Disney Nomads ... 3 Resorts in 8 Nights! ALL NEW 9/2!

[nebo]

I was hoping I'd be at a new chapter today, it's been 5 days now, but instead, . In the meantime,, I know,
or better yet,,

 

[laura74]

I was hoping I'd be at a new chapter today, it's been 5 days now, but instead, . In the meantime,, I know,
or better yet,,

Hmmmm... When was your last update?

Honestly, I've been so busy at work and with Monkston's end of the year activities. Oh, and i need to get a mani/pedi in (priorities)! And now I have a couple freelance projects to get to tomorrow. Monkston will complain that I'm not playing with her but I'll remind her that the extra income pays for vacations.

Looking at that I can see the irony (do I have that right?) that I have to work on weekends to take a vacation.

But I do hope to fit something in between work, errands and a Father's Day barbecue with Sheena and her family. Luckily, I can justify web surfing and trip report writing as possible inspiration for my work. You never know what will spark an idea.

Thanks for bumping me up. I thought I'd languish on the third (or was it fourth) page.

 

[monymony3471]

I was hoping I'd be at a new chapter today, it's been 5 days now, but instead, . In the meantime,, I know,
or better yet,,

Nebo you forgot this

Both of you get crackin!

 

[laura74]

Nebo you forgot this

Both of you get crackin!

Coming up...

 

[laura74]

Ah, this is the life. Sitting here in the sun, watching Monkston and her new friend, reading about young people in the future killing each other... life is good.

I glance over at the earnest pool entertainment team trying desperately to get some kids to join their dance party. It makes me think of Nebo’s latest trip report and the funny name he gave them, Yellow Jackets©. Oh, how these guys annoy Nebo.

They do look a bit silly dancing so excitedly by themselves. I think they’d better find a new game because I don’t see any takers. It makes me feel kind of sorry for them.

Monkston and her friend are in a continuous loop going down the slide. From here, I can only see the going up part though. Wait until she sees that crazy clown slide at the Boardwalk. Watching kids being spit out of its mouth must look insane!

This is our last day at Bay Lake Tower. I wonder how we’ll like the Boardwalk. I know we won’t like the room as much. In order to save some points I booked a studio for a couple nights. We’ve been so spoiled by all the space in the 1BR here.

The Yellow Jackets© finally have some kids to play with and I see that Monkston and her friend have joined them too. They’re playing a hot potato game, passing water balloons. Whoever’s stuck with the balloon gets it popped over their head so they get soaked. Is that supposed to be fun?

We spend the next hour or so like this until Monkston’s friend has to leave. We have to go too since we’re meeting Sheena and family for dinner at The Wave.

“Monkston,” I say. “It looked like you had a great time. What was the best part?”

“Getting the balloon popped on my head.”

Go figure.

We head up to the room and get ready for dinner. We can just skip over the particulars, except that I’m excited to actually wear heels at Disney. One advantage to eating at one’s resort is that you don’t have to wear sneakers or flip-flops to dinner.

As we’re walking over, I get a text from Sheena that they’re running late (LATE! L WORD!) and they’re waiting for a monorail.

No problem. While we’re waiting for them, let me share a photo of all of us from a few years ago. Here we are at Port Orleans.

Bzzz. Another text. “We’re stuck on the monorail.”

I’m just going to take this is in stride. Remember, this is a Sheena-style vacation this year. No hurrying, no panicking, no schedules except for restaurant reservations…

Wait, this is a restaurant reservation! And we’re unearly! Someone talk me down off the ledge. They won’t give our table away, right? I made this reservation 6 months ago!

I call on my inner-Sheena, approach the podium, and explain the situation to the cast member. She tells me they’re also running late and that it won’t be a problem. She even hands me the buzzer.

Well, that was anticlimactic, wasn’t it?

A few minutes later, Sheena, Druid and little Tour Guide Mike (TGM) show up.

“You were panicked, weren’t you?” Sheena asks. “Squid, was she worried?”

“Of course not!” I say. “No big deal. Look we even have the buzzer. I took care of everything!”

Ahem.

Sheena tells us that they were in Hollywood Studios and decided to take a relaxing boat ride to Epcot and then take two monorails over here. The second monorail got stuck for fifteen minutes. It took them two hours to travel 6 miles! That’s Disney transportation at its finest.

The buzzer buzzes, and we follow the hostess to our booth. Oh good! We’ve never gotten a booth before. I look at Sheena to see if she’s happy with our location. She knows right away if it’s not a good table, and luckily for us she handles the dirty work of asking for a new one.

