Adventures of a DisneyWORLDholic! Updated1/24 I was an unofficial WDW tour guide.

[SimmerBaggins]

Man, I have missed a lot.

I think Jacob's going to be a great photographer like his mom!

Jordan saw a couple of pics of DQ and harbored a grudge against me that she's been wanting to go, and we haven't...such a bad mom, am I! We just never seem to fit it in.

Too cool about meeting Di & family -- and I would have been embarrassed about the jersey!! I hope it comes in before too late...

 

[jmskinner]

Looks like a great Dis meet! And I love that duck picture that Jacob took. Very cute.

The boy takes better pics than I do.

Man, I have missed a lot.

I think Jacob's going to be a great photographer like his mom!

Jordan saw a couple of pics of DQ and harbored a grudge against me that she's been wanting to go, and we haven't...such a bad mom, am I! We just never seem to fit it in.

Too cool about meeting Di & family -- and I would have been embarrassed about the jersey!! I hope it comes in before too late...

Hopefully you will take her one day. Soon, soon, soon.

It was very nice to meet them. I felt so weird leaving with that jersey. Jonas loved it though.

 

[natebenma]

What a nice meet! Jacob must have enjoyed spending some time with the twins. I LOVE the photo of the three of them with the speeder bike. Fingers crossed that the jersey arrives in time!!!

 

[jmskinner]

What a nice meet! Jacob must have enjoyed spending some time with the twins. I LOVE the photo of the three of them with the speeder bike. Fingers crossed that the jersey arrives in time!!!

He did. They really seemed to have a blast together. Of course, I had to explain how they were twins, even though they were boy and girl. He still seems to think twins are identical.

 

[jmskinner]

Remember our little belated anniversary trip that Jonas was going to plan? With this trip to Afghanistan, he decided he couldn't finish it, so i am now in charge.

I tried not to look at where we are staying, wanted to keep something a surprise, but when I picked up the little booklet the first thing I saw was the hotel.

We are staying at POR!!!! Our favorite!!!

Now, how much did the hubby get planned? He had 3 meals, La Nouba, and one tour booked. The man has been working on this for two months. He said it was just too overwhelming. I had even printed out all the tours available with dates and times. Along with little notes, like make an ADR for California Grill close to fireworks time so we could watch from the Contemporary. Ok, he did follow that one at least.

Once I sat down, within 30 minutes I had two more tours booked, along with 3 meals. I guess I am the professional WDW planner and he is the amatuer. That's ok though, he really tried.

So, what are we doing those 4 days in January, here ya go:
Saturday Jan 15th say goodbye to the kiddo (I'm sure we will have to bring him something back.) and the grandparents.

Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern (Jonas loves this place)

Parasailing at 2:00 (The very nice lady at Sammy Duvall's said in January that is about the only thing she could recommend we do. If you ever have any questions, give them a call. Very helpful.)

Dinner at Ragland Road (Jonas booked this one because he loves watching the entertainment, he swears he likes the music too.

La Nouba

Sunday Jan 16
Was hoping for a breakfast ADR at Akerhaus (sp?), but couldn't get the time I wanted and now they are all booked. But I didn't want to be late for our first tour. Any guesses?


Around the World at Epcot Segway Tour. Really looking forward to giving one of those a try.

After that it is lunch at Le Cellier. Never eaten there, would probably have scheduled dinner, but the one thing Jonas booked was all of the dinners.

We don't have anything scheduled until 8:00pm that night, so I am hoping to book a carriage ride at POR for about 5:30.

We have dinner at Yachtman's Steakhouse that night.

Monday, Jan 17

Breakfast at Cinderell'as Castle. Jonas booked this one because in my little notes I said it was the first one to book, but he could book whatever he wanted. I actually knew about this booking before he handed over the reigns on this trips. One of my Dis friends said she liked the characters at Dinner much better and I thought they sounded more like us, so I ran into the bedroom to tell Jonas he might book us for dinner if he was going to book the Castle. I was told "You better get the **** out of here." In normal peoples word, I already have breakfast booked and I am not changing it.

