Overdue and Overpacked III: A Tale of Two Cities ~Last Chapter~ 8/22 Page 33

[Chapter 11]

She had us checked in lickity split

Again with the licking. I'm sensing a theme.

prenager

Love that word. So very, very apt.

Easy as pie.

Now there's a phrase I just don't get. What's so easy about pie? Having baked cakes, pies and various other dessert confections, I'd have to say that slice and bake cookies are a heck of a lot easier to make. Or a nice cobbler. Perhaps the phrase refers to the pie's rather loose morals? That could be -- pies do tend to have that "come hither" look in their eyes. You know -- if pies had eyes. Which mine don't. Mostly.

The worst picture I’ve ever taken of a bathroom.

Don't sell yourself short -- you've taken worse pictures.

Say that five times really fast.

That, that, that, that, that. Heh.

It’s quite possibly the worst picture I’ve ever taken of the arches.

Again, I'm sensing a theme.

Wonderful installment. You do know how to build excitement, and leave us wanting more.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Can't wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids must have freaked when you took them to the P & P Party!

 

[Briarmom]

Yeehaw! Can't wait to read about the P&P.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Mrs. First Day on the Job and Still Going Through Training

Miss I Only Know About Meals at Universal and Then I’m Not Even Sure About Those.

Poor people probably had to wear their names on sandwhich boards instead of regular ol' nametages.

We talked for a pretty good while and within that time, they shared several tips with us. Normally at Disney, this is the time where my eyes glaze over because I usually already know every piece of Disney knowledge random strangers lay on us there. Yes, I know about Fastpass. And yes, I know it’s free. But this time we were able to glean some pretty useful knowledge from the family we met on our first day of vacation. We were the rookies here. Not them. That was a weird feeling.

It was like meeting the Universal LaLas. Straight out of some alternate universe. They didn't lick you, did they? Because then you'd really know.

I immediately straighten out my entire hand and drop it like it’s hot.

I picked it up with a really big leaf and held it at arm’s length the entire walk over to the gift shop. With my hazards on.

shuffle anything else that I didn’t want to throw away right then into the bag. With the leaf.

Picturing this makes me laugh hysterically. And for some reason, in my mind, it's one of those big as all get out banana leaves.

Curved shower rods.

Mental note: Royal Pacific=Non-Shower Curtain Hug Facility. Good to know.

Two shower heads.

THIS would've been the bomb diggity for me.

Yay for the update La!

 

[praisehisname]

Great update, La! Love the pictures of your room. It looks really beautiful. The pool area reminds me a little of Stormalong Bay at The Beach Club.

I hope the rain didn't spoil your evening at the P&P Party. Can't wait to hear all about it!

Denise

 

[ZZUB]

Then I proceeded to give him a short little information download on the setup of the restaurant, price per person, typical menu selections, mine and my husband’s personal preferences, cost and detailed description of the slipper dessert, a typical traffic flow pattern of the characters’ rotation within the dining room, our own personal tip on how to distinguish Suzy from Perla, an exact transcript of our most recent conversation with the Fairy Godmother, along with the approximate salt and butter content of each individual dish on the buffet.

If I was the kind of person who laughed out loud, then this would have made me LAUGH FREAKIN OUT LOUD! Especially your knowledge of the character traffic flow. DED! You are one of the worst writers on the TR board, but I swear you can find the funny when you need to. This was good stuff.

Sound the bell, school’s in, sucka.

Did you make that up or is that a thing, b/c that is hy-larious! And what's more, I can totally imagine you saying that to someone. Totally. Dude. That's right up there with, "The chemical abbreviation for sodium is NaCL." Which is one of Mrs. Z's favorite lines from West Wing. It's her go-to line when she wants to let me know that I'm stupid but I'm not stupid. Kills me DED.

They were Oblivious and Clueless once again.

No, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Don't sell yourself short -- you've taken worse pictures

DED! Yeah, I know, quoting other poster's responses is bad show, but this line was so funny it had to be commented on.

Speaking of the bathroom, the towels are touching the top of the tank! Gross!! You didn't use those did you?! I don't know why they do that. I aint using any towel that touches any part of the toilet. That just aint kosher.

