Expedition Orlando! - actual update! Nov 22nd

[Beka]

Good luck with the house! We looked at 50 before we got the one for us!

 

[Philadisney]

Hi everyone! So I finally have all the pictures, yay!! I am working on uploading them to photobucket now. I hope to finally start this TR tomorrow.
I probably won't be able to start it until tomorrow because I am going to meet my realtor tonight and sign some papers!! I don't like to count my chickens before they are hatched (as much as I do love chickens), but it looks like this house will be mine! It's about 25 minutes outside of Philly and has a huge beautiful yard and is just adorable. Hooray!
Thank you all for hanging in there with me while I've been working on getting this show on the road!

 

[bucci818]

Hi Kelly! I was a lurker on your other trip report and on your PTR. I can't wait to read about your trip! I live in Montgomery County,PA. Which way out of Philly are you headed? Good luck with everything!!

 

[Beka]

Hi everyone! So I finally have all the pictures, yay!! I am working on uploading them to photobucket now. I hope to finally start this TR tomorrow.
I probably won't be able to start it until tomorrow because I am going to meet my realtor tonight and sign some papers!! I don't like to count my chickens before they are hatched (as much as I do love chickens), but it looks like this house will be mine! It's about 25 minutes outside of Philly and has a huge beautiful yard and is just adorable. Hooray!
Thank you all for hanging in there with me while I've been working on getting this show on the road!

Will you share pics of the house? I'm excited for you! Being a homeowner is awesome! I can say that, cuz we've rented since '02, and bought our house last year.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Good Luck with the house!

I am so excited that you have your pictures now!

 

[Jennifer48]

Congrats *knock on wood* on the house AND getting photos!

 

[Philadisney]

Hi Kelly! I was a lurker on your other trip report and on your PTR. I can't wait to read about your trip! I live in Montgomery County,PA. Which way out of Philly are you headed? Good luck with everything!!

Hi, I live in Montgomery County now, Jenkintown! I'll be moving to the Norristown area. Thanks for the comments

Will you share pics of the house? I'm excited for you! Being a homeowner is awesome! I can say that, cuz we've rented since '02, and bought our house last year.

Yes, though I'm going to wait til I actually own it - don't want to jinx myself!

Good Luck with the house!

I am so excited that you have your pictures now!

Thanks, so am I! I am going to try and finish uploading them to Photobucket tonight before Jack comes over - we are coloring Easter eggs tonight

Congrats *knock on wood* on the house AND getting photos!

Thanks! I feel like I have been waiting forever. It was kind of fun because I had already forgotten a lot of the things I had taken pictures of

 

[Hillary12.8.07]

I was coming to finally get caught up, and am glad I haven't gotten too far behind!! I'm excited to read all about your trip!

CONGRATS on the house...I hope it all works out! I can't wait to see pictures of it, how exciting! Have fun doing Easter eggs tonight..we are doing the same thing!

 

[MinnieNurse]

A new house-how exciting. Cant wait to see pictures from your trip.

 

[bucci818]

Hi, I live in Montgomery County now, Jenkintown! I'll be moving to the Norristown area. Thanks for the comments

I grew up in Glenside! Now I live in Harleysville. Wishing you luck with everything! Now, I just need to wait for the trip report...

 

[Philadisney]

I grew up in Glenside! Now I live in Harleysville. Wishing you luck with everything! Now, I just need to wait for the trip report...

Small world!! My realtor is in Glenside. Just need to do the home inspection on the house and it's mine

A new house-how exciting. Cant wait to see pictures from your trip.

Thanks!! Almost there - I'm uploading them all right now

I was coming to finally get caught up, and am glad I haven't gotten too far behind!! I'm excited to read all about your trip!

CONGRATS on the house...I hope it all works out! I can't wait to see pictures of it, how exciting! Have fun doing Easter eggs tonight..we are doing the same thing!

Thanks, I'm so excited about the house! And the Easter eggs too We got the sparkly kind.

 

[Philadisney]

Travel journal, approx. half-filled

Scribbly contents are nearly indecipherable, but seem to chronicle the entire journey to Orlando of March 2009.

First page reads:

This morning, after a long strenuous night of fighting zombies and corresponding with colleagues, I rose refreshed at the quite early hour of 8 o’clock. My dear companion Jack graciously agreed to transport me to the airport in his fine auto. After bidding a fond farewell to him at the entrance to the terminal, and to my large suitcase stuffed with bottled water and Disney t-shirts at the baggage counter, I made it through security. One chair tea and breakfast panini later, I was sitting in a lovely waiting area preparing to board my flying machine to the mysterious southern land of….ORLANDO.