So, what would we do after a breakfast in Magic Kingdom. Ride rides? Nope, doing the Keys to the Kingdom Tour.

I am trying to get our Professional Portrait Session scheduled for as last as possible this day at Wilderness Lodge. I called yesterday and the calendar hasn't opened up for January yet.

We then have dinner at California Grill. A 7:30 ressie, fireworks are suppose to be at 8:00pm. He did good!

Tuesday, Jan 18

We start out at Kona for breakfast. Jonas loves breakfast and this seems to be one restaurant everyone recommends for breakfast. Hopefully Jonas will be happy.

Then we are doing something I am really excited about...Wilderness Trail Back Trail Adventure. That's right, since we will have experience on the Segways, we are going back and doing some offroading. The CM that scheduled this for me said it really is fun and he was very surprised when they did leave the trail!

After that, our last meal...Sanaa. I have wanted Jonas to go here since I went in the Spring with a couple of Dis'ers. Jonas loves bread and I want him to try their bread sampler. I'm sure he will love it. Of course, it's not like rolls, which he really loves, but hopefully he will like it.

That's it. Jonas is worried we won't ride any rides, but I think we may have time for some in there. I'm worried the CM's will have to roll us out after all this food, but these are all restaurants that don't have anything Jacob would like so it will be so nice to not have to worry about getting him food. I'm sure I will miss our little guy.

That's it for the January plans. I'll update with more on the TR's later. Where is that jersey????

 

[rebecca06261]

I'm worn out just reading that, Mel! I love it tho and kudos to Jonas for giving the planning a really big effort. Most non-addict husbands just leave all that up to the wives... you're one lucky lady!

 

[jmskinner]

I'm worn out just reading that, Mel! I love it tho and kudos to Jonas for giving the planning a really big effort. Most non-addict husbands just leave all that up to the wives... you're one lucky lady!

Thanks Rebecca. He can be very sweet!

 

[natebenma]

Sounds like an AWESOME line up of restaurants, tours and activities. You both did great!!!

 

[DFD]

Jacob took that one. He also took about 20 shots of some ducks, but I do like this shot:

 

[jmskinner]

Sounds like an AWESOME line up of restaurants, tours and activities. You both did great!!!

Thanks, as you can tell, I am really excited.

I figured you would have some sort of Duck recipe to discuss when seeing ths.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Wow. I knew you guys were going to do a lot, but you aren't even done with all the reservations, yet!

So...I'm thinking it'll be difficult to even think about the Feb trip until you have experienced all those amazing things and blogged to us about them...and we can all be in breathless anticipation with you!!

...what a great way to begin your last year there.

 

[TinksThree]

Your January trip plans sound so awesome and you are staying at POR!! We loved Le Cellier....the kids insist on this ADR eveytime but I may overrule next time just to experience some other places in World Showcase!! And the tours sound awesome too! Can't wait to hear more on the plans!!

 

[jmskinner]

Sorry I haven't updated all week. Haven't felt well and been trying to spend a little time catching up on other TR's. I know there are a couple of you out here I am way behind on the TR, but I promise I will catch up. And I am doing an update tonight. Ok, you can all get back in your chairs now. But first, a few responses...

Wow. I knew you guys were going to do a lot, but you aren't even done with all the reservations, yet!

So...I'm thinking it'll be difficult to even think about the Feb trip until you have experienced all those amazing things and blogged to us about them...and we can all be in breathless anticipation with you!!

...what a great way to begin your last year there.

Oh, I'm thinking about the February trip also. Not much more to think about for this January one. Isn't that the bad part, all the excitement of planning and making reservations, get it all done and ..... WAIT! That's about all I can do now.

Your January trip plans sound so awesome and you are staying at POR!! We loved Le Cellier....the kids insist on this ADR eveytime but I may overrule next time just to experience some other places in World Showcase!! And the tours sound awesome too! Can't wait to hear more on the plans!!

