So here's a quick summary of our trip; I'll be doing a trip report, so if you want more details and pix, you'll just have to subscribe to it!
We arrived on Sunday afternoon and it was pouring! Got to WL by 2pm, checked out the resort, had lunch, then got into our room. Lauren was absolutely bouncing off the walls - she was so excited! It was really great to see! Also - we got our very first towel animals! Been going for 8 years now, and have NEVER had towel animals before!
The rain had stopped but it was still overcast. We took the boat over to MK and then hopped onto the monorail to the GF - I was taking Lauren to the salon to get her hair braided. Here's some pix:
Seriously, this hairstyle worked out GREAT for the week! It was sooo hot and Lauren really didn't have to fuss with her hair. We got stopped by so many people who wanted to know where we had it done. So glad we did it.
Then it was on to MK for pm EMH. This night was truly the key to the vacation being such a success. For some weird reason, the park was pretty empty. It was pouring again so I'm guessing people just left. We hit Tomorrowland for a few rides; then went over to Tony's for dinner. By the time dinner ended, the rain had stopped but it was still a little muggy. Regardless, we had a glorious time! Stayed at the park until 1:45am - we rode every single ride - many more than once. Don't think we waited more than 10 minutes for anything. I was so surprised how empty it was. Again, this night was key for us - considering that we were able to ride everything we wanted, it didn't matter as much later in the week when it was really crowded and we didn't want to wait on long lines.
Day 2 had us sleeping in until around 10 and then heading to the pool for the day; on to DTD in the evening for shopping and dinner at Ragland Road (which was AWESOME, BTW; Erin - great recommendation!
) I'll have pix of all this in my TR. We got back to the resort by 11pm and Lauren wanted to go night swimming. Since we've never done this before, I said what the heck! So -- we stayed out swimming until midnight.
Needless to say, we were too tired to get up for rope drop at MK on Tues. Again, I wasn't too worried about this because we had already done so much at MK. I had hoped to meet up with Pam on this day but it never worked out. We talked a few times on the phone but she seemed to be spending the first part of her day in Fantasyland; while Lauren and I were working the FP system on the big rides in Adventureland and Frontierland. By 1pm, we were incredibly hot and it was incredibly crowded - we wanted out of there! Tried calling Pam one more time but never heard back from her; so we went back to WL and spent a few relaxings hours in our dark air-conditioned room. Headed out again in the pm to Epcot for dinner at France (another good meal). PM EMH was very crowded here - no FPs available for any of the big rides. Waited an hour for Soarin - wasn't too bad since we met a really nice family from Chicago in front of us. Talking w/them made the time go quicker.
Again - back to the resort after midnight.
Day three had us at DHS. Went right to Toy Story Mania. Got a FP and then waited to ride stand-by; sign said 50 minutes, more like 80! But this ride is SO MUCH FUN!!!!!! We rode it three times this day - really worked the FP right. Again, this park had PM EMH and it was really crowded! It started to pour mid-afternoon; we headed to YC for dinner at Yachtsman (they remembered my birthday!). Then back to DHS for the later Fantasmic show - scored third row seats - front center!
It rained during the whole show but we had our ponchos on so no biggie.
Thursday we went to AK. We're not big into the thrill rides so the only thing we were interested in was Kali River Rapids. (Lauren & I wanted to just do the things we can't do when we have Amanda, so we left most of the shows for our Nov.trip) Rode KRR three times - got soaked to the bone!!!! Back to the resort and jumped into the pool for a few hours. This day, a really bad storm came in - loud thunder and lightning and pouring rain. Took a cab to the BW and hung out there until it was time for me to check-in for our flights (6:35), then went over to Epcot for dinner in Canada (Yummy again). This was another PM EMH and it wasn't too bad - again, I think alot of people left because of the weather. We rode TT for the first time - and got to do it three times in a row - minimal waits!
Our, sad, last day was spent at MK for a few hours. Got on a few rides before it got really crowded; had lunch at Casey's, shopped, then headed back to WL to wait for ME. I'll post some pix here but will have alot more over on my trip report. (I'm still trying to come up with a title!)
I am somewhere in between the 2 i always have a cuppa on the go in my house but never ready for company at a moments notice, more " aah someone's coming round" then quickly shoving everything in every cupboard (that's not already full of stuff)
. I hate it when people just turn up on my doorstep - if I ask someone back for a cuppa after the school run, then you can be sure I hoovered yesterday...
. Thank God I don't live in the dark ages! Now I have to either wait or do more since the washer won't be here until Monday......who knows what time.
So glad you had a good time and I'm excited to see pics and hear all the details!!!! 
Deep Breath - in and out - in and out - ADR mission complete. 
Whatever! I'm just so happy there! What worries me is that I can get pretty irrational about needing to go. It's probably financially irresponsible of me to be going once a year, never mind twice! Yes, I'm like you - I'd LOVE to go every six months!
