Oh Come All Ye Faithful... DIS TR Addicts... UPDATE 4/19

[2xcited2sleep]

He would be in for a lifetime of Disney fun and magic, and you too. What more could a man ask for?

Thanks. Now all I need to do is find him. It really would be a great party... is it wrong to be more excited about the party than the guy???

 

[Lady Lallie]

He would be in for a lifetime of Disney fun and magic, and you too. What more could a man ask for?

Amen to that!

Thanks. Now all I need to do is find him. It really would be a great party... is it wrong to be more excited about the party than the guy???

 

[punkin413]

The full moon was beautiful that night… this picture doesn’t do it justice.

it was SO PRETTY that night! i noticed it while we were waiting for fantasmic to start and ray actually videoed it during the osborne lights. that's why it was so cold - because there were no clouds in the sky! for some reason the weather almanac won't show me that day but i seem to remember it being around 40 degrees that morning when we left the condo. so i'm sure it was even colder that night. oh, and i think i told you this but that was the brightest moon of the year because it was so close to the earth. check it out....

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081212-full-moon-biggest.html

Group Photo (you can also see the “light saber”):

which one are you?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

it was SO PRETTY that night! i noticed it while we were waiting for fantasmic to start and ray actually videoed it during the osborne lights. that's why it was so cold - because there were no clouds in the sky! for some reason the weather almanac won't show me that day but i seem to remember it being around 40 degrees that morning when we left the condo. so i'm sure it was even colder that night. oh, and i think i told you this but that was the brightest moon of the year because it was so close to the earth. check it out....

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081212-full-moon-biggest.html



which one are you?

That is cool! I thought it was so magical just because we were in WDW but good to know there is some scientific proof behind it!

In the group picture I am in the back row wearing a turquoise blue fleece.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Yay!! You're back and what a great few updates!! Now you spoiling us....three updates in one day!! Sounds like you met a great group of people from Mousefest! And I do remember how cold it was that Friday night, brrrr, can't even imagine having a frozen margarita out there that night, it was bitter!! Looking forward to the next update or three!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

THREE UPDATES!!! I feel like I won at slots or something!

All of your photos from the various Mousefest activities make it look like sooo much fun! I swear, I need to move down there, so I can do all these neat things.

I don't think I responded to this one... Jackie, I can totally see you briefing the rebel pilots! That is perfect!!

Yep, I sure did. Maybe that's how I ended up deciding to be a teacher. So, I could boss everyone around.

Do you know that I got super excited to see these two pictures of Boardwalk Bakery??? I cannot wait to go there and get goodies!!!

The Yacht and Beach Club photos definitely made my evening.

I can't wait to tell you about AKL!

Note: CP- that is not a coded message to tell you to switch resorts... stay at Beach Club!!

I cannot wait to read about your experience there! No fear, all the rooms at AKL for the 4/3 deal are already booked -- Beach Club is where we are headed.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I cannot wait to read about your experience there! No fear, all the rooms at AKL for the 4/3 deal are already booked -- Beach Club is where we are headed.

It's slightly disturbing that you know that.

 

[sunny_stace]

Woo hoo! I finally made it through the whole thing! Well, to this point anyway!

I am loving your TR Christine! It looks like you had such a great time and your photos are fantastic! Can't wait to read the rest! (btw - I'll have some limoncello with you in Italy during gnomefest! We can go Prince hunting! )

 

[Charleston Princess]

It's slightly disturbing that you know that.

I also know that Pop and CBR were booked, but then this weekend they had standard rooms available for those two places.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I also know that Pop and CBR were booked, but then this weekend they had standard rooms available for those two places.

I think we need to start a support group for resort switching.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think we need to start a support group for resort switching.

I don't think I have a problem...

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great updates. You got some nice pictures of World Showcase, and the ones of the BW/YC/BC area are making me want to go back.

