Hi all! I got back at 1am this morning from a short but extremely HOT trip to WDW and a Doctor Who convention. I now know to not take the 10-day weather outlook so seriously---it only spit rain on us twice---and there I was with 2 umbrellas and 2 raincoats. I seriously overpacked---didn't need any of my long-sleeved shirts or my pants. Sigh. I also came back 5 pounds heavier due to all of the great food at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. That was one awesome Festival! I can't wait to go back there some time! My favorite foods were the chocolate lava cake in Ireland, the pot-stickers over in China and a mushroom soup---I can't remember where. The worst item I tried was apple strudel near Germany----it was frozen inside!
My friend and I stayed at the Dolphin----just love those soft beds---and the cast member at the
Disney Cruise Line desk was trying to tune in to the announcement of the Disney Dream but she couldn't. I read a little about it in the Orlando paper----there look to be some fun features.
We had a lot of fun at the Halloween party last Thursday night---not too crowded---but it seemed like they gave out less candy---and at a lower quality than last year---I've only been twice----not sure if this experience was normal. I had my first pictures ever taken with characters----Chip and Dale and Timon-----they were so sweet! We went to Downtown Disney the next night---big mistake---a real zoo with trick-or-treating taking place there for the public.
Moved from the Dolphin to a Ramada on 192----what a dump! I almost abandoned my friend and returned to the Dolphin! Besides the Doctor Who convention, there was a dog-groomers convention---the first room they put us in was right next to the main grooming room---loud blow-dryers and louder barking! Moved rooms and the next smelled of mold/mildew---the carpet was damp, the coffee pot had mold growing in it, the air conditioner unit leaked, the shower water pressure was a joke, there were little bugs everywhere and we were next to a noisy pool area. I think we should have asked to be moved again but I was really afraid what we would face next. This was truly the worst motel room/experience I ever had! Oh, and did I mention that they couldn't find my original reservation? Good thing I brought along a print-out with an early July date on it. Oh well. The experience didn't kill me---right?
Another bad thing that happened was I purchased a lot of coconut/chocolate and lime candy and cookies and magnets at the Westwin news store at the airport----the clerk forgot to hand me one of the bags----I called this morning but the day-clerk looked around and didn't see my bag but she promised to talk to the night-clerk and call me back about it. I've never had anything like this happen to me before. My work-mates are going to be sooo disappointed tomorrow when I show-up empty-handed. Wish me luck!
Our Enterprise rental car was great---it gave me freedom to visit the Prime Outlet shopping mall where I picked up a Skagen watch from the last Panama Canal crossing---it is a limited edition watch of 100---they had about 10 there---I paid $87.99 for a listed price of $175.00. That reminded me that I purchased a shot glass, a coffee mug and a beach towel on my 5 night cruise last year----all of the Panama Canal merchandise was on sale---I didn't think that Disney ever discounted their own items----I just thought they sent stuff to their outlet stores.
Oh, I've also been bitten by the pin-trading bug----quickly found out that it is really addicting---not to mention expensive! But really a lot of fun! I even found
Disney cruise pins and a Disney cruise pin keeper. I purchased some WDW pins to trade for DL pins when I visit DL after the cruise.
My next vacation is to London in January----I'm trying to figure out if there are any cheaper seats than coach class----I spent all of my money in WDW and at the Doctor Who convention. But I got all of my Christmas shopping done!
Just thought I'd let you guys know how much fun I had in the World! Now I'm off to read the pages of this thread that I missed