“I don’t like this booth. It’s too hard to talk,” she says. “Wouldn’t you rather have a regular table?”

“NO!”

Ok. We are sitting kind of sitcom-style, facing the camera, but this is pretty comfortable.

I love the ambience here. It’s very sophisticated, although it is a little on the loud side. I guess Sheena’s right that it will be difficult to talk in a group. I guess we’ll have to pair off and let the boys talk amongst themselves. The kids are busy talking kid stuff.

Our server, let’s call her Alice, arrives. She quickly dispenses cocktail napkins like a round of cards.

“I hear we have a birthday celebration tonight. Who’s celebrating?”

We point to Mr. Squid.

“Happy birthday! What does everyone want to drink?”

Sheena says we’re not quite ready yet.

Hold on there, Sheena. Some of us don’t need a menu to decide on a drink.

“The little girl at the end of the table will have pomegranate lemonade and I’ll have a Chardonnay.”

Druid asks for a beer and Mr. Squid orders a Magical Star cocktail complete with germ cube.

Sheena?

“Um, um, um.”

…

“Ok. I’ll have the tropical mojito with Stoli. ”

As Alice walks away, Sheena says, “I don’t like it.”

“What don’t you like?” I ask.

“Alice is rushing us. I want to savor.”

“Savor after we get our drinks.”

Sheena is studying the menu. “I don’t know what I want,” she says.

“Yes you do. You’ll get the sustainable fish with edamame stew, same as every year.”

“How do you remember that?”

Sheena pretends to study the menu some more. I can’t decide on something for myself. Not having the dining plan has opened up a whole world of possibilities.

With the dining plan, I’d order something expensive to get the most for my money. We wouldn’t order an appetizer since it’s not included. I’d force down dessert even if I were full because it’s “free.”

Maybe I’ll get two appetizers this time. Brilliant! I decide to get the Fall Harvest Salad (Heirloom Apples, Candied Walnuts, Midnight Moon Cheese, and Ice Wine Vinaigrette) as an appetizer (Who’s not a fan of Midnight Moon Cheese?) and the Lump Crab-Florida Rock Shrimp Cakes (with Cucumber and Tomato Salsa and Remoulade Sauce) for an entrée.

Alice comes back with the drinks and asks us if we’re ready to order.

Uh oh. She’s rushing us again.

“Can we have a few more minutes, please?” we ask.

Mr. Squid’s glowing cocktail is quite a sight. He decides to take a movie of it.



Sheena takes a sip of her drink and says, “Squid, what do you think of this drink? Is there any alcohol in it? How much was this thing? $27?”

Mr. Squid agrees that his is weak too and steals some of my wine. Hey!

I ask Sheena if she’s decided what she’s getting.

“I think I’m getting the fish but don’t say I told you so!”

Alice give us a few more minutes and takes our orders. I wonder to Mr. Squid if they’ll give him anything special for his birthday. Probably crème brulee, right? That seems to be their thing.

Sheena fills me in on what they’ve been up to since we last saw them.

Little TGM has had them very busy. They went to Epcot yesterday and Hollywood Studios today. She tells me that the pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge is beautiful but they haven’t used it yet because TGM doesn’t care about swimming. I think she’s a little jealous of my pool time. I’m vacationing more like Sheena than Sheena is this year.

She tells me that she’s enjoying drinking her coffee on the balcony in the morning and watching the animals. Now I’m a little jealous since we only have a standard view booked for our stay there in a few days. It would be nice to look out the window at giraffes.

I get my salad and I’m a little underwhelmed. Midnight moon cheese is not all that it’s cracked up to be. I think the vinaigrette could have used more flavor.

Druid and Miles ask me if I want to do another 4-parks-in-a-day challenge this year.

A couple years ago we had decided to try to hit all the parks, riding two rides in each, in one day. Mr. Squid and Sheena thought we were crazy but we were into the idea. Josh from easywdw.com would have been so proud.

It all was going swimmingly. We had gotten up at the crack of dawn to go to Hollywood Studios first, since that’s the only way to ride Toy Story Mania. We were making great time. We scarred the kids for life by going on Tower of Terror.

At Epcot, we had no trouble knocking out Test Track and Spaceship Earth. This was a piece of cake. We’d hit Animal Kingdom, take a break for dinner, and finish the night at Magic Kingdom. Easy peasy.

