Happyhaunt Halloweenie ~ Unplanned, Unfinished and Unrepentant (new pg# 14, Nov. 19)

[1000thhappyhaunt]

I'll try to pick up the pace a little bit, here.

A very important part of the little Pre-Planning that I did do was to pick a place to stay for the trip. As we are DVCers... it would obviously be a DVC property. And, I have to note, I have been INCREDIBLY unlucky in booking any of our October Halloweenies at the same resort. For the entire stretch of 5 nights. With Tommy I believe we spent the first night at BWV, then switched to OKW for a night and then back to BWV for two nights. Followed by spending our last night in the All Star Music where we got bedbugs. Big nasty welty lumpy bites. Which took quite a while to heal.

So that was fun.

Then the following year... last year... with Beth, we managed to spend two nights at AKV and then we switched to OKW for the remainder of the trip. We did NOT get bedbugs but instead we got a giftbasket delivered to us on our second last night.

So that was way more fun.

Anyhow... this year I was really really *REALLY* hoping to book all five nights of our trip at just ONE place. One bugless place. To be specific.

All the Happyhaunts had been to Disney back in May of this year. We went for 10 days from May 17th to the 27th and we split the vacation between two DVC resorts. First we were at AKV and then we moved to BCV where another special gift was waiting for us when we arrived. It was not bedbugs either. It was chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. And it was from my honey for our upcoming fifteenth anniversary and my *ahem* 40th birthday.

So that was SO SO much fun. Too.

Except that I only had one bite of one strawberry and only one bite of the big chocolate thingie that had "Happy Anniversary" written on it in candy before our three kids descended upon it like a wild pack of Alleys. Not cats... Kirsties.

But you better believe I popped the cork and chugged that bubbly straight from the bottle.

So that hurt my nose so so much.

Anywho... on THAT trip which I didn't start and unfinish a trippie about either...we all LOVEDLOVEDLOVED staying at the Animal Kingdom Villas. Because it was so cool to get up in the morning and walk stark naked onto the balcony to check out the animals.

Which only happened once. By the way. And I am totally NOT going to tell you which kid did that. BTW.

(You can be quite certain it wasn't Beth tho.)

Also we enjoyed staying there because we were so very close to the Animal Kingdom. AND. If I had written a tripe report for that one it would have been entitled... "The Happyhaunts Spend 10 Days At Conservation Station. Thanks Alot...Beth". In fact... it was funny b/c when Calvin and I automatically returned, like salmon to their spawning beds, to Conservation Station THIS trip... two of the CMs working that day recognized us. And they asked about "Dr. Beth", as she ended up being called by about her third morning there.

So that was sick!!!!

Whatever that means.


Where was I? Oh yeah. We liked AKV. A whole bunch. We REALLY liked the two restaurants: Jiko and Boma. We liked Boma for BOTH breakfast and dinner. But more for dinner. And several members of our party discovered how convenient it was to be staying in the same resort as the restaurant in which you indulged in WAY too much spicy food and sambal chutney then they should have.

Basically...we liked it. Is what I'm slowly getting to.

SO... I was hoping Calvin would pick it again for our "Mom and One" trip.

I asked him where he wanted to stay. I mixed up his options by offering up a choice between the Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk, Beach Club and Animal Kingdom. I knew, however, that there was probably no chance under the hot Florida sun that we'd get Boardwalk or Beach Club for five days straight being that it was Food and Wine at EPCOT.

It didn't matter tho. Because my sweet boy picked the Animal Kingdom Villas. With his second choice being the one with the waterpark in it.

What he said, exactly, was "Let's stay at the Animal Kingdom one."

When I asked him why... he said, exactly..."It smells like meat".

Which killed me flat out.

That's pretty much why his dad liked hanging around in the lobby there, too.

Yep.

Not because of the exotic theming, the savannah view rooms where you can just stroll out and check out the animals like your own private zoo, not the great restaurants, not the zero-entry pool, not the really friendly castmembers, not the too-dark lighting in the bathroom area, not the insufficient storage space, not the distance from every other park. No. Not any of those perks.

