Oh Florida! An East Meets West Girl's TR: 8/9 p56 & 8/17 p57

[MEK]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - I discovered something really important last night. Whenever I edit our TR title to indicate that we have done an update all the permalinks get messed up. Seriously? How can it be called a Permalink when its NOT permanent.

SOOOOOOOOO frustrating!

I went back and updated the links - AGAIN! But from now on I will only update the link that attaches to my first update. Therefore, if I have 4 or 5 updates it will only link to the first in the series. That is just far too much work for me to update every single separate update. Does that make sense? I hope so.

Later.....

 

[dawnbu40]

We love Olivia's. The food and service are always great. Beautiful pics of OKW. One of these days I need to stay there.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

I feel your pain MEK. Another in a long line of issues with this wonderful new DIS upgrade. It makes me sad to think that a place we all loved to come hang out with friends has become this continuously frustrating.........

 

[eandesmom]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - I discovered something really important last night. Whenever I edit our TR title to indicate that we have done an update all the permalinks get messed up. Seriously? How can it be called a Permalink when its NOT permanent.

SOOOOOOOOO frustrating!

I went back and updated the links - AGAIN! But from now on I will only update the link that attaches to my first update. Therefore, if I have 4 or 5 updates it will only link to the first in the series. That is just far too much work for me to update every single separate update. Does that make sense? I hope so.

Later.....

Are you sure? When I have updated my title, somehow it still works, I updated the title on my DL report last night and then went and checked my links in the TOC after and everything "took" the update. I realize it looks like it is a new URL but there is something in there recognizing it and updating it. Same thing on my reluctant runner one with the last update. I don't think you should have to update them again but the only way to know is to change the title, and then retest the links.

I'll post a reply on your fabulous update later!

 

[Pinkocto]

I don't take the boats in Epcot often, but it's a nice change of pace sometimes. And on days when my legs just can't walk another step without dying and we still have a dinner reservation on the other side of the lagoon Great pictures too, I love that different prespective

And I love LWTL! I don't know what it is about plants that make me happy.

Some down time at OKW sounds magnificent. Beautiful sunset too

 

[Pluto0809]

Beautiful pictures around Epcot! I really loved the ones from the boat. I've taken that boat a time or two when my feet are tired and I don't want to walk all the way back to the front.

I'm glad you had a great meal at Olivia's. Mom and I ate there in October and we weren't all that impressed. Our food was kind of bland and our waiter not the best.

It's weird that you are having trouble with the links. I've been changing the titles on my TRs without any problems. I actually just went back and checked because I was worried they were messed up.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Great pictures at Epcot, Mary Ellen! We've taken the boat a few times and it does give you a totally different perspective.

Oh the shrimp and grits at Olivia's! That's what I ordered when we went there on our last trip and probably what I'll order when we go back.

 

[JanaJohn]

Then we decided to do something I’ve never done before

We decided to cross the World Showcase Lagoon on the Boat! Yup. I’ve never done that before!

What a Fantastic idea! I always skip the boat ride because I know I can walk it faster. I just love to new perspective you get from the boat. I've already added this as something to do when I get there next month.

 

[afwdwfan]

We decided to cross the World Showcase Lagoon on the Boat! Yup. I’ve never done that before!

You know what... neither have I!

It does make for an interesting vantage point on everything. I might need to do it sometime!

Once again, I can’t decide which I like better

They were all great pictures!

Unlike my ride earlier in the day with Pat (where our faces photographed in their entirety), Cynthia and I suffered from what I call the “swiss cheese” effect.

Wow... how'd you ever manage to pull that look off?

I took a few too many pictures of the waterfalls.

I hope you used the restroom before you rode. Speaking of which, I'll be right back.

Naturally we started off dinner with one of my (and I’m sure Cynthia’s) favorite drinks. The infamous Turtle Krawl

Ok, I guess I'm going to have to try one of these sometime since they're so legendary around these boards.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

That is so weird. I've found even after a title change the old links still somehow work. I'm only really now finally starting to get used to all the changes.

Amazing. I too just rode the WS boat for the very first time. It was kinda weird to realize... wait, I've never done that before? I agree. It is really cool to see the Showcase from a different vantage point. And trust me, when your feet are screaming at you... it's efficient, lol.

