Meeting, Munching, and Merriment!-Updated 7/7-Can you believe I updated this again?

[Spartangirl]

Welcome home!!! I can't wait to read about your trip and see your fabulous pics!

 

[my2boysrtwicethefun]

Welcome home Lynda! Let's get this party started.... or at least the trip report. Patiently waiting...

 

[DisneyObsession]

I was hoping to come here to find you started your TR with LOTS of pics!!! (I soooo your pics!!!) But alas...no installment!

I am hoping you start soon, as I am living this Peep Meet through you, UM, Lexmelinda's "brief" TR post and any others I can find! I am just sooo bummed I couldn't be there. maybe next time!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

You can't count on me Lynda. And I'm sure a bunch of others

I can't count on you? I hope that's a typo missy!

Welcome home!!! I can't wait to read about your trip and see your fabulous pics!

Hi Spartangirl! Thanks. Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Welcome home Lynda! Let's get this party started.... or at least the trip report. Patiently waiting...

Thank you! I am hoping you won't be waiting too much longer.

I was hoping to come here to find you started your TR with LOTS of pics!!! (I soooo your pics!!!) But alas...no installment!

I am hoping you start soon, as I am living this Peep Meet through you, UM, Lexmelinda's "brief" TR post and any others I can find! I am just sooo bummed I couldn't be there. maybe next time!

Well, I am working on it. I have some written. I have photos organized, but they need uploaded to my smugmug site. Will start on that tonight, I hope. I am in the process of uploading more pics for the friend whose wedding I did in July. She wants to order her rehearsal dinner and hair appointment pictures for her albums. So, if I can get that done tonight, I'll start on mine. I am also having issues with Photopass, which I am hoping will be corrected tonight. But if not, I'll still start the report and just catch up on Photopass pics after I get the CD. Anywho, I'd like to get the first installment up tonight, but no promises...yet. Thanks for hanging in there! I'm going to try to be as detailed as possible on the Peep meet parts at the request of my readers who couldn't be there.

 

[monymony3471]

Of course it's a typo. I can't type for carp with these nails lately!

 

[snowbell]

I am only on page one, but already enjoying your pre-report.
Link from UtahMama.... I cannot wait to read the rest. I am taking a "break" at work right now...

 

[winkers]

I'm here! I can't wait to see all your beautiful pictures!!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Of course it's a typo. I can't type for carp with these nails lately!

I figured! Just thought it was funny.

I am only on page one, but already enjoying your pre-report.
Link from UtahMama.... I cannot wait to read the rest. I am taking a "break" at work right now...

Thanks for joining in! I take those "breaks" sometimes too.

I'm here! I can't wait to see all your beautiful pictures!!

Thanks! Glad to have you!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Well, here we are again…the beginning of another journey to the place where dreams come true…

On September 26th, I had a relatively busy, but not ridiculously chaotic, morning at work. The person who covers for me while I am gone actually said she thinks this was the most caught up I had been when I left on a trip. I think she was right. She said I should feel really good about the way I was leaving things. I did! I had things SO under control! It was a great way to start off the trip – not having to worry about what I was leaving unfinished at work. There was next to nothing. Just the regular day-to-day stuff to do. Wonderful!

So, at 1:00pm, I clocked out, changed clothes, and headed downstairs and out the door, where DH was waiting in the van right outside. I took notice of the 63 degree weather seeing as how I was wearing capris and a T-shirt. (It had been pretty warm up until that day, and we were driving to Georgia, so I figured I’d be thankful for the light clothes when we arrived at our destination.) We drove through Taco Bell for lunch on the way out of town, and we were off!

We were shooting for Macon, GA, so DH was “in the zone”, so to speak. I read some photography magazines, kept the music flowing on the ipods, and kept us stocked with beverages from the cooler. It was a relatively unevntful drive. We did see a Neon BLOW past us doing at least 90mph. Later on, we saw the same Neon pulled over by a cop on the side of the road! We also saw a place called Joe Bob's Flower Farm. Just thought that was funny. We switched drivers at some point, and made it to Macon at about 12:30am (11:30pm our time). We wanted to push further, but we decided it was just silly to get to bed that much later. We’d just be getting up that much later the next morning, so we stopped. We stayed at some form of a Marriott there, and we were up at 6:30 the next morning to hit the road again.

We stopped at a Hardee’s for a little breakfast, where no one answered us at the drive-thru speaker, so we pulled around to the window. They had clearly taken the order of the people behind us. So DH explained what happened, and the girl with the headset said she couldn't answer us because she was talking to the cook. We ordered at the window and were on our way again. WITHOUT STRAWS! At least we had breakfast.