It smells like meat. He said.

Poor child. Him and I are like two peas in a pod. In so many ways.

He's a "smeller" too.

Which is pretty cool, I think, most of the time. It really helps make memories stick.

Occassionally tho... the memories are BADBADBAD. For example he refers to Disney's Animal Kingdom (the park) as "the one that smells like puke". And it's true. You get these random, odd yet strong whiffs of puke. All through that place. At least we do... Calvin and I. Maybe it's something they use on the plants. I don't know but we know it's there.

So what I'm saying with all of that is that we picked the AKV to stay at and it was our lucky lucky day because we got a studio for 5 straight days with a savannah view.

Yep... a savannah view. Savannah, Georgia.


Gotta roll now.


Cheers,

Melly

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

See now, Z has me pining for a room with a view at the Contemporary. You are going to do the same thing to me regarding the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

And. Five days at Food and Wine? I'm almost certain we were there at the same time. And didn't run into each other? Imagine that.

 

[samc]

Hey Mel!!!!

So glad you're back......bringin the funny and rollin the T!!!!!

 

[askelton]

Followed by spending our last night in the All Star Music where we got bedbugs. Big nasty welty lumpy bites. Which took quite a while to heal.

V so needs to help you with this. She can give you full no bedbug checklist.

Also we enjoyed staying there because we were so very close to the Animal Kingdom. AND. If I had written a tripe report for that one it would have been entitled... "The Happyhaunts Spend 10 Days At Conservation Station. Thanks Alot...Beth". In fact... it was funny b/c when Calvin and I automatically returned, like salmon to their spawning beds, to Conservation Station THIS trip... two of the CMs working that day recognized us. And they asked about "Dr. Beth", as she ended up being called by about her third morning there.

When I asked him why... he said, exactly..."It smells like meat".

For example he refers to Disney's Animal Kingdom (the park) as "the one that smells like puke".

Thankfully, I have never experienced this.

 

[LaLa]

...but I was off furiously working on a deadline.

Thanks to some hard work and quick action though, it looks like the last of my Ringo Starr fan mail's gonna squeak in JUST UNDER the deadline.

What a relief!

I was really worried about that for a minute. And I'm sure he was too.

But it's all good. And so is Mel's new trippie. Which, by the way, leaves me eight different kinds of numb. I thought you fell off the face of the earth. Were abducted by aliens. Or got eaten by Sasquatch (HI ZZUB!). Out there in the Northwoods. Lucky for us you didn't and you're bringin' funny back. Mel Happyhaunt style.

By the way, we ALSO use the Elvis weight measurement system in our house. Only the American measurement system is a little different than the Canadian version. It can be somewhat confusing. Like that whole Fahrenheit/Celsius thing. Because it's not based on old Elvis or young Elvis. The after effects of too many jelly donuts. Or even Elvis the human. It's based on Elvis the cat. Our cat. And how many critters he's trapped and eaten that day.

All deep fried and generously coated with peanut butter and banana. Of course.

Anywho.

I think you know this already, but we LOVELOVELOVE the AKL. Also because it smells like meat. And has easy access to Boma. But mostly because no matter how many times you walk out onto the balcony stark naked (speaking of which...stark raving MAD, I can believe, the other not so much), no one is ever videotaping. With their surveillance equipment. In case you decide to slip a contraband plastic straw into a fancy chocolate cake and hand it off to an imprisoned giraffe. For dessert. (Hi Mel!)

Can't wait to hear how you and Calvin roll it, Melly. Glad you found your way back. (Hi Jefferson Starship!)

 

[EPRV We love Disney]

Loving the TR! Having spent many a laughing minute reading about the fun times had by you and your family, I salute you!

I'm also a long-time lurker and have read many of the trippies by ZZUB, La la, Mrs. The King et al. Love the stories as much as the banter between you all.

Keep it coming!

 

[Mrs. The King]

Be still my heart! I missed you so!
I had to be content with Mrs. The King.


Oh - and my newest obsession -

WARNING! This thing is NOT family friendly.
tuckermax.com

Anyway.
enough about me.
(I'm straight now! Did I tell you that?)
on to you and your trip report.

