CheshireMelanie
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2004
- Messages
- 70
Cast
Melvis (a.k.a Melanie) Me (39 dangerously close to 40th birthday, which may have something to do with buying the Mazda Miata convertible and convincing all immediate family that we needed to spend an early holiday with The Mouse.)
Dr. D my dear, DH (54); purports to be Grumpy by wearing considerable items of clothing bearing said image, however, by nature, much more like Doc.
Deanster DSis (34) total princess with an amazing, creative brain secretly wishes to be Ariel if only to find her Prince Eric. Professional independent photographer.
Big Cal DFather (64) absolute salt of the earth. Would go anywhere, do anything just to please his wife and daughters (and to get them to be quiet!). Big Cal is 6 5.
Mini Maureen DMother (NOT 64!) I have acquired my best queenly skills by watching her all my life. Best thing she makes for dinner is reservations. She is 5 1.
Sunday 12/12/04
Phone Rings
Wake up call from Mickey (and Stitch No Sleeping GET MOVING!)
We do get moving Dr. D goes to Pepper Market to fill his mug with coffee (which he thinks is a GLORIOUS thing) and bring back a little nosh. Deanster and I pack up just in case we have to vacate this particular room when we do the check out recheck in hokey pokey today for our Dream Maker Package.
The Plan is to eat, get the room situation handled, meet Randys Mobility in the lobby at 9 to pick up Big Cal and Mini Maureens ECVs , take the rental car to the Car Care Center and take the shuttle back to CSR, where, hopefully the parents have arrived.
Head to lobby for the ECVs.
Me and Dr. D at La Fuente de Las Palomas
Christmas Tree in Registration Area
Ceiling above the lobby fountain
They arrive on time and are really cool. I had spoken to Randy on the phone and had made a big point of making sure that Big Cals could accommodate someone who is 65. The last thing I wanted was for his first experience with one of these to be uncomfortable. Walking for any distance has become problematic for him. This really hacks him off. I thought that this would be a great chance to try one out and see if it would be something he might want to get for himself someday.
Big Cals is a bigger model than Mini Mos. Hooray! And they are red! Oooooh sporty!
And what a service from Randys Mobility. Cheaper than getting them at the parks, you can rent them for your entire stay so you have them 24/7 (especially great for this particular resort CSR is BIG!) and they have drop off and pick up service.
After a quick lesson in all things ECV, Deanster, Dr. D and I head back to park them in the room. Dr. Ds job is to walk point position and provide verbal cues as to when the CSRs stretch golf carts come barreling around a corner.
It goes something like this.
Deanster and I are chatting, driving the ECVs and looking at the beautiful scenery. Dr. D is ahead of us.
Suddenly, he stops and does his best meerkat impersonation. Then he yells
HERE THEY COME get over .get OVER
A word about these golf carts they are used as an internal transportation system. There are different kinds of carts ones outfitted for Bellmen to carry luggage on, ones for groundskeepers and those for transporting guests.
I am quite positive that the CMs who are assigned to operate said golf carts are trained extensively at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Thankfully, Dr. D and I have knowledge of crossing streets and dodging taxis in midtown Manhattan.
It came in handy.
Besides, we are from Texas. NASCAR doesnt scare us. Much.
We get the ECVs back to the room without either of us ending up in Lago Dorado or roadkill under the wheels of a golf cart. I take this as a good sign.
Deanster calls front desk and is informed we are keeping the room that we are currently in. This is in some ways a relief dont have to move, store luggage and 2 ECVs until other rooms are ready, but also a bit of a disappointment in that we had requested a king for Dr. D and I when Deanster moved in with the parents. Oh well, no biggie.
Back to lobby to do the paperwork thing for the package. Great CM Mike, who got us acclimated and educated. We found out he had his Ph.D. in education and he and Dr. D enjoyed chatting. Dr. Mike was working here for a few months on his way to being part of the college program. He was great and we wish him well.
