I Dragged a Grumpy DH Back to the World and He (Kinda) Liked It...10/29 UPDATE!!

[Mickey_Mom]

You have some pretty awesome Photopass pics and incredibly cool pins! Love the 'seriously?!' pics of your DH and I'm left trying to figure out what your favorite ride at DHS might be....

The bootlegged RnR photo is another keeper!

 

[Angies1274]

Great pins and photopass picture!!! Love the excitement in the RnR pic!!! We were actually supposed to be at DHS that night for EMH. I had read that it can get really crowded there during EMH, one of the reasons why we skipped it. But I'm really glad to hear you had a great night!!!It sounds like it wasn't too bad, with the exception of TSM.

 

[annnewjerz]

Just checking in to give this a little bump---I hope you haven't forgotten about us already, I'm looking forward to hearing more about your trip!

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'm checking in too...can't wait for your next update.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Yikes! It's been quite awhile since the last update. Things have been...hectic in my life. Just over a week ago, my grandma (whom I'm very close to) suffered cardiac arrest. We all had dinner together that evening, and she was fine. She went home and collapsed about 20 minutes afterwards. My mom was happened to be there and immediately started CPR. The paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and actually had to shock her SIX times before she came back. It was so crazy and surreal. We had just been talking to her 20 minutes before all this happened. The doctors don't know what caused her heart to stop. She had bypass (6) surgery in 2007 so heart issues are not uncommon for her. Still...it was beyond scary. Plus, she is 85 years old and obviously no one can live forever. The doctor implanted a defibrillator in her chest, in case something like that happens again. She's actually back at home, "bossing" (her words, not mine) around.

Not sure why I felt compelled to go into such great details on here. Although really, it's kind of therapeutic just writing it out. Anyway...that's why I've been MIA and an even worse TR writer than before. Things are getting back to normal and I hope to FINALLY finish this thing!! Plus, I'm sure ya'll are just dying to here all about Flat Rachel!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

You have some pretty awesome Photopass pics and incredibly cool pins! Love the 'seriously?!' pics of your DH and I'm left trying to figure out what your favorite ride at DHS might be....

The bootlegged RnR photo is another keeper!

Thanks!! We did a Photopass share and I was determined to get my moneys worth. It was sad. I was seriously feeling stressed over getting enough pics taken.

Haha, I'm sure you couldn't guess...ToT! We're like little kids -- lets ride it again and again and again!!

Great pins and photopass picture!!! Love the excitement in the RnR pic!!! We were actually supposed to be at DHS that night for EMH. I had read that it can get really crowded there during EMH, one of the reasons why we skipped it. But I'm really glad to hear you had a great night!!!It sounds like it wasn't too bad, with the exception of TSM.

Thanks! You know, I was really surprised how nice it was during the EMH that night. It was far more crowded the following night b/c of Fantasmic. Yikes, that B-A-D!

Just checking in to give this a little bump---I hope you haven't forgotten about us already, I'm looking forward to hearing more about your trip!

Thanks Anne!

I'm checking in too...can't wait for your next update.

Hey Sarah!! How are you?

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Not sure why I felt compelled to go into such great details on here. Although really, it's kind of therapeutic just writing it out.

I'm sorry about your Grandma. You're exactly right, it does help to write things out.

Plus, I'm sure ya'll are just dying to here all about Flat Rachel!

Yes!

 

[Lynn5700]

Hey!!! I'm in love with all the pins you got! Awesome!!

HAHAHAH Love the bootleg pics of R&RC and TOT!! HAHA!

OOH and that Sweet Tomatoes place loks really good!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Hey Sarah!! How are you?

I'm doing good...been pretty busy lately with school and stuff. I'm sorry to hear about your grandma but hoping you're doing well too!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I'm sorry about your Grandma. You're exactly right, it does help to write things out.

Thanks! She's really doing so much better. In fact, she called to tell me she feels at least 20 years younger. She's a feisty one!

