Dale's Not So Scary trip report 09/07-09/11

[jenseib]

We have done this one before with our kids. If you see a photopass photographer just outside the Pirates gift shop, that's what he's shooting there (in addition to 'regular' pics). good luck on your quest.

btw, your siggie pic is beautiful.

Thank you!

 

[pjstevens]

Well, I’m determined that I have to finish this report ASAP…. we just returned from our very first trip as DVC members and cannot ‘start’ that TR until this is done. So, on with the show…

While leaving MK, it hit me why it was so NOT crowded that day… that evening was Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

My good friend Cam had arrived at Pop this day and she and her friend Judy were spending their evening at MNSSHP! It would have been fun to meet up with them, but we were anxious to have our special dinner.

When I made our ADR’s for Cali Grill, I had planned on Wishes being at the ‘normal’ time. Needless to say with it being MNSSHP, it was not Wishes and the fireworks were later than we had planned. L

California Grill! What a beautiful restaurant. We had done the dining plan and it’s scary but we used ALL our TS in one day, lol. Having had Crystal Palace for lunch and then Cali Grill for dinner (a 2TS place).

Again, I’ll say how nice it was to have our own car. To get to the Contemporary was easy with a car; no taking one bus to one place, waiting for another bus to the resort… So we arrived at the Contemp and were so impressed with how nice it was (granted it’s a Deluxe, but we’d only been ‘through’ there on the Monorail or to eat at Chef Mickey’s). We went to the counter to check in for California Grill as you cannot take the elevator up without be accompanied by a CG cm.

We got upstairs and had to wait a few minutes until our table was ready. In no time we were being escorted to out table. It was nicely decorated for our anniversary.

There is a ‘no hats rule’ at the CG, so our bride and groom hats had to sit alone…

Our waiter was kind enough to take a photo of us. Can you say I got too much sun AGAIN!!!

We had a lovely dinner, but honestly not sure if I’d go again (not for two TS). It was the atmosphere though, that was nice and watching the sun set was beautiful. Would have loved a window seat but we did not. After a lovely dinner (sorry no food porn) we went out to the deck to watch the fireworks. BUT, it wasn’t going to happen for some time. We enjoyed the view though and another couple took this pic for us.

After a lovely dinner we went back to our room and found this lovely surprise.

Up next our day at Epcot!!! And then our photos from the Poly.

 

[jenseib]

Love the update!

 

[pjstevens]

Love the update!

I LOVE your siggie pics! Your daughter is adorable!

 

[jenseib]

I LOVE your siggie pics! Your daughter is adorable!

Thanks so much

 

[pjstevens]

We were up bright and early to be at Epcot at rope drop. I love to use Tour Guide Mike and truly think the tips I get there are what make our trip so enjoyable and we get to ride so many things.

Dale starts each morning reading the paper and enjoying his donuts

It was then time to head to Epcot. I think this is our favorite park (yes I love MK, cause it’s so Disney, but Epcot is just ‘special’ to us).

Being at rope drop is so nice and we were so close to the front…

Our first job was off to Soarin. On the way we had to ‘check in’ on our daughters place she worked at during the CP. She was in Sunshine Seasons.

We rode Soarin and then headed over to ride Nemo

After The Adventures of Nemo we strolled around The Seas and finally got our picture in the Shark.

After we watched the Manatees and looked at all the lovely fish in the giant aquarium, we headed over to Figment. I know many people do not like him, but he’s one of my favs.

We then did Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Remember we were there at rope drop and it was still too early to go to the Worlds. We’d done Soarin, Living the Land (boat ride), Nemo; enjoyed the Seas; Figment and HISTA.

We went back to Soarin to ride with our Fastpass and I had gotten a text from Betsy!!! We were going to meet up shortly.

Now it was time to FINALLY do the Character Connection! I’ve wanted to do this but it’s always so crowded. Today, a little crowd, but it’s nice that you get time with EACH character and they’ll take pics with your own camera also (so if you don’t purchase the Photopass pics) you still have some good pics.

After seeing all our FRIENDS it was time to meet one of the other Disbrides Betsy!!!!

After meeting up with Betsy for just a few minutes (so wish we had more time) we were off to ride Test Track.

It is NOW time to finally head to the World Showcase.

 

[pjstevens]

We finally head over to the World Showcase and it’s not even noon yet. Can I say again just how much I like to follow TGM!