Loving the TR! Having spent many a laughing minute reading about the fun times had by you and your family, I salute you!

I'm also a long-time lurker and have read many of the trippies by ZZUB, La la, Mrs. The King et al. Love the stories as much as the banter between you all.

Keep it coming!

You I like.

One bugless place. To be specific.

That is the requirements for my underwear!!!

Because it was so cool to get up in the morning and walk stark naked onto the balcony to check out the animals.

Communing with nature should be encouraged.

Which is pretty cool, I think, most of the time. It really helps make memories stick.

That is so true!!!

For example he refers to Disney's Animal Kingdom (the park) as "the one that smells like puke". And it's true. You get these random, odd yet strong whiffs of puke.

That is the smell of disgust, rip off's and the cast members peeling off their Disney before they get to work.




Me(l) I am not licensed to use DED yet, but if I was I would slap it all over this report. I am so thrilled Disney is still letting you in

 

[javamom]

Hey Java!!! What's shakin'? Oh. I always try to take pictures in the Haunted Mansion too. Usually one flash picture per ride.

Which, I KNOW... is not encouraged.

By the massive hordes of rule-followers on the Dis here.

Who can bite me.

I did manage to get one shot with the flash because I thought that I had turned it off, but had in fact, not turned it off. Because I am me, though, all I got was a blurry picture of the railing in front of the ballroom/diningroom scene.

I think I need a remedial camera course because I did the same thing in the Hall of Presidents. Fortunately the Presidents don't move very quickly so the shot isn't too terrible.

I looked to see if I could see the condoms that are supposedly in Bill Clinton's pocket, but I couldn't see them.

 

[AshClan]

Thanks for that shot, Java. Haven't been in that attraction for years and years. Is that the Shrub off to the right in the red tie? He looks like Conan O'Brian.

And, yes, I'm sure the condoms are there. Unless JFK stole 'em.

I'm looking forward to getting back there once the featured speaker has changed

Mel, you crack me up as always. My younger son and I also share the gift/curse of a strong sense of smell. Whereas DH and #1 son are blissfully clueless. We'll be at AKL for 3 nights (before, in Happyhaunt style, we move to the BWV) in April. I'll look forward to the smell of meat The puke? Not so much.

 

[nicolemarie]

I have lots of things I want to respond to...most importantly, Mel, I'm THRILLED you're back. And bringing the funny like only Mel Happyhaunt can. Especially the "make fun of ZZUB funny." You're the best. Ever.

But before I can go on, I have to make one extremely freaky observation.

Not ONLY was I in the World at the same time as the ZZUBs, it appears I was also in the World at the same time as the Happyhaunts.

GET OUT!

Yep. The NMs surprised the youngest member of the family with a birthday weekend trip to the World on May 16-18th. And here's something even freakier.

We ate breakfast at Boma and putzed around the AKL on Sunday morning before we drove back home. We could have eaten breakfast with y'all!!!

I'm saddest ever that I didn't know you were there. I would have busted up on you so fast that Mellyman would have booked a flight back to Canada that minute.

At a minimum, I would have sent up a fresh plate of chocolate covered strawberries.

Melly, Mel, Mel. Glad as heck you're back, and I'm looking forward to some good funny.

NM

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

NM - I thought the same thing. Except I think we left the day they got there. Otherwise - the three of us on both trips. Freaky Borg.

 

[Frickles]

..it was from my honey for our upcoming fifteenth anniversary and my *ahem* 40th birthday.

Happy belated birthday girlfriend!

Except that I only had one bite of one strawberry and only one bite of the big chocolate thingie that had "Happy Anniversary" written on it in candy before our three kids descended upon it like a wild pack of Alleys. Not cats... Kirsties.

I'm so cracking up...and for some reason I'm envisioning Zzub pulling an Alley when he sees the sno-caps at Chef Mickey's.

Well it is a party now since La and NM finally made it. I told those girls to stop hanging out at the DISser Chapter of the NKOTB on the CB and get on over here.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

One time, alas NOT at band camp, someone verbally assaulted me on the Dis.