And then the skies opened up. This was biblical rain. No poncho could keep this rain out. I don’t tour in torrential rain. Mr. Squid wonders if I melt if rain hits me.

We all decide to head back to the resort. It rained for a few hours. Monkston and I had had hot baths and were sitting cozily on the bed watching Stacy.

Knock, knock, knock.

It’s little TGM asking, “Aunt Laura, do you want to come to Animal Kingdom?”

Nope. Done. Monkston and I were utterly defeated in the challenge. Druid and TGM ended up going to Magic Kingdom too and completed everything. And they enjoyed gloating about it the next day too.

I don’t think the challenge is in the cards for us this year. Mr. Squid, Monkston and I already decided to take a leisurely approach to our Disney vacation this year.

Dinner arrives and everything was delicious. Sheena and I have our heads together talking on one side of Mr. Squid, and he spends most of the time talking to Druid on his left.

After we finish our wonderful dinner, Alice comes by with a special birthday surprise for Mr. Squid. She has two glasses of champagne. How nice that she thought of including his wife for a birthday toast!

She hands one flute to Mr. Squid, saying, “Happy birthday!” She picks up the other flute …

and then hands it to Druid!

You have to wonder at the decision-making process she went through to decide Mr. Squid and Druid were a couple. Well, when Alice walked away, we just busted up laughing. Druid offered to give me his champagne but I refused.

You two crazy kids enjoy your bubbly.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Laura, great update. I love that she gave the champagne to Druid, LOL. You know, gay couples are al the rage these days, and after all, they DID sit together!

That was an awesome glow cube! I totally forgot the germy part at work so far though.

 

[nebo]

gave the other flute to druid?! I would have laughed a bit at the joke, then said "ok, give me my champagne now!"

actually, laura, I don't know why I'm posting on your report. I'm still ticked at you for agreeing with Nebo about tea drinkers! (never take Nebo's side over mine.. we gals gotta stick together!).. you coffee drinkers!!!

I want a glow drink!!!!!

 

[jedijill]

gave the other flute to druid?! I would have laughed a bit at the joke, then said "ok, give me my champagne now!"

actually, laura, I don't know why I'm posting on your report. I'm still ticked at you for agreeing with Nebo about tea drinkers! (never take Nebo's side over mine.. we gals gotta stick together!).. you coffee drinkers!!!

I want a glow drink!!!!!

Smidgey...even though you are posting under Nebo...I'm on your side on tea! Coffee is yucky..love the smell, hate the taste. And we are NOT more picky.

Jill in CO

 

[smidgy]

ok, it's really me now.. you know it it had really been nebo above, he would have been going on and on about his lovely wife!! (ps it's our anniversary!)

 

[MAGICFOR2]

OMG! I am about Mr. Squid and Druid being assumed to be a couple! That means she must have thought you and Sheena were With the full family dynamics there, it is hard to imagine Alice's thought process there.

Wow - a 4 parks in a day challenge! That sounds like fun!

 

[shan23877]

“Monkston,” I say. “It looked like you had a great time. What was the best part?”

“Getting the balloon popped on my head.”

Go figure.

Of course it was!

We head up to the room and get ready for dinner. We can just skip over the particulars, except that I’m excited to actually wear heels at Disney. One advantage to eating at one’s resort is that you don’t have to wear sneakers or flip-flops to dinner.

“Alice is rushing us. I want to savor.”

“Savor after we get our drinks.”

and then hands it to Druid!

You two crazy kids enjoy your bubbly.

Four parks in one day challenge sounds like fun! Maybe I'll force my people to try it!

Great chapter!

 

[Mom&RN]

I've been lurking along but your last update made me laugh like this How very Modern Family of all of you!! Cheers to the happy couple

 

[laura74]

Laura, great update. I love that she gave the champagne to Druid, LOL. You know, gay couples are al the rage these days, and after all, they DID sit together!

Marita! You're back! I've missed you.

Yes, we were very modern.

That was an awesome glow cube! I totally forgot the germy part at work so far though.

Yes, I didn't think of the germs until after the trip.

gave the other flute to druid?! I would have laughed a bit at the joke, then said "ok, give me my champagne now!"

Smidgy, you're masquerading as Nebo now? Who do you guys think you're fooling?

Maybe if I were more of a champagne fan...

actually, laura, I don't know why I'm posting on your report. I'm still ticked at you for agreeing with Nebo about tea drinkers!

I forgot to add that tea drinkers are oversensitive.

(never take Nebo's side over mine.. we gals gotta stick together!).. you coffee drinkers!!!

