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

[englishrose47]

Oh Florida! An East Meets West Girl’s TR

As I start this trip report all I can almost hear my youngest son saying (in his most feminine sounding voice);Gurrrrrrlllllzzzzzz Night;. " It's Guuuuurllllzzzzzz Night Out;

How about Guuuurlllzzzzz Week Out?

Oh Yeah!

So welcome to the latest MEK/eandesmom combined TR.

Hi Ladies! Looking forward to your adventures!

Looks like a great day to fly! Funny about you amusing your fellow passenger on the bus. She's probably feeling like such a veteran - thinking you're a newbie!

I think you missed the boat because you were taking pics of umbrellas!

I think I am subbing

I'm MEK or Mary Ellen

Here I am chilling with my main Disney squeeze Bo



A little bit about me - I am a complete Disney nut. I love the place and I love all the people I have met who are also Disney nuts. I have been married 25 years and I have two college age sons. I work as a nurse practitioner with cardiac surgery patients. I'm also a pastoral musician volunteer. I enjoy singing and I play the flute and guitar. But enough about me.

My partner in this TR is no other than eandesmom or Cynthia.



Here we are in October 2012 under the now defunct hat!

Here's a super cute picture of Cynthia from that trip



Cynthia and I actually met here on the DIS boards and the first trip we had together was in May 2011. It was part of a larger girl's trip that involved several East coast DISers, a Texan DISer, and Cynthia, who lives on the West coast. Hence - the East meets West term was coined. We hit if off immediately and we have been fast friends ever since.

If you are interesting in reminiscing, here's a link to that TR

Our second Disney rendezvous was in October 2012 when we visited for Food & Wine. That was my first F&W and it was awesomely fun. We started a trend of arranging DIS meets and one of our most memorable meets during that trip was with Poolrat Pat.



We even dressed up and went to MNSSHP together. I'l ladmit this is NOT my best look!



Poolrat Pat will make another appearance in this TR, so stay tuned for that! Here is a link to our 2012 TR.

Which brings us up to date. Well, sort of.

Our 3rd guuuuuuuuurllllllls trip together was in May 2014. For those of you who are astute, you may have noticed that we meet up in the world about every 18 months. It's a trend that we hope to continue. We are actually breaking our trend a bit as we are meeting in another month to run the Princess Half Marathon on the same team as our Trip Report title. Oh Florida. But Cynthia can tell you more about that.

So stayed tuned as we travel around the world, hit up some new restaurants and resorts, and meet A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT of DISers for the first or second time. We promise, you won't be bored.

I get the dubious honor of starting this TR because I arrived the evening before Cynthia. It's easier for me to travel in the afternoon or evening because I usually fly out of BWI (Baltimore). It's hard to get down there for an am flight. Cynthia, on the other hand, usually does a red eye. That brings her in bright and early. I just can't beat her there unless I leave the night before.

So it's all on me to get this thing started.

Departure Date May 11, 2014.

Mother’s Day

My oldest son's 21st birthday.

Here he is at the ripe old age of t-ball? How old is that? 1st grade? 2nd grade?



Since he lives about 2 hours away I would have loved to see him on his birthday, but that wasn't going to happen. I always said I wanted to take him out for his first legal drink. Oh well. Missed that one.

The day before departure Denny and I went for a bike ride and I took a few pictures in Chesapeake City, which is one of my favorite places in Md.



It was sort of overcast, but a nice day all the same



After our bike ride I went home to finish packing.

Denny was nice enough to drive me to the airport the next day. I was flying out of BWI which as I mentioned, is about an hour and half from our house. Not such a bad drive on a Sunday afternoon, but my return flight was late the following Saturday night. Thank you Denny for driving me and picking me up!

On the way



Across the Bay Bridge







Our timing was good, traffic was minimal, and there were no flight delays today!

And the best part - I got the window seat. Yay!





Looking for my luggage





Time for take off





It was a nice clear day for flying







Let’s go south baby!





Continued In Next Post

 

[MEK]

I figured out the links! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! Now for some more replies!

