A trip for Mommy and Daddy... ONLY! With more PICS (Okay.. I'm DONE finally! #124)

[Illuminations_Rocks]

really enjoying your TR and can't wait to read about your - tear departing day!

 

[Sooze]

really enjoying your TR and can't wait to read about your - tear departing day!

Thanks.. I'll be getting around to it this week... because I'm on Spring Break!!

And I can tell we should be friends because your username is AWESOME! If my DH ever got his butt on this board, he'd probably pay you to steal your name!

 

[Sooze]

I'm back and all caught up again! Please forgive me for taking so long! It's been crazy busy over here and I haven't had time to post to everyone's TR like I want to! I really love your TR! As I read it, I remember how wonderful our no-kids quickie WDW get-away was a couple of years ago! It's great going on vacation with the kids, but it's great going without 'em, too! I really appreciate you sharing your adventure with us! BTW, I thought that guy at the MGM stunt show was HOT, too! WhooHooo! You must have your DH trained good!

I'm sad that your TR is almost over, but I'm also excited that you're starting a new pre-TR soon!

Take care,
Michelle

Thanks Michelle. I'm honored that such a GREAT trip-reporter such as yourself is taking time to enjoy our little getaway. I'm learning so much from reading your amazing TR. Thanks for checking in!

 

[Sooze]

Can you tell the "whole other story"? I am curious to see if I remember seeing your video. I loved that show when I was a kid.

OKAY.. twist my arm..

It was in 1991... at Christmas. The video was from 1978 and it had been transferred from reel-to-reel movies to VHS. My little sister (then 4 yo) was standing in front of the Christmas tree holding a sign that said "1978" .. you know.. since way back then you couldn't just flip a switch or push a button to make the date appear... Anyway.. she was smiling and all cute, then the other sisters, including myself, tried to get into the shot. Well, cute angelic little sis decides to start throwing punches at us, l eft and right.. and I get it right in the face at the end of the clip (I was 6 yo at the time). It really was funny, and when they added in Bob Saget's voice, it was even better.

We won a trip to CA to attend the taping of the show and we were told we may be one of the finalist. It turned out that not only were we one of the finalists, but we won the ten grand as well! It was a great experience for my family! They flew us back out for the 100,000 grand prize show. We lost to some boy who was holding a hose, so it looked like he was peeing... dumb... or maybe I'm just bitter. But instead of a hundred grand, they sent us to Disney World as a consolation! hmmm... what's better?!?

Since my family had six people in it ( 2 parents, 4 daughters), and the prize was for a family of four, my parents were extremely gracious and sent the four daughters on the trip. We ranged in age from 22-17. The hooked us up with flights, hotel (Contemporary!) and all of the food we could ever want to eat. Plus passes to the parks (including Typhoon Lagoon). It was a super time!

Wow.. that was fun reliving... thanks for that.

Anyone recognize the clip? It WAS 16 years ago!! wow!!!

 

[Sooze]

I made my ressies today for our 3 day cruise on the Wonder. It's another little getaway for DH and myself in honor of our TEN year anniversary! Yes.. we are leaving the kids behind for this one again. Don't worry, the little Rugrats will get to enjoy Labor Day weekend at the Boardwalk. Then Mommy and Daddy take their first cruise... ever....

I'm so excited. I'll have to start another pre trip report on that one.. there's even more than the cruise too... I'll share later!!

Thanks for listening to my happy dance

 

[timandlesley]

First of all, loving your TR, can't wait for the last installment.
Funny video story, I bet I have seen it, but can't recall off the top of my head. That stinks they didn't pay for your entire family to go.
Disney Wonder, HOW COOL!!!! I'm jealous, maybe someday. . .
Lesley

 

[jenv]

I just read your TR and have really enjoyed it. My husband and I are going in September for our anniversary without our kids. We are also thinking about purchasing DVC at that time. We are paying cash for it so we are really wary about spending that much cash. I'm pretty sure we will do it though. My husband wants to only go for 3 days and I just want to be there 4 days and he doesn't want to since I travel a lot for business and I will be gone for almost 2 weeks in October. I just showed him your TR and said that these people were jammed up for 4 days we can't do it in 3 days!! Maybe I can get him convinced. We are also going with the kids in January.

