Jumping, Dancing & Jamming Our Way Through Walt Disney World! I'm With the Band Now!

[ddstratton]

Congrats on the craft sale! That was a good take from a small show. My mom says the same thing about "tagging along" on our vacations. And we told her the same thing -- If we didn't want you to come, we wouldn't have asked you!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Congrats on the craft sale! That was a good take from a small show. My mom says the same thing about "tagging along" on our vacations. And we told her the same thing -- If we didn't want you to come, we wouldn't have asked you!

First off, how's the pregnancy going? Feeling okay so far?

I was pleased with the craft sale total. I need to post pictures of the items I have left over and see if any of ya'll have an interest in them.

Sorry, I have not commented in awhile, but I have been reading along.

The wedding pictures were wonderful, they made a beautiful couple. I loved the picture with you and DH. I enjoyed the story behind the rings.

Your husband is in my thoughts and prayers that the meds, work out.

I love the EPCOT pictures. We missed Lighting McQueen and Mater when we were there in March they had not put them out yet. That may be why they were still out.

The manatees are always fun to watch.

Then finally it is great the way your son is moving up on the waiting list. He needs to make his plans for NY. Great news about the new jobs for your husband.

That's perfectly fine that you haven't posted in a while. I find myself getting further and further behind on all my Dising lately.

Thanks so much about the wedding compliment. They celebrated their 2 month anniversary last week and are as happy as clams.

I am so excited for Hunter and the possibility of him getting to go to NYC. We could still have a lot of time to wait until we know for sure if he's going. It could be all the way up until the day before the trip.

That's terrible about the flat tire. I'm glad you got it fixed quickly.
It's awesome that you made $300 at the craft show!
Yay for Mama going in May, too!!
I thought I posted before, but I must be losing my marbles. I wanted to say that I think it is great that Hunter moved so far up the list for the NYC trip! I bet he will be at the top of the list soon.

For some reason, I was putting the stuff in the car on the passenger side and noticed the tire. Otherwise, I wouldn't have noticed until I started driving on it.

I'm hoping that Mama decides to go. We saw my aunt and cousin in town and she said something to them about us asking. They told her to "Go!"

I hope Mama does go with you next year.

Great job on the craft show.

Mama will probably not make up her mind until we see what, if any, discounts come out for May. She insists on getting her own room and it can be a bit costly for one person.

That is so great on Mama maybe going back! I think my mom is planning to return one day with us too! I use the "Hunter trick" too. We know if we want my parents to do anything...we just have Madison call. She learned the puppy dog look early!!

How awesome one the sales! Phooey on the flat tire but glasd that was an easy fix!

I admit that I am not above using the "but the grandkids want you to go" trick.

Are you getting excited about going to Tennessee? I think we are going to Cade's Cove and to Clingman's Dome. With me being afraid of heights, I don't know how I'd handle the Dome, but I can at least make the hike up to it.

Good job on making 300$

Thanks!

Ugh...I just did the whole flat tire thing today. Lucky for me it was in my driveway! I'm glad you got it fixed and back on the road so quickly.

Another trip with Mama! YAY!

I got to thinking about it and that's only the second flat tire I've had every since I started driving. So, I guess I've been pretty lucky in that department and so were you since it was in your own driveway.

Yay on the $300, and that your niece's husband was able to change your flat tire quickly so you weren't stranded.

And fingers crossed your Mama goes with you again!

I was happy with the extra money!

That's great you did well at the craft show!

Sorry about the flat tire, I have had my share of those! LOL, one time there wasn't anyone around and no hope of anyone coming so I finally had to learn how to do it myself and have done so a few times since, Although that's when I had a little Cavalier with a little donut spare, now I have a Rodeo and the tire is a regular one underneath so I haven't done it recently, I know how, just too big/heavy for me.

Here's hoping you Mom goes with you to WDW again!

John made sure that Lacey knew how to change a tire as soon as he taught her to drive. I could have changed the tire if I absolutely had to but I'm glad I didn't.