I can't really say anything, Biergarten is one of our favorites, so we eat there a lot. Really surprised we don't have an ADR for there in January.

Now, time for an update!!!!

 

[jmskinner]

I left off, many moons ago, about a futball jersey. Did it make in time for our next meet? Why yes it did, in fact it was at my house the very next Monday. Isn't that how life goes.

I tell ya, I debated about keeping it for myself. It was a lovely jersey. You wouldn't think of a jersey being lovely, but this one really was.

The hubby finally made it home and then we had to make a trip to WDW, but where would we meet Diane, Gordon and their kiddos? I texted her the night before and they were headed over to TL and then AKL for dinner at Boma. Jonas doesn't like the water parks, so I knew that was out. I texted Di about meeting her before dinner. Told her it could be a quick meet, I didn't want to intefer with their plans. That's what we decided to do.

Saturday morning, we got up, and headed to WDW. Ok, not true. We headed to one of our favorites restaurants. Cracker Barrel. We love it and it is about the only restaurant Jacob asks to go to. Jonas likes to order breakfast, he loves breakfast and I am not a breakfast person, so I order lunch. Guess this is why we love CB so much.

Finally we headed to WDW and decided on MK. Jonas' favorite park.

I snapped this pic of Jonas' shirt, he purchased it at Star Wars Celebration.


For some reason the park was extremely busy this day. Jacob wanted to ride Buzz, so I grabbed FP's and we decided to ride this:
[url=http://jmskinner.smugmug.com/WDW/MK-101610/14294693_UPewT#1057548492_rtpAs-A-LB]
(Haven't a clue as to why that one line is Blue and underlined?)


We hadn't been on it since they changed the name back to Peoplemover. So, what is the abreviation now that name has changed.

Jonas used the force to close our door:


Jacob didn't think it was funny, guess he takes the use of the force seriously


Of course I took pics


I didn't realize the teacups were under construction.


The big long construction wall


There wasn't much of a wait for Winnie-The-Pooh, here is Jacob trying to get out of the sun so he can see his DS screen


They have moved the line to the handicap access so we got to see more than normal




Jacob said he wanted to ride in the back. Then we realized why, he had his DS in his hands to play with. We quickly confiscated it.

I again attempted ride photos








That is a hard one to get pics in the way the cart is continually moving around.

After that, we decided on ice cream. I figured they would go for soft serve, but Jacob decided he wanted the mint chocolate chip from Main Street. Jonas wanted the waffle bowl. I stopped at the soft serve place for a Cappacino Smoothie. I had read about these on another TR. I liked it but not my favorite.

Here is Jacob being silly with his ice cream


And a pic of Jonas'


So, how many have now gotten up to get ice cream?

One of those little things we have never paid attention to before


It was finally time for us to ride Buzz. This is where it got crazy, the FP queue was outside. I'm not talking the people waiting for their time to come, the line was actually backed up past the entrance. I had never seen it like that. We didn't wait long, think a CM finally realized there was a problem and let us all through. I'm sure those in the Standby were not happy.

Had a fun time, as usual Jacob beat me. He then posed for his favorite pic


I just love this sign in the fall


Continued in next post.
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[jmskinner]

Got to hurry this up before Medium.

I think we were planning on meeting Di and Gordon about 6:30pm at AKL. We headed out of MK about 5:00 because I thought with our luck we would wait forever on a bus. We got there and not only was there a bus, but two buses. We laughed because people kept piling into that first bus. Standing room only. Finally an older couple asked if the second bus was indeed AKL's and they were told it was. They said they would wait for it. Good choice. The rest of us in line rode in that second bus without anyone standing over us. We all had seats.

Of course, this meant we were at AKL by 5:30. So we wandered around the shop for awhile, this is my boy, the old man


Doesn't he look like a grumpy, old man? We call him that all the time. He really is a grumpy.

We then wandered outside and Jacob loved the fire pit








We were trying to figure this guy out


He never straightened his head out. It was kind of sad watching him.







