Our Magically Dysfunctional Gathering

[tiggerwannabe]

OMG!! I just noticed...you're from Jersey? I'm from Jersey! Exit 8A! LOL - naw...just lived in Trenton for a few years...

But in noticing you were from Jersey.....GULP...You're NOT....could you be? Naw...YOU aren't So-And-So, ARE YOU!?!?!?

Anywhooo....

We're going to be there from the 2nd (possibly the 1st instead) thru the 9th...can't wait...getting closer...I may add on a night at the AKL on the first and then the 2nd-9th we're staying at the Poly...

How's your plans coming so far?

Nah...I work with all guys

Exit 7a here Lived here all my life...

Awesome! I've done first week of December a few times

Weather's good, decos are GORGEOUS! I'd say atmosphere is Magical but isn't it always oh yeah, and crowds are usually low

I've stayed at AKL, Loved It~

Never did Poly tho...can't wait to read all about it

off to read your current installment

 

[tiggerwannabe]

It's comin along, thanks for asking...

So far I've gotten a price on a timeshare condo ...

offsite...

I know...but for less than $200 for 4 days I'm not complaining~

hubby has an Aunt in Melbourne, we'll have to visit with her and his dad a few days~

my mission is to get 2 to 3 days on property in between all that, POP is ranked high on my list as of today

OMG...I can soooo feel your joy

Fabulous writing in another wonderful installment.

 

[Lauralee131]

Nah...I work with all guys

Me too! Working in construction definitely has its' benefits...I don't feel obligated to buy the guys anything when I go on vacation!! Think of how much money DSIL could have saved if she worked with a bunch of construction workers!

Awesome! I've done first week of December a few times

Weather's good, decos are GORGEOUS! I'd say atmosphere is Magical but isn't it always oh yeah, and crowds are usually low

That's good to hear! I've been hoping it'll be at least a bit warmer than when we usually go around the end of January...We're hoping to hit Typhoon Lagoon this time. I have yet to go to either one of the water parks...can you believe that? I promised DH that I would "allow us" to do relaxing things like checking out Typhoon Lagoon and maybe taking the time to check out some of the other resort grounds, etc. "Well, alright...I'll TRY to relax..." I just don't know if it's possible. I tend to not sleep and want to be on the go from sun-up to whenever I can't keep my eyes open anymore...Ok, so this will be the new, improved me! I vow to (try and) relax on my vacation! [/QUOTE]

I've stayed at AKL, Loved It~

I'm really excited to see this place...and I'm (trying very hard) to keep it to myself...a little surprise would be nice for the guys. I figure we've got about a 10 hour drive so if I can get them to leave here early in the morning we can get there by maybe 4 or 5 so we'll have time to tour the resort, eat at Boma, etc...maybe even stories by the fire? I'm excited!

Never did Poly tho...can't wait to read all about it

It's been years since I've stayed at the Poly...has always been a favorite though and I'm looking forward to going back! I'll totally be doing another trippie and will tell ya all about it!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

I'm thinkin any trip without tagalongs will be waaaay better than the last...

IMO, you simply have to be flexible...like when you went shopping

I went and grabbed a little incentive for you from my photobucket~

 

[PrincessV]

Awwwww, you made me want to go give my little space ranger a hug with that last installment!
Congrats on joining the DVC! My plan is to get my HELOC paid down and then maybe, maybe get in on some DVC action...

 

[MainStMandy]

Oh great installment!!!

We just sold our DVC....it's almost like when one dies, one is born again, haha

I'm jealous...if you ever need a babysitter...I'm a combo...nanny PLUS tourguide!!

 

[mmmcq]

Hi Lauralee...... I was gone all day yesterday and all last night and didn't have a second to check DIS. (Actually I was watching Project Runway and Top Chef....my two fav shows because my teens got me hooked.) And while I'm gone you not only file an installment - but you purchase DVC. How did you keep this from us for so long? Congrats.

It's that non-pressurized Disney Sales approach. It gets you every time. They don't try to close the sale and then you do it for them. Worked for us twice! I think it's a spell. And the blue skies over the castle (like in your picture) well that's all inside the bubble.

Okay, you have to finish your TR now..... please?

 

[sherreis]

We've been to exit 8A all the time when SIL lived outside E. Brunswick. They just moved to Lancaster, PA so no more NJT for us!!!!!

Congrats on your DVC purchase. I have a feeling you will definitely get your money's worth on that one. I know my DH would never go for such a purchase - it's taken him years to agree to finally going to DW next month.