 

[MEK]

Thanks for the heads up! Joining in and reading on the New Boards, I can't say I'm crazy about this new format...

Great Start! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Thanks so much for joining in! I hear ya on the new boards. I can see where its an improvement, but there is still a learning curve for me. Not fun!

Hi Mary Ellen! Can't wait to hear about the girls' trip!

shannon! Thanks so much for joining in! It's nice to see you back on the boards!!!!!

There should be a "watched threads" in you blue bar at top with your subscriptions. There's also a section in tech support with new format issues that is helpful. This will all take some getting used to...

This is my first post from mobile, so hoping it works!

Thanks. I saw the watched threads. I thought it hit it once, but apparently not. I just figured out how to post links so that's all my brain can handle for one night.

Here! I thought I posted already, but I guess I only thought about it (it happens often lol) I'm totally in! A girls trip is on my bucket list!

You did post already. I think its the new boards. I think its just harder to locate threads. They sort of all run together and you can't tell I am still sort of struggling my way through this. I know I am going to like it when I finally learn what I'm doing.

 

[Steppesister]

Thanks for the warm welcome, Ladies!

You guys take awesome looking trips... maybe someday in my future a little more of the West can meet with the East in the South. Love all the photos and look forward to the stories.

 

[MEK]

I'm here! Looking forward to hearing all about it.

Marissa! Thanks for joining in! So happy you are back on the boards

Can't wait to read about your trip.

Lisa! Thanks for joining in! Glad to have you here!

I really do think we should get together on Saturday, maybe before dinner to confirm attachment methods. I played around with it a lot and honestly it's going to be the most secure and not noticeable (to you while running) if it is pinned. I know it will drive me nuts it is moving around. I'll email you as it's a rather lengthy explanation for something pretty simple but it will not be simple just to take it off at all. I am sure Ann and I will play around with it Thursday or Friday so could always send pics.

Yes, we definitely need to get together before dinner. I want to try attaching things at home, but then there's the packing issue once its attached. It will probably be easier to wait.

That is why we are going to do a test run, to confirm how best to attach so we all don't even know it's there and then don't have to feel like we need to ditch anything. I have a grocery order coming, we could just add to it if that would help you out? Let me know.

that's smart. I wish I had more time on Saturday. I just feel rushed, which I shouldn't.

We have morning fast passes at AK but will be done by lunch-ish and could possibly move our FP's a little bit earlier. Not sure what time you plan to hit the expo but it would be good to get a "team" picture over there with our team bibs and sashes or whatever it is lol! I'll have your team bib and whatever "commemorative" item they give us but obviously not your real packet.

It would be fun to get a picture. Definitely. I heard the expo gets more crowded as the day goes on, so that's why I kind of want to get there early. But I could still go early and get my packet, then upgrade our tickets, then go back with you guys.

Ah, I have seen some good spectator info here and there and haven't paid that much attention to it. I'll see what I can dig up but I do think there are busses....not positive though. MK is a little less than half way through (between miles 5-6). This is what is says in the event guide if you bought him the ChEAR package (no clue what the zone means or if you buy it by zone?).

ChEAR Zone 1
Magic Kingdom® Park near Cinderella Castle (Mile 5.7 for the Half Marathon)

Sunday, February 22, 2015
5:30 a.m. – ChEAR Zone #1 opens
8:15 a.m. – Approximate time ChEAR
Zone #1 closes
ChEAR Zone #1 is a reserved viewing location only. It does not include seating, beverages, or private portable restrooms.You will NOT need a theme park ticket to access Magic Kingdom® Park. You will, however, need to show your wristband to access the ChEAR Zone. At approximately 8:15 a.m. this area will be closed.

Directions to ChEAR Zone #1 from Epcot ®:
Note: The travel time to the Magic Kingdom® Park from Epcot ® is approximately 42 minutes. Walk from the start area to the monorail station at Epcot ® and ride it to the Transportation and Ticket Center station. Exit the monorail and walk down the ramp and follow the overhead signs for the monorail to Magic Kingdom® Park. After arrival at the Magic Kingdom® Park/Main Street U.S.A. exit the platform. Proceed through the Main entrance of Magic Kingdom® Park and once inside, proceed down Main Street U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle.

