Ahoy Me hearties(WITH LINKS ON PG 1). Last day posted 10/17. DEC PTR STARTED W/LINK

[racefanof88]

Thanks, Dana. Everything went well--he ended up not needing a stent and we were hope by 1 p.m. 11 days and counting....

I'm glad to hear that Mark didn't need a stent; I know you are very relieved. 10 days from today you will be heading to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH . I'm back at 90 days now .

 

[racefanof88]

Sounds like a LOOOOONG first day, but who needs sleep when Disney is your destination!!

That's right Wendy, sleep is never on the list of things to do at Disney.........

Awesome start Dana, glad you like the new van!!! Can't wait for more!!

Thanks Christie . I am totally in love with my van. On our way home I drove from Crestview to the house. It is about 100 miles and it just floated down the Interstate.

 

[bouncycat]

Wow. That's awesome. I've had my exploder for almost 4 years now, it's just about time to trade it in. It's alright, just not new no more. LOL I'm spoiled, I usually get a new car every 3 years, it's been a while now. I want the Chevy Traverse. That's a nice looking car!!!

 

[racefanof88]

Wow. That's awesome. I've had my exploder for almost 4 years now, it's just about time to trade it in. It's alright, just not new no more. LOL I'm spoiled, I usually get a new car every 3 years, it's been a while now. I want the Chevy Traverse. That's a nice looking car!!!

We get a new car about every 3 years too, unless Dale gets his way . Then it would be once a year. The Traverse is a nice vehicle, but Dale isn't a Chevy man.....

 

[KatMark]

Boy, Dana, that really is a lot for three days. I don't remember how many bags you had for your longer trip, but my DH would shoot me if I had that many for any length of trip.

 

[racefanof88]

Finally, photobucket loaded my pictures.......... Here are a few I took the night we checked in.

Our welcome to the room.

Where Dallas landed while Dale and I unloaded the car......lol.

Shoes already gone

I loved this picture

When I left off we had called it a night and had a wake up call set for 6am.



I woke up at 6:03 and the phone had not rang , so much for a wake up call, or so I thought. I checked my phone and it was just 5:58, the alarm clock was 5 minutes fast. The phone rang at 6:00 on the dot and it was Stitch. I put him on speaker phone and woke Dallas up. It was EMH at DHS and we wanted to be there at 8:00.

Up and ready to head out the door by 7:30

Gotta love the expression on his face.........LOL.

We make it to the park in time for rope drop and are waiting in line to get in. We had to show our room keys and scan our APs to get in, but that wasn't a problem. We headed straight to TSM and got our FP and then got in the standby line.........50 minute wait already .

After we flung pies and popped balloons, we walked toward the back of the park. I have to say it was deserted, even though EMH were over. Dallas wanted to see LMA, but there was only two shows and the first one wasn't until 1:15. I got a few pictures of Dallas and THE Umbrella.

It was already getting hot so Dallas wanted to get wet......lol.

If you look you will see how deserted the streets were. The hat Dallas is wearing is the hat I got for volunteering with the Audubon Society and Dale HATED it. We walked on trying to decide what to do next and we walked down this street

I don't remember walking down this street before

Then I see this and decide that we needed to see the Muppet's.

.

Dale had never seen it. Amanda and I took Dallas to see it when we were there in 2000 so it has been 10 years for me.

After the show we walked on over to Star Tours. We wanted to ride it before it closes this week for rehab. From everything I've read it will open again in Spring of 2011. I expected it to have a line, but it was a straight walk on. After we returned from Endor it was time to visit the movies. I didn't get any pictures here, but I did get a video.......lol. I won't bore you with it, we all know what happens.

When we left the GMR it was time for our 10:45 FP at TSM. We walked back over and had fun with the Toy Story gang again. It was now after 11:00 and I had not eaten anything for breakfast and was starting to get hungry. Dallas wanted to eat at Pizza Planet, but I just didn't want pizza again. We walked back around the park and headed to Backlot Express. We ate there last July and it was good then so we waited the 10 minutes for them to open and went in. The first thing Dale noticed was the double cheese burger was no longer on the menu. Now they have a 1/3 lb Angus bacon cheese burger on a wheat bun, I guess the wheat bun cancels out the fried meat . We placed our order for two of the burgers, a hot dog and three fountain drinks and our total came to $33.60 . We waited for at least 10 minutes and then we got our food. I was STARVING now and I was ready to chow down. I put all my fixins on my burger and took a big bite of what I thought was going to be a good burger....................NOT. The bun, despite the ketchup, mayo and mustard, was as dry as eating cardboard, and the meat??? Well, it was burnt on the outside, raw and cold in the middle. When I got a mouth full of the cold meat it took all I could do not to spit it out. Needless to say the rest of my burger went in the garbage. Dale said his burger was tasteless too, but he ate it because he was hungry. Dallas said his hot dog was good.

