It was a Horror-ible, and then Not-So-Scary (but exhausting!), October/NovTrip!! Completed 3/13!!!

[MeghanEmily]

But as of right now, we leave for our next trip in 27 days! Definitely takes the sting out of it!

Yay!! No better way to prevent the post-Disney depression than by having another trip planned!

BUT…I got a text at 5:15 saying I was being cancelled!! Normally I'd be upset because this was an extra shift and I hate getting cancelled because I like the extra money, but I was SO excited to be cancelled on a snow day! And since the kids' school was cancelled too, that means I have all day to be cozy at home with no place to go and plenty of time to maybe get in a TR update or two

Enjoy your snow day! We're supposed to get some of that tonight and into tomorrow, but I'm crossing my fingers because it may change over to rain overnight.

I've been chosen!

then headed over to see if Gaston was around. He wasn't, but I found someone even MORE handsome

Wow! #swoon You're a lucky lady!

Oh my gosh…they do such a great job changing this over that I'm almost sad it's not like this all year. I was totally laughing out loud at all the corny Christmas jokes (though I might have bee the only one ).

I love Jingle Cruise! The transformation is awesome!

Our cruise guide was really good at her job. I love it when they are super serious and I also think it's funny when unsuspecting people fall for it and are totally confused the whole trip

I agree! A good skipper totally makes or breaks the ride, and I love the dry/sarcastic tone!

 

[missjackiemcg]

But as of right now, we leave for our next trip in 27 days! Definitely takes the sting out of it!

DEFINITELY!!!! I am so sad I have no trip planned---I need to survive Parent-Teacher conferences tomorrow (now that I'm finished with 29 five page report cards!!!!) so I can finally turn my attention to much more important matters....like starting my December/January TR already for crying out loud!!!!! Maybe that will help with my missing Disney blues!

I love that shirt Rob and Jimmy bought me the same one for Christmas this year!

The Jingle Cruise layover is a definite favorite!!! We did it on our KTTK tour, which was super fun!

 

[buzzrelly]

That's all I could think of too!

Wow! #swoon You're a lucky lady!

I am

DEFINITELY!!!! I am so sad I have no trip planned---I need to survive Parent-Teacher conferences tomorrow (now that I'm finished with 29 five page report cards!!!!) so I can finally turn my attention to much more important matters....like starting my December/January TR already for crying out loud!!!!! Maybe that will help with my missing Disney blues!

Ugh…good luck! I'm envious of teachers and their hours/breaks UNTIL I think about how much work you do outside of work At least when I'm home, I'm home. I don't think about work, at all!

I love that shirt Rob and Jimmy bought me the same one for Christmas this year!

Great minds...

 

[disneyAndi14]

Jingle cruise is so fun, I love all your pictures. Sorry about your crappy weather! The same storm stayed south of us on Monday and we didn’t get any snow and only about 30 miles from here they got 8-12 inches, yuck!!
I love spending our last day at MK. I get why you like to take everything in and enjoy it as much as you can on the last day!

 

[ariane37]

My mom and I are taking my kids, DS16 and DD14 on a 3-night cruise on the Wonder and then to Bay Lake Tower for 8 nights. We actually leave on April 4th and are staying at the Hyatt at MCO so the DCL bus can pick us up there the next morning and bring us to the port. I can't wait, especially since we are getting ANOTHER Nor'Easter here in CT today and I am just SO over this winter!

I normally love snow and I super love snow days since I don't have to get up early with the kids (I'm a night person NOT a morning person, except, you know, Disney ) but besides being off today I'm afraid they'll be off tomorrow AND they are off Friday for a Sup. Conference. Now we're supposed to get another storm Monday?? It's even too much for me! Thinking about our vacation makes it a little better

then headed over to see if Gaston was around. He wasn't, but I found someone even MORE handsome

Aw, your boyfriend

There are a lot of great things about being at WDW for the Christmas season, but this has to be one of the BEST reasons…

I agree, I love Jingle Cruise

 

[buzzrelly]

I love spending our last day at MK. I get why you like to take everything in and enjoy it as much as you can on the last day!

Traditions

Thinking about our vacation makes it a little better

Oh my gosh, 2 weeks for you!

Aw, your boyfriend

Exactly!

 

[MeghanEmily]

Ugh…good luck! I'm envious of teachers and their hours/breaks UNTIL I think about how much work you do outside of work At least when I'm home, I'm home. I don't think about work, at all!

Agreed!!! My mom, both her sisters, and my uncle are all teachers. It was amazing to have my mom home all summer when I was growing up. But I don't envy her now that I know how much work she did! And also, being "on" all the time with kids/teens is exhausting. Nathan always told me he thought I should be a teacher, but it takes a very special kind of person, I think!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Ugh…good luck! I'm envious of teachers and their hours/breaks UNTIL I think about how much work you do outside of work At least when I'm home, I'm home. I don't think about work, at all!

