Family, Friends, & Celebrities- A MAGICAL Birthday TR!!! *UPDATE*8/27! Final thoughts

[SRUAlmn]

OMG! The video of them dancing is SOOO CUTE! That's why I teach first grade! I love the ages between like 2-7 when everything is so innocent and fun and you can just dance in the street and have the time of your life

 

[All7OfUs]

Don't work too hard this weekend!

 

[KatMark]

I usually update when you are sleeping.. don't you know that by now?

Ummm I think there are better restaurants to try before Bongos... I'd eat there again but I won't be rushing back.

The girls were having such fun! Too bad there was only 1 more full day left (of them together)

Yes, you usually do (but sometimes you sneak one in during the afternoon).

I was going to try to update mine tonight...but I think I'll be taking care of a sick hubby. He is supposed to be umpping two games tonight but I believe those games won't go off as it is raining and it supposed to rain all day (but a beauty of a weekend in store--upper 80's and sunny). It is our anniversary (27 years -- hooray for us) and I thought we'd go to dinner, but he is home in bed with a fever...so we have now ALL had it.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Hmmmm....now where have I seen Mel's crown before? Oh, that's right:

She's raiding her daughter's jewelry cabinet while she sleeps!


I just tuck my GPS into the center console while on Disney property. Their signage is superb. And I've driven around it enough that, sadly, I don't even need the signs anymore.

 

[KatMark]

Hmmmm....now where have I seen Mel's crown before? Oh, that's right:

She's raiding her daughter's jewelry cabinet while she sleeps!


I just tuck my GPS into the center console while on Disney property. Their signage is superb. And I've driven around it enough that, sadly, I don't even need the signs anymore.

Great catch! I think Mel has some explaining to do.

We're like you...we don't even take the GPS anymore. My DH could get around Disney with his eyes closed.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

Great 2 updates! Yup, I was behind again.

Anyhoo, the waitress at Kona! Wow! When I had my first job at McDonalds at 16. I did that to an older couple that ordered a couple of Filet o'Fish. I was really overwhelmed and the restaurant was full, on a Saturday afternoon. They order, I gave them sandwiched and forgot to take their money and then I ran after them into the parking lot. It was not pretty, I remember crying. But it was a good learning experience, to settle down while in a rush. Well now that I told my out of the scene story.

I think the waitress was very rude and I am glad you boys could find some humor in the situation and did not let it ruin the morning. She definately did not pay attention to what was going on.

Hot Tub and MacGruber!! Just too funny and I am glad you all got to enjoy the hot tub too bad it was not sooner in the trip.

Great video of the girls dancing. I love those little videos that mean so much in life. Glad to hear you enjoyed dinner. I would have expected spicer too.

GPS, Sheesh!!! DH is always explaining to me that our GPS is sending us the wrong way. I always say why do you have the thing. He says, it is nice to know how long before you arrive at your destination and it is like a toy for him.

 

[jenseib]

Yay for the hot tub!

I don't think I've ever heard of bongos before. From the sound of it, I doubt we'll go there eihter. LOL

 

[that's nice]

OMG! The video of them dancing is SOOO CUTE! That's why I teach first grade! I love the ages between like 2-7 when everything is so innocent and fun and you can just dance in the street and have the time of your life

Thank you! They really were having a ball. They were dancing to everything.

Don't work too hard this weekend!

I'll try not to!

Yes, you usually do (but sometimes you sneak one in during the afternoon).

You are right... sometimes I get the afternoon update. I used to have more when Juliana still took a nap.

I was going to try to update mine tonight...but I think I'll be taking care of a sick hubby. He is supposed to be umpping two games tonight but I believe those games won't go off as it is raining and it supposed to rain all day (but a beauty of a weekend in store--upper 80's and sunny). It is our anniversary (27 years -- hooray for us) and I thought we'd go to dinner, but he is home in bed with a fever...so we have now ALL had it.

I hope he feels better. We are having a nice stretch of weather here too. They say it could be 95 by the middle of the week!

 

[that's nice]

Hmmmm....now where have I seen Mel's crown before? Oh, that's right:

She's raiding her daughter's jewelry cabinet while she sleeps!


I just tuck my GPS into the center console while on Disney property. Their signage is superb. And I've driven around it enough that, sadly, I don't even need the signs anymore.