ChEAR Zone #2
Epcot ® Imagine Lot
(Finish Line for the Half Marathon)

Sunday, February 22, 2015
6:00 a.m. – ChEAR Zone #2 opens
10:30 a.m. – ChEAR Zone #2 closes
ChEAR Zone #2 is a reserved viewing location at the Finish Line.

Half Marathon ChEAR Zone #2 Amenities: Reserved Finish line seating, beverages, private portable restrooms, and hand washing stations. You will need to show your wristband to access the ChEAR Zone.

Directions from ChEAR Zone #1 to ChEAR Zone #2 at Epcot ®:
Note: The estimated travel time from Magic Kingdom® Park to Epcot ® is 42 minutes. After your runner has passed by, make your way back to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Walk up the ramp for the monorail to Epcot ® and ride the monorail to the monorail platform at Epcot ®. Upon arriving at Epcot ®, walk down the ramp and exit to your left towards the parking lots. Walk to the Imagine lot on your right.

There are also these additional viewing points according to the event guide.

View attachment 383

and bus info

View attachment 385
and it says this about driving. I would think the bus and monorail are the way to go.

View attachment 386

This is good info. He's registered for the bronze package which is the free one with no private bathrooms. I think if I could get him to line up right at the spot where we entered the MK I might see him. I hope he will go cheer, but he's really not that into it so we shall see.

 

[jedijill]

Ugh, after the upgrade I"m not getting email notifications! Caught up on 3 pages and Cynthia's intro.

Jill in CO

 

[Poolrat]

Subbing....er...."watching" in. Will be back to read!

But true....

 

[tazdev3225]

Looking forward to reading along. I travel with a friend I met here too and ironically we have been to Disney around the same time you have been there. We had a trip in October 2012 and again in May 2014. Sadly she has other plans this year so no 2015 trip for us. I am doing an almost totally solo trip though.

I would love to be able to do something like a marathon but unfortunately 6 knee surgeries and torn cartilage in my ankle make walking difficult let alone running.

 

[natebenma]

I enjoyed your intro, Cynthia! Once again, can I tell you how impressed I am at your "little hikes" at Gros Piton and Koko Head! Fantastic pictures of you and Jeff there and of the rest of your family in your intro.

I understand why you posted the pictures of Mary Ellen with the cake. That is so her!

It was fun reading about the evolution of your friendship with Mary Ellen. Having had my first "internet friend interlude" this past summer, I get it. I loved the looks of horror I got when I told friends I was staying in a room at Disney with a woman I have never met before. I truly treasure the kind, supportive friends I have made here through the DIS and what we share is so much more than a love of the Mouse.

Now, bring on the Ditch (or wherever you are headed)

 

[franandaj]

Wow! I'm very late to this party! I'll have to read up later.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions about Old Key West on your PTR. There isn't really a good discussion thread about this resort. Anyway, we will be taking the Magical express for our quick, three night stay at OKW. I'm assuming that the ME drops you off at Hospitality House. How do you get to your villa from there? The resort looks very spread out. Is everything within walking distance or do you need to take the bus?

I can't wait to read about your PHM. I ran the Disney half marathon with my sister many years ago and it is fun to relive the memories while reading about your experiences. I see they still make you get on the bus to race start at 3:30am.

 

[rentayenta]

Ugh, after the upgrade I"m not getting email notifications! Caught up on 3 pages and Cynthia's intro.

Jill in CO

Same and I feel lost and behind.

 

[jedijill]

Same and I feel lost and behind.

I am finding that if I go to my watched threads and post, magically I start getting email notifications. So frustrating!

Jill in CO

 

[rentayenta]

I am finding that if I go to my watched threads and post, magically I start getting email notifications. So frustrating!

Jill in CO

I am trying very hard not to bail and just KIT via FB but I know I'll miss so much if I do.

 

[eandesmom]

I'm here! Thanks for the heads up Great start of the trip!

Pam!!!!!

Here!

so happy you could join us!

