes, on to the airport now.

Okay.

Okay, but why are we PULLING INTO CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT???

I may not be wonderful with directions, but I'm positive the Orlando Airport isn't through these gates.

It was rapidly approaching 4 at this point, and Wingnut and I were really concerned we were going to miss our flight. We were in absolutely no shape to bolt through the airport, and at this rate, who knows where else we were going to stop?

When the bus stopped in front of Caribbean Beach, Wingnut and I instantly decided to leave. We grabbed our bags, and told the driver to grab our luggage from under the bus right now, and I flagged down one of the CM's to hail us one of the waiting cabs.

"This is the last stop, we're going to the airport after this," the bus driver was attempting to reassure us, but we had already heard that line before. We were in that taxi as fast as possible, leaving the Magical Express bus before it had begun loading more people.

Once in the cab, I again checked the status of our flight, which was now delayed by 2 hours.

Moral of the story: Wingnut and I are fine using Magical Express TO the resort. Going back to the airport, it's worth the $50 to save the aggravation.

At the airport, we asked about wheelchairs, and they said that we could use the ones that were kept outside. We peeked out there, and the chairs were dirty and rusted to the point of being unusable.

Toto, I don't believe we're in Disney anymore.

So we walked. And it was a lot more than I had walked up until then, but we made it without anything interesting happening (which definitely is a good thing).

Eventually, our flight arrived, it was delayed further once we got onto the plane, and we were then headed home. I probably had more blue potato chips. I missed Disney already. There, the chips would have had little Mickey ears. Oh, real world, why do you kibosh whimsy so?

Coming up next: some sort of wrap-up! (And possibly Wingnut may chime in as well...)

 

[MEK]

Oh - the Magical Depress. I can't believe you bailed and took a cab. My ME bus did the same thing. It was like a million stops, but I am one of these people who has been known to get to the gate just as the plane was starting to board. Yup - that's me. Two hours early to leave home. Barely making it to get home.

Sorry your flight was delayed. That happens to me so often its not even funny (as it did again this year).

I love the rain pictures and the ducks.

"Rumor Has It" wasn't the Adele song I heard. It was something less up tempo and a bit more mainstream, but I really liked it. I hope I hear it again.

So sorry your TR is almost done. I really enjoyed it and hope you and the "nut" have a new trip in the works!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

My goodness it was really raining on your last day! Yikes!! But I'm glad you soldiered on and were able to take your victory lap.

It is no fun getting anxiety on top of depression on the return trip. I've never had that issue w/ ME. I've always had the multiple stops but we've always been so ridiculously early it's never been an issue. But I will keep your story in mind in case it ever does.

The return to reality is so awful, isn't it?

 

[glennbo123]

Well, on a positive note.....World Showcase looked really empty that day.

Good job on the sock souvenirs!

 

[MeMom]

I looooooove 4 Parks 1 World! That and the 3 "Disney's Greatest Hits" volumes are in my car right now (I used to also have the Illuminations soundtrack, but that has gone missing...) You should have seen me the day it started skipping on Soarin', I was doing EVERYTHING to try to get it working again (happily, it does! )

Aaaah, yes, wonderful Disney music to travel by at home. I have a few that are scratched now, too, and I am less than happy about it. I need to get some replacements in July.

Funny, normal people don't stroll around the World Showcase in a downpour.





We were in that taxi as fast as possible, leaving the Magical Express bus before it had begun loading more people.

Once in the cab, I again checked the status of our flight, which was now delayed by 2 hours.

Normal people don't get empty park pictures, either. Good job!

We like to back up our ME pick-up time an extra half hour whenever we can, just to give us extra time. (Going through security with two little ones is hectic and takes some time.) Too bad about the two hour delay.

 

[Nermel9]

Oh no, going home from Disney is always so sad. And of course, it had to be raining too! I'm glad you got to take your victory lap, though! The duck couple is so adorable! I love Disney ducks!

I don't use ME (we always rent a car, I just can't bring myself to depend on Disney transportation, I'm too impatient!) but if I did, I'd probably do the same thing, jump out and get a cab! I'm always SO paranoid about missing my flight, and who knows how many more stops that bus driver would have made?

ps-All I listen to in my car is Disney music too! I have 4 Parks 1 World that I listen to constantly, the pre-illuminations music, the actual Illuminations, random Disney songs from movies, and of course, Wishes! I wish there was a CD of only Epcot music, that's my favorite!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Oh - the Magical Depress. I can't believe you bailed and took a cab. My ME bus did the same thing. It was like a million stops, but I am one of these people who has been known to get to the gate just as the plane was starting to board. Yup - that's me. Two hours early to leave home. Barely making it to get home.

Sorry your flight was delayed. That happens to me so often its not even funny (as it did again this year).

I love the rain pictures and the ducks.

