My Fork and I Are Friends - Nov. 14 TR RL UPDATE 7/12 Pg. 22

[KatMark]

I'm behind again.

I am at the Popadon picture sin bed. I can just see you using those as blackmail.

Nice pictures of the savannah. Love the picture of you and Julia on the balcony (and adore the make-up).

Nice pictures of the WL.

Popadon!!! You are killing me. My stomach hurts from laughing at the pictures on the bus.

WOW that's a lot of people. I'm sorry it took you so long and you ended up missing your Soarin' FP. But F&W is not bad as a second choice.

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

I'm behind again.

I am at the Popadon picture sin bed. I can just see you using those as blackmail.

Nice pictures of the savannah. Love the picture of you and Julia on the balcony (and adore the make-up).

Nice pictures of the WL.

Popadon!!! You are killing me. My stomach hurts from laughing at the pictures on the bus.

WOW that's a lot of people. I'm sorry it took you so long and you ended up missing your Soarin' FP. But F&W is not bad as a second choice.

I was surprised that Popadon didn't fall off the seat on the bus. He was in form that morning for sure.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Hmmmmmm.....I think the electric blue shade on the toes would suit Popadon's personality. He surely wouldn't have a basic black loafer.

You look and write like you have an amazing time no matter what is/has happening/ed. Absolutely fantastic. Bummer about the lines to get in...I can imagine how much that sucked. Kudos to you all for not getting cranky.

You have inspired me to want to have fun with make-up again. Can I send you the bill for the new cosmetics?

Any plans for making it to the west coast parks?

I agree that the electric blue shade on Pop's toes would be great for his personality.

We definitely try to have a good time no matter what happens. Now, that doesn't always work out the way we plan on it, but we really try to stay happy.

I'm glad that I make you want to have fun with makeup again! Although I'm not so sure how I feel about paying for your makeup.

We're actually coming out to Disneyland in August! My parents wanted to take the grandkids, so I'm coming along as a token 3rd adult so the kid to adult ratio is solid.

Good gracious, you are up and ready and over to the lodge and then .....

the wall of people.

But hey - your food looks delish. This was the first year in a while where I did not partake in F&W so I am drooling at all the offerings.


Yes I have done the garbage can table many a time.

Right?! Total wall of people. It was slightly depressing, but there really wasn't anything we could do about it.

The food was delicious! I was so happy to have it at that moment.

Haha, I have no issue using the garbage can during F&W.

I love the pics of the WL. We went over there to see the holiday decorations and fell in love. It is perfect at Christmas!

Very cute pic of your whole gang in front of SE

It really is beautiful! We hadn't stayed there for quite a few years, and I was so happy to stay there again.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm finally here!! I love your trip reports and your family!

I'm glad you're here! And hopefully I can keep on entertaining you.

Really, you can have too many Magic Bands? How many is too many? I have three so far - am I about to get cut off?

The limit is 10, so you're good. Although I'm still confused how they came up with me having 9 already. Because what I come up with is:

1 in January 2014
3 in May 2014 (triple split stay)
1 for my AP

So I come up with 5. Who knows!

Oh, man, that line at Epcot! I'm sorry, that is a lousy way to start an otherwise good day. Not to mention missing the FP+ window and starving.

The day ended up being perfectly fine in the end, but what a way to start it out!

Ah, Food & Wine! I miss it! We haven't been since 2011! I'm excited that Flower & Garden has become more like Food & Wine, so I'll get a little taste of it.

And, yes, a garbage can is absolutely a perfectly acceptable table during Food & Wine. We have done that many times. I remember seeing a big thread on the DIS once about this - some people thought it was nasty, some thought totally fine, and some actually made special "garbage can table cloths" to bring along with them.

I hadn't been back to F&W since 2011 either! I was glad to be back, because it really is my favorite time to go. I do really like the fact that they've made Flower & Garden like F&W. You'll enjoy it.

Garbage can table clothes? That's awesome!

Let me be sure I read that correctly... you were in the line to activate your annual passes for TWO hours?! Like, I'm having a hard time comprehending this. You would need food and bathroom breaks. Were Anna and Elsa exchanging the passes at the end? Wow.

Yes ma'am, you are correct. It was absolute insanity.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I love the Wilderness Lodge lobby!

Two hours to get APs activated? Unbelievable.

I'm surprised to hear that there can be too many MBs on an account, that's a new one. How many did you have?

Me too, it's one of my favorites on property.

It was absolutely crazy. What a way to start the day.

Right? They claimed I had 9, but I only had 4 at that point. My thought is that they were combining everyone's on the account.

I love the blackmail pictures ... of course you had to take those, any sane person would.

