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

[Disneyfreak92]

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!

Aw! We had fun too, and we miss you too! And my memory (for some of the details anyway) isn't actually that great, but I write down notes on my PassPorter pockets every night, or every other night, with Josh's help. I remember a lot when I read the notes and look at the photos.

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!

Yeah, my pressed chicken was tasty! And at least Josh really liked the chicken strips. Although when I read him that part of the report, he said that Marakesh's chicken strips would probably be more expensive. I do think we'll have to be going there pretty soon though. We are running out of new table services to try! We've eaten at almost every one!

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

Nothing special. It fits on just like any other lens. (Looks funny, but it does.) Is she thinking about getting it? I think she'd have fun with it!

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!

Aw, thanks! And I'll have to look at yours when I get home. (Can't see it here at work. )

THAT THING WAS GOOD!!!!

YEAH, IT WAS!!! I was wishing I had one yesterday when I was writing about it.

I remember that!!!

That was funny, wasn't it? I almost wish we'd bought it, just so we could smack him to make him talk sometimes. Although, I like Remy. Not sure why he needs to be smacked.

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

Well, it worked for me! I would have liked to see DH in that beret, but I did get a hat picture later in the week, and it is a good one!

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

It sure is! Hey, if I'm spending that much on a CD of pictures, I'm fillin' that sucker up! And yes, I want the pictures because they're some of the only ones of Josh and I together, and they have the cute little graphics you can add.

I don't have mine yet either. Sorry!

That's OK. I ordered last night, so I'm hoping to get it before I get too far into this thing. Considering it's taking me 3 installments to make it through the first day, I think it's safe to assume I will.

It was the tiniest dessert I've ever seen.

Yes, it was! But we needed to burn those snack credits! And even DH thought it was really good, and he's not a coconut freak like me.

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

Well, you did great! You were quick too.

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!

You may be right. Here's where my memory failed me. We did have good conversation, but I don't remember how long we waited. I think it's because you go through so many different areas in that queue. But, yeah, that's a great picture, and I love the photopass option. I also discovered another nifty photopass thing! We bought our Hoop Dee Doo photo, and guess what was printed along the edge of it. A photopass ID! I typed it in, and it worked! So I'm getting those on the CD too!

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

Thanks! We actually saw Illuminations twice, so there'll be more later in the report.

Can't wait!

Hoping to get it done tonight.

 

[my2boysrtwicethefun]

Great installment! It sounds & looks like you had a great time. Can't wait for more.......

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

What a lovely group of gals.

 

[DisneyObsession]

Lynda...Looks like you & Melinda had a great time at Epcot! Again...wish I was there! I just love to see your pics. You always get some good ones.
(And what WAS that massager and WHY would they sell it at Epcot???)

 

[aldisneygrl]

Wow, another Peep report, and I am in at the beginning!

Lynda - I have a camera question. I'll pm you. Can't wait for more photos!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Great installment! It sounds & looks like you had a great time. Can't wait for more.......
What a lovely group of gals.

We did have a great time! And there is more coming up soon!

Thanks!

Lynda...Looks like you & Melinda had a great time at Epcot! Again...wish I was there! I just love to see your pics. You always get some good ones.
(And what WAS that massager and WHY would they sell it at Epcot???)

We really did. I wish you could have been there too! I hope we can plan another one of these things soon. Thanks so much! There will be several Illuminations photos in the next installment.

Well, it was one of those things you roll on someone's back, but WHY it had to look like that, I don't know!

Wow, another Peep report, and I am in at the beginning!

Lynda - I have a camera question. I'll pm you. Can't wait for more photos!

Yay! More Peeps! Welcome!

Sure, ask away. More photos on the way tonight, I am hoping.

 

[winkers]

You really should try Marakesh, it's my favorite Epcot restraunt!

And the Japaneese hand massager!!!

 

[snowbell]

great installment... i love how your dis friends help with the installments. I cannot wait for the next one. I am so glad that I found your report....

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Great report, Lynda. I enjoyed meeting you briefly before the Kona dinner. Unfortunaly, I did not get to stay for the fireworks, but I love reading about all the meets that week. I had a few of my own. We have some of the same friends...
(Hi Uma, Hi Lexi )

 

[punkin413]

aren't melinda and her girls the sweetest??? and look how many cameos she's making in TRs! she should start charging people!

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?

OMG!!!!! that's slightly....um.....phallic!

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

yummy!!! i love those things! i got the lemon one though. next time i'm trying the orange!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

You really should try Marakesh, it's my favorite Epcot restraunt!

And the Japaneese hand massager!!!

I have tried it, and I liked it. It's just been a LOOOOOoooong time ago! I am hoping we will get to go there on the next trip.

I know! You should have seen me at the store. I did a double take and said, "WHAT is that?!?"

great installment... i love how your dis friends help with the installments. I cannot wait for the next one. I am so glad that I found your report....

Isn't that great? I invite anyone who was there contribute anything I may have missed because I am certainly likely to miss something! I am glad you found my report too! The more, the merrier!

