My Latest Invention: the Traffic-eliminator-inator! *updated 5/31! Completed!*

[Jennifer48]

Now I heard about this day before but you TOTALLY left out the part about Bill Nye!!!! How cool is that???

Those beignets looks amazing... OH I could go for one

Love the line pic for Living with the Land. Hope all those people enjoyed their boat ride through veggies

Can you do Thursday? I think Aisling is sleeping over my MILs Thursday night

It WAS cool! We didn't know he was there until we walked by!

I do believe I can do Thursday!

Checking out all your pictures just makes me want to go back................... NOW!!

Great trip report as always.

Being inside that tank and snorkeling around was one of the coolest things we have ever done. And it was very big inside of there!!

I wanna go back too! Thanks for the kind words friend!

Did you get to take any underwater photos? I don't think I heard how that went!

I'm all caught up.

I got completely distracted by your lovely pictures of the beignets! Such a scrumptious treat. Love that they come out all nice and fresh. Although, I did learn the hard way that they must be eaten immediately. They do not hold too well for the next day.

Hmmm do they get all stale? Good to know that they don't keep well

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Whoa Bill Nye the Science Guy?!?! How cool is that?? I wonder if he rode Ellen's Energy Adventure while he was there.

I LOVE Figment (am wearing my Figment t-shirt right now, actually)!! But I do agree, Captain EO is a bit...puzzling? Bizarre? We'll go with dated. Cue dance sequence and cheesy special effects!

Those masks in Sassagoula Floatworks are definitely a bit creepy. But the beignets look great!

 

[Kimberly815]

Every time I get in line for Test Track I worry that it will break down and we will lose out on all that time. Stinks that you were SO CLOSE, but not close enough to get Fastpasses!

I can't believe you saw Bill Nye! That's like meeting a childhood hero!

We ate sandwiches in our room and then I wanted to head back over to Fulton’s to buy a POR pin and Mickeyroni & Cheese for Kimberly815!

Thanks again for picking it up for me! I still haven't eaten it. Not sure why. It taunts me every time I open the cabinet. Maybe I will make it for dinner tonight!

I can't wait to see all your pics from Cape Canaveral!

 

[RachelNinja]

The yellow brick road leads from an O to a Z! You can actually see the Z in the picture you took of Dorothy. It's to the left of her arm.

Oh cool! I never thought to look at the hot air balloon in detail!

Ooo, you rented a surrey bike! That was one of the things I had on the list for a rest day, but we really did just end up resting! We just went to the pool on that day instead of resort hopping.

Awww, that stinks that you guys couldn't get free FPs for Test Track. Thankfully, they were still available from the machine. I wonder how long it would have been if you decided to just wait it out.

WHOA, that line for Living with the Land is CRAZY! I wonder if they all knew what they were waiting for and how long the line usually is. If I saw that and wanted to kill time before Soarin', I'd get a snack from Sunshine Seasons!

WOW, Bill Nye?!? That's so crazy! I would've definitely done a double take and been like, no way, it can't possibly be!

HAHA, I saw the warning and was like, OH NO! HOW DO I GET THROUGH THE REST OF THESE UPDATES?!? I squinted my eyes so I could scroll through! Thanks for the warning! I really might have screamed! Haha, they seriously are so so so creepy!

I'm very excited for the shuttle launch update!

 

[Jennifer48]

Whoa Bill Nye the Science Guy?!?! How cool is that?? I wonder if he rode Ellen's Energy Adventure while he was there.

I LOVE Figment (am wearing my Figment t-shirt right now, actually)!! But I do agree, Captain EO is a bit...puzzling? Bizarre? We'll go with dated. Cue dance sequence and cheesy special effects!

Those masks in Sassagoula Floatworks are definitely a bit creepy. But the beignets look great!

He didn't ride Ellen's but someone did ask him what the last power source will be, or something like that, and the answer was brain power! I've never ridden (is that a word??) it so I didn't get the joke.

Every time I get in line for Test Track I worry that it will break down and we will lose out on all that time. Stinks that you were SO CLOSE, but not close enough to get Fastpasses!

I can't believe you saw Bill Nye! That's like meeting a childhood hero!

Thanks again for picking it up for me! I still haven't eaten it. Not sure why. It taunts me every time I open the cabinet. Maybe I will make it for dinner tonight!

I can't wait to see all your pics from Cape Canaveral!

Lots of pics coming up!