I love the Popadon bus pictures ... ghetto Mickey ears. Hysterical.

Yay for spending your first day at Food & Wine ... but holy crap those lines! Just to get your AP activated ... that's insane!

Yay for finally getting some food - always important. And who doesn't want to be friends with their fork? Sounds like once you actually got there you enjoyed Food & Wine - and that food all looks great!

Blackmail pictures will always server you well at some point in life.

The man always comes up with something ridiculous, he seriously cracks me up.

OMG, the lines were just absolutely unbelievable. I have never seen it that bad a the entrance before, and I've been there during New Years!

We were so happy to get some food at that point. I thought my stomach was going to eat itself from the inside.

Hey there, hi there, ho-there!
I'm as happy as can be.
Come along, sing the song and join the jamboree!
M-I-C-K-E-Y....

Okay for real, though, I was one of your instagram commenters and so I've seen some previews already, but I did want to at least add my post here to the roll call so you know that I'm now joining in for the behind-the-scenes. Popadon's pink shirt makes me happy, Popadon sleeping as though he's a caterpillar about to emerge as a beautiful butterfly is happy, a new friend, more happy,

Popadon sleeping like a caterpillar is always an enjoyable sight. Even more enjoyable because the man doesn't typically sleep like that all wrapped up in the covers. He normally sleeps on top of them.

lines are less happy....

But food in the World Showcase is super happy, and I'm rather glad you befriended the much maligned fork, who has been somewhat left out of the more fashionable social circles with the advent of the spork, but whom is clearly still worthy of love and adoration.

Lines are exponentially less happy, but they led me into Disney World, so I supposed I'll let it go this time.

See, I'm still a fan of the fork and find the spork to just be the ugly step child that no one wants around. Go fork!

 

[IheartDDuck]

2 hours for tix exchange? You are better than me bc I would have had an epic meltdown!


Everything you ate looked yummy, I really want to make It for f&w one year.

Believe me, I was close to a meltdown, but I was able to hold off on it.

It really was yummy. I highly recommend going during F&W at some point, because it's just so much fun. Best time to go.

Too many MagicBands? Huh, I didn't know that could be a problem. I wander how many is too many? I'm checking into Pop on Thursday, and now I'm thinking I might have to boot a band. (I'm on number 5).

Yeah, that was news to me too, so it was kind of funny. They claimed 9 was too many, but I didn't have that many!

Oh man, you all woke up so early after getting to bed so late just to be stuck in massive crowds. That's terrible. I knew Veteran's Day weekend was a busy time, but wow...and to miss your FP windows.

Yup, it was not the ideal way to start the day, but I was in Disney, so I was trying my best to just keep it together.

I'm pretty sure I heard my stomach growl when I saw your F&W pictures. Your choices look delicious, and I wish more people held your fork philosophy. Talk about a lot less trash.


I'm glad you guys got to enjoy some food finally. You all deserved some tasty treats after such a long morning.

The choices were so yummy! And there's more to come, because we went to F&W for three straight days.

Right?! Also it helps because I don't want to bother having to grab one all the time. And I can spear food off of someone's plate at any moment.

Do the villas at AKL have a different bathroom configuration than the ones at the older villas like BCV?

There are actually two bathrooms at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and at the Boardwalk we only had one. There is a small one up front when you first walk into the room, and then the master bedroom also has the big one.

Were there any animals out on the savanna? It is too bad that you didn't have more time to enjoy the resort.

The animals had just started coming out a little while before we were going to head out.

We really like the WL and it is a great location if you want to spend a lot of time at MK.

I've never heard that about having too many MB's. How many is too many?

It is a great resort, we had such a good time staying there.

They claimed 9 was too many, but I only had 5, so who knows.

Wow, two hours to get through the line to activate your AP's. We have to do that in January and I dread waiting in a long line to do it. Is the Will call line a normal place to activate your AP's or was it just kind of an emergency option? This is the first time we've ever had AP's and hadn't planned to renew them until this "extra" January trip happened. It is funny the way extra trips just seem to happen when you have an AP.

That is too bad about Soarin'. I hope you got to ride it later.

Yup, it was pretty icky. I've never had to wait in anything that long before. And they can help you at any window if you have your voucher, so just head up to any of them, will call, guest relations, or a regular purchase window.

How long is the window?


I really wanted to try those dishes but we never got around to it. Hopefully they bring them back for Flower and Garden.

I love the title. I kept my fork, too. It just seemed like the right thing to do. It made it easier to share food, too.
We found that out, too.

You have 30 days after the first photo is downloaded to add more photos. So I'm waiting to download the pictures until the 20th of this month, and then I have 30 days past then to add more.