 

[HockeyMomR]

Mary Ellen - Hello busy lady! SE and LWTL never get old. Nice waterfall pictures. Also, you are making OKW look so inviting. Those drinks look delicious too. Feel like I should get over there during our May trip just to walk around.

Rebecca

 

[PrincessInOz]

Oh wow! Updating the thread title stuffs up the links in the first post? That is sooo annoying. Have you gone to the tech board to check if the webmasters there can provide any insight?


Great pictures, @MEK .
You asked about dragon fruit....so I hope you or Cynthia don't mind me posting pictures on your TR. If you do, let me know and I'll come back and delete these.

Dragon fruit is the pink, green spike fruit in this picture. (The one on the bottom is mangosteen, one of my favourite fruits).




You would cut the skin off and find the fruit inside to be flesh with black spots/seeds. This one has white flesh; although there are some that have red. There is a row of dragonfruit cut up at this buffet picture.





The texture is like watermelon and it can be a little tart at times.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I think I’ll start here. AFTER we met up with Cynthia. AFTER the cronut.

She looks very happy after the cronut!

Unlike my ride earlier in the day with Pat (where our faces photographed in their entirety), Cynthia and I suffered from what I call the “swiss cheese” effect.

Yikes! That's just a little creepy.

If you have never sampled one of these little beauties before, I suggest you do. Trust me! What are you waiting for?

Um...the funds to go back to Disney World?

Like I said - a beautiful night!

Gorgeous sunset photos!

 

[ddstratton]

I am finally all caught up! I am loving the updates. Congrats to all of you on the Half-Marathon! Seriously, wonderful job!.

 

[Leshaface]

Cronut kiosk lol

Really though, it may as well be changed to this.

I seriously INHALED that baby. Sooooo good!

I can't believe how delicious this darn things are!

Good picture!

But before I begin - thanks for all the condolences regarding my cat, Jewel. I put her to sleep a week ago. It was very sad to come home and discover that Jewel was ill. It was especially difficult because both of my boys had been home over the weekend and they said she seemed “fine”.

I'm so so sorry about Jewel. She's such a pretty kitty. Big hugs.

Ha this is pretty cool!

True Story - Denny and I actually met on a bike ride to Cape May. A friend and I had planned to ride from Dewey Beach DE to the Cape May Ferry and then into town and up the NJ coast. That friend invited Denny to join us and, well as they say….the rest is history.

Aw that's so sweet.

Cynthia and I had been texting back and forth and she and Ann came to my rescue with the incredibly generous offer of letting me stay with them for the night at the Boardwalk. The BWVs are where I would be checking in the next day, so it was perfect and it definitely erased the anxiety of me having to stay alone off site. I can’t thank them enough for coming to my rescue!

Very awesome that they offered to let you stay! I wouldn't be comfortable staying offsite by myself either.

That was really fun, although we got scolded by the next door neighbor for waking him up with our cheering.

I can't believe this! Did he actually come out onto his balcony and say something?

So spoiler alert - I AM going to make a reservation for next year. Denny wants to do the 10K. I’m undecided whether I should just do the 10 K or go for the 1/2 again. Either way. I plan to be there for PHM weekend.

Yay!!!

Oooh, somehow you made this shot look creepy!

At the beginning of the race I felt wonderful. I enjoyed the pacer (I think her name was Marie). She was delightful. She talked constantly and for every area where there were picture opportunities she would make us call out loud “2:30 rocks”. I learned a lot about Marie as we were running along in the dark. She is a school teacher and she paces marathons all over the US and the world. She is older than I am and has people recognize her every time she runs. In fact, a runner passed us and called out “Hey Marie”.

I bet she loves doing this! And she sounds so personable and sounds like such a motivator, I bet that helped ease the nerves a tad.

My mile 12 we had reached Epcot and the spectators saved me! Not kidding. Their encouragement was so infectious. I got my second wind.

Awesome!

Perfect picture!

You look so determined right here, love it!

You did amazing, congratulations!!!

You choose, quite possibly, the best post race meals EVER!

Love Danielle!

We stayed until we were kicked out of the tables. Imagine that? We were actually asked to leave.

That means you guys were having the best time!

See, you don’t have to live on the West Coast to have a red eye flight.

Yikes

Of course you had to post your fav chairs. It wouldn't be an MEK TR without one!

I didn't know they had this either. I'd probably check it out knowing this!

Yuck indeed.


