Disneywifey's "WAIT lemme take a picture!" Jan 09 TR

[disneywifey]

FULL Disclosure: This is my first TR so, be fully aware that I'll probaly be all over across the board on this thing. I AM a woman and therefore love to talk, especially about random, meaningless stuff sometimes, but not ALL the time, so bear with me!

So, onto me: Disneywifey-AKA Diana. Narrarator, Disney-holic, 25 y/o, married, and COMPLETE child at heart. Kinda OCD and germophobe.

Now, traveler numero dos: DH- AKA Jason. Fellow Disney fan, 26 y/o, also COMPLETE child at heart, sweet as can be to me He is a funny, funny guy!

For referencing purposes: Here is my PTR: Disneywifey's they won't come/first ever PTR!

Trip information:
Dates: Jan 17th- 24th
Accomodations: POP
Transportation: Car from Ocean Springs, MS to Orlando, FL! 1st time driving there
Major Goals: Fantasmic, ALL the Epcot WS Attractions, Rope Drops, Parades

NOW, did they happen? Well, that's what this whole TR is about! You'll just have to be patient with me and find out.

Here are some things to keep you coming back for more, a teaser if you will:
Magical moments, "you can always tell the drinkers", "SERIOUSLY?!?", crying, smelly things, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and last but not least, over 2000 photos!!

OOOOHHH and I've got a surprise up my sleeve. Wait until the next post for an extra helping of Disney fun!!

 

[OhMari]

That is a lot of pictures.

 

[disneywifey]

So, day 1 of our trip began at 2:00 AM on January 17th, 2009. Wake up, load up, and get in the car. We had dropped Sophie, one of the girls (no kids, just a dog and cat!) off at the vet the night before. The other firl, Chloe the kitty can stay at home with in-law supervision throughout the week. Here's Sophie:

The cat is not photogenic, she's not shy by any means but she doesn't like flashy stuff.

ANYWAYS, with no children to take potty or feed, we were in the car and on the road at 2:20 AM. First problem, hunger. Who'd think that hunger would hit you like a ton of bricks at 2:30 AM when you only had dinner 6 or so hours ago? So, luckily, ye olde 24 hour McDonalds was open on the way to the interstate. DH-Mcgriddle I think, Me-#3 with no folded. for all you egg eaters and non-McDonalds regulars, that's a Bacon egg and cheese biscuit with no egg. When you see it on the screen it says "w/no folded" because the eggs on the BCE biscuit are folded. Ok, eggs are gross to me, but when they're FOLDED? now that's just weird! So, grub and coffee in my hand, I'm set! (Sorry no McDs food porn, go down to the corner McDs and you can find some!)

So, we set out on the open road of Interstate 10. Good thing about traveling at 3:00 on a Saturday morning:

No one else is!
After about an hour, we were making awesome time because of the non-existent traffic and DH was getting a lil tired (that's what happens when you don't drink coffee) so I took over.
Me Sans-Makeup while driving (not safe kids, don't try this at home!)

DH is secretly narcoleptic and so as soon as I took the wheel, he was out:

We didn't bring a pillow so he used my fluffy blanket as one. Yeah, that's him under there!

Now, I LOVE to drive. I love it even more when there's good tune-age. Well, I found a great radio station right around Pensacola that had sappy 80's and 90's music (which is what I grew up around-no, it's not my favorite music but it brings back memories!) and they were playing all sorts of random stuff! Now here comes the Bruce Hornsby tie-in: They played Mandolin Rain. I swear I haven't heard that song in around 10 years, to say the least! I was loving it! And DH is deaf while in his narcoleptic state so I got to sing along and everything!

Now then, it was cold. COLD. COLD!!! I tell you. Don't believe me, well looky here:

That was taken on the Florida Panhandle at I think 5:30 in the morning. It was sooo cold. While we were driving, all of the lakes and puddles had steam rising from them like smoke on the water. It was so eerie!