Get the Pimp Mobile and off to the CCC. Here is where Deanster announces her plan while hanging over the front seat between me and Dr. D.
The parents are still 150 miles away. We will be RIGHT BY the Magic Kingdom when we drop off the car. Why dont we just have the Alamo shuttle take us there and hang out on Main Street USA?
She bats her eyelashes.
I had been suspicious of her bringing the camera bag. For some reason it had become essential that Deanster see the Castle up close and personal at the earliest possible moment.
Fine by us. We put exactly $3.04 of gas in the car, turn it in and get on our way. Shuttle takes us to the transportation center to catch monorail. Dr. D looks impressed. His only other Disney experience was at Disney Land when he was 12. That was 1962. Things have changed a bit.
Its a little elbow to elbow, but nothing major.
Deanster RUNS to the Castle.
Im beginning to think it has become some sort of religious pilgrimage for her.
Dr. D and I get some coffee and hot tea at the Main Street Bakery. I was so excited to find hot tea! We people watch and stroll. Dr. D gets a big kick out of reading the names on the windows above the shops, honoring some of their legends.
Deanster returns and we wander back towards the entrance knowing that we have to get back to CSR pretty soon.
And then it happens
Our first character encounter. And its CRUELLA!!!!!
I have a secret obsession with the villains.
My dream job would be to play the Evil Queen for a day at the Park. (Deanster says Id be a natural I laughed then I pulled her hair.)
I have a BFA in Theater Performance and a specialty in Childrens theater and try to do at least one show a year that plays to or involves kids. I have always been a character actor, playing the mom or the crazy neighbor next door, etc. But my most FUN roles have been the characters that complicate things. Played the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Lucy in Youre a Good Man Charlie Brown, you know that kind of thing.
Now its my turn to run
She puts her arms around us and purrs in that low Cruella voice Everyone say PUPPIES!
okay...where is her right leg?!?
Deanster see Aladin and since shes always had a thing for Dark Princes we get her pic with him, too. He said it had been a long time since a grown up red-head threw her arms around him. (Deanster hugged him tighter)
Cell phone rings.
Big Cal and Mini Mo have arrived at Resort. We say hang tight in the lobby and well be there shortly.
We got back in less than 20 minutes. Love those CSR buses.
Bail out at the bus stop by lobby and are walking across porte corchere when we see Big Cal. Deanster and I become 5 and 10 years old respectively and run across 4 lanes of cars yelling DADDY
One of the Bellmen who looks to be around my dads age gets all verklempt and pats Big Cal on the back when we pass. We always want to hear that, no matter how old they get, dont we? he says. Big Cal agrees.
We find Mini Mo in the lobby. Deanster has called whilst on the bus back to CSR to see if their room is ready. It is not. Big Cal has had bellmen (note the plural) unload giant Rubbermaid containers, et al and store. We pile into the F150 intent on exploring and a little lunch.
Decide to go to Grand Floridian. Deanster and Big Cal dump rest of us out and they wait to valet the truck. As we are walking towards lobby I think Hmmm thats a familiar aroma. Ah-ha! Roasting chestnuts streets of NYC, open fire, Christmas this is gonna be a great vacation. A very dapper gentleman dishes us up some and we snack until the other two join us. Big Cal is impressed that Valet is complimentary for those with handicapped tags. I am impressed at how well Disney is taking care of my parents.
The Grand Floridian is beautiful.
We use some Q&C vouchers at The Gasparilla Grill. First time weve used these and I wanted to get a feel as to how they worked before we took them to the parks. CMs were very helpful. Deanster and I got the coke, double cheeseburger with extra bun, fries, fruit salad and dessert to split as did the parents. It was a huge amount of food and perfect to share. Dr. D. got a chicken ceasar that he enjoyed. I hadnt realized that there were video games actually IN the seating area, so it was pretty loud, but all in all a good experience.