At about 1:30, we arrived at Port Orleans French Quarter, our home for the next 9 nights! This place is SO cute! I love the theming here. So idyllically N’orlins-y (Yeah, I just made that up. What of it?). We parked and headed into the main building to check in. We were given the map with our building circled on it, and it didn’t look too far from the main building. Then we checked out the shop and headed over to concierge to pick up our MNSSHP and Hoop Dee Doo tickets. Well, we found out that we couldn’t pick up the Hoop tickets until the day of the event. And that we couldn’t pick up the MNSSHP tickets there because we didn’t have our confirmation number. We were told we could go to guest relations at Magic Kingdom to pick those up without the confirmation number, and we would be there long before the party, so we said OK and headed out to find our room.

We were in building 1, which as it turns out, appeared to be about as far as you can get from the main building, but it still didn’t seem terribly far, so I wasn’t too concerned about it. We made about 3 trips back and forth in the humidity to unpack the van, and on our last trip we saw bell services with a cart full of luggage. What were we thinking? We could have let them take care of this for us! Or at least help us! Oh well. We won’t make that mistake again.

Anyway, our room was on the corner. I LOVE corner rooms with the two windows! I was pretty pleased with the room. Port Orleans Riverside (mansion section) is the only other moderate we’ve stayed at, and I have to say, I am really impressed with both the Port Orleans resorts. They are very well decorated, spacious, and I love that there’s a fridge, a curtain to pull to block off the bathroom area, and that ledge at the end of the tub is great for my many toiletries. We also had towel animals waiting for us when we arrived!

And those aren’t the only ones we’ll get during this stay! Here’s some pics. I didn’t get around to taking them until later in the week, but they seem appropriate to use here.

Some of the hidden Mickeys in the chairs and bedspreads...

I unpacked everything and moved in! Then Josh did the same. I once again reveled in the fact that we were going to be here for 9 nights! This is the longest we have ever stayed, and there is nothing like that feeling when you first arrive and know you have your whole trip in front of you.

Next time...Epcot and meeting Melinda and her family!

 

[my2boysrtwicethefun]

Great job Lynda! Macon, GA is our destination when leave on Dec. 16. The Marriott is one of the hotels that we may stay at. Did you have any issues with it? Recommend or not? Have a great day.

Yay! I'm the first to post.

 

[punkin413]

great first installment! don't you just love it when they forget straws? um....you gave me a cup...with a lid.....i need a straw!!! my other pet peeve is when they only give you like 1 or 2 napkins. come on!

it took me awhile to find the hidden mickeys. the middle one was easy, but in the other two it was well-hidden!

can't wait for more! (<--- that's a 100-calorie popcorn bag!)

 

[lexmelinda]

Yay, Lynda!

Uneventful travel is great travel! I like it.

But. About your room.

Did your luggage explode?

Cuz your room's a mess!

I love the bedspreads at POFQ. Now it makes me wonder if I should've taken a closer look our our POR spreads.

OK....ready for my close up....

 

[Spartangirl]

Nice job on your 1st installment! The rooms at POFQ look very nice. We haven't stayed there yet, but have looked into it. Can't wait for more!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Great job Lynda! Macon, GA is our destination when leave on Dec. 16. The Marriott is one of the hotels that we may stay at. Did you have any issues with it? Recommend or not? Have a great day.

Yay! I'm the first to post.

We almost always stay at some form of Marriott (Fairfield, Residence Inn, Courtyard, etc.). We have the rewards card from there where you earn points for each stay. DH tells me it was a Fairfield we stayed at in Macon. (I didn't remember.) No issues. We hardly ever have issues with these hotels. They are always clean and have comfy beds. There was a little something interesting that happened on the way home, but that will come up much later in the report, and it was in Dalton, not Macon.

great first installment! don't you just love it when they forget straws? um....you gave me a cup...with a lid.....i need a straw!!! my other pet peeve is when they only give you like 1 or 2 napkins. come on!

it took me awhile to find the hidden mickeys. the middle one was easy, but in the other two it was well-hidden!

can't wait for more! (<--- that's a 100-calorie popcorn bag!)

I know! We just had to drink with the lids removed and be very careful! Yeah, we always hang onto extra napkins when we get them because we know they may come in handy further down the road.

Yeah, I noticed the Mickeys throughout the week. Then I made sure to photograph them before we left. They did a great job with them here, I think.

Yay, Lynda!

Uneventful travel is great travel! I like it.

But. About your room.

Did your luggage explode?

Cuz your room's a mess!