The yellow brick road leads from an O to a Z! You can actually see the Z in the picture you took of Dorothy. It's to the left of her arm.

Oh cool! I never thought to look at the hot air balloon in detail!

Ooo, you rented a surrey bike! That was one of the things I had on the list for a rest day, but we really did just end up resting! We just went to the pool on that day instead of resort hopping.

Awww, that stinks that you guys couldn't get free FPs for Test Track. Thankfully, they were still available from the machine. I wonder how long it would have been if you decided to just wait it out.

WHOA, that line for Living with the Land is CRAZY! I wonder if they all knew what they were waiting for and how long the line usually is. If I saw that and wanted to kill time before Soarin', I'd get a snack from Sunshine Seasons!

WOW, Bill Nye?!? That's so crazy! I would've definitely done a double take and been like, no way, it can't possibly be!

HAHA, I saw the warning and was like, OH NO! HOW DO I GET THROUGH THE REST OF THESE UPDATES?!? I squinted my eyes so I could scroll through! Thanks for the warning! I really might have screamed! Haha, they seriously are so so so creepy!

I'm very excited for the shuttle launch update!

I did know about O & Z! I just read about that in the Hidden WDW book!

I didn't want you to freak out so I knew I had to put a disclaimer for you!

 

[Jennifer48]

I am SOOOOOOOO sorry for no updates in so long!! I don't want to give excuses. I'm just sorry. Hope you are all still reading!

Usually I write up my whole TR first before starting to post it. This time, I obviously did not.

HUGE update next!!

 

[Jennifer48]

Thursday February 24th

This post is going to be photo heavy and text minimal because we really didn’t do anything for the 8 hrs we waited for the shuttle to launch.

We knew we wanted to get up near Canaveral early because we had no idea what to expect for crowd levels. So we got up at 9am and headed out by 9:45am. We wanted to head to Titusville, FL and see where we could park for the day.

A few tolls to go through, we ended up in Titusville around 10:30am, not bad. Only about an hour drive. There were lots of people already there and most of the spots were already taken on the bay side of Rt 1 so we turned around and headed back down the other side of the road as that side was empty and parking was available. We ended up parking in a retirement home parking lot that was charging $10 to pay PLUS we got use of the bathroom facilities! Elias is the owner and he was so nice! The lots across the street right on the water were $20 so we figured we had a good spot!

Now its 10:30am and the shuttle isn’t scheduled to launch until 4:50pm which means 7 hrs to wait until launch time, if it goes off. There are small windows that the launch is able to take place in with weather and the rotation of the Earth and the trajectory to the International Space Station. We had our hopes up!

Our vantage point

The tall buildings on the right is Vehicle Assembly Building. The other thin buildings to its left are the launch pads. We weren’t sure which one was where it was going to launch but either way, we could see both.

Zoomed out photo. Main road and the cars/RVs on the water. The white tent you seen on the left was selling food. Someone had the right idea!

We brought lunch so we were all set for food and thankfully, had bathroom facilities. Now it was just sit and wait and continue looking at Twitter to make sure the launch wasn’t scrubbed!

Tyler literally spent about 5.5 hrs of that time playing his DS. One, I don’t know how the battery lasted that long and two, he was laying on the ground a majority of the time!

Closer shot of the Vehicle Assembly Building

Shot to our right, down the road. This family here showed up with a tent, card table, outdoor games, this wasn’t there first launch!

View to our left, up the road

We befriended a nice older couple who retired to FL from Cleveland, OH. Its always nice to meet people during things like this.

Tyler & Stanley!

Told you, he was keeping in the shade of the “neighbor’s” tent!

Coast guard helo in the air

Once the afternoon rolled around, more and more people started showing up. Even the center islands were starting to fill up. Check out this guy who brought a ladder!

Tyler also passed time by collecting some kind of nuts. Whatever, it was keeping him busy LOL

To our left, see the crowd gathering

There were 2 things we were worried about. One, a giant semi truck rolling down the road while the shuttle was launching and two, people starting to get in our way in the center island.

One started

Its now 4:45 and we hear screaming and booing from down the road to our right. We look down at the stop light and there is a semi truck there! The light was red so he couldn’t just go but then he had to come towards us!

Light turned green, truck rolled past. Crisis averted!!

 

[Jennifer48]

Reading my Twitter account, NASA tweeted that there was a delay. The Range Safety Office report that it was a “no-go.” Teams were working the issue & will soon conduct their poll. Oh no! The window is now closing in. Its 4:50p and the shuttle is to launch any minute!

