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

[TinksThree]

Great pictures of the parade and good job one handed!!

 

[carissanboys]

I can't hold up my Canon one handed!

So how many Disers have you met in person now?

 

[dismagiclover]

Great party! (I don't think there is any other kind at Disney.) I will be very impressed if you make an 8:00 am rope drop.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Awww, that was so sweet of the Duck!! That is very humbling.

And I was cracking up at your friends behind the singing (dead) cowboys...and then, they left you...

What a great trip!

 

[jmskinner]

Great pictures of the parade and good job one handed!!

Thank you!!!

I can't hold up my Canon one handed!

So how many Disers have you met in person now?

LOL! I have no idea, I guess a good estimate would be over 20. A lot of them have been Duck's friends. I need to create a list.

Great party! (I don't think there is any other kind at Disney.) I will be very impressed if you make an 8:00 am rope drop.

I'd be impressed also.

Awww, that was so sweet of the Duck!! That is very humbling.

And I was cracking up at your friends behind the singing (dead) cowboys...and then, they left you...

What a great trip!

It was very sweet of her. Hmm, ADHD moment with the friends leaving? I think it was just, more to do and see.

 

[jmskinner]

Did we make that 8:00am rope drop?

No, we decided to meet up at 8:00am. I was first one up, but not by choice. I was the one going to take the longest to get ready, so it had to be me. Rebecca and the Duck did let me sleep later then we had planned. Such great friends.

Once dressed we headed to the lobby to wait for others and I took a pic:


We made it to DHS, where there were long lines waiting to get in but it didn't take too long. Here are a couple going through the turnstiles:




Of course we headed straight for TSMM fastpasses. Now, when we arrived we saw these large groups of people in tutu's (sp?). Even the men had them on. Gary asked one guy why and he said "it's tutu day." We saw several different groups, Shrek, Pirates, Pooh, and now I am drawing a blank, but here are some pics:






Yes, the purple haired ladies are part of the group.


There were two things that made me curious about these groups, I heard British accents and all the children were in wheelchairs. I made a memo in my phone to research them later. Turns out they are a special organization in the UK who every year take about 170 special needs children to Florida for a week without parents. They have a full medical staff with them. I thought that was just the coolest thing I had seen. Brings a tear to my eye while I write this. Everyone was so upbeat and having a great time.

Once at TSMM, we met up with another Dis'er who had been at the party the night before with us and she had the GAC card. So she took 5 of us at a time on TSMM. While we were waiting, Rebecca and I realized we weren't going to make it through the whole day. So we made the decision to take a nap after lunch. But first, TSMM,


Sadly, I didn't win. I need to practice some more, and watch the videos on how to trigger bonus' during the game. I'm very serious about TSMM.

The toy soldiers came out while we were waiting on everyone to get their chance to ride


You will notice a certain someone jumping in the pic.



And the wait jumped a lot while we were waiting:


Think it was at 45 minutes when we walked up.

Since we were able to ride, we decided to give our FP's away. Duck took care of that for us. This was especially nice since all of the FP's were given away for the day. Yes, before 11:00am.

Next it was time for this




We were moving along quickly





It was time for lunch after this, of course since it was my belated birthday lunch, we went to one of my favorite spots...50's Primetime. Last time the Duck and I were here, we had a great time. She had a smart mouth with our waiter, so he made her stand in the corner and the whole restaurant told her to not have a smart mouth. And I was fed my carrots as though they were airplanes and my mouth was a hanger because I didn't eat them all.

This time our waitress wasn't so into it, but we still had a great time:










We also saw two of our "relatives" having egg races. The type where you race with an egg on a spoon. They did it with the spoon in their mouths, with bags in their hands in case the egg fell. Much easier clean up that way, but we never saw an egg drop.

After lunch we all headed out of the park. Rebecca and I headed to the room for a nap. Duck and a few others headed elsewhere.

Can anyone guess how long of a nap Rebecca and I had?

 

[jmskinner]

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Not sure what we are doing. Jacob was sick yesterday, but if he feels like it we will go to WDW and check out Christmas decorations at the resorts.