We left the park, as it was getting really hot, and went back to the room to rest. Dallas and I took a nap for an hour or so and then we went to the pool. Our room was very close to the main pool so we walked over and played in the water for a while. The pool wasn't too crowded, but there were a LOT of teenagers there. I am going to be ugly here so please forgive me, but there were ladies at the pool in two piece bathing suits that should have known better. I'm talking WAY TOO MUCH hanging over the bottoms of these suits . I KNOW they HAD to walk past a mirror at some point before they got to the pool . We stayed in the pool for about an hour and I could tell I was starting to get some sun so it was time to head in and get cleaned up.

 

[racefanof88]

Boy, Dana, that really is a lot for three days. I don't remember how many bags you had for your longer trip, but my DH would shoot me if I had that many for any length of trip.

Kathy, I know right? I don't know why I have to take so much . Though in my defense one of the bags is my medical bag, I carry Dallas' nebulizer, all types of bandages, and every type of over the counter med you can think of needing.......... If we flew we wouldn't be able to take nearly as much as we do. I always pack extra, but we end up washing when we are there on longer trips .

 

[mickeystoontown]

I remember laughing when you sent me the picture of your bags all packed. I showed the picture to John and he said "how many days are they going for?" I always always pack too much but you just never know when you might have to change clothes in the middle of the day.

I wish our drive to Disney wasn't so long. 8 1/2 hours is a walk in the park compared to 15 hours.

So how did you like All Stars Sports? I've looked at all the pictures on the net and it looks like a cool resort.

It's only 11:00 a.m. and you've already ridden Toy Story Mania twice! Way to go Dana!

We've eaten at Backlot Express a couple of times and, while I don't remember it being spectacular, I didn't think it was horrible either. Too bad your burger wasn't done all the way. I don't mind a little pink on my steak but I do NOT like pink in the middle of my burger.

 

[bouncycat]

Good update. Yea, I hate ladies with stuff hanging out in bathing suits they shouldn't be wearing. But, you see them everywhere!!!! Awesome update dude!!! Can't wait to see more!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I totally forgot to comment on the bathing suit post. John and I always laugh and say that if you want to get a quick self confidence boost, go to a public swimming pool or water park.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Hi Dana!

So happy you've started~love that you love your new van...there is just something about a new vehicle!!

I love the first wake up call of a trip....that pic of Dallas in the morning cracked me up....I swear that's how I look in the morning!!

Can't wait to hear all about the rest of your trip

 

[racefanof88]

I remember laughing when you sent me the picture of your bags all packed. I showed the picture to John and he said "how many days are they going for?" I always always pack too much but you just never know when you might have to change clothes in the middle of the day.

I wish our drive to Disney wasn't so long. 8 1/2 hours is a walk in the park compared to 15 hours.

So how did you like All Stars Sports? I've looked at all the pictures on the net and it looks like a cool resort.

It's only 11:00 a.m. and you've already ridden Toy Story Mania twice! Way to go Dana!

We've eaten at Backlot Express a couple of times and, while I don't remember it being spectacular, I didn't think it was horrible either. Too bad your burger wasn't done all the way. I don't mind a little pink on my steak but I do NOT like pink in the middle of my burger.

I knew John would get kick out of all the bags.......... I can't help over packing. I don't want to get there and run out of stuff .

I feel very lucky that we only have 8 1/2 hours to drive there, but I wish it was closer. I would love to move down there.

All Star Sports was fine. There were lots of teenagers there for some type tournament(I guess), but they had very good supervision because we never heard them being loud. It was a nice enough resort. The only think I didn't like was the table in the room was too small.

I was very surprised that the parks were not crowded at all. I guess since most schools had already started there just weren't as many families there. It was nice, but it was just sooooooooo HOT.

We at at Backlot last July and it was pretty good. We won't be ordering Disney CS hamburgers again. I was totally shocked that the price had gone up and the quality has gone WAY down. I have read several people, on other posts, say the same thing. A lot of people blame it on the DDP, I don't know that I blame it on the plan, but I know the food in May wasn't the best either.