Some woman nearby had the space feed on her phone so we could here the transmissions. She yells out that the countdown has started, its going to happen!!

We figured that we were 12.25 miles away but it was a great view. Would we hear the roar of the engines? Feel the rumble of the Earth?

I greatly apologize for the blurriness of these photos. Our camera SUCKS! *See Kristine? This is why I have to borrow your old one *

Here we go!!!

Almost out of view

 

[Jennifer48]

The smoke

Yes I had a slight sunburn from being out there for 7 hrs

Aaaaand the mass exodus

Yeah we aren’t going anywhere for a while.

So we sat in the car for about 2.5 hrs since traffic was literally not moving.

Our view

Slowly starting moving so after we called all our family, we headed back on the road.

It took us 4 hrs to get home. That's not including the 2.5 hrs we sat in the car before leaving. Seriously. I think we barely went over 20 mph all the way until we hit I4. So crazy but SO WORTH IT!

The most amazing thing I have ever seen. Evah.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Wow - what a neat experience! I can't believe that trail of smoke! It does not look like fun trying to get out of there, though!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

You are one dedicated woman. There is no way I could have been patient enough to sit there and watch that.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Wow, that is really cool you got to see the shuttle launch!! Look at all the people there too!

 

[UGAFan0829]

First off--glad you're back. I missed ya!

Secondly--WOW! That had to have been an amazing experience! I got chills from seeing the photos, so I can only imagine what it would have been like seeing it in person. I'm so glad that y'all were able to see it! Total awesomeness!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Wow I absolutely applaud your patience!!! That looks like it must have been an amazing experience!

 

[Jennifer48]

Wow - what a neat experience! I can't believe that trail of smoke! It does not look like fun trying to get out of there, though!

The only downside, the traffic! If you can get out before the shuttle is out of sight, it wouldn't be so bad!

You are one dedicated woman. There is no way I could have been patient enough to sit there and watch that.

It was possibly, a once in a lifetime thing to see so patience was worth it! One thing finally off my bucket list. Do you see how much my camera stinks tho? Thats why we need a new one soon!

Wow, that is really cool you got to see the shuttle launch!! Look at all the people there too!

Awesome experience! Wait, did I miss your TR?! D'oh! I'll go check in

First off--glad you're back. I missed ya!

Secondly--WOW! That had to have been an amazing experience! I got chills from seeing the photos, so I can only imagine what it would have been like seeing it in person. I'm so glad that y'all were able to see it! Total awesomeness!

Thanks Missy! It was definitely amazing!

Wow I absolutely applaud your patience!!! That looks like it must have been an amazing experience!

Thanks! It was!

 

[Jennifer48]

Friday February 25th

Today we decided to take it slow and see where the wind blows. We knew we wanted to hit DTD before lunch and possible DISmeet with RachelNinja.

We got to DTD around 10am and of course hit the WoD store first.

World of Disney Loot

For my car:

We have the Mickey placemats but didn't have any Minnie...We purchase a magnet each time with the year on it...The Disney peeps are for DH's car...I started collecting some of the Kooky pens.

Basin & Tren-D were next and then a stop into the Pin Station

I like to get a pin with the year and then any new/special pins that remind us of the trip, hence the Captain EO pin.

I Mary Poppins so this was so mine!

Annual Passholders Pinset

Wine stoppers were purchased in that kitchen store (the name escapes me)

Lunchtime! Our favorite stop, Earl of Sandwich!

I tried the American (it was ok)

Tyler got the caesar salad confused3 )

DH got the Hawaiian (always)

After we devoured our lunch, we hit Art of Disney, Once Upon a Toy, Goofy's Candy Company & the Lego Store.

Tyler & the Tweedles

Tyler, Stanley & the brooms

Dan caught me texting RachelNinja for our DISmeet

Sadly, they were going to be at DTD later in the day and we were just about finished our shopping excursion.

I would like to know if anyone has ever purchased or seen someone purchase this?!

Tyler & Stanley enjoyed the funhouse mirror

I can only go in Goofy's with a full stomach or else it could get ugly with what I'd buy

Tyler, Stanley & Lego Woody

.

We headed back to POR once we were through to drop off our goodies.

Where were we heading to next???

 

[Jennifer48]

MAGIC KINGDOM!!