Jacob spotted this thing on the rock




And he loved the rockers around the firepit also


We realized this was a banana tree




We headed back inside








I was getting really excited to see Di and Gordan. They made it in time for their ADR and some time to visit. Their son, Ben, loved his jersey. We had a nice little visit, discussed their trip. Sadly the next day would be their last full day. We decided to get some group shots
Jacob, Ben, and Heather


And the big kids


We said our goodbyes and they headed over to dinner. Can't wait to read about it. Which reminds me, one of the TR's I need to go catch up on.

We caught a bus back to MK to get our car, took the boat back to the TTC.





And that was our little day trip to MK and a Dismeet. So happy I finally got to meet Di and Gordon. And so happy our kiddo's got along. I love that the Disboards and Disneyworld are bringing people together.

Next up, my weekend with a whole lot of Dis'ers. And wasn't my birthday in August?????

 

[dismagiclover]

Great updates! I love all of the fall decorations at MK too! And I love all of the shots of the AKL. Both of those things reminded me of our quick trip that just passed.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Melissa!

Finally all caught up now! I may have to nab some of your photos for my TR lol! Ben loves his Donovan top - he wore it the very next day, and I had to keep warning him to keep it clean! He tells everybody how he actually got it in America, from an American!

It was great to finally meet you, and we had a lovely time. It helped to make our holiday even more special!

Your plans are looking good. We had dinner in Le Cellier and it was one of our best meals!

Di x

PS the photo at the start isn't Ben showing me a pin - it's me trying to clean off the Sharpie he got all over his hands lol!

 

[jmskinner]

Great updates! I love all of the fall decorations at MK too! And I love all of the shots of the AKL. Both of those things reminded me of our quick trip that just passed.

I wish I has taken more pics of the decorations this year. Just didn't make it over enough, or didn't spend enough time while I was there. I think I need to try going solo and just take pics of everything.

Hi Melissa!

Finally all caught up now! I may have to nab some of your photos for my TR lol! Ben loves his Donovan top - he wore it the very next day, and I had to keep warning him to keep it clean! He tells everybody how he actually got it in America, from an American!

It was great to finally meet you, and we had a lovely time. It helped to make our holiday even more special!

Your plans are looking good. We had dinner in Le Cellier and it was one of our best meals!

Di x

PS the photo at the start isn't Ben showing me a pin - it's me trying to clean off the Sharpie he got all over his hands lol!

That's right, I remember the Sharpie problem now. I need to send you those links to my Smugmug. Please copy any you want, sure wish there were some better ones.

Glad Ben enjoyed the shirt. I really have thought of ordering me one, but white and me do not get along well at all. Or maybe it is just that dirt and stains love me.

I'm super surprised I got the Le Cellier ADR. It's just lunch, but I'm happy.

Thanks for readling along everyone.

 

[jmskinner]

Friday, October 15th was fast approaching. I was so excited. My friend the Duck was coming to our happy place and so were a whole lot of Dis'ers.

A little history about the Duck. I had met her through a thread on the Disboards. Jonas, Jacob and I had driven over to meet another lady (from the same thread) and her son one day, and Duck was there also. Fast forward to July 5th of 2009. I drove over to meet Duck and we went to DHS. Would you believe it was empty. I just knew the Duck would never speak to me again because the whole day I kept saying "Where is everyone?" "It's July 5th, where is everyone?" We started calling each other our lucky charms after that trip. Think we rode ToT 3 times in a row that day. But, we had hung out several more times over the past year.

Here is one of those rides on ToT, the Duck was napping


So excited about seeing the Duck again and then reality slapped me in the face. That Thursday the hubby comes home early. He was taking Friday off so I thought he left work early just to get some more time off. Then I noticed the grin, the grin I get when he has done something he knows I won't be happy about or any news I won't be happy about. Here's how the conversation went:

Jonas "I've got to leave again." (He hadn't been home two weeks since his last overseas trip.)
Me "Where?"
Jonas "Afghanistan"
Me "How long?"
Jonas "45 Days, At least I told you in person this time." Still grinning at me.(He has a habit of telling me over the phone whenever he has to make these little trips.) Emotionally I was going like this You may wonder about that smile in the end. Well, no matter what the hubby tells me, I still love him and support him. He was in the military when we met and I made the decision to marry him, knowing what it might entail.

