"ENCHANTED TALES with ROB" - A Birthday/Christmas DISer Celebration! **NEW TR LINK**

[thornton0511]

Okay so clearly you are back from your trip so.......how was it?!!! I hope you had a great time and great reunion with your DISfriends

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Okay so clearly you are back from your trip so.......how was it?!!! I hope you had a great time and great reunion with your DISfriends

I am indeed Jenn, I am indeed. And I could not be more depressed. As for all the details... stay tuned.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

"SOME PEOPLE ARE WORTH MELTING FOR"
Day 9 – December 11, 2013 Part 5



Hi Friends!!!

Just a tiny bit of housekeeping before I continue and finish this day off.

The following update is very short with only a few photos, but I wanted to separate it from the previous one since,
Despite its length, or lack thereof, it really does stand on its own.

Plus, I didn't want to take away from the emotion I was feeling from that last farewell, so I thought it was a fitting place to stop.

In other news, I just have to share the following really quickly.
A friend asked me a few months ago if I would put together a video for her father's upcoming 60th birthday.
I did, and she and her mother were so pleased with it, they took me to lunch AND got me the following as a thank you.

Yeah, the word is out... I Like Disney... And YES, that is indeed a Big Al Beer Mug!!

Finally, as many of you know,
I just arrived home after being reunited for a few days with the subjects of the last update.
Honesty, it may have been even harder saying goodbye this time; I miss them so much!!

So, after this update, but before posting the final update and wrap up,
I plan to break for an intermission to chronicle the reunion and escapades of the four days in Niagara Falls and Canadia's Wonderland.
There will still be a lot of Disney references though, don't you worry about that!

Incidentally, Riley and I collaborated to come up with the brand new flag of Canadia.

Well, truth be told, it was pretty much all her concept.
The significance of the colour comes from this, which she made for me a few months back.

I had chosen the colours of the bracelet, but it was her decision to have the flag be blue and orange, and who am I to argue with that?
And of course, the middle part speaks for itself. ºOº


Oh yeah, almost forgot… Upon my return home... I also booked a trip to Florida in September (17-25 to be exact)…

... But you don’t really want to hear about that…


***********************************************



Still with tears in my eyes, and after a quick text session, I made my way back through the park and through the Gateway.

I realized I made quite a few passes via that International Gateway this trip... It's a good thing I had my passport.

My ultimate destination was the Boardwalk where I met Brenda at the Boardwalk Bakery.
I was so glad that she was able to make a bit of time to say goodbye in person as she was such a HUGE part of the awesomeness of this trip.
The trip would have felt incomplete somehow if this final meet up didn’t happen.

We sat and chatted for quite a while about so many different things... Some Disney related, some not;
Like real friends and not just Disney friends.

Eventually, Brenda asked me where I was parked.

I replied in the Epcot parking lot.

The time was now after 11pm.

Uh Oh…

Even though inside I was panicked, I still made sure we still got one final photo before I made my way back to the Gateway,
Hopeful for one last bit of pixie dust.

No matter what was about to happen, it was worth it to get to see her again and have a proper goodbye.

I raced to the Gateway and was greeted with the expected security guard (who somehow reminded me of John Candy in Vacation).

I explained my situation and he got on his radio and explained the situation to someone else and he honestly could not have been nicer.

After some back and forth on the radio, he confirmed that the park was indeed officially in the “All Clear” mode,
Which meant that every last guest was out…

… But someone was going to come meet me and take me through to the Main Entrance.

I sat and talked with this nice man for a while when finally my escort arrived a little after midnight.

I have to admit, to walk from one end of Epcot to the other after the park was officially empty of all guests (making me officially the last one),
Was a pretty awesome feeling, especially for my last night.

I did not even attempt to take any photos as these guys were being so nice and helpful that I didn’t want to press my luck.
BUT, it was amazingly cool to see all the after hours activity going on as they prepared the park for the next day.

It is just so surreal to see it after hours, it really is, and it really feels so different and a little spooky.
And I can actually say that for December 11, 2013, I was the absolute last guest in Epcot for that day.

When we arrived at the entrance/exit I thanked him profusely for his kindness.
They could have easily made me cab it from the Boardwalk if they wanted to, so I was ever so grateful they helped me out.

And of course the biggest bonus of all was how easy it was to find my car.

I posted on Facebook after I arrived back at POP:

"I've been to Disney a lot so consequently I've left Disney a lot.
It is always a sad occasion but I can honestly say that this is EASILY the toughest and most emotional exit I have ever had,
And I am absolutely leaving with genuine tears.
I can't express enough the specialness of this trip made possible largely due to the amazing moments shared with new friends.”



UP NEXT… "ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD"
​

 

[cheekypoppins]

Ure killin me here and I can't imagine how anyone else is coping because I actually know how the weekend played out lol

 

[cheekypoppins]

Oh and If anyone cares LOL I have the True canadia flag in my living room as created this morning by miss riley roo herself................... drum roll please................

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Wow, that is really cool - last guest in Epcot for the day. This has been a wonderful trip report and I can hardly bear knowing it is coming to an end. So glad you have another one booked!

TP

 

[FancyNancy]

Love the Canadia Flag!

How nice that you got to see Brenda before your trip was over

A September trip to Florida? Awesome!

 

[Tracy161]

Unbelievable ending to an unbelievable day. The price I have to pay for living vicariously through your happiness is having also to live vicariously through your sadness. But so happy you got to experience it all at all And on your big trip announcement!!! Those are nearly the exact dates of my trip last year and it is SUCH a perfect time to go! I so badly wish I could this fall! Would love to meet you! I suppose living again through your TR will have to do...

 

[Wood Nymph]

Yeah, the word is out... I Like Disney... And YES, that is indeed a Big Al Beer Mug!!