They said, "OMG! You're MEL???!!! Why don't you EVER finish a TR?!!!!"

Though, they wrote it in ALL CAPITAL letters and they were harsh I tell you. Apparently they mistook me for you.

I'm Mel too.

But, I'm the Mel who almost died at MGM (NODHS) and who smuggles booze. You're a different Mel.

I'm going to read your TR though because Princess V said so. And I always Trust V.

Glad to meet you, other Mel.

MEL

Heh heh heh heh.

You know... with a good supply of Ridalyn... I might be able to finish those suckers.

Clearly we're not the same Mel. Although I must admit to a little booze smuggling. Or a lot.

I've never almost died at MGM and I don't care for Bananamen but I AM glad to meet you.

Stick around.

Princess V sent me over here as well, so I came. Although this bothers me a little.

Thanks for coming. You'll get used to it. Roll Tide!

Hi! V sent me over here too. THis sounds like it is going to be a fun trip

It might also suck. We'll all have to wait and see.

Why oh why am I so excited for you to start another trippie when I don't even "know" you? I'm one of those dreaded lurker/reader type people who don't feel witty enough to join in on the fun banter between you and ZZUB and all those crazy and fun Maelstrommers--but immensely enjoy reading about your trips!
So, hello and welcome back to you Mel and it's so nice to see all the other "cool" kids come around to play!
Carry on! I can't wait for the smiles and chuckles and maybe some soda out of the ol' nose!

Please feel free to join in. Dare ya!

Hi Mel, welcome back. I started reading your first trip report cause i'm all things about the Haunted Mansion, haven't stopped laughing since.
Witty and entertaining, thank you for letting us into your life.
I am taking my 17 yr old only for graduation present. Single child trips are to be encouraged!!!!!!!!

Word!!!! Glad to see ya!

See now, Z has me pining for a room with a view at the Contemporary. You are going to do the same thing to me regarding the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

And. Five days at Food and Wine? I'm almost certain we were there at the same time. And didn't run into each other? Imagine that.

Kitty!!!! When were your dates? Exactly?

Hey Mel!!!!

So glad you're back......bringin the funny and rollin the T!!!!!

Sam! Good to see ya too!

...but I was off furiously working on a deadline.

Thanks to some hard work and quick action though, it looks like the last of my Ringo Starr fan mail's gonna squeak in JUST UNDER the deadline.

What a relief!

I was really worried about that for a minute. And I'm sure he was too.

But it's all good. And so is Mel's new trippie. Which, by the way, leaves me eight different kinds of numb. I thought you fell off the face of the earth. Were abducted by aliens. Or got eaten by Sasquatch (HI ZZUB!). Out there in the Northwoods. Lucky for us you didn't and you're bringin' funny back. Mel Happyhaunt style.

By the way, we ALSO use the Elvis weight measurement system in our house. Only the American measurement system is a little different than the Canadian version. It can be somewhat confusing. Like that whole Fahrenheit/Celsius thing. Because it's not based on old Elvis or young Elvis. The after effects of too many jelly donuts. Or even Elvis the human. It's based on Elvis the cat. Our cat. And how many critters he's trapped and eaten that day.

All deep fried and generously coated with peanut butter and banana. Of course.

Anywho.

I think you know this already, but we LOVELOVELOVE the AKL. Also because it smells like meat. And has easy access to Boma. But mostly because no matter how many times you walk out onto the balcony stark naked (speaking of which...stark raving MAD, I can believe, the other not so much), no one is ever videotaping. With their surveillance equipment. In case you decide to slip a contraband plastic straw into a fancy chocolate cake and hand it off to an imprisoned giraffe. For dessert. (Hi Mel!)

Can't wait to hear how you and Calvin roll it, Melly. Glad you found your way back. (Hi Jefferson Starship!)

Oh La La!!!!! My dear La!!!!

Miss'd ya!!! I'm also numb reading your little doohickey here. You totally crack me up. And rock at the same time!!!!