 

[jmskinner]

Jonas stated in the middle of an email last night that maybe he should have booked POFQ instead of POR for our anniversary trip. He said we could recreate our honeymoon since it was in New Orleans. So, I called and switched us over. I think the carriage ride will be lovely there around POFQ. Now, hopefully they don't send the email of the change, since it is all under his email. I did email him and say he could look or ignore any he receives, depending on if he wanted to ruin a surprise. Anyone want to place a bet on if he looks.

 

[natebenma]

I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving and that Jacob was feeling better.

Did you make it over to resort hop and check out the decorations? There was a special on yesterday about "Magical Disney Holidays" that showed the amazing decorations at Christmastime and all of the work that goes into setting it up.

What a fun way the two of you are planning your anniversary trip. Surprises and changes. Hope you end up at the same resort!

That group from the UK sounds amazing! Can you just imagine the logistics of getting all of the kids over here? What a special group of people creating memories to last a lifetime!

Sounds like another fun meal with your friends!

A guess on your naptime? Nap- we don't need no stinkin' naps! I'm going with too excited to sleep. Am I WAY wrong?

 

[jmskinner]

I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving and that Jacob was feeling better.

Did you make it over to resort hop and check out the decorations? There was a special on yesterday about "Magical Disney Holidays" that showed the amazing decorations at Christmastime and all of the work that goes into setting it up.

What a fun way the two of you are planning your anniversary trip. Surprises and changes. Hope you end up at the same resort!

That group from the UK sounds amazing! Can you just imagine the logistics of getting all of the kids over here? What a special group of people creating memories to last a lifetime!

Sounds like another fun meal with your friends!

A guess on your naptime? Nap- we don't need no stinkin' naps! I'm going with too excited to sleep. Am I WAY wrong?

We did, thank you. Hope you had a good one also.

Did go to WDW, but didn't stay long. Jacob didn't feel good, but I think it was the new medicine, really seems to drug him up. If it doesn't even out soon, I'll call for a lower dosage. Also makes him have no appetite what so ever.

about Jonas and I ended up at the same resort. It's funny because I originally wanted CSR, just because it looks to have a more adult feel to it. And then with French Quarter being renovated, had been thinking of it. I had also tried to talke Jonas into doing two nights Premium at a value and then switching to the Contempoary for one night. It would have been the same price as these 3 nights in a moderate. May have been cheaper if I got a room discount, but he doesn't want to switch rooms at all.

That group from the UK was amazing. And as a parent, I don't know if I could send my kids overseas, but I can tell you, all those volunteers were great. And the CM's were great also. You can imagine how long it took to get people in the FP line with having to put wheelchairs aside and everything. The CM's held other guests back so the group could all be together and not have to squeeze around people.

And boy did we nap!

 

[jmskinner]

In case you don't remember, Rebecca and I had went back to the room for a nap. We were both exhausted. Hope the Duck wasn't too mad at us as we both climbed in the bed and crashed (I had previously slept on the pullout sofa). Per the last picture taken before entering the room, it was 2:00pm. My next picture wasn't taken until 3:30pm...Nope...4:00pm...No...5:00pm...no...5:39. Yes we took a over a 3 hour nap. Rebecca had to call our friend Sha to let her know we weren't making that first Night Ranger concern. Night Ranger was part of the reason I decided to stay the night. I went out on the balcony and called Jonas to tell him I was staying. He said him and the boy were having a great time.

We went downstairs to get a little snack and ate by the pool. We then managed to leave the hotel and get on a bus. Somewhere in there we were confused on the elevators...seems we kept having the problem of getting off on the wrong floor. We really were dragging, I know I felt drugged. But we finally made it:


Rebecca said I had to try a drink from Brazil and that was the first thing we grabbed. Then we stopped in Mexico for Nachos. Saw the Coffee Margarita on the sign and thought we would try it, but the CM said they had stopped making it because there wasn't a high demand for it. After ordering, we saw the Raspberry Margarita. That peaked our interest. We were still finishing off those Brazilian drinks, grabbed a Raspberry Margarita to share, and our Nachos and found a bench to sit on because there were no tables available. I would have sat on the ground if I had to.