You know.. until I re-read that post I didn't even notice that she had that on. I guess she wanted to feel like a princess like her daughter.

I probably don't need it either, but it comes in handy. I got the phone number to the pizza place on Sunday (3/7). I will admit that I have my GPS set on the quickest route which in a normal situation would of been fine. I just wasn't using my brain being that it was Friday rush hour.

 

[that's nice]

Great 2 updates! Yup, I was behind again.

Anyhoo, the waitress at Kona! Wow! When I had my first job at McDonalds at 16. I did that to an older couple that ordered a couple of Filet o'Fish. I was really overwhelmed and the restaurant was full, on a Saturday afternoon. They order, I gave them sandwiched and forgot to take their money and then I ran after them into the parking lot. It was not pretty, I remember crying. But it was a good learning experience, to settle down while in a rush. Well now that I told my out of the scene story.

They took their fish and ran.... they probably thought they were home free!

I think the waitress was very rude and I am glad you boys could find some humor in the situation and did not let it ruin the morning. She definately did not pay attention to what was going on.

We had to laugh it off.. or we would of been mad!

Hot Tub and MacGruber!! Just too funny and I am glad you all got to enjoy the hot tub too bad it was not sooner in the trip.

MacGruber!!!!!!!!

Great video of the girls dancing. I love those little videos that mean so much in life. Glad to hear you enjoyed dinner. I would have expected spicer too.

The girls would of danced all night if we let them.

GPS, Sheesh!!! DH is always explaining to me that our GPS is sending us the wrong way. I always say why do you have the thing. He says, it is nice to know how long before you arrive at your destination and it is like a toy for him.

If you know where you are a GPS is worthless. It will send you ways you would never go. When you have no clue where you are they will get you to you destination- even if it takes a little longer.

Yay for the hot tub!

I don't think I've ever heard of bongos before. From the sound of it, I doubt we'll go there eihter. LOL

Bongo's is in the West Side near Cirque and Disney Quest. It was OK...

 

[All7OfUs]

Hope you're getting some well-earned sleep and rest!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Had to come over and read your TR - looking forward to catching up.

Hope you get some rest!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Hey Tim - I'm finally all caught up! Great updates. I'm so glad you guys finally got the hottub working! I'm really hoping at the end of all this they are going to credit you back some of your rental fee!

 

[KatMark]

Hey, Tim. We've missed you all weekend. And I just had to tell you:

MY BLACKHAWKS ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

 

[that's nice]

Hope you're getting some well-earned sleep and rest!

Made it through the weekend. WHEW! Now I have to make it through the next 5 weeks!!! LOL

Had to come over and read your TR - looking forward to catching up.

Hope you get some rest!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Hey Tim - I'm finally all caught up! Great updates. I'm so glad you guys finally got the hottub working! I'm really hoping at the end of all this they are going to credit you back some of your rental fee!

It was nice to get to use the pool/tub at least one night. I wish we didn't have the aggravation of trying to deal with the management company though.

Hey, Tim. We've missed you all weekend. And I just had to tell you:

MY BLACKHAWKS ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

They swept huh? Very nice! Maybe they can go all the way!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

It was nice to get to use the pool/tub at least one night. I wish we didn't have the aggravation of trying to deal with the management company though.

Vacations rentals can be a great way to go - but there can also be big hassles. Last time we rented a house in Florida we had some issues. Sometime I almost think you're better to go with a 'by owner' rental. They have more stake in it, I think.

 

[KatMark]

They swept huh? Very nice! Maybe they can go all the way!

Yes, it was a sweep. Although I have to tell you I was having heart failure when we went down 2-0 early in the 2nd period, but then they got their act together and it worked out in the end. I'v ealready bought our championship shirts for the finals.

 

[that's nice]

Saturday was already shaping up to be a much nicer day than the last two days. The sun was shining and there was no rain in sight. Of course, Juliana was awake at the crack of dawn. Again. Today we were going to go to Epcot.

We ate breakfast and Melody and Juliana went into the bedroom to get dressed. After a few minutes I heard crying. I went in to see what was wrong. Juliana was crying and Mel had tears in her eyes. Juliana saw herself in the mirror without her hair up and started crying and saying she wasn't pretty anymore. It got Melody upset too. Melody had to break out the gel and get Juliana's hair back up in a bun and put in the princess crown and Mickey pin.

