Can a trip w/ friends make up for an unmagical trip with the BF?-Final Updates 12/30!

[mrtoffee]

I'm in

 

[tankgirl427]

Here's the view from our balcony:

Looking Left

Looking Straight

Looking to the Right

Looking Straight Zoomed In

Looking WAY Right Zoomed In

After enjoying the porch and settling in, I got started on dinner. b was arriving at 9pm and I was hoping to have a nice hot meal waiting for us when we got back. Lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. While putting the dinner together g decided to watch some tv. Except none of the TVs had signal! Our first call to maintenance and they were pretty quick about it. Seems housekeeping gets a little crazy dusting around the TVs and knocked the power out of all 3 TVs, an easy fix. While that was being fixed, I noticed we were missing a few key things in order to finish the lasagna, like foil and saran wrap. By this time it was probably 6 or 7pm, so we needed to book it to Walmart, grab what we needed and book it back so I could set dinner to cook while we were picking up b. We rushed over to Walmart, grabbed what we needed, came back set everything up, quickly cut a lower case b out of the poster board you see on the dining room table and took off while tracking b's flight so as not to miss meeting her off the plane.

We got to MCO just as her plane landed, grabbed the elevator down and over and headed towards her gate, just as fast as our tired bodies would carry us. Mind you we are at 9pm now, with us getting up around 8am and going to bed at 3am. It was pretty rough. We waited for what felt like an eternity and finally saw b! We then headed to baggage claim because her airline claimed her bag to be an inch oversized for carry on.

We headed home, where b admired the space and I finished up the lasagna and we ate and enjoyed the fact that we were going to have a wonderful trip together. I went to bed around 11pm (as I do most nights) and left g and b to catch up or swim in the lazy river or something. I was really out of it by now.

Next up, our ACTUAL first day in a Disney park!

 

[tankgirl427]

I'm in

Welcome! I hope you enjoy.

 

[KatMark]

I would have NEVER guessed you hadn't stayed there Miss I Love CSR.

Ssssh....don't tell anyone. Actually, I have a new favorite now, but we will go back to CSR too.

Now exactly where is Bonnet Creek? Is that off the road where Downtown Disney is? It looks really nice and spacious. I don't know how you made dinner after the day you had and the lack of sleep.

Can't wait to hear about the first day in a park.

 

[tankgirl427]

Ssssh....don't tell anyone. Actually, I have a new favorite now, but we will go back to CSR too.

Now exactly where is Bonnet Creek? Is that off the road where Downtown Disney is? It looks really nice and spacious. I don't know how you made dinner after the day you had and the lack of sleep.

Can't wait to hear about the first day in a park.

Hmmm let me think how to explain where Bonnet Creek is. Its like next door to the CBR. Go through the main gate, take the second (?) right towards Epcot, then get all the way over to the left and take that left. It was enough room that people didn't feel like they were tripping over one another.

I think I was still buzzing on being in Disney excitement. But I did have g use the sharp knives, he was a big help in making dinner quickly and efficiently.

 

[annmarieda]

I am with Kathy, that you were able to still make dinner.

The resort looks huge! I do like off property resorts cause they tend to be so much more spacious. We stayed at Floridays on our first trip to WDW and it was really nice to have all the room. Your room reminds me of it.

Can't wait to hear about your first day in the parks!

 

[tankgirl427]

I am with Kathy, that you were able to still make dinner.

The resort looks huge! I do like off property resorts cause they tend to be so much more spacious. We stayed at Floridays on our first trip to WDW and it was really nice to have all the room. Your room reminds me of it.

Can't wait to hear about your first day in the parks!

Good timing cause I just came on for a break from work and to fill you in on how our first park morning went! I think our whole walk around the lake felt equivalent to the walk around Pop we did. Walking to the bus stops didn't take more than 5 - 10 minutes. And because I go to bed early I didn't use any of the pools.

 

[tankgirl427]

On Friday, g and I had decided that Friday was going to be like Day 0 of the trip cause it really hadn't started yet and Saturday would be Day 1. Well because of how busy we were on Saturday we renamed the days. Friday was now Day -1, Saturday was Day 0, and Sunday was Day 1. It was finally time to get to a park!

I had an ADR for the Crystal Palace at 8:05am. I thought if we left at around 7 - 7:15am, it should give us enough time to park at the TTC and monorail over to MK and get some uncrowded photos. I set my alarm for 6:30am (the only time I set my alarm all week!) and got up to take a shower. g woke up slightly afterwards and once dressed we went to wake up b. b woke from her slumber and after about 10 minutes (guessing on how long it took, it felt that long to me) asked if it was okay for her to skip it, she got sick on one of the flights and her stomach didn't feel too good. She also said she needed like four more hours of sleep. I went off to finish up what I needed to, and according to g, b said if she got to sleep today, she would be there for everything else this week (g come out of lurkdom and correct me if I'm wrong).

