How Much Do You Ladies Charge to Haunt the Castle? -- Departure Day up (See index

[glennbo123]

All caught up! (Your day 5, part 2 cont. link doesn't go to the right post, by the way.)

Mmmm, that meal at Emeril's looked great, even if you did bang Mark's knee.

Huh, more hat pictures....who would've guessed?

And more kissing photopass pictures. Sheesh!

 

[aras4007]

AHH you left us hanging! Hope you update again soon!
Your photopass pics came out so good!

I also really want to stay at the Poly some day and eat at Kona for breakfast...it looks soooo good! My parents and sister have no desire to stay there, so I guess i'll have to wait until I have a family of my own!..and win the lottery!

 

[KatMark]

That food at Emeril's look fantastic!!!!

at Mark in the Marge hair hat!!!

It was excellent...we've never had a bad meal at Emeril's.

I could not believe he put that hat on his head...especially because we hate that show.

I get sad when I leave WDW, but I try not to cry (well, too much ) as I KNOW I will be back, even if I don't know when.

That breakfast looks yummy!

I cried because I wasn't always sure when we would be back; but we've been very fortunate to make it a yearly trip for a long time now.

Breakfast was outstanding.

It's been many many many years since we've ventured over to Universal Studios. As a matter of fact, there wasn't even a City Walk way back then. Your meal at Emeril's sure looks better than the hot dog I had for lunch.

Like Mark, I'd love to work a stay at the Polynesian into our budget but, for us, that would mean a shorter trip and I am not ready to sacrifice a longer vacation.

The only reason we ventured was for dinner. I am TOO old for those roller coasters and Mark wouldn't want to spend an entire day there and do them himself (but I do miss the ET attraction, as well as Men in Black). Anything would probably look better than a hot dog at lunch.

We've done the Poly in the past so it's not like we've never stayed, but it sure would be "romantic" for our 30th.

Hats? Really? Hadn't noticed.

Oh aren't you the comedian this go round?

30 minutes?! You could have walked to the Dolphin.

If I knew what direction to go in, I probably could have.



Oh, just stop it now!

Blasphemy!

We don't do it often, so does that count?

Why should I ignore it?

Because if you look closely enough he's really in pain and I truly didn't mean to hurt him.

No wonder, it's all Spongebob crap.

Would you believe my husband used to watch that stupid show ALL the time; drove me absolutely crazy with it and he couldn't even say he was watching it for the kids.

I love the banana peel hat

Thank you...it sure was different.

Oh my goodness the pics of you and Mark at Emeril's came out fabulous!

Thank you; it is one of my all-time favorite pictures of the two of us (despite the obvious pain he is in)

 

[KatMark]

Mark with the Marge Simpson hair is hysterical! I love the pictures of you guys at Universal and the one in front of the fountain at the Dolphin is great too!

I can't even imagine how it will be when we get our men together for hats! Thanks...I'm fond of that picture at Universal.

I totally cried when I read what you wrote about Todd and myself....best thing about the Dis was meeting you and Mark, my long lost sister! We love you guys so much and cannot wait to see you in WDW of all places in just three weeks from right this second!

I was crying while I typed it, and then I cried again when you posted. You know we mean that from the bottom of our hearts...we are so blessed to have you in our lives. Darn...there come the tears again. Okay...moving on before my desk is flooded.

The Poly is just awesome! I would love to stay there again but the $500 a night price tag has me dragging my jaw off the ground! Even with the piddly 30% off they are giving its still very costly. I am just glad that we were able to stay there many times when it was just $220 a night lol!

I'm glad we had our opportunities at the Poly too...I just can't see paying the price anymore.

Kona at 7:30 in the morning with both of us having pressed pots in our system...oh boy we are going to wake up everyone!

So...do you think we'll have one each or two each (and the boys are on their own!)

A cliff hanger right at the reveal of your TR name??? You are such a tease!

I love that your last day at WDW starts with Kona Cafe (my absolute favorite for breakfast) followed by MK! When Michael was with Em and I for our last WDW trip he couldn't figure out why I stopped every 40 feet down Main St. to get photopass photos done... uhhh... you can never have too many. Right?

Those were such sweet words for Nicki (and Todd) - how nice!

Can't wait for more....

If I hadn't had to get ready to leave work to go get my nails done, I would have not left you hanging. But my beautiful nails could not wait.

Last year was the first year we ate at Kona and I was so mad that we hadn't done it sooner; now you can't keep me away.