At this point we had decided we were hungry (and having used all of our TS the previous day) we decided we’d share a counter (trying to stretch our ‘free dining’). We’d never eaten at the little Mexican counter service. Cantina de San Angel. Here they have a combo meal which is lots of food for one person, so we shared this along with the Churro for dessert. These birds were hoping we’d share (but we didn’t).

After a relaxing lunch we got to meet Donald! He’s so cute.

We then head into Mexico to ride the ‘Donald’ ride (The Three Caballeros). This is quiet, dark, cool, a nice escape from the hot summer sun.

We walked around the World Showcase stopping to visit some of the countries (sorry no pics). It was then time to head back to Pop to relax by the pool before getting ready for our photos at the Poly!!! We had received a call the previous day, reminding me of our appointment (how could we forget, I’d been planning this for months) but I mentioned to the woman that it was our 25th anniversary and we’d just renewed our vows on the Wonder (via DFTW) and was hoping for a ‘good’ photographer.

We arrived at the Poly early as instructed to check in. We were earlier than we needed to be so we looked around the gift shop and strolled around the second floor waiting til ‘our turn’. We were blessed to have a great photographer and she spent way more than the 20 or 30 minutes that were allotted to us. We have way more ‘good’ photos than I can share, so here are just a few of my favorites…

After we were done, we got to ‘view’ all the pics on the monitor. Our photographer then loaded those onto our Photopass card (and created another card with all the Photopass pics we had yet, just in case!).

Up next, our last day! I hate our last day’s always sad leaving!

 

[jenseib]

I love the pictures. How much does that cost. I know I read it before, but can't remember now. I would love to get osme of our family, but DH always likes to go to WDW looking scruffy for some reason. LOL! I think he knows it irritates me.....thats a sing of a good marriage right?

 

[pjstevens]

I love the pictures. How much does that cost. I know I read it before, but can't remember now. I would love to get osme of our family, but DH always likes to go to WDW looking scruffy for some reason. LOL! I think he knows it irritates me.....thats a sing of a good marriage right?

Honestly back when we did the photo shoot it was 'free or $25' with the purchase of the CD, sorry don't recall right now. I had preordered the CD so it was a great deal since we had so many great shots.

I know what you mean about 'scruffy' as hubby really hates to shave when on 'vacation', lol!

 

[jenseib]

Honestly back when we did the photo shoot it was 'free or $25' with the purchase of the CD, sorry don't recall right now. I had preordered the CD so it was a great deal since we had so many great shots.

I know what you mean about 'scruffy' as hubby really hates to shave when on 'vacation', lol!

Yes ,God forbid he shaves. I cut hair (just stay at home now, but still know how to do it. LOL) and I bugged him for over amonth before we left to let me cut it and he kept saying no. And he looked awful in all the pictures with his wild hair. We JUSTfinally cut it a few weeks ago. It's been since Thanks giving when I cut it last. He says it keeps him warm in the inter, but honestly, he doesn't have enough to keep him warm. LOL!

 

[dstevens]

Ok ok. Now it's time to step in and defend us manly men. Some of us have accepted the fact that we do NOT have to shave (or cut our hair) daily (or on a schedule) to achieve the look that make us desireable in that rough caveman way to our wives. We sacrifice occasionally to please the public in their quest to turn manly men into girly men. We are comfortable with ourselves so therefore do not conform to unreasonable public desires to convert men to metrosexuals. Plus it takes to much time and my face is sensitive.

 

[jenseib]

Ok ok. Now it's time to step in and defend us manly men. Some of us have accepted the fact that we do NOT have to shave (or cut our hair) daily (or on a schedule) to achieve the look that make us desireable in that rough caveman way to our wives. We sacrifice occasionally to please the public in their quest to turn manly men into girly men. We are comfortable with ourselves so therefore do not conform to unreasonable public desires to convert men to metrosexuals. Plus it takes to much time and my face is sensitive.

Now that we are talking "manly" stuff....Why do men hold on to the remote.....even when the yare SLEEPING! My dad always did this and as soon as we changed the channel his eyes popp0ed open..even though he was just snoring. My DH does the same thing.
Last night I was turing channels while he was snoring, and he opens his eys and asks me how I got ahold of the remote. I told him it was sittting on my pillow when I came to bed, so he must've left it for me. The show he was origionally watching was over too. LOL!