I'm glad you understand that at least! I really get sick of hearing people complain how I get three months off. Nevermind the fact that my contract is August 15th through June 15th, which equals just about 2 months off for summer, and the fact that I have to do professional development hours and courses over the summer, too. These report cards alone though are enough to make a person crazy!! I stopped counting the number of hours I spend on "my time" doing lesson plans, grading, and assessments.

 

[kastoney]

It is crazy, and yet, I'm a sucker for reserved seating. There are plenty of mixers though if you brought in your own nips (and now that I just typed the, I hope "nips" isn't only a word we use in CT…to be clear, I am not referring to a certain body part, I am referring to tiny little bottles of alcohol ).

I most definitely have another definition of that word - so maybe it is a Connecticut thing - but I'm totally gonna use it now. IN fact I'm enjoying my own nip as I type

Ahhhhh, the last day. Normally I am super sad not just on the last day, but also writing about the last day. It's always so hard thinking about the ending of a wonderful trip

It really is the worst. It all starts on such a high, then there is a cloud dampering everything that just won't go away

But as of right now, we leave for our next trip in 27 days! Definitely takes the sting out of it! My mom and I are taking my kids, DS16 and DD14 on a 3-night cruise on the Wonder and then to Bay Lake Tower for 8 nights.

Well now I don't feel quite so bad for you

can't wait, especially since we are getting ANOTHER Nor'Easter here in CT today and I am just SO over this winter!

Hope you are staying warm. We've been able to escape everything so far, though I'm not gonna lie I could totally use a good snow day!

By 9am, we were walking past the castle,

We were in MK the same day. I kept looking close at your pictures seeing if we were maybe in the background and we literally just missed each other. We weren't but we were most definitely in Fantasyland about the same time.

then headed over to see if Gaston was around. He wasn't, but I found someone even MORE handsome

Our cruise guide was really good at her job. I love it when they are super serious and I also think it's funny when unsuspecting people fall for it and are totally confused the whole trip

A good jungle - I mean jingle - cruise skipper can really make or break a voyage. This was our first time doing Jingle Cruise and our skipper wasn't very good. I was expecting lots of Xmas jokes, but it was largely the same ole same ole

 

[buzzrelly]

IN fact I'm enjoying my own nip as I type

I think it's a throwback to my younger days when I worked at a liquor store (or a "Packy"...short for Package Store-another CT word, I think) and the old men would come in and be like, "gimme a couple nips of smirnoff."

We were in MK the same day. I kept looking close at your pictures seeing if we were maybe in the background and we literally just missed each other. We weren't but we were most definitely in Fantasyland about the same time.

OMG…why didn't we know that and meet?! I'm going to go scour our pics now and see if I can spot you guys!

 

[wdwnut61]

We get 4-5 inches and people panic I can't image dealing with all the snow you get in Connecticut
Thankfully your trip is right around the corner 12 more days for us
Love the Jungle Cruise and all your pictures.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thankfully your trip is right around the corner 12 more days for us

Almost there! have a great trip!
22 for us!

 

[buzzrelly]

Well folks, another Nor' Easter here in CT means another trip report update. If this trend continues, I'll be done with this in no time! Gotta love the Northeast

However, this means that by the time we leave for our next trip in 23 days, I should have this trip report all wrapped up

Continuing on with our last day, November 6, 2017:

I left off where we were heading to Main Street for lunch. And no, we did not return to Tony's, although I do really enjoy that, we went to one of my favorite TS places in ALL of WDW...



We eat here at least once per trip and I usually get the Plaza Club, or the Chicken Strawberry Salad. However, this time I threw caution to the wind and went with a new sandwich that was recently added here…



Fried Green Tomato Sandwich:



Mike got the Angus Chuck Cheeseburger:


Wow! My sandwich was super delicious! If you recall, I had just recently tried my first FGT sandwich, EVER, at DHS and that was really good, but this was better. I think the bun and the sauce just made this one a little bit better, but I wouldn't hesitate to get either one again.

When we finished eating, we headed to Tomorrowland to ride one of my favorite attractions, The Carousel of Progress. After that we hit up the People Mover.














I'm coming for you Bay Lake Tower…see you soon!


Continued in next post...
​

 

[buzzrelly]

You know what they say, all good things must come to an end. Sadly, Mike and I found ourselves at the end of our amazing trip. Around 3:30, we took one last stroll down Main Street, USA taking it all in.
















Once back at the Poly, we decided to grab a snack before I had to head out front to wait for the DME...



Before long, Mike and I said our good-byes and I was on my way to MCO...




Continued in next post...​

 

[buzzrelly]

I was kind of sad leaving…these trips take so much time and thoughts to plan. And then the anticipation and excitement before the trip just thinking about it…to have that all in the past always makes me a little melancholy.

But it was time to go and I really missed the kids a LOT, and I know they missed me. That's what I was thinking of on the way to MCO and I was getting more and more excited to go home and see them.