However... regarding the stark naked thingie: While it's true some or all of us Happyhaunts may be mad... you must realize I have a youngest son who will do ANYTHING for a laugh, or for attention... or on a dare. Especially a brotherdare.

Clearly you haven't met Tommy before.

Or have you?




Oh.

Crap.

Let THAT (who was naked) cat (not named Elvis) outta the bag pretty quick.

Sorry T.

My bad.

Heh heh.

Anywho... I'm SOGLADSOGLAD to talk to you again. Stick around baybee.

Loving the TR! Having spent many a laughing minute reading about the fun times had by you and your family, I salute you!

I'm also a long-time lurker and have read many of the trippies by ZZUB, La la, Mrs. The King et al. Love the stories as much as the banter between you all.

Keep it coming!

It's coming!!!! Thanks.

Me(l) I am not licensed to use DED yet, but if I was I would slap it all over this report. I am so thrilled Disney is still letting you in

Hello Mrs. The K!!! You're certainly welcome to use DED as much as you like. I've used it before, myself, reading your stuff. Cheers!

Mel, you crack me up as always. My younger son and I also share the gift/curse of a strong sense of smell. Whereas DH and #1 son are blissfully clueless. We'll be at AKL for 3 nights (before, in Happyhaunt style, we move to the BWV) in April. I'll look forward to the smell of meat The puke? Not so much.

It's the Animal Kingdom PARK that has the puke whiffs, Ash. Not the resort. The resort smells AWESOME!!!! It's the woodburning ovens from both restaurants there. Completely permeates the lobby. You'll love the resort I promise. Do you have a savannah view? That, I think, is pretty important.

Not ONLY was I in the World at the same time as the ZZUBs, it appears I was also in the World at the same time as the Happyhaunts.

GET OUT!

Yep. The NMs surprised the youngest member of the family with a birthday weekend trip to the World on May 16-18th. And here's something even freakier.

NM!!!! GET OUT OF HERE!!!! Seriously???!!!!!! I'm saddest EVER now too.
That's so weird. I'm sure you would have scared the crap outta Mellyman.

You're pretty scary after all.

Heh heh.

NM - I thought the same thing. Except I think we left the day they got there. Otherwise - the three of us on both trips. Freaky Borg.

"Freaky Borg" ~ DED. Well. It's. Either THAT. Or else we all go to Disney WAY too much.

Heh heh.

Thanks for reading guys. I'll try to write some more today but we Happyhaunts are heading to The General's place for our belated Thanksgiving later today. So I don't know how much time I'll have.


Later,

Melly

 

[ZZUB]

I'll try to pick up the pace a little bit, here.

You mean you're going to quit writing this one in the next day or so?

Except that I only had one bite of one strawberry and only one bite of the big chocolate thingie that had "Happy Anniversary" written on it in candy before our three kids descended upon it like a wild pack of Alleys. Not cats... Kirsties.

DED!

But you better believe I popped the cork and chugged that bubbly straight from the bottle.

There's a shock. I understand you did the same with the bottle of shampoo b/c you incorrectly believed it contained 1% alcohol.

If I had written a tripe report for that one it would have been entitled... "The Happyhaunts Spend 10 Days At Conservation Station. Thanks Alot...Beth".

If you had written that Trip Report. One hopes you would have spelled "a lot" correctly. Do you have any idea how embarrasing it is to write a Trip Report with a misspelled word in the title? Neither do I.

We liked Boma for BOTH breakfast and dinner. But more for dinner. And several members of our party discovered how convenient it was to be staying in the same resort as the restaurant in which you indulged in WAY too much spicy food and sambal chutney then they should have.

Basically...we liked it. Is what I'm slowly getting to.

Unlike the too much spicy food and sambal chutney. Evidently.

It smells like meat.

I used to know someone who smelled like meat. She wasn't very popular, however.

Well, I'm done with lunch now. Thanks for entertainment.

 

[askelton]

I used to know someone who smelled like meat. She wasn't very popular, however.

Last edited by ZZUB : Today at 02:32 PM. Reason: Either Roll Tide or die trying. If we lose to Ole Miss tomorrow, I'll be gone like a freight train.