I'm with you on the whole Disney wedding thing...how awesome would that be?! haha

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Yay!! You're back and what a great few updates!! Now you spoiling us....three updates in one day!! Sounds like you met a great group of people from Mousefest! And I do remember how cold it was that Friday night, brrrr, can't even imagine having a frozen margarita out there that night, it was bitter!! Looking forward to the next update or three!!

Thanks! It's nice to be missed! Mousefest was just fantastic and really all about the people vs. getting on this ride or that. I highly recommend it for Disney nuts like us!

THREE UPDATES!!! I feel like I won at slots or something!

All of your photos from the various Mousefest activities make it look like sooo much fun! I swear, I need to move down there, so I can do all these neat things.



Yep, I sure did. Maybe that's how I ended up deciding to be a teacher. So, I could boss everyone around.



Do you know that I got super excited to see these two pictures of Boardwalk Bakery??? I cannot wait to go there and get goodies!!!

The Yacht and Beach Club photos definitely made my evening.



I cannot wait to read about your experience there! No fear, all the rooms at AKL for the 4/3 deal are already booked -- Beach Club is where we are headed.

If you can, you should absolutely plan to check out Mousefest sometime! Glad you enjoyed the Y&B Club photos. You will be sharing your own before you know it!!

Woo hoo! I finally made it through the whole thing! Well, to this point anyway!

I am loving your TR Christine! It looks like you had such a great time and your photos are fantastic! Can't wait to read the rest! (btw - I'll have some limoncello with you in Italy during gnomefest! We can go Prince hunting! )

Thanks, Stacy! I did have an amazing time! Limoncello and prince searching... it's a date!!

I also know that Pop and CBR were booked, but then this weekend they had standard rooms available for those two places.

I think we need to start a support group for resort switching.

I don't think I have a problem...

Oh boy... you know they say that admitting you have a problem is the first step...

Great updates. You got some nice pictures of World Showcase, and the ones of the BW/YC/BC area are making me want to go back.

I'm with you on the whole Disney wedding thing...how awesome would that be?! haha

Thanks! I am dying to get back there and stay there again! And yes, I am fascinated by the Disney wedding thing. I will confess to sneaking over to those boards sometimes and reading some of those reports.

 

[retiredkid]

thanks for sharing your very speciall MouseFest memories and pictures with us. It looks like everyone had a good time.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

thanks for sharing your very speciall MouseFest memories and pictures with us. It looks like everyone had a good time.

My pleasure! Thanks for reading!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Do we get a Sunday update, Christine? Pretty please!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Saturday morning dawned far earlier than I wanted it to since I was out late (for me) the night before. But I knew Saturday was going to be a big day: resort switching to Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Mega Mouse Meet (which is the Mousefest “main event” ) at 10am, lunch at Beaches ‘n Cream

, dinner with Heather/Circusgirl at Hollywood Brown Derby (oy! So much food in one day!), and the fabulous Toy Story Mania party after park closing.

As I was packing up my stuff for the resort switch I experienced that phenomenon where somehow your stuff magically expands on vacation and won’t fit back in your suitcase. Even after two days! Somehow I made it fit but I wondered how I would ever do it after 3 more days. I headed down to luggage services where I encountered…MADNESS. No other way to put it. But at least it wasn’t raining. And I think it was slightly warmer. It was a sea of people and luggage with no discernible order to the lines. I did what everyone else did and just inserted myself in the crowd and tried to catch a CM’s eye. I did and they assured me a luggage transfer was no problem. I was more than a little doubtful I would ever see my bags again but I was running late to get to the Yacht and Beach Club so I left it up to fate and headed to the bus stops.

Where there was more madness. The Epcot stop was packed. I guessed based on my previous experience the night before with the bus that I would never fit on the first bus. Here’s where my Disney knowledge came in handy. The Hollywood Studios bus stop was practically empty. And I realized I could just use the path to walk over and be closer to Yacht & Beach Club anyway. And the HS bus came just a few minutes later. Bonus!

