Lucky Bunny goes to WDW with photos!

[Thumper's Tara]

It was great to hear about your disney fun, I wondered how did you remember it all since you have been back.....? Did you keep a jornal whilst you were out there? As when I go in July I want to keep a diary of where we go etc..... Thanks again

I started off taking tons of notes, but as the vacation wore on, I would forget to take the notes. I took lots of pictures though. I have been using the pictures and my hotel folio to write the trip report. Between the two, I have been in good shape.

The one area where I wish I had taken better notes is around CM's names. I saved a lot of reciepts from the trip, but it seems like those reciepts are with the CMs I remember!

Keeping a diary is a great way to relive the trip...so I say go for it. Just make sure it is light if you are going to be carrying it around all day. That is another reason my note taking slowed down - I carry a book everywhere I go, and the book AND notepad became heavy...so I ditched the note pad...next time, I will bring a smaller notepad.

ttfn,
Tara

 

[catherines_mama]

I carry a book everywhere I go, and the book AND notepad became heavy...so I ditched the note pad...next time, I will bring a smaller notepad.

Curious: Whatcha readin'

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

and when are ya going to continue the trip report!

and how was your date with potential prince charming
(did he call ya back yet!)

 

[Thumper's Tara]

Curious: Whatcha readin'

Gosh, what am I reading? I am a big reader...at the time, I was reading
(1) When Christ and his Saints Slept, by Sharon Kay Penman
(2) Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown by Maureen Waller

Right now, I am reading
(1) The Unofficial Guide to Cruises
(2) The Unofficial Guide to NYC
(3) Ungrateful Daughters: The Stuart Princesses Who Stole Their Father's Crown - I just can't seem to finish it...
(4) Dragon's Lair by Sharon Key Penman

I know, I know, what is the Cruise and NYC books doing in there...well, I am considering a cruise for one of my vacations this year and I live by NYC. Don't tell Mickey that I might spend some vacation time away from him Although, I might be picking up the Unofficial Guide to Disney for a reread - I am thinking of a weekend trip in the fall...

and when are ya going to continue the trip report!

and how was your date with potential prince charming
(did he call ya back yet!)

I will try and get on my trip report today...I haven't been feeling all that positive today, so I haven't tried working on it...

As for the Potential Prince Charming, he faded off into the sunset...alas, Romeo, I am left searching yet again...Anyone know a nice single man interested in a Disney Goddess?

 

[CareBear05]

As for the Potential Prince Charming, he faded off into the sunset...alas, Romeo, I am left searching yet again...Anyone know a nice single man interested in a Disney Goddess?

Hey Tara,
I've got 2 that I work with that are great

 

[catherines_mama]

Hey Tara,
I've got 2 that I work with that are great

*cough*cough*

I'm cute and single too! LOL :-D


Tara - Do a weekend in December, we'll be there (me & DD) and I'd love to hang out with ya. We call my DD the tag-a-long. She always has fun with my friends.

 

[Katybug236]

Ack! The wait is killing me! Need... trip...report... now.....

TT - you have actually inspired me to take my first solo trip. I am going with my mother in a few weeks but after that I am planning my first solo trip ever for possibly fall.

 

[Thumper's Tara]

*cough*cough*

I'm cute and single too! LOL :-D


Tara - Do a weekend in December, we'll be there (me & DD) and I'd love to hang out with ya. We call my DD the tag-a-long. She always has fun with my friends.

December is a possibility! Right now, I am trying to figure out when to cruise as well...early December is a great time to cruise - just like it is to go to Disney. I forsee the need to make difficult decisions soon...

 

[Thumper's Tara]

Ack! The wait is killing me! Need... trip...report... now.....

TT - you have actually inspired me to take my first solo trip. I am going with my mother in a few weeks but after that I am planning my first solo trip ever for possibly fall.

AWESOME! You will love it!

As for the wait...here is the next segment...

 

[Thumper's Tara]

Sadly, the last Disney day had arrived. While this wasn’t the end of my vacation, it was the end of my stay at the “happiest place on Earth”.

I didn’t set my alarm clock for this morning. I would sleep in, pack, and then head to Epcot for one last hurrah. Even without the alarm clock, I was awake by 8. There must be something in the water at Disney…

Before starting my packing, I decided to head up to Artist Palette for breakfast and a soda refill. I perused the breakfast menu and decided to have a breakfast croissant (eggs, cheese, and bacon on a croissant); however, I needed one minor change. I needed them to cook the eggs without the oil/spray/whatever they use. I walked up to the counter and was greeted by a CM.