Thanks for your weekend update. Yeah on the sales!!! Sounds like it was a profitable way to spend a Saturday. I'm glad the flat tire did not delay you for very long!

You (or Hunter) can tell Mama that you guys, and all of us, really want her to go!

I'm be sure to pass along the "all of us really want her to go" message. Maybe that'll help make up her mind.

I bet your mom will end up going...she loves Disney and she can't say no to her grandson...I know I can't! Are John's brothers family still going with you in May?

We are unsure if his brother and family are going with us or not. Their daughter is really big into softball and usually plays well into the Summer. They won't take her out of too many games so I guess it's a wait and see with them.

Hi Lisa!!!

I haven't been around much. I've been in some sort of Disney funk...I'm ready to go back, but we just have a short trip planned for January with not much more planning left to do. I need to plan!!!

Great news about Hunter moving up!!! That's only 10 more kids to take out, oops, I mean, in front of him before he gets to go.

Can't wait to hear about your meal at Coral Reef. We mention it for every trip, but we've never eaten there.

At least it won't be long until you are back at Disney. I've been in a bit of a funk lately too. I want to write on the report but yet I can't seem to make myself do it. Today's the day though!

You are so funny withe the "kids to take out" remark. I thought the same thing and then felt bad about it.....for just a minute or two.

Coral Reef coming up very soon!

How wonderful you were able to make $300! I have some gold that I need to sell. Just waiting for my mom to give me the setting from my grandma's engagement ring. I had the diamond put into a necklace so I don't want the setting.

How exciting Mama may come again! I know how she feels about tagging along, I am tagging along on my friends vacation in February lol. I asked her like 100 times if it was ok!

I've been meaning to take my old gold stuff and sell it. I know that KatMark sold some of her's and make a good bit of money. My sister and mother took some too and made about $300.

Great job at the craft sale!!!!! I hope mama decides to go with you again!

Thank you! I'm hoping to sell the rest of my dresses and backsacks either online or let my niece take them to a craft show she is going to in November.

Joining in! I always enjoybyour reports!

Welcome aboard! I hope that you'll feel free to post.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Well, lookie what the cat drug in....it's mickeystoontown. How the heck are ya? I'm more tired than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. How are ya'll?

I hope that this Monday morning finds you all well rested from the weekend. I wish I could say the same. For some reason, I hardly slept a wink last night. In the little time that I did sleep, I was dreaming about all sorts of crazzzzzy stuff. I would hate to go to a psychologist and have them analyze my dreams. Ain't a bit of tellin' what they'd say was wrong with me.

As I told MissLiz above, I've been in a little bit of a funk lately. I want to write on my trip report (and keep up with everybody else's) but I just haven't had the gumption to do it. Well, today I declare that the funk is washed away and I'm going to be a writing fool. That is, so long as the Disboards and Photobucket cooperate.

So, I bid you all farewell for a little while and will return with the rest of our explorin' The Seas and our meal at Coral Reef.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I left off with us walking around The Living Seas...I mean...The Seas With Nemo And Friends. We had watched a castmember feed the manatees and then wandered over to watch a group of divers in the tanks. I took this picture of Lacey which didn't turn out at all but I thought was kind of cool since you could only see her silhouette:

I guess I adjusted the settings on the camera because the picture of Hunter came out pretty good:

We still had time to kill before our Coral Reef ADR so we went into the different rooms to see the sealife. Disney had done some adjusting to the room lighting since last year and it was dark in the room which didn't make for very good pictures with a semi-cheap point and shoot camea.

Hunter stopped to take the Pop Quiz and, in true sibling fashion, challenged Lacey to see who could get a better score:

You can see a bit of Lacey in the above picture. After taking the test at least three or four times, she was done with the challenge and went in search of other things to see. Hunter stuck around and had me take a picture of the computer screen:

Seahorses are sooooo cool:

And eels are sooooo creepy!

**Continued in next post

 

[aprilisis]

I'm more tired than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest.

Awesome Living Seas photos!!! I love the ones of the eel.

