Chuck and Lynn Go to Mousefest! New 5/4!

[MeMom]

Oh, how I love Animal Kingdom! I would love to see all the Christmas decorations and the Christmas parade one day! Your safari photos are fabulous! The animals seemed to like the colder temps!

Me, too!!!!

I hope you do get to see it at Christmas sometime. The AK Christmas decor is so unique and just awesome! The parade is even more special than it always is, too.

Thanks and Welcome!! I love Roz, BTW. Have you been to the Laugh Floor? I use that line, "I'm watching. Always watching." On the kids all the time!

Hopefully, I'll get un update done soon. The weather has been so good that we have been outside as much as possible, tring to soak in the sun!

So you must be going by the southern groundhog, Mr. Beauregard, rather than the northern groundhog, Puxatawney Phil? It looks like Beauregard is winning out here, too, because we've had sixties the last few days, and it has been so nice.
Nice for the kids to get out and play, and nice for the electric bill.

I use the "I'm watching" line on my third-graders, too. They are often amazed at the talent I have for seeing sideways out of my ears or even out of the back of my head.

 

[DisneyJo]

Lynn I've just read that Mousefest 2009 is cancelled, I thought about you and Chuck and how much you always enjoyed it

 

[Circusgirl]

Great Safari pix!

It was exceptionally chilly. I didn't go on EE first thing in the morning because it was too cold to face the wind on the big hill! I picked up a Fastpass later on when it finally seemed warm enough.

 

[lmillercrew]

I can't believe how long it took me to read your updates! Whew!!! I'm SO far behind in everyone's reports. It seems as though everytime I sit down to get through them all, something or someone needs me.
I'm sorry that you guys were so cold! It just confirms to me, that I only want to go to Florida when I KNOW it's going to be warm. It may rain in June, but at least I'm not having to wear a sweatshirt.
I love the pin that Chuck got you. That was very nice of him. (of course he's always nice to you)
I'm looking forward to reading about your mousefest meet!

 

[nts4wdw]

I'm home today with a sick Emily so I'm finally getting to post an update and do some replying!!

Me, too!!!!
So you must be going by the southern groundhog, Mr. Beauregard, rather than the northern groundhog, Puxatawney Phil? It looks like Beauregard is winning out here, too, because we've had sixties the last few days, and it has been so nice.
Nice for the kids to get out and play, and nice for the electric bill.

I use the "I'm watching" line on my third-graders, too. They are often amazed at the talent I have for seeing sideways out of my ears or even out of the back of my head.

Oh, I'm not fooled. I know it is gonna be cold again. In fact, today the high is only 53. Brrr. We were just soaking it p while we could. I am so ready for spring....and summer!

Lynn I've just read that Mousefest 2009 is cancelled, I thought about you and Chuck and how much you always enjoyed it

We are really sad about it, but we are still planning to go down in December, probably just a little earlier to avoid the crowds and the Pop Warner kids. We may even have our our own meet! We just can't call it Mousefest.

Great Safari pix!

It was exceptionally chilly. I didn't go on EE first thing in the morning because it was too cold to face the wind on the big hill! I picked up a Fastpass later on when it finally seemed warm enough.

It was so cold I was surprised we saw any animals at all. I don't think it gets that cold in Africa!

I can't believe how long it took me to read your updates! Whew!!! I'm SO far behind in everyone's reports. It seems as though everytime I sit down to get through them all, something or someone needs me.
I'm sorry that you guys were so cold! It just confirms to me, that I only want to go to Florida when I KNOW it's going to be warm. It may rain in June, but at least I'm not having to wear a sweatshirt.
I love the pin that Chuck got you. That was very nice of him. (of course he's always nice to you)
I'm looking forward to reading about your mousefest meet!

I'm behind of everyone's reports as well. I don't know what it is about winter that gets me so down. I just don't want to do anything. Not even read about WDW. I know, shocking!! Luckily, spring is on the way!

And so is an update! (cool segue, huh?)

 

[nts4wdw]

Day Three Part Two

It was time for our first official Mousefest meet! The Mousefest guide described it like this:

AllEars Meet in Africa
"Meet the members of the AllEars team9:30-10:30 in the Harambe Fort. And if you have a digital camera you’ll want to play our Harambe Challenge! Venture out into the Harambe area for a scavenger hunt, looking for a short list of itemsthat you can photograph and bring back to the AllEars team. Each person who competes the Harambe Challenge will receive a special AllEars gift."