I ask, “Can I get a breakfast croissant made using eggs that haven’t been cooked with oil?”

The CM replied, “We make the croissants using eggs that have already been cooked.”

“Oh,” I answered, “Then, never mind.” And, I walked away to look for other options. After a minute, the kitchen manager walks up to me to ask me what I had wanted. I again explain that I wanted the eggs cooked without the fat, because the fat makes me ill.

Well, the CM proceeds to give me a lecture on how high fat the croissants are as well, and if I have problems with the fat from the eggs that I shouldn’t get the croissant, but a bagel. She then offers to make me some eggs without using the spray/fat/whatever. Fine. At this point, she goes back to make my eggs and I go to toast my bagel. As she makes my eggs, she continues to lecture me. She tells me that I should have asked to have the eggs cooked this way in the first place. Say it with me, people – “WHAT?”

I thought that I did that. Do you want to know the scary part about this whole thing? Me, yes me, the customer, ended up apologizing for not making myself clear. I blamed it on the lack of caffeine. I can’t believe that I apologized.

Now, I do realize that I tend to walk away from situations when I don’t get the answer that I expected. That is what I did with the first CM. She told me how they made the sandwich, I assumed that they couldn’t do it my way (it wasn’t Burger King after all), and I went to find another alternative. I was slight putout by this, but I am a grown woman. I would deal. But, to be lectured for not making myself clear, to be lectured for eating a croissant because it is high fat, and to be lectured without an ounce of caffeine in my system. That is just the limit. Just give my eggs so that I can get some caffeine and be by myself.

Apparently, I am still feeling some residual pain from this whole encounter. Breathe, Tara, breathe.

After I ate my low fat, non-croissant, eggs cooked without fat breakfast, I headed back to the room to pack. In just five short days, I had made myself right at home. I had stuff in every corner of this room! It took me forever to pack. Oh – I just thought I should mention – I doubled and triple checked that Lucky Bunny was packed. See, I have potential…although, I do think that I left my spare camera battery behind. I can’t find it anywhere…will I ever learn?

Packing accomplished, I dragged my luggage to bell services and headed to Epcot….

 

[Dixielady908]

I totally enjoyed your report...thanks for sharing.

Denise

 

[Dreamer04]

I haven't enjoyed a trip report as much as yours in a long time. I can't wait for the ending. Oh and by the way, if you are interested in cruising, check out Disney Cruise Line? Lots to do for adult passengers. Come over to the cruise boards and read some trip reports.

 

[Thumper's Tara]

I haven't enjoyed a trip report as much as yours in a long time. I can't wait for the ending. Oh and by the way, if you are interested in cruising, check out Disney Cruise Line? Lots to do for adult passengers. Come over to the cruise boards and read some trip reports.

Thanks for the compliments!

Cool. I will have to check out the DCL boards. I have been debating between DCL and Royal Carribbean. I am still in the research phase...did I mention that I love to research vacations?

 

[TAKitty]

Thanks for the compliments!

Cool. I will have to check out the DCL boards. I have been debating between DCL and Royal Carribbean. I am still in the research phase...did I mention that I love to research vacations?

As much as I love Disney , Royal Carribbean is a nice cruise line . My mom is a TA and it the one she likes best. Have fun planning!

 

[Thumper's Tara]

As much as I love Disney , Royal Carribbean is a nice cruise line . My mom is a TA and it the one she likes best. Have fun planning!

That is nice to hear! So, does your mom book cruises?

 

[Thumper's Tara]

I arrived at Epcot with a plan. I needed to ride Soarin’ one more time before I left. I went straight to the FP machine in the Land. Wow. The Land was incredibly crowded! Almost packed. I grabbed my FP and meandered over to the World Showcase for one last trip…

For some odd reason, I started on the Canadian side of WS. Do you know, that I never made it to Norway? Each time I would visit WS, I started on the Canadian side. Well, the exception being the trip for nachos and a margarita. Then I made it to Mexico, but not past Mexico. Sorry…brief mental lapse about Norway. Another thing that will be rectified on the Adopt a Thumper trip…

Now, the interesting thing about starting with Canada – somewhere around U.K., I suddenly decided I wanted to eat a bratwurst in Germany! I don’t know where the craving came from – no, I am not pregnant…that would require something I am not sure I remember how to do – but, I was traveling solo. Solo means I could get bratwurst without any whining from the troops.


