I Kicked it I Played it and now..Wheeling & Dealing at the WL final 9/9 p87/88

[MEK]

Those Smokey Mountain pictures are amazing!!! I can only imagine how fun it was to see in person.

So is your DS in contact with the California Girl?

The Smokies do look beautiful. Maybe someday I will get a chance to travel back there. It's nice to know I can get there in a 9 1/2 hour drive. I miss the mountains.

No, I don't think Brian has contacted her. He's back to the local gals, but I bet he still has her phone number.

I really enjoyed looking at your TN pictures; thanks for sharing! Despite the traffic, it looks like you had a nice weekend get-away!

Glad you enjoyed the pictures. It really was a memorable trip. It's so great to see other parts of the country.

Probably a smart idea!

Yeah, probably! Never know when a forest fire can start and that would be a disaster. Just looked funny!

Your Pictures are beautiful as usual. if i knew how to just quote one pic i would say the one with the spider on a mushroom? is really cool. did you intentionally get the spider or was it a luck shot?


KIM

That was totally an accident. I am not that detail oriented. I wish I was!

That was a very neat part of the tour. You were assigned your passenger at the very beginning and were given a bio of them. You had to wait until the end of the tour to learn your fate. I thought for sure as I went through the museum that my passenger perished, I was 3rd class after all, but I was surprised to learn that I was a survivor If you are ever near one of those museums definitely check it out!

It sounds so fascinating!!!!! I really, really want to go back or to another one somewhere.

I am glad your passenger survived.

Wow very unsual to be 3rd class and a survivor. Both of my daughters would love this too.

Agreed. I think its also interesting that the fate of all the passengers is known or can be surmissed. It's so fascinating.

What a fabulous trip through TN! The Smoky Mountain shots are beautiful! That Titanic Museum looks and sounds very cool! You know, there's a Titanic Museum on International Drive (I think) in Orlando!

Are you serious?????? Why did I not know this. I am putting it on my list for the next trip when we have a car. I really want to visit this attraction. I guess I really do have to get outside of the Disneyworld gates once in awhile!

Your pictures of the Smokies look a lot like mine. We've been going there since 1966 & have seen a lot of changes. Pigeon Forge used to be this podunk town until Dollywood came into being. Then it took off with lots of outlets & tourist traps. If you go after Labor Day on weekdays it is quite devoid of traffic. There are two carshows in Sept that bring out hundreds of classic cars. A great sight to see!

If I ever do return, I will definitely go right after Labor Day. I love traveling in September and I can't wait until I can do it again. It's such an awesome time - low crowds, great weather.

The Smokies are the most visited of our National Parks because of their nearness to the East Coast & the midwest. It has been putting quite a strain on the park with all of the traffic. We really love Gatlinburg & the surrounding mountains.

It became readily apparent to me that the Smokies draw a crowd from a huge geographical region. I think even my Florida friends vacation there because its the closet mountains to them. I can definitely understand the draw, but it is sad to see the national parks suffer from environmentally unfriendly travel.

All this discussion is definitely making me want to go back for a closer look.

I've been to two Titanic exhibits in Cincinnati. They are very stirring & sad. The range of artfacts is just amazing. If you have not seen it you should go. It is a little creepy getting a passenger ticket & waiting until the end to find out if you made it to safety. My first time I was a first class male & drowned, second time I was a maid & lived.

So interesting! I wonder how they divide up the artifacts to the different museums. Heck, I wonder how many museums there actually are? I am definitely going to one of these attractions. So cool!

Love your soccer shots!!!

Yes, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are quite the vacationing spots for lots of people here in Georgia. My family may be one of the last people to never have made it up there! I am pretty sure all of my students have been.

Glad you like the soccer shots!!!!!

I figured Georgia would be home to a lot of those vacationers.

Well, I guess you better put the Smokies on your vacation list then! lol. Actually, I would rather keep going to Disneyworld. I am sure a Smokey mountain vacation can break the budget as easily as a Disney vacation with 15 million tourist trap attractions that are beckoning for your vacation dollar.

Beautiful mountain shots!!!

I think that ivy you saw might be kudzu -- it is completely overtakes everything here in Georgia.

Glad you like the mountain shots. Kudzu - interesting. I definitely saw it on the prowe in many different spots. Interesting, but I am sure its not great for the native vegetation.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Those vines that you saw were kudzu. It is taking over & is is moving ever so slowly northward. Some new mdeical research into the properties of kudzu is proving to be very useful. That would be a good thing as kudzu is very destructive. This is what happens when non-native plant are imported.