I'm joining in! I mean, with a promise to not be bored, how could I not?!?!?!?

First, best of luck with the Princess Half Marathon

I love all your pictures from take-off of the water and the bay-bridge - it's such a neat structure.

Looking forward to the rest of your TR!

We are thrilled to have you here. Mary Ellen is going to do great at the PHM!

subscribing

Thank you for joining along!

I'm here, I'm here! Thanks for sending me a message; I would've been disappointed if I'd missed the beginning of this report!


I find is so cool that you take girl trips with fellow DISers. Really goes to show how great these boards can be. I know Dugette and I joke about throwing the kids at the husbands and running away to the WS while we're there at the same time.


I'll admit, I don't know too much about OKW, so I'm looking forward to hearing about it. And potentially seeing early morning run pictures from around the resort.

Girls trips are the BEST! Family trips are pretty awesome too and I love a couples only trip but there is something speical and different about a girls trip.

I'm late to the party but I'm here! Looking forward to your TR!!

Bill!

Hi Mary Ellen! Can't wait to hear about the girls' trip!

glad you could join us

I'm here! Looking forward to hearing all about it.

very happy you are here

Can't wait to read about your trip.

thanks for coming along for the ride!

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks for the heads up! I wouldn't want to miss this TR.

Great start so far. I am impressed with the number of pics you take before you even get to Disney. I always mean to do that and never do!!

I am impressed at the number of pictures she takes before leaving too, I'm lucky to take one and it's usually of what I am eating on the plane!

Great start Cynthia. You boys have really grown. Where has the time gone? I admire you both for running. I hope you both have a blast at the PHM.

Looking forward to this trip report and all the girly fun.

It's crazy how they've grown in the past year. On the NYE trip we were all the same height and by Easter I'd shrunk 2 inches! I have shurnk even more since then. It was funny, like girls on the same cycle. Which did make it a rather expensive spring as they both outgrew everything they owned at the same time.

We had a LOT of girly fun! Running is a funny thing for me, I do it because I ran out of options but it has "stuck" and is definitely a part of my life now. In a milliion years I never thought I could run a half marathon.

Nice to "meet" you, Cynthia. I actually read your whole Aulani TR before we went a few months ago! Oh, also relate to the online things: met DH online (married almost 10 years now too) and went on a girls trip with a fellow DISer last June! Looking forward to hearing all about this trip.

Nice to "meet" you too! I hope the TR was helpful, I am so excited to go back there in April with the E's. I am grateful to the internet, I would never have met Jeff without it and it's given me some wonderful wonderful friends, all over the country!

Great intros Cynthia and love the pictures with Jeff and the kids.

Thanks Kathy!

Great intro Cynthia! Love the pics!

Thanks Wendy!

Oh and....I haven't had time to comment but....Boardwalk for all your nights, absolutely! Limestone trips should be celebrated in milestone ways!

Nice intro Cynthia! Great to see all those photos of you and the fam from around the world. You've really had some great adventures!

Thanks Mark, we have been really blessed. Although your kids win on the how many states game by a landslide.

Cynthia! I look forward to the TR and hopefully some about the race. I get what you mean about your girls trips being something different, in a good way, from trips with your kids or husband. I mean, I guess I don't get the whole girls trip thing per se, but yeah, it is nice to have time with your like minded friends to unwind and get away from things.

Thanks Andy!

Yes, like minded friends is part of it but another big part is simply not having to worry about anyone but yourself. That part is simply lovely!

It was nice of them to warn us.

Or maybe they did and I just missed it?

Oy. I was writing my intro for this and had meant to post it on Sat but flat our ran out of time, it was a super busy day. And then noticed something that said they'd be down all day sunday for migration.

Which to me meant a new server. Definitely not the massive overhaul it turned out to be.

well, better late than never, right? I've had such limited DIS time, and now they've gone and made it look all different! I'm all confused! But I'm here!!

Sheree!!!!! so happy you are here and not late at all, we've done intros and Mary Ellen has landed. It's all fabulous.

Yay, I'm so glad I caught your new TR almost from the beginning, Mary Ellen (even though I guess I'm not worthy of an alert anymore )!