 

[mistydoodles]

Congratulations on the house. I am so excited for you.!!!!

I also want to thank you for the kind comments about my dog. I really appreciate it. I stupidly decided to watch Marley and Me a few days ago and that brought me right back to how I was feeling after we put her down but now I am getting back to normal. Thanks again.

I can't wait to see pictures of your new house and from your trip!!! Have a good night.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Kelly, I love you now more than ever!! John's mom lives in Norristown and I hatee visiting her.. Please can I use visiting you as an excuse EVERYTIME I have to go there?? Pretty please...with a cherry and sprinkles on top?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Exciting news about the house! Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

 

[Philadisney]

After landing in Orlando, my plane ride spent watching the exploits of fellow adventurer Ben Gates in his film ‘National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets’ (unimpressed).

fig A.

I left the aircraft and made my first discovery: a long tube filled with a series of small cars intended to whisk you away to the main terminal!

fig B:

I cautiously stepped aboard and then disembarked mere minutes later. While admiring the fountain, my peaceful silence was broken suddenly – a creature was racing towards me, shouting and waving its arms as if primed for attack!

fig C:

Oh. It is just Mother.

To the bowels of the airport we went, to select our vehicle for the week. I admired the fine HHR, which Mother rejected in favor of a Pontiac. Blast!

fig D:

I had brought my dear friend Alma along, an expert navigator.

fig E (likeness):

She led us to the lovely Rosen Centre, where I unpacked with gusto!

fig F:

Soon we were eager to venture out again, and Alma led us toward an exciting land full of promise, entertainment, and salt water taffy!

Getting there was somewhat difficult, even with Alma’s help, as Mother was quite convinced that Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk are the same place. She kept trying to turn toward DTD. I assured her that she was mistaken.

fig G:

The air was clean and warm and gorgeous! Soon we were meandering through the shops. Then a visit to the bakery was in order for a fruit tart, which was unfortunately devoured before I could create a photographic record of it.

fig H:

With time to spare, we explored the Boardwalk resort.

figs I-J:

Here I made a fabulous discovery – the Belle Vue Room.

fig K:

We learned that we would be drinking top secret beverages, as our IDs were both checked before we were permitted to order. Mother went for the Pina Colava, while I indulged in the Strawberry Lychee Margarita. I am fairly certain this is the nectar of the gods – observe my enjoyment!

fig L:

We wandered down to the sweets shop (a strange place selling coloured dust and mammoth cookies) before stumbling across a lovely little Mediterranean restaurant, Spoodles. We were seated at a lovely outside table, a prime spot for observing the locals. Families on surrey bikes occasionally plowed through the masses of meanderers. We dive into Mediterranean Dips (feta, hummus, curry, cucumber yogurt), divine bread, shrimp linguini, and butternut squash. Mother the survivalist insists on boxing up the leftover bread and dip, which we lug around all evening and then throw out.

figs M-O:

Dinner was delicious, and I am relieved to learn how delightful the local Orlando cuisine is. After eating, we still had more exploring to do!

 

[Philadisney]

Exciting news about the house! Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

Thanks! I am so excited, we have our home inspection on Friday. Can't wait!

Kelly, I love you now more than ever!! John's mom lives in Norristown and I hatee visiting her.. Please can I use visiting you as an excuse EVERYTIME I have to go there?? Pretty please...with a cherry and sprinkles on top?

What a small world!! We'll have to hang out at the King of Prussia Disney Store

Congratulations on the house. I am so excited for you.!!!!

I also want to thank you for the kind comments about my dog. I really appreciate it. I stupidly decided to watch Marley and Me a few days ago and that brought me right back to how I was feeling after we put her down but now I am getting back to normal. Thanks again.

I can't wait to see pictures of your new house and from your trip!!! Have a good night.

Oh I can never watch animal movies...they are always heartbreaking! I am glad you are feeling better.
I am so excited about the house! Once I'm sure it's "mine", I'll post some pics.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Yay! You have arrived! Spoodles looks yummy, I'm kinda sad it is closing before I got to try it.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Great update..although i needed my magnifying glass to read it! and great idea about the KOP disney store

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hurray, you started! I think I am going to try and check out the Boardwalk this visit. Three visits to WDW and I still haven't been over there.