Since we did Hall of Presidents on President's Day, I wanted to try to find one/both of those pins. There weren't any at the Pin Station so I figured MK would have one.

I hope to get a picture of Tyler with Roy & Minnie every time we go

First stop

Walked through the left side of Main Street stores and...no pins.

Left to Adventureland

Cut through to Liberty Square

Checked & asked at the stores surrounding the Hall of Presidents, no pins. Seriously? They have a pin for EVERYTHING but not the Hall of Presidents or President's Day.

The park was starting to get packed and we were grumpy. Where do we go when we feel like that...

through the Hub

into

and onto the PeopleMover!

Flowers in Tomorrowland

We hit the Carousel of Progress next and when we got out, Stitch was having his dance party

Walking back towards Fantasyland. So sad to see the construction but it should be for the greater good with the looks of the expansion!

Should we do Winnie the Pooh?

Nope, not with a wait time of 50 minutes!

So excited to see Maurice's (from Beauty and the Beast) cart!

Newly renamed Storybook Treats

I don't know why but this family made me chuckle. Doesn't it look like they just hitchhiked here?!

 

[meeko_33785]

Hey, I just found your report and read through the whole thing. I'm really enjoying it so far.

We stayed in Parterre Place when we were at Riverside in December. I think it might just be my favorite mansion. It has such a beautiful look and it was a really short walk to the food court and bus stop.

I don't think I've ever noticed the signs that say "When in Florida Visit EPCOT" at Chester and Hester's. I know a lot of people don't like Dinoland, but I love all those details in it.

We recently took our last ride on Snow White's Scary Adventures too. Of course, part of me doesn't want to believe it after we had three "last trips" to Toontown before it closed.

Tyler didn’t quite get ‘Singing in the Rain’ kids theses days, not educated on the classics

Well, I hope you've showed it to him since you all have been back. It's one of my favorite movies.

I've never seen the line at Living With the Land get that long before!

How cool is that to see Bill Nye the Science Guy live at EPCOT. I didn't know he ever did that.

Love those Mary Poppins pins that you got at Downtown Disney. I've never seen them before. I might just have to keep an eye out for them next time I'm there.

 

[Jennifer48]

I thought this shirt was cute. Get it? Mickey Mouse?!

Sir Mickey himself

Castle Couture..can you see the pattern here? I went into EVERY shop I could looking for pins.

We were getting hungry and Tyler still hadn't had a "Disney hamburger" which he states as the best hamburger he's ever had so we decided to eat at Peco's Bills.

The boys had burgers & I decided on the taco salad

Newly renamed Tortuga Tavern (which I have never seen open )

Isn't she lovely?

Told you it was packed!

I think it had to do with the Princess 1/2 Marathon that was that weekend. People were starting to arrive at WDW for that and apparently all came to the MK!

Vinylmation shots for you fans

So long Magic Kingdom! We miss you already!

Headed back to POR where I picked up

and

Oh and to all you people that say the same merchandise is in every shop...well you are wrong. While searching for my pins I was also searching for this Mary Poppins mug and only found it at Fulton's shop at POR. So if you want to buy something, don't say "I'll pick it up later" because you won't be able to find it!

 

[Jennifer48]

Hey, I just found your report and read through the whole thing. I'm really enjoying it so far.

We stayed in Parterre Place when we were at Riverside in December. I think it might just be my favorite mansion. It has such a beautiful look and it was a really short walk to the food court and bus stop.

I don't think I've ever noticed the signs that say "When in Florida Visit EPCOT" at Chester and Hester's. I know a lot of people don't like Dinoland, but I love all those details in it.

We recently took our last ride on Snow White's Scary Adventures too. Of course, part of me doesn't want to believe it after we had three "last trips" to Toontown before it closed.



Well, I hope you've showed it to him since you all have been back. It's one of my favorite movies.

I've never seen the line at Living With the Land get that long before!

How cool is that to see Bill Nye the Science Guy live at EPCOT. I didn't know he ever did that.

Love those Mary Poppins pins that you got at Downtown Disney. I've never seen them before. I might just have to keep an eye out for them next time I'm there.

Hi Meeko! Thanks for stopping by!

To be honest, I never really appreciated Dinoland until I read the back story on it. It just never made sense to me. Now that I know, I love looking for the details!

I haven't shown Tyler Singing in the Rain yet. This weekend might be good for it since it hasn't stopped raining up here in MA since last weekend!