Your day at MK was awesome. I teared up reading about Michael and Buzz. I've never interacted with the characters when I've been there before, but, it sure seems that Buzz did a great job.

 

[Lauralee131]

((Sniff, Sniff))…Ok, sorry – where was I…ah yes…reflecting on my baby’s first trip to Walt Disney World…anywhooooo…



I continued walking through the MK and getting my head back on straight…I went through Fantasyland, Liberty Square…I walked around the MK one last time for this trip and had the events of the past week, both good and bad, racing through my head. And then that’s when I felt it…that oh-so-familiar fluttering in my stomach…Uh oh…here it comes…It’s that “Oh no-I have to go back to reality tomorrow - “utz” that I get in my tummy…I hate that feeling…and then of course, as is typical with me, I started to get a little weepy. So imagine the sight I was…walking through the MK, all alone, eyes all welled up…I can just imagine what others around me were thinking! The “utz” and the weepiness are typical with me the day before I leave and it continues up until I leave, but this one was different…more intense, more “utzy” than ever before…and there was a slight hint of rumbly in my tumbly…Hmmmm…maybe that’s what it is…I need something to nosh on…



But then the right side of my head started tingling and I knew what was coming….any of you folks out there have an “anxiety disorder” as my lovely doctor likes to refer to it?? Well, that’s how it starts for me…the right side of my head starts tingling and then my fingertips…it’s odd, I know…but hey – I’m odd, so it all makes sense, I guess…



So there I am at the happiest place on earth with a full-blown anxiety attack coming on. And of course, I didn’t have my “Mother’s Little Helpers” with me. Great. So I proceed to try and walk it off and do some breathing exercises…Luckily, the dole whip stand was within sight, so I grabbed one and sat down for a few minutes…focusing on the sounds around me and tuning out the “noise” inside my own head!



I was feeling better and my Dole whip was gone so I decided that I’d had to head back to the hotel soon – we had PS’s at Cape May Café tonight…Gulp…All of us did…



Breathe….just breathe….



I got back to the hotel and the guys were still in the pool having a good old time…I grabbed a lounge chair and hung out with them for a bit and then Cruella and Horace came out, looking like teenagers in love…



Gotta be honest with you…that kind of weirded me out. But anyway, they were in a good mood…I don’t care HOW they got there…



We all got ready and headed up to the bus stop. I suggest taking the bus to DTD and transferring to the Beach Club…Nope…Cruella growled at that…I was being ridiculous…didn’t know what I was talking about and “they” were not going to spend all night trapped on buses. Their solution was to take the bus to Epcot and walk through the park to get to the restaurant…Ummmm…well, Ok, I guess…obviously you’re well traveled…you would know better…so we sit on the bench and wait for the Epcot bus…



Ooh…here comes one! Is that it?? Ummm…nope – that’s the DTD bus…the whole gang lets out a collective sigh and plops their butts back on the bench…Ooooh…here comes another one…THIS must be it, right?? Nope…MGM….so do you see where I’m going here with this? Well, it took nearly an hour for the Epcot bus to arrive…don’t ask me why…Karma, perhaps…



So the Epcot bus finally comes and Cruella nearly rips the driver’s head off…Oh, Cruella, you’re back! By the time we get to security at Epcot, we have 15 minutes to get to the Beach Club for dinner to make our PS. DH and I decide it’d be faster to get a stroller and we scooped one up, plopped DS into it and off we ran…all through the park and out to the resorts…a couple of times Cruella screeched that she had to stop…butt break, you know…Then of course, we had to turn the stroller in and my poor little guy was tired from a day in the pool and his little legs just couldn’t go very fast. And then, yet another butt break was had. I just kept walking with DS. He was going so slow that it didn’t take very long for the rest to catch up to us. UGH…we finally get over there, out of breath, starving and nearly a half hour late, we meander our way through the construction that’s going on and make our way to the restaurant…there’s several people waiting to be seated and I turn around to my gang and they’re nowhere to be seen…the host said he can’t seat our party until the rest of them show up…where were they? Of course, another butt break. Now, let’s not forget, I’m a smoker too, but I have priorities….Disney first, nicotine later…



They finally show up and we’re shown to our table…something’s not right though…the restaurant is dark…they explain to us that the power is out and they’re trying to get it back on. Our waitress comes and explains that the power’s been out for quite some time but we should go ahead and hit the buffet, but do it quickly as the food’s going and they didn’t know when they’d get the kitchen up and running. Cruella went berserk on the poor girl, but of course headed to the buffet with Horace and DH while DS and I stayed at the table…Cruella and Horace came back with plates heaped with what appeared to be scraps and the bottom of the barrel and ate away. I went up and there was NOTHING, I mean NOTHING left…I chatted with someone for a minute and went back to the table. My boys were starving – I could see it on their faces…Cruella and Horace had eaten everything on their plates and called the waitress over and proceeded to tear her head off now because there was nothing for them to eat and they were leaving. She promptly gave them their check and Cruella flipped out, demanding to see a manager. Now, I could see not wanting to pay if you hadn’t eaten, like us, but they ate and there they are refusing to pay. We should have all just left when they told us there was a problem, but we were hopeful it was a temporary outage.