Now Smidgy, you know I stuck up for you in his last chapter.

I want a glow drink!!!!!

He looked like an alien when he was drinking it.

Smidgey...even though you are posting under Nebo...I'm on your side on tea! Coffee is yucky..love the smell, hate the taste. And we are NOT more picky.

Jill in CO

Are too!

ok, it's really me now.. you know it it had really been nebo above, he would have been going on and on about his lovely wife!! (ps it's our anniversary!)

Happy anniversary!

I am about Mr. Squid and Druid being assumed to be a couple! That means she must have thought you and Sheena were With the full family dynamics there, it is hard to imagine Alice's thought process there.

I know! That's the funniest part. I'd love to know what made her come to that conclusion.

On another board, there was a trip report that had something similar happen. Four women were checking into a room and they happened to be meeting two male friends who were in a different room. I don't know what configuration the CM checking them in thought they fell under, but when they went to their room that night, one bed had three chocolates on it and the other had one.

Good to know Disney isn't judgey.

Wow - a 4 parks in a day challenge! That sounds like fun!

Well I was an utter failure. I may have to try again on a sunny day next year.

Four parks in one day challenge sounds like fun! Maybe I'll force my people to try it!

You should!

Great chapter!

Thanks Shannon!

I've been lurking along but your last update made me laugh like this How very Modern Family of all of you!! Cheers to the happy couple

Welcome! Feel free to chime in any time!

 

[Sandy Mouse]

I just started reading your tr on the commuter van on the way to work, and I like it! I like your writing style and really like your sense of humor. I'm still way back there, and it will take me a while to catch uP, but I'm enjoying myself.

 

[laura74]

I just started reading your tr on the commuter van on the way to work, and I like it! I like your writing style and really like your sense of humor. I'm still way back there, and it will take me a while to catch uP, but I'm enjoying myself.

Hi there! I see you on Nebo's and Ponzi's reports. Glad you could join me!

 

[monymony3471]

Druid asks for a beer and Mr. Squid orders a Magical Star cocktail complete with germ cube.

I think that was what tipped her off!

Great update!

 

[laura74]

I think that was what tipped her off!

Great update!

Thanks Monica!

 

[pkondz]

Ah, this is the life. Sitting here in the sun, watching Monkston and her new friend, reading about young people in the future killing each other... life is good.

Unless of course you're in the book... then, not so much.

I glance over at the earnest pool entertainment team

Was the pool named after Jim Varney? Cool.

trying desperately to get some kids to join their dance party.

I like that. Desperately trying to get kids to play.

"Okay, look. If you get more than 10 kids involved, we'll give you a bonus. Less than four and you're fired."

They do look a bit silly dancing so excitedly by themselves.

Yup. Definitely something on the line, there.

I think they’d better find a new game because I don’t see any takers. It makes me feel kind of sorry for them.

Sorry? Or more like pointing your finger at them and laughing out loud?

We’ve been so spoiled by all the space in the 1BR here.

Things do tend to spoil more quickly in the Florida heat.

Whoever’s stuck with the balloon gets it popped over their head so they get soaked. Is that supposed to be fun?

Of course it is! Spoken like a woman with a mittfull of hair products up her sleeve??? Hmmmm?????? 'Cmon, fess up.

“Monkston,” I say. “It looked like you had a great time. What was the best part?”

“Getting the balloon popped on my head.”

See? Told ya.

We head up to the room and get ready for dinner. We can just skip over the particulars, except that I’m excited to actually wear heels at Disney.

I have to admit. That's one I've never heard someone be excited about. Usually it's , "Oooh, Flower & Garden! " or "Yay! I got an ADR for Le Cellier!" or even, "I can't wait to ride _______".

"Yippee! I get to wear heels!", is not one I would expect to hear at Disney.

But now I know better.

One advantage to eating at one’s resort is that you don’t have to wear sneakers or flip-flops to dinner.

Isn't it nice when restaurants forego the 'No shoes, no service' policy?

As we’re walking over, I get a text from Sheena that they’re running late (LATE! L WORD!) and they’re waiting for a monorail.

And yet if someone said that to you back home, it would ring a little odd, no?

I’m just going to take this is in stride. Remember, this is a Sheena-style vacation this year. No hurrying, no panicking, no schedules except for restaurant reservations…

Umm.... <tap, tap, tap>... Laura?

Wait, this is a restaurant reservation!

There ya go.

And we’re unearly! Someone talk me down off the ledge.