First let me say, that Raspberry Margarita was the bomb. We both thought it was good. Guess it was so good I forgot pics, will try to get one in January. The Nachos were even good. I had them before and they were awful, but these were good.

We finished up the Nachos and the Brazilian drinks and headed around to see if we could catch Night Ranger. We were still sharing the Margarita. Well, turns out we just missed the last concert. They were performing when we entered the WS.

That's ok. We found France!!!! So here we are, still nursing the Raspberry Margarita, I think I got the Lemon Slushie and what do you think Rebecca got...Orange, Lemon...Well if you guessed either one of those you would have been correct


She got both. I had to put one of my drinks down to get the photo. We decided to finish our drinks walking around the world and head over to the Poly where some other Dis'ers were and watch Wishes from the Beach. This was something I had never done.

On the way over the bridge to the UK, there was a Batchlorette party and one of them put their hand in front of a man trying to take a pic. BIG MISTAKE! A CM, looked to be some sort of management, walked by just as she did this and told her that if she ever missed with a guest again, they would be out of the park.CM!!!

Rebecca and I caught the Tronorail. We both started because we hadn't ridden it. Got off at the TTC and headed to the Polynesian by foot. I was feeling no pain by this time. Thank goodness the camera doesn't need me to do anything else but push a button.





We found our friends and got a drink. I believe another Margarita. One of the guys drug loungers on to the beach for us and we were ready for the fireworks. So here I am, Margarita balancing on the bottom of a lounger. You know how those little bands give if you move around, so I was trying to be still. I had the camera in one hand and the video camera in the other. I think I need to delete the video, but at least I can hear the music. Oh, and I was needing to go to the bathroom. I was so scared someone was going to make me laugh.



After Wishes (I can still hear Rebecca saying/singing that), and a potty break we headed over to MK to meet the Duck and everyone else by way of the boat. But something stopped us along the way.

 

[natebenma]

Wow, 3 hour nap! But it sounds like you will need it. Good start to the evening and it sounds like the night ain't over yet!

One of my BC friends wrote in her trip report about accidentally taking a sleeping pill in the morning. She and her DH made it to Kona and MK to get FP, then back to the resort since she was so groggy. She didn't remember having breakfast or going to MK. Sleepeating? Sleeptouring?

Coffee Margarita? I would be so in for that!!! Too bad you didn't get to try it, but sounds like the Raspberry Margarita was a nice substitute.

I watched the MK fireworks (Nightastic) from the Poly Beach in July. It was my first time doing that, too. Actually the first time I have seen the MK fireworks at all (except from my rooms' balcony).

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your night.

 

[jmskinner]

Wow, 3 hour nap! But it sounds like you will need it. Good start to the evening and it sounds like the night ain't over yet!

One of my BC friends wrote in her trip report about accidentally taking a sleeping pill in the morning. She and her DH made it to Kona and MK to get FP, then back to the resort since she was so groggy. She didn't remember having breakfast or going to MK. Sleepeating? Sleeptouring?

Coffee Margarita? I would be so in for that!!! Too bad you didn't get to try it, but sounds like the Raspberry Margarita was a nice substitute.

I watched the MK fireworks (Nightastic) from the Poly Beach in July. It was my first time doing that, too. Actually the first time I have seen the MK fireworks at all (except from my rooms' balcony).

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your night.

That would be horrible to take a sleeping pill by mistake on vacation. Ok, I did .

I believe you can still get a coffee margarita inside the new restaurant there in Mexico. Might still get to try one.

Wow, so you haven't seen the MK fireworks from Main Street. You have to do that some time. I've now seen them from Frontierland, the Tomorrowland Speedway (everyone stopped their cars and watched), the Grand Yacht, the smoking area down in front of Tony's?, and Tommorowland Terrace and Main Street. To me, you just haven't seen them unless you few them the way Walt wanted you too. Actually, I haven't been on Main Street, but there in the Hub.

Ok, got my Christmas decorations up, need to go do some shopping today but wanted to do a quick update. I have 3 other mini-TR's after this TR. Guess I should stop making trips to WDW. Not going to happen.