I don't think they'll have the exact dishes, because they alternate the foods during the festivals. Nothing I had at F&G was available during F&W.

Keeping your fork certainly does make it easier to steal food.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Ugh, the wall-o-people. I have experienced this a few times... And I always pick the WORST line where every kid has to try every finger and every 3rd person is a blue Mickey of Death.

We're staying at the Wilderness Lodge villas for our next trip (in DECEMBER 2015. So.far.away. Melt me!). I've never stayed there, but really looking forward to it... Live the totems!

And Popadon horizontal on the bus totally made my week!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

LOL!! Pop sure was snuggled in there!

YES, good job documenting what Pop said, you will for sure want to use that in the future!!

I love all the funky pedicure colors!

OMG I'm sorry it took so long! Ugh missing those FPs must have been disappointing.

Haha love the story behind the TR title!! And so smart to keep your forks!

Loved the Mahi Mahi as well!

He really was, I cracked up when I found out he was there and didn't see him! What a spas!

I had to document that, because I am always going to remember that. And use it against him at whatever opportunity I can.

It was disappointing, but we were also so hungry, we stopped caring at that point.

The mahi mahi was great wasn't it?

Oh. My. Gosh. So many people! A two-hour wait to get your AP's? Sort-of, apparently. Not liking the sound of you not getting your actual AP tickets... Or is that how it works now, with Magic Bands? I'm all confused!!

For real, it was crazy.

Oh yeah, we'll address the lack of card issue in an upcoming update. I was confused too.

Dear lord. You are definitely a stronger woman than me. No way could I have waited in a two hour line just to get my freaking band activated. I would have lost my ever lovin' mind!

I came close. Believe me, I came real close.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'll be honest. I do know exactly what your talking about, waking up 30 minutes before the alarm. However... I actually get pretty excited that I still have time. I look at the clock "Please please, don't be time". And when it's not... WINNING! Happened just this morning, lol.

See, I only get excited when it's like an hour or more. If I'm 30 minutes or less prior to waking up....not winning.

poor Pop. He may have a career in espionage though.

I'm going to say with complete conviction that WHEN you meet the man....you will realize that is not the case.

" after the long travel day the day before, you just have this overall grody feeling."

Oh God!!! I just got a flash that I get to go in through the Magic Kingdom gates to go to Wilderness Lodge!!! I mean, I know that, but seeing that here somehow slammed me in the head with it. And it felt glorious.

Yay, I reminded you of something awesome! Now, there is a back way and you completely pass the gates, and we take that often, but that's the main way to get in.

Speaking of Magic Bands, do you know if it matters what Magic Band you use as long as it's active?

Nope, they should all work as long as it's active. And if you bring it with you and it wasn't working, they could make it active.

Oh Good Lord what is up with those Ticket Window lines????? That is insane!!! At 10:30!!! I can't believe that many people were buying tickets day of. That's INSANE!!!

"MY FORK AND I ARE FRIENDS!" certainly does fit in with Food and Wine, but I also need to add GOOD ON YOU for not wasting.

For real though. I was amazed at the amount of people that were there.

It does fit in with F&W. And I also didn't like wasting them. It just feels so unnecessary.

I am excited we will be staying at AKL in February. I love the resort too.

Me too!

Awwww, your photo of Popadon reminds me of my boys when they're sleeping - so sweet and innocent when they're asleep, but the fun starts when they wake up!

Your eye makeup looks amazing! Reminds me of Cinna in the Hunger Games, understated yet perfectly done!

We had quite a wait at Guest Services at Epcot during F&W this year - our friends were activating their passes, and I was about to die from hunger/thirst. Of course I could have just grabbed something at the gift shop there, but I was saving all my room for Drunken Cucumbers and yummy food! Sorry the wait was so long. I get so anxious when things start unraveling like that, so major kudos to you for keeping it together, it looks like the payoff was worth it!

Can't wait to hear the stories behind the rest of the IG photos!!!

Truer words have never been spoken.

Thanks! I didn't even think about the Cinna connection! Definitely a subconscious thing I think.

Dude, you have to save room for drunken cucumbers and food! Otherwise, what on earth are you doing?!

 

[IheartDDuck]

If I remember correctly we had nine active bands so she deactivated 2 from each of us.

Truthfully, I still can't figure out where she came up with her numbers. Oh well!