The manager was nowhere to be found and Cruella went in search of him and then came back in time to catch the waitress and let her have it once more for good measure. Everyone decided to leave. Cruella refused to pay her bill and threatened their lives if they used her table service credit for this. I followed them out and felt so bad for the waitress that I went back in and gave her $10.00. None of the others considered the fact that she probably wasn’t making any money that night and I probably should have given her more, just for dealing with Cruella, but all I had on me was a ten, so I gave it to her. The poor thing looked like she was ready to cry. So off we went, back to Epcot. I suggested we go down by the Boardwalk to eat, but no…back to Epcot we went. My poor little man was so tired, I felt so bad for him. It was EMH at Epcot that night too…no way I was going to be able to get him to stay out much longer. I managed to get him back to Epcot and we were lucky enough to get a stroller back. Off we went in search of food…

 

[mmmcq]

Thank you for the next installment....but now I'm starving. I can't believe the "last" day you had.

 

[Eeyore's Tiara]

Okay, so where in Epcot did you find to eat without ADRs??? The suspense is killing me.....

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

OMG, I felt so bad for you guys as I read the latest Cruella episode; you know what though, I knew when they rushed up to the buffet and heaped their plates with food that she had no intention of paying for it.

Some people; what's a person to do?

 

[Lauralee131]

Okay, so where in Epcot did you find to eat without ADRs??? The suspense is killing me.....

Exactly...No ADR's...right before Illuminations...Hmmmm...I wonder what will happen next!! Like a soap opera, isn't it? I really wanted to go to Super Soap Weekend, but I had enough drama in February!!!

I'm getting to post the rest of my night at Epcot...stay tuned...you'll see where (and what) we eat!! Are your Spidey senses tingling yet???

 

[PrincessV]

I'm definitely all-a-tingle.... but that could be the meds...
Maybe somewhere exotic and not as popular? Morrocco? Nine dragons?

Yes, I know I'm not supposed to be reading any more until I write more of my own TR. But it's been a really bad mroning and I needed some laughs!

 

[Lauralee131]

We started back at the beginning of World Showcase in our quest for food…Mexico. Yep, you heard right. We walked all the way around and started again in Mexico…can you believe that? DH and I love eating in San Angel…well, I love drinking there more than anything…they’ve always made me margaritas that kick my butt… We all go in and Cruella and Horace don’t really want to eat here so we move on…DH and I grab a couple of margaritas each for the walk…they don’t even want to LOOK at Norway - too "foreign" for these expert travelers from New Jersey, I guess…Oh, and the whole week I never even got to ride the Maelstrom this trip. What a couple of buzz-kills those 2 are…



We go on to China…and surprise, nope they don’t want to eat there either…don’t even want to go in and look around…this is depressing…my “utz” is coming back…and so is that rumbly in my tumbly…I’m Starvin’ Marvin’ and it’s making me cranky…they of course insist on stopping to smoke. Let's not forget my poor little man trapped in the stroller. He's pretty freakin' hungry too...guess small children don't matter to them...Luckily I had snacks on me, but come on...the little guy has been going all day with very little food since he ate lunch...PICK SOMETHING!!!



Germany…Yummm…I want to eat at Biergarten…uh-uh…no-go for Germany, either. Uh oh – it’s not looking good for the home team…Cruella just took her cigarettes out again…Yep…she’s not walking any further until she has a cigarette…Great, sure…don’t worry – we’re not HUNGRY or anything…



Ooooh – we’re coming up on Italy…I’m practically jumping up and down insisting on eating here…I can’t take it any more…I grab cannoli’s…a gal’s gotta eat, right? Well, Cruella disappeared…anyone want to guess where she was? Anyone? Shopping of course…then they all drag me on…



Ok, so we’re on the last night of our vacation…we’re starving and it’s 8:00…know where we end up eating? Want to know what we had? Out of anywhere in the World we could have eaten…Huh, huh? Do you? Well, on our very last night of vacation, we ended up with some nasty, leather-shoe-tasting burgers and Budweiser in the American Adventure…Can you believe it? I'm asking myself the very same question you are all probably yelling at the computer right now....WHY? Why didn't you just take your little family and walk away and go and get a nice dinner and try and salvage the last night of your vacation?? Answer: I don't know...I was a part of this dysfunctional pack of jackals and got dragged around by an invisible chain...I shake my head at MYSELF, for not walking, no - not RUNNING - far, far away and trying to find a decent meal...Needless to say, I was furious ...not a happy camper and DH was pretty aggravated too...I think at this point ALL of us just wanted to get away from ALL of the rest of us!!