Okay, slowly catching up. Forgive me!

 

[franandaj]

What a fun day at Epcot! Those ride photos are making me so want to pull the trgger on rebooking our trip!

I've only dined at Olivia's once and we were so tired I don't think we really got the full experience.

 

[MEK]

Ahhh, one of the beauties of Disney is that there's always new things to do and explore, no matter how well seasoned you are! The boat across the lagoon is an excellent example! And the pictures you captured are just stunning, really, really beautiful Mary Ellen!

Thank you! I really enjoyed seeing the world showcase from INSIDE the lagoon. It was so lovely.

I'm so glad you took some shots of LWTL, I really love that attraction and it's typically under-represented in TRs. So to you!

LWTL is one of my favorites. I always enjoyed that ride when my kids were little. Over the years I have taken WAY too many pictures of that attraction, so I was really good this time!

I, too, should have been born in the south... though less for the shrimp and grits (although I DO love me some grits!) and more for the weather! And we could both also add proximity to WDW!

Well, the weather pretty much goes without saying, especially after THIS winter. Heck - it's still freezing in my neck of the woods. I'd give anything to be living south right now!

Oh I think we were fine. It was the ditzy English teacher that took a group back to school on another train. Oh During rush hour!!!!!

I remember feeling like a chaperone on that trip. I felt the teachers had NO clue how to keep our group together, The same ditzy teacher took " the girls" to Bloomies on a city bus!!!! I stayed with my friends, synchronized watches and kept an eye on each other on 42nd street and the crazy gift shop near the theater selling " Home of the whopper " underwear. YES those things I remember.

That teacher sounds like she was more into the trip for herself and not the students. Sheesh!

Home of the whopper underwear! OMG!

All good times and yes so easy to take it for granted.

Good memories, even though parts of it sound a little sketchy. It's like the trip I took to Acapulco in 10th grade. We never saw the chaperone. He totally disappeared and we were completely on our own. I would die if one of my kids was in the same situation.

Oh yeah - when the allergist comes in half way during the stick test for trees, weeds and grasses and says STOP that enough because everything is reacting.... I will be much better once the Bradford Pear trees lose the flowers.

That is NOT good! You poor thing. Are you going to try to get desensitized to anything?

So hard to get there and then find a way to EPCOT does not involve running...


But that is where the bands and other groups cheering help. Coming into EPCOT is where you know - you will make it eventually but you will make it.

I honestly don't understand how you spectators even got anywhere. Are there special buses and transportation for spectators. Did you guys drive? I really want to know for next year.

It sounds like you had a lovely evening!

We did. It was really a nice low key way to start the trip. It's nice to visit a lot. It allows you to really stop and smell the roses quite a bit more.

I'm not sure if I've ever taken the boat across the lake - it certainly produced a lot of good photo opportunities!

It really did. The view was amazing. I'm really glad we did that. It was lovely!

I'm glad Cynthia was able to experience Living with the Land! Whenever I ride that boat, I always sing the old "Listen to the Land" song in my head.

Such an old, but goody.

I always hear such great things about Olivia's! I might try and convince Anika to eat breakfast there (as we'll have a rental car for a few days of our trip). It would also be fun to see the resort!

Oh you definitely should. We had breakfast later in the trip (spoiler alert) and it was super yummy! It's a great little restaurant and easy to visit when you have a car.

 

[MEK]

We ate at Olivia's when we were there a few weeks ago and I had the shrimp and grits. I liked the shrimp a lot but thought that the grits had too much cheese in them. I like the version they have at the Flower and Garden booth. It was my first introduction to shrimp and grits.

I don't really remember the grits having cheese, but then again I DID have a turtle crawl, so perhaps that blurred my memory!

Your photos are gorgeous. I don't think we have ever taken the Epcot boat. We'll have to try it one time.

Thank you

It was really nice to take the boat and see things from a different perspective. I'm glad we decided to do that!

Jeff finds all that crap annoying too and that keeps me/us from doing more. Not that I don't find it annoying, I do, I just don't whine as loudly as he does lol. 4 seconds is barely a PR but I will take it.

You should definitely take it considering the race conditions were not at all conducive to any kind of PR.