We toured the lobby a bit
Me and Doc in front of the Gingerbread House in GF Lobby
Big Cal and Mini Maureen
and then decided to take Big Cal on the Resort monorail loop. He, like Dr. D., thought that was pretty neat. I told Deanster that it was probably going to be his favorite ride out of the whole thing.
Everybody is a little tuckered and our other room is ready so we high tail it back to CSR. Big Cal and Mini Mo have a primo corner, first floor room with a water view from the front window and a quiet pool view from the side. We bring the ECVs and Deansters luggage down. Mini Mo is enjoying the décor (we think somewhere she has Native American ancestry because of her love of the Southwest). Deanster and Big Cal take the ECVs on a spin around the resort. Everyone relaxes for a bit.
F150 provisions and luggage is delivered by lone bellman. It is his first day at CSR.
Poor, poor kid.
We have plans to do a gift exchange Mousefest meet at the Boardwalk with some members of the Tagrel board at 8. Dr. D and I plan to go early, find some dinner somewhere and explore. Deanster and Mini Mo will drive over and meet us. After driving from Texas to Florida the past few days, Big C is gonna hang out at CSR.
The Doc and I go to the bus stop. First bus that rolls up is going to EPCOT. We figure, why not? Well go there and get a bus to the Boardwalk. Driver is so nice and we get to chatting. I tell him what were doing. He informs me that my plan is not the most expedient way and what to do next time. Then he says Watch this. (Mind you, Dr. D and I are the only two passengers on the bus). He changes his marquee from EPCOT to SPECIAL and takes us directly to the Boardwalk.
We FEEL special. We disembark; waving and thanking our coachman, gently wiping the pixie dust from our shoulders and enter the Boardwalk lobby.
Okay, I love this resort feels so homey and comfy. And something about the seahorse chandelier in the lobby appeals to the Pisces in me.
We check out the restaurants and decide on Big River Grille and Brewing Works. We walk up behind a party of 10 who cant decide if they all want to sit together, or separate, or put the kids at one table yada, yada, yada. The host must have seen my eyes start to roll back into my head. Perhaps he thought I was about to have a hypoglycemic attack. Whatever it was, it worked. He handed off the logistical nightmare group to another host and took us (party of 2, your table is ready) right in.
I hugged him.
Me with my eyes rolled back in my head
I get quesadillas and Doc gets the Meatloaf special. We arent beer drinkers but Dr. D is somewhat of a Root Beer connoisseur, which is also brewed there. Very enjoyable. Our first evening just the two of us. Did I mention that we will be celebrating our 14th anniversary January 19th? We hold hands through dinner. (This is a great advantage to marrying a left handed person! We can both eat and hold hands at the same time. I know, youre getting a cavity just reading this! So, sue me.)
After dinner we find the girls and meet our new friends. Fun Mousefest meet, lots of stealing of presents and laughter. I can tell, however, that my group is winding down and ready to go t da house.
Our Edith Ann picture in Boardwalk lobby.
one day, I mixed marshmallows with spit and made sauce
Edith Ann
Tomorrow . Our first park, Animal Kingdom!
And the first day on the scooters .
[thread=706844]Chapter 1 - The Prequel[/thread]
[thread=707410]Chapter 2 - T minus 48 Hours[/thread]
[thread=707456]Chapter 3 - 3,2,1 - We have Ignition[/thread]
Chapter 4 - YOU ARE HERE
[thread=709177]Chapter 5 - The Call of the Wild[/thread]
[thread=711162]Chapter 5.1 With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling[/thread]
[thread=713380]Chapter 6 Winter in the World Showcase[/thread]
[thread=717514]Chapter 7 MGM - The day of the Ugly Pictures[/thread]
[thread=741726]Chapter 7.1 Subzero MGM Adventure [/thread]
[thread=891702]Chapter 8 News from the Dolphin Tank and the OEFYO Syndrome[/thread]
[thread=925117]Chpt. 9.1 Lunch with an Imagineer & The Final and Mad Dash[/thread]
Melvis (a.k.a Melanie) Me (39 dangerously close to 40th birthday, which may have something to do with buying the Mazda Miata convertible and convincing all immediate family that we needed to spend an early holiday with The Mouse.)
