(NEW TR LINK) Mickey MMMouse,McDonald Duck& Memo: 12 Days & 13.1 Miles. Nov 2013 TR

Do you want to know what I forgot to do, Nicole?? Yep, I forgot to subscribe to your trip report. Wow!! I’ve missed a lot of updates!! I am all caught up now and subscribed, so I won’t miss anything else. You must have wondered why I haven’t been commenting. Here I was wondering why you haven’t been posting. Duh, Ann!!! Really, I will be getting it together sometime soon. I did clean out some drawers in mine and Victoria’s rooms and I do better when things are organized and in their places. During Christmas that just doesn’t happen! Did that all make sense? I’m just saying when things are calm and organized around me I’m fine. I don’t do well in chaos!!

Anyways, on to the comments. First of all it’s called SODA! S-O-D-A SODA!! None of this Pop stuff! Pop sounds like it explodes out of the can! Oh I know it’s a regional thing, but your region is wrong! Hee Hee!!! So, you have a minor addiction, too, huh? I really don’t think 4 12oz cans of Diet Coke per day is an addiction. I would say it’s more of a “habit”. Yeah, that’s it, a habit! That’s about my consumption…..oh and the swigs off the 2 liter bottle in the evening, but since those aren’t measured, they shouldn’t be counted, right? Ah yes, the refillable mugs --- best idea in the world!! Well, as long as you are close enough to the refill stations!!! I cannot believe the refill stations weren’t available until 7am. What kind of people are they??!! Outrageous! This is why I always make sure there is a 2 liter bottle of soda (yes, I said soda) in the mini fridge in our room.

Ah, migraines….don’t I hate those suckers!! I don’t get a lot but when I do, they are killers!! I ALWAYS pack good old Vicodin to go on trips as you never know when pain will strike. By no means do I take them on a daily basis, in fact my prescription is probably run out by now and they are outdated, but I do like having them when the need presents itself. I was so excited to read that it left you when you were running in AK! Speaking of your race update, you have to understand I don’t get the whole “liking running” thing, but it was so neat to see you so happy when you finished. It is such a great accomplishment and you ought to be so proud of yourself. Very shiny medal!!!! I think it’s very cool that they have some characters along the way to take pictures with. Are there photopass photographers out? Is that how you get the photos of you running?

So, you and a few others made a new interactive show called PUKETASTIC??!! Oh, I’m so sorry. See, this is why I don’t run! Ok, so maybe there are other reasons like I’m too darned lazy, but I don’t like throwing up, that’s for sure. At least you were in good company, right?

Now onto Universal…..that hotel looks really nice. Is the Universal pass for both parks or do you have to pick one? We’ve been to both, but my heart is with the Universal Studios side. I went on a solo trip right after high school and spent a lot of time in Universal. Back then there wasn’t any Islands of Adventure. Do you find you really can spend a whole day in each park? See, I never read or watched Harry Potter so the whole Wizarding World wouldn’t mean that much to me, I don’t think. It looks cool, though. We as a family went in 2011 I think. We did ride Spiderman and Pteradactyl thing, but then we all decided that we wanted Studios more. Love the minions!!! Men in Black was fun, too!

Ok, I think I’m all caught up now…..keep the updates coming!!!
 
One of these days we have to go to Harry Potter land...I mean Universal. I refuse to spend the money until DD is willing to go on thrill rides without a hammer to the head. It looks like you had a good time.

Adult only is SOOO much fun when you usually go with your kids, isn't it?

Agreed that Universal- especially Islands of Adventure (where Potter is located)- is high thrill ride orientated. We can easily knock out both parks in two days when we go with the kids due to this.

Adult only is fun- only because it's a nice to have NO responsibilities to anyone else (I don't have to spend 2 hours dressing kids, doing their hair, putting sunscreen on) and I can do what I want to do!! :) Rare indeed!