 

[manntra]

Beautiful pictures of the Smokies! We have a lot of mountains here (not like that mind you ) My father's friend lives near Gatlinburg (I think...I could just be making that up ) no..he really does because I know he has an annual pass to Dollywood Seriously I have always wanted to go there...saw something on the Travel Channel once and they are supposed to have a lot of really amazing places to eat there. And some fun rides. Now I want to go to the Titanic museum...that sounds really interesting...I just looked it up online...had something similar at the Holocaust Museum in DC where I was assigned a person and learned about their life....very touching indeed.

Tracy

 

[brookelizabeth]

Is LJ still a total sweet heart?

 

[MEK]

Love your pictures of Gatlinburg (and all of TN). We've not been to Gatlinburg in over 20 years...we need to take a trip back there.

Well, wait for September or you will not like the traffic! Oh No Wait - You are going to Disney in September!!!!!

 

[MEK]

Mary Ellen, you truly have a gift with the camera! What terrific shots!! Remind me, what kind of camera are you using?

I have the Cannon Rebel Xsi. The bottom of the rebel series. I really love it cause its easy to use and reasonably light weight. The bag is only a little bigger than my old camera so its pretty portable.

 

[MEK]

I am not new here to the boards but I sure am new to postin an such. I just posted on my other favorite trip report. You and RigLee are such a hoot. She never posts up pictures so although I like her writin a whole mess, you have the best pictures I have ever seen here or even in those fancy magazines they have at the doctors office.

I haven't got as many pictures as you do but I reckon the next time I go to see Disney, I can gather a few more and try to be as good as you but I doubt I can come close. Your pictures are as pretty as a hollar in the moonlight when the sun kisses the earth and you know God is shining down on you to show you the way home.

Since I was gettin brave enough to write my own trip report finally, I wanted to make sure I thanked the people who have given me courage and you and RigLee are my rabbit's foot.

Welcome Courtin Trouble! sorry, I can't find the official welcome smilie - it seems to be missing in my lineup this morning! And Welcome to the Dis! I am glad you are enjoying my pictures. I finally checked out RigLee last night and I have to say that's some interesting writing over there. Can't reallly figure out why someone is writing pure ficition on the Disboards trip reports, but she sure has a lot of followers.

I actually found a really cool beverage chart over there that I should post over here.

Looking forward to your TR!

 

[MEK]

Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Yippeee for LJ!! Such a great kid!

I think LJ and his brother had a GREAT time! LJ worked on my PC to make it run faster. He and Nicholas contacted microsoft regarding our broken X Box and they were able to negotiate a free repair and free shipping. We went to Friendly's for dinner one night, which they loved. LJ also did something with my mac (I have no idea what) and he worked on Brian's computer. The kid is amazing!

Unfortunately, LJ and brother (I call him LM) were not able to go to Dorney park as they were heading to the beach with their parents. Poor LM looked like he was going to cry when they headed out. You see, LJ and LM have two younger brothers and I guess they feel like they never get a break from them.

 

[MEK]

Those vines that you saw were kudzu. It is taking over & is is moving ever so slowly northward. Some new mdeical research into the properties of kudzu is proving to be very useful. That would be a good thing as kudzu is very destructive. This is what happens when non-native plant are imported.

I heard something about that. In fact, as we were driving to the soccer field the other day I noticed some of that kudzu on a rural road. I was surprised to see it as I usually don't notice details in my own environment. I'm pretty sure it has made its way to Delaware.

 

[MEK]

Beautiful pictures of the Smokies! We have a lot of mountains here (not like that mind you ) My father's friend lives near Gatlinburg (I think...I could just be making that up ) no..he really does because I know he has an annual pass to Dollywood Seriously I have always wanted to go there...saw something on the Travel Channel once and they are supposed to have a lot of really amazing places to eat there. And some fun rides. Now I want to go to the Titanic museum...that sounds really interesting...I just looked it up online...had something similar at the Holocaust Museum in DC where I was assigned a person and learned about their life....very touching indeed.

Tracy

Really? Amazing places to eat at Dollywood???? Maybe I will have to go back. I am all about the food and that place called Jim and Nick's in Murfreesboro was really, really good.

I just remember thinking that if I had to sit in all the traffic to go the 15 miles to Dollywood I would NOT be happy.