 

[DJR]

You’ll have to forgive me if I got a little snap happy with the camera. My habit of taking pictures of anything and everything while we’re on vacation is something that I (unfortunately) passed onto our children on this trip. Every time we went to a restaurant and we were served, they’d hold out their greasy little hands for the camera. In order to take a picture of their food. No, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Just as I was about to compliment you on your picture taking skills, you give us this...

And this...

Are you sure you're not a coffee drinker? Next time, try the decaf.

 

[nicolemarie]

At some point, we may have asked if there was any possibility that we could get an upgraded room. Twice. Softly at first and then very loudly. With hand gestures. Plural. At some point we may have crashed and burned. Once. With a return hand gesture. Singular. Apparently they were all out of free upgrades that day.

Lemme see if I'm understanding this correctly. You ASKED them if they had a FREE upgrade? Has that ever worked in your favor? I mean, I've heard of being GIVEN a free upgrade. I've even received one. Or two. Actually, three. But if you ASK, will you RECEIVE? I'm interested to know. Because I'm not opposed to asking.

He was still fuming about the Spiderman glasses and was too busy thinking his prenager (which is, in his words, a cross between a preteen and a teenager, and applies to all boys who have reached the ripe old age of ten, or so he says) thoughts to be impressed with a Magna Doodle suitable for wearing on his belt buckle. Just like his little sister was doing.

And his mom.

Of all the funny as all get out stuff you wrote in this installment, somehow, this was one of the best to me. The mental picture I have of you with a Magna Doodle attached to your belt loops as you rock out to Jungle Love is just too much. DED.

And yes, I know neither of you really did it.

I tried to hold back, giving her time to be the hero. But it was all just too much for me to take. If I held it another second, I would’ve literally burst at the seams. If I had seams.

1900 Park Fare!

I blurted out.

Much louder than I probably should have. And faster than the speed of light. Or the speed of sound. Minus the five second rule. And then I dropped my eyes. Sheepishly. As I kicked the floor with my toe.

LA!!!! I'm SO DED!!! This just cracks me up. Because us Disney geeks can't WAIT to spill some knowledge on folks when we're AT Disney World. But get us outside Walt's 47, and THEN give us an opportunity to inform a newbie, and we can hardly contain it. Again with the mental images, too. Girl, you're good.

As I walked around with my mouth open and the kids squealed at the sight of the pool, DH smiled like a little kid and kept saying in a semi high pitched voice, “I told you! I told you!”

This is yet a third example of your great way with words. I can LITERALLY see this happening. DH is ready to try something besides Disney World, and his reluctant little family obliges him. While they are really excited about the trip, they fully expect it might fall short of the World. Then they all realize - as he already has - that vacations do not begin and end with the Mouse. And now they are as on board as he is. Which he likes.

We took a look at the menu, which I conveniently took a picture of.

Thanks. I'll have the Sun-Bathed Creamy Shrimp and Spinach Dip. Yum.

This is always the point where we’re the most excited on our trips. The point where we’ve just checked in and we’re checking out our resort. The point where we’re as far away from the end of our vacation as we can get and still be there. The days ahead are full of possibilities and the promise of fun yet to come.

We had that same fun meal last Friday at Hurricane Hannah's. And ironically, it was as we swam and enjoyed ourselves before the P&PP that WE'D attend later that night. Same as y'all. Although our trip was just a little quick weekend, and it would be over almost as soon as it started, that meal was a good time. We were all excited, happy and ready for some fun.

I studied her face for a moment and then blurted out “Obviously you’ve never ridden a Disney bus. Sound the bell, school’s in, sucka.”

I said it not so much to her but more in my head and to myself.

While I did the Hamma.

Girl, you know you ain't right, don't cha?

I immediately straighten out my entire hand and drop it like it’s hot.

Then run and jump in the pool. Because it was the closest source of chlorine available.

Regular garbage is one thing. That’s bad enough. But Orlando garbage is something else entirely. There ain’t a bit of telling what lurks underneath the surface in that mess. But how cool was our waiter to go look in the garbage for a packet of info? Even though it was completely and utterly disgusting, I was still impressed.

And disgusted.

More impressed than disgusted though. Okay, who am I kidding? I’m LaLa. Germ freak extraordinaire. I was way more disgusted than impressed. Which is why I picked it up with a really big leaf and held it at arm’s length the entire walk over to the gift shop. With my hazards on. I scored a small bag from the clerk (along with a really funny puzzled stare) and found a quiet place to weed through the contents and throw out what couldn’t be salvaged and shuffle anything else that I didn’t want to throw away right then into the bag. With the leaf. Then I washed up in the bathroom and bathed my entire body in antibacterial gel.