Great TR I am a pre-school teacher!

Jennifer

 

[Sooze]

I just read your TR and have really enjoyed it. My husband and I are going in September for our anniversary without our kids. We are also thinking about purchasing DVC at that time. We are paying cash for it so we are really wary about spending that much cash. I'm pretty sure we will do it though. My husband wants to only go for 3 days and I just want to be there 4 days and he doesn't want to since I travel a lot for business and I will be gone for almost 2 weeks in October. I just showed him your TR and said that these people were jammed up for 4 days we can't do it in 3 days!! Maybe I can get him convinced. We are also going with the kids in January.

Great TR I am a pre-school teacher!

Jennifer

I definitely vote for four days!! Three days just isn't enough!

And I encourage you to do the DVC thing... especially if you can pay cash!!! That's like having 3 decades of vacations where you won't have to pay for accomodations!!! Plus, you really feel like WDW is your HOME!! We are SOOOO happy we did it... and we have to pay it off for the next 10 years.. ugh.

Let us know how YOUR adult only trip goes, k?

 

[Sooze]

After rolling ourselves back onto the monorail, we headed over to EPCOT for our LAST viewing of Illuminations. As we were getting ready to pull away from the TTC, a young couple got onto our monorail car. Seeing that the "other side" was less crowded, they jumped off to maneuver to a "better" spot. Unfortunately, the announcement that "the doors are closing" had started, and I guess they didn't realize that "the doors are closing" means.... THE DOORS ARE CLOSING!! They didn't make it back on... the whole monorail car let out an "Awwwwwwwwwww". Pretty funny! But not for the couple...

As we walked into our beloved EPCOT, we began to feel a few drops of.. gasp.. RAIN!! We had avoided it all weekend. In fact, the weather had been pretty darned near PERFECT! But... drip.... we kept on .... drop.. walking... and thinking... drip dripp DROP... positive thoughts... to no avail. As we emerged from under SE... the heavens opened up and the rain came a'pourin'!!

Well, we are here at SE... and, as always, there is absolutely no wait. How bout a 15 minute rest aboard the educational ride that is Spaceship Earth? I've heard people mention the "smell" of the burning of Rome... now that it's been so long since we've been, I can smell it sitting here at my computer. Even though I think SE is a glorified nap sometimes, it IS an EPCOT classic, and I will continue to ride it every trip!

Okay.. ready for the pixie dust?!.... Here it comes....
We get off of SE, 15 minutes later... and the rain is GONE!! The air is refreshed, the park smells GREAT... and we are ready to scope out a place for Illuminations!

This time, we vowed, we'd find a big ol' speaker and park ourselves right in front of it. We found a great location on the laggon in front of a gigantic speaker... bring in on!! We had some time to wait and I was able to just close my eyes every once in a while and take in the EPCOT air. I was feeling a bit sad, when I noticed a little friend..

This is another example of the things you are able to notice when you don't have little ones around. My husband STILL makes fun of me for taking this picture. I call it art!!

Illuminations began... and I was once again disappointed in the low volume of the music. I SWEAR it used to be louder... or maybe I've just spoiled myself with the volume I play it in my car... whatever the case may be.. if anyone from EPCOT is reading this... PLEASE TURN UP THE VOLUME ON THE MUSIC FOR ILLUMINATIONS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! We still love it tho'... I get chills every time the ending comes around.. when the sky is filled with white fireworks.. UGH! I can't wait til Labor Day!!

We ventured out of the park with the hoards of other visitors. As we rounded the corner to our bus stop, we saw a SSR bus pull away. Don't you hate that?!?! We wanted to get back to the hotel for a quick dip in the pool before we had to go back to the room to... sniff... pack.

I shall return with our LAST day.. which included a very early, very unfortunate wake up call!!

 

[psupple]

Just finished ready your TR.... thanks for sharing your "adults" only trip.

We go to WDW usually twice a year. It's just me and my DH, so I really enjoy reading couples' TR's.

