How Do You Think We Stay So Happy?*Final Thoughts & Farewells* 10/7 p100

[eandesmom]

Beautiful Beach Club pics! Love the dress you're wearing with Sorcerer Mickey. So pretty!

You did a great job picking out treats for your cute kiddos. Fitting them in the return suitcase will be a challenge but you have days before you have to think about that!!!

I love that dress too! Your kiddos definitely looted out! Lots of fabulous goodies. I'm impressed you sent those back to the resort, the rest of the trip you seemed to carry them all with you.

Very good beer scouting Cynthia!!! I enjoy a good beer as well....I like most IPA's and really like hefeweizens Oh and lambics too.

Ok I knew (after this trip) that we had some similar wine tastes, didn't pick up on the IPA. If you hit Raglan in Oct, get one of those HopsExutioners. YUM! What the heck is a lambic though? You have stumped me! I like a good wheat in the summer...

I can understand the no fabric trend with bed bugs and all other kinds of germs and such But I am with you...always cold on flights. James Taylor that made me laugh

The JT part got much funnier the next night that's for sure But nothing like some sweet baby james to lull me to sleep. October Road.

I was seriously bummed about the blanket. And jealous of the teenager who plopped in next to me in the middle of the night. She had jeans, a new hoodie from her Alaska vacation and...one of those pillow pets. It was a bumble bee. So stinkin cute and cozy! I had major pillow pet envy.

Me neither! We'll have to wait til they get to evening fireworks before we can chime in!

or while a random teenager was trying to snuggle with me (in her sleep).

Enjoying all of the updates!

Cynthia, I love your post-flight strategy!

Thanks Jennifer!

Watch it, next time it won't work but seriously, it's been wonderful the past 2 trips!

Seriously! No clown slide! What's up with that?

pot.calling.kettle.black

You and those adult beverages. I have to agree that its time to put an alcohol zone in MK. Shooters on the way into fantasyland and shooters on the way out!

Shooters every time Buzz says "to infinity and beyond!"

Where is that petition anyway? I'm ready to sign.

I was there and I didn't even see that. I never went in that direction. I kept thinking I would back track, but I never did.

And therein lies the reason I missed that HM queue. Worth it though. Then again, I am a little Belle obsessed. HEY! I just realized...OMG that if my trip really does move from August to December....that castle might be OPEN! :

You sound like Denny and I. Well, maybe not. We are always late for our return flight, but we are good getting there for departure. I can't believe you made it for last call. SHEESH! That's a tad unnerving. I'd hate to miss a flight on the way there.

We are always late. Period. To everything. Not horribly, 10-15 minutes as a general rule. Which is why, with 50 minutes to spare I didn't know what to do with myself so had a beer.

Research?????? Haha! That's a good one. I'll have to try that the next time I want a margarita! I need it for research.

Absolutely! I mean think about it. You need to compare gold to silver. Blood orange to what was it? Blueberry basil??? All in the name of research.

 

[eandesmom]

Great update Cynthia! Wow - I had no idea how busy your day was. Then you barely slept. Then you had chatty chucky near you. How did you manage to look so normal the next day? I would not have been in such good shape.

Normal is relative. Clearly you were fooled but that will happen when you haven't actually met someone before.

Seriously. I remember sitting at dinner Saturday night thinking that Cynthia looked way more energetic than the rest of us and I knew she barely got any sleep. More like a power nap. She was fine the following morning, too. You know how sometimes your good the day after you don't sleep, but you crash two days later. NOT!

I operate on fumes. Nah, not really but I'd had good sleep the night before and enough the night after so it worked itself out pretty well and the most important part was I powered through it and made the time change. If you don't, it is so BRUTAL in the morning! And then you never recover. Oh wait, we had a whole TRIP like that.

The thing I found interesting about the Anchor's Away Sandwich is that I never have much luck with sandwiches at WDW! But that was delish, you're right!!

I that sandwich

No, I decided not to be shot out a clowns mouth! LOL!!!

George is creepy.

Practicing for the nights to come! After our dinner at a certain restaurant at a certain hotel I think maybe I should practiced more

Is it very wrong that I love knowing all the inside jokes???

Can't wait to share with the rest of the class!

Nope

Me, neither. We rode Dumbo in February and I swear that castle was not there! Can't wait to check it out in July.

Cynthia, if a red eye were possible, I'd take it. I'm with you...who wants to waste a vacation day travelling? I've always been the one to drive through the night to get where I'm going. We're doing almost the same...our flight is at 6:30 in the morning and we arrive at MCO by 9:30. I think I'm going to take your advice, though, and stop for a good cup of Starbucks before I enter the other world!

I swear, the castle was more "done" by the end of our trip, I was blown away with just how far along it looked. Coffee for the road is ALWAYS a good thing and my theory is this. Even if it doesn't really speed up the DME process, at least I can relax and enjoy the ride! Of course...if you get in at 11 at night it might not work so well.

One of those lego creation for the yard would be fabulous! I might take a F&G topiary or two as well!

The daiquiri was weak! If the bartender didn't ask to see my id I would have thought there was no rum at all! You should try it!!

Your yard is going to be full if you keep going!

I'm thinking that no one should try it if it was weak...

A second person who didn't get to see the new queue! Oh my!!

I know, can you believe it? But, in my defense, I went to places that BOYS would have no interest in, especially big boys. I know I'll see HM next trip, some of the stuff I did solo, not so much.

The kiddos loved their goodies! Fitting them in the suitcase and then dealing with it's weight were definitely challenging! But, a good friend may have given me the idea to use the art of feminine persuasion to deal with the situation!

My alone time, as well as the rest of the trip, were super relaxing and refreshing!

I wondered how you did getting that all home!!! I loved the solo time and the group time, a perfect mix.

I love hearing how you all "came together".



It seems like when I try to take a relaxed approach to getting to the airport, I almost miss my plane.

I have decided I would rather be early and have to wait than to bang my steering wheel and stress the whole way and have to run down the concourse.

See and I take the approach....

there's always another plane.



Clearly I spent too much time doing a LOT of business travel.

Wow I am way behind!!! Where do I start....
Love all the pics, and can't wait to see the new Lego displays. We love Buzz and Woody, and the Snow White and dwarfs was awesome.
The Writer's Stop...just heard about this a few months ago (how is it after SO many trips we still find new things!! I love it!!) and can't wait to try it out next month.

I love Sorcerer Mickey too!! He is the cuddliest one of all the Mickeys.

I wish we had red eyes here too!! Maybe we do and I just don't know it!!

Can't wait to hear more!!!

Oh you probably have a red eye to somewhere. I find it really funny I've done 4 so close together but if you make enough of a time difference change, they are out there.

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks Jen. Glad you like it!

I actually saw Illuminations three times this trip, so I will have to agree with you on that. It does look different . Same show, different perspective.

It's pretty cool. You will really like it. I'm sure!

I think you saw it four times...though one barely counts.

 

[eandesmom]

I don't think they ever quite got the hang of their mom being gone! Let's just say that there were a lot of phone calls between mom and her little munchkins!

Maybe not but that just means they (all) need more practice.

I think they all did GREAT and next time will only be better.

That's too bad you missed the queue. It was pretty cool. I also missed the new lego store. Granted, no one in my house plays with legos, but still.

Yeah, I really wanted to see it but didn't want to wait. Next time!

I never thought about that. I watched Cynthia struggle with her suitcase, but did anyone see Melissa close hers?????? I don't even have to buy anything and I still can't close my suitcase back up!

I was like a comedy show.

I agree, that does seem a little strange that the CM kept asking and asking. What part of solo didn't he/she understand?

It's kind of funny or understandable once. I got it a couple of times but then when they keep going...or in my case say "don't you have any friends" it's a little like...HEY! Not funny!!!

I think I am the only one who left at a "normal" time. Jen and Cynthia had flights which cut into sleep time and Melissa, Tracy, and Christine was up at the crack of dawn.

Well if I was in the same time zone I might have left at a more normal time. But it seriously wrecks/wastes a whole day plus you never make the time change.

I have a hunch that cynthia has had much experience with beer scouting. Remember her Hawaii pictures? I think there was a lot of beer scouting going on there.

who me? I was playing with shutter speed. I'm telling you that one in a can could be a promo shot. I was very happy with that picture. Our scouting was limited to mai tais.

Trust me - Cynthia did not seem like she had been up all night. You never would have known she took the red eye. She's a pro.

I also had...

coffee on DME
coffee at Kouzzina
coffee from the cart at the Boardwalk

And some very special sugary delight



Now we know where the energy came from. Not that we did much that first day that required energy. BUT I do recall only having one margarita at the Ditch to play it safe and not get sleepy before dinner and then only one beer at dinner for the same reason. Though I really wanted another one and almost ordered one, I missed my ordering window. It was for the best, I'd have passed out on the boat I think.

 

[emma212010]

I've been so busy with graduation and applying for jobs, but I think I'm finally caught up!!! Great updates and photos!! Can't wait to read more!

 

[jenjolt]

Is it very wrong that I love knowing all the inside jokes???

Can't wait to share with the rest of the class!

Nah cuz I think the same thing!! I will giggle as I read our posts knowing the "secret" of course all the secrets well maybe not ALL will be shared LOL!

 

[nilla]

Hey - did you ever update????? You said you were going to. I'll be checking soon.

I did, which apparently, you noticed

Kristin told me I should put in my thread title dates that I actually update, but the downside of my TR title is that it's too long for me to add that. Can't win, I guess. You'll just have to keep checking back...sorry.

Great TR, by the way. The 4-headed TR monster is an interesting approach, though I fear I'm too selfish to be able to pull it off. I've considered letting Kristin do a "guest update" in mine, but I fear she'd try to hijack it I really like following all of the characters as they slowly come together, and can't wait to read what happens next. Keep it up!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Holy Hannah! You guys are a lot to keep up with!!!

Cynthia - crazy busy day for you - funny on the plane with the girl sleeping - beer research? LOVE IT!! Although it's like another language to me - IPA? Admittedly, I'm not much of a beer person. But kudos to you for handling the red eye so well and not crashing!

Melissa - great MK pics! Plus you look so great in that picture with Sorcerer Mickey! He's my favorite too!!! I remember on one of my first trips to WDW (keep in mind I was almost 30) trying to find the plush sorcerer Mickey I had seen at DHS (MGM then). Couldn't find it anywhere else of course. Had to go back to MGM to get it! Fast forward to about 7 years later when all the stores sell the same stuff, but at my DD's school they had a stuffed animal "pet exchange" and who did I find for a measly $2???? Sorcerer Mickey!!! I am now the proud owner of two of them!
But I digress...

Jen - bummer about your car not being ready!!!

You guys and your inside jokes! I can't wait to hear how this all plays out! I already can tell that a lot of it revolves around alcoholic beverages!!! This is my kind of TR! Always entertaining!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I wanna know all the secrets!

Wonderful updates everyone! I was a bazillion updates behind and have been running around the house getting stuff done in between the updates, so I cannot remember what I was going to comment on.

Oh-Cynthia! Glad the flight strategy worked out for you! That is WEIRD about not having blankets and pillows on a red-eye.

Melissa-you got a ton done that day it seemed, and a pool-side nap to boot! I'm really looking forward to my solo time reading all this....!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Holy Hannah! You guys are a lot to keep up with!!!

OMG! I so very rarely see people who also say "Holy Hannah" LOVE it!

You guys and your inside jokes! I can't wait to hear how this all plays out! I already can tell that a lot of it revolves around alcoholic beverages!!!

Alcoholic beverages? I have NO idea what you are talking about.

I wanna know all the secrets! !

You will, soon enough. I want to stowaway in your suitcase since you're on your way back to the World!

 

[MEK]

I've been so busy with graduation and applying for jobs, but I think I'm finally caught up!!! Great updates and photos!! Can't wait to read more!

Hi Emma! Well thanks so much for taking the time to catch up. Graduation and job hunting are huge, time consuming things so good luck in that department.

You should be reading more soon!

Kristin told me I should put in my thread title dates that I actually update, but the downside of my TR title is that it's too long for me to add that. Can't win, I guess. You'll just have to keep checking back...sorry.

No worries. I know you update fairly frequently so I will always be looking for more updates!

Great TR, by the way. The 4-headed TR monster is an interesting approach, though I fear I'm too selfish to be able to pull it off. I've considered letting Kristin do a "guest update" in mine, but I fear she'd try to hijack it I really like following all of the characters as they slowly come together, and can't wait to read what happens next. Keep it up!

It gets confusing when a lot of people update, so that's why I am the main narrator. But we went our own ways enough that we will definitely have plenty of guest updates.

And, yes, you should let Kristin do a "guest update". No question! (Maybe even more than one )

Holy Hannah! You guys are a lot to keep up with!!!

Arrival day is always chaotic, isn't it????

Melissa - great MK pics! Plus you look so great in that picture with Sorcerer Mickey! He's my favorite too!!! I remember on one of my first trips to WDW (keep in mind I was almost 30) trying to find the plush sorcerer Mickey I had seen at DHS (MGM then). Couldn't find it anywhere else of course. Had to go back to MGM to get it! Fast forward to about 7 years later when all the stores sell the same stuff, but at my DD's school they had a stuffed animal "pet exchange" and who did I find for a measly $2???? Sorcerer Mickey!!! I am now the proud owner of two of them!
But I digress...

No - that's a great story about sorcerer Mickey. I love finding things like that. I found a nice sized stuffed Eeorye at the Disney store for $2 and I was ecstatic!

You guys and your inside jokes! I can't wait to hear how this all plays out! I already can tell that a lot of it revolves around alcoholic beverages!!! This is my kind of TR! Always entertaining!

I have a secret to share - I have probably forgotten half the inside jokes. I have to refer back to the email to remember them all! Oh yes - we had an email with about 12 choices for TR titles. All of them hidden jokes!

I wanna know all the secrets!

Wonderful updates everyone! I was a bazillion updates behind and have been running around the house getting stuff done in between the updates, so I cannot remember what I was going to comment on.

!

Secrets will be forth coming!

That's like me when I read TR updates. I get to the end and know there's 15 things I want to comment on, but can only think of one.

 

[MEK]

So how are you guys doing so far following this TR? Everything make sense? Are we going too fast? Do you know what's been happening?

Well, Just In Case You Don't....... let me summarize:

It is now Saturday April 30th at 6am. So far Melissa has enjoyed two lovely solo days. Mary Ellen and Melissa were the first to arrive so they commemorated that occasion with an Illuminations viewing on Friday evening. Jen had a long travel day, but finally managed to arrive at POR around 12:30 Friday night. And Cynthia - well after researching several different beers and yaking it up with her chatty seat mate, finally fell asleep on the red eye. It won't be long until she is making her final descent into MCO.

And Tracy and Christine, you ask? Well, after burning the mid night oil, they are finally packed and at the airport waiting for the respective flights. They both have early morning flights, but only Christine's is non stop. Poor Tracy has a layover in Detroit, or some other out of the way mid west city. Yuck!

Which brings us to the present:

Now, I love vacation. LOVE it! But my body is too dumb to know that vacation has started and that I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get ready for work. It always takes me a few days to turn off that switch. So, needless to say, I wake up on Saturday morning and look at the clock to see its 6am. And I really want to go back to sleep. Really I do! One problem. I sometimes get nasty morning headaches, especially when in need of some coffee. I could already feel the start of a headache. I had had a headache every morning for the last 3 days, so I was not surprised when I felt that familiar ache. I knew the only cure for my morning headache was a cup of coffee. So much for staying in bed. So up I got. Ah, the life of a caffeine addict. I do have real physiologic withdrawal if I try to stop caffeine. I get horrible migraines. So I promise never to quit coffee!

I brought my own coffee with me. But I didn't bring filters. For two reasons - one - I forgot. two - I have a Keurig, so I'm not even sure if I own coffee filters anymore. With this predicament on my hands, I decided to create my own make shift filter by dumping the contents out of the pre-made coffee packets. My first try wasn't so great. My coffee was mixed with more than a few grounds. But that's OK - it took care of the headache. I just spit the grounds in the sink. Blech!

I decided I had a little time before I needed to get ready. My plan was to go for a run down to POFQ and pick up some beignets for Cynthia. But I didn't want to get them to early. So I goofed around and finished putting together my silly little gift bags.

I found these cute little green bags at the dollar store. I had to buy them, being that they were DIS green and all. For about 5 weeks before the trip I went on a mission to find things to put in the bag. It was actually harder than I thought, since space was at a premium. I ended up filling them with quite a few silly things......Disney silly bands, Disney chap stick, a princess wand, bubbles, hand sanitizer, candy and mints, Disney note pads, and a plush key chain. I had fun looking for items to put in there, even though most of them were childish. My eventual gift to the ladies will be a shutterfly photobook, but I know I probably won't start working on that until we are much further into this TR, so I wanted to have some little token to bestow upon my lovely friends.

After I was satisfied that I put an equal amount of "loot" in each green party bag, I set off for my run. It was a gorgeous morning, temperature wise. And the mist was coming off the river as the sun was starting to rise. I didn't have my camera, but I took these next few pictures with my phone.

Once I got down to POFQ I ran up and down the various paths until I worked up a sufficient sweat. Then I went inside to check my flight tracker to see if Cynthia's plane was on time. And guess what? Yup, Cynthia's plane had already landed a full 1/2 hour early. So I got in line for beignets and had them packaged to go.

I texted Cynthia and told her I knew she had landed. I told her to text me when she was on ME. On my walk back to POR I got texts from both Jen and Cynthia. Jen was getting ready for the day and Cynthia was en route. I told both of them I would be in the lobby.

Funny, I thought I was ahead of schedule, but clearly I was behind. I had originally hoped to jump in the shower before meeting everyone, but that wasn't gonna happen. So I sat in the lobby with powdered sugar all over my polka-dot running shorts. Yup - that's right - but at least they were small polka dots. Not exactly the best outfit for a first meet. But what's a girl to do? So I waited and I texted and soon enough Jen and then Cynthia arrived.

I have no pictures of our first meeting, so this will have to do!

Cynthia looked like a bag lady with all her carry-ons. Just kidding! She had some really cute ones - especially her tink bag. While we were still in the lobby Cynthia got her park ticket. Jen tried to get her TIW card, but alas, they were unable to process it for her. So we set off to our rooms with plans to meet very soon. I jumped in the shower, changed my clothes, and flat ironed my hair and it was time for breakfast. Jen was already at the door and her car was parked right around the corner.

Having Jen as a chauffeur was a total luxury! Before I could blink it seemed like we were pulling up in front of the Boardwalk. I love that hotel. Gorgeous. We did a quick stop in the lobby where I, naturally, took a few pictures.

Closeup of the carousel in the lobby

Everyone's favorite elephant

I love this coaster

We were a bit early for our breakfast reservation, so we headed out to the boardwalk in search of coffee.

If my memory serves me right, Cynthia got coffee at boardwalk joes since the line for the bakery was almost out the door.

We continued to walk to the IG so Jen could get her TIW. During this time we were trying to find Melissa, who was somewhere in the Boardwalk area. However, we must have just missed her.

Never one to miss an photo op, I happened upon this bride and groom clearly practicing for the big day:

Once Jen got her TIW, we headed back to the Boardwalk for breakfast.

Our destination:

And Finally - The first four of the East Meets West ladies are together for breakfast.

It was so nice to meet the three ladies I had ever met before. It just seemed really natural that we would all be together enjoying breakfast. And the ladies had a little surprise for me. Our server showed up with a birthday button for me. Cool!

So what did we have to eat.
Cynthia's Meal

I'll be honest - I really couldn't figure out what this is from looking at the menu. Not to mention that its not a great picture. Sorry!

My Meal

Spinach, Tomato, and Feta Scrambled Eggs - served with Breakfast Potatoes with choice of Bacon or Chicken Sausage $11.99

Our other entrees:

Classic Golden Waffle - with Whipped Mascarpone Cheese, Honey, and Chopped Pecans and choice of Bacon or Chicken Sausage $10.49

French Toast - Golden Brown Thick Challah Bread with choice of Bacon or Chicken Sausage $10.49

I can't remember who had what, but I know that both Jen and Melissa's food looked yummy. My eggs were yummy. I picked the bacon, which was typical boring Disney bacon. But all in all, a very satisfying meal.

And thanks to my birthday button, I got two mini cupcakes. (sorry no pix)


Breakfast was a wonderful success and a great way for us to all get to know each other a bit better. Once we had finished eating, it was time to hit the world showcase.

This pretty detail was on the door.

Continued......

 

[MEK]

East Finally Meets West (Continued) After breakfast we headed through the international gateway straight to France. If my memory serves me right Christine was already in France enjoying some champagne. However, when we got there the elusive C was no where to be found.

OK - well there was plenty to see and do before we tracked her down.

I love this picture. It's another one of those blind squirrel moments (as Denny would say)

Next stop - perfume shop

I actually didn't take any perfume pictures, but I was certainly enjoying looking at everything in the shop. Isn't that a gorgeous ceiling?

And what trip to France is complete without a fountain picture?

Up Next.....A Photo tour of Morocco, Will We Ever Find Christine?, and Is That Salt on Your B**B?

 

[manntra]

Awww!!!!! What great fun y'all were having while I was bored out of my tree in the Detriot airport
Detroit you ask and aren't you flying from NYS well it was a flight booked on miles so I didn't have many choices. My first flight had a. Chatty Cathy who asked endless questions about my iPad. This being at 6am when I am not accustomed to talking at all It was a quick flight and then I had about two hours in Detroit to kill. I went to Fuddruckers thinking I could get a hamburger (yes at 7 something am but food consumed in airports and traveling can be eaten at all times of the day without consequence)
Alas they were only serving breakfast so I had a boring meal at Chili's.
Finally landed at MCO and C had texted me telling me she had checked in my room key would be at the front desk, she was headed to WS to meet the other girls and that my box was missing Earlier in the week I FedExed a box with all of my Owners Locker stuff I was going to leave there. I was a bit nervous that they couldn't locate it but the staff at the BC are amazing to say the least!!! So helpful and I was able to finally speak with a girl who took my cell and would call me as soon as she found it. I went up to the room and soon enough C was back from WS. Meeting her was like catching up with an old friend We have so much in common and hit it off straight away We changed and headed down to the pool to meet up with Melissa. It was so nice to see her again....we briefly met last October and again it was like seeing an old friend It was HOT so we spent a lot of the time floating around and chatting The first of many days at the pool!! I finally got the call and my box was personally delivered to the room and I gave her a nice tip because I was honestly worried Eventually we got ready to head to DTD where we would meet up with the rest of the girls for our first dinner

Tracy

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Cynthia's Meal

I'll be honest - I really couldn't figure out what this is from looking at the menu. Not to mention that its not a great pictures. Sorry!

That is the Stacked Kouzzina Breakfast - I know because that's one of my favorite breakfasts in Disney!

Ohhhh your Boardwalk pics are making me wish I were there right now!! How gorgeous everything looks! Your POR pictures are gorgeous as well, I love that mist coming off of the water!

 

[tinacaplan]

Beautiful pictures!! For some reason, I love that column with the posters in France. And the topiaries are incredible. They always have a few out when we get there in February, but the F&G Show is hardly in full bloom.

That moment when you meet Disfriends is amazing. Its weird to meet people for the first time and recognize them instantly and think, yes, you're my friend. Its wonderful.

Can't wait for the next installment.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I have to go back and actually read all of the update MEK but I have a picture of you and the birthday cupcakes!!!



Don't hate me for posting that! I know your eyes are closed but you look so surprised and happy!!! You now have my permission to post pics of me

 

[merbobear]

This is such a fun TR, so I'm following along
BCV & POR both look lovely to stay in. I had to laugh at the Jesus writer photo, I didn't realize that this was a common occurrence at WDW...we saw Jesus in the sky at Epcot 2 weeks ago and I had to stop and take pictures as well
Can't wait to read some more!

 

[Nermel9]

Ooh, love the pics of the mist on the river! How fun, meeting all of your DIS friends for the first time! Breakfast at Kouzzina looks so yummy, especially that French toast!

Love the pictures of France! I don't think I have ever gone in the perfume shop, I think I'm always nervous that I might get a migraine if I go in there! I just assume it will smell really strong, like, well, perfume, and sometimes that instantly gives me a migraine, so I'd rather just avoid it!

Can't wait to see your pics of Morocco, it's such a beautiful pavilion!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I am a notorious last-minute packer. As I just commented somewhere, I packed for my Oct 2010 trip the morning of... and the flight took off at 7am! This trip I had sworn to be better. And was actually 90% packed by 8pm the night before... a new record for me!

First item in the suitcase? The blender! There was no way I was going to be responsible for our missing out on HappyDog's magic elixir!

Slept fine but combo of too excited to sleep and fear alarm wouldn't go off didn't yield the best night's rest. Got thru airport security fine (despite an underwire... Melissa, apparently Connecticut is more b**b friendly than NY! ) Lots of families going to WDW and I got a kick out of how excited some of the little ones were.

I was lucky enough to get an upgrade to first class so I traveled in style.

As soon as we landed I was off to DME. Virtually no line and happily made it on a bus within ~5-10 min.

Our bus driver was quite a character. He was very friendly and engaging. He asked a couple of times what stop he should make first. At first I thought it was rhetorical but when he asked a few more times, I piped up with "Beach Club!" He asked a few more times and each time I was answering with BC. I figured what harm could it do thinking that he had a set schedule he had to follow but was trying to be funny/nice.

Well come to find out, he stopped at Beach Club first!! Despite the fact that less than 10% of the bus was staying there. As he got my luggage out from underneath the bus he told me, "you know, this was not supposed to be my first stop..." Apparently I can be very persuasive without even knowing it!

So arrived at BCV right around 11am, I think. Took a good long while to check in and I was getting annoyed. But soon enough I had room key in hand and was off to our room. Just a few doors down from Melissa's so apparently our linked reservations had done some good!


The Villas... home at last....

Headed up to our room on the 5th? floor? Or was it 4th? It was an upper level floor, I swear!

Room pics look just like Melissa's - only a few doors down!

Bell Services was a bit backed up but I wanted to wait for our Owners Lockers and grocery order. I'm sure the guy thought I was staying for a month based on the amount of stuff he had to bring over.

Finally, deliveries were received minus Tracy's mysterious box and I was off to World Showcase. My initial plan was to a) get annual pass; b)purchase Tables in Wonderland; c) get welcome to WDW champagne; d) get cheese plate from bakery in "France" for lunch.

Item a) happened without a hitch. In fact, it was so cute, the CM was going through the motions and I thought I saw a Pluto AP so I said how he was my favorite character. The CM looked a bit pained and said "no, that isn't yours" but then did whatever magic he needed to do so that I got a Pluto AP!

Tried to get the Tables In Wonderland card but I had come in behind a whole crowd of people (ahem- who authorized this use of "my" entrance?? ) and decided to wait til later in the trip.

I was on a mission to get my welcome to WDW champagne drink, which I got. In fact, I totally scored. I ordered inside the wine store within the pavilion and the gentleman ringing me up had a very serious question for me:

Him: "Madam, I need for you to do me this favor."
Me: "Umm... ok... what do you need?"
Him: " I need for you to drink a few sips out of your champagne glass so that I can finish this bottle.
Me: "Well OK! You came to the right place!!!!"


Afterward my intention was to get the cheese plate in the bakery for lunch. But the line was crazy and not moving. So what is a girl to do???

Two guesses as to where the ladies found me.