Hey!!! I'm in love with all the pins you got! Awesome!!

HAHAHAH Love the bootleg pics of R&RC and TOT!! HAHA!

OOH and that Sweet Tomatoes place loks really good!!!

Hey Lynn!! How are you doing? I need to come and catch up on your PTR!! I haven't had time. Sad, b/c I LOVE your PTR/TRs!!

We're so cheap! I really wish they would put all ride photos on PhotoPass. I think that's really dumb. Wants to spend $20 on ride pictures?!? Yes, I'm cheap!

It is SO good!! I wish they'd put one closer to Bloomington. The closest one to me is in Chicago. SAD!!!

I'm doing good...been pretty busy lately with school and stuff. I'm sorry to hear about your grandma but hoping you're doing well too!

Glad to hear you're well. Have you had any luck in the job hunt, or are you still subbing? A part of me really hopes you're subbing so you can go w/ your family in Jan so we can meet! But of course, most of me wants you to find a very nice teaching job!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Woo, I'm FINALLY back on track with this TR. Now, I'll finally introduce you to...FLAT RACHEL! Rachel is my Disneyland lovin' BFF who lives out in Utah. She just recent had a baby and wasn't able to get her Disney fix this year. So, I came up with a creative solution -- take a picture of Rachel, cut her out, "laminate" (I used packing tape ) and tape her to a chopstick so she can experience WDW. I thought it was a brilliant idea! Although, most people thought I was crazy. Sadly, I had to throw Flat Rachel in our checked luggage. I was afraid her pointy chopstick would make her get confiscated at the airport.

Sadly, I completely neglected Flat Rachel until the third day of our trip...whoops! Thankfully, I remembered her for our fun-filled day at Animal Kingdom. I even took her out to do a little exploring at the Lodge:

We originally had an ADR scheduled at Boma for breakfast. However, the night before we cancelled it b/c we were both really tired and didn't feel like waking up at the crack of dawn. I was bummed, but I forgot all about it after I got that extra hour of sleep! We headed to the bus stop around 8ish, and Flat Rachel was SO excited to be on the bus:

It's quite a trek from WL. First, you have to stop at GF and then at BB. Finally, we made it over to AK! We decided to head over to test out the centralized fastpass location. We saw the wait time for EE was only 5 minutes, so we decided to get a FP for KS and head straight over to EE. Let me tell you...I LOVED the centralized FP location. It was AWESOME!! Plus, it saves you so much time! I hope they integrate that concept into all the parks.

Anyway, we got to ride EE about three times before the line was up to 20 minutes. SWEET! Here's a bootleg picture. Notice, I look a little...demonic or something in this picture. Not sure what that's about?

Flat Rachel was too scared to ride. She just checked it out:

It was time to do KS, but since we were over by KRR I thought we should ride that first. Uh...big, BIG mistake. We got DRENCHED! I mean, butt soaking shoe squeaking drenched. We were unfortunate enough to sit in that one unfortunate spot where you have no hope of staying dry. The person across from us wasn't wet at all. Figures! Oh well. We figured we'd at least dry quick enough since it was so hot out. So, we headed over to KS. There were quite a bit of animals out wandering around, especially Rhinos. Sadly, my camera died not even half way through the ride. D'oh! That's what I get for forgetting to charge both batteries. DUH!! Here are two of the pics I did get:

Rhino butt...yep, I'm THAT photographer who always gets the quality side of people/animals/etc...

After KS, we decided to head back to the hotel. We were still SOAKED and feeling pretty miserable at this point. Here's what I looked like about an hour after riding KRR. Seriously, GROSS!!

Stay tuned...Flat Rachel visits the MK, rain, rain and MORE RAIN!!!