Brenda, you are right. You can never have too many pictures in front of the castle at MK.

Thanks...I sincerely mean them...it was our good fortune the day Nicki and I met here on the DIS!

I'm so glad that you two had a great dinner at Emerils! Even though it's not Disney, I appreciate the hat effort. The Marge Simpson and banana hat are great.

Breakfast looks delish! We've only recently discovered the Poly for breakfast, but for the forseeable future we'll be at Ohana with Lilo and Stitch.

Mark will try on hats anywhere--Target, the zoo, American Sale, etc.

Yes, you have a little one and Ohana is probably more to her liking. Obviously, we don't go there because we don't care for you know who.

Love the fall decorations at the MK. Just beautiful.

I've never seen PP there either! What fun. I love how the PP CD offers the borders based on the location. Great touches.

Aren't they? As much as I know I'll love the Christmas colors, there is just something about the fall colors that are simply gorgeous.

I like that PP has the borders too. But I noticed this year they took out the black and white option; I wonder why? I really enjoyed that a couple of years ago.

What a nice date night at Emeril's! The food & service at his restaurants are just excellent!

I really, really want to try breakfast at Kona! It all looks so delicious! I wish I had that right now.

And for getting in some more MK time! During our trip, they had PP photographers at the sword, too. I'm thinking that may be a new permanent spot for them.

Thanks Amanda. That was Mark's special treat from me when I won at the casino over the summer to thank him for all his hard work this extremely hot summer so we could go on our trip.

You really, really need to try breakfast at Kona. You will love it.

I like the PP at the sword...especially for the kids.

Great update! I hope you get to stay at Poly for your 30th anniversary! That would be so special to tie it into your Hawaii honeymoon.

I haven't met anyone in person from the Dis but many of the people I have come to know on here are wonderful...love this place. So glad you have made lifelong friends in Nicki and Todd

Emeril's looks amazing! I would love to try it sometime.

Patiently waiting for the next update!

It would be nice, but I don't see the Poly happening. But I'll be okay with that as long as we go for breakfast and maybe we'll finally try dinner at Ohana.

Well, we have to rectify you meeting someone from the DIS and work on that lunch date.

Emeril's is outstanding (love the one in Vegas too!).

 

[KatMark]

Ooooo....I like that one!

Ooooo....should I pick one up for you?

So you take a ton of kissy-kissy pictures all over the park, but refuse to snuggle up in a ride car?

There's a difference between snuggling and squishing each other in pain!

Mmmm..Kona. Breakfast looked yummy. I'm a sucker for Disney french toast with the cinnamon sugar all over it.

Have you done Kona? If not, you must!

At this point, you guys might as well treat it as a permanent addition to the park.

Seriously; I'm glad I won't have it next year because we aren't going in September, but in August instead.

Is that a rule or something? I'll have to run that one by my wife. On second thought, maybe not.

Yes, I think it should be a rule for 60 and over!

Very nice!

Thank you.

Ahhhh! Left us hanging!!!!
The photos of you and Mark at Emerils were very nice.

Thank you.

I'm not a marine biologist, but I play one on TV. I've never seen a dolphin that looks like whatever they have on top of that hotel. Which is why they are referred to as the "Swan and Carp" hotels.

I believe someone corrects you on exactly what type of dolpins they are later on in this post.

It's okay...we didn't step on enemy land.

Oh. Well. OK. As long as you'd buy park admission or anything.

Of course not; and I'm not a Harry Potter fan so that wouldn't entice me.

OK, maybe I'll have to try Emeril's one of these trips.

You and Bambi should go on a date night and leave the kiddos with grandma and grandpa.

He's a keeper, Kathy.

He most certainly is.

Glad you got this done so you are familiar with it when the time comes to meet Nicki and Todd! Not much of a surprise can happen if everyone doesn't know where to be to pull it off.

Yeah, we were talking about that yesterday...where we would be and how she would sneak up behind us.

For some reason I just really like this picture!

Okay...not sure why, but I'm glad you like it.

So not cool to have to take a call from work when you are away and trying to relax and escape such things........

I know; but he had a new assistant at the time who wasn't the brightest cookie in the batch.



Get your mind out of the gutter!

Whew, that's a relief........

You are such a bad boy thinking something else.

After getting sick twice, you would think Mark would HATE it too............

