Have AnnualPass, Will Travel. 1st PTR *Update 10/04* The Trip Report is up!

[BerrysGirl]

Wednesday: June 15th

We slept in a little longer than I had originally wanted but between the central air (which we do not have at home), the super comfy king-sized bed, and the jam-packed previous day, I think we both needed a little rest. I was a little slower getting up than Matt so he headed downstairs for our breakfast: coffee, belgium waffle, and strawberry yogurt. After breakfast we got dressed, loaded up the car with the cooler, and headed to the Smoky Mountain National Park.

It was the perfect day. A little overcast so it stayed cool and also to keep some of the crowds away. We stopped at the main visitors center for a map and browsed the gift shop. We also stopped by a small museum, which was basically a bunch of taxidermic animals from the area, before loading up the car and heading to our ideal hiking destination. Mingo Falls. Unfortunately, Mingo Falls is in the Cherokee Reservation on the OTHER side of the National Park. I've never been to a National Park and this might sound silly, but I had NO idea how big they are! The drive was a good hour and half up the mountains and through the park but I think it actually worked out well. We got to see so much of the Park that way and just enjoyed a pleasant drive. I kept looking at the map trying to predict where we were and how much more of a drive we had left. The scale wasn't amazing but it was all that studying I had to do that caused me to make a startling discovery. We had passed into North Carolina?!? No idea a) we had gone that far south and b) the Park passed state boundaries.

The funniest part of this discovery was that I had originally wanted to go to the Outer Banks for Matt's graduation but decided North Carolina was a little too far to drive. Goodness gracious...

We made it to the last Visitor's Center with no trouble and decided to stop to get more clear directions to Mingo Falls. In the Center, we found this exhibit:

Matt had been wondering the entire vacation why they were called the "Smokies." And now we know

We decided to eat before our little hike. Thank goodness we brought the cooler and ordered such a large pizza Monday night. We ate our leftovers and were off. We took a wrong turn and ended up going about half an hour out of the way (pretty sure this one is my bad ) but finally entered the Cherokee Reservation and...

Mingo Falls

The walk was very short... less than one mile round trip. But it was considered Moderate in the hiking guide because it was almost all stairs. I chose this particular waterfall because it was suppose to be one of the largest waterfalls in the entire Smoky Mountains.

Some shots during our hike:

Finally we made it! The falls were huge! It kept going:

And going:

Photographic proof that we both were there:

It was truly beautiful. Afterward we started heading back, with some slight dreams of trying another hiking trail to Laurel Falls, one of the most popular trails in the Park.

Some shots along the way:

We decided to stop where the Appalachian Trail crossed the highway.

Yeah, we were in North Carolina.

We walked the trail for a while, just to say that we've been on it.

On the way back down the mountain it started to rain... Then it started to hail! At that point we realized Laurel Falls was out of the picture. We slowly wound our way down the mountain and decided to head back to the hotel room to check the weather and plan our evening!​

 

[melmar136]

After the wonderful views up the mountain, I decided it was time for a little smackerel (DBF and I are going to see the new Winnie the Pooh movie later today. So excited!). There's a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop in town and I loooove going to the real B&J stores when I can.
We looked through the literally hundreds of options including such classics as Cherry Garcia and Matt’s personal favorite, Stephen Colbert’s flavor, but I decided to try one of the flavors exclusive to the shop. I can’t specifically remember the name but it was very close to “Goddess Goodness Cake Chocolate Chip.” It was Chocolate and Coffee and Peanut Butter and Birthday Cake Ice Cream with fudge pieces and marshmallow. Pretty much, it was heaven in a cone.

Loving the reviews of the food...even if it isn't at Disney! Good practice for your trip!
What did you think of the Pooh movie?
and YUM, Ben & Jerrys! we would have had to stop there too!

 

[BerrysGirl]

Loving the reviews of the food...even if it isn't at Disney! Good practice for your trip!
What did you think of the Pooh movie?
and YUM, Ben & Jerrys! we would have had to stop there too!

I looved it! Just like the classic. Admittedly, it took some getting use to the new voices for the characters but it was too cute and actually quite funny, even for adults!

At least, that's my opinion... DBF's opinion was muffled by his snores during the movie
No really, he did fall asleep, but only for a few minutes and once I woke him up, he enjoyed the rest of the movie and thought it was cute at the end too

And seriously, who can resist Ben & Jerry's? The line was like 20 people deep and everyone on the street was jealously eyeing my ice cream goods

​

 

[BerrysGirl]

Wednesday: June 15th. Part 2

So after an exciting day in the national park we were feeling wet, tired, and a little hungry. We watched tv back at the hotel for a while and kept our eyes on the radar, trying to devise the best plan of action. We saw a gap in the storms and decided to walk into town quickly for dinner. Our plan was to get there and eat during the rain, then be able to head out during a break in the storm... were we successful?

The restaurant we picked was called No Way Jose.

It wasn't exactly the most authentic thing out there but we sure are suckers for that kind of "Mexican" food so we couldn't resist.
Once inside we were seated at a window looking out onto the street and creek which was nice because it gave us something to look at.

Right away our server took our drink order and who can resist margaritas?

P.S. These were some of the best margaritas I've ever had.

Yum!

For dinner Matt and I decided to share the Joe's Fiesta Sampler which consisted of: "Cheese quesadillas, chicken & beef taquitos, Mexi-wings, nachos, Boom Boom Poppers, hombre sticks and chili con queso. Served with Jose's sauce, pico de gallo and sour cream."

It was a lot of food but quite good. The quesadilla and nachos were my particular favorite.

We also got a Taco, Chile Relleno, and Cheese Enchilada.

Oh, and at some point Matt got another margarita too!

While we were eating, a torrential downpour hit Gatlinburg. We watched the creek become a river in a few short minutes while a family of ducks happily played in the water.
Luckily though, once we finished eating the rain more or less let up, so, with full bellies and feeling adventurous, we decided to head to...
Treasure Quest Golf

Can you tell the margaritas were starting to get to him?

We had been walking past it all week and, admittedly, it was the Indiana Jones theme song and animatronic dinosaur that pulled us in, but it was a cheesy way to get out the rain for a while and Matt had been wanting to play Mini-Golf since we got there.

Super cheesy attraction means super cheesy photo opportunities!

No need to put your quarter in, sweetie, she already knows

There was a creepy skeleton riding a skeleton horse behind us.

I have no idea who this man was suppose to be. A pirate with the chicken pox?

The dinosaur that sucked us in. P.S. It was only half a dinosaur.

Most of the course was pretty generic. The last hole was the only interesting one that took you back out to the front of the course... and Indiana Jones and his giant golden ball!

Overall Treasure Quest was obviously super cheesy and I won't be doing it again but it was a fun way to waste an evening with the rain and some margaritas in you!

On the walk back we saw firsthand "How the Smokies Got Their Name"

We were still feeling restless so we decided to go back to the Mellow Mushroom and sit at the bar.
We both ordered half-and-half drinks.

I can't remember the name of my combination but it was Cider and Guiness (on the right). Matt got the Lunar Eclipse which was a combination of Blue Moon and Guiness. I've had my combination before and I really love the taste. Matt completely fell in love with his and I think he's been wistfully dreaming about it since.
Unfortunately we decided to order dessert too.

While this scrumptious dessert looks delicious (and believe me it was). This giant cookie, topped with ice cream, and drizzled with chocolate syrup and whipped cream was the straw that broke the camel's back. We were stuffed to the brim! We had eaten so much food the past few days this dessert was just completely overwhelming and unfortunately we left half of it on the plate. It was still a fun return trip to the Mushroom and we really wish the chain would make it a little further north...

As we waddled back to the room, bellies full, we kept commenting on how much the rain had made the creeks rise.
Creek Before:

Creek After:

NOW I see the river view I had booked! At that point, Matt made the exclamation that would come to be the title of this Mini Trip Report. I WANT TO DIET!!!

For months I have been telling Matt we need to start eating healthier and getting more exercise (because you know there are important things in our future that we should look good for. like... ). This trip was suppose to be the last gastronomic event before the health kick started. Matt had been slightly resisting the change but he was definitely on board after this vacation. My diabolical plan worked after all!

The rest of the night was just spent vegging around the room and slowly digesting our monstrous meal.

Coming Up: Packing, shopping, NASCARS, and home!​

 

[BerrysGirl]

Thursday: June 16

We slept in a little, showered, packed up the room, then headed down for breakfast. One of the biggest perks of staying at a Hampton are the breakfasts. We definitely indulged all week long. I can't remember what we had this morning but this was the morning Matt decided he would try to book a room in an Hampton this August when he stops during his drive to Disney to begin the College Program.

After breakfast we packed up the room and while Matt loaded up the car, I checked out. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy. There were a few things we had discussed doing before we hit the road for good but there was a clear winner in my mind... shopping!

We had driven past an outlet mall in Pigeon Forge so after stopping for gas we pulled in to see what this fine discount establishment had to offer. Our first stop was the Coach outlet. You know. Just to look. Ha! We stepped in and were instantly handed a 30% off coupon. Uh-oh. We browsed for a while and I found a small purse I absolutely fell in love with. I wasn't sure if I was ready to commit yet though so we stepped away and continued exploring. We stopped by the Izod store and found some equally amazing sales. Matt bought some fantastic shorts for only $20 and I even convinced him to buy a plaid pair! He looks awesome in them and says they're super comfortable and will be perfect in Disney.

It was about this time that we looked at Matt's receipt and confirmed our previous suspicions... sales tax in Tennessee is 9.75%
Holy schamoly that's massive! Now I'm basically resigning myself to a 20% off coupon from Coach. My love and best wishes to all Tennessee residents. You are courageous people.

After this crazy discovery we stumbled upon another miracle store A DISNEY STORE OUTLET

We browsed for a while and I found a Perry the Platypus shirt for only $6 I also bought a Buzz Lightyear shirt for my Dad for Father's Day. Matt couldn't find a shirt he liked so settled on a Mickey Mouse water bottle.

After the Disney Store we wandered a little while longer and went in a few more stores but nothing memorable. We did get to the other side of the outlet mall and saw an interesting sight.

The NASCAR themed go-cart park!

Matt's family loves NASCAR and he use to come here as a boy so he really enjoyed seeing the park again.
Here's a picture of the big go-carts shaped like the racing pick-up trucks (my NASCAR IQ is very low so I apologize for my inept description):

Afterwards I caved and returned to Coach and made my purchase (I could still justify the cost even with 9.75% sales tax) and we hit the road.

We made one stop for lunch at a DQ / Taco Bell but other then that, made good time and returned home with no incident. Overall, I had a great time and really enjoyed our mini-getaway.

Coming Up: The Final Mini-TR Post. Purchases! Overall Reactions!​

 

[ifightfortheusers]

The whole trip was exactly what I needed after my quarter had ended. It was a lot of fun going back to a place I hadn't visited in over 10 years. Megan is an excellent trip planner. Our trips to Disney this fall are going to be outstanding.

Due to the shopping trip to the Coach store, I have now learned more about purses than I ever had intentioned. There is a lot more to purses than I realized.

The NASCAR go-kart track had changed so much. I was real happy with the changes. It looked more like a local fair than a go-kart track.

Update: I start my college program in one week. Feel free to visit me if anyone is visiting WDW this fall. I or Megan will post where I will be working as soon as I find out.

Thanks for following our mini-trip. The next trip reports will be a lot more exciting.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I was a few pages back, but have enjoyed your mini-TR! The goofy pics from mini-golf had me laughing out loud - those kind of things make the best memories!

And too funny about how it made Matt want to diet! I always feel that way after a vacation too - it's a good kick-start.

 

[dreamerchic33]

great update!

 

[BerrysGirl]

I was a few pages back, but have enjoyed your mini-TR! The goofy pics from mini-golf had me laughing out loud - those kind of things make the best memories!

And too funny about how it made Matt want to diet! I always feel that way after a vacation too - it's a good kick-start.

Aren't those pictures amazing? I think I'll frame the first one to enjoy every day when Matt's in Disney without me.

Unfortunately the diet hasn't gone too well this summer we definitely are getting better at portion control but haven't cut pizza out of the picture quite yet! However, we have become the world's youngest mall walkers. We average about 8-10 miles a day and definitely only pass other mall walkers 40 and older
But you have to get ready for Disney somehow, right? And so far Matt's lost 6 pounds I have not worked up the nerve to weigh myself...

great update!

Thanks so much I'm also working on a Disney post as we speak!
​

 

[BerrysGirl]

So the trip has been over for almost two months now and Matt leaves for Disney in a mere 5 days

But souvenirs live on!!!

This post is twofold. I, of course, would like to show off my Tennessee haul but I'd also love to present to you all, my most loyal readers, THE RESULTS OF MY BRAND NEW CAMERA!!!

I've had the same Fuji finepix camera since sophomore year of college and I finally decided for a little upgrade. Plus, to ensure Matt conducts a thorough photo documentation of the college program, I HAD to buy a new camera so he could have my old one, as he did not previously own one.

My photography skills are less than spectacular so I could not justify shelling out the big bucks for any form of professional quality equipment so I settled on one of the nicer point and shoots out there.

I went with the canon PowerShot ELPH 100s (and yes, it is in hot pink. Not my first color choice but the only one they had at the time). My mother has a Canon and seems to love it (and if she can take good pictures with it, it must be a pretty magical camera ) and it has all sorts of fun settings I'm still figuring out. But I do feel like my picture quality has increased exceptionally and, while these pictures may not exactly reflect this, I most certainly see a difference.

Souvenir #1 is the (already consumed ) bottle of Rose wine we purchased from the local winery.

Then there's the purdy color-changing nail polish.

And the colors they change to in the sun.

My victory trophy from our wine glass bet!

Matt's bottle opener from the Smoky Mountain Brewery.

Don't forget the obligatory Disney haul!
My Agent P shirt:

And Matt's water bottle:

And finally, my pride and joy, the beginning of my purse-purchasing downfall:

*cue heavenly music*

Overall Gatlinburg was a lot of fun. Would I go back there ever again? No. There's just too much in this biiiiig bluuuuue woooorld to revisit a place like that again (Disney is a completely different story however ). But Gatlinburg will now always hold a special place in my heart. It was our first grown-up vacation together and we had a total blast. We ate too much, laughed just enough, and saw some magnificent natural sights in the National Park. I had a great time, but now I get to look forward to bigger and better things like....

THREE TRIPS TO DISNEY THIS YEAR!!!


Coming Up: Wait, did she say three trips?!?!​

 

[ifightfortheusers]

2011 is turning out to be a big year for Megan and Mickey. By the end of this year, she will have visited Mickey's Florida home FOUR times. I have never been to Disney that much in one year.

Side note: I am tired of seeing this Little Mermaid 365 commercial on the Disney channel. I look up every time they mention the conga line. It is currently playing in between Phineas and Ferb.

 

[melmar136]

Love your new Coach bag! Even with the 9.75 % sales tax!

 

[BerrysGirl]

Love your new Coach bag! Even with the 9.75 % sales tax!

Thanks! I know, that tax was ridiculous. It helped to just imagine I had a 20% off coupon instead of 30%... you know, to justify the insanity!

​

 

[BerrysGirl]

Hello Dis World

I have a much larger, much more interesting (chalk full of pictures) post in the works but I wanted to stop by super quick tonight to let everyone know that Matt is leaving for the College Program tomorrow.



I am of course super proud and super excited for him but also so very sad that I have to spend 5 months away from the love of my life.
This summer was absolutely wonderful living together and it has just made me look forward to the rest of our lives together in Orlando but I know the rest of 2011 and parts of 2012 will be tough. Needless to say I am very happy for the miraculous tool known as Skype.

Matt will leave tomorrow morning and make the 13 hour drive down to Orlando. He has a reservation at a Clarion hotel right outside of DTD and the Casting building where, on Monday, his orientation, room assignment, and job placement will be given to him No worries. I will be a diligent DISer and report to you all the minute I find out about his placement.

That's it for now, I'm sure I'll be posting frequently in the next few days, but right now I'm gonna go enjoy my last evening with my man... ​

 

[wdwgirl03]

Can't believe Matt leaves tomorrow! My sister leaves 2 weeks from today. I think she's starting to get a little nervous but I know she'll have an awesome time.

YAY for 3 trips!!

Update: I start my college program in one week. Feel free to visit me if anyone is visiting WDW this fall. I or Megan will post where I will be working as soon as I find out.

Good luck and have fun on the college program! My sister is doing QSFB-maybe you'll end up working at the same place. Did you make any requests for work location? I know my sister called a couple times and they put something in her file or whatever. Obviously they don't make any guarantees. But I'm so anxious to find out where she'll be working!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Unfortunately the diet hasn't gone too well this summer we definitely are getting better at portion control but haven't cut pizza out of the picture quite yet! However, we have become the world's youngest mall walkers. We average about 8-10 miles a day and definitely only pass other mall walkers 40 and older
But you have to get ready for Disney somehow, right? And so far Matt's lost 6 pounds I have not worked up the nerve to weigh myself...


Thanks so much I'm also working on a Disney post as we speak!
​

Six pounds is awesome! And really, the main trick is portion control. 8-10 miles a day walking + portion control is waaaaaay more than I'm doing right now.

​

That purse is ADORABLE! Oooooh, I likee waaaaaay too much!

And three trips!!! I look forward to hearing about them all!!!!

Hello Dis World

I have a much larger, much more interesting (chalk full of pictures) post in the works but I wanted to stop by super quick tonight to let everyone know that Matt is leaving for the College Program tomorrow.



I am of course super proud and super excited for him but also so very sad that I have to spend 5 months away from the love of my life.
This summer was absolutely wonderful living together and it has just made me look forward to the rest of our lives together in Orlando but I know the rest of 2011 and parts of 2012 will be tough. Needless to say I am very happy for the miraculous tool known as Skype.

Matt will leave tomorrow morning and make the 13 hour drive down to Orlando. He has a reservation at a Clarion hotel right outside of DTD and the Casting building where, on Monday, his orientation, room assignment, and job placement will be given to him No worries. I will be a diligent DISer and report to you all the minute I find out about his placement.

That's it for now, I'm sure I'll be posting frequently in the next few days, but right now I'm gonna go enjoy my last evening with my man... ​

I hope Matt had safe travels and is waking up in sunny Florida, ready for his first day on the job. I'm super curious as to where he will be placed! Another fellow DISer that I follow (and her husband) just moved there and she's working in Canada at Epcot!

I hope your trips help make 2011 and parts of 2012 a bit less painful.

 

[BerrysGirl]

I have officially heard back from Disney's newest cast member!

He got checked into his program, no problem. He first went to the housing department and spoke to the owners of the outside company who own and lease the College Program apartments to the students. He had a few options to choose from and it was bit stressful because his roommate hadn't shown up yet but he was asked to choose their apartment without him. This is an even bigger predicament than it sounds because different apartments cost different amounts to rent. The more people in the apartment, the less the cost. Additionally, there are certain buildings that cost less than others... I guess based on the age of the apartment

After all his options, he selected an one bedroom apartment in Chatham (if that means anything to anyone).
It cost a little more, but Matt wanted this certain apartment complex because it carries a reputation for being more quiet and laid back. The other complex, Vista, is known to house some pretty intense parties that Matt wants nothing to do with. When he sends them, I'll post pictures if anyone is interested.

An interesting side story: the CM who was helping Matt at the housing station, took one look at Matt's freshly shaven face and promptly informed him that "your beard's too dark. you'll need to shave it or you'll never pass the Disney Look inspection." I'm sure you all know that Disney sets a very high standard for how their employees can look and, according to this CM, even Matt's freshly shaven face would not pass the test.
At this point I receive a text that reads: I'll have to shave twice during my shifts.
I'm picturing this poor kid running off to the bathroom to shave during his breaks. At this point I'm thinking "gee. Disney's a little too strict. Don't ya think?"
Well, as it turns out this particular CM must have been playing a trick on Matt... he passed the other four official "Disney Look" inspections.
Welcome to the CP, newbie!

But let's face it. You didn't tune into this post to hear a loooong story of check-in drama
YOU WANT TO HEAR WHERE MATT'S WORKING FOR THE NEXT 5 MONTHS!!!


Matt will be a faithful employee of a certain mouse in the Quick Service Food & Beverage at...

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(The suspense is killing you, isn't it?)

THE CARIBBEAN BEACH: MARKET STREET!!!



Matt is sooo thrilled. He eventually wants to work in Hospitality Services at a resort so getting his start here is exactly what he wants.

I've never eaten here because we've never stayed at Caribbean Beach but based off the pictures it looks really neat. Plus, he won't be out in the hot sun all day and it won't be crazy hectic (imagine working at Casey's Corner? ).
Now I am a little hazy on some of the details of his job but it looks like the actual QS is named Old Port Royale and his exact job description puts him at Market Street (if anyone knows the difference please let me know ). From what I've figured from my internet research it looks like the entire dinning area is called Market Street but some of the areas have different names???

The best part in my opinion? This certain job comes with shoes In some of the jobs, Disney CMs are requires to furnish their own solid white or black sneakers. But because he'll be working in a kitchen, they want to provide him with the appropriate Non-Slip shoes. So he doesn't have to buy them good news!

He has orientation and other classes for the rest of the week and starts at Market Street on Friday. He doesn't get his employee ID with attached FREE park pass until Wednesday though (which I think he's super bummed about because he wants to go ride the new Star Tours). But overall his first day could not have gone better. Great roommate, awesome job placement, and living in the happiest place on earth. What could get better?

Oh, I know. SEPTEMBER 29 COMING SOONER!!!
​

 

[BerrysGirl]

Can't believe Matt leaves tomorrow! My sister leaves 2 weeks from today. I think she's starting to get a little nervous but I know she'll have an awesome time.

YAY for 3 trips!!



Good luck and have fun on the college program! My sister is doing QSFB-maybe you'll end up working at the same place. Did you make any requests for work location? I know my sister called a couple times and they put something in her file or whatever. Obviously they don't make any guarantees. But I'm so anxious to find out where she'll be working!

Matt was so nervous before he left (but you didn't hear it from me ) but now that he's situated I think he's just super excited. Tell your sister to relax, polish up on her line-waitin skills, and have fun. The first day's over before you know it and then you're in Disney!

Six pounds is awesome! And really, the main trick is portion control. 8-10 miles a day walking + portion control is waaaaaay more than I'm doing right now.

That purse is ADORABLE! Oooooh, I likee waaaaaay too much!

And three trips!!! I look forward to hearing about them all!!!!


I hope Matt had safe travels and is waking up in sunny Florida, ready for his first day on the job. I'm super curious as to where he will be placed! Another fellow DISer that I follow (and her husband) just moved there and she's working in Canada at Epcot!

I hope your trips help make 2011 and parts of 2012 a bit less painful.

One of the things Matt is excited for is the excellent walking path around the Caribbean Beach. He really enjoyed the healthy choices we were making this summer and I really think he wants to continue them in Disney

I still can't believe that just yesterday we woke up together and packed his car and now he's in Florida and all moved into his new apartment. Thanks for the happy thoughts I know the time will go by quickly!​

 

[wdwgirl03]

Ahh I loved that update!! So exciting Matt made it safely, got his apartment and work location! Awesome he's happy with his placement too. I wonder if my sister will get shoes too since she's also doing QSFB.

Tell him good luck with the orientation/Traditions!

 

[BerrysGirl]

Ahh I loved that update!! So exciting Matt made it safely, got his apartment and work location! Awesome he's happy with his placement too. I wonder if my sister will get shoes too since she's also doing QSFB.

Tell him good luck with the orientation/Traditions!

Thanks! Everything went really well and his training officially started today. His shifts for his first week are Sunday - Thursday, 6 am - 2:30 pm which I think is a pretty good schedule, but it does mean he has to get up at 4 am every morning to make sure he catches the right bus

Tell your sister she will most definitely get her shoes for free They want all the QS CM's to have the right no-slip shoes so no one gets hurt on the job.

Let me know where your sister works when she gets her assignment. I'm super curious to hear where other CP kids are working!

​