It's a SO-LO trip report! Oct 09, CR/YC, MNSSHP, F&W, and Independence! FINAL UPDATE!

[3prettyprincesses]

OMG Nory! You are stunning, simply stunning! I agree with Hucifer upthread that you look like a glamorous 40's actress, your dress is breathtaking and looks very flattering. Good job! I've seen some brides who look like the dress was wearing them but honey, you WORE that dress! I absolutely love the flowing, silky fabric on the shoulders! Gorgeous. (For my wedding, I wanted to look like a Grace Kelly bride and my dress was just 100% what I envisioned.) How cute are you and your DH? Adorable. That pic of the toast is awesome, everyone looks like they're having a great time. Your sisters are beautiful too and I love those ruffled shoes one of them wore. I'm so glad your day was beautiful and everything you wanted it to be. You both look so happy. So, does looking back at the pics make all the crazy planning worth it? It should!

Your Ethiopian dress is gorgeous, the colors are amazing. And wow, nice dance moves! It looks like you were really cutting a rug. Is that the right expression? I think so, it means you were dancing up a storm, I think. Anyhow, it looked like a fabulous time. Thanks for sharing!

 

[norybell]

Everyone -

Thank you so much for all the compliments! I have to say, it was really a dream to feel like a movie star for a day (and yes, 1940s glamour was exactly what I was going for). Now, if only I had a professional to do my hair and makeup every day...

Honestly, we had no idea how much fun getting married (and being married) would be!

 

[hucifer]

I thought I was the only one I too have a confession: I am in love with guys with glasses. Thats a percentage of why I married this guy:

If I may be so bold...your man is adorable, Minnie!

 

[hucifer]

(and yes, 1940s glamour was exactly what I was going for)

I'd say you nailed it.

 

[Minnie J]

If I may be so bold...your man is adorable, Minnie!

LOL Thank you so much!! I just love those "guys with glasses"

 

[hucifer]

I've seen some brides who look like the dress was wearing them but honey, you WORE that dress!

What she said.

LOL Thank you so much!! I just love those "guys with glasses"

Yeah, I gotta say...he's really cute. Enough to reply about it!

 

[onelilspark]

Nory-love the Wedding pics! The dress (and you obv!) is gorgeous!!

Re: guys with glasses...I love it when my boyfriend wears his glasses, he looks so handsome

 

[If U Had Wings]

Your wedding pics are just beautiful!

 

[GaRain]

So, its true, its good to get passes from guys in glasses?

You looked just beautiful on your wedding day - glowing bride!

 

[glennbo123]

What a beautiful bride you were Nory! Loved the pictures -- thanks for sharing them. The joy and fun of the event were evident in all of them, especially the "Ethiopian dancing" one.

 

[norybell]

Thanks again, everyone! And GaRain:

Update coming soon, I promise!

 

[norybell]

Not that I ever want to take the focus away from my wonderful wedding day…but I guess it’s time for another update, isn’t it? I’m afraid this one will be short (it’s not my fault, not much happened on this particular evening!), but I’ll throw in lots of fireworks pics to make up for it, OK?

Let’s see, where was I? Oh yes, on the bus, heading back to the YC after my full day at AK. At this point, I have to admit, I was really, really beat. Not that I was going to let that get me down, with only one last night at the world left to savor! I stopped at the concierge lounge for wine (white), pot stickers (blech), and duck quesadilla (yum). The lounge was packed, so I didn’t linger for pictures, and took my snacks back to my room. The YC lounge isn’t much to look at, anyway. I called my mom, then allowed myself a 20-minute power nap, before freshening up and heading back to Epcot.

Look, it’s the land of blurry champagne glasses!

Now, you could say this was blurry. Or, you could say it was artistic.

This one makes me kinda dizzy if I stare at it too long:

I had to ride Spaceship Earth, because I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite ride at Epcot. Mostly for nostalgia reasons. It makes me miss the old days of the transportation ride and Wonders of Life (I really loved the transportation ride) – what can I say, I was a nerdy kid; I liked educational stuff!

See you soon, blurry spaceship buddy and blurry caveman buddy!

He looks very, very serious, doesn’t he? So that’s probably not a Twilight novel he’s reading…

trip report getting dull full stop promise last day more exciting full stop

This chick is possibly the best addition to a Disney ride ever! Let’s send the Imagineer in charge of her over to Imagination!