Great...you caught one of my many typos (I shouldn't rush so much to get this darn thing done...I should be like you...an update every two months)

Both of these looks wonderful! Guess I have another restaurant to add to the must-do list!!!

It is so good; expensive, but good.

Poor Mark, doesn't he already have to suffer enough???

Are you insinuating he suffers being married to me?

Hey, that's not Dumbo!!!

I know; I had to tell him so he wouldn't climb up on it.

Uh, you have a choice here and still end up with the proverbial animal butt shot???

Perhaps I like the back end better. Ever think of that?????

(Yes Kathy, I'm talking about the giraffe........)

You never know with you.

Another classic!

It fit him...he had really curly hair when I met him.

I always HATE this sight.............

Me too!

Obviously NOT borrowed from the internet...............

Yeah, that was a bad one...Mark was stopping rather quickly when I took it.

Nice one!!!

Thought of you when I saw it.

Love Kona for dinner.........need to go back for breakfast and try something different. I love bananas, but I was not a huge fan of Tonga Toast........

We did dinner there BEFORE it was Kona; haven't been back since.

Maybe this.......... I want to try those pancakes!!! But I hate the last time we were there they had changed the sausage links to something that tastes cheap and high on fillers.......

Mark enjoyed it, but was not all that impressed with the pancakes (he would have preferred them plain)

Really enjoyed this party last year, and especially the parade!

The parade and fireworks are worth the price of admission.

Great pic!!!





Sorry...but I know you too well.

The verandah is risque enough, but right in the middle of Main Street USA is pushing it a little, don't you think???

Hey, it was all clean fun.

All that smootchin'..........about time you finally stopped!!!!

You don't like my smooching face?

I'm guessing you ran into, as Archie Campbell would say in his rendition of RinderCella, the two Sigly Usters........

You will see in the next update.

Wow, you are in Chicago and haven't met the infamous Ms. Kat??? You need to rectify that soon! What a wonderful first DISmeet that would be for you! I have met a few DISers, but I am so looking forward to one day meeting Kathy..........well, her husband Mark really, but Kathy nonetheless.................

I'm working on that meet...we need to do it soon.

Oh, Emerils looks really good. Athough with how picky I am I'd probably have a hard time finding something I would eat!

The Miniature golf course looks really fun. We missed the opening by a few months when we were there in January.

I get my picture taken with that Pluto statue every trip!

Bummer for departure day but a least you got to go back to MK one more time!

I have to tell you that I am an extremely picky eater and the first time Mark took me there I told him I would never find anything I liked. How wrong I was! You really should try it.

I love that Pluto statue.

Yep, MK one more time and then off to Nickiland.

 

[KatMark]

It's a Dolphin fish (AKA Mahi Mahi) not the porpoise Dolphin.

Thank you for straigthening Mr. Barary out.

He seems pretty happy. Or are you saying he's a good actor?

No, he is happy; he just really wanted to get on Dumbo!

Yes, I've seen that since my original post. Their announcement could have been worded a little bit better. I'm fine with the idea of them serving Starbucks in the bakery, I just didn't like the idea of Starbucks pastries replacing the good stuff.

Yes, they certainly did word that completely wrong...a lot of people were in an uproar. Didn't phase me...I've never eaten at the Main Street Bakery; I just want my darn Starbucks!

Surprise... were you starting to get the shakes from withdrawal?

You have NO idea. Mark was offering to take a cab to go get me one.

Those Kona breakfast pictures are making me hungry. I love some good french toast.

If I don't have an omelet when we go out for breakfast, it is definitely french toast.

The pictures taken from the boat on the way to MK really got me excited about our upcoming trip. I love that part where you're not quite in the park yet, but get to take in all the sights as you approach.

It is the best, isn't it?

Nice cliffhanger.

Thank you; all those DIS dads are influencing me, I think.

All caught up! (Your day 5, part 2 cont. link doesn't go to the right post, by the way.)

Thanks, Glenn....I fixed it.

Mmmm, that meal at Emeril's looked great, even if you did bang Mark's knee.

I felt so bad doing that....really, I did. The food was outstanding.


Huh, more hat pictures....who would've guessed?

Oh good...we have another comedian in the group. I think as your punishment we will not allow Mark to try on any hats in 20 days.


And more kissing photopass pictures. Sheesh!

I think you guys are all just jealous of Mark getting all that lovin!

AHH you left us hanging! Hope you update again soon!
Your photopass pics came out so good!