I love the Big Al mug! How many people can say they have a Big Al mug.

Finally, as many of you know,
I just arrived home after being reunited for a few days with the subjects of the last update.
Honesty, it may have been even harder saying goodbye this time; I miss them so much!!

So, after this update, but before posting the final update and wrap up,
I plan to break for an intermission to chronicle the reunion and escapades of the four days in Niagara Falls and Canadia's Wonderland.
There will still be a lot of Disney references though, don't you worry about that!

Incidentally, Riley and I collaborated to come up with the brand new flag of Canadia.

I love Riley's flag and I can wait to hear how your trip to Niagara Falls went. But I have a feeling, it was very successful.

Oh yeah, almost forgot… Upon my return home... I also booked a trip to Florida in September (17-25 to be exact)…

... But you don’t really want to hear about that…

I want to hear about that, I really do! We will be staying at the YC Sept 24th to 28th. Our trips overlapped last December, too, but that was before I had read one of your trip reports. Now we have to "run into each other" in Sept. It will be just DH and I. We plan to spend most of our time in Epcot after we arrive around noon on Wed, Sept 24th.

 

[MonsterWDWmom]

Oh man I miss you by 2 days in September!

What a perfect way to end your vacation, one last meet and being escorted out of an empty park!

Love the idea for the new Canadian flag I think they should really consider it

 

[courtneybelle]

I LOVE Canadia's flag! An excellent representation of the very best of Canadia.

DISNEY DISNEY DISNEY!!! So excited for you! I want to do Disney in September so much...maybe in 2015

So glad you got to see Brenda and chat for a bit!

Oh my gosh, how cool to have a special escort through Epcot and to be the very last guest there!! THAT is a great experience.

 

[khertz]

I think you should change this title to "Some People Are Worth Getting Stranded at the Boardwalk For" - Brenda would definitely fit that!! It's incredibly awesome that the security guard walked you through an empty Epcot to get to your car in the lot!! What an amazing experience to see the park LITERALLY empty.

 

[annie170]

I'm glad you were able to be escorted out of Epcot. Would it have been possible to walk from Boardwalk to the Epcot parking lot.

I'm really curious. What kind of activities and things did you see going on as you walked through the empty park? They didn't swear you to secrecy or anything, did they?

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I'm glad you were able to be escorted out of Epcot. Would it have been possible to walk from Boardwalk to the Epcot parking lot.

I'm really curious. What kind of activities and things did you see going on as you walked through the empty park? They didn't swear you to secrecy or anything, did they?

I'll bet they made him promise to get Canadia's flag switched over to the Disney logo!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

The ending of a trip is always the most dreaded part. I even hate it before I get there!

I'm glad to hear you were able to have one last meet-up with Brenda... and how cool that you were the VERY LAST guest at Epcot that night? I bet only a few people can say that.

Sept 17-25?! Our trip dates overlap! (Ours are the 13-20th!) Woo! Where are you staying?

 

[sunnysideup3]

That's awesome! How cool to be the last person!!! That was splendid of them to let you go back through. Only at Disney!!

 

[amberg93]

Can't wait to hear about your trip. It's probably going to give me lots of feels though. Oh well, I'll put on my feels protector

I approve of the new Canadian flag. Though it is the colors of my old elementary school, but oh well. I'm all on board if you want to present the flag to the people. I'll back you up.

Yay for getting to meet with Brenda.

And I'm insanely jealous about you being the last guest in Epcot. It must have been super amazing. What nice security guards. Good for them. (Also, love the NLV reference).

 

[amazingact21]

Beautiful flag for Canadia.


Yay, another Disney trip! Which means another trip report, which for me, is exciting. The end of September is a good time to visit, too. It's actually Alex's favorite time frame, so I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time. And who knows, Landon and I could become completely bored by then and want to take a weekend trip to visit his grandparents in Orlando.



The very last guest in Epcot?! How cool is that! On your very last day on vacation, you were the only paying guest inside Epcot. That's just awesome.


The parking lot looks eerie without any cars. Really puts into perspective how big those places are.

 

[teekathepony]

Wow... seriously, that Big Al beer mug is the best thing I've ever seen.
I can't wait to hear all about your Dismeet trip!! I hope you will do a report on the whole thing!
Loving the Canadia flag, I wish I had that as a badge to sew on my backpack now.

Oh yeah, almost forgot… Upon my return home... I also booked a trip to Florida in September (17-25 to be exact)…

... But you don’t really want to hear about that…

YES I DO!!!!!!

I think it's great that you got to meet up with Brenda again before you left. And I'm so glad that it didn't mean a very long walk (or hitchhike!) back to your car! How lovely of the security guards to walk you through an Empty Epcot. Must have been soooooo cool!

 

[thornton0511]

Oh Rob! It sounds like you had a wonderful time with Riley and her mom and I cannot wait to hear all about you reunion, if you want to share! I really do like the flag that you two came up with, that is really neat and special. I know that it must have been hard to say goodbye once again but I am sure that you guys are already planning for your next adventure together....or at least thinking about it!

That was so nice of you to do a video for your friend's parents. I not trying to pry at all but is that something you do for a hobby or a job? I'm just a curious cheshire cat so don't feel like you have to share, I just ask a lot of questions sometimes. People interest me. Anyways.....and how awesome was the thank you package?!!! Wow that stuff was cool and so right for you too!! Especially the Country Bear's beer mug!

Now getting back to your TR. I am so glad that you had an opportunity to see Brenda one last time for a proper goodbye. That is so crazy about getting back to your car lol! I like your reference to John Candy too. That was so nice that they allowed you to get to your car through the empty park....and so exciting! How many people can say that they have done that?! I bet an empty, dark park would have a bit of a creepy vibe to it, even if it is Disney!