I love the bedspreads at POFQ. Now it makes me wonder if I should've taken a closer look our our POR spreads.

OK....ready for my close up....

Well, remember I said I took these pictures later in the week - actually the day before we left! That's why there are so many Disney shopping bags next to the window. That was our shopping carnage. The bed with the stuff all over it... We used that as a staging area of sorts. Since we only need one bed for sleeping, we used the other one for photography equipment mostly. I just laid it all out so I could grab whatever I needed each day. That's also where Pal Mickey, our lanyards, and pins were kept. In the mornings we'd just grab and go. Josh was actually packing when I took the pictures.

Those POFQ bedspreads are cool! I can't remember the ones at Riverside that well now. I wish I'd taken pictures of them when we stayed there. I'm sure they're different in Magnolia Bend than they are in Alligator Bayou though. I think we'll probably try Alligator Bayou sometime. I really like the whole Port Orleans resort! Of course, it's the only moderate we've stayed at, so I don't have much to compare them to, but I think they're really nice!

Nice job on your 1st installment! The rooms at POFQ look very nice. We haven't stayed there yet, but have looked into it. Can't wait for more!

They really are nice! The rooms themselves are really nicely decorated and equipped. We were quite comfy, and we normally stay DVC in a studio. Port Orleans gets a big from me!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

OK....ready for my close up....

Almost forgot...I do hope you are ready for that close up! I hope Mimi and Emily are too! I have some shots of all of you. Feel free to steal them. (You can steal them from smumug too. They are there now.) Hoping to get the next part up tonight.

 

[OhMari]

Backing up here a little. This summer when you went to Door County, did you drive up through Sheboygan area, out of Milwaukee, or did you take ole 41 up to Green Bay. Just wondering, cause you may have driven right by my town.

 

[KimAshton]

waits patiently for more.

 

[Disneyfreak92]

After freshening up, we got in the van and made our way over to Epcot, where we were meeting up with lexmelinda and her girls. I called her once we were in the van, and she had the sweetest voice and a great southern accent, and I told her I would call when we arrived at Epcot. We actually intended to park at the Beach Club and walk over to Epcot, but our brains hadn’t adjusted yet, and we went to the Epcot parking lot. We decided just to park there and tram it. So we did.

Once we were past the big (blank ) golf ball, I called Melinda again. Now they were headed into American Adventure. (She had never seen it! ) She said she would call when they got out. I told her that was fine. We still had to walk all the way back there and put my tripod into one of the lockers at the back entrance of the park. Our plan was to hit World Showcase with Melinda and her girls and watch Illuminations, and that was about it. We really didn’t have a plan more specific than that because we didn’t know what time we were going to arrive. This was the day we added on to the trip when we found out there was going to be a DISappearing Peeps meet.

I took this on the way to World Showcase.

In our haste to get to our happy place, we hadn’t stopped for lunch. So after depositing the tripod, we wandered over to Morocco, stopping on the way for some corn chowder and sweet tea at one of the Food & Wine stands. (Yum!)Then we stopped for some lunch at Tangierine Café. We had never eaten here, and DH has never eaten at Marakesh. (I did when I was 17 – many moons ago.) But DH always said he wanted to try the counter service in Morocco before we went for the table service. So this seemed like a perfect time to do so. I got the chicken wrap, and DH got the…chicken strips. He said they were very good chicken strips! So hey, maybe next time we can eat at Marakesh, Dear? I’m sure their chicken strips are even better!

While we were eating, Melinda called me back. They were out of American Adventure. I told them where we were, and she said they would come to us. Now, I should probably mention that I know Melinda from the DISappearing Peeps thread, and I also had her older daughter Mimi as a myspace friend because of a common interest in photography. Melinda had PMed me quite a while back and asked if I would look at Mimi’s pictures online, which I was more than happy to do. And I was also extremely impressed! This girl has a great eye! So, when I saw Melinda, Mimi, and Emily come around the corner, I recognized them immediately. Since we were seated inside, I went out to meet them and after introductions, the girls went to shop while Melinda got something to eat. She sat down, and we started chatting, and after a few minutes the girls rejoined us and helped Melinda with her platter of meat. Actually, I believe it was the Shawarma Platter, but that was a lot of meat!

After eating, we shopped. In the large store in Japan, we saw this!

What the...? Well, it is a massager, but who designed this thing??? And who decided to sell it here?

Anyway, here's a shot of Emily, Melinda, and I in Japan.

Why my mouth is hanging open, I don't know. I was laughing at something, I guess.