Well I didn't send out a single bat signal, I am horrible about that! I don't know if the new format is better but the old one where you could only PM 5 people made it super frustrating to me.

So awesome that you and Cynthia have remained friends and continue to take trips together!

It IS aweseome!

Okw looks so pretty, I keep meaning to check it out more but I never have the time! Can't wait to see who you're meeting up with!

I adore OKW, definitely one of my favorites, the whole vibe there is SO relaxing to me.

And Cynthia, congrats on the Disneyland half, and doing the Princess soon! I'm considering signing up for it in 2016, but I don't exactly run sooo we'll see!

Can't wait to read more!

I had never run until April of 2015 and when I did register the furthest I had run was a 10K. You can definitely do it!

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks for the bat signal..and now i'm 5 pages late. Geez, one day i'll be as popular as you...maybe.

YAY Alicia!



So happy you are here.

Mary Ellen is crazy popular! I'm glad she sent out bat signals, I suck! LOL.

Cynthia - omgosh that cake is amazing! Who made it?!

It was a custom order through the BC/YC bakery via the cake hotline. They were amazing to work with. We had soem ideas, tosssed them back and forth and this is what we got. It was pretty darn cool! And her reaction was priceless.

Great intro pictures Cynthia! I feel your pain in not seeing the college age kiddos but once or twice a year. Hopefully, Kendall will get to visit sooner rather than later.

Thanks Lisa!

Sadly, no, it is very likely it will be the end of June before we see much of her. It's expensive to fly back and forth. Hopefully we will see her a little over spring break, I hope to firm that up this weekend.

You and Mary Ellen make this old gal feel like a dang loafer, a no-good lazy couch potato. Lately, the only exercise that I've gotten is taking the new puppy in and out to pee and you-know-what.

Loafer is NOT a word that comes to mind with I think of you. At all!

Hi guuuuuurlz, I'm here. Better late than never. Thank you for the PM.

Jenny! I'm so glad Mary Ellen did some PM's, I am horrible at that.

That's crazy that you guys have taken three trips together already! I just love the fact that the DIS brings us all together.

No, there is absolutely no such thing as too many visits to the Ditch. Never.

The PHM is going to be soooooo much fun! I can't wait to see everyone and to have the run of my life.

Nope, non such thing as too many visits to the Ditch. Pretty neat about the 3 trips huh!

PHM is going to be a blast. It better be as I'm trying to talk Mary Ellen into W&D 2016 as our next girls trip.

Hey ladies, I'm subbing in! I love your TRs and am looking forward to another one. Good luck on the Princess 1/2, I'm looking forward to running that in 2016, runDisney events are just on a whole other level (anda whole other price range)

They are on a whole 'nother price range that is for sure. It is killing me to sit out the early regi for the DL half and then not sign up next week. I really really want to do it again but UGH it is pricey.

Subbing....er...."watching" in. Will be back to read!

PIO!

Watching in huh? LOL!

 

[eandesmom]

Rosie!

Thanks for the warm welcome, Ladies!

You guys take awesome looking trips... maybe someday in my future a little more of the West can meet with the East in the South. Love all the photos and look forward to the stories.

and in the meantime (when you aren't, oh I know, CRAZY busy with life and school....) ROAD TRIP up north. LOL!

Ugh, after the upgrade I"m not getting email notifications! Caught up on 3 pages and Cynthia's intro.

Jill in CO

I'm not getting a single email either. I am seeing alerts once I am logged in but no emails. I suppose I should double check the alert settings on all my threads, ugh.

Looking forward to reading along. I travel with a friend I met here too and ironically we have been to Disney around the same time you have been there. We had a trip in October 2012 and again in May 2014. Sadly she has other plans this year so no 2015 trip for us. I am doing an almost totally solo trip though.

I would love to be able to do something like a marathon but unfortunately 6 knee surgeries and torn cartilage in my ankle make walking difficult let alone running.

we are thrilled to have you here. I am so sorry to hear about all the knee surgeries, that is awful. I love hearing about all the DIS friend trips!