Hoddy Totty baby! DH went to Ole Miss and then there's that other reason.

 

[AshClan]

Happy belated Canuckian Thanksgiving, sweetness. Give the General a hug (or a head butt, if you'd prefer) from me!!

Unfortunately, we did not book a Savannah View in 2009. Pool view only. Mainly because our 3 nights at AKL are taking place during EASTER WEEK and I am already choking on all aspects of the cost - room rate, airfare, "holiday" dining surcharge, etc. We did stay one night last April and had a pool view and it was awesome, simply because it was SO close to the elevator. The boys are psyched to have a bit more time to enjoy the ambiance this time!!

Wow. What an awesome mini-meet that would've been. Mel, Kitty and NM. A plentitude of beautiful Maelstrom women. Wish we coulda made that one happen..... Maybe next year

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

I looked to see if I could see the condoms that are supposedly in Bill Clinton's pocket, but I couldn't see them.

And, yes, I'm sure the condoms are there. Unless JFK stole 'em.

Neither Clinton or JFK have them.

G.W. Bush does. He thinks they're mints.

There's a shock. I understand you did the same with the bottle of shampoo b/c you incorrectly believed it contained 1% alcohol.

If you had written that Trip Report. One hopes you would have spelled "a lot" correctly. Do you have any idea how embarrasing it is to write a Trip Report with a misspelled word in the title? Neither do I.

DED!! Heh heh.

And...

DEDDER!!!! So DED: "Neither do I". That made my thymus go up and down.

Which leaves me susceptible to illness. I think.

Anywho... the crazy thing is that everytime I type that word out I realize I have NO IDEA how it's spelled. So sometimes I type "alot" and the rest of the time I write "a lot".

I figure I'm good a significant percent of the time.

I'm the laziest idiot you'll ever meet.

I'm thinking about borrowing your golfcart. The one you use to get the mail, go to the fridge, answer the door, walk the dog and...errr... maybe, also, golf with.

And also because it is our Belated Canuckian (thanks, Ash) Thanksgiving... I should be thankful for what I have and for those I care about.

Even if it's just a teeny, miniscule, infinitesimal and weensie-peensie amount.

So... I'm sending you something. From me to you.

Yep.

A Thanksgiving present.

It's a pet.

You like pets... right???!!! Oh. Yes, you do, ZZUB!!!

This one is small. Symbolically small. Obviously. His name is "Buddy". And he has a great big tail. He likes to play. Especially at night. And I'd suggest the first thing you do with him is get him out and really, really rough-house. With him. Mess him up. Rub his belly really hard with your foot.

Don't worry... it's all good.

He won't bite you.




He'll sting. Heh heh heh heh. But only enough to cause cardiac irregularities or death.



Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Cheers!!!

Happy belated Canuckian Thanksgiving, sweetness. Give the General a hug (or a head butt, if you'd prefer) from me!!

Unfortunately, we did not book a Savannah View in 2009. Pool view only. Mainly because our 3 nights at AKL are taking place during EASTER WEEK and I am already choking on all aspects of the cost - room rate, airfare, "holiday" dining surcharge, etc. We did stay one night last April and had a pool view and it was awesome, simply because it was SO close to the elevator. The boys are psyched to have a bit more time to enjoy the ambiance this time!!

Wow. What an awesome mini-meet that would've been. Mel, Kitty and NM. A plentitude of beautiful Maelstrom women. Wish we coulda made that one happen..... Maybe next year

Ash. You're getting a nice African violet. Instead.


Catch y'all in a couple.


Cheers, Melly.

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Dirty pool, old man. I like it! Gomez would be so proud you started a new unfinished TR.

um... I would have been here sooner... but I was in WDW! Thanks for starting without me.

Glad to see you back, Mel.

Please continue...

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Thread Killer! I guess no one liked the Addams Family reference... oh well, I thought it was funny...

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving with the General, Mel.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I'm feeling left out that our voting is over now in Canada.

How about we start a vote on making "Alot" the canadian version of a lot?