But wait, I'm suppose to go spend Friday night with my friends. MNSSHP ticket already in my hands. Maybe I will drive home after the party. But Jonas said, no you still go on your trip. About that time, the Duck texts me and our friend Rebecca that our rooms keys are good until Sunday and will be at the front desk.

I told Jonas this and he said I should stay all weekend. It would be a nice break for me. Plus, it would give them some man time and he was suppose to be having the "talk" with Jacob that weekend. We had already planned that.

Jonas proceeded to call all of his family and couldn't reach his Mother. Finally she called. I always have to listen to these conversations because I know how she is going to react. Here is what I heard:

Jonas "Well, I have to go overseas again"
"Afghanistan"
"45 Days"

I started . Was that not the same conversation we had?

That's how Thursday went. Friday morning, took Jacob to school, reminded him I wouldn't be home and Dad would pick him up. "Will he pick me up in the Mustang?" Show off! Also, shows how much he was going to miss me.

Went and got the hubby at the house and we headed into town. He needed some things for his trip so we stopped at Target. I led him back to the cameras because he mentioned he didn't have one to take on this trip. He had one I had purchased for him when he went to Iraq, and it made it home safely. But during a trip to WDW, one of my pins somehow punctured the screen. Camera still works, just can't see what you are taking a picture of. I had been wanting one of those pocket size video camera's.

So, I lead him over to the camera department and show him the one I was thinking of. He had thought I was looking at $400 camera's when I mentioned this before, but this was on sale for $130. And you could take photos with it also.

Me "How about we get this and you can take it with you? "
Jonas "And you can take it with you this weekend?"
Me

But he agreed.

We then had lunch at Olive Garden. And I guess it finally hit me he was leaving again because I couldn't eat. We headed home and I finished packing and told him I would probably come home the next day. He again said I should stay.

Texted my buddy Rebecca that I was on my way, which she was already on property. I had wanted to get there about the same time as her. A little history about Rebecca. I was meeting the Duck and some of her friends at DHS one day. On the way I texted and found out they were at Epcot. I found them there finishing their lunch and I grabbed me something. As I am being introduced to everyone. This one, Rebecca, asks where I live? And then proceeds to say, "You should spend the night!" I didn't spend the night, but did stay until Midnight which was much later than I had planned. But that was my first meeting with Rebecca, and I call it "The Day I was Kidnapped at WDW!"



Rebecca is in the 3rd row. By the way, we got soaked on that ride. Duck and I have been trying to figure out if we aren't lucky charms at MK, Splash Mountain, or if maybe there is someone else in that group that stops the luckiness.

I make it to the resort, which was AKL and get my key from the front desk. Find the room after totally getting lost trying to find the elevator. Texted Rebecca to find out where to meet them, and was told to stay in the room, they were headed back my way.

In the truck, on the way there, I started charging that little video camera. We have a charger that plugs into the cigerette lighter that has the standard household two plug outlet built in. No need to try to find a car charger. While waiting for my friends, I learned how to use my new toys.








Oops, just realized, those are from my Canon, here is one from the Kodad Zi8 video camera:


That's not a great show, but I was zooming in. It takes much better pics, here is one the hubby sent me from his layover in Amsterdam:


Not too bad of a picture.

And my first attempt at video. Beware, do not use any heavy equipment or drive a vehicle after watching this because it may give you the feeling of being intoxicated. (Just click on the picture)


Next up, what do a group of adults do at Kona and MNSSHP?

 

[TinksThree]

Putting myself in your shoes, that had to be tough leaving knowing he would be gone for 45 days! Even if you had been down that road before!

The view from your room is nice! Good pictures/videos!!

Kona! Can't wait to hear about that!! I forgot about that in my planning and plotting....oh, off topic for this TR (anyway) but guess what I am planning....