G and I headed out around 7:15am and shortly afterwards I was seeing this:

I flashed my AP and we drove on in. The parking lot was....................... well I'll let the pictures of the parking lot explain how busy the TTC was.

Yes I take photos of row numbers too just in case. But we were parked in Aladdin 36, which is the front row for the most part, and we walked under the tunnel and into the TTC. We hopped on the resort monorail, used our APs for the first time and headed down Main St. to get our photos on. We didn't make it too far before we got stopped.

We were invited to take the Fire Engine up the street to the Crystal Palace.

I was so enjoying the ride, I forgot to take pictures up Main Street until we were by the castle.

and seeing the Crystal Palace

When we exited the fire engine, we stopped at the PP guy right there and got a couple pictures taken along with a Magic Shot with Tink. I did what any good DISer would do and took a photo of the back of my PhotoPass card and we checked in.

Originally the reservation was for 4 but now there was only 2 of us. I explained the situation to the nice girl at the counter and it was no problem. Here's your buzzer and someone will be calling you soon.

Up Next breakfast and pirates.....

 

[KatMark]

you made it (I was wondering if the monorail would be running for you as it was down the day we went and had to wait for the ferry and almost were late).

How cool is it that you got to ride in the fire engine up Main Street? You are the first person I've ever known that got picked for that.

Can't wait to hear if you loved your breakfast as much as we did.

 

[tankgirl427]

you made it (I was wondering if the monorail would be running for you as it was down the day we went and had to wait for the ferry and almost were late).

How cool is it that you got to ride in the fire engine up Main Street? You are the first person I've ever known that got picked for that.

Can't wait to hear if you loved your breakfast as much as we did.

Well, I loved it last year which is why I had a reservation in October, and one for December, and one for January. I also Eeyore. I got in a whole conversation with a lady in Epcot who was wearing Eeyore ears like Mark's. Seriously, Eeyore has always been a favorite of mine. I took the fire engine as a sign that the pixie dust from the travel delay had arrived and it was going to be a good trip.

 

[annmarieda]

How exciting to ride the firetruck!!!

And the park look so nice...nice and empty. Too bad, B wasn't there to see it.

 

[tankgirl427]

How exciting to ride the firetruck!!!

And the park look so nice...nice and empty. Too bad, B wasn't there to see it.

I know, I was a little hesitant at first cause the whole reason for the pre-park opening ADR is for the photos, but then I realized I need to relax, how many people can possibly be picked to be driven up Main St. to breakfast. Ah yes, the quiet before the storm as I think of it. If only she saw how early mornings are a good thing.

 

[annmarieda]

I know, I was a little hesitant at first cause the whole reason for the pre-park opening ADR is for the photos, but then I realized I need to relax, how many people can possibly be picked to be driven up Main St. to breakfast. Ah yes, the quiet before the storm as I think of it. If only she saw how early mornings are a good thing.

I know... I think for some people sleeping in is so huge that they overlook how getting up a wee bit earlier can save them so much stress and hassle. (at least that is how it is in my house) I just hope that I can get the guys to get up in the mornings or it will just be Zoe and I doing CP in the morning ....just like you and g.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

That definitely sounds like you guys had a crazy "first" day! That's pretty awesome that you were able to take the fire truck down Main Street! Looking forward to hearing how your breakfast was, since that's pretty much exactly what we're doing on our first day too!

 

[tankgirl427]

I know... I think for some people sleeping in is so huge that they overlook how getting up a wee bit earlier can save them so much stress and hassle. (at least that is how it is in my house) I just hope that I can get the guys to get up in the mornings or it will just be Zoe and I doing CP in the morning ....just like you and g.

If they want to sleep in, let them and just go off to do your own thing and have them meet up with you later. Just let them know the night before, if they want to sleep in they can catch up and deal with the lines later.

That definitely sounds like you guys had a crazy "first" day! That's pretty awesome that you were able to take the fire truck down Main Street! Looking forward to hearing how your breakfast was, since that's pretty much exactly what we're doing on our first day too!

Breakfast with photos coming up next! You are up awfully early today.

 

[tankgirl427]

*****I changed the photo of g cause I found a better one from this breakfast. The previous photo was from our crazy "first" day*****

We were quickly called to join them for breakfast and were seated on the right side of the restaurant in the middle. We ordered a chocolate milk (me) and orange juice (g) and decided to wait to go up to the buffet because Pooh wasn't too far away. There was probably 10 - 12 seated tables before the character got to us at this point. When Pooh was only a couple tables away Eeyore came over on our side and I was set that I wasn't going anywhere until after Eeyore!