Sounds like fun? Let’s go!

The Harambe fort is one of our favorite “quiet” places in AK. Plus you can get ice cream and watch the children with Baloo and King Louie. Today it wasn’t quite as quiet and deserted as it normally is.

As we came in, Mike Scopa greeted us and gave me an AllEars cap. (Love it!)

I’m not sure where Chuck was. He whined and got a hat later too. In the back of the area, one of the AllEars team gave us a sheet with clues. They were all in the Harambe area. I wish I could remember what they were (they took the paper back) but here are our answers.

This was by far the hardest one. In fact, the CM at the entrance to the Pangani trail helped us with it. The CMs were doing a lot of helping and they looked like they were having as good a time as we were.

Chuck , being the shy guy he is, sent me to turn in our answers. Here’s what we won!

Yeah! It’s zippered and perfect for carrying around rechargeable batteries in Chuck’s man purse.

When I went to find Chuck to show him our loot, who was he talking to? Deb Wills!! She is like my Disney idol. Her website AllEars.net is my go to for all Disney news and info. And she herself has done so much for the community. She is just an inspiring person. I didn’t even know what to say to her. I know a ton of people wanted to see her, but she took time and talked to us like we were old friends. It was one of the highlights of my trip!

We stopped on the way out to speak to Lou Mongello and learned a secret. He has publicly announced it now, so I guess we can share. Lou is moving to Florida. Between his magazine and Trivia books, I think his Disney obsession has become a full time job!! I know this means he will be able to spend more time with his family and still bring us all the Disney news and trivia we crave, so we were really excited for him.

One of the people at the meet showed me something I had never seen before. Did you know there is a hidden Baloo in the Harambe fort on the wall behind one of the sitting areas? Look for it on your next trip.

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a wonderful update. Sounds like the allears meet was a lot of fun and how awesome that you got to meet Deb! I love the hidden Baloo, very, very cool.

 

[nts4wdw]

What a wonderful update. Sounds like the allears meet was a lot of fun and how awesome that you got to meet Deb! I love the hidden Baloo, very, very cool.

Thanks! It was one of my favorite get togethers! Deb is such a sweet lady!

 

[CraftyOtt]

Great update Lynn! I'm sorry Em was home sick today.....I'm sending a little for her to get well!

I read about Mousefest being cancelled and thought of you guys also! I had just talked DH into at least entertaining the idea of going next year.......so much for that idea! Ah well, we can still go for the holiday decorations, right? We've been planning THAT since we were first married (22+ years ago!).

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hi Lynn,
Sorry to hear that Em is sick today but happy for an update!! I feel like I have posted in awhile now. Sorry about that!! Sounds like the Allears meet was great! What a fun game and how cool you got to meet and take a pic with Deb!!!! Loved the pic of Baloo...never knew that! I swear, you can learn at least 10 new things every time you log onto DIS!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!

 

[Happy Elf]

Sorry Em is sick! Hope she feels better soon!

Great update! And how cool that you got to meet Deb!

And a hidden Baloo, I will have to look for that in June.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

The hidden Baloo is very cool. Never heard about that before! Looks like that was a fun meet. I love All Ears and admire Deb as well. I am also quite jealous of Lou - moving to FL and being able to turn your passion for WDW into a business?? Lou deserves all the success he can get... such a nice guy! But I'm still jealous.

 

[nts4wdw]

Great update Lynn! I'm sorry Em was home sick today.....I'm sending a little for her to get well!

I read about Mousefest being cancelled and thought of you guys also! I had just talked DH into at least entertaining the idea of going next year.......so much for that idea! Ah well, we can still go for the holiday decorations, right? We've been planning THAT since we were first married (22+ years ago!).

We are still planning to go near the first of December. Would it be fun to be down there at the same time? We could eat together or something. I am convinced that our husbands would be great friends if we could just get them together!