You are of much stronger reserve than I..the last time I went that long without eating at WDW I threatened to catch a seagull and BBQ it (nothing stops me when I'm hangry)
And I now fully blame you for the pool of drool on my desk because you had to go and remind me of the deliciousness of the duck steam bun
Seeing your outfit for the day I am now 100% sure that was you I saw ohh well maybe next time I won't be sooooo delirious

Believe me, being hangry is not something you want to be, I know. I was past the point of hangry at that point. I was desperate.

Ugh, the duck steamed bun. Sooooooooo good.

Awww, man! Next time just yell in my general direction!

I'm impressed at how early you managed to get up and given your lack of sleep, it's understandable that you confused your poor Pop for a pile of blankets

Right? He totally just looked like blankets.

Ooh Wilderness Lodge is so pretty. I have to go and look at it sometime.

I did know about the limit on magic bands but it does seem strange that your parents didn't need to deactive any and you did?

Your Pop is such a goof. I love it.

Definitely go and visit the Wilderness Lodge. It's an absolutely beautiful resort.

Yeah, it was a little bit weird. Unless she did deactivate some of theirs and just didn't mention anything about it until she got to mine.

He really is a silly guy. All the time.

2 hours? Dear sweet goodness that is a heck of a long time. I can see why you just went straight for food. At that point I'd have been dying.

I'm amused about your China selections because Marie and I only got the potstickers and it's the only thing you didn't get.

I'm glad you made friends with your fork and it was there for you during the difficult and very hungry times. What a true friend.

It really was. I was so desperate at that point.

Hahaha, I thought about the potstickers, but they have them at the CS location, so I opted out of it.

That fork was my best friend ever at that time.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Too funny about him being all up in the sheets!

I felt like we had some minor issues with our MB's on this last trip, due to staying at 3 different resorts in one trip and then less than a year before that, staying at 3 resorts too. Thank goodness i'll have no issues this time!...at least I hope.

Yeah, the last two trips were multiple resort stays for me too, and it just kinda complicates things. The upcoming trips I have are definitely simplified.

I was slightly hoping you were going to say, "His foot is the purple polish!"

Ugh, what a nightmare! Can't believe it took so long. That's actually pretty ridiculous. Were there a lot of mad people in front of you?

I didn't try the duck, but the noodles were AMAZING!

That would be amazing if his foot was the purple polish, right?

It was insane how long it was. There were a lot of angry people, and I just tried to be a little bit more easy going about it, because the CM's were doing the best they could, and every single window was open.

The duck was my favorite. The noodles were pretty good too, but the duck took it for me.

That's actually a great idea about carrying your fork around. Hmm, I think if I ever go again, i'll just have a custom made F&W fork to carry around! That would be awesome!

ETA: wasn't the 49er and Raider game glorious yesterday?! I hate both teams, but my hate for the niners is so much stronger. The fact that they lost against a 1-11 team, is pure awesome!

I was tempted to get one of those plates they had! The one where you could carry around the drink too on the plate. Shoulda gotten one.

Hahahaha, I thought it was amazing that the 1-11 Raiders beat the 49ers. It was a good day.

very much hoping that Popadon had the purple nail polish

those lines were nuts! They really do need a system that if it is something out of you control and you miss a FP+ window they can rectify the system ... and that should be something other than getting on another 2 hour line.

"It's okay though, none of us were crabby and we just went with the flow" not sure if I would have held as strong as you did. I mean, fully agree, getting super upset and lashing out at people or similar solves nothing, but still probably would have been a bit down.

Your food looks awesome! I recall at F&WF 2013 my favorite was the steamed bun as well (had different filling though)

Believe me, I wouldn't put it past him to wear purple nail polish.

They were insane, and I had hoped they could fix the issue with the FP being missed. It does get fixed the next day.

It was a bit irritating, but I didn't want anyone else to get irritated, so I held it in.

Hi Danielle! I'm late joining in, but I can't wait to follow your adventures. Your TRs always make me giggle. I'm normally a lurker but after reading your previous TRs and following you on instagram, I'm jumping in! Enough jibber jabber, I've got reading to do!!

I'm glad you're here!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Wow to go from checkin bliss to ridiculous waits in such a short period of time is absurd. How ever did disney control ticket lines before the advent of the electronic ticket. I can't even fathom.

Good to see Popadon back in true form. Love his purple toenail polish by the way.

So glad you and your fork became such good friends so quickly. You'd waited a long time to meet that fork and it looks like it was worth the wait. Hope the garbage can isn't foreshadowing for his fate ; )

Yeah, it was definitely a fury of emotions going on with that morning. Check in yay! People no!

His purple nail polish was perfect.

We'll just say that my fork friend and I parted was amicably, don't worry.

All caught up thanks to our links !!!I love the pix of Pops on the bus cutting up and your Mom busy on her phone oblivious to his antics .... I LOVE it !!!