Great report, Lynda. I enjoyed meeting you briefly before the Kona dinner. Unfortunaly, I did not get to stay for the fireworks, but I love reading about all the meets that week. I had a few of my own. We have some of the same friends...
(Hi Uma, Hi Lexi )

I enjoyed meeting you too! Wish you could have stayed longer. When we were in those larger groups, I felt like I didn't get to talk to people as much, just because there were so many people to talk to, but it sure was fun and great to meet everyone! Those are some good friends to have!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

aren't melinda and her girls the sweetest??? and look how many cameos she's making in TRs! she should start charging people!

They ARE the sweetest! Just love 'em! And no joke! Do you think she just came to the meets so she could become DISfamous? (Just kidding Melinda! Luv ya!)

OMG!!!!! that's slightly....um.....phallic!

UH, yeah! Just a little. Like I said, WHAT were they thinking? (On second thought, maybe I don't want to know.)

yummy!!! i love those things! i got the lemon one though. next time i'm trying the orange!

I want one NOW! You should have seen Melinda when she saw Josh with his. She said "WHERE did you get that?" And after he pointed at the stand, she was gone in a flash!

 

[Disneyfreak92]

Once Melinda and her girls headed off to meet the male portion of their traveling party at Le Cellier, DH and I headed into The Land to use our Soarin' Fastpasses.

Now, DH has never ridden Soarin'. He has a fear of heights, and on our last trip he got himself a Fastpass, but didn't use it. He wants to ride the ride. He just hasn't quite gotten there yet. He really wanted to ride it this time because of our trip to Disneyland in January. He wanted ride it here at WDW before riding it there. Well, he had a Fastpass now, and it was time to use it.

We went through the line, and I explained to him how we could request the lowest row. He also wanted to be on the outside, so I told him I was sure we could request that too. We might have to wait slightly longer, but whatever made him most comfortable was fine with me. We got up there, and I told the CM what we were wanting. He said that woudl work if we could wait until the next "flight". We told him that was fine. We watched Kronk's video, and we were ushered inside. I directed DH to the seat he wanted, and we strapped ourselves in. The CM asked if he was OK. He said he was, but asked how high our row would go. The CM showed him by raising his hand and saying about 5 feet past my fingertips. DH said OK. Then the CM asked DH if he would like to be shown exactly how high it goes. DH said yes, the CM unbuckled him, and led him up front. When DH returned, he was shaking his head no. He said he couldn't do it and waited for me outside. I enjoyed my ride, but wondered about DH at the same time.

When I got back to him, he was obviously dissappointed. He said it was just higher than what he expected, and it took him by surprise. I pointed out that he had made it farther this time than he had in the past, and at least now he knew what to expect should he decide to try it again. I think he might.

After Soarin', we headed back over to World Showcase. We didn't even have time to grab dinner. People were claiming their Illuminations viewing spots, and we needed to find ours. We hoofed it back to International Gateway to get the tripod, and we walked around a little bit, trying to find a good spot. We ended up in Canada, across from the Off Kilter stage, next to a large rock housing one of the speakers. We had seen the show from here before, but I couldn't remember how good the view was. At this point, it was about the best we were going to do. I called Melinda and left her a voicemail telling her where we were, and we set up my tripod.

DH suggested I call our local friend, Jill. What I forgot to mention in my first installment is that Jill had called us while we were on the road that first day and said that there was a new Segway Tour at Fort Wilderness. She said that a bunch of the Zetas (the DIS/VMK group we were meeting later in the week) were going to be doing the tour on what would be our last day. The tour was at 11:30, so we could do it following our traditional last morning breakfast at 'Ohana. We told Jill to book us, and we'd pay her back when we saw her. Too cool! We're going on a Segway tour!

Well, I called Jill while we waited for Illuminations, and she said that it hadn't been booked yet, but that she'd keep us informed. We also made arrangements to meet up with her on Sunday morning at VMK Central in MK. There would be other DIS/VMKers there because they were closing VMK Central, and Sunday was the last day it would be open. So we planned to meet her there at 10am.

After I talked to Jill, it was pretty close to time for Illuminations to begin, so I tried calling Melinda again. At about 5 'til, Melinda called me back. I told her where we were, and then I watched for her and waved her over. Now we got to meet her DH and DS. What a sweet family they are! We didn't have much time to chat though. The show started pretty shortly after they arrived and we got situated. Here's some pics...

After Illuminations, we offered the Lexmelinda fam a ride back to their resort. See, they were staying next door to us at Port Orleans Riverside. So, we headed all the way back up to the front of the park to catch the tram. We chatted as we walked. I talked a bit of photography with Mimi. And we caught a tram back to the van. DH passed out a few pins to Emily and James while we waited for the tram to depart. They were very appreciative, and we continued to talk pins and pictures. We took a wrong turn on the way back to POR, but I corrected, and we dropped off Melinda and her family in front of the main building at POR.

Let me just say that these folks are SUCH a sweet, fun family! It was just wonderful to meet them all, and we miss them! I can't say enough about them - really! Melinda - please give everyone a big for me!