I also really want to stay at the Poly some day and eat at Kona for breakfast...it looks soooo good! My parents and sister have no desire to stay there, so I guess i'll have to wait until I have a family of my own!..and win the lottery!

Update coming up before I leave work (if the phone stops ringing off the hook).

I loved our stays at the Poly; but the price has skyrocketed and I just can't see spending that amount unless I win the lottery. Maybe we should buy a ticket together and split the winnings if we win?

 

[KatMark]

We had just walked through the Castle without anyone there so I could get unobstructed pictures and had our photo taken with a sword.

And as the theme of this trip kept moving along, we ran into some additional characters that we had never seen before. And it turned out to be at least a 10 minute gabfest!

I will now give you Mark's version of what transpired.

"We walked through the castle and as we were discussing where to go first, Kathy saw the Evil Stepsisters and suggested we hop in line to keep with the theme of meeting new characters this trip. We watched as some of the little Cinderella's didn't seem to thrilled with meeting the Evil Stepsisters."

"Soon it was our turn and we walked up and received the "evil" looks from Drizella and Anastasia and the I'm bored with you look from Lady Tremaine. I then asked them "How much do you ladies charge to haunt Cinderella's castle? And this is when all heck broke loose."

"Lady Tremaine informed us that the castle was not haunted, but the Haunted Mansion was haunted. And the stepsisters stepped in and literally, in unison said, but Mother we could haunt the castle."

It was absolutely hysterical. These characters stay true to form throughtout. The people waiting in line seemed to be getting a little impatient with us; even the Castmember who escorts the characters said to wrap it up, but the three of them would not quit. We were literally with them for 10 minutes. A few pictures from one of our best character interactions ever:

Practicing to be a ghost to haunt the castle:

I am so glad we stopped to see these ladies.

After our visit, we headed to one of my favorites first:

Children must play:

We walked back through an empty Fantasyland at this time of the morning:

We then hit It's a Small Boat to China so Mark would stop bugging me about it:

Finally, the end

Continued in next post

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

very funny for the interaction, but shame on you for taking up time for the kids in line.

wait you had mark with you so never mind, your kid was taking whatever time he wanted with the ladies.

the first picture it looks like he is asking for a hug with his arms streatched out.

 

[KatMark]

After riding with the singing dolls, we moved over to Mickey's Philharmagic which we had somehow missed on our first day at the MK. I love this show.

Of course, as with most things at Disney, you end up in yet another dump shop when you exit.

After leaving the dump shop, we saw one more character out that we had never seen and this would be our last character visit of the trip:

The Fairy Godmother asked about our anniversary buttons and how long we had been married. She announced to the crowd that we had been married 29 years and we got a round of applause.

We then headed towards the Haunted Mansion so we could get in another ride on that favorite (we have too many favorites):

We then headed over to that runaway train again, and on the way I thought of leaving Mark here:

We stopped in a shop along the way:

Up next, a runaway train, a few more attractions and our last meal at the World for this trip.

 

[KatMark]

very funny for the interaction, but shame on you for taking up time for the kids in line.

wait you had mark with you so never mind, your kid was taking whatever time he wanted with the ladies.

the first picture it looks like he is asking for a hug with his arms streatched out.

I know....aren't we bad? We tried to end it, but they kept talking to Mark. Reallly...I pinkie swear.

Yes, and I did have my "kid" with me so it really was okay.

I'm surprised he didn't go and hug them.

 

[Moira222]

You do crack me up.

I have been asking both of my sons for their list. I almost strangled Andy the other night. I said I need your list within two weeks. He said, "why"? And I replied, "because we are going out with your Godmother this weekend, then the following weekend we are going out with other friends, then we go to Dubuque to see Mark and Alisha, and then it is Thanksgiving." At this point, Des (Andy's girlfriend) piped in, and "then we all leave two weeks for our vacation". She said ALL of this with Mark sitting in the next room. Thankfully, he was oblivious and engrossed in Pawn Stars on television. I almost died that the secret got spilled. We have now ALL come close to spilling the beans. I don't know how I can take it another 34 days.

DOH! did you cringe? I hope every one can contain their excitement for Mark's surprise!

can you tell I am still catching up? and you are updating like crazy! Happily tonight's agenda includes only sorting about 300 containers of nuts & candy for my Girl Scout Troop's nut sales, so hopefully my lap top will like me and let me catchup.