 

[dstevens]

Now that we are talking "manly" stuff....Why do men hold on to the remote.....even when the yare SLEEPING! My dad always did this and as soon as we changed the channel his eyes popp0ed open..even though he was just snoring. My DH does the same thing.
Last night I was turing channels while he was snoring, and he opens his eys and asks me how I got ahold of the remote. I told him it was sittting on my pillow when I came to bed, so he must've left it for me. The show he was origionally watching was over too. LOL!

The answer can be found on another discussion baord.

 

[princess aleya]

I loved your TR.

 

[ktmetke]

I love your Poly Pics! They are gorgeous! Miss you guys!

 

[pjstevens]

I did not realize I never posted the 'end' our our cruise/disney vow renewal TR here. I have since started our May TR as new DVC members (see link in siggie).

It was our last day of our ‘honeymoon’!!! I was sad it was coming to an end, but glad we’d be heading home to see our kids. Before we completed packing up, I had to go visit my friend who was having her hair and make up trial for her DFTW VR! Oh my goodness, she looked so beautiful, sorry that I do not have any photos of that. But, had to go back and finish getting all our ‘stuff’ ready to go.

Before we checked out, our ‘DVC guide’ called to say she was ‘surprised she hadn’t heard from us’. Those that know us personally are well aware of the ‘problems’ we had later on with this same guide. At that time, we were not ready to make the financial commitment without reviewing our budget at home. I’ve always been told that no matter how good the deal looks, if they want you to sign right then DO NOT!!!! Needless to say, when we did decide later on after being home for a few weeks, we were still able to get ‘all those perks’ that were only available that weekend we were there!!!!

Ok, back to our last day. I had decorated our window and door for this trip (as I typically do when we are at POP), but forgot to take any pics until the last morning.

Major dilemma!!!! How was I going to get my flowers home and how would they survive hours in the car in the HOT Florida sun. I really wanted to take my flowers ‘home’ with me. They were so beautiful and had looked so pretty sitting in our room, BUT, we were heading to Animal Kingdom for the day and it was already very HOT outside. I took my flowers and put them in the ice bucket with ice all around, knowing it was going to melt in the hot car. This is what they looked like though on that last morning (still as pretty as they were the day of our vow renewal).

So once we got packed up, it was off to Animal Kingdom. Even though this park is so HOT, I do love it and all of the nature!

I love the Tree of Life.

It’s been so long since we were there, but I remember a few details of the day. We watched It’s Tough to Be A Bug. Ok, if your child does not like the dark or you know it’s going to be too scary for them, WHY do you stay there and let your child scream? Be kind and LEAVE.

We did the safari and got to sit in the very front since we were ‘newlyweds’! It was great to be up front after having sat in the very back (very bumpy)! Here are some of our photos from the day (Photopass).

We spent a good portion of the day at Animal Kingdom but had to get back to Pop to meet up with my friend who we were flying home with.

I was pleased to see that my flowers made it the rest through the heat of the day. As we were heading to the airport, hubby was looking sad. I asked ‘what was wrong’? He was bummed that we were ‘able’ to buy DVC right then. I was honestly ok, with not buying at that time. My hubby is very good with the budget and if he was not comfortable signing right then, that was ok with me. I was truly ok with it! I love him so much J

After enjoying our lovely day at AK, it was really time to go home. We headed to the airport. We met up with our friend who was flying on the same flight and had a bite to eat. Before going through security, I had to take my flowers and dump out all the ice and water that was in the bucket (NO LIQUIDS through security). I soaked the towels I had supported the ice bucket with and wrapped them around the flowers. I then carried them through with no trouble.

After getting through security, we wanted to get coffee. I opted for a yummy Starbucks frappuccino and hubby wanted regular McD’s coffee. Well, a disagreement ensued over the price of the coffee and the posted price! As my lawyer friend mentioned to me, hubby really should have taken his Mickey ears (groom ears) off before arguing with the manager of McD’s! But, he got his coffee for the posted price, lol.

As we were boarding the flight, we were congratulated on our ‘new marriage’ and Southwest gave us a bottle of champagne (which we could not open on the plane), lol. A very nice ending to a beautiful Vow Renewal and second honeymoon.

For anyone that ‘hung’ around to read the end of this, thank you! It was really hard to get back to after such a long time off.

 

[jenseib]

Loved it!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Loved the trip report. I can't believe that it is nearly a year since our cruise. I 36 days we are going on the cruise that we booked on the Wonder last year. I can't wait. We will also stay for 4 days at your home AKV (but at Jambo House) so I am heading over to your other trip report to read all about it.

Corinna

 

[chepic]

And they lived happily ever after!