Three times. Then once again. For good measure.

DED. DED. DED. Then once again DED. For good measure.

Planner Extraordinaire meets Germaphobe.

Who will win?

It was nice. Really nice.

The rooms were probably about the size of a moderate. Maybe just a tad bigger. Which was fine for the four of us for a few nights. Say that five times really fast. The storage space was sufficient, the queen beds were incredibly comfortable, the bathroom was HUGE (with cool as all get out light fixtures: dimmer ones) but even better than that, there was a lei waiting in the room for us.

That's me donning my flame-proof suit. Because I'm just gonna come right out with this. The Royal Pacific isn't considered Universal's deluxe resort, is it?

Disney can take some notes. That room looks NICE. As nice as ANY Disney Deluxe resort. And as of last weekend, I've stayed in all of them.

That place is fine, La. Kinda makes me want to go there sometime.

Yes, I know. It’s quite possibly the worst picture I’ve ever taken of the arches.

La, you know I love ya. And you KNOW I've got your back. Most of the time. But I've got to go with Chappie here. SOME of your photography is just a WEE bit blurry. But I do still love ya.

When the kids saw the arches and realized they were actually going to the House of Mouse instead of Arby’s, they went NUTS. It was ridiculous. There was a lot of pointing and squealing and seat dancing and high pitched screaming. Mostly from me. And them. They squealed and my husband and I guffawed. Which is different than just a regular laugh. It was a very, very cool moment filled with a huge swell of happiness and a ton of excited anticipation.

It was a moment I won’t soon forget.

As we took turns laughing and yelling “Smack me three times, we’re in Disneyworld!” along with other variations of the phrase, we saw it. And the girl shrieked and pointed.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Love this, La. There IS something special about all the familiarity we feel at Disney World, isn't there? Whatever it is that your family cherishes about the place - whether it be driving under the Arches, seeing that first bus, hearing the Spanish monorail announcement, having a Mickey bar - whatever. That's what's so fun. Reliving those special times over and over again.

Girl, GREAT installment. I can't wait to hear all about the P&PP and all the fun y'all had there. Keep these installments rolling - I'm in for the ride.

 

[DVCTiff]

Don't tell me I'm going to have to go to MY PP&P party without reading about yours first?!?! How will I survive without knowing how you did it first? I'll have no memories from strangers to draw on!

Okay, we'll just wing it, and I'll compare notes when I'm back!

Can't wait to return to the rest of you TR!

 

[Tanya90210]

Wow... that hotel is just gorgous!

Ewwwww.... trashed and then handed back to ya!! I don't blame you for sanitizing... multiple times... I think i would have done the exact same thing


Yay for heading to WDW

 

[dizprincess717]

There was a lot of pointing and squealing and seat dancing and high pitched screaming. Mostly from me.

Psh. Don't blame the rain for your bad picture taking "skillz" - you were obviously seat dance while snapping this gem. My guess is the cabbage patch.

PS - This has got to be one of the best TR's I've stumbled across. It's hysterical!!!

 

[burly]

Great update. Gonna be there in 15 days. I'm so excited. Doin' WDW first and then Universal so we can use the benefits of the room key cards.
Can't wait to hear about the partay!

 

[LaLa]

Does that menu say "Little Kahuna Poo" in the middle!?! Cause... ew!

Could be worse. It could be Big Kahuna Poo.

Also, what a gorgeous resort! Am I allowed to ask how comparable the prices are to Disney? Is comparable even a word? Heh!

No and yes.

Actually, the price per night was somewhere between the cost for a moderate and the cost for a standard room at AKL. But the difference with Universal and/or Loews is that they are always offering some sort of promotional package that will usually come with length of stay park tickets free with the cost of your room. Which is what we were able to score. And when you factor that in, it brings the total cost of the package way down, making it possible to stay at Universal for less cash than at Disney. If we're comparing apples to apples.

Having baked cakes, pies and various other dessert confections, I'd have to say that slice and bake cookies are a heck of a lot easier to make. Or a nice cobbler.

