No cats to herd this time! It's just the two of us!UPDATED 11/24-DIS Meet & Departure

[kaysmommie]

Great update Sara! love the pics too. I agree with you on American Adventure, it's not as good as some of the other countries attractions. Such a shame. Hope you were able to get your GGLCS.

 

[mom2mek]

Woohoo... some updates! And they did not disappoint, as usual! I am still amazed at how much ground you were able to cover without the kids in tow!

Thanks Nicole! Yep - without kids you can really see a lot of the World Showcase! That's why trips of all sizes and shapes are so nice - you see different things and make different memories each time!

Hi Sara!

I feel the same ambivelance toward the American Adventure... perhaps because we're the "home" pavilion the Imagineers focused more on showing a history lesson rather than a travel narrative... it does seem to have a heavier tone than the other movies. Nevertheless, it's still enjoyable... especially the parts with the audio-animatronics.

The two of you seem to be having such a lovely time together just strolling through the World... it must have been very therapeutic!

Hope the next update is not so long in coming; I really enjoy them!


Kathy

Thanks Kathy! I think you're right about the travel narrative vs. history lesson thing. I guess it saddens me because every country has had to suffer through war and death, and yet their movies just focus on what makes their countries beautiful....just wish there was more positive things coming out of our representative "show"! It's very well done, don't get me wrong, and I really do appreciate the history lesson; it's just not a real pick-me-up kind of thing (until the last few minutes anyways).

We were having a lovely day!

Great update Sara! love the pics too. I agree with you on American Adventure, it's not as good as some of the other countries attractions. Such a shame. Hope you were able to get your GGLCS.

Thanks Nichole! I think the show is really well-done...just wish they had a little more about what makes our country so beautiful - celebrate the positive in all the countries!!

Stay tuned for the GGLCS update!!!

Sara

 

[faerieprincess]

Well.... i'm not sure how i managed to miss this for SO LONG but i am finally here and have caught right up. As always your pictures are beautiful and it is a treat to read your updates! So far it seems like you and Shawn had a wonderful time and i can't wait to finish hearing about your trip!

 

[mom2mek]

Well.... i'm not sure how i managed to miss this for SO LONG but i am finally here and have caught right up. As always your pictures are beautiful and it is a treat to read your updates! So far it seems like you and Shawn had a wonderful time and i can't wait to finish hearing about your trip!

Yay! Sare is here! So glad you found me again! I take forever, don't I? I'm sure you were like "she HAS to be finished by now!"

Nope.

Only Day 2!

I'm pathetic!

Hope to have yet another update up very soon....do you have any more trips in the works??

Sara

 

[faerieprincess]

Yay! Sare is here! So glad you found me again! I take forever, don't I? I'm sure you were like "she HAS to be finished by now!"

Nope.

Only Day 2!

I'm pathetic!

Hope to have yet another update up very soon....do you have any more trips in the works??

Sara

You're not pathetic at all - you're consistent! Besides, if you'd finished already, what would i have to look forward to?

Nope, no trips planned. i just took my summer holidays (finally) and had beautiful hot sunny weather the whole time (which i've been rubbing in the noses of everyone else at work who took their holidays in July and August and had either freezing cold rainy weeks or stifling humid horrible weeks . Of course they started it by teasing me in July about my holidays being two months away). i'm trying to plan a trip for April to make me feel better about my upcoming 29+1 birthday, but i'm not sure if it will be Disney or Paris or someplace hot!

How are your kids doing?

 

[mom2mek]

You're not pathetic at all - you're consistent! Besides, if you'd finished already, what would i have to look forward to?

Nope, no trips planned. i just took my summer holidays (finally) and had beautiful hot sunny weather the whole time (which i've been rubbing in the noses of everyone else at work who took their holidays in July and August and had either freezing cold rainy weeks or stifling humid horrible weeks . Of course they started it by teasing me in July about my holidays being two months away). i'm trying to plan a trip for April to make me feel better about my upcoming 29+1 birthday, but i'm not sure if it will be Disney or Paris or someplace hot!

How are your kids doing?

April is very nice for Disney! As well as Paris (the only time I have been was the end of April/first week of May)! That 29+1 birthday is a great reason to celebrate! Hope you can start planning something soon!

Kids are great, thanks! They are all 3 in school now! Katie just started pre-K (she goes for 3 hours in the morning....) and I can't believe it! The other two are in 3rd and 1st grades! Time flies!


So, I typed up an update last night, fell asleep while typing, and when I woke up my computer was locked up and it wouldn't let me save....grrr....I've got to stop writing up this stuff so late in the day! Hope to have it put up tonight....gotta go remember what I wrote though....hope to be back later tonight to post.