I did get through most of your full day at Epcot--and what a day! Soarin 3 times plus world showcase? awesome! I love the polar bear hat. that rocks.

and your viking hat - the braids even matched! You should have bought it and worn it when one of the boys "gets out line" --

gotta go, Happy Friday!

 

[Millie12591]

Holy updates, Bat Girl!!

You don't mess around, do you?!?

Y'all have such a great time, it's fun looking at your photos doing as such.

Love the Marge Simpson wig!! Too funny!
Eating at Emeril's looked amazing! I would have joined in on the calamri!! Mmm, love me some calamari.
Poor Mackie, I think I scarred her for life when she ate it for the first time. We were at an Italian place we loved to go to for pizza, and I ordered some fried calamari to start. When we got it she was gobbling it up! As we were eating it I said...."Do you know what you are eating? " (as I picked up one of the tiny squids that had all it's tiny little tentacles) Thinking this could be one of those moments where she would think 'Oh! Cool!' and then not think anything of it afterwards. Stupid mommy wasn't thinking this through very well for a 6 or 7 year old at the time.
When I told her, you would have thought I told her she was eating her best friend!! Poor baby was was upset, "You mean like pearl in Finding Nemo!?!"
I told her some funny things and made her laugh about it, but being the twisted, sick, humored person that I am took it a little further when I got my pasta primavera and picked up the peice of yellow squash and asked her if she knew what it was, the look on her face was priceless-she was already on to me and knew I messing with her at this point (smart baby is teased too much at home)...."It's Flounder from Little Mermaid." She yelled at me and said "I'm never going out to eat with you again!" She has a pretty funny sense of humor, poor kid didn't stand a chance in this family, humor is how love is shown in this family.

Looove torturing my kids.

Love the PP picture with the sword, hope they have the PP there when we go! That's one picture we've not gotten yet, it's a cute one of the both of you.

Are you all ready for a Thanksgiving feast with the kids this weekend?

 

[englishrose47]

Kathy you are an update machine . First your food at Emerils looked very tasty, have to say that banana pie really caught my eye !! LOVED all the hats , mmmm Rosie thinking for next year mmmmm!!! Your Evil Sisters meet and greet was amazing !! I have only seen them at 1900 never out and about !!

 

[jecskc]

The photo with Drisella which her dress over her head practicing to haunt the castle is the BEST !!! Sooo funny !! You got some great character photos !!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Wow Kathy,

You really are really and updating machine... quantity and quality...

Love the character interaction with the Stepsisters... awesome way to get your TR title... (Mark's a little bit of a troublemaker... in an impish way... isn't he?

That Banana Cream Pie at Universal is EPIC... Wow... I happen to like bananas so I'll have to try that... but I'm not sure I could polish that baby off my self...
(Maybe next summer... we're going to go to WDW but also a couple of days at Universal... we'll have to check that out...)

Now your Kona breakfast-Yum... I have that scheduled in a couple of weeks...

I'm thinking part of the reason you went over to City Walk was that Mark needed a new supply of hats to choice from... all those new Universal characters...

I always feel a bit weepy when I leave the MK too... part of me wants to live there... truly...

I am really enjoying your TR... not just because there are tons of great info and pictures but you and Mark seem to just be such a genuinely nice couple (to others and to each other...) and you seem to take things in stride as they come along...

 

[MEK]

I love the story behind your TR title. That is way too funny! Those stepsisters probably couldn't wait for an opportunity to show off their acting chops. Awesome.

More great PP pictures and more great hat pictures. Even you were getting in on the act.

 

[Poolrat]

This was the first drink spitter.

Nice - So you pack up and go OFF PROPERTY to starbucks and then go to Kona for a pressed pot. Just couldn't wait could you???

Love Boutiki





Nice that you went to MK. But I laughed so hard when I saw this.

Practicing to be a ghost to haunt the castle:

 

[PhoenixStrength]

OMG, that picture of practicing to be a ghost may be the most hilarious character picture I have ever seen!

 

[heaven2dc]

Oh my word...where do I begin lol You guys are a riot It must be tough being so shy

Love how Drizella was totally in character lol And your pics in front of the Castle - how cute! I am so glad you had a great time - you would both be so much fun to meet (and travel with!) I always sit here and smile (and even chuckle to myself) when I read your TR's

 

[MickeyNicki]

OMG, the picture of the stepsister acting like a ghost is hysterical! So glad the PP person was smart enough to take a picture of that!