Do you want to know what I forgot to do, Nicole?? Yep, I forgot to subscribe to your trip report. Wow!! I’ve missed a lot of updates!! I am all caught up now and subscribed, so I won’t miss anything else. You must have wondered why I haven’t been commenting. Here I was wondering why you haven’t been posting. Duh, Ann!!! Really, I will be getting it together sometime soon. I did clean out some drawers in mine and Victoria’s rooms and I do better when things are organized and in their places. During Christmas that just doesn’t happen! Did that all make sense? I’m just saying when things are calm and organized around me I’m fine. I don’t do well in chaos!!

Anyways, on to the comments. First of all it’s called SODA! S-O-D-A SODA!! None of this Pop stuff! Pop sounds like it explodes out of the can! Oh I know it’s a regional thing, but your region is wrong! Hee Hee!!! So, you have a minor addiction, too, huh? I really don’t think 4 12oz cans of Diet Coke per day is an addiction. I would say it’s more of a “habit”. Yeah, that’s it, a habit! That’s about my consumption…..oh and the swigs off the 2 liter bottle in the evening, but since those aren’t measured, they shouldn’t be counted, right? Ah yes, the refillable mugs --- best idea in the world!! Well, as long as you are close enough to the refill stations!!! I cannot believe the refill stations weren’t available until 7am. What kind of people are they??!! Outrageous! This is why I always make sure there is a 2 liter bottle of soda (yes, I said soda) in the mini fridge in our room.

Ah, migraines….don’t I hate those suckers!! I don’t get a lot but when I do, they are killers!! I ALWAYS pack good old Vicodin to go on trips as you never know when pain will strike. By no means do I take them on a daily basis, in fact my prescription is probably run out by now and they are outdated, but I do like having them when the need presents itself. I was so excited to read that it left you when you were running in AK! Speaking of your race update, you have to understand I don’t get the whole “liking running” thing, but it was so neat to see you so happy when you finished. It is such a great accomplishment and you ought to be so proud of yourself. Very shiny medal!!!! I think it’s very cool that they have some characters along the way to take pictures with. Are there photopass photographers out? Is that how you get the photos of you running?

So, you and a few others made a new interactive show called PUKETASTIC??!! Oh, I’m so sorry. See, this is why I don’t run! Ok, so maybe there are other reasons like I’m too darned lazy, but I don’t like throwing up, that’s for sure. At least you were in good company, right?

Now onto Universal…..that hotel looks really nice. Is the Universal pass for both parks or do you have to pick one? We’ve been to both, but my heart is with the Universal Studios side. I went on a solo trip right after high school and spent a lot of time in Universal. Back then there wasn’t any Islands of Adventure. Do you find you really can spend a whole day in each park? See, I never read or watched Harry Potter so the whole Wizarding World wouldn’t mean that much to me, I don’t think. It looks cool, though. We as a family went in 2011 I think. We did ride Spiderman and Pteradactyl thing, but then we all decided that we wanted Studios more. Love the minions!!! Men in Black was fun, too!

Ok, I think I’m all caught up now…..keep the updates coming!!!

Ann- welcome back to my trip report. :wave2:

It is not soda. It is POP. Learn it. Use it. POP. POP. POP! I gave up POP for New Years. This was very, very hard for me. I am only 17 days in.. but so far.. I've done it! I gave it up mostly becasue of all the reports coming out with all the bad stuff in the diet sodas & how it gives you brain fog....

Well now, I don't like running either. And I have not run a lick since I finished that 1/2 marathon. But I am also very very busy at work. And I have plans to restart running (shorter distances) in Feburary. I'd like to continue doing 5K's with maybe a few 10K's in there. There was a different set of photographers out on the race course (not through Disney) and you had to buy those photos seperatly even if you had photopass. I wasn't going to do it, but this is likely my first and last 1/2 and I want to make a shadow box thing with my bib, my medal and a finish line pic... so I ended up buying them.