Jump to Day Three, Part Two​

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

WARNING:

It's official!!! We're heading back to WDW on January 23rd!!! I was able to rent points from a DVC owner and we'll be staying at the VWL again. WOO! I was a little bummed b/c I convinced everyone (myself included) that we should stay at BLT. Well, duh. I should've checked availability first b/c we couldn't get into BLT. Oh well, I LOVED VWL and I'm sure my family will too. I also booked our airline tickets today for $140/per person!!! Only 118 days to go...

 

[annnewjerz]

Flat Rachel is HILARIOUS!!! In some of them, the way you hold her---she really looks like she is there, except in 2-D. Looking forward to seeing more of her.

Congrats on the trip in January. Might we expect a PTR?

 

[onelilspark]

I like Flat Rachel. Nice pose.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Flat Rachel is HILARIOUS!!! In some of them, the way you hold her---she really looks like she is there, except in 2-D. Looking forward to seeing more of her.

Congrats on the trip in January. Might we expect a PTR?

Ha, thanks! I'm so glad I brought her along. I think she really enjoyed it too. Seriously, I think some people thought I was nuts...especially when I went up to PhotoPass photogs to get her picture. It was so worth it, though!

Thanks!! Oh yeah, I'll definitely do another PTR. I had a lot of fun w/ my first one and I have better ideas for my next TR. ::insert evil laugh::

I like Flat Rachel. Nice pose.

Thanks!!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

DAY THREE, PART TWO

Ok, so after we left AK we decided to relax a bit at the Lodge. Our plan was to relax and then head over to DHS. Well...my definition of relaxing at WDW consists of taking a VERY short break on a bench somewhere in Frontierland. I couldn't just sit there while there were pins to be traded, fun to be had and rides to be ridden. So, I ditched Aaron and took the boat over to MK with Flat Rachel!

Flat Rachel exploring the calming waters of Bay Lake:

Having Flat Rachel was a riot...especially when I was alone. I think people thought I was a bit nutty and brought along Flat Rachel for the "company". Seriously, some of the looks I got were hee-larious! Anywho...once we made it through the turnstiles I spotted a PhotoPass photog. Perfect! Flat Rachel just HAD to have her picture taken in front of the MK Train Station!

I also wanted to get her picture taken in front of Cinderella's Castle. Unfortunately, the photog couln't quite figure out how to get her and the castle together. BOO! Here's what we did get, though:

I decided to stash Flat Rachel for awhile so I could do a serious pin sweep. I started in Tomorrowland, went through Fantasyland, through Frontierland, swept through Adventurland and wound up back on Main Street all in ONE HOUR! It was so fun just being in MK looking for pins and talking to CMs. I had a blast! Plus, I found some pretty sweet pins too. Here are my favorites:

After my turbo trip through MK, I decided to head back and meet up with Aaron.

Coming up...torrential downpours, and Carrabba's!

 

[Lynn5700]

HAHAHAHAAHA I love Flat Rachel LMAO!!!! Too funny!!

I wish you were going the beginning of January!!!!!!!!!

Missy you have to go next Spring too!!! Hello! HP opens in Universal!!

 

[Lynn5700]

OOh another update lol!!


Girl I am cracking up!!!! I can't believe the photopas pics!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Chip and Dale one is the best!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

HAHAHAHAAHA I love Flat Rachel LMAO!!!! Too funny!!

I wish you were going the beginning of January!!!!!!!!!

Missy you have to go next Spring too!!! Hello! HP opens in Universal!!

Haha, thanks! She really was quite the hit.

I know!!! That would be so much fun to get to meet you guys. Although, I don't know if I'd want to be in WDW the same time as Tim. He might steal all the good pins. Seriously, you guys have tons of luck. I'm totally jealous.

Ooh, I am SO excited for HP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It looks like it is going to be so cool. I'm hoping I can at least get down there next December. I might have to plan a solo trip just for that, though. I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Yay for going back! How about this time you take a flat Sarah if I don't go with my family?! I ask my sister to do it but I'm pretty sure she'd think I was nuts.

Love the EE ride picture. haha! And once again you got some pretty sweet pins!