Sara

 

[mom2mek]

[

 

[mom2mek]

May 14, 2009 - Epcot
Part 6 - Rainy Day and Sara gets twins!!!

After we emerged from the American Adventure, it was looking pretty dreary outside. Where did the sun go? Oh well, next on the tour would have been Japan, however, we carried on past Japan and headed towards Morocco. I did snap this picture of the building in Japan as we passed it....apparently they were doing some work on it!

(Funny how they don't try and replace the part that is covered with boards/tarps/etc, like they do at the MK...)

As we walked past Japan....it started.

The Rain.

I just chuckled, knowing we were one pavilion away from France and knowing what has happened to me on almost every trip to Disney since I discovered the GGLCS.

The first time it didn't rain, but I was in the middle of a mid-trip, mid-day, missed-our-break kind of day with my then 2 year old, and well, how can I say this, wasn't truly able to really savor my slushie....it was more of a "chug- this- down- as- fast- as- you- can- so- you- can- handle- the- meltdown- that- is- awaiting- you- from- your- toddler- and- before- this- drink- melts" kind of moment.

The 2nd time (last October), it was pouring. Not just a little. Like huddle under an overhang on the crepe stand and balance your slushie and crepe on top of a trash can and try to drink it before it gets watered down with rainwater!

Ugh...2 for 2....

Fast forward to my super-duper girls-only quick trip in December. Although I was able to enjoy my slushie on that trip, it did rain as soon as we were approaching the France side of the WS!

So, the fact that we were getting close to France and the skies were totally dark was not surprising. We made the best out of it, and decided to go hide out in a very empty Morocco.

How beautiful is this place? Oh my word.

I just loved all of the warm terra cotta and plaster buildings, the green roofs, the tiled building walls, and all the alleys and stucco archways. The Moroccan music was playing, and much to Shawn's liking, the belly dancer was out performing. We hung out under one of the archways in the rain for a while and then started to make our way through the stores. It was starting to feel noticeably cooler at this point!

At this point, the rain had tapered off a little bit, so we headed back the other way (this is when I should have gone to France for my slushie...but I digress...). I made a phone call home to see how the kids were doing and Shawn explored the red torri gate and all of the Bonzai trees.

(I LOVE this one)

(But I REALLY LOVE this one....Spaceship Earth is framed so perfectly in the Bonzai!)

After continually getting wet with the on-again, off-again rain showers, and getting increasingly more cold, we decided to venture on in to the gigantic Japanese department store, Mitsukoshi. Our daughter had a project due the day after we were returning from our trip, and although we had a lot of it done already, we were looking for a few items in this store to help her out. It was a country project, where she had to pick a country and complete a poster about the country's history, language, clothing, food, etc....Emily picked Japan.

After we walked around for a while, we decided to pick up a small Japanese flag, some chopsticks, a mini-fan, and a piece of stationery that had a very nice saying on it written in Japanese (which right now I can't remember what it said). We also got a note card and had the sweet little Japanese CM write Emily's name on it in Japanese. We ended up having more than enough for her project once you combined it with some pictures and things that she helped us pick out online and print.

So, up next was a gift for me!! I've always wanted to try the pick-a-pearl thing so today was the day! I had Shawn pick out the ugliest, most hairy, most nasty looking oyster and it paid off....I got twins!! Two pearls for the price of one!

We decided to go ahead and get a pair of earrings made with the pearls, and while they were fixing the setting, thought we would see what was going on outside.

We were able to catch a performance of the Matsuriza drummers. They are so athletic and fun to watch. They were performing out in front of the store since the pagoda had all those boards around it.

Shawn got a phone call from work at this point, so we moved over to the other side (in front of the CS place) and watched from over there.

After the show, we explored a little more of the area behind the CS place, Yakitori Place. How pretty it is back there! We made a mental note to grab some CS food here one day and sit back in the courtyard behind the building.

Up next....there's a sunset in Tokyo with MY name on it????

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Sara!

yuck...rain...but, , MOROCCO!!! My favorite! It is so beautiful. Love the fez picture!

Shawn's bonzai pictures are amazing. He has such a great eye.

I love the little pathway in Japan that wanders into the back...so pretty! We didn't spend much time in the store...we'll have to remember to do that next time!

 

[kaysmommie]

Great update Sara and your pictures are amazing!! on getting twins at the pick a pearl in Japan. I have always hope for them so I could make earrings. We always get single ones though . Waiting to see if you made it to get your GGLCS.