We finish our lousy burgers and finish our stroll around the World Showcase. I now am angry and have a pretty good buzz going and I continue drinking all around the world… we decide to stake out a place for Illuminations and as we approach the Rose & Crown I get the GIANT beer…I figure this ought to hold me for awhile.



We end up over by Showcase Plaza in time for Cruella to do a bit of last minute shopping before the fireworks. She probably forgot to get something for the cable guy. Horace goes in as well…he decided to surprise Cruella and buy her a snow globe she’s been eyeing all week…it was over $100 and she didn’t want to spend the money on herself. He was pretty proud of himself for managing SOMEHOW to get in, pay for it, make shipping arrangements and get out without being seen.



However, she saw him coming and demanded to know where he’d been and what he’d been doing…he of course, didn’t want to tell her and ruin the surprise and made her suspicious and guess what? Full blown argument, right there outside the store and right through all of Illuminations…He finally had to bring her in the store and show her what he bought for her…Then – and you probably can all guess what’s coming next…she got mad at him for spoiling the surprise!!! Another fight that lasted all the way to the bus…I can't take it...get these crazy lunatics away from me! They're freaking me out!!!



So that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I spent the last full night of my Magically Dysfunctional Gathering…Good bye Epcot…I’ll be back soon…



Tomorrow actually – I have to come back in the morning to pick up my Photopass CD and hopefully, FINALLY ride Soarin’ before we head to Crystal Palace for our last big group meal…Looking forward to that…NOT. How do you think tomorrow will go????



Stay tuned Mousketeers, same old trip report, same tired old crap…

 

[Lauralee131]

I'm definitely all-a-tingle.... but that could be the meds...

Family trip coming up? Pop 'em if you got 'em!!! See...I knew I wasn't the only person who gets "the tingles"...You know, I might actually enjoy them if they covered my entire head and not just one half...I feel like half of Pinhead from the Hellraiser movies!!! And by that time, probably nearly as scary looking!!

Maybe somewhere exotic and not as popular? Morrocco? Nine dragons?

Good guesses, V...but wrong...You'll see...

Yes, I know I'm not supposed to be reading any more until I write more of my own TR. But it's been a really bad mroning and I needed some laughs!

LMAO at you...I can't help it either...and hey - glad to know that you're laughing at me and not with me...errr...isn't it supposed to be the other way around??? Ummm...well, regardless...if my TR saves just one person from taking a family vacation....OR....if my TR makes just one person's bad day look better.... Ummm....well, glad I could help?

 

[Lauralee131]

OMG, I felt so bad for you guys as I read the latest Cruella episode; you know what though, I knew when they rushed up to the buffet and heaped their plates with food that she had no intention of paying for it.

Some people; what's a person to do?

Can you believe them? Can you imagine how they looked to people who didn't know them? OMG - so embarrassing...NEVER AGAIN... I don't think I'll ever even go to Wal-Mart with her again, if and when we see each other in the future!!!

 

[Lauralee131]

ET - maybe, just maybe....my vacation would have been better if I had a tiara???

Like you say in your signature? Maybe my problems all could have been solved if I wore a tiara AND took extra meds...

What a sight I'd have been...

A princess high on pixie dust...

You know, it doesn't sound all that bad to me!!!

 

[OhMari]

...if my TR saves just one person from taking a family vacation...

Oh, you have me totally convinced not to ask my in-laws along next April. If they want to go, they can do their own planning, or go they can go with my mother-in-laws (sister). My in-laws know what a Travel Agaent is. The only thing is, it is so hard not to talk about WDW when they are around, I really have to hold my tongue.

 

[aries1980]

I finally got to the last page and let me tell you I love your trip report and I think you have the patience of a saint. And I must be absolutely crazy because I have a MAGICAL GATHERING OF 25 FAMILY MEMEBERS SO FAR GOING ALL TOGETHER!!! I think I'll be hitting up there drinks all day to sane for that one, because we are all from New Jersey too!