On a serious bratwurst mission, I power walked past France, Morocco, Japan, USA and Italy. Go directly to Germany. Do not pass go, and do not collect $200. Bummer - $200 buys a lot of bratwurst. In Germany, I headed straight for Sommerfest and my bratwurst…

For the Sommerfest regulars out there, you will notice that my bratwurst is minus the sauerkraut. Now, I am going to go into a little bit of TT history here – feel free to skip ahead!

As I mentioned in Lucky Bunny’s bio, we both spent 15 months in the Ukraine. Ukraine is a wonderful country. My time spent was the best & worst time of my life. What does this have to do with sauerkraut? Well, Ukrainians eat a lot of cabbage. I mean A LOT of cabbage. Ukrainians use cabbage as Americans use lettuce. Cabbage on burgers, in salads, pickled. I never asked, but it just may be the Ukrainian national vegetable. When in Ukraine, do as the Ukrainians do – eat cabbage. When I arrived back in the States, I swore I would never eat cabbage again…so, one bratwurst minus the sauerkraut!

I am sure that was more than anyone wanted to know.

While eating my bratwurst, the clock tower rang 12. Wow. The clock is amazing. I highly recommend trying to be in Germany at the top of the hour! Too cool.

When I finished my bratwurst, I headed back towards Canada. In France, I decided that I needed to visit Boulangerie Patisserie for dessert. I am such a sweet nut, that it was nearly impossible for me to choose. Unable to pick just one, I purchased a strawberry mousse and a pralineige for later…

At least, I think the second one is a pralineige.

With my sweets in hand, I headed to my thoughtful spot in U.K. Where is my thoughtful spot? It is the little lower area in U.K. where I watched illuminations. I love this spot. It is the perfect location to relax and enjoy the sites…

I think my companion hoped he could get a bite or two...but as Rabbit says, Don't feed the BEAR! Ooops, I mean, don't feed the bird.

I enjoyed the view, ate my strawberry mousse, and read my book a bit. After a while, I started to get really chilled. The wind was very strong. I think that this day was the coldest of the week.

When I couldn’t take the wind anymore, I packed up and trucked back to the Land. I used my FP and rode Soarin’ for the final time. Did I mention that I love this ride?

After Soarin’, I noticed the character connection was fairly empty AND Mickey was greeting guests. I am now going to share a sad piece of my history with you. In four trips to WDW, I had never met the main mouse! Can you believe it? Amazing, huh? Well, luck was on my side – Mickey was in Epcot and had no line! I GOT TO MEET MICKEY. I GOT TO MEET MICKEY!!!!

My meeting with Mickey over, I skipped passed the remaining characters (I had met most of them already) and headed to the exit. I had to meet the Hertz pickup at SSR at 4pm. The 4 pm pickup was the latest pickup of the day, so I wanted to leave plenty of time to get back...

 

[Thumper's Tara]

Surprisingly, the bus picked me up minutes after I arrived at the bus stop. I was back at SSR by 2:30! I found a nice couch in SSR’s main building and curled up for a read! The couch is very comfortable…too comfortable that is. I ended up dozing off during my read.

No worries though. I woke with plenty of time to catch the van. A few minutes before 4 pm, I redeemed my luggage. And then, I waited and waited. About 4:20, the Hertz van showed up. I gave the driver my luggage, hopped in and prepared to go straight to the rental place. I soon realized this wasn’t the case…we spent the next 20 minutes driving over to one of the All Stars to pick up another guest. I was a bit surprised about this, because Hertz never mentioned it was a shuttle. I thought it was just a pick up service. Live and learn.

At All Stars, we ended up sitting for 10 minutes while we waiting for the other passenger’s wife. I was a little frustrated by this, but that is life. Eventually, we arrived at the Hertz showroom, I got my car, and I said good bye to Disney

Sniff, sniff…this was the end of my time at Disney. My vacation didn’t end right there though. I spent a night at friend’s house about 1 hour away from WDW, and then I spent a couple of nights with family in Ft. Lauderdale. Overall, it was an amazing vacation. I can’t wait until I can go back!

The End.

Now, I need to start dreaming about my next trip to keep the Disney Blues away!

 

[lillygator]

Great report - thanks for sharing!

 

[PrincessAurora]

Great Report Tara!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Thanks for your memories! I enjoyed all of it!!!! Mel.