 

[mom2mek]

Hi Sara!

yuck...rain...but, , MOROCCO!!! My favorite! It is so beautiful. Love the fez picture!

Shawn's bonzai pictures are amazing. He has such a great eye.

I love the little pathway in Japan that wanders into the back...so pretty! We didn't spend much time in the store...we'll have to remember to do that next time!

Thanks Missy! Morocco is so pretty! You just never realize it until you get the chance to really explore it - and it was really empty back there. I just realized that I must not have downloaded all of Shawn's pics from Morocco because there was one I really loved of the fountain and it's not there.... I might have to go back in time and post some more pics when I find out where the heck they went!

Great update Sara and your pictures are amazing!! on getting twins at the pick a pearl in Japan. I have always hope for them so I could make earrings. We always get single ones though . Waiting to see if you made it to get your GGLCS.

Thanks Nichole! I loved doing the pick-a-pearl thing! I love how they beat the little drum and sing! The sweet little Japanese CM who was opening the oysters was so cute....she just kept going with the "arigato" over and over......I was glad to get some earrings - they are really sweet!

Sara

 

[BippityBoo]

Hey Sara!! Thought I subscribed to your TR...but I guess not! Bummer..I am going back to read from the beginning! Congrats on getting twin pearls I can not WAIT to do that on our next trip. Also, the pic with spaceship earth and the tree is sooo amazing. You must put that in a contest or something! Can not wait to read more. Marocco looks amazing. We had to skip it last time, but are planning on eating at Tangerine Cafe in January!!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

So, the curse of the GGLCS lives on! That is just crazy!

Love the pics, especially from Japan, my favorite! I love those drummers also.

Funny about the stuff for Emily's project. Last year Sam had to do a report on Australia so we picked up an Australian flag and koala bear postcard (during Food and Wine when they have more booths). See, Disney trips come in handy for these pesky school projects!

I don't think I know that you did the pick a pearl thing and got twins! How fun!

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Oooh, I heard that you should pick the nastiest hairiest oyster! Glad to hear that it paid off for you! Will you show us your earrings?

 

[mom2mek]

Hey Sara!! Thought I subscribed to your TR...but I guess not! Bummer..I am going back to read from the beginning! Congrats on getting twin pearls I can not WAIT to do that on our next trip. Also, the pic with spaceship earth and the tree is sooo amazing. You must put that in a contest or something! Can not wait to read more. Marocco looks amazing. We had to skip it last time, but are planning on eating at Tangerine Cafe in January!!

Thanks Katie! Glad you found me again! I really want to try Tangerine Cafe too - we have never been there and it smelled so good as we were walking past! We had our ADR at Japan coming up and I wanted to be good and hungry though!

So, the curse of the GGLCS lives on! That is just crazy!

Love the pics, especially from Japan, my favorite! I love those drummers also.

Funny about the stuff for Emily's project. Last year Sam had to do a report on Australia so we picked up an Australian flag and koala bear postcard (during Food and Wine when they have more booths). See, Disney trips come in handy for these pesky school projects!

I don't think I know that you did the pick a pearl thing and got twins! How fun!

I thought I told you when I saw you at the beach that night? Maybe not. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait for the girls to do it!

Sara

 

[mom2mek]

Oooh, I heard that you should pick the nastiest hairiest oyster! Glad to hear that it paid off for you! Will you show us your earrings?

Yeah, I left the picking up to Shawn and he was convinced that he knew which one would have the best pearl!

Yes, I think we took a picture of the completed earrings!! I'll post it when I find it! If not, I can take one now!

Sara

 

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Yeah, I left the picking up to Shawn and he was convinced that he knew which one would have the best pearl!

Yes, I think we took a picture of the completed earrings!! I'll post it when I find it! If not, I can take one now!

Sara

Yay!

I am hoping to treat Abby and my sister (and maybe myself too!) with this in Dec.

 

[castmemberb4]

I Love that little Yakitori Place courtyard, it's one of my favorite places to rest, it's so peaceful back there.

 

[DisneyJo]

The bonsai photo is absolutely gorgeous and oh no I can't believe you missed your slushie again!

Congrats on the pearls, lucky you for getting two, they look so pretty

 

[mom2mek]

I Love that little Yakitori Place courtyard, it's one of my favorite places to rest, it's so peaceful back there.

Thanks! It's definitely on my list to return to! So pretty!

The bonsai photo is absolutely gorgeous and oh no I can't believe you missed your slushie again!

Congrats on the pearls, lucky you for getting two, they look so pretty

Thanks Jo! I was pretty darn excited about my twin pearls! (doesn't take much, can you tell? )

I'm cursed with the slushies!

Sara