 

[mickeystoontown]

***Sorry for the delay. I was just thinking how wonderful Photobucket and I were getting along today when boom bamm....Photobucket froze and I lost almost an entire installment. Coming back to rewrite.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Awesome Living Seas photos!!! I love the ones of the eel.

The eels are so creepy looking to me.

 

[mickeystoontown]

The room was starting to get a bit crowded so we moved along to look at the rest of the animals before leaving.

We still had a little time before our dinner ADR at the Coral Reef but, as I said, it was getting a little crowded in the room so we decided to go ahead and head over to the restaurant. We knew we'd probably have to wait but that would be okay.

As soon as I stepped in, I could see that the waiting area was really busy. Apparently, every other park guest had decided to check in early or all the guests in the restaurant were eating really slowly or the restaurant had overbooked. I waited in line, checked in and got our buzzer. Before going back outside with the rest of my gang, I made a pit stop.

When I walked out, I could see the family sitting on the little ledge just outside the doorway. I sat down with them but, you guys know me, I couldn't sit still for very long. I had to get up and walk around. I walked over to the grassy area beside the restaurant to have a look around. Have ya'll ever noticed the trees beside the restaurant? They were very odd looking. Well, the tree itself wasn't odd but the flower thingies that they had on them were. They looked like big tufts of fluff. Kind of like a giant cotton ball. I told Mama and the others to come look and none of us could figure out what kind of tree it was. I meant to ask a castmember but forgot.

We walked back over to the ledge we had been sitting on and waited some more. There was a woman near the door who would stop and ask every person who came in or out if they had a lighter. She looked like she was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Apparently, she needed a cigarette badly or some nerve pills or something 'cause I could see her all jittery from where we were sitting. After about the One Hundred Millionth "do you have a lighter" question and her pacing back and forth, I was ready to go buy a lighter for her somewhere. Finally, after about 15 minutes, she decided to go elsewhere. I'm glad she did, she made me nervous with all her figgeting.

Somewhere in that 15 minutes, John went inside to get a couple of menus for us to peruse while we waited. He came back out, gave one to Mama and Lacey and the other one he kept for him and I to look at. Holy Guacamole! I mean Jumping Jellyfish! (this is, after all, a seafood restaurant not a Mexican restaurant ). The blackened catfish wasn't on the menu anymore. John was so disappointed. Every since May, 2009, John had been anxiously awaiting the day he could order it once again. He had talked about it so much that he had talked Mama into ordering it. Now, neither one of them knew what they wanted to order. So, we sat out in the heat pondering the menu choices.

Just a few minutes later, our buzzer went off and we walked into the cool bliss of the waiting area which was, by the way, almost empty. I don't know why we didn't think about checking the area every so often. We could have been sitting inside instead of outside. Oh well, we were there now.

Our hostess walked us to our table which was approximately in the middle of the restaurant on the middle tier. We had a fabulous view of the aquarium (and something else that I'll get to a bit later). Our waiter came along quickly, gave us menus and took our drink orders. He came back in no time at all with both our drinks and the basket of rolls. He asked if we were ready to order and we were thanks to the extra time we had to look at them while we waited. He was quick and efficient and said he'd put our orders in and be back shortly.

In the meantime, I took a few pictures. Mama and Lacey:

Ummm, that won't work. Mama has her eyes closed. Let's try that again.

That won't work either. Mama is yawning and Lacey looks like she was ready to join the "do you have a lighter" lady. One more time girls:

I asked Lacey to take our picture:

Uh, excuse me John but what the heck do you think you are about to pinch? First off, there's nothing up there to actually pinch and, second, my Mama's sitting right there! Keep your hands to yourself and let's take another one:

Looking back at these pictures, I now remember just how tired we were by that time. I can usually handle the walking and crowds but combine that with the heat and it made for a fairly hard day (and crappy looking hair )

Let's get back to the food shall we. As I said, our waiter had brought out a basket of rolls with butter. I guess I took just A picture of the bread with that being just the roll on my plate.