Hi Lynn,
Sorry to hear that Em is sick today but happy for an update!! I feel like I have posted in awhile now. Sorry about that!! Sounds like the Allears meet was great! What a fun game and how cool you got to meet and take a pic with Deb!!!! Loved the pic of Baloo...never knew that! I swear, you can learn at least 10 new things every time you log onto DIS!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!

Thanks. She is still feeling rough tonight. Tons of kids are out of school. She only had five kids in her LA class last week. There are usually 25.

It is amazing what you can learn on the DIS! I've learned how to tye dye Mickey head tshirts, design Mousekeeper envelopes, ride in the front of the monorail, decorate my reosrt room window....the list goes on.

Sorry Em is sick! Hope she feels better soon!

Great update! And how cool that you got to meet Deb!

And a hidden Baloo, I will have to look for that in June.

I was excited about that hidden Baloo! I have a soft spot of the Jungle Book.

The hidden Baloo is very cool. Never heard about that before! Looks like that was a fun meet. I love All Ears and admire Deb as well. I am also quite jealous of Lou - moving to FL and being able to turn your passion for WDW into a business?? Lou deserves all the success he can get... such a nice guy! But I'm still jealous.

Who doesn't love Lou? It was a fun meet! I love a good scavenger hunt.

 

[LouDisney]

All caught up on your TR, Lynn.
Love it!

 

[ConstableMickey]

Great update Lynn! I'm sorry Em was home sick today.....I'm sending a little for her to get well!

I read about Mousefest being cancelled and thought of you guys also! I had just talked DH into at least entertaining the idea of going next year.......so much for that idea! Ah well, we can still go for the holiday decorations, right? We've been planning THAT since we were first married (22+ years ago!).

Yes, I have gone into self-imposed seclusion over the news of no mouse fest this year! But then, in the depths of my despair I thought “hmm….if we go a week earlier, not only can we save by using our AP’s before the expire, but we can go officially on Lynn’s birthday. Not only can we take advantage of the gift card for Lynn, but we will no longer live under the stigma of being birthday fibbers!
Sure, I’ll miss not being able to attend some of the meets and seeing some of our friends, but there will always be next year (we hope!). Plus I’m really hoping that if we do decide to go down in the first week of Dec. we will miss out on the Pop Warner crowd…..Ahhh, there is nothing quite like being stuck in a bus crammed full of people and having a bunch of screeching girls decide that it is a perfect time to practice their ‘cheer’…it just makes you want to pinch their little cheering heads right on off!
Give me a ‘Q’! Give me a ‘U’! Give me a ‘I’! Give me a ‘E’! Give me a ‘T’! What does it spell? SHUT UP! What do we want? QUIET! When do we want it? NOW!
I’m sorry the Disney ‘magic’ can only do so much for me.

The holiday decorations are definitely a plus! My personal favorite is hanging around outside Spaceship Earth during the evening and catching the fountain shows. But NOTHING beats Illuminations with the holiday tag……once your ears stop bleeding and you get your hearing back, you’re like, WOW! Having seen it several times, I can’t get enough of it and I always like the crowds reaction, there’s always a breathless pause at the very end before folks start cheering.

 

[packerbeth]

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[nts4wdw]

Thanks for sharing your Mousefest trip with us! I've really enjoyed it, especially since it looks like I won't be experiencing Mousefest myself anytime soon.

OK, now tell me: you got a picture with Deb Wills but not Lou? What is he, chopped liver? I really hope to meet him someday soon!

Okay, we didn't get a picture with Lou this year. But Chuck is now on a quest to find the picture from last year. We did go to one of his meets which was definitley a highlight. It was small but so much fun!

Thanks for joining in!

 

[ConstableMickey]

Thanks for sharing your Mousefest trip with us! I've really enjoyed it, especially since it looks like I won't be experiencing Mousefest myself anytime soon.

OK, now tell me: you got a picture with Deb Wills but not Lou? What is he, chopped liver? I really hope to meet him someday soon!

Well we were going to take our picture with him, but apparently he had left his step stool back at the resort. Oh well! Actually, I can't believe I didn't think of getting a quick photo before it was too late.

Here's a photo we took at last year's MF with a T-shirt that Lynn had made for him

 

[ConstableMickey]

We did go to one of his meets which was definitley a highlight. It was small but so much fun!

Hey, did you just make a Mongello Joke?

 

[packerbeth]

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