 

[racefanof88]

Good update. Yea, I hate ladies with stuff hanging out in bathing suits they shouldn't be wearing. But, you see them everywhere!!!! Awesome update dude!!! Can't wait to see more!

Thanks Christie. I hope I didn't sound too mean, and I don't think someone has to be model thin to wear a two piece, but when there is a lot of stuff hanging over the bottom of the suit, then it is time to put on a one piece........

I totally forgot to comment on the bathing suit post. John and I always laugh and say that if you want to get a quick self confidence boost, go to a public swimming pool or water park.

That is very true Lisa......

 

[KatMark]

Love your Day 1 update, Dana. I can't believe they no longer having double burgers. We don't eat counter service at the Studios; every place we've gone to there has been absolutely HORRIBLE. We are trying Fairfax this year -- I understand their ribs are as good, if not better, than Flame Tree's.

I hear you on the bathing suit. Mark and I just look at each other and wink sometimes when at the pool. And I make the comment all the time when we see the high school girls going to or coming home from the high school (my backyard faces the high school) that I CANNOT believe that their mothers and/or fathers do not see how they are dressed and if they do how they let them out of the house.

 

[racefanof88]

Hi Dana!

So happy you've started~love that you love your new van...there is just something about a new vehicle!!

I love the first wake up call of a trip....that pic of Dallas in the morning cracked me up....I swear that's how I look in the morning!!

Can't wait to hear all about the rest of your trip

Thank you Queen . We really are enjoying the van. I have always loved having a van.

The wake up call was just want we needed to get the trip started . Dallas always has that wild eyed look when he wakes up....

 

[racefanof88]

Love your Day 1 update, Dana. I can't believe they no longer having double burgers. We don't eat counter service at the Studios; every place we've gone to there has been absolutely HORRIBLE. We are trying Fairfax this year -- I understand their ribs are as good, if not better, than Flame Tree's.

I hear you on the bathing suit. Mark and I just look at each other and wink sometimes when at the pool. And I make the comment all the time when we see the high school girls going to or coming home from the high school (my backyard faces the high school) that I CANNOT believe that their mothers and/or fathers do not see how they are dressed and if they do how they let them out of the house.

Thanks Kathy . I'm not crazy about burgers, but Dale is and that is about the only thing he found on the menus that he would eat. I don't know if they have changed them at the table service places or not, but I don't know that I will pay to find out. The Fairfax menu looks very good, to me, but Dale isn't a ribs person .

I was totally amazed at these women wearing these suits . If they had been young women and a little over weight it wouldn't have been so bad, but we are talking middle aged women 30-40 lbs over weight . The young girls were actually dressed more modestly.......

 

[aprilisis]

Great update & photos!!! I had to laugh at your suitcases- I had the same amount for only 4 days in January! Ugh- I totally cringed at your burger story. That must have been SO gross!
Hey- do we have the exact same December countdown??? 88 Days??

 

[racefanof88]

Time for an update!!!!!!


When I last left you we had gone back to the room to clean up, but first I have to mention something else I saw at the pool. Dallas and I were playing with a beach ball in the pool. He hit the ball and it landed near the lifeguard stand. I went over to the stand to get it and the lifeguard was talking to a little boy about 6 years old. I couldn't help but over hear the lifeguard asking the little boy where his parents were? He said he didn't know. The lifeguard had him look all around the pool for his family and they could not find them. A second lifeguard went and got a security guard and the hotel manager. They were asking the little boy what his name was and if he knew what room number they were staying in. They asked him to look around the pool again and make sure his family was not there. After a few minutes the hotel manager and security guard walked off with him so I don't know what came of the situation. I can't believe people would leave their small child alone like that, especially at a pool, it just blows my mind.