Dr. D my dear, DH (54); purports to be Grumpy by wearing considerable items of clothing bearing said image, however, by nature, much more like Doc.
Deanster DSis (34) total princess with an amazing, creative brain secretly wishes to be Ariel if only to find her Prince Eric. Professional independent photographer.
Big Cal DFather (64) absolute salt of the earth. Would go anywhere, do anything just to please his wife and daughters (and to get them to be quiet!). Big Cal is 6 5.
Mini Maureen DMother (NOT 64!) I have acquired my best queenly skills by watching her all my life. Best thing she makes for dinner is reservations. She is 5 1.
Sunday 12/12/04
Phone Rings
Wake up call from Mickey (and Stitch No Sleeping GET MOVING!)
We do get moving Dr. D goes to Pepper Market to fill his mug with coffee (which he thinks is a GLORIOUS thing) and bring back a little nosh. Deanster and I pack up just in case we have to vacate this particular room when we do the check out recheck in hokey pokey today for our Dream Maker Package.
The Plan is to eat, get the room situation handled, meet Randys Mobility in the lobby at 9 to pick up Big Cal and Mini Maureens ECVs , take the rental car to the Car Care Center and take the shuttle back to CSR, where, hopefully the parents have arrived.
Head to lobby for the ECVs.
Me and Dr. D at La Fuente de Las Palomas
Christmas Tree in Registration Area
Ceiling above the lobby fountain
They arrive on time and are really cool. I had spoken to Randy on the phone and had made a big point of making sure that Big Cals could accommodate someone who is 65. The last thing I wanted was for his first experience with one of these to be uncomfortable. Walking for any distance has become problematic for him. This really hacks him off. I thought that this would be a great chance to try one out and see if it would be something he might want to get for himself someday.
Big Cals is a bigger model than Mini Mos. Hooray! And they are red! Oooooh sporty!
And what a service from Randys Mobility. Cheaper than getting them at the parks, you can rent them for your entire stay so you have them 24/7 (especially great for this particular resort CSR is BIG!) and they have drop off and pick up service.
After a quick lesson in all things ECV, Deanster, Dr. D and I head back to park them in the room. Dr. Ds job is to walk point position and provide verbal cues as to when the CSRs stretch golf carts come barreling around a corner.
It goes something like this.
Deanster and I are chatting, driving the ECVs and looking at the beautiful scenery. Dr. D is ahead of us.
Suddenly, he stops and does his best meerkat impersonation. Then he yells
HERE THEY COME get over .get OVER
A word about these golf carts they are used as an internal transportation system. There are different kinds of carts ones outfitted for Bellmen to carry luggage on, ones for groundskeepers and those for transporting guests.
I am quite positive that the CMs who are assigned to operate said golf carts are trained extensively at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Thankfully, Dr. D and I have knowledge of crossing streets and dodging taxis in midtown Manhattan.
It came in handy.
Besides, we are from Texas. NASCAR doesnt scare us. Much.
We get the ECVs back to the room without either of us ending up in Lago Dorado or roadkill under the wheels of a golf cart. I take this as a good sign.
Deanster calls front desk and is informed we are keeping the room that we are currently in. This is in some ways a relief dont have to move, store luggage and 2 ECVs until other rooms are ready, but also a bit of a disappointment in that we had requested a king for Dr. D and I when Deanster moved in with the parents. Oh well, no biggie.
Back to lobby to do the paperwork thing for the package. Great CM Mike, who got us acclimated and educated. We found out he had his Ph.D. in education and he and Dr. D enjoyed chatting. Dr. Mike was working here for a few months on his way to being part of the college program. He was great and we wish him well.