It was late and the airport wasn't busy at all. Nobody on the fake-o-rail...



I was through security and by my gate with plenty of time to spare.



I was excited they added a Chipotle since the last time I was there. I ended up getting a chicken burrito and it hit the spot
(though it's not very photogenic )...







My mom and I had this elaborate plan that on that afternoon, she would drive my car up to the airport and my ex-DH would drive her home (we are very amicable and he works at BDL). I had a set of keys and she had the extra set. We planned this because I didn't want her driving so late at night to get me since she's getting older (74) and it's about a 30 minute drive up the highway. However, when I called her from the airport, she told me that she didn't drive my car up and that she was just going to come pick me up. She had planned to do that all along, but just never told me because she knew I would yell at her. I don't know what I'd do without her, she's really the best mom ever

Anyway, when I came down the escalator, there was another surprise waiting for me…






Don't mind the look on DS's face He looks sour, but he was happy to see me

The next morning I sat with my new cup enjoying my coffee...



Did I mention that I love this cup? I plan on trying to get the rest of the cups during my April trip, even though I hate Starbucks…they do make a nice coffee cup.


I also took a pic of the pins I had gotten this trip. Pins are some of my favorite souvenirs because they are small and they last forever.



Poor Mike was still down in Florida at this point. He was staying with his mom for a couple days before he was scheduled to board the train for another long, 24-hour commute. We were bing goofy and sent him this pic, because we knew how much he missed Oscar...


And that was that! Mike got home a couple days later, no worse for the wear, but definitely happy to be home. And life very quickly got back to normal, which for us (as all parents) is just crazy, running around, working, cleaning, activities, etc! But the escape from all that, however brief, was sooooo nice!

Mike and I are planning on heading back down this October. We are staying at The Poly October 16th-October 21st, and then doing a 4-night cruise on The Dream from October 22nd-October 26th. I don't think I'll do a PTR this time, because I found myself struggling with that when I did it for this trip. I find it's kind of like thinking out loud and I felt mine was too boring. Without the running/training, I don't even know what I would talk about.

Speaking of the running, Mike and I both said that we are all set with any more races. Our vacation is strictly going to be just that…a vacation. No getting up at 3 am. We want to go to Trader Sam's again…maybe even twice. And we want to go to Jellyroll's, which we didn't get to do this time around.

I also think we are going to try more quality/signature restaurants and forego all you can eat dinners or buffets. The one buffet we would consider is California Grill brunch, since we missed it this trip. I don't think we'll be able to do that though because we check out of the Poly on that Sunday and were planning on heading to Cape Canaveral for the day, and we won't drink and drive. We aren't crazy big drinkers, but when we go, I want to be able to have a mimosa or a Bloody Mary.

We also made our trip earlier in October because as much as I love the Christmas decorations (and they were absolutely beautiful), I was kind of sad that we didn't get to enjoy more of the Halloween decorations. I guess I'm just not feeling too Christmassy in early November. Another reason we are going earlier is because we really want to be home for Halloween. Even though the kids are getting older, Mike's DS still goes Trick or Treating and we were kind of bummed that we missed last year.

Anyway, thanks for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed reliving and writing it.

I'll come back and post a link to my next TR…who know, maybe I'll do a preliminary TR for that trip, just to kind of layout all the details. I feel I may be able to do that since it's just a few weeks away. Of course, that would hinge on me having any free time between now and then and I don't know if that's going to happen! DD is in her HS Musical production on Thursday…guess what it is? Beauty and the Beast! I am so excited to see it and I will be going to multiple showings over this next weekend.

Also, Mike has his BIG birthday coming up on Friday Crazy to think he's turning 50! Thank goodness I am MUCH younger than him (by 9 months!)! Anyway, we are going to dinner Friday night to celebrate and then having a party here on Sunday for him.

Between all that, work, etc, these next couple weeks will fly right on by! Oh! And did I mention that I haven't even started packing yet??

See you real soon!
​

 

[wdwnut61]

Almost there! have a great trip!
22 for us!

Thanks you too a cruise and 8 days at Bay Lake sounds amazing

 

[wdwnut61]

I'm sad your trip report is over I've really enjoyed it.
You have a beautiful family
How exciting my DD did the musicals in HS so much fun. Beauty and the Beast that's wonderful enjoy!
Your Oct trip sounds great Poly and a cruise

 

[buzzrelly]

I'm sad your trip report is over I've really enjoyed it.

Aw, thank you! I loved writing it and looking back at all of our pictures!

You have a beautiful family

Thank you

Your Oct trip sounds great Poly and a cruise

I'm a park lover, for sure, but those cruise ships keep calling me back!

 

[disneyAndi14]

Enjoyed your report! Have a wonderful trip!
Sounds like a fun fall trip as well, I love fall at Disney.

 

[buzzrelly]

Enjoyed your report! Have a wonderful trip!
Sounds like a fun fall trip as well, I love fall at Disney.

Thank you!