Bay to Breakers though, that should be fun. Much more of an event than a race it should be a cool weekend. I scored too, I was looking at something else online the other night and realized that it was only 5,000 miles per leg for that weekend so snapped it up like THAT and then had a free Kimpton night I could use so the trip is costing us hardly anything and we now get to stay at one of our favorite hotels anywhere for the weekend.

NICE! Nothing better than getting to stay at your favorite hotel AND get a free night! That is awesome!

I am glad his knee was fine too... I hear about it when it isn't lol!

You are braver than you think

I think we all have our moments of bravery, that is for sure. Thank goodness, because it helps balance out our moments of weakness.

I am so glad we got the girls time in, I needed it!!!!

I did, too! As we have said all along - Girls trips are the best. I think its great that we got to see each other so soon because we had originally thought it was going to be quite a bit longer. And I am so glad I got to meet Ann. She is so lovely. A true sweetheart.

You did really really well! We were exactly the same time behind our desired pace groups.

Thanks. When I think back on my pacing 15 years ago its a little disappointing, but I just thank God I was healthy and did not have any injuries to deal with. Once again - it was a great experience.

I think I only have one race ever and probably not even that, where I don't end thinking I could have forced myself more, that I didn't give up at a certain point or let up, or take water/fuel that maybe I didn't need or...whatever. VERY normal.

I am sure it is normal. It's always hard to make that judgement about when/where to push and when to hold back.

Ugh on the hungover ish. I would have been had I gotten another one, and I really kind of wanted one....but I didn't want to actually get up and deal with it, nor did I know what I wanted. So it was far easier to just sit. LOL!

Agreed!

I am so glad I didn't use that bathroom, it sounds like a nightmare. I actually had great food this trip, that was probably the worst of the bunch.

I agree - it was a very disappointing buffet, but I got to cross another restaurant off my list so its all good.

Me too, I just have to figure out what makes the most sense

You'll figure it out.

Yep, sewed the capes. Not the caps. LOL! I didn't notice the wings either. I was actually glad for the visor when the sun came out since I didn't have my sunglasses.

I meant CAPES. Typo! When the sun came out I put my visor back on for several miles, but I took it off again near the end. It is hard to start in the dark and then have the sun come up. It's really a shock to the eyes. I really, REALLY wanted a pair of sunglasses.

It was ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as now trying to find another option to wear. Thought I had something, it was promising and then BOOM it failed the 6 miles Saturday + 10 miles Sunday test last weekend with icky blisters in the bad spot. Although they aren't really that bad...I know my feet and if that happened with that, it will keep happening and I can't pull off a half in those shoes (the replacement option). If I would have been running a half I would have ended with something really nasty, I can tell. However since I do have a half in 3 weeks (ok, 2.5 EEEK) I had to find something to try and so will be breaking in yet another different model tomorrow on a work trip "group" run at the event I am at. Should be interesting.... we will see if I can really do my planned 8 on Saturday (out of town) and then 12 on Sunday.

I don't have high hopes.

It really stinks that shoes are such an issue for you. It's got to be SO frustrating.

I did end up with a black toenail after the 1/2. I am sure the injury started well before that but only became evident in the week of the 1/2. Now that the toenail is dead there is no pain at all. Gotta love it!

You are funny, I am not that speedy.

OK, how about if I say - You have very respectable race times!

We love Olivia's. The food and service are always great. Beautiful pics of OKW. One of these days I need to stay there.

So why did this all change to a different font????

Ahh - new DIS you are SO unpredictable!

Olivia's is awesome! I totally agree with you! OKW is so lovely. I know you will eventually find your way there. It's awesome that you guys can just make your round through all the different resorts because they are all so awesome!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Cynthia looks very happy in that picture, leading me to believe it was definitely taken after the cronut.

Truthfully, I don't think I've crossed the lagoon in the boat either. There's always something new to do.

Those shots from the lagoon turned out really well. You only catch the reflection in some pictures, leading me to believe that the glass was really clean!

I haven't eaten at Olivia's in quite some time! I really want to eat there again soon. It's a really good place. Pop and I are trying to get OKW for the Half Marathon in January, so if we do I'm going to put it on the list.

 

[amazingact21]

Cynthia- Congrats on the PHM! You had a great time! Your miles were great. I think I have a good day when I do one mile in under 10...I can't imagine running 13 of them in or around that time!


Mary Ellen- Great photos of the WS. I didn't think about the boat giving you a new perspective of the pavilions, but they really did.