Get the Pimp Mobile and off to the CCC. Here is where Deanster announces her plan while hanging over the front seat between me and Dr. D.
The parents are still 150 miles away. We will be RIGHT BY the Magic Kingdom when we drop off the car. Why dont we just have the Alamo shuttle take us there and hang out on Main Street USA?
She bats her eyelashes.
I had been suspicious of her bringing the camera bag. For some reason it had become essential that Deanster see the Castle up close and personal at the earliest possible moment.
Fine by us. We put exactly $3.04 of gas in the car, turn it in and get on our way. Shuttle takes us to the transportation center to catch monorail. Dr. D looks impressed. His only other Disney experience was at Disney Land when he was 12. That was 1962. Things have changed a bit.
Its a little elbow to elbow, but nothing major.
Deanster RUNS to the Castle.
Im beginning to think it has become some sort of religious pilgrimage for her.
Dr. D and I get some coffee and hot tea at the Main Street Bakery. I was so excited to find hot tea! We people watch and stroll. Dr. D gets a big kick out of reading the names on the windows above the shops, honoring some of their legends.
Deanster returns and we wander back towards the entrance knowing that we have to get back to CSR pretty soon.
And then it happens
Our first character encounter. And its CRUELLA!!!!!
I have a secret obsession with the villains.
My dream job would be to play the Evil Queen for a day at the Park. (Deanster says Id be a natural I laughed then I pulled her hair.)
I have a BFA in Theater Performance and a specialty in Childrens theater and try to do at least one show a year that plays to or involves kids. I have always been a character actor, playing the mom or the crazy neighbor next door, etc. But my most FUN roles have been the characters that complicate things. Played the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, Lucy in Youre a Good Man Charlie Brown, you know that kind of thing.
Now its my turn to run
She puts her arms around us and purrs in that low Cruella voice Everyone say PUPPIES!
okay...where is her right leg?!?
Deanster see Aladin and since shes always had a thing for Dark Princes we get her pic with him, too. He said it had been a long time since a grown up red-head threw her arms around him. (Deanster hugged him tighter)
Cell phone rings.
Big Cal and Mini Mo have arrived at Resort. We say hang tight in the lobby and well be there shortly.
We got back in less than 20 minutes. Love those CSR buses.
Bail out at the bus stop by lobby and are walking across porte corchere when we see Big Cal. Deanster and I become 5 and 10 years old respectively and run across 4 lanes of cars yelling DADDY
One of the Bellmen who looks to be around my dads age gets all verklempt and pats Big Cal on the back when we pass. We always want to hear that, no matter how old they get, dont we? he says. Big Cal agrees.
We find Mini Mo in the lobby. Deanster has called whilst on the bus back to CSR to see if their room is ready. It is not. Big Cal has had bellmen (note the plural) unload giant Rubbermaid containers, et al and store. We pile into the F150 intent on exploring and a little lunch.
Decide to go to Grand Floridian. Deanster and Big Cal dump rest of us out and they wait to valet the truck. As we are walking towards lobby I think Hmmm thats a familiar aroma. Ah-ha! Roasting chestnuts streets of NYC, open fire, Christmas this is gonna be a great vacation. A very dapper gentleman dishes us up some and we snack until the other two join us. Big Cal is impressed that Valet is complimentary for those with handicapped tags. I am impressed at how well Disney is taking care of my parents.
The Grand Floridian is beautiful.
We use some Q&C vouchers at The Gasparilla Grill. First time weve used these and I wanted to get a feel as to how they worked before we took them to the parks. CMs were very helpful. Deanster and I got the coke, double cheeseburger with extra bun, fries, fruit salad and dessert to split as did the parents. It was a huge amount of food and perfect to share. Dr. D. got a chicken ceasar that he enjoyed. I hadnt realized that there were video games actually IN the seating area, so it was pretty loud, but all in all a good experience.