I enjoyed your intro, Cynthia! Once again, can I tell you how impressed I am at your "little hikes" at Gros Piton and Koko Head! Fantastic pictures of you and Jeff there and of the rest of your family in your intro.

Well I don't know that I'd call either of those "little" though to be fair they were less hikes than a rock climb and a stairmaster excercise. They weren't long but oh, they weren't easy. I would call Diamond Head little. So glad we did them though!

I understand why you posted the pictures of Mary Ellen with the cake. That is so her![/QUOTE

Isn't it? One of my favorite memories.

It was fun reading about the evolution of your friendship with Mary Ellen. Having had my first "internet friend interlude" this past summer, I get it. I loved the looks of horror I got when I told friends I was staying in a room at Disney with a woman I have never met before. I truly treasure the kind, supportive friends I have made here through the DIS and what we share is so much more than a love of the Mouse.

Now, bring on the Ditch (or wherever you are headed)

I think I lucked out, I have had some other online friends from a different forum that I've been friends with now for 15 years so the fam was possibly a little less wierded out by it. Poor Mary Ellen on that first, and even later trips, her boys (Brian I think mostly) was really concerned I was a crazy person.

Wow! I'm very late to this party! I'll have to read up later.

You aren't late at all, only intro's so far and Mary Ellen has landed.

I am so happy you are here! (and I now have all my flights for April/May!)

I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions about Old Key West on your PTR. There isn't really a good discussion thread about this resort. Anyway, we will be taking the Magical express for our quick, three night stay at OKW. I'm assuming that the ME drops you off at Hospitality House. How do you get to your villa from there? The resort looks very spread out. Is everything within walking distance or do you need to take the bus?

There is an internal bus loop that takes you to all the various areas. It depends on where you are as far as walking. I almost always walk but, I like to walk! It can be far, or not, depending on your villa location.

I can't wait to read about your PHM. I ran the Disney half marathon with my sister many years ago and it is fun to relive the memories while reading about your experiences. I see they still make you get on the bus to race start at 3:30am.

Yes, I am NOT looking forward to that part of it. DL was lovely, we could just stroll over at 4:30

Same and I feel lost and behind.

You aren't behind. Lost.... well, that's my normal state of being.

I am finding that if I go to my watched threads and post, magically I start getting email notifications. So frustrating!

Jill in CO

Interesting, I tried that but still no emails

I am trying very hard not to bail and just KIT via FB but I know I'll miss so much if I do.

I know what you mean. Problem with FB is it selecting your feeds so even there I can miss stuff folks post as somehoe it decided it's not important. I love the pics on FB but you don't get the same kind of narrative either. Don't leave me Jenny!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Finally here. I am so in love with the fact that you all do trips together after meeting on DISboards. That just makes me happy.

Hmmmmmmmm... given the current state of WDW in general, the constrcution pics are sadly appropriate Mary Ellen.

 

[MEK]

Great start Cynthia. You boys have really grown. Where has the time gone? I admire you both for running. I hope you both have a blast at the PHM.

Looking forward to this trip report and all the girly fun.

Isn't amazing how much her boys have grown. They are in high school. Before she knows it, they will be in college. Time flies.

I am nervous and excited about the PHM all at once. I am not close to Cynthia's speed. I am going to be happy just to finish it!

Nice to "meet" you, Cynthia. I actually read your whole Aulani TR before we went a few months ago! Oh, also relate to the online things: met DH online (married almost 10 years now too) and went on a girls trip with a fellow DISer last June! Looking forward to hearing all about this trip.

Cynthia's Aulani TR was really awesome. I know if I ever go to Aulani I will go back and read yours and hers again.

Great intros Cynthia and love the pictures with Jeff and the kids.

I totally agree!

I may have some help with those questions. Maybe a PM or is it now a conversation??? Heck I don't know.

Cynthia posted most of the hard info but I know someone with first hand knowledge. Remember we will be happy to get Denny around.

Marv texted me some info the other day as well. I guess the main thing I want to know is if Denny can take the same

Great intro Cynthia! Love the pics!