For Universal, I find that two day park hoppers is MORE than enough for us to do both parks wonderfully. IoA has high concentration of thrill rides and my kids don't love those- so we go for Suessland (which is admitedly VERY cute) and Potterland. My kids like Studios better becasue it's more shows (we love Beetlejuice Revue & MIB & MINIONS!!!) With the new potterland opening in Studios this summer- I will defenitly be back to both sometime in the next few years. (Thinking next fall- long weekend)... just to do that!

Thanks for rejoining! :)
 
Fun update!!

I really want to visit Harry Potter land - although I think waiting until DD gets it might be our plan. It looks really cool!
 

After our foray into First Aide- we told the Cuz to "man up"- because we are considerate like that. And we headed into Suessland. After all- we paid a lot of money for today. Injuries are not allowed!



Now, I love Suessland. I find it as whimsical as anything Disney does. It's fun!



We also ran into some characters........

Who doesn't love the Grinch?



And it's Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3, Thing 4 & Thing 5. And a Cat. With a hat. I love this picture..



From there we rode the Cat in the Hat (no pictures). This is one of my favorite rides out of both Universal parks. It's just fun! Because you don't run- so hows that for a pun? (poem by Nicole Suess)

By this time we had covered most of the park and it was only 2pm... What to do? We decided to head back over to Potterland to buy souviners & get another Butterbeer.

On our way we stopped in front of Posiden's (sp?) Fury. None of us had ever done this and decided we should try it.



Oh man, look at that super awesome person in that super awesome Potter Shirt. Or as my hubby would say "L" for Love. ("L" is not for Love, in case you were wondering).

This was a waste of 45 minutes. Won't do it again.

Let's move on to our final destination- back to Potterland. And the candy store. YUM.





What candy should this sugarholic buy???? That answer would be... Chocolate Frog. I took no pictures. Shame.

I also wandered over and got a picture frame and a chocolate scented Chocolate Frog Key Chain. You can frequently find me nowadays wandering around with this keychain up to my nose. I'm sure many people wonder why I'm shoving my keys up my nose on a daily basis. They are unaware of the awesomeness that is a chocolate scented candy frog keychain. That's their loss. And they probably stay away from me more. Which is my gain during flu season. Right?

I resisted buying another wand (I already have one). Because.. well.. ."L" for Love. What does an adult need with two wizard wands anyways?

And finally..........back here...



For this- to close out my day living my dream as a witch... Viva La Potter!



Ok, actually, we wandered another loop around the park. Then sprayed some more unsuspecting people on the water ride. And stopped to grab our dinner at the only place that was still open- some not-so-great pasta place near Super Hero Island. It was so good (not), I almost forgot to mention it.

With that, we were done with Universal. And headed back to our hotel. Where we promptly decided to head to the pool and find the hot tub to soak sore running feet....



As we were sitting there glaring at the child in the hot tub who was jumping in and splashing us while the parents ignored her.. (come on people, I am a parent.. I get it.. but a hot tub is kinda meant for adults. If you bring your child into it.. that's your choice, but don't let them treat it as the swimming pool) we said "what should we do tonight?"

Well, that answer was, OF COURSE, leave the property we were on and drive BACK to Disney.. to visit.. Jellyrolls. Again. For the second night in a row.

On our drive there. My low tire pressure came on. I said "shoot, should I pull over and look at it or stop and get air?". No, no- the cuz & Big D said.. 'that always happens, even if it's just a slight decrease- it's fine'. And I said "are you sure? because it's kinda pulling too?" "No, it's fine". Ok, said I naively. <---foreshadowing at it's finest......

Once parked BACK at Disney (the mouse always draws me back. I swear he drugs my drinks.. refuses to let me leave his presense.. it's an abusive relationship..I'm sure of it!) we headed over for more awesome fun at Jellyrolls.

Ahhh..this...



Come on, this guy is seriously cute. And wildly talented. What is not to love?