We finished getting ready and started our short drive over to Epcot. One thing Branda really wanted to see Illuminations. It was decided that we would spend the morning touring, leave and head back to the house in the early afternoon, then go back to Epcot in the evening and stay for Illuminations. This was the 'plan'.

We arrived at Epcot and I was really excited to see all the topiaries. We have missed the Flower and Garden festival by a few weeks the last two years. While we did get to see them setting up, we never got to see the finished product. It was apparent right way that we were going to see them all.

Daisy was right past the entrance and the kids wanted to see her, so we handed the cameras over to the wives while Dave & I walked over to Soarin' to get FPs.

We walked back towards the girls and stopped to see the Lion King topiaries.

Baby Simba & Rafiki

Mufasa

We headed over towards Nemo.

We walked past the seagulls squawking... mine, mine, mine. I love how you start and the beach and slowly make your way underwater to your clamshell.

Couple ride pics.. (no flash... of course )

As we were getting out of our clamshell, we noticed a back to a pin on the ground. I didn't know where it came from but I checked Juliana's lanyard and she was missing her 2008 Cinderella castle pin. I told a CM what happened and he had me wait until the shell went around again. While I was waiting the kids were checking out the fish.

The shell came around and there was no pin. Oh well... what cha gonna do?

We walked over to Turtle Talk with Crush. We got into the room and Juliana & Victoria sat in the front and they both got to ask Crush a question. Juliana wanted to know how fish swam. LOL I think it took Crush off guard because he didn't have a smart 'Alek' remark. We made our way back outside and MJ wanted his picture with Dory.

We had to keep moving- there was so much to see here! We headed towards the WS.

Here are the drinking around the world shirts I made for Dave & myself.

The wives....

The King of Pop.

They look like they are ready to dance.

We were in the WS and our first stop was Canada. We told Dave & Branda about the kidcot stops and how Juliana got a kick out of doing it. We got the kids their masks and they did the decorating.

We checked out a few stores in Canada. There were so many cool t-shirts, dolls, sweatshirts, and food. It is easy to spend a ton of money in Epcot... but you already knew that!

Wonderful view of the WS Lagoon.

We had to wait for MJ to finish his phone call before we moved on.

There wasn't too many hat pictures but this was a funny one of Branda.

With Canada conquered, the UK was next. We sent the wives ahead while Dave & I ran back to TT to get FPs to be used later on in the day. Only 4 FP machines were working and the lines were fairly long. I sometimes wonder how 1 person gets 10-20 FPs (and I am always behind them). There must of been quite a few groups there. We did notice a lot of spring breakers. With the FPs finally in hand we walked back towards the UK.

I was getting anxious to get to the UK and I was getting thirsty too. I've been talking with Dave about this moment for over a year. Having a drink at Rose & Crown!!! I think Dave was excited too!

Considering the WS just opened, the bar was very busy. We waited for a few minutes and got what we came for- Car Bombs! For those who don't know a car bomb is a 1/2 pint of Guinness with 3/4 shot of Jameson and 1/4 shot of Bailey's. You drop the shot into the glass and then drink it down before it foams all over the place. Reading the combination it might seem weird but it is so good. It tastes like you are drinking chocolate milk. Oh by the way- I finished before Dave. LOL

We ordered 2 beers to go and our bill for 4 beers with tip was $40. Man this was shaping up to be an expensive day. We found the girls who were looking through the shops in the UK. It felt like the day was already flying by. We finished up in the UK and headed towards our next stop. France.

On the way...

Up next... It all goes down hill from here. What time are we heading back to the house?

 

[All7OfUs]

I guess that's one of the dangers of the BBB. Some positive re-inforcement about "natural" beauty is in order after a trip there.

Such a bummer about Ana's pin!! I'll bet she was pretty upset!

Those drinks sound utterly disgusting to me. A beer based anything- blecho! And I"m sure that the $40 bill was softened, though, with the desired effects of the booze.

I sure don't like the sound of that post's ending...

 

[SRUAlmn]

I thought I was the only person who always got stuck behind THAT person at the FP machine. We always go in July and there are tons of tour groups from Brazil during that time. It never fails that I get behind the person with 60+ tickets and then when they're finally done, the machine is broken, empty, etc... I now scope out the lines like a hawk before I get in one