We toured the lobby a bit
Me and Doc in front of the Gingerbread House in GF Lobby
Big Cal and Mini Maureen
and then decided to take Big Cal on the Resort monorail loop. He, like Dr. D., thought that was pretty neat. I told Deanster that it was probably going to be his favorite ride out of the whole thing.
Everybody is a little tuckered and our other room is ready so we high tail it back to CSR. Big Cal and Mini Mo have a primo corner, first floor room with a water view from the front window and a quiet pool view from the side. We bring the ECVs and Deansters luggage down. Mini Mo is enjoying the décor (we think somewhere she has Native American ancestry because of her love of the Southwest). Deanster and Big Cal take the ECVs on a spin around the resort. Everyone relaxes for a bit.
F150 provisions and luggage is delivered by lone bellman. It is his first day at CSR.
Poor, poor kid.
We have plans to do a gift exchange Mousefest meet at the Boardwalk with some members of the Tagrel board at 8. Dr. D and I plan to go early, find some dinner somewhere and explore. Deanster and Mini Mo will drive over and meet us. After driving from Texas to Florida the past few days, Big C is gonna hang out at CSR.
The Doc and I go to the bus stop. First bus that rolls up is going to EPCOT. We figure, why not? Well go there and get a bus to the Boardwalk. Driver is so nice and we get to chatting. I tell him what were doing. He informs me that my plan is not the most expedient way and what to do next time. Then he says Watch this. (Mind you, Dr. D and I are the only two passengers on the bus). He changes his marquee from EPCOT to SPECIAL and takes us directly to the Boardwalk.
We FEEL special. We disembark; waving and thanking our coachman, gently wiping the pixie dust from our shoulders and enter the Boardwalk lobby.
Okay, I love this resort feels so homey and comfy. And something about the seahorse chandelier in the lobby appeals to the Pisces in me.
We check out the restaurants and decide on Big River Grille and Brewing Works. We walk up behind a party of 10 who cant decide if they all want to sit together, or separate, or put the kids at one table yada, yada, yada. The host must have seen my eyes start to roll back into my head. Perhaps he thought I was about to have a hypoglycemic attack. Whatever it was, it worked. He handed off the logistical nightmare group to another host and took us (party of 2, your table is ready) right in.
I hugged him.
Me with my eyes rolled back in my head
I get quesadillas and Doc gets the Meatloaf special. We arent beer drinkers but Dr. D is somewhat of a Root Beer connoisseur, which is also brewed there. Very enjoyable. Our first evening just the two of us. Did I mention that we will be celebrating our 14th anniversary January 19th? We hold hands through dinner. (This is a great advantage to marrying a left handed person! We can both eat and hold hands at the same time. I know, youre getting a cavity just reading this! So, sue me.)
After dinner we find the girls and meet our new friends. Fun Mousefest meet, lots of stealing of presents and laughter. I can tell, however, that my group is winding down and ready to go t da house.
Our Edith Ann picture in Boardwalk lobby.
one day, I mixed marshmallows with spit and made sauce
Edith Ann
Tomorrow . Our first park, Animal Kingdom!
And the first day on the scooters .
[thread=706844]Chapter 1 - The Prequel[/thread]
[thread=707410]Chapter 2 - T minus 48 Hours[/thread]
[thread=707456]Chapter 3 - 3,2,1 - We have Ignition[/thread]
Chapter 4 - YOU ARE HERE
[thread=709177]Chapter 5 - The Call of the Wild[/thread]
[thread=711162]Chapter 5.1 With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling[/thread]
[thread=713380]Chapter 6 Winter in the World Showcase[/thread]
[thread=717514]Chapter 7 MGM - The day of the Ugly Pictures[/thread]
[thread=741726]Chapter 7.1 Subzero MGM Adventure [/thread]
[thread=891702]Chapter 8 News from the Dolphin Tank and the OEFYO Syndrome[/thread]
[thread=925117]Chpt. 9.1 Lunch with an Imagineer & The Final and Mad Dash[/thread]