You know, when I woke up this morning, I never imagined today would be the day I would picture Chappie slaving away in the kitchen, baking up pies, cobbler and various other dessert confections. For the garden club's annual bake sale. Good for you, Chappie. And for the record, I like chocolate chunk cookies and peach cobbler. Feel free to throw some my way just as soon as you clean up that mess you made. And don't forget that flour on the ceiling. By the way, the next time you make eclairs, you should squeeze some processed cheese in the middle of 'em. You know, kick it up a notch. And then yell "BAM!" The garden club won't know what hit 'em.

Don't sell yourself short -- you've taken worse pictures.

That's Number One.

Again, I'm sensing a theme.

You don't want to know what I'm sensing.

A Keurig coffee maker? For reals?

For really reals.

Picturing this makes me laugh hysterically. And for some reason, in my mind, it's one of those big as all get out banana leaves.

How did you KNOW it was a banana leaf?! That's just freaky.

Great update, La! Love the pictures of your room. It looks really beautiful. The pool area reminds me a little of Stormalong Bay at The Beach Club.

I hope the rain didn't spoil your evening at the P&P Party. Can't wait to hear all about it!

Denise

Thanks, Denise. I can't wait to tell about it. It was a very memorable evening, to put it mildly.

Did you make that up or is that a thing, b/c that is hy-larious! And what's more, I can totally imagine you saying that to someone. Totally. Dude. That's right up there with, "The chemical abbreviation for sodium is NaCL." Which is one of Mrs. Z's favorite lines from West Wing. It's her go-to line when she wants to let me know that I'm stupid but I'm not stupid. Kills me DED.

Okay, this is where your wife and I are different. She quotes West Wing for fun and I quote MC Hamma. And yes ZZUB. Those eloquent words you took such a liking to are from none other than Mr. 2L 2Quit himself. When are you going to stop frontin' and pull out the big yellow suit you've had stuffed away in the closet since the 80s?

Hey Hey.

Speaking of the bathroom, the towels are touching the top of the tank! Gross!! You didn't use those did you?! I don't know why they do that. I aint using any towel that touches any part of the toilet. That just aint kosher.

So what are you saying, ZZUB? You can't touch this? And just so you won't be lying awake worrying about this all weekend, we did not use the hand towels. Once we had housekeeping bring up extra towels, there was no need. We had ourselves a little surplus going. But thanks for your concern.

Just as I was about to compliment you on your picture taking skills, you give us this...

Are you sure you're not a coffee drinker? Next time, try the decaf.

That's number two.

La, you know I love ya. And you KNOW I've got your back. Most of the time. But I've got to go with Chappie here. SOME of your photography is just a WEE bit blurry. But I do still love ya.

AND THREE!! From NM, of ALL PEOPLE!!!!!

Lemme see if I'm understanding this correctly. You ASKED them if they had a FREE upgrade? Has that ever worked in your favor? I mean, I've heard of being GIVEN a free upgrade. I've even received one. Or two. Actually, three. But if you ASK, will you RECEIVE? I'm interested to know. Because I'm not opposed to asking.

Let me break it down for you. There's this pretty cool little club you can join (for free) and when you stay in a Loew's owned property, one of the perks of being a Loews First member is free room upgrades. When available. It says so right there on the website. I was merely reminding her of my card carrying status where the Loews properties were concerned. And inquiring as to whether or not she could hook us up with a lil sumpm sumpm. You see how far that got me. Apparently Spring Break is not the best time to score an upgrade on the room.

Of all the funny as all get out stuff you wrote in this installment, somehow, this was one of the best to me. The mental picture I have of you with a Magna Doodle attached to your belt loops as you rock out to Jungle Love is just too much. DED.

And yes, I know neither of you really did it.

I don't know what you're talking about. The girl and I rock out to Jungle Love all the time.

We had that same fun meal last Friday at Hurricane Hannah's. And ironically, it was as we swam and enjoyed ourselves before the P&PP that WE'D attend later that night. Same as y'all. Although our trip was just a little quick weekend, and it would be over almost as soon as it started, that meal was a good time. We were all excited, happy and ready for some fun.

Sounds like yall had an awesome time, NM. So where's the trip report?

That's me donning my flame-proof suit. Because I'm just gonna come right out with this. The Royal Pacific isn't considered Universal's deluxe resort, is it?

Disney can take some notes. That room looks NICE. As nice as ANY Disney Deluxe resort. And as of last weekend, I've stayed in all of them.