I have to tell ya'll, we aren't big fans of most of Disney's rolls. Most are the hard type rolls that are really crusty and don't have much of an inside to them. We like our rolls with lots of soft mushiness inside. That being said, we dug out what there was on the inside of the rolls and slathered them with butter. Clogged arteries be danged.

I don't remember how long we waited for our food but I do remember that it wasn't long at all. This is Mama's plate. I can't find the description on Allearsnet but I believe it was some sort of pork chop:

Lacey ordered the salmon and substituted fries as her side:

She ate every little bite of the salmon and said it was some of the best she had ever had. Oh the two little cups on her plate were ketchup and honey mustard. I swear that girl could smear honey mustard on a piece of cardboard and swear it made it taste good.

Hunter is a picky eater so when it was time for Hunter to order, he ordered a kids' pizza. John told the waiter that just one pizza wasn't going to be enough and asked if he could have two pizzas instead of ordering an adult entree. The waiter said absolutely.

I ordered the steak:

John took a semi-risk (at least for Mr. Meat and Potatoes) and ordered the lobster ravioli:

He said that it was a fine substitute for the blackened catfish and nearly licked the plate clean. Guess he liked it.

***Photobucket is acting all weird so let me post this but I will be back

 

[shan23877]

Great update (so far ) We cancelled Coral Reef on our last trip, so I'm really enjoying the review of it.

Love your photo captions. I was laughing out loud.

 

[mickeystoontown]

All of our food was absolutely delicious! This was our third or fourth time to eat at the Coral Reef and it did not disappoint in the least. We were so full from our entrees that we didn't have a clue how we were going to be able to eat any dessert. That certainly didn't stop us from ordering them though. Our waiter took our dessert orders and John asked for a cup of coffee. While we were waiting, Hunter did this. (My Mama would knock me in the head if she knew I took this picture because of the goofy look on her face but I wanted to post it because it shows just how much she loves on Hunter.)

I took pictures of the restaurant and of the aquarium:

See the table in the picture directly above? Our booth faced this table directly and it was not that far away from us. Just a narrow walking area between us. Before I tell you the rest of the story, please know I am not a prude and I'm all about everybody's rights and freedoms.

Carrying on...there was a family sitting at that table and, about mid-meal, the lady takes their toddler, plops him down in her lap, pulls her tank top off her shoulder, pulls her arm out and starts nursing him. No blanket or napkin which would shield her ta-ta from any of the other restaurant patrons. With her shirt pulled down like it was, the woman looked like she was half naked from the waist up. Heck, she was half naked from the waist up. If she had of just pulled her shirt up instead of half way disrobing, it would have at least not have been so obvious. As I said, I am all about everybody's right to do this or do that but this was making us a bit uncomfortable because we were directly facing her and couldn't help but see her since she hadn't done anything to cover up. And, I'm going to go ahead and say it even though ya'll might think I'm a nut (heck who am I kidding ya'll already think I'm a nut)....the kid was big enough for a sippy cup not a nippy cup!

Shutting up and posting more about the food.....I don't remember the exact names of each of our desserts but I can tell you that each of them were fantabulous. Mama's cheesecake:

My whatever it is dessert. Those little balls are chocolate pearls.

The chocolate wave something or other dessert:

I'm pretty sure this is what Lacey ordered since John doesn't like creme brulee all that much. He says it tastes burned:

Hunter's not a dessert eater so he played around with the camera and took more pictures:

The desserts were just a good as the entrees and we all sampled from each other's plates. We always try to order something different so we can get a little taste. Would I go back to the Coral Reef? Absolutely, positively! As a matter of fact, we're probably eating there again in May, 2012.

**Up next: Dancing in the dark!

 

[Mombits]

We really enjoyed the Coral Reef last year, looks like you did too! That steak looks wonderful. The dessert there was devine!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Great update (so far ) We cancelled Coral Reef on our last trip, so I'm really enjoying the review of it.

Love your photo captions. I was laughing out loud.