Don't do it Laura! Don't jump! Think of your family! Think of your readers!

I call on my inner-Sheena, approach the podium, and explain the situation to the cast member. She tells me they’re also running late and that it won’t be a problem. She even hands me the buzzer.

Well, that was anticlimactic, wasn’t it?

Yeah! What's with that? Couldn't you have included some screaming or maybe a fire or something?

“Of course not!” I say. “No big deal. Look we even have the buzzer. I took care of everything!”

Ahem.

Calm. Cool and collected.

The second monorail got stuck for fifteen minutes. It took them two hours to travel 6 miles!

Squirrel on the track again?

I love the ambience here. It’s very sophisticated, although it is a little on the loud side.

Usually, the two do not go hand in hand... but this is Disney after all.

Our server, let’s call her Alice, arrives. She quickly dispenses cocktail napkins like a round of cards.

High napkin is the dealer.

Hold on there, Sheena. Some of us don’t need a menu to decide on a drink.

That didn't come out quite right (for me) for some reason. It sounds like some of you drink so much and so often that you don't even need a menu.

Maybe that is what you meant.

“Alice is rushing us. I want to savor.”

“Savor after we get our drinks.”

That's how you savor.

“Yes you do. You’ll get the sustainable fish with edamame stew, same as every year.”

How does the fish know to have babies before it's fried up?

“How do you remember that?”

Yes... how do you?

Sheena pretends to study the menu some more.

I can’t decide on something for myself. Not having the dining plan has opened up a whole world of possibilities.

With the dining plan, I’d order something expensive to get the most for my money. We wouldn’t order an appetizer since it’s not included. I’d force down dessert even if I were full because it’s “free.”

That's so true! "I'll have the filet."
"But you're a vegetarian!"
"I know, but it's the most expensive item on the menu. I'll just eat the side salad that comes with it."

I decide to get the Fall Harvest Salad (Heirloom Apples, Candied Walnuts, Midnight Moon Cheese, and Ice Wine Vinaigrette) as an appetizer (Who’s not a fan of Midnight Moon Cheese?) and the Lump Crab-Florida Rock Shrimp Cakes (with Cucumber and Tomato Salsa and Remoulade Sauce) for an entrée.

Wow! That sounds good! And I have no idea what Midnight Moon Cheese is.

Mr. Squid’s glowing cocktail is quite a sight. He decides to take a movie of it.

I'm sorry. But I took one look at that pulsing concoction and immediately thought, "If someone drinks that, they deserve to have an alien burst out of their chest!"

Mr. Squid agrees that his is weak too and steals some of my wine. Hey!

Never steal a woman's wine.... never.

“I think I’m getting the fish but don’t say I told you so!”

I'm sure the fish didn't say a word.

A couple years ago we had decided to try to hit all the parks, riding two rides in each, in one day. Mr. Squid and Sheena thought we were crazy but we were into the idea.

The real question is, why? Oh, I know, I know. Because it's there. Yeah, yeah.

We scarred the kids for life by going on Tower of Terror.

Yeah, it's good for that. Did that to DD11 (8 at the time). The next time we went, she took the chicken elevator down... and was scared that it too would drop like the ride.

This was biblical rain. No poncho could keep this rain out. I don’t tour in torrential rain. Mr. Squid wonders if I melt if rain hits me.

It's the hair. Right?

Dinner arrives and everything was delicious.

Except for the salad with the not cracked up cheese and flavourless vinaigrette.

and he spends most of the time talking to Druid on his left.

Ah. Young love. To be in love and be in Disney. Magical.

She hands one flute to Mr. Squid, saying, “Happy birthday!” She picks up the other flute …

and then hands it to Druid!

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Druid offered to give me his champagne but I refused.

You two crazy kids enjoy your bubbly.

Perfect! Thanks for the chapter, Laura.

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

Gack! So far behind...I'm tempted to take a few days off work just to catch up! Not like I could if I wanted to, but it would be nice. Anyway, just popping in to say i'm here, I'm reading, I'll catch up eventually... Now back to your regularly scheduled TR.

 

[bankr63]

Gack! So far behind...I'm tempted to take a few days off work just to catch up! Not like I could if I wanted to, but it would be nice. Anyway, just popping in to say i'm here, I'm reading, I'll catch up eventually... Now back to your regularly scheduled TR.

She must be stressed. Not a single smiley in the whole quote!!!

Sounds like someone might need a or a

We're all for you to catch up

We can wait



Any now...