Well, after we got back to our room, DH decided to order a pizza. He first attempted to order it from Domino's, but learned that we would have to go to the main building to pick it up because they wouldn't allow the delivery driver to come to the room. So we ended up ordering from Sassagoula Pizza Express. It wasn't bad. And it served the purpose! Then it was off to bed for us. We were going to have an early morning the next day at MK.

Next up...Magic Kingdom and more meeting Peeps!

 

[my2boysrtwicethefun]

Wow, another installment already? I love the pics of Illuminations. I hope that my pictures in December turn out as beautiful. If not, could I swipe your photos for scrapbooking purposes?

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Great pics, Lynda!!!!!!!! I loved Lexi and family too, the way they the girls took care of Norah was really so sweet!

 

[KatGarcia]

Too bad no Soarin' for DH! I know how he feels, I was very nervous myself the first time and I am def afraid of heights. I did go on it and I loved it but I was kinda buggin out the whole time so tell DH - baby steps and he'll get there!

MY DH is looking over my shoulder at your pics and he said how absolutely beautiful they are! I def agree!

 

[lexmelinda]

What a great day! I didn't remember that you guys hadn't had anything to eat?! Poor you! It was late and I'm sure you were tired!

I pointed out that he had made it farther this time than he had in the past, and at least now he knew what to expect should he decide to try it again. I think he might.

Right here, folks! This is an example of why Lynda is such a pleasure to be around....always smiling and looking on the bright side.....going with the flow. You prolly just hugged him and told him it was OK. So cute!

Too cool! We're going on a Segway tour!

I can't wait to hear about this! I've never ridden a Segway!

At about 5 'til, Melinda called me back. I told her where we were, and then I watched for her and waved her over. Now we got to meet her DH and DS. What a sweet family they are!

I know!!! I just couldn't move things along fast enough at LeCellier! I handed the waitress the Key to the Food when we ordered dessert and we still barely made it! Thanks for saving our spot!

Great photos as always! I think there was a lot of..."Honey, don't touch the tripod" and "Sweetie, stay away from the camera!" in between those shots!

After Illuminations, we offered the Lexmelinda fam a ride back to their resort. See, they were staying next door to us at Port Orleans Riverside.

THANK YOU!!!! That was SO nice of you! What a pleasure to not have to wait out the bus crowd after Illuminations! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! And thank Josh again for the wonderful pins for the kids. That was so generous of him to give the kids some pins. I love the FP ones!

Let me just say that these folks are SUCH a sweet, fun family! It was just wonderful to meet them all, and we miss them! I can't say enough about them - really! Melinda - please give everyone a big for me!

We felt the exact same way about you and Josh!

 

[MA pigletfan]

I LOVE the illuminations pics!! SO beautiful! That is something i need to work on, taking fireworks pics...do you have any hints..I have a great digital camera, Its one of the new Nikon Coolpix ( i think is the name)..but it doesnt' have any fancy lenses or anything...

 

[aldisneygrl]

Now, DH has never ridden Soarin'. He has a fear of heights, and on our last trip he got himself a Fastpass, but didn't use it. He wants to ride the ride. He just hasn't quite gotten there yet. He really wanted to ride it this time because of our trip to Disneyland in January. He wanted ride it here at WDW before riding it there. Well, he had a Fastpass now, and it was time to use it.

We went through the line, and I explained to him how we could request the lowest row. He also wanted to be on the outside, so I told him I was sure we could request that too. We might have to wait slightly longer, but whatever made him most comfortable was fine with me. We got up there, and I told the CM what we were wanting. He said that woudl work if we could wait until the next "flight". We told him that was fine. We watched Kronk's video, and we were ushered inside. I directed DH to the seat he wanted, and we strapped ourselves in. The CM asked if he was OK. He said he was, but asked how high our row would go. The CM showed him by raising his hand and saying about 5 feet past my fingertips. DH said OK. Then the CM asked DH if he would like to be shown exactly how high it goes. DH said yes, the CM unbuckled him, and led him up front. When DH returned, he was shaking his head no. He said he couldn't do it and waited for me outside. I enjoyed my ride, but wondered about DH at the same time.

When I got back to him, he was obviously dissappointed. He said it was just higher than what he expected, and it took him by surprise. I pointed out that he had made it farther this time than he had in the past, and at least now he knew what to expect should he decide to try it again. I think he might.

At least he found out he didn't want to do it BEFORE he got up there, and realized it was too high! Maybe January will be his time to ride! Wish y'all were coming to DW in Jan. because I would love to meet you, but DL will be awesome too!

What lovely pictures! We missed Illuminations last October, so dd and I plan on seeing it in Jan. It looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

 

[DisneyObsession]

Poor Josh! I am sooo with him on the height thing! The thought of Soarin' scares me, so I don't know if I will go on it or not. My other issue is I get motion sick very easily and am afraid this ride will trigger that. I don't want to spend my day feeling lousy!

Again...gorgeous pics of illuminations. You get the best firework pics I've ever seen!

 

[GSD4ME]

Yea - more great pictures!!! How long was the exposure for the fireworks? They are beautiful! (I only took our little point and shoot camera and didn't have a tripod - used the railing on the deck at Rose & Crown, though. I got a couple good ones, but nothing like yours.)

Can't wait for more!!