So now the smokies are on my ever growing September vacation list. Let's see - I have.....

1. OBX
2. Hilton Head
3. Charleston
4. Vero Beach
5. Pigeon Forge and the Smokies
6. Disneyworld (of course)
7. Tampa/west coast Florida
8. I also want to go to that island off the coast of Georgia...forget what its called.

hmmmmm....I think I am going to need a month's vacation. No - make that 6 weeks!

 

[MEK]

Is LJ still a total sweet heart?

OMG....YES! what a refreshing breath of fresh air after being around a surly teen! Love that kid!

 

[MEK]

Sorry for all the individual posts. this computer is running so slow this morning (they need to hire LJ for their IT department). I was afraid if I opened another window the entire thing would freeze up and that I would have no replies.

 

[MEK]

So you might remember that I love to recap my new adventures for every trip. I can write this now because I really don't need pics. Of course, I could go back later and add pics. Hopefully this computer will keep it together long enough to send this post.

So Here Goes.....Mary Ellen's New Adventure Recap Starting with........

RESORT

As you know I had my first stay at the WL. I mentioned that I wasn't crazy about the furnishings, but I didn't really say too much else. And I won't because I want to save it for my final thoughts.

I did love the way the villa curved around the building. I don't know if I will ever have the opportunity to stay in another lock-off like that. I felt like the living room area was exceptionally big and it certainly could have fit a pull out chair. The LR was clearly bigger than Kidani and SSR.

I am very glad that I had the opportunity to stay at VWL. I can cross it off my list. I bet is beautiful in the winter around the holidays. Left on my list are - BLT, BCV, BWV, and OKW. I plan to visit each one

Traveling Companions

This is really the first time Denny and I traveled to the world with another couple, so I consider it a "first". We were happy to host another couple and we know they had a nice vacation. Did they LOVE it? Probably not, but I think they liked it. It's interesting going with a couple who are not Disney junkies. Secretly you want them to see "the light", but sadly you know they won't and you can't force it. So you go with the flow.

I will have to say that my BEST vacations in the world are when just Denny and I go together. They used to be when we went as a family, but then the teenage years came and Brian turned surly so traveling with him right now is not the greatest. Nicholas still loves the world, but his different sleep-wake cycle presents its own challenges.

So from a pure convenience and relaxation perspective, the best trips are when just Denny and I go. We had such a fabulous time last September that I don't think any trip will compare. We like to do the same rides, we go at the same pace, and we enjoy the quiet time together.

New Park Attractions

Epcot

1. Flower and Garden festival

This was my first spring trip to the world and its definitely a great way to ease into the summer season. It was fairly warm. Heck, it was downright hot and that's a little jarring when you come from the northeast. But it could have been a week of rain like LL's trip last year. So I am NOT complaining.

My only regret is my limited time in Epcot. In fact, that may have been why I was grumpy on Friday. I probably really wanted to be back exploring Epcot. Truth is, I probably only saw about 1/4 - 1/3 of the topiaries.

Bright spot is its a good excuse for a do-over!

2. Sum of All Thrills

This was a really fun attraction and I am looking forward to my next creation. I am definitely going to up the thrill factor next time. I may even select the fighter jet over the roller coaster. The only part I didn't love was that enclosure going down over my face. Clearly I would not do well in an MRI without sedation!

Hollywood Studios

1. American Idol - and I don't mean observer. I mean contestant. And we all know how that ended. There's still a part of me that would like to try again, but if I didn't make it a second time it would be a worse ego bruise than the first time. I was thinking that September, with its low crowds, may increase my chances. But honestly, I think they have kids just come and try out at all times of the year. And, as we know, I am no pop diva!

2. Riding ToT ALONE! - In my book this counts as a new attraction. Sure, I have ridden it before. But riding alone took more guts than I thought I had. I live by the 'safety in numbers' theory. The bigger the crowd the better. I had no friends, no family, no nobody but my bruised ego. Thanks to my AI failure, I was able to get the guts to go it slone on ToT. I am glad I did that as my consolation prize.

Animal Kingdom

1. Pagani Trail - OK, OK - I really had to give this some thought. After all, technically I have been on this trail once before. I just can't remember when, so I know it had to be during one of our very first family trips. But for the purposes of this update I am going to give it a "first" because I got to see the baby gorilla. And that was definitely a first and certainly one of the highlights of my trip. I will definitely visit the trails again in the future. I am way overdue to see the bats, so perhaps September will find me leading down another trail.