 

[jmskinner]

Rebecca and I made it to MK but had to take another potty break. Don't know about everyone else, but drinking alcohol makes me have to go...and go, and go.

It was time for this though



Neither one of us had seen it, so even though we were trying to catch up with the others, we had to stop and check it out.









And yes, I was doing the one handed photo and one handed video yet again


Obviously the alcohol effected my abilities, since I ended up taking a pic of the video camera.



And I thought this was a nice ending


The floats in this parade are so large. I really enjoyed it. Rebecca said she kept watching the CM's let people walk across the street during the breaks between the floats. They really did have a great process of pulling the ropes back to let people cross, and then stopping the crowd just in time. I didn't think they would do that.

And here is a videos, just remember to click on the pic to view.



I apologize for talking through it.

So, did we ever catch up to the rest of the group. Where oh where was the Duck?

 

[jmskinner]

Today I called and made a request for a refurbished room and that it be a corner room. Sure would be nice. I also booked us a carriage ride around the resort, so on Sunday, January 16, we will be riding Segways around Epcot, having lunch at Le Cellier, taking a carriage ride and then dinner at Yachtman's Steakhouse. Hoping we have a few minutes to listen to the piano man there at Riverside.

Oh, and since it is now December, we will be there next month.

 

[dismagiclover]

Those are some great parade pictures even if you were a bit tipsy

 

[jmskinner]

Those are some great parade pictures even if you were a bit tipsy

Thank you, we were so bad.

 

[jmskinner]

Thought I'd go blue for this chapter since it will finish off this portion of the TR.

After the parade Rebecca was thinking of a new shirt, thankfully I was there to keep her from Drunk Shopping (I think that is what we called it.)
and she only spent $5 on this:


I wish I had bought one of these, it was too cool and everyone wanted to play with the tentacles. They were squishy.

We finally tracked down the rest of the gang at Dumbo. I still have not ridden and Rebecca is waiting for a special occasion to ride, so we sat out. We weren't really feeling the alcohol anymore, the Buzz was even gone. I tried to take pictures, but it didn't work to well, but got some of the castle. This one is scary to me:


Doesn't look like a nice castle, but one to avoid. Or at least to me. Looks nicer in this one


The gang before the ride:


And after:


After that we went for a ride on IASW. Our first since the renovation. Maybe we were still buzzed because we kept wondering if stuff was new, but from what I have read, not a lot changed.

Then a few of us needed coffee and water, found this display:


Look how empty:


And it's not like Splash Mountain is my favorite ride or anything, but yet again:


The only reason we went on is because the big splash was off, you know, the one that gets you while you are waiting to go up and a boat come down, causing the water to shoot out sideways. We still got a little wet.

I then realized I had never taken this shot.


That last picture was taken about 1:00am. We were all exhausted, so we headed back to the resort. I didn't even bother making the pullout bed, I just slept on the sofa.

Got up the next morning and said our Thank You's and Goodbye's to the Duck. Rebecca and I decided to get some breakfast at McD's since it was on the way out, of course I managed to make a wrong turn, but eventually got turned around. We had our breakfast and headed home.

So that was it for my last MNSSHP for who knows how long, since we will probably be moving out of Florida next Summer. And it was so wonderful to meet all those people. Dis'ers are the best.

Next up is another Dismeet with Dr. Finkelstein and her family. Had to get that Football jersey to Ben!

Have a great weekend everyone.

 

[TinksThree]

Hey, I am still here...just been reading along due to the craziness of my life here lately!! It sounds like this Dis Meet was a lot of fun!! That squishy thing looks so cool!! And I totally agree about that first castle pic....it looked to have eyes peeking out all over!

Going back a few: the January trip sounds great with the carriage ride!! I am teetering between POR and POFQ on our next trip....Keith just wants to be at "the place we were last year"! I hope to start a PTR soon....if I can get my life to slow down a bit!!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Melissa!

All caught up now! Such a shame Jonas had to go, it must be a horrible feeling.

Loved the photo of him from Amsterdam - wonder how he managed to come across that particular tourist area? lol!

You got some great photos from MNSSHP - ours didn't turn out too good from the parade , still it just means we need to go back!

Nice camera work, even with all the cocktails!!

Di x