We wrapped up our night (I was slightly bummed as the only sober one since I was DD) and drove back to the Universal Resort on a low pressure warning to head to bed. <---- ooh more foreshadowing (or, you may call it- Nicole stupidity) Up VERY early for airport run #1 as I say goodbye to the 'girls'.
 
oh, I am so in! I love your writing style--it's like talking to my friends! I have so much to comment on, but of course I didn't take notes, so we'll see how I do.

first, I have to say that I was totally crying when I read about your run. I WALKED a half marathon about 14 years ago in Hawaii and it was HARD! I admire you so much! you totally kicked that half's tush!! my new goal is to do 40 5ks in my 40s. I've done one.....i'd better get on that! i'd love to do one at Disney!

anyway----your girls are totally adorable! and are our moms related? cuz.....yeah, I can relate!

pop vs soda---the debate continues. i'm from Nebraska where it's pop, but when I moved to st louis, no one knew what I meant, so I had to start saying soda.

LOVE the movie oh brother! I totally knew what you were talking about when I read that. so many good lines in that movie!

I loved your running costumes! I don't know how your sister in law ran in all that. I wouldn't be able to stand all that stuff on, especially the wig, but it did look awesome!

your universal day looks fun! we've haven't been back there for years. I can't wait until we go again and can visit the wizarding world!

can't wait for more!
 
oh, I am so in! I love your writing style--it's like talking to my friends! I have so much to comment on, but of course I didn't take notes, so we'll see how I do.

first, I have to say that I was totally crying when I read about your run. I WALKED a half marathon about 14 years ago in Hawaii and it was HARD! I admire you so much! you totally kicked that half's tush!! my new goal is to do 40 5ks in my 40s. I've done one.....i'd better get on that! i'd love to do one at Disney!

anyway----your girls are totally adorable! and are our moms related? cuz.....yeah, I can relate!

pop vs soda---the debate continues. i'm from Nebraska where it's pop, but when I moved to st louis, no one knew what I meant, so I had to start saying soda.

LOVE the movie oh brother! I totally knew what you were talking about when I read that. so many good lines in that movie!

I loved your running costumes! I don't know how your sister in law ran in all that. I wouldn't be able to stand all that stuff on, especially the wig, but it did look awesome!

your universal day looks fun! we've haven't been back there for years. I can't wait until we go again and can visit the wizarding world!

can't wait for more!

40 5K's at 40! Awesome goal!! Love it! I am not doing any more 1/2's I don't think. I really didn't enjoy most of the experience. I enjoyed the race being Disney & I only made it through because of that.... I am sticking to 5K's from now on with maybe a 10K thrown in for good measure once a year!

SIL did end up ditching the jacket somewhere along the route..but that wig stayed on! Props to her!!!

Seriously, O Brother has the best quotable lines evah!!! "mama says he's bonafide!"

Thanks for coming over! I need to find time to work on my next update. Maybe tonight since It's currently -30 degrees with windchill!!!! So ready for winter to be OVER!!
 
Oh Tuesday morning saw us getting up so very, very early after a long (2nd) night at Jellyrolls.

But this morning I had to say goodbye to my running cronies. Adieu. Adios. Back to the airport at ungodly times in the AM.

We loaded up & checked out of the Dark Side and off we went into the sunrise...in a car with a warning light still lit. I dropped off one cronie and then another...and then headed back on the good ole' interstate to the land of all heavenly things- Disney.

The slight mishap here was going through a darn toll booth at an exit that was $1.25... didn't take bills & didn't have a change attendant. Are you kidding me? Um.. yhea.. cuz I always carry around massive amounts of change for this reason. So I blew through it fully expecting a ticket. Note to say, I am still an outlaw & have yet to see a ticket regarding this issue. Rebel, am I. I could have paid online but I paid TONS in tolls over the course of that week & I was ticked they asked for so much at an unmanned tollbooth.. You want me to pay that much- get me someone to take my dollar bill.

Okay, that was a side rant. My next destination was to quickly check into my new home for a week....



Awww. home sweet home.

