Mini-trip TR ~ Emma's First trip, My first MNSSHP and F&W! LOOKING AHEAD!

[Stefy]

No sure if they are in ALL the countries but definitely a lot of them. When Nicholas finished his mission in China, it came up that there were other mission available and you got to choose your country...there were only 2 options but when he finished in Germany,...there were at least 5 listed. It all depends on how many "agents" are already in those countries.

That sounds cool am looking forward to doping this now, thanx

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Day 2 ~ October 3, 2009​

So we parted ways from my sister and Tom, Nicole and Nicholas were off for more adventures in World Showcase. So far, we had walked as far a China and back....TWICE!

So this time we finally made it past China, around the African Outpost and over to Germany. Well the combination of Oktoberfest with F&W made for the most crowded Germany I'd ever seen. Combine that with the fact that this probably the most compact country in WS and it made for a NOT FUN mission on Kim Possible. Again, Tom went to get some more food and drinks, Nicole went to get a pretzel from Somerfest and I was stuck with Nicholas doing his missions. Well I shouldn't put it that way. I kind of volunteered but he was very hard to keep up with. I couldn't help being a little "teachery" with him because he would just go without finishing the clue! It kind of annoyed me and by the time we were done with the mission in Germany, I was done with Kim Possible altogether. Unfortunately, Nicholas was not but NOT MY PROBLEM!!

So I texted Nicole when we were done to see where she was. I think she must have had a little too much to drink because she found Tom and they were on their way back to China. What?? I'm in Germany!! Okay, we'll meet you there.

When they got back, she swore up and down that I texted her that we went back to China but I really think it was the drinks.

Anyway, on their way to China, they fortunately got stopped by the bridge opening. It was forunate for two reasons. 1. because it prohibited them from going too much further away and 2. because they scored an awesome pic of the Illumination globe being brought into the lagoon.

So when Nicole came back, she not only had the pretzel but got this chocolate cake somewhere. (Notice she has a glass of wine in that hand too! BTW, my cousin Nicole is a hard core Miami police officer. Her department was once featured on a TV show called something like "The Real Miami Vice" and she could totally kick, not only MY butt but most likely Tom and me at the same time. BUT, she knows how to let loose! I just wouldn't want piss her off!)

The pretzel was delicious, as always and because chocolate covered pretzels are one of my favorite things, I took a little bite of each and they were SOOOO good together!

Once we finished our snacks, we realized that we were standing very close to the spot in Germany where Tom and I got engaged...so of course, we took a pic!

As we passed by Germany, I snapped a pic!

I honestly don't even know where Tom stopped next! We were really just stopping everywhere!!

Nicholas begged his mother for another mission and I quickly whistled and walked away...but she took it this time, I think it was in Japan.

As some point during the afternoon, we realized that there was NO WAY we were going to be hungry for dinner. Christy had made a reservation for 8 at Teppan Edo. I was nervous about calling my sister and telling her we weren't coming and we debated over it for a while but finally I realized, I just didn't want to waste money on food that I was going to have to force down my throat. So eventually I called and she took it ok. They were still able to go and enjoy dinner.

Eventually we made it around and the snack I wanted next was chips from England! They were delicious as always. We went to find a seat and all the tables were taken....at which point I would just walk away. But my brazen cousin Nicole just walked right up an older couple and asked if we could sit! I call it brazen, I guess some would call in "friendly." I guess it's the difference between New Jersians and Floridians. The whole time we sat there, I was completely uncomfortable...but Nicole kept up a conversation and eventually we left.

We took some pics on the way around the last few countries of WS and decided to ride Test Track, do a little MouseGear shopping before finally checking out "The Seas," as I call it.

After riding the little Nemo ride, and getting Mr. Ray's song stuck in our heads, we walked around the aquarium for a little while. There really is nothing appealing to me in there except for the manitees. I could watch them for hours!

As we were walking around, I heard them call "last call" for Turtle Talk with Crush. I had always "kind of" wanted to see it but never enough to wait in line and since we had Nicholas with us, I thought it was the perfect chance to see it. It was cute!

Tom didn't want to see it, so he moved back to WS where we met up with him shorty after. While he was there, he got a sneak peak of the Party for the Senses and got a lamb slider from New Zealand.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Nicole and I were SOOooooo excited because Starship was playing at the American Garden's Theatre and it was just about time! First we got a funnel cake and took it to the theatre to get our seats. All afternoon, we had been singing "We Built This City" but it just couldn't think of their other big hit. Turns out, the people in front of us were having the same problem! Finally we figured out it was "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" from Mannaquin!

Well, they opened with We Built This City, then sang one song I knew, but didn't think they sang, one song I didn't know....TWO songs from Jefferson Airplane, White Rabbit and Don't you Want Somebody to Love then ended with Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now. It was AWESOME!!! The crowd was clearly big fans and half blitzed! There was a great group up in the front who didn't sit down the whole time and the band definitely played to them. I think a 30 minute, 6 song concert is the best kind of concert...you know every song and you don't have to sit for too long!!

At one point during the concert, Nicholas was falling asleep. I tired to take his pic but he woke up and smiled just as I snapped it!