Then it was time to hit the buffet! I loved getting the Pooh's Puffed Toast from the kid's section and adding fresh whipped cream and the yummy berry mix to it last year, so I repeated this. I also remembered I liked the potatoes last year. And people talked about the raspberry crumbcake.

Here's my plate:

I guess I wanted a Mickey waffle too and wanted to see why people don't like the chocolate Mickey waffle. I understand now.

I didn't really watch what g got, but he amused me and let me take photos of his food too.

His plate:

There's some salmon, Disney bacon , pancakes, Puffed toast, and crumbcake.

While eating, I decided I didn't need to see Tigger and Piglet, we got seated late and Tigger had entered our area while we were paying, and there were about 20+ tables seated before he would get to us, so we headed out a few minutes before 9am to head out and get a ride in, but which land would we head to?

We headed to Adventureland because it was the closest land to us, and walked and walked and walked until we got to our first ride of the day, which was Pirates. We needed to pick up g a GAC, but we didn't want to battle the opening of the park crowds to get down to Town Hall, so we decided to give it one ride's time. From there we visited Pixie Hollow to see Tink and friend. (At this point I was very forgetful of having my own camera and everything is on PP, which I'll start editing after Halloween). Tink's friend (you'll have to wait for photos to see who it was) Told us to "Fly over Mainlanders", I heard "Fly over Ladies" and started to crack up. Both fairies were very perky and chipper for so early in the morning.

Then we walked down Main Street and to Town Hall to get the GAC, while exiting Snow White was meeting people on the side of the building and I had to get in line.

I expressed some concern over where she was situated because she is surrounded with red apples!

We grabbed a couple I'm celebrating buttons for us re: AP and a Happy Birthday button for b, her birthday was at the end of September.

We took a seat on a bench and I took a picture of Main St. and sent it over to Ann, which became one of many random photos she would get during the week. While sitting we saw these guys:

And we approached about doing a survey for Disney which we did happily, since we are in Disney and all.

We then headed to get a FP for the Princesses and meet Mickey, but not without stopping here first and this time I remembered I had a camera.

Up Next: meeting royalty, a magician, and lunch.

 

[tankgirl427]

The princesses had a 20 minute wait while Mickey had a 5 minute wait. So we scurried over to get our Princesses FP which was only about 20 minutes away figuring we could see Mickey and by the time we made it out, it woudl be close or time to use our Princesses FP.

I told g to act excited to see Mickey

I liked these stickers on Mickey's trunks

Next thing I knew it was time for us to meet the Mouse himself and Minnie!

Minnie was a big fan of seeing herself on my shirt.

As we exited through the gift shop, we had about 10 minutes before we could use the FPs for the Princesses, so we sat right outside and watched the crazy long lines for Pluto and Daisy. I noticed Mary Poppins was meeting people over by Le Chateau. Did I spell hat right in French?

Next it was time for us to blow by everyone and meet some Princesses! g had no problem taking pictures with the princesses unlike BF. And to make things go smoother we just agreed with every Princess that we were each other's Prince and Princess, I couldn't figure out to explain in Disney terms that they would stop asking that we were just friends. Maybe its easier to play along then explain the truth? Whatever.

After this we decided it was almost noon and b was probably awake so we should head back. I'm not sure if she was up when we got back or was awake in her room with the door shut, but I think she was still asleep when we got there. But its okay because I wanted to take a few hours break before heading out again. This was my attempt at not being so commando in my touring.

I took the time to take more zoomed in photos from the balcony.

At some point, b got up and got dressed, we all had something to eat (g and I had PB&J and I think I laid down for a quick nap) and by 2om we headed toward Epcot to nip on F&W booths for dinner.

Up Next: We are all in a park together!

 

[shocky5]

Loving the pictures! And I didn't know people got to ride in the firetruck down main street... so much I still don't really know about Disney!

Without telling me the 'end of the story' does b go home with a black eye or anything? (just kidding)

 

[Terkina]

I love your pictures and update I'm looking forward to more updates

 

[tankgirl427]

Loving the pictures! And I didn't know people got to ride in the firetruck down main street... so much I still don't really know about Disney!

Without telling me the 'end of the story' does b go home with a black eye or anything? (just kidding)

I didn't know anyone but the family of the day (back when Toontown was still here) got to ride in the fire truck! b does not go home with any marks on her, me on the other hand is another story and I forgot to take pictures of it. Just checked... still bruised (slightly) could take a one week after photo for you. And trust me I'll tell you how it happens.

I love your pictures and update I'm looking forward to more updates

I'm glad you are enjoying the photos and updates! I'm trying to get the whole week done with enough time that I can start packing for my quick December trip!