OK, back to my TR. We decided we would try to get an ADR at Kona at the last minute. I called reservations and they had no openings???? I have NEVER been to Kona or 'Ohana that there weren't plenty of open tables, but "OH WELL". We decided to head out on a quest to find Hooters. When we were there in May I had google mapped it and knew it was near Crossroads. We headed in that direction but alas, NO Hooters. We ended up on 192 where we found a Chili's. We like Chili's so we decided to eat there. Everybody knows that I love chips and salsa so I ordered that and Dale ordered the Texas cheese fries for him and Dallas. For our main course I ordered a 1/2 slab ribs, Dale got a hamburger and Dallas got a grilled cheese. We all had cokes to drink. As soon as our appetizers came Dale started feeling bad . I asked him what was wrong and he said his head was killing him. Dale never gets a headache so I knew something was up. I gave him two ibuprofen. A few minutes later he said he was feeling really nauseated and didn't feel well at all. I asked him if we needed to go to the hospital and of course he said "No". He also complained of stomach pain and dizziness. Dallas ate most of the Texas fries and I ate the chips and salsa. By the time our food got there Dale was looking green. He didn't even eat half of his hamburger because he said he just felt too bad. Dallas and I finished our food and got a to go box for Dale's food. Our total for all this food was $36. I thought this was a fantastic price compared to what we had paid for the bad food at Backlot Express($34).

Now, for those who know me you know that I don't like driving in places like Orlando, but I drove back to the room because Dale was still dizzy. I did fine We dropped Dale back at the room and then I drove Dallas and myself over to Epcot for EMH. I though I was VERY BRAVE to drive around by myself .

Spaceship Earth was a walk on so we hit it first.

I think these things are so funny

After SSE we walked toward Innoventions, but it had closed at 7pm and it was now 7:25.

I snapped this along the way.

Dallas wanted to see Universe of Energy, but it was closed too . We headed to Test Track to see what the standby time was and it was 50 minutes, but we got in line because at least it was inside with the A/C.

When we finally get to the end of the line the girl telling us what line and number to go to was so confused she had us all just standing there looking at each other not know what to do. There was a group of teenagers that were together and she had them split up and there was a family of 4 that she had sent to two different cars . We worked it out ourselves and Dallas and I rode with the family of 4. It was their first time on the ride and the guy next to me was saying "This ain't so bad".........

I was showing Dallas the little screen in the car and you can see the guy is holding on. When we got off he said "That was pretty intense there at the end"....... I had never rode TT at night and it was AWESOME .

Dale and Dallas loves the Goofy Taffy so when we got off TT we bought a bag in the gift shop. I don't know what payment method the family in front of us was using, but it took 99 and 44 forevers just to get the transaction completed. It was taking so long that another CM came out of the back to wait on me and Dallas. I paid cash for the candy and we were walking out of the store and that family was STILL at the counter. We were going to head over to Soarin, but we were getting tired and Dallas was ready to go back to the room. I didn't argue since I hadn't had much sleep since Wednesday night.


I took a few night shots on the way out.

We ran into a photopass photographer and had to have these done.

Don't you just love the little touch from photobucket???

We finally get back to the van and I have to say I was a bit nervous about driving back to the room as it was now dark. I make it out to World Drive and I'm on my way---------------------but to where I have NO IDEA. I had missed our exit and we were headed to Tampa . It was a VERY, VERY, DARK, LONELY ROAD. I did find a turn around and needless to say I DID NOT miss my exit this time . We made it back to the room and Dale was still a little green around the gills and I will spare you the graphic details I got, but shall we say I was HAP, HAP, HAPPY that I had packed Lysol spray and Pepto.

Dallas and I were starting to get a little hungry so I walked over to the food court and got us a chocolate milkshake and a piece of cake to share. Dale still did not feel like eating anything. After our 12,000 calorie milkshakes Dallas and I got our showers and got ready for bed. I fell asleep while Dale was watching a football game and when he woke me up I had the chills. OH NO NOT ME TOO . I thought I was going to freeze to death before I could get under the covers. I'm thinking I was going to have a VERY bad case of food poisoning since I now had fever along with abdominal pain(mild, but still there). I fell back asleep and only woke up once during the night.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Love me some chips and salsa from Chili's. Yum! Yum! I hate to hear that Dale was feeling poorly. Thankfully, in those 2000 pieces of luggage you packed, there was Lysol and Pepto.

I sure hope that the rest of your trip didn't involve you, Lysol and Pepto.

 

[racefanof88]

Great update & photos!!! I had to laugh at your suitcases- I had the same amount for only 4 days in January! Ugh- I totally cringed at your burger story. That must have been SO gross!
Hey- do we have the exact same December countdown??? 88 Days??

April, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who packs a lot. Lisa, you and I just know how to pack is all............ The thought about that meat gags me still. I can't stand raw meat of any kind. I'm one of those well done people....... If we eat at a CS again I will eat a hot dog or get the grilled veggie sandwich.

We do have the same countdown . We are staying at Pop.