About 10 mins into the concert, Tom showed up with his bourbon drink he got from "New Orleans" which he was was soooo strong!

So after the concert was over, we walked around again and Nicole stopped in Japan to get some sushi but she wanted to leave before the fireworks started.

So we said goodbye to them and headed straight back to Mexico. There was a cheese quesadilla with my name on it!!!

I don't remember what Tom got, but my quesadille was awesome!! I wanted to get some margaritas so I jumped on the line for the Cantina just as they were closing! As I was in line, the fireworks started. I was getting a little fidgety because I was missing it!!! But I had seen it a million times and it was just awesome to be hearing the music live and in person!! (Remember, I play Epcot Entrance Music followed by Illuminations every morning when my students come into the class but hearing it in person...I could just cry every time...I think I usualy do!)

So by the time we got our drinks, we decided to just walk and drink while the fireworks were going off. We finally ended up in China and I got some pics from a cool perspective...

Well when the show was over, we were NOT ready to leave! So, as always, we decided to take the looooong way. And not only that but we decided to sit in Germany in the spot where we got engaged and wait for the burn off that I've heard about on the Dis. Well, I don't know HOW LONG after the show they do it but we were in World Showcase until about 10 and there was NO burn off. Oh well. We still had a nice relaxing time, though.

 

[praisehisname]

Sounds like a great day! You tried lots of food and drink! And now you can say you did a KP mission...

Denise

 

[podsnel]

Hey there girlfriend!! Starship was there while we were there, but I made a point of NOT going- because I LOVE Airplane but not so much with Starship. I had no idea they'd play White Rabbit!!!! WOW, I wish we would have stayed to hear them!

Your pics of Illuminations are excellent- what a great angle!

Come by my TR sometime- haven't heard from you in a Looooooong while! We're going back down on Weds- yay NJ teachers convention!!! Wish us luck getting Sean on the plane........

 

[Stefy]

Loving those Illumination shots Shame you didn't get to see the burn off, wonder why they didn't do it.

You all seem like you are having a blast at F&WF, that chocolate cake swirl looking thing looks yummy, where did Nicole score that from?

Looking forward to more

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Sounds like a great day! You tried lots of food and drink! And now you can say you did a KP mission...

Denise

Yes, it was a fantastic day! When we got home, I actually looked up the Fall Jewish holidays for the next few years to see when I'll have a four-day weekend off of school during Food and Wine again!

Hey there girlfriend!! Starship was there while we were there, but I made a point of NOT going- because I LOVE Airplane but not so much with Starship. I had no idea they'd play White Rabbit!!!! WOW, I wish we would have stayed to hear them!

Your pics of Illuminations are excellent- what a great angle!

Come by my TR sometime- haven't heard from you in a Looooooong while! We're going back down on Weds- yay NJ teachers convention!!! Wish us luck getting Sean on the plane........

Hey!! Everyone was going NUTS during White Rabbit! You totally should have stayed. I don't know where they got this girl but she was fantastic!

Good luck at "jersey week!" The whole fam this time?? How many TRs do you have now?! I'll find them!

Loving those Illumination shots Shame you didn't get to see the burn off, wonder why they didn't do it.

You all seem like you are having a blast at F&WF, that chocolate cake swirl looking thing looks yummy, where did Nicole score that from?

Looking forward to more

I know, I didn't understand the whole burn off thing. Oh well, we tried.

I have NO idea where Nicole got that cake from! Some kiosk between Africa and Germany!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I can't believe I'm going to ask this but I am not one to keep my mouth shut...what is the burn off???

And you'll get a kick out of this - I got my hair chopped off! I remember you telling us about your recent hair cut so I wanted to let you know. My beloved hairstylist knows how I love my long(ish) hair and I told her to cut it off but keep it at my collarbone...well, it's barely hitting my shoulder in front and it is a short bob in the back (I wanted it to go longer in the front). It's 2" shorter than I asked for and I'm really surprised at her. Of course, I would have never dared cut it this short so it's fun but I can't wait until I can put it in a ponytail again (i'm envious that you can do that!) Ok, thanks for listening to my i'm-samsom-from-the-bible story

 

[disneybarbie]

really enjoying your TR nikki ... all those food pics make me hungry, I can't wait to go back to wdw during the F&W festival again! mmm.

I am totally the same about the Illuminations music - I must listen to it at least once a week on my iPod, but seeing the show live around the lagoon takes my breath away, I always shed a tear or too - especially during 'We Go On' and the finale!!

About the burn-off... I'm not sure if they do it every night; in July DBF & I heard it from the YC just once, it was about 10.30/11pm - we just heard this HUGE bang & rumble, like thunder close-by, but there was no storm near?!

Looking forward to reading more

Emma xx

ps - which margerita do you recommend at the Mexico Pavilion? in December my sister & I are going to do a beverage tour around the World (showcase)! x

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

I wasn't a big fan of the KP missions...probably because it was so hot and crowded when we did it in July. The food looks so yummy! I'm going to have to go to F&W next time we go down for a weekend (both MNSSHP and F&W sound like the perfect way to spend a weekend!).