I ran in and got myself and my mother checked in (we had two rooms). This resort is sprawling and she had one of my kids in her room & so I wanted to make sure we were close together...and we were...... WAAAAAAAAAY down at the very end of the hallway. To say WAAAAAAAAY down can not convey how very, VERY far this walk was. Without exaggeration- the walk was 15 minutes from our room to the lobby. And my mom's room faced the bad 'savannah'. I tried to change it, but couldn't. So oh well.......

I didn't have time at this time to check out the room or the resort because I had to be standing ON Main Street by 9:15 for my Keys to the Kingdom tour.

I left the resort at 8:30. I walked onto Main Street at 9:30. Monorail was down. And the ferry and bag check took FOREVER. I love, love, love Magic Kingdom. I hate, hate, hate how hard it is to actually get into that park. I should have taken the bus vs. driven. But I was becoming SO FOND of that warning light that I just wanted to see it again.......

Anyways- Keys to the Kingdom. I was excited to take this tour. It was a 6 hour behind the scene tour of the park/utilitor. I have no pictures (not allowed). I was a wee bit disappointed in the tour only because much of what was told, I already knew. The best part was seeing the back stage area around Splash Mountain where they stage the parade. Overall, glad I did it, but won't do it again......

The tour was over by 2 & I wanted to go back to the resort.... to check it out. So back I went to find our room- which based on the distance was located actually IN Africa.

Our room fronted the Sunset Savannah. The room was very nicely decorated... we had a small issue with the trash still being in there from previous guests (uhhhhh, ok.) but other than that.. LOVED our room.



Sweet Lil' butterfly towel...



I unpacked..and then moved to the balcony to gander at the awesomeness...



This Zebra and I were good friends by the end of the week.

Our view



Wasn't long till I was gazing on some beautiful animals!!!



Awww, sweet baby....



Loved this mohawk bird....



I named him Larry. Larry hung out a LOT in front of my balcony.

Animal Kingdom runs tours of their savannah & here was one that went by my balcony-



I was lovin it! I spent the next few hours sitting out here while my family got ready to head out to join me.

Back home.. this little missy was getting ready for her first Trip to Disney! Complete with Princess Shirt!!!



Looks like a mug shot & you can tell Dad did her hair.

I got texts when they were at the airport & when they were on the airplane...



Disney or BUST!!!!

Soon enough I headed out to pick up my lovely family from the airport. Second Trip for the day! Me and the trusty mini-van...

I parked and headed in. And positioned myself right by the escalators coming down so I could suprise them. I waited & waited & waited... and waited. And finally I got a call from the Hub saying "Where the h#ll are you?"

Yhea, they went down a different set of escalators. Um. FAIL.

Piled into the minivan..and back to the resort where the girls screamed and ooh'd and ahh'd. We treked from our Africa location the 3,000 miles to the lobby to get refills and look at pins. Then then the littles convinced me and Gram to take them to pool to play.

It's vacation. You betcha!

Becca jumped right into the empty hot tub...



With my feet....



Sarah played in the play jet area....



Charlie enjoyed multitude of play areas with her vest on...







Gram monitor the situation...



And soon enough we called it a night . It was already 11 & we had an early breakfast the next morning!

Family Disney Vacation is about to commence!!!
 
Hello, just joining this TR.

I too am chronically early, as I like to call it, and 3 hours before a flight is normal for me!

I also call myself a Disney Drill sergeant, as all my 'theme park' vacations growing up involved 3 things 1. Open the park, 2. Close the park. 3. Repeat. Or as friends call it now, the kind of vacation you need a vacation from.

Also, confession time, I totally teared up as you were describing finishing your race... that is amazing!

So totally enjoying your TR and subbing!
 
Hello, just joining this TR.

I too am chronically early, as I like to call it, and 3 hours before a flight is normal for me!

I also call myself a Disney Drill sergeant, as all my 'theme park' vacations growing up involved 3 things 1. Open the park, 2. Close the park. 3. Repeat. Or as friends call it now, the kind of vacation you need a vacation from.