DH found a really yummy orange and Grand Marnier frozen beverage in France. Melinda saw it and promptly got herself one. While there, we saw this guy. Impressive!

Then we headed into the shop and saw a Remy there that was sporting this tag...

And when DH refused to try on the pink beret, Emily obliged.

Then Melinda and I spotted a Photopass photographer! We learned this is something that we are both good at, and we use this skill to torture our traveling companions.

Here's one DH took while the Photopass photographer was shooting...

And Melinda and I had a Photopass shot taken, but I don't have the CD yet, so I'll have to post it later.

After this, we headed over to Future World. We stopped on the way there for coconut flan. Yes, it was the smallest coconut flan in the world, but it was really good! Then DH and I shopped with Mimi and Emily at Pin Central and Art of Disney while Melinda went to get us all fast passes for Soarin'. Thanks Melinda!!! DH was really wanting to try Soarin' this time, so he got one too.

After Melinda found us, we headed over to Test Track, but while we were passing under the breezeway next to MouseGear, it started to pour! We stood there waiting to see if it would stop. After a few minutes, we decided to go shop in Mousegear in the meantime. After we finished at Mousegear, we stepped outside to see that it was still raining. After seeing a few too many wet people who made poor clothing choices that morning, we made a break for Test Track. We just went for it. When we reached the entrance, we turned around to see DH waving us on. It was a 20 minute wait, but we got to chat while we waited so that was nice. We posed for the camera, and we had our Photopasses scanned with the ride photo. What a cool option! I hope they start using this elsewhere. Once again, I'll have to post it once the CD arrives.

After TT, we headed over to Living Seas and watched the fishies. We saw a diver who had a sign to take down to Coral Reef for someone's b-day. Too cool! We wandered out of Living Seas and towards The Land, but it was getting to be time for Melinda's family's dinner ressie at Le Cellier, so we parted ways for the time being. I told Melinda we'd call when we got a spot for Illuminations and tell her where we were so they could join us when they got out of Le Cellier.

Next time...Soarin' and Illuminations.

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Backing up here a little. This summer when you went to Door County, did you drive up through Sheboygan area, out of Milwaukee, or did you take ole 41 up to Green Bay. Just wondering, cause you may have driven right by my town.

We took I-43 up to Manitowoc, and then we took something else up to Green Bay from there, and now I can't remember what it was. We were headed for Sturgeon Bay, where our hotel was. Did we drive by you?

waits patiently for more.

You didn't have to wait long, did ya? Thanks for joining us!

 

[lexmelinda]

Thank you so much for remembering this day in such detail. We had such a fun afternoon/evening with you and Josh! You guys are great and we miss you!

He said they were very good chicken strips! So hey, maybe next time we can eat at Marakesh, Dear? I’m sure their chicken strips are even better!

Way to go out on a limb with the chicken strips, Josh! We ate almost our entire platter o' pressed meat as I recall....and it was gooood!

And I was also extremely impressed! This girl has a great eye!

Thank you! Mimi wants to know if you need anything special to attach the lensbaby to your camera....whatever that means?

Anyway, here's a shot of Emily, Melinda, and I in Japan.

Mimi and Josh were standing right together and our shot looks like this! But you look cute when you're laughing! I love that you laugh a lot!

DH found a really yummy orange and Grand Marnier frozen beverage in France. Melinda saw it and promptly got herself one.

THAT THING WAS GOOD!!!!

Then we headed into the shop and saw a Remy there that was sporting this tag...

I remember that!!!

And when DH refused to try on the pink beret, Emily obliged.

The girl is a total ham! All you have to do is point the camera at her!

We learned this is something that we are both good at, and we use this skill to torture our traveling companions.

It's half the fun, isn't it?

And Melinda and I had a Photopass shot taken, but I don't have the CD yet, so I'll have to post it later.

I don't have mine yet either. Sorry!

We stopped on the way there for coconut flan. Yes, it was the smallest coconut flan in the world, but it was really good!

It was the tiniest dessert I've ever seen.

Then DH and I shopped with Mimi and Emily at Pin Central and Art of Disney while Melinda went to get us all fast passes for Soarin'. Thanks Melinda!!!

You're welcome! Fastpass runner is my job at Disney!

When we reached the entrance, we turned around to see DH waving us on. It was a 20 minute wait, but we got to chat while we waited so that was nice.

It only took about 10ish minutes to get in or else the conversation was good and cause it didn't seem that long. I love that picture! And there SHOULD be a photopass option at all the rides! I agree!

YAY! Illuminations! Your photos are great BTW! Mimi and I looked at them yesterday.

Can't wait!