Yay, I'm glad you're caught up!

We thought it was funny that Mom was sitting there acting like nothing was going on at all. I guess she's just used to him.

Hi! Remember me?

Did I solemnly swear that I would keep up with your report? I didn't put that down in writing, did I?

Don't worry about it, it's all good.

I am slowly digging myself out of my DIS hole, and I am now caught up with the help of your links.

I loved your little description "Evolution of a Trip Report title". That is such an important, pressure-filled decision- you want to convey the correct feeling that sums up the trip. Sometimes you have the title before you leave (that has happened to me a couple of times), sometimes inspiration strikes during the trip and too often you agonize over a title after your return.

It's so true though, isn't it? The evolution of the title. Normally something on the trip that happens is how I come up with my TR titles. But you can agonize over it because you just want it to be perfect!

I'm glad that your fork and you are friends, and now I understand why. I think I praised you holding on to your fork when you wrote about it in your previous report.

Your story at the SW checkin desk with the agent who shares your love for the Pack was great! Your airport meal also sounded fantastic. Almost makes me want to visit the Milwaukee airport. Almost.

My fork and I were indeed friends that day, because he was helping me shove food into my face.

The airport meal was really yummy! I always recommend Milwaukee to anyone that has to come to my area.

I

'm glad the flight, though delayed, was uneventful, but getting to sleep at 3 am? OUCH!!!

And no lights in the welcome arch? Is Disney economizing? Double OUCH!

Rough start getting into EPCOT. Triple OUCH!!!

Yeah, you know when you read about it after the fact, it does seem like a lot of things went wrong, but I mean honestly, I was going to Disney World, so I was just happy.

Sorry you missed two of your Fast passes, but seriously, don't a lot of CMs still have "anytime" FP they can hand out if the situation warrants? They should!

Glad you finally found some food (and drinks) and I have to say it all looks amazing. YUM!

I thought for sure they would, but it doesn't appear they give them out at the gate.

The food was amazing. So good!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm behind again.

I am at the Popadon picture sin bed. I can just see you using those as blackmail.

Nice pictures of the savannah. Love the picture of you and Julia on the balcony (and adore the make-up).

Nice pictures of the WL.

Popadon!!! You are killing me. My stomach hurts from laughing at the pictures on the bus.

WOW that's a lot of people. I'm sorry it took you so long and you ended up missing your Soarin' FP. But F&W is not bad as a second choice.

Listen, I gotta have something I can blackmail the man with!

Thanks. I liked playing around with the makeup that morning, although I find Disney's lighting to be less than ideal.

Hahaha, he was in rare form on the bus, that's for sure. He has to please his legion of fans, and he knows it.

I was surprised that Popadon didn't fall off the seat on the bus. He was in form that morning for sure.

If he fell off the seat on the bus, you know I would have captured that on camera.

 

[Dugette]

The limit is 10, so you're good. Although I'm still confused how they came up with me having 9 already. Because what I come up with is:

1 in January 2014
3 in May 2014 (triple split stay)
1 for my AP

So I come up with 5. Who knows!

Oooh, this is good to know - we may have a triple or quadruple split stay in May and I didn't realize that each would come with it's own Magic Band!

Garbage can table clothes? That's awesome!

Yep, check out the second post on this page:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3154485&page=12

 

[jedimeg16]

What a crazy morning! At least the food made up for it!

This request might be a little bit random, but would it be possible to borrow one of your spare Magic Bands for a short bit? My parents are retiring early next year and are leaving almost right away for Disney, and I was thinking about sewing a fabric cover for each of them. But they are the first people in our family to go to Disney since the Magic Bands were released and it would ruin the surprise if I asked them for the measurements after their bands arrive.

 

[jstkpswimming]

Joining in a little late, but I can't wait to read about your latest adventure!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Another trip to Disney? Can't keep Popadon away for long. I'm going back to read but wanted to say hi.

 

[TheLittleKatie]

Subscribing! Love it so far, you guys are so much fun

 

[MEK]

I started to read this at work on Monday night and, sadly, I was interrupted before I could finish or comment.

Isn't it hard to just stay somewhere one night, especially when its a short night. It had to be hard to leave AK, but yay for VWL.

I love your shirt. I remember she that on FB.

Your dad is such a goof ball.

I love hitting MK and Epcot in the same day via monorail. Nice samplings at F&W. I love that mongolian beef sandwich. Its so yummy.

Love the flip flop picture. How cute!

OK, I know my comments are totally random so I guess I need to go back and read again.

 

[cstorm65]

I'm checking in late, but your off to a great start! You all always have so much fun.