"Rumor Has It" wasn't the Adele song I heard. It was something less up tempo and a bit more mainstream, but I really liked it. I hope I hear it again.

So sorry your TR is almost done. I really enjoyed it and hope you and the "nut" have a new trip in the works!

Ugh, I still don't regret bailing, even though our flight was delayed. That was just too frustrating! Same here! I think my flights have been delayed more often than they've ever been on time!

I love looking at the rainy Epcot pics here dry at home...while there it was a bit damp .

I'm sad it's almost done too! We do have a trip in the discussion phase right now...I'm very excited to have potential Disney to think about on the horizon!

My goodness it was really raining on your last day! Yikes!! But I'm glad you soldiered on and were able to take your victory lap.

It is no fun getting anxiety on top of depression on the return trip. I've never had that issue w/ ME. I've always had the multiple stops but we've always been so ridiculously early it's never been an issue. But I will keep your story in mind in case it ever does.

The return to reality is so awful, isn't it?

Thanks!!! It was definitely rainy, but I knew it was something I wanted to do! Plus the fact that Wingnut would have probably had to forgo pushing the wheelchair in place of a canoe or raft .

The multiple stops wouldn't have bothered me if we weren't getting closer and closer to our departure time! When we pulled into YET another resort, rather than the highway, that was it for me!

Oh man, those first few days back in reality, where the only Mickey-shaped items are the ones you brought home with you, are pretty depressing. I've wondered what people would say if I wore a random pin "I'm Celebrating!" around at home. Just to ease myself back in....

Well, on a positive note.....World Showcase looked really empty that day.

Good job on the sock souvenirs!

Hahaha this is true! We did enjoy having World Showcase pretty much to ourselves, too bad that it was due to pouring rain!

Hey, those Mickey socks are pretty comfy!

Aaaah, yes, wonderful Disney music to travel by at home. I have a few that are scratched now, too, and I am less than happy about it. I need to get some replacements in July.


Normal people don't get empty park pictures, either. Good job!

We like to back up our ME pick-up time and extra half hour whenever, just to give us extra time. (Going through security with two little ones is hectic and takes some time.) Too bad about the two hour delay.

Oh how I love having the Disney music in my car. The other day, Wingnut got into my car and "Be Our Guest" was playing. I pretty much got this exact face from him hahaha.

This is true! What we'll do for a Disney pic!!!

That's a good idea to change your ME time...I wish I had done that. That definitely would have eliminated some stress!

Oh no, going home from Disney is always so sad. And of course, it had to be raining too! I'm glad you got to take your victory lap, though! The duck couple is so adorable! I love Disney ducks!

I don't use ME (we always rent a car, I just can't bring myself to depend on Disney transportation, I'm too impatient!) but if I did, I'd probably do the same thing, jump out and get a cab! I'm always SO paranoid about missing my flight, and who knows how many more stops that bus driver would have made?

ps-All I listen to in my car is Disney music too! I have 4 Parks 1 World that I listen to constantly, the pre-illuminations music, the actual Illuminations, random Disney songs from movies, and of course, Wishes! I wish there was a CD of only Epcot music, that's my favorite!

Thanks!! I was very excited about it too! Ugh, the rain was pretty miserable, but I will say, it made it the teensiest bit easier to leave than if it was sunny and 75 degrees .

I can do the Disney transportation once on property, but when it comes to making my flights, I'm much calmer under my own power! I know, I had a visual of that driver pulling into Port Orleans, then Pop Century, then Wilderness Lodge.... Caribbean Beach was the last straw for me!

Where did you find a CD of the pre-Illuminations music??? I took a very short video during it on a previous trip, and I love it. Isn't 4 Parks 1 World the best? I have disk 2 in my CD player right now .

Oh I would be FIRST on line for a CD of only Epcot music! (Although Epcot does kind of dominate 4 Parks 1 World...). I would also love a CD of the area music, I love listening to that.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Well, leaving Disney always sucks. There's just no way around it, is there?

Love the empty WS pictures though! The ground sure looks shiny and clean, I suppose a deluge will do that! The perk is obvious...no people around. Not such a bad trade off, though if it was cold AND wet, then maybe not. I can't believe how drenched your pant legs were!

OMG, how did you endure that Magical Express ride?!?! I'd have been a wreck with each stop. My mind would've been chanting 'we're going to miss our plane, we're going to miss our plane' over and over again! Thank goodness you hopped off and went in a cab instead. That way you could really enjoy the two hour delay! Just kidding! I'd have been freaking out too, I really dislike (ok, hate) cutting it close to boarding time.

Looks a successful, albeit wet, trip to Disney! Soooo, when are you and Wingnut going back??

 

[Jennifer48]

Un-Magical Express!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Well, leaving Disney always sucks. There's just no way around it, is there?