I'm glad you enjoyed the installment. I've said it time and time again....If I tried to make this stuff up, it'd be as boring as can be....we just live our life and it's funny as heck.

You should make another Coral Reef ADR. We haven't had a bad meal yet.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We really enjoyed the Coral Reef last year, looks like you did too! That steak looks wonderful. The dessert there was devine!

We haven't had a bad meal at the Coral Reef yet. The food and service has always been good. I don't remember the name of my dessert but it was, indeed, devine.

 

[KatMark]

Lisa, what a great update. We have not been to Coral Reef in 12 years at least. We had it booked last year and then chabnged it. I'm going to have to put it back on the schedule for a future trip.

I hear you on the "breast feeding" mom. I have no issue at all with a mom breast feeding in public...it is a natural thing. But, really, you can't cover yourself up a little with a young man sitting across the way from you?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Lisa, what a great update. We have not been to Coral Reef in 12 years at least. We had it booked last year and then chabnged it. I'm going to have to put it back on the schedule for a future trip.

I hear you on the "breast feeding" mom. I have no issue at all with a mom breast feeding in public...it is a natural thing. But, really, you can't cover yourself up a little with a young man sitting across the way from you?

Oh goodness, Kathy, you need to go back to the Coral Reef. Like I said, we haven't had anything that was bad yet. Now watch...we'll both schedule an ADR there and it will be bad.

I wouldn't have had a problem with the breastfeeding mother either if she had just covered up a bit. As I said, she was half naked from the waist up.

 

[TinksThree]

Are you getting excited about going to Tennessee? I think we are going to Cade's Cove and to Clingman's Dome. With me being afraid of heights, I don't know how I'd handle the Dome, but I can at least make the hike up to it.

I am beyond excited!! I keep looking at my ticker and get all I really need it! I saw you state you have been in a funk...I can't seem to keep up on my TR or reading others because it just depresses me so much!! I really need a get-away break!

We will probably most definitely be doing Cade's Cove! I will warn you on Clingman's Dome that the last 3 years the road has been closed due to snow in the higher elevations. They say it closes Dec 4 but once the snow starts falling it is closed until spring. The dome isn't bad though. I am TERRIFIED of heigths and it doesn't bother me too much. Now the hike up is lung busting!! I always have to stop several times. i think it is the elevation...

This is how I feel lately!! Doesn't he look like he has just fallen out!?!? That is too funny of a photo!


We went to Coral Reef once and I think it will be on the list for the next trip. I keep regretting not putting it on my list last year! I had tossed the idea around but couldn't make my mind up! That food looks so good! I really liked the blackened catfish too! (it was on grits right?) That is what I would choose again...bummer it isn't on the menu anymore!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I am beyond excited!! I keep looking at my ticker and get all I really need it! I saw you state you have been in a funk...I can't seem to keep up on my TR or reading others because it just depresses me so much!! I really need a get-away break!

We will probably most definitely be doing Cade's Cove! I will warn you on Clingman's Dome that the last 3 years the road has been closed due to snow in the higher elevations. They say it closes Dec 4 but once the snow starts falling it is closed until spring. The dome isn't bad though. I am TERRIFIED of heigths and it doesn't bother me too much. Now the hike up is lung busting!! I always have to stop several times. i think it is the elevation...

Me too! I am ready to get the heck outta Dodge for a while. I was looking at the website for Clingman's Dome and wondered about the weather conditions. My sister has a friend who lives somewhere up near Newfoundland's Gap (or something similar) and she said the postings on the websites aren't always accurate. I guess I'll just have to watch the weather when we are there or ask the people at the hotel.

I'm so glad you said Clingman's Dome isn't that bad. I'm am deathly afraid of heights and thought that I might only make the hike up there and let the rest go ahead.



This is how I feel lately!! Doesn't he look like he has just fallen out!?!? That is too funny of a photo!

Like he's too pooped to poop! He's got one little hand raised up like he's saying "help me up!"