Can't wait to find out how it ends~

 

[timandlesley]

LOVED LOVED LOVED your report. Can't wait for our 10 year anniversary trip next summer w/ out kids. I personally loved the snail pic, and laughed out loud when you said it was the stuff you don't notice with kids. I definitely would never have noticed that with kids in tow. I agree, they need to turn the music up. I've never looked for a speaker to sit by, maybe now I will. I felt sad with you seeing your trip come to an end. What an awesome report. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!

Lesley

 

[belle8306]

I really loved your report! You have a great writing style!

 

[Tinkerbell1013]

Great TR!! Loving it! My Mom and I ran off for a girls weekend last year and it was really great to see WDW as an adult. Although, at 22 and 51 we didn't always act like adults. Ah...the magic of Disney!!

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Great trip report, I am new on here, so I am a little behind in the reading! Gald to hear you had a great trip!

 

[penguingirlie]

Oh no. I get to read all of it but the last installment!?! Great trip report. We took our last trip as adults only for a while last fall. We just had our first child so lots of child friendly trips coming our way. Hopefully we will be able to take trips like you guys one day. What a great idea!

 

[ncseric]

I just found this TR and I think it's great! We're from Fishers and are planning an adults only anniversary trip in early December.

We were at WDW from Jan 1-5 this year and I agree about the crowds! We're also DVC members and were thinking that crowds would be light because it's value season! Fortunately, we left on Friday (before the marathon really began). Still, Thursday at MK was horrendous!

Unfortunately, our girls (5 & 3) don't like Epcot much, so we haven't spent much time there lately on family trips. I can't wait to leisurely walk through the World Showcase and watch the performances! I'm also looking forward to going to MK and not having to spend most of the day in Fantasyland!

Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[CHEK]

Loving your trip report, only wish we lived closer , I think my DH & I love it even more than our 2 DD's , everyone we know thinks that we're both obsessed , YES well they'd be right

 

[Belle_373]

Great Trip Report!

My DC and I went to Disney the same time in January as you guys did. I was shocked by the amount of people there. I didnt realize it was marathon weekend when I booked the trip. Oops!

 

[Sooze]

Wow! Thanks everyone for your great comments. I hope you'll join me again after Labor Day when I get to do a trip report with the kids involved. I promise to take WAY more pictures... and, or course, with kids, there will be so many more to take!

Thanks again for reading. The last day may take two installments, it was pretty long. But I'll try to get it posted soon!

Have a wonderful weekend y'all!

 

[lamagique]

Just found your TR and had a great time reading it (even though I know there's one more installment left)!

Here are some random things I commented on:

I also threw away a ton of empty cups that people just left on display shelves. AWFUL!! How trashy can you be?

There are so many trash cans at WDW (I would know, haha)! I don't understand how people do this! Thanks for picking them up, though!

I didn't understand a word he said, but I knew he was scared when he grabbed my arm during the first drop! Where else but Disney can you be grabbed by a foreign man and not think twice about it!?

Haha... I grab the people next to me, too! I don't even think about it, it just happens! I apologize after, but yeah... Disney Magic.

I just need to go off for a minute... Voices of Liberty.. OMG!!!! I could sit in that rotunda and listen to them ALL DAY. This is one of the most outstanding vocal ensembles I have ever heard in my life! The lead soprano his notes only dogs can hear.. with absolutely no effort. I was moved to tears several times. Oh.. and we immediately bought their CD too!!

I know! I finally saw them for the first time this past summer and I was amazed! (I don't know if I even wanted to see them, but I did and was happy!) You have some of the same people I had. Yipee!

We entered the Kingdom just as the "Dream" parade was about to start. Our family has never really been big parade-watchers. Not sure why... I guess we find that's a good time to find shorter lines.

Yeah, when I was little, we didn't really watch parades or fireworks or shows (Actually, it's sort of the same now). We would be like, "There's no line for BTM... LET'S GO!!!!" And we'd ride it over and over again.

Big Thunder Mtn. Railroad... okay... let's ride it. We honestly haven't been on that ride in years. So we did it. Here's a great shot from the ride. I have no idea who the guy in the back seat is.. but I thought the Yeti came over to the wrong ride!! Ha ha ... just kidding!!

HAHAHAHAHA.