Love the empty WS pictures though! The ground sure looks shiny and clean, I suppose a deluge will do that! The perk is obvious...no people around. Not such a bad trade off, though if it was cold AND wet, then maybe not. I can't believe how drenched your pant legs were!

OMG, how did you endure that Magical Express ride?!?! I'd have been a wreck with each stop. My mind would've been chanting 'we're going to miss our plane, we're going to miss our plane' over and over again! Thank goodness you hopped off and went in a cab instead. That way you could really enjoy the two hour delay! Just kidding! I'd have been freaking out too, I really dislike (ok, hate) cutting it close to boarding time.

Looks a successful, albeit wet, trip to Disney! Soooo, when are you and Wingnut going back??

It SO does!!!

Hahaha yeah, streams of water will make the ground look all shiny! It wasn't TOO cold, thankfully! But yeah, the lower foot of our bodies were pretty soaked for the rest of the day!

That's EXACTLY how I was on that bus! I can barely sit there when going to Disney, but it's even more difficult with a time constraint! But yes, thank goodness we were able to spend so much time in MCO to really savor that wait!

Wingnut and I have been discussing a future trip...possibly...potentially...

Un-Magical Express!

TRUE STORY!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Hello hello!

I haven't been around for a while and Stringbean has been hounding me to make a post, so here I am. I'm not terribly sure what to write about since the focus of my entire trip was definitely the food. In fact, originally, we were slated to go to disney during the food and wine festival... As you can tell, I am quite the little foodie. But alas, with certain circumstances that surfaced, we had to stave off the trip.

I figure I'll just give an overview of my perception of the entire trip (sans food that is) and share with you my highlights. About 4 days prior to the trip, fate struck with quite an irony... although it may not be irony as much as fate being sadistic. I was struck with mortons neuroma of the left foot. I woke up one morning in excruciating pain, and to make a short story long, after a trip to the ER and some heavy drugs, we were at disney.

Personally, I am in love with Epcot. There is some allure to the International Gateway... I am able to visit different cultures, taste international food, and buy things that even as a New Yorker, I cannot find in stores. I love going in and out of the shops and buying candy (see, I keep coming back to the food.) Epcot was probably the most wheelchair friendly of the parks. As I hobbled around, pushing Stringbean in her wheelchair, I must say even navigating through the occasional store wasn't too difficult (although Stringbean did vacate her chariot for most stores.)

Hollywood Studios (or MGM as I insist on calling it... I'm stubborn) is my second favorite park. I am a huge movie buff, and there is such a great atmosphere created in that park. I thoroughly enjoy the Muppet show, the Great Movie Ride and the Backlot tour (although the only real wheelchair friendly ride in the lot was the great movie ride.) I am always disappointed though when it comes to dining in MGM. Every other park has something that excites me food wise, but MGM falls flat. As a kid I loved the Sci-Fi Dine-In, but I don't like that you can be stuck with another couple/family if you don't take a full car.

Magic Kingdom. Some of my favorite rides are here. Pirates. Jungle Cruise. Haunted Mansion. Enough said. I enjoy this park, but I did feel that the stroller parking was a bit scarce compared to the other parks (we were parking the wheelchair there when we hit certain rides, food, etc.) The only other real note I have about this park was the difficulty navigating Main Street with the wheelchair. The grooves for the trolley kept snagging the wheels of the chair, so I kept having to lift the chair out. Most of the time, Stringbean remained seated as I got her out of the trolley groove, but one particular time she felt the urge to leap out of the chair and help me get the chair up. I just put my head in my hands as we got the dirtiest looks from people who just say a wheelchair bound girl suddenly get the strength to bolt up and lift her chair....

Animal Kingdom.... I now have horrible memories of this park. And it is totally fueled by my unfortunate situation coupled with a difficulty navigating the park with the wheelchair. I am sure my memory has been unfairly colored. As I mentioned before, my foot was absolutely killing me. I was taking tons of vicodin and ibuprophine, but that only took the edge off. From pushing the chair, I developed a nasty stitch in my back that Stringbean was nice enough to put icy-hot on at night. And to top it off, while at Animal Kingdom, the weather went from freezing to warm, and all the trees and flowers went into bloom. With my horrendous allergies, I developed a sinus infection. So now that you are cringing at my situation, you can understand that I had a lousy time at that park. Stringbean and I weren't able to see much. The Safari and the Nemo show were the extent of our attractions since we couldn't do the rougher rides. I don't mean to be a malcontent, but Animal Kingdom is just not my bag I guess.

So that was my trip in a nutshell. I apologize that it seems a little disjointed, I wasn't sure what I could add to Stringbeans' wonderful trip report. The food was wonderful, the weather was cold, the rides were fun... I just can't wait till we go back, in better condition hahahahaha....

A bientot mes amis.