I got over to the convention center and checked in. You got a big yellow plastic bag with some goodies already in it and to carry the goodies that you were sure to collect at the different booths/tables. It was very cool but overwhelming. It was in a very large banquet hall – the center of the room was open with some tables and then there were booths/tables lining the walls for all the various organizations. There were a LOT of people there. I think maybe 1,000 ppl registered for Mousefest and I suspect the majority were there. And there were lines at each table so basically you’d wait in line, get up to the table, be able to meet whoever it was, shake their hand, chat a bit and move on. Oh and there were plenty of knick knacks to pick up.

I found it all very overwhelming and I think I just forgot to take pictures. Sorry! You can see some here on the DIS Unplugged page as well as some pictures of the Toy Story Mania event that I’ll get to in a future chapter.

I met the DIS Unplugged gang, Lou Mongello, Tim Foster from Celebrations magazine, I saw the gang from WDW Today again and the All Ears team. I’m generally shy and not really a big small talker anyway so it was kind of hard for me to just walk up and figure out what to say. Plus some of these guys are like celebrities to a big dork like me! Everyone was super nice.

I got some goodies. Purchased a page a day trivia calendar, that I love.

And got freebies likes bags, pins etc. I am on a “reduce your stuff” kick so I didn’t take a lot of the freebies b/c I couldn’t imagine what I’d do with them at home but if you took one of everything you could have really made out!

I kept scanning the crowd looking for people I knew. I ran into several of my new friends from the Drink Around the World meet and we chatted quite a bit. Then I saw a woman with a pretty pink Vera…and I just knew it was Lynn (nuts4wdw)! It was great to meet both Lynn and Chuck. I was still too overwhelmed to remember to take a picture but I think Lynn has one. And shortly thereafter I ran into Heather (Circusgirl) who I was meeting for dinner later that night.

So all in all on the Mega Mousemeet it was cool but not my favorite. I prefer the smaller meets where you can have a bit more informal interaction.

The Mega meet was still going strong when I left. Since I was in the neighborhood I decided to head over to Beaches n’ Cream. One of the benefits of being solo is there is usually a seat at the counter. I got right in and ordered up a cheeseburger and fries. Here again no pics but since I feel so badly I will tell you that I get over my food porn fear at dinner so Hollywood Brown Derby pictures coming later. The waitress had asked if I’d been there before and as I left she said, “see you next time!” You bet you will!

So I figured it was time to head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and check in.

Heading to the Beach Club bus stop

I promise the appalling lack of photos will be rectified in the next post with every photo you’ve ever wanted to see of a room at AKL… and then some! Seriously… there’s even a photo of the trash can.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Do we get a Sunday update, Christine? Pretty please!

Well, yes you do. Just posted. And possibly another one later today. AKL... your favorite. But I'll only post if you promise not to let it lead you into resort switching temptation.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Well, yes you do. Just posted. And possibly another one later today. AKL... your favorite. But I'll only post if you promise not to let it lead you into resort switching temptation.

You did update, you did update! I am so excited!!! The Mega Meet sounds overwhelming -- crowds tend to make me twitch but it still sounds like fun and I am thrilled that you got to meet Lynn and Chuck!

Beaches and Cream for lunch! What time did you end up there? Was it already busy? I cannot wait to eat a cheeseburger there and get some ice cream!

Sigh. AKL. With lots of photos. I'll try my best not to let it make me want to switch, but I will tell you that this has been a hard week for me -- Travel and Leisure named it one of the best hotels in the United States (along with the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge). I have even played around with switching dates to get the room type I want. I have been holding strong though and did not make any phone calls.

 

[Lady Lallie]

This is such a pretty picture. I really love it.

The meet does sound a little overwhelming but something I'd like to experience at least once. Beaches & Cream sounds so wonderful and I am so looking forward to your Brown Derby food pics. I am so happy you got over your fear!

Do I sense another photo obsession in the making? Trash Cans of the World...?