Magic Kingdom

I have racked my brains and then racked them some more. For the longest time I couldn't think of anything that I had done which was new. And then I had one of these......

1. The new improved Space Mountain - OK, I have to admit it did seem a little darker, but it didn't really feel all that new to me. I am glad they equipped it with a picture area. It definitely needed one. So that's really all I can say about Space Mountain. Still one of my all time favorite classics, it just didn't seem that different to me. Maybe my observational skills were off that day.

Outside of the Park Attractions



1. Cirque du soliel (and I FINALLY learned to spell it). - I would recommend this attraction to everyone. I know that it is pricey and I feel fortunate that we got the great discount. Another great reason to belong to DVC and have an AP. The discount was for either AP or DVC! I already told you that this is 90 minutes of non-stop eye candy. If you get bored during this show you definitely have a problem because it was simply amazing. A definite must see and I am very glad that we went!

Dining

We had several new dining experiences this trip, both counter service and table service. That's one of the things I love about Disney. As many times as I go, I can still find a new place to eat while revisiting some of my old favorites.

Counter Service

1. Roaring Forks - very good. Probably liked the Mara a little bit more strictly based on the outside tables, the flat breads, and the Zebra domes. But still good counter service fair. And it was never very crowded when I went in there.

2. Yak & Yeti Counter Service - I regret that I somehow missed the egg rolls on the menu because apparently they are still there. But remember I was getting FP's and Denny was getting my food, so next time I will ask when I don't see something. This food was just OK. Nothing special and I'm not a big fan of white rice. Still, I would try it again.

3. Wolfgang Puck's Express - Apparently there are two in DTD. I did not know this. My sandwich was good. The wait was a little long. I would like to go back when I was hungrier so I could sample more menu items. Overall I enjoyed it and Cathy's pumpkin soup looked delish!

Table Service

1. Rose & Crown - Really, really good. I actually put off making this ADR in the past because I had read "eh" things about the R&C. I ended up thinking all you food critics are wrong. After all, how can you go wrong with a place that serves Bottington's and has cute waiters? My steak and fish were delish. It was a ton of food and a marvelous area to watch Illuminations. Definitely a memorable evening and I will certainly return!

2. Saana (or is it Sanaa?) - why is it I still can't get the name right? Anyway - I finally know how to pronounce it. This meal was awesome and the waitstaff was fabulous. This was my favorite meal of the trip despite the fact that I could have the African wine pairing. I loved, loved, loved the breads and the dips and my entree was heavenly. Dessert was great and the addition of free coffee was so cool. Plus I love Kidani so what's not to like about this meal.

So that's it folks - I am sure I had some other new adventures, but that's all that comes to mind right now.

I still have some pics from TN and OBX to post and I still need to do my final thoughts. No worries. I will have it all wrapped up by the time I leave on 9/11.

 

[Dizneydawn]

8. I also want to go to that island off the coast of Georgia...forget what its called.

Tybee Island?

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love your wrap of new things.

I agree with you on R&C, it is a must do on my trips now. I've had three great meals there now. Each one better than the last. I can't wait to eat there in a few weeks.

 

[KatMark]

Mary Ellen, I love your wrap up and await reading your final thoughts. Be forewarned...just because they leave their "teenage" years it does not mean they become less surly.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Love your 'new adventures' post! I may just have to borrow that idea

So sorry that you missed so much of the F&GF, it was all so beautiful! Of course, that just gives you an excuse to plan another trip for next year during that time - this time it can just be you and Denny and you can do things the way you want to

 

[dawnbu40]

Great wrap up! You must go back during the Flower Fest and take time to see everything. That is my favorite time to visit Epcot!

 

[vamassey1]

Those vines that you saw were kudzu. It is taking over & is is moving ever so slowly northward. Some new mdeical research into the properties of kudzu is proving to be very useful. That would be a good thing as kudzu is very destructive. This is what happens when non-native plant are imported.

We have it here in Louisiana too. For as far back as I can remember it's been here.

Loved your recap. And I think it's great that after many visits you can still find things you've never done. That's on of the many reasons we keep going back. There is always something we haven't done before.

 

[manntra]

Great recap ME!! I really enjoyed going at this time of the year too...was a fun way to start off the summer and now going again in the fall just makes it even better
I was thinking Tybee Island too I am sure CP will know for sure

Tracy