That place is fine, La. Kinda makes me want to go there sometime.

I'm DED over the flame suit dude. I accidentally deleted him. You'll have to forgive me but I don't feel like looking for him again. And no, Royal Pacific's not considered the deluxe resort. I think it's considered to be on the low end of the totem pole. With Hard Rock being in the middle and Portofino Bay being the Big Kahuna. Poo. There was nothing that felt "valueish" to us there though. It was hanging with the big dogs. Right up there with some fine Disney deluxes. It even SMELLED good. Without the first poop pumping truck in sight.

Love this, La. There IS something special about all the familiarity we feel at Disney World, isn't there? Whatever it is that your family cherishes about the place - whether it be driving under the Arches, seeing that first bus, hearing the Spanish monorail announcement, having a Mickey bar - whatever. That's what's so fun. Reliving those special times over and over again.

You know it, girl.

Don't tell me I'm going to have to go to MY PP&P party without reading about yours first?!?! How will I survive without knowing how you did it first? I'll have no memories from strangers to draw on!

Okay, we'll just wing it, and I'll compare notes when I'm back!

Can't wait to return to the rest of you TR!

I'm so excited for you, DVCTiff! Yall have a great time and tell Cap'm Jack we said what's up.

Ewwwww.... trashed and then handed back to ya!! I don't blame you for sanitizing... multiple times... I think i would have done the exact same thing

Yay for heading to WDW

I think we'd get along really well, Tanya90210!

Psh. Don't blame the rain for your bad picture taking "skillz" - you were obviously seat dance while snapping this gem. My guess is the cabbage patch.

And NUMBER FOUR!!! What's up with all the hatin' on my photography skillz today?

It wasn't the Cabbage Patch though. Although that was a good guess. It was the Macarena.

PS - This has got to be one of the best TR's I've stumbled across. It's hysterical!!!

And now you're forgiven. Just like that. Thank you, dizprincess. That was really sweet. I'm glad you found us and decided to jump in.

I just want to say thanks to everyone for posting. I really enjoy reading all of your responses.

We're heading out of town in the morning and will be gone all weekend so if I don't check in until after Monday, you'll know it's just because we're not around. Not because you're on the Ignore list. Only ZZUB, Chappie and DJR have worked themselves onto that bad boy at this point. Make good time with your families and remember our troops this Memorial Day.

Yall have an awesome and safe weekend.

 

[LaLa]

Great update. Gonna be there in 15 days. I'm so excited. Doin' WDW first and then Universal so we can use the benefits of the room key cards.
Can't wait to hear about the partay!

Burly, that's awesome!!! I'm so excited for you. How cool are those room key cards? You'll have to give E.T. my regards and shoot some aliens for me.

 

[lexmelinda]

Just wanted you to know I read this installment yesterday. Aloud. To my 18 year old. And we both laughed. A lot. I'm afraid I may have failed miserably on the accent. Dagnabit!

Your room looks nice! It looks very deluxe in fact! So spill....did you get a code? AAA rate? Anything? Please tell me didn't pay ((gasp)) rack rate?

You're crackin me up with the slimy information packet. If I had to handle something from the garbage, I would sure rather handle something from Royal Pacific garbage than something from the garbage at the parks. ((shudder)) At least you didn't reach your hand in a Disney toilet to get your sunglasses out. (NOFrick)

I'm worried about your Pirate/Princess Party! The weather at those hard ticket events are so hard to call.

 

[CampbellScot]

Does that menu say "Little Kahuna Poo" in the middle!?! Cause... ew!

I love the visual image of the LaLa's carving their names into the furniture. It makes me giggle.

Also, what a gorgeous resort! Am I allowed to ask how comparable the prices are to Disney? Is comparable even a word? Heh!

Thanks for another fun chapter LaLa!

That is EXACTLY what I was going to ask!!! Who in the holy heck would call a FOOD item POO? Be it little Kahuna or big...it's just not appetizing to see POO on your menu...it's just not.

at all.

Okay and seriously...I'm going to have to shut my TR down b/c I can't hold a candle.

I was snort laughing all the way through...that silly high pitched only dogs can hear it laughing...with tears.

killing me...

oh and I leaked a few tears when the girl saw her Disney bus.

THAT was wicked cool.

can't wait for more.

 

[tarheