How "just one trip" became three (babies)... update 6/29, huge triplets photo update

[abbybeth]

Thank you both Lease and Code! It was a bit of a shameless "plug" on my part, but it is hard to contain my excitement. I will resign myself to living through the TR's of my fellow DISer's for the next few years with maybe a half day trip to Canada's Wonderland when our baby is a couple of years old!!! In the meantime our videos and pictures will sustain me, that and thinking of our new child's first trip to the world some day!!!

Wow, only 49 days to go for you two. That is awesome. Have you started to pack yet??!!

Suz

Congrats and Canada's Wonderland is still good times - I had fun going there when I was little

 

[pl'smama]

Congrats and Canada's Wonderland is still good times - I had fun going there when I was little

Thanks Abbybeth! Yeah, Canada's Wonderland is a great place to spend the day and it has improved over the years. We were there for a morning about three years ago, when my DD was about two and a half. We got free tickets from my work so it was a decent way to spend the morning. It was horribly hot though, not great for a toddler. But I have fond memories of class trips and visits with friends!! How close were you living to CW? I just thought from your posts and your fabulous TR, that you were a bit farther south.

Suz

 

[Code]

Wow.. this is what our countdown looks like now...

I can hardly believe how quickly we got through those 2 huge outer rings! Time to get this TR caught up!!!

Day 5 Part 4 - Kona Cafe, Grand Floridian

We left AK and headed straight for the Polynesian for our Kona Cafe ADR.

We got there on time and were quickly seated. I really liked this place a lot.. the red and orange themed decor is very inviting, the location above the main lobby of the Poly is great, and my food was delicious! We started out with the Pot Stickers and Sticky Wings (loved the wings!)...

For the main course, we both got the Stir-Fried Asian Noodles. These were perhaps not GREAT, but easily above average...

And dessert was worth the price of admission alone: White Chocolate Cheesecake with 3 different fruit purees on the side. I'm a sucker for just about any cheesecake, but this one was awesome, with awesome presentation too...

After lunch I wandered around the Poly lobby snapping a few pictures...

...before we hopped on the monorail for a trip down memory lane at the Grand Floridian. I have very fond memories of the GF having stayed there 4 times as a kid. I have no idea how my parents courld afford it at the time, but staying at a monorail resort as a kid is just pure magic so I'm very glad they managed it somehow. I hope we can someday give this experience to our kids

I drank in the main lobby for a while and grabbed a few pictures...

... before we jumped back on the monorail to get back to our car at the Poly. It was a busy first half of the day, and we headed back to the room for a nap. We needed our energy for the pure awesomeness to come!

Go to Day 5 Part 5 - MAGIC FLOWS FREELY

 

[pl'smama]

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh, thanks for the update Code! What awesome pictures of the Poly and GF! That black and white one took me back an era or two. I could just pictures ladies with their fancy flowing dresses and big floppy hats, sipping a mint julip!!

The food at Kona looked pretty great and I agree with you on the cheesecake! Too bad the portions are always so darn small!!

How's the packing coming along??

Suz

 

[Hedy]

Great Poly pictures!

 

[Code]

Day 5 Part 5 - MAGIC FLOWS FREELY

After our nap, we were back in the car headed back to the Grand Floridian. A bit strange to leave there and then go straight back after the nap, but we were meeting someone for a very special event. Let me explain... back when I was writing the pre-trip report, Lease and I were both devouring other trip reports. I'm not sure if it was from Lease's comments on Abbybeth's pre-TR or her reading ours, but she ended up contacting Lease about a special Anniversary surprise that her and her dad were planning for her mom. It was a Wishes cruise, and they invited us to go along with them! Abby's Dad decided that since the boat was going to be the same cost whether it was just them or a full boat, they were going to fill it with DISers to share the occasion with them. Of course we graciously accepted!

Back to the TR.. the time had come and we couldn't wait! We met Abby's Dad at the Grand Floridian docks, very excited to meet new people and see Wishes from a unique perspective.

The cruise was spectacular, we were treated to a showing of the Electrical Water Pageant before Wishes, then watched the fireworks from the water directly in front of the Magic Kingdom. On board was Abby's Dad, Lynnielou (the guest of honor), Abbybeth, and the McNeils from Scotland (the other group that they had invited to join them). It was so very great to meet everyone.. I couldn't imagine a better group, and also everyone got along so well... the magic was flowing freely that night for sure!

After the cruise we returned to GF where we all sat down, ate cake, and talked for at least an hour. Time flew by, but it was just a great experience from start to finish, and we came away with some true friends. THANK YOU SO MUCH ABBYBETH, ABBY'S DAD, AND LYNNIELOU for sharing this with us!!! (and the McNeils too!)

Here are the best of the pictures I took... I regret that I never turned the camera back on the group during the show, but I always forget to shoot people when there is spectacular scenery.

Before the show trolling around the lake, the driver took us over to Bay Lake also...

... then all the boats got a showing of the Water Pageant ...

EVIL DOLPHINS!!!!

... and then WISHES!! The music was even piped into the boat ...

And the group of us together, the awesome cake they brought along, and the boat...

The plan was to go to MK after the cruise with Abbybeth to catch a couple rides before the park closed. We chatted for so long we made it to the park pretty late. We were able to ride Space Mountain - Abby's first time! We then ran for Buzz but it had closed by the time we got there. While we didn't have much time at MK that night, we still had lots of fun getting to know Abby a little better and sharing the Disney magic with a new friend. We stopped for a picture on the way out of the park, definitely a memory to treasure!...

On the way back to the hotel somehow we missed a turn and ended up leaving Disney property *shrug* a quick U-turn and we were back on course. We dropped Abby back near her building at POFQ with plans to meet again for some other late night rides.

What a great night, memories that we will carry forever for sure.

Next up.. Day 6 at Discovery Cove!

 

[Abby's Dad]

I hope we can someday give this experience to our kids

Great pictures again, Code, particularly the food porn. And I agree, it is tough to beat good cheesecake. Your pictures of the Poly make it look like maybe we should consider that one soon, but probably GF will be the one for next year's trip, if everything works out.

But if it doesn't, and in relation to the quote - did I mention that I am an orphan and eligible for adoption?

Great update!

 

[Hedy]

The Wishes cruise looks great!

 

[Abby's Dad]

After our nap, we were back in the car headed back to the Grand Floridian. A bit strange to leave there and then go straight back after the nap, but we were meeting someone for a very special event. Let me explain... back when I was writing the pre-trip report, Lease and I were both devouring other trip reports. I'm not sure if it was from Lease's comments on Abbybeth's pre-TR or her reading ours, but she ended up contacting Lease about a special Anniversary surprise that her and her dad were planning for her mom. It was a Wishes cruise, and they invited us to go along with them! Abby's Dad decided that since the boat was going to be the same cost whether it was just them or a full boat, they were going to fill it with DISers to share the occasion with them. Of course we graciously accepted!

This vacation was filled with many awesome highlights, but this night remains as probably THE highlight of the trip. We still think of it often and very fondly. For those who have never done something like this - I would highly recommend it. As Code mentioned, this was a surprise for my wife (but was a real treat for all of us), and part of the idea for adding DISers came because Lynnielou is one of those people who really enjoy people and meeting new people. So, we had already become somewhat acquainted with this really nice young couple (take a bow Code and Lease!), who turned out to be every bit as nice in real life - not to mention that Code is pretty accomplished with the camera (thanks for the fireworks pictures - it really is a totally different perspective out there as opposed to seeing them in the park), and thus inviting them seemed like a great idea (and it was, it was!)

As for the McNeils - I thought that it would be fun to run a little contest. I went over to the UK board and made a post looking for native-born Scots who would be at WDW the same time as us (my heritage is Scottish). I received a number of very interesting responses, many were quite curious, but I didn't reveal what was up until the day of the announcement of who would win something, and then what it was. I will say that there were some Brits that got quite testy about not being included, wondering what was wrong with the Brits (where do I start .......?). Anyway, from those who were available, we drew from a hat, and as luck would have it, we got the wonderful opportunity of meeting the McNeils. The secret was then revealed, and those on the board were most excited over what was going to take place, and surprisingly, every one of them kept the secret.

As Code said, everyone got on great, and it was a wonderful evening. Oh, and yes, Lynnielou was quite surprised - a testament to my co-conspirator and the rest of our party, as not one leaked even a hint. Now we eagerly await the chance to see our friends in person once again, and I am sure that will work out in the future (and fortunately, that leaves plenty of room for fitting it in sometime).

Now back to your regularly scheduled Trip Report.

 

[lynnielou]

Code and Lease!

I am speechless and overwhelmed as I sit here and read your TR. I am overcome with the "warm and fuzzies" as the memories of that magical night come back to me! Thank you so very much for TR update and the pictures.


You made my evening!

Lynn

 

[abbybeth]

Thanks Abbybeth! Yeah, Canada's Wonderland is a great place to spend the day and it has improved over the years. We were there for a morning about three years ago, when my DD was about two and a half. We got free tickets from my work so it was a decent way to spend the morning. It was horribly hot though, not great for a toddler. But I have fond memories of class trips and visits with friends!! How close were you living to CW? I just thought from your posts and your fabulous TR, that you were a bit farther south.

Suz

Sorry I didn't see this sooner Suz .... I don't remember the exact why or how we went to CW, I just remember having a blast. I got a big Dino stuffed animal and it rained and I remember carrying him around covered in plastic bags (funny the snippits one recalls years later!) We're about 5-10 minutes from Sarnia, so though my childhood, we managed to cover most of Ontario.

It was so very great to meet everyone.. I couldn't imagine a better group, and also everyone got along so well... the magic was flowing freely that night for sure!

After the cruise we returned to GF where we all sat down, ate cake, and talked for at least an hour. Time flew by, but it was just a great experience from start to finish, and we came away with some true friends. THANK YOU SO MUCH ABBYBETH, ABBY'S DAD, AND LYNNIELOU for sharing this with us!!! (and the McNeils too!)

I got all teary reading your post and ironically enough, I just pulled out my pictures from this night to start scrapping an hour or so ago (though I'll need to pause that layout until I can get a couple of your fireworks pictures printed to add in, because it won't be complete without those!) It was an amazing night - definitely a life highlight, not just a trip highlight. Thank you both for deciding to trust some Disney crazed strangers offering you a boat ride in the night! I think you guys are stuck with us for the duration and I'm quite certain that our paths will cross again down the road.

On the way back to the hotel somehow we missed a turn and ended up leaving Disney property *shrug* a quick U-turn and we were back on course. We dropped Abby back near her building at POFQ with plans to meet again for some other late night rides.

What a great night, memories that we will carry forever for sure.

*cough*allroadsleadtocoronadosprings*cough*

It was so much fun running around with you guys - literally!!! You're my favorite people to dash around the park with You're both absolutely awesome.

 

[pl'smama]

I have to interject with a few thoughts;

1) Great update Code and the Wishes photos are awesome! I was humming the theme song whilst looking at the pics and getting a bit teary eyed, but in a good way.

2) I think this TR and Abbeybeth's ( and the Three Bears)'s TR was made even that much better with the knowledge that you guys were all able to meet up and share your stories together at the Happiest Place on Earth. There is just something so much more personal and heartwarming about all that. Thanks for including us to.

3) For Abbeybeth, that is cool that you got to see and "do" a lot of Ontario. The north is amazing for camping and all that, but the cities really do have much to give. I know what you mean about the funny things you remember. I made my first, and only, music video at Canada's Wonderland and I still have it kicking around somewhere!! I wish they still did that...

Great updates guys. You must be so excited for your next trip to start. It is just around the corner!!!

Suz

 

[Code]

Day 6, Part 1 - Discovery Cove Dolphin Swim

Day 6 was another early start. Five months before the trip, I gave Lease a Discovery Cove dolphin swim as an anniversary gift, and this was the day! Swimming with dolphins was always a dream of hers, so she was beside herself with excitement. In case you don't know what Discovery Cove is... it is a park right across the street from Sea World, also owned by Anheuser Busch, that is quite a bit more expensive than your typical theme park admission, but offers a much more "intimate" experience, with a cap of about 1000 people admitted per day (though there were only maybe 250-300 the day we went, it was great!). Probably most people go for the dolphin swim, but there is also a huge artificial coral reef for snorkeling, an awesome lazy river, and a three-part free-flight aviary.

After the morning ritual, we jumped in the rental car and headed off property. Sea World isn't a long drive at all, so we were there before we knew it. We arrived and headed into the beautiful lobby to check in, get our ID badge, and then were directed outside for a complimentary photo and a quick tour. After the tour, we were shown to the dressing room area to pick up a wetsuit, snorkel and goggles. Once dressed, we had a quick breakfast (all food, drinks, and even alcohol are included with park admission) before heading for the coral reef.

The reef is unbelievably cool... it was much bigger and deeper and with many more fish than I expected, and some extremely large sting rays. It was also my very first time snorkeling, and it took me about 20 minutes to get fully used to it, but once I was, it was just truly awesome. We only had an underwater disposable camera and I haven't even developed the pictures yet (doh!).. so stay tuned for the next trip where we had underwater digital capability.

After the reef, we also checked out the ray wading pool where you can pet the rays (they feel much different than you would expect.. soft and gritty at the same time) and took a lap around the BEST lazy river I've ever been in.. It is wide, goes up to 8 feet deep in places, kept at 80 degreees, and is completely lined by beautiful vegetation and even waterfalls. It also passes through the aviary.

When Lease's dolphin swim time came, we headed over to the Sand Dollar Cabana where she had to watch a short video before heading to the dolphin pool area. The dolphin that she got to swim with was named Tyler, a 13 year old, 500 pound dolphin. I found a spot on the shore as close as possible to take some pictures (but I was instructed that I was not allowed in the water at all). She had an ear to ear grin the entire time. Here are some of the pictures I took...

Getting ready...

The trainers warming up the dolphins...

Out in the water...

Getting pulled back in by Tyler... (you think she looks happy?)

Post-dolphin ride bliss!

And finally the trainers putting on a short show to end the experience...

Next up, the Discovery Cove Aviary tops off our awesome DC day...

 

[Code]

Day 6, Part 2 - Discovery Cove Aviary

Next we headed to the aviary. There are 3 areas, they are all free-flight, separated by the small, medium, and larger birds. In all 3 sections, there are trainers that hand out cups of food which the birds are more than willing to land on your arm to eat from. This was easily my favorite part of Discovery Cove, I could spend hours here (and we did!).

This little bird is a female mousebird named Captain Jack, and she was the friendliest bird we have ever seen. She curled up and took a nap on Lease's shoulder, it was adorable. We found out that a lot of the time, the trainers will just let Captain Jack hang on their belt loop sleeping while they go about their responsibilities. (On the next trip, we made it a point to go back and see Captain Jack)

After the aviary, it was near closing time (time really flew by, it was SUCH a great time). It wasn't until we were leaving that it started to rain. (this first picture is of the lazy river, by the way.. not your usual lazy river, eh?)

DC was truly incredible. We liked it so much that we ended up going back on trip #2 in January.

Next up... Spoodles for dinner, and some MGM EMH!

 

[pl'smama]

All I can say is WOW! What a little gem of secret you guys have been keeping. If I had known those photos were coming, well I don't think I could have waited! What a wonderful gift to Lease Code and you can really tell just how much she enjoyed the whole thing. I would love to do that some day, as would my five year old DD. Your day in photos looked magical, even if it wasn't a Disney park. Thanks for sharing...

Suz

 

[Code]

This vacation was filled with many awesome highlights, but this night remains as probably THE highlight of the trip. We still think of it often and very fondly.

I am speechless and overwhelmed as I sit here and read your TR. I am overcome with the "warm and fuzzies" as the memories of that magical night come back to me! Thank you so very much for TR update and the pictures.

You made my evening!

It was an amazing night - definitely a life highlight, not just a trip highlight. Thank you both for deciding to trust some Disney crazed strangers offering you a boat ride in the night! I think you guys are stuck with us for the duration and I'm quite certain that our paths will cross again down the road.

2) I think this TR and Abbeybeth's ( and the Three Bears)'s TR was made even that much better with the knowledge that you guys were all able to meet up and share your stories together at the Happiest Place on Earth. There is just something so much more personal and heartwarming about all that. Thanks for including us to.

The DIS rocks.

All I can say is WOW! What a little gem of secret you guys have been keeping. If I had known those photos were coming, well I don't think I could have waited! What a wonderful gift to Lease Code and you can really tell just how much she enjoyed the whole thing. I would love to do that some day, as would my five year old DD. Your day in photos looked magical, even if it wasn't a Disney park. Thanks for sharing...

Thanks Glad you're still following along all this time later

 

[travelmel]

I think this was the very first TR I started reading when I started reading TR's and that was a LONG time ago! This has been goin awhile??? I'm still not all the way through it I remember I made my DH get me a gorillapod but he got me a generic one instead (he's cheap but I love him!)

I just caught your update about the dolphins.. that is SO cool! What a great guy you are!!

I wish they had one of those Discovery Cove places out west

Melissa

 

[Code]

I think this was the very first TR I started reading when I started reading TR's and that was a LONG time ago! This has been goin awhile??? I'm still not all the way through it I remember I made my DH get me a gorillapod but he got me a generic one instead (he's cheap but I love him!)

Glad you are still following along.. Yes, I am the MASTER OF PROCRASTINATION, but I am determined to not be more than a year behind, so trip #1 TR WILL be finished within the next week or so.

We've only got 2 weeks until the next trip.. wow!

 

[Code]

Day 6 Part 3 - Spoodles, MGM EMH

Exhausted and happy after Discovery Cove, we made our way back to Disney property to get ready for our dinner at Spoodles. When we got back to the hotel, we found that mousekeeping had broken my CPAP mask somehow (the mask I wear to bed every night for sleep apnea.) It was very lucky that I had actually packed spare parts. Whew! Also they had put queen sized sheets on our king sized bed.. not something an average guest might notice, but my feet hang off the end of a normal king sized bed, so it was very annoying. (sleep on a California king at home, those extra 4" of length make a huge difference!) Ahh well, after our showers, we called mousekeeping and then headed out. During the drive from POFQ to Boardwalk, the rain went from a light drizzle to full-on pouring, and the Boardwalk parking lot is quite a ways away from the entrance. Somehow we didn't have our ponchos, so we both got pretty soaked on the run from the car. We were a bit early for our ADR, though, so had a bit of time to air dry.

Spoodles was pretty good, not fabulous but good. We didn't write down or take pictures of the appetizers, I think one was a flatbread of some sort?

For the main course, I had the pork chop (pretty good) and Lease had the rigatoni (I tasted it, fairly standard Italian fare). Forgot to take pictures BEFORE we started eating

For dessert (again not written down, oops) I had a custard flan of some sort, and Lease had a chocolate cake with sorbet on the side.

After dinner, the waitress snapped a picture for us which we think turned out really well...

During dinner, the sky had opened up with fury--lightning, rain, and wind. But by the time we finished, it had passed, and the Boardwalk was beautiful with the reflections in the puddles...

We soaked in the atmosphere for a bit, and I snapped this great picture that I really love...

...before we headed back to the car to go to EMH at MGM. Another quick pic on the way out...

Once we arrived at MGM, we got our EMH wristbands, and Lease called Abby to see if she wanted to come over and run around the park with us. While waiting for her to arrive, we caught the last Little Mermaid show of the night. I thought I remembered this one being cool when I was younger, but it was pretty disappointing as an adult. VERY short. I took quite a few pics but only a few really turned out...

Next we wandered toward Star Tours, taking pictures along the way...

Love this one, taken with the Gorillapod sitting on the ground...

We got on Star Tours with virtually no line, and by the time we got out Abby had arrived. We thought when we invited her that we would have about an hour and a half in the park by the time she arrived, but the park was actually closing an hour earlier than we thought (doh!) so we only had a half an hour left. They had stopped distributing the EMH wristbands, luckily Abby was wearing long sleeves! We made the most of the short time we had, though, riding ToT twice in a row (another first for Abbybeth, woo!). We think, based on Abby's reaction, that we picked the right ride

A shot of Hollywood Boulevard taken on the way out of the park...

Even though it wasn't as long as we had hoped, we both had a great time hanging out with Abby again and even just chatting with her on the way back to the hotel. We dropped her off at her building at POFQ, headed back to ours, and seeing how we skipped taking a nap after an exhausting day at Discovery Cove, we were totally beat. We crashed and slept like babies that night.

Next up.. day 7 starts in Epcot (pics of us trying Beverly for the first time included!)...

 

[Abby's Dad]

Discovery Cove sounds absolutely wonderful! And the expressions on Lease's face seem to indicate that you made an excellent choice - though I'm not so sure that she was that fond of the bird who looked like he was about to set up housekeeping on her head.

The bird pics are great - wonderful detail in the feathers! I know that I would enjoy the birds part. It is interesting that food and bevy are included in the price, and actually pretty nice - I would rather pay big once and leave the wallet in my pocket.

The Boardwalk pics looked nice, particularly the one of Lease. We need to spend a little more time there in the future, but gee, choices, choices, choices!

Looks like you will have perfect timing for your trip - Fay should finally be out of Florida then, and you should be good to go. Have a great time at the ToT meet, and give Ants a hug for us and tell her we said hi!. She is a real sweetheart.