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I can't believe I'm going to ask this but I am not one to keep my mouth shut...what is the burn off???

And you'll get a kick out of this - I got my hair chopped off! I remember you telling us about your recent hair cut so I wanted to let you know. My beloved hairstylist knows how I love my long(ish) hair and I told her to cut it off but keep it at my collarbone...well, it's barely hitting my shoulder in front and it is a short bob in the back (I wanted it to go longer in the front). It's 2" shorter than I asked for and I'm really surprised at her. Of course, I would have never dared cut it this short so it's fun but I can't wait until I can put it in a ponytail again (i'm envious that you can do that!) Ok, thanks for listening to my i'm-samsom-from-the-bible story

Well apparenty, from what I've read on the DIS, there is some sort of large explosion that burns off the excess of whatever is leftover from the fireworks.

I want to see a pic of you hair!!! I felt the same way when I first got mine cut. It was WAY shorter than I wanted it! But just in the past 2 months, it has grown so much..it doesn't ALL fit in a ponytail but enough to be comfortable in WDW!

really enjoying your TR nikki ... all those food pics make me hungry, I can't wait to go back to wdw during the F&W festival again! mmm.

I am totally the same about the Illuminations music - I must listen to it at least once a week on my iPod, but seeing the show live around the lagoon takes my breath away, I always shed a tear or too - especially during 'We Go On' and the finale!!

About the burn-off... I'm not sure if they do it every night; in July DBF & I heard it from the YC just once, it was about 10.30/11pm - we just heard this HUGE bang & rumble, like thunder close-by, but there was no storm near?!

Looking forward to reading more

Emma xx

ps - which margerita do you recommend at the Mexico Pavilion? in December my sister & I are going to do a beverage tour around the World (showcase)! x

I wonder if there's anyway to know what nights they do the burn-off.

I really like any of the margaritas they have at the stand. They always have lime, strawberry and mango...the 4th one sometimes changes but those three are always good. I feel like you cant go wrong with the original lime!

I wasn't a big fan of the KP missions...probably because it was so hot and crowded when we did it in July. The food looks so yummy! I'm going to have to go to F&W next time we go down for a weekend (both MNSSHP and F&W sound like the perfect way to spend a weekend!).

F&W and MNSSHP absolutely WAS the perfect way to spend a weekend!

 

[anetnmike]

I LOVE the long way out! I am SO going to "borrow" that from you next week
I have a feeling that DS is going to want to try to do every KP mission.
F&W looks like so much fun-alot to experience. No wonder everyone is crazy about it!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I LOVE the long way out! I am SO going to "borrow" that from you next week
I have a feeling that DS is going to want to try to do every KP mission.
F&W looks like so much fun-alot to experience. No wonder everyone is crazy about it!

You gotta go the long way! It's the best! Everyone else is going hurrying in one directions and you can just stroll "upstream." Then once everyone clears out, it's just peacefulness in WS. Just fantastic after seeing it so busy with all the hustle and bustle during the day and then just quiet, with the Tapestry of Nations music playing. I imagine this is what heaven is like...

 

[anetnmike]

I didn't know the "music on the way out" had a name. Cool! Yes, I have to agree with you, the long way out has to be the only way to leave Epcot. It's like holding on for the last possible second! DH simply MUST indulge me
Ever since I read your long way out from your honeymoon to him he know I was hooked
What an amazing memory for you and Tom

 

[PopArtGal]

Lovely update. Can'T believe I still hadn't read it. Oh yes, I am doing report cards, that is why hehe

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I didn't know the "music on the way out" had a name. Cool! Yes, I have to agree with you, the long way out has to be the only way to leave Epcot. It's like holding on for the last possible second! DH simply MUST indulge me
Ever since I read your long way out from your honeymoon to him he know I was hooked
What an amazing memory for you and Tom

Good luck on getting DH to go "the long way!" I'm telling you, it's the best! No running to the buses with the crowds! This night that I just wrote about....there were so few people walking to the buses that once we got to the bus area, there was a man that asked us where we were going, told us to go to the bus stop that was right there and he called in the bus and told them where we were going! And we were the ONLY ones on the bus!! Normally, we would have had to walk all the way to the second bus area.

Lovely update. Can'T believe I still hadn't read it. Oh yes, I am doing report cards, that is why hehe

Ugh, I hear ya! I'll be doing them shortly...followed by a week of conferences.

 

[anetnmike]

the bus to yourselves is worth it right there! however we are driving this trip. good info for future trips - oh DH.....
we are going during the Veteran's Day holiday and conferences so DS will miss minimal school- DS's teacher wants to come with us
I don't blame her!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I'm not avoiding the short hair picture request - I've just never posted pictures on here before so I guess I need to get an account that provides an http address - doh! My hair might be grown out by the time I figure it out

 

[PopArtGal]

Anything new?

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Anything new?

I know! What's the matter with me?! I was actually falling asleep last night and it popped into my head that I have not been keeping up with this TR at all!! I got through my 2 week honeymoon faster than I'm doing this 4-day mini-trip!

We have to get ready to go to my DBIL's birthday dinner tonight but I promise I will update with Day 3 - AK tomorrow!