I love all those twinkly lights they’ve added when you start going backwards. I wish they lasted longer. I just let my eyes go a bit out of focus and totally zone out for those five seconds…trippy, man!

In the future, we have done away with spokes!

After my ride into the past and the future, I headed back to the World Showcase for some food-ing and wine-ing. It was very, very busy—I made a note that I couldn’t imagine what it must be like on a weekend night during F&W. This frightens me now, because I plan on being there on a Friday night during my next trip! I guess I’ll have to practice my withering stare, crowd-weaving, and best mocking-you-cuz-you’re-drunk jokes in the meantime. Luckily, I majored in these subjects in college, so I’m practically a professional by now.

On my way there, I finally discovered the twilight setting on my camera.

I have to admit that I didn’t take any pictures of my snacks this evening. But it wasn’t for lack of trying! It was so busy that it was too hard to find a decent spot to set down my food and take a picture…I really had no choice but to eat on the go. So I have stolen some pictures from the Internet for you. See what you’ve done to me, dear readers? You’ve turned me to a life of crime!

First I stopped in South Africa for some mealie soup:

This was a corn soup with some crab meat, topped with a generous portion of chili oil. I love chili oil, so I loved this soup. If I had my way, all soups would be spicy.

Then I headed to Australia for a lamington:

It’s a little sponge cake covered in chocolate and coconut. It was OK, but nothing spectacular. Tasted a little bit like it just came out of a fridge; it would’ve been better at room temperature.

At some point or other I passed the stage, where this band was playing:

Anyone have any idea who they are?

Still needing a F&W pin (remember, I decided I needed a pin from every special event I visited?), I stopped at the pin traders and purchased this one:

I made the mistake of asking the CM what the difference was between a Limited Edition pin and a Limited Release pin. She talked to me about this for ten minutes in a heavy accent, but it was clear she had no idea. Like, truly, absolutely no idea. It was so obvious she was just making stuff up in order to answer my question. Luckily, I didn’t really care; I was just curious. Finally I made my escape, and I rushed over to France for one of these:

Except it didn’t actually look like that, because it was night. Also because it wasn’t orange. It was a special-for-the-festival flavor: Cosmo. Meaning it was R-E-D. Like, really, really red. Meaning I rushed over to my top-secret Illuminations-viewing spot very, very carefully!

Continued in next post.

 

[norybell]

Once I got to the aforementioned top-secret Illuminations-viewing spot, it was about 8:45, so I leisurely sipped at my slushie and took this mysterious photo for you:

Twenty points for the most creative guess of what this might be?

All I can really say about Illumination is: BEST SHOW EVER.

After the show, I ambled back around the WS to the International Gateway. I stopped in Italy and made a wish at the fountain—no picture, but I’m happy to report that the wish came true in the meantime. I planned to really take my time before leaving the park, but I was too tired to linger long. It’s so nice to be able to walk “home” from Epcot!

Check out this awesome moon:

I decided to head over to the Boardwalk for a snack, since apparently I had forgotten to eat enough at F&W (I blame the lines). I stopped at the little cart for some chicken fingers, which took forever. I think they were about to close, and weren’t expecting any more customers, or something. I waited for at least 15 minutes! But they were worth it.

Then it was time for my last night at the world (not on the world or in the world, thankfully) to end, so I strolled back to the YC:

I picked up a glass of wine in the YC bar and took it up to my room. I’d had yet another amazing day, but I had definitely noticed many more annoying little things than on my previous days in the parks: flashes in dark rides, dirty bathrooms, screaming children, etc. I guess Day 4 was the day I hit the wall a teeny tiny bit. This is why I think my next trip (this coming October)—which is for only 3 nights—just might be the perfect length for a solo trip.

Coming Soon: DHS and the Mean, Mean Man

 

[Tribilín]

Once I got to the aforementioned top-secret Illuminations-viewing spot, it was about 8:45, so I leisurely sipped at my slushie and took this mysterious photo for you:

Twenty points for the most creative guess of what this might be?

It's the photographic evidence of why they don't let Tinkerbell fly during strong winds

 

[Tribilín]

On my way there, I finally discovered the twilight setting on my camera.