We went to Coral Reef once and I think it will be on the list for the next trip. I keep regretting not putting it on my list last year! I had tossed the idea around but couldn't make my mind up! That food looks so good! I really liked the blackened catfish too! (it was on grits right?) That is what I would choose again...bummer it isn't on the menu anymore!!

Yep, the catfish was on the pepper jack cheese grits and they were delicious.

 

[3LittlePirates]

Once again you have me in tears!! Your so funny!! I laughed like crazy at John trying to pinch you, and your description of the nippy cup!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Once again you have me in tears!! Your so funny!! I laughed like crazy at John trying to pinch you, and your description of the nippy cup!!

I'm happy to hear that I gave you a laugh or two today. If you're like me, you probably needed it. John is a hoot! I don't know if he was really going to pinch me "you know where" 'cause he's pretty conservative when it comes to doing such things in front of my Mama. But it sure did look like it, didn't it.

I was unsure if I should put in the "nippy cup" or not but you know how I am..I pretty much type out what my mind is thinking at the time.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I have a few more minutes before we head out for the day and Photobucket is still being sweet right now so I figured I better get busy with the next installment.

I found this picture on Photobucket so I must have taken it while walking out of the restaurant:

After we left the restaurant, I hear a boom or two and checked my watch. Illuminations was just about to end. I knew that there was probably no way we'd beat the crowds out of the park. As we got to the walkway through the two buildings, I could see that the crowds were, indeed, already streaming towards the front of the park. That's okay, we'll park our behinds on the benches and people watch.

We sat down on the concrete benches near the sparkly sidewalk and watched all the little kids who walked by and were amazed. There were squeals and quite a few that hopped out of their strollers while they were still rolling. My big kid took his turn checking out the sparklies:

And then he broke out in a dance:

He didn't get to dance very long 'cause more people were zooming through with their strollers or zig zagging by us on their way out. I snapped this picture without getting trampled:

Lacey had bought Mama a surprise when we were in Mexico. It was a little glass animal (Mama collects them.) and she decided now was a good time to give it to her. Here's Mama unwrapping it:

Enough folks had cleared out and Lacey took her turn dancing on the swirling lights:

The kids started telling me that it was my turn and ya'll know I'm never one to pass up a good dancing gig. Please pardon the goofy look on my face. I contribute it to extreme exhaustion and Bell's Palsy (which gets worse when I am tired). It also doesn't help that I have no rhythm....none....AT ALL! (Remember this for later in the trip. )

Speaking of no rhythm:

We tried and tried to get Mama to cut a rug but, try as we might, she wasn't budging from that concrete bench. I think she was afraid that we'd use it for blackmail purposes should she ever cut us out of her Last Will and Testament.

After about 30 to 45 minutes, we figured now was as good a time as any to start the walk to the bus stops. I wish I had Lacey's pictures handy. She was wearing her Tom's shoes (Do ya'll know about Tom's shoes? For every pair of shoes that you buy, they donate a pair of shoes to those in need. Jesse was a spokesperson for them and traveled to India to hand out shoes.) Anyway, she was wearing her Tom's and there's a place where you can upload a picture of your shoes and where you have been in them. She had them placed in front of the Epcot ball and the picture turned out pretty good.

I stopped at the bathroom on the way to the bus stop because I was afraid the bus would be super duper cold like they were last year. Cold makes me pee (remember the time I got stuck in the cold section on Test Track and I almost pee'd myself?). Sorry T.M.I. but it does. The bus stop wasn't empty but it wasn't full either. We hopped on the bus that came about 10 minutes later and we were on our way (yes in a cold bus but not as cold as last year) back to the Caribbean Beach Resort.

As became our custom, we walked Mama back to the room and the rest of us went down to the beach to wind down from the day. The sand on the bottom of our feet felt like a blissful foot massage. After probably a half an hour, we walked back to our room (yes, quietly so we wouldn't disturb other guests) and settled in for the night.

Tomorrow would be Star Wars Weekends! Hunter was looking forward to getting more pictures and autographs. But, would we be able to ride or see any attractions because of the crowds?