Also, confession time, I totally teared up as you were describing finishing your race... that is amazing!

So totally enjoying your TR and subbing!

Hi- Welcome!!! :welcome:

Are you really living in Egypt? Very cool!!!

Thanks for joining my trip report.

Early Birds totally get the worm! That's how I see it!!! :) They also sit at airports for hours with nothing to do- but that's neither here nor there! Ha!!
 
Ok lady--you're totally giving me anxiety with the tire pressure light! (which why the heck is that such a weird symbol? The first time I ever saw it I had to look it up in the manual. I could not figure out what it was!).

The baby giraffe is so cute! We saw him (or a different baby?) on our safari.

Larry?!? :rotfl2: that just made me laugh for some reason. He looks like he's running over to attack you in that picture. Yeah--I'm not a bird person....

I had to laugh when you said it was obvious dad had done DD's hair. For awhile my DH was home with our daughter in the mornings and then took her to preschool. Her hair was always crazy! I finally bought her a shirt that said "daddy does my hair". I wasn't taking responsibility for that hot mess!

Looks like the night swimming was a lot of fun! We might have to spend more time in the pool next time.
 
Ok lady--you're totally giving me anxiety with the tire pressure light! (which why the heck is that such a weird symbol? The first time I ever saw it I had to look it up in the manual. I could not figure out what it was!).

The baby giraffe is so cute! We saw him (or a different baby?) on our safari.

Larry?!? :rotfl2: that just made me laugh for some reason. He looks like he's running over to attack you in that picture. Yeah--I'm not a bird person....

I had to laugh when you said it was obvious dad had done DD's hair. For awhile my DH was home with our daughter in the mornings and then took her to preschool. Her hair was always crazy! I finally bought her a shirt that said "daddy does my hair". I wasn't taking responsibility for that hot mess!

Looks like the night swimming was a lot of fun! We might have to spend more time in the pool next time.

I am not a bird person either. Larry just looked cool with his Mohawk. He screetched rather loudly quite a bit on/off all week. Larry was lucky I liked his Mohawk. :hyper:

That is an awesome shirt that I totally need. I'll never forget the time I picked up my oldest one day from school- Hubby had done morning duty (dress/hair) and she came out and she had THREE pony tails. THREE!!! I said 'what is the hot holy mess?' and he said 'what, I thought it was cute" and Is said "repeat after me, I will never ever put my child's hair in three pony tails ever again."

We didn't spend nearly enough time at the pool as the girls would like. I'm not a pool person. Me and bathing suits... eh... :eek: But this pool area was very nice!

Yep, just totally left us hanging! I'm guessing the next morning you had a flat?!?!? :eek:

Not quite.............
 
Heck Nicole, my low tire warning light has been on for a month now. Hubby says not to worry, it's just the cold. Geez, I wonder what he'd have to say with your situation in Florida!!!
 
Heck Nicole, my low tire warning light has been on for a month now. Hubby says not to worry, it's just the cold. Geez, I wonder what he'd have to say with your situation in Florida!!!

Ann, that is what they kept telling me... 'don't worry about it, my car has this on all the time'......
 
Hi- Welcome!!! :welcome:

Are you really living in Egypt? Very cool!!!

Thanks for joining my trip report.

Early Birds totally get the worm! That's how I see it!!! :) They also sit at airports for hours with nothing to do- but that's neither here nor there! Ha!!

Yes I really live in Egypt, on my third year (I work as a High School teacher at a Canadian International School)

too true, and I enjoy sitting, shopping, having a beverage at the airport in a calm manner.... :)
 
I don't have a comment about the TR but I am just hoping you'll start slowing down, because you are already a full day ahead of me and starting to make me look bad. :goodvibes
 
I don't have a comment about the TR but I am just hoping you'll start slowing down, because you are already a full day ahead of me and starting to make me look bad. :goodvibes

Oh trust me, I'm not moving that fast AT ALL. You have plenty of time- I'm actually swamped at work..........
 














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