The rest of the ride was compromised of these few joys:
1. Cell phone mishaps. My Blackberry decided to disconnect from the internet and then function at all for awhile and my phone company said "bring it to your local store". Well, I SEEM to be about 600 miles away at this point, can you fix it from your end or tell me how to fix it on mine? about 20 minutes away from Disney, it finally began functioning properly in order to get satellite directions for my husband.

2. Yes. he took the dreaded "shortcut". At this point, I can't even remember what the "shortcut" was and I was too busy freaking out to write it down in my notes. All i have is "SHORTCUT :/" written down. You do NOT take "shortcuts" in foreign lands and expect to arrive un-stressed and on time. It's impossible. I just wanted to GET to Walt Disney World dang it! Yeah, this place, it's on my sweatshirt:

I know he wanted to save time and gas, but the ensuing mess was SOO not worth it. So, finally we realized where we were and where we needed to go. We were kind of miffed at each other but we brightened up when we saw this:

Then, DH missed the turn. FULL disclosure, once again: I AM the map. I am the direction giver. If I don't know where I'm at, I stop RIGHT THEN AND THERE and get directions. It's 'cause I'm a girl, I know. However, DH didn't listen and we had to go in a circle to get back to this:

So now comes the excitement!!! Forget the shortcut, WE'RE HERE!! In DISNEYWORLD!!

So, travel day 1, there it is. Not much Disney stuff yet, but boy is it coming!!

Up next: Day 1 pt. 2- The Poly, a CRANE?!, Philharmagic!!, and a can we see a parade?


Now, from my initial post, what is my surprise, my Disney fun? Well...
















I'm going to DISNEYLAND!!!! EEEKK!!!! I'm so excited but here's the catch, it's NEXT WEEK!!! I just found out about it last week! My mother and sister and I are taking a last minute Mother Daughters trip to LA for our 16th birthdays. Now, if you read my info earlier, you'll note that I'm 25, not 16. However, I never had a 16th bday party and birthdays, well they're a big deal with my family. Well, my sister just turned 16 last month and so it's a makeup for me, and a current one for her! So, we're going to Santa Monica next Saturday and my only stipulation was, if we go to LA, we HAVE to go to DLR for my bday! So, they said ok! Oh my gosh!! They love me! So, I'll be sure to bring you the madness that is sure to be,"What can I cram into ONE DAY at DLR?"

 

[disneywifey]

That is a lot of pictures.

Hi! Thanks for reading! Yeah I've never taken that many before it was worth it! They came out really well and I can make a nice photo album for sure!

 

[seasideteacher]

Haha, i know all about "shortcuts" or what about "I feel like this is the right way" FEEL?! how about KNOW? lol. But at least you got there! Can't wait to see more pics! (although not sure about 2000 lol) How big is you memory card?!

 

[meloneyb21]

Love your TR so far. We're driving down from PA in May so this just gets me more excited!

 

[disneywifey]

Haha, i know all about "shortcuts" or what about "I feel like this is the right way" FEEL?! how about KNOW? lol. But at least you got there! Can't wait to see more pics! (although not sure about 2000 lol) How big is you memory card?!

Hi welcome & thanks for reading! I know, I wanted to drive the whole way, but once the sun came up, he wanted to take the helm again! As for photos, well I had 4 cards, that I had from various cameras in the past that were all cleared off and I bought one while I was there in MK so all in all, over 4 GB! I won't post them all on here for sure! Most of the bulk of them were continuous shots, so theyre like duplicates but each is a few seconds off

Love your TR so far. We're driving down from PA in May so this just gets me more excited!

Hi to you also! Thanks for reading! We played "what do you want do do first?!" and "Either/Or" for example "Either Haunted Mansion or Space Mountain?". We also played watch for the lowest gas prices, which is always entertaining!

 

[patches07]

Love your TR so far. DH and I we're driving down from IL in September.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

on board!

 

[redlight]

Looking forward to your report. Sophie is soooooo cute. I bet she's a heartbreaker.