I actually laughed out loud with this one....

Fantastic update norybell and great pictures of the fireworks... I can never get good pictures of them. I guess I need to practice a lot... or find the adequate setting in my camera

 

[praisehisname]

On my way there, I finally discovered the twilight setting on my camera.

I'm really glad you discovered this setting, because this picture is gorgeous!!!

Anyone have any idea who they are?

I hope somebody knows, 'cause know it's driving me crazy!

 

[norybell]

It's the photographic evidence of why they don't let Tinkerbell fly during strong winds

Good one!

I'm really glad you discovered this setting, because this picture is gorgeous!!!

Thanks!

I hope somebody knows, 'cause know it's driving me crazy!

I even tried looking it up for you! But he doesn't look (to me, anyway) like any of the listed Eat to the Beat acts I saw for last year. So hopefully someone will know!

 

[TwistofLemon]

oh, um, Hi There Norybell, how's it going? I just now found out it was really you updating your trippie, and not the "where's our long-ago-promised update" messages that came thru my email a few times over the past several months.

And WOW! what I've been missing!!

Your wedding photos are simply fabulous! Best wishes to you both for a lifetime of happiness! Such a glamorous couple, and I loved the shot with your sisters. I don't think anyone would complain if you shared MORE pictures!

I understand what you mean about dealing with busy parks. Having huge crowds in a park is kind of like travelling with a group. It's not so easy getting wherever you want to go, as quickly as you've been accustomed to going. There's just so many people...and couples....and strollers...and groups...and families...
but still worth being there, huh?

Anyway, looking forward to more!

 

[hucifer]

I called my mom, then allowed myself a 20-minute power nap, before freshening up and heading back to Epcot.

Wow, there is no way I would nap and go back out. Once I'm back in the hotel room, that bed lures me more than the parks do.

Now, you could say this was blurry. Or, you could say it was artistic.

I'm going with blurry.

I had to ride Spaceship Earth, because I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite ride at Epcot. Mostly for nostalgia reasons. It makes me miss the old days of the transportation ride and Wonders of Life (I really loved the transportation ride) – what can I say, I was a nerdy kid; I liked educational stuff!

It's like I typed that. I miss the old Epcot too...the original Journey Into Imagination, Horizons, World of Motion, Spaceship Earth, Communicore...that made me fall in love with Epcot. Not that it's not fun now, though!

In the future, we have done away with spokes!

Sweet.

So I have stolen some pictures from the Internet for you. See what you’ve done to me, dear readers? You’ve turned me to a life of crime!

We discovered long ago...around page 5, I think...that you are your own force to be reckon with. There's no controlling you. So don't blame us for your illegal actions.

Anyone have any idea who they are?

Nope.

Meaning I rushed over to my top-secret Illuminations-viewing spot very, very carefully!

I still think you ought to PM me on this mystery spot of yours.

Twenty points for the most creative guess of what this might be?

It's a Spectromagic guy on one of those futuristic spoke-less bikes riding by?

I guess Day 4 was the day I hit the wall a teeny tiny bit. This is why I think my next trip (this coming October)—which is for only 3 nights—just might be the perfect length for a solo trip.

Yes yes YES!!! I TOTALLY agree with you!

 

[norybell]

oh, um, Hi There Norybell, how's it going? I just now found out it was really you updating your trippie, and not the "where's our long-ago-promised update" messages that came thru my email a few times over the past several months.

And WOW! what I've been missing!!

Your wedding photos are simply fabulous! Best wishes to you both for a lifetime of happiness! Such a glamorous couple, and I loved the shot with your sisters. I don't think anyone would complain if you shared MORE pictures!

Hi TwistofLemon, glad you found me (again)! And thank you so much!

Wow, there is no way I would nap and go back out. Once I'm back in the hotel room, that bed lures me more than the parks do.

Only in Disney do I have this strange power over the nap.

It's like I typed that. I miss the old Epcot too...the original Journey Into Imagination, Horizons, World of Motion, Spaceship Earth, Communicore...that made me fall in love with Epcot. Not that it's not fun now, though!

Yeah, I still love Epcot, of course, but I do with they'd bring back some of that old vibe to Future World. It just feels like it's missing something now, to me.