 

[OhMari]

What time was that sun on the horizon picture, that is really pretty.

My family wants to go to California to see the Red Wood Trees, I told them I would only go if we could do 2 days at DisneyLand. They all shook their heads at me.
So, make this a double TR, I want to hear all about DisneyLand. I am to lazy to go over to the DisneyLand Thread.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Great start to the trip report!! I wish we had started going to WDW before kids like the two of you. The start of your report reminds me of our one and only driving trip to WDW, except that I can't drive at night without falling asleep. I do remember trying to find that "short-cut" between Orlando and the Panhandle on the way back. Fortunately it was on the way back and not going!! Two-lane roads in Florida aren't that much fun!

We can relate to lots of pictures. On our extended vacation last summer we took over 5,000 pictures. Granted, we were gone for 20 days -- we went to Legoland, San Diego, Disneyland for 3 days and then 15 nights on the Disney cruise line. There were two days that we took over 1,000 photos each (Going through the Panama Canal and our day in Cartagena, Columbia). I'd love to do a trip report, but am not that creative. I enjoy reading others.

 

[Kimmy]

You lucky girl...you were just in Disney World & now you get to go to Disneyland! Great TR so far, can't wait to hear more!

 

[Kimmy]

Love your TR so far. We're driving down from PA in May so this just gets me more excited!

Sorry to go off topic...we're going in May too! Driving down from PA on
May 1st! We are an hour north from you.

 

[JJBEAN]

Loving your TR so far! Can't wait for more!

 

[meloneyb21]

Sorry to go off topic...we're going in May too! Driving down from PA on
May 1st! We are an hour north from you.

Yay for us Mayers! lol....We're leaving on the 22nd. I'm soo excited.

 

[disneywifey]

Love your TR so far. DH and I we're driving down from IL in September.

Hi! Thanks! I hope you guys have a great time! As I said before, I like driving, so I had a good time on the drive. Hopefully you'll have a safe and fun trip!

on board!

Hi and thanks for reading along!!

Looking forward to your report. Sophie is soooooo cute. I bet she's a heartbreaker.

Hey! Thanks! We really enjoyed it and yes, Sophie is a heartbreaker! She's spoiled since she's the only dog but she's got a heart of gold and she and Chloe get along really well. They even "clean" each other by licking their ears and stuff! They're so adorable sometimes and other times, not so much!

What time was that sun on the horizon picture, that is really pretty.

My family wants to go to California to see the Red Wood Trees, I told them I would only go if we could do 2 days at DisneyLand. They all shook their heads at me.
So, make this a double TR, I want to hear all about DisneyLand. I am to lazy to go over to the DisneyLand Thread.

Thanks for the photo compliment! It was taken at 6:01 in the morning, we were just a little west of Tallahassee, FL on interstate 10.

I would recommend a CA trip to anyone! I've been to San Diego, San jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, all with my family. It is really a beautiful place. We got to go to Muir woods and it was really neat! Those trees are huge! I really want to go to wine country with my husband sometime in the future, but I think skiing is on the horizon before that. I'll definitely so an off-topic TR for DL. It'll be pretty short since it'll only be one day!

Great start to the trip report!! I wish we had started going to WDW before kids like the two of you. The start of your report reminds me of our one and only driving trip to WDW, except that I can't drive at night without falling asleep. I do remember trying to find that "short-cut" between Orlando and the Panhandle on the way back. Fortunately it was on the way back and not going!! Two-lane roads in Florida aren't that much fun!

We can relate to lots of pictures. On our extended vacation last summer we took over 5,000 pictures. Granted, we were gone for 20 days -- we went to Legoland, San Diego, Disneyland for 3 days and then 15 nights on the Disney cruise line. There were two days that we took over 1,000 photos each (Going through the Panama Canal and our day in Cartagena, Columbia). I'd love to do a trip report, but am not that creative. I enjoy reading others.

That is a lot of pictures and a lot of days! Thanks for reading along so far! I love California and I bet you got a lot of good shots in that 5,000! Yeah, we figured that Disneyworld before kids would be fun while we can still do it It's really nice to not have to think about planning DW for kids yet!

You lucky girl...you were just in Disney World & now you get to go to Disneyland! Great TR so far, can't wait to hear more!

Thanks! Ironically I did the same thing in 2001! I went to WDW (I was basically my first time to go to WDW< went when I was 2, can't remember it) on Senior trip and then 3 weeks later we went to LA and went to DL and DCA (had never been) for 2 days, both parks within a month! I don't remember a WHOLE lot about DLR but I remember that I liked how quaint DLR seemed compared to WDW. I'm so excited!

Sorry to go off topic...we're going in May too! Driving down from PA on
May 1st! We are an hour north from you.

Aww neat!

Loving your TR so far! Can't wait for more!

Hi there! Thanks for the compiment and for reading along!

Yay for us Mayers! lol....We're leaving on the 22nd. I'm soo excited.

Yay more Mayers!! I'm a May bday too, the 21st, the day before you leave! have fun!! I'm not going to lie though, when I saw "Yay for us Mayers", I thought you meant John Mayer for a second there! I've been a John Mayer fan since 2001, when I met and saw him in a bar with about 30 other people in Jackson, MS. Now he's dating Jennifer Anniston. Who'd have thunk it?

 

[MiaBella05]

tuning in

 

[disneywifey]

tuning in

Thanks for reading along! Here comes more!

 

[disneywifey]

So, when I left off, we had just arrived. However, since we arrived at 12:00 we figured we would be unable to check into our room just yet. So, we checked in, but kept our bags in the car until after our rooms were assigned. We hopped back in the car, Anniversary buttons in hand, along with our tickets/key thingys and went on our merry way to the Polynesian! Why, you ask? Since we’re actually staying at Pop? Well, we had dinner reservations at Kona Café and we figured we’d save the hassle of buses, monorails and lines. So, while I changed from my driving/pj pants into jeans, DH drove in a circle at the MK cause he didn’t get to the far right like I told him! I think the gate guard was thinking, um, didn’t I JUST see you 2 minutes ago? “Yes, you did.”

So, once we got to the Poly, we were officially on our way to our first park of the trip! We took this happy snappy picture fresh out of the car and on the way into the Poly.

That place is nice! I liked it. We took some shots:

Lady that offered to take the photo took it kinda far away

Dh by the empty waterfall, no water inside or out b/c of the chilly weather
Then we got on our first Disney ride of the trip: The monorail!

(Here's looking out and onto the Poly platform)

(it was the blue one see the blurry photo).

SO! Out and into MK folks!

Yep, normally, MK would not be our first stop, much less at 1:00 on a Saturday! HOWEVER, Philharmagic was set to go down the next day for a refurb for the rest of our trip, so MK it was. We love this attraction and it had to be done that day. No ifs, ands, or buts!
So, in we go!
Stop at the Photopass guys: (Actual Photopass photos will come in a later installment)

Got to see the Main St Band, that was neat (we got to see more of them later in the trip too)

And then, I see this:

A crane!?! On the Castle?! Where's the magic in that? I really wasn't upset, I actually thought it was neat, cause I got to see it and take a picture of it! I just hoped it wouldn't stay there long!

Now, on to Main st!!!

I love looking at all the windows, Disney’s so detailed like that! 99 percent of the quests don’t even know that they’re real people!

For those that are interested, here's an up close shot of the crane guys:

Then, straight on to: Philharmagic!! We like our opry glasses.

(I think that is my favorite picture of the both of us from the whole trip )
It was too cute, as always! We went in the store to visit Donald for a second.

Since the lines weren't bad at Philharmagic, we had enough time to get a good spot for the parade! But, would we go stake out a spot and wait for and hour? Tune in next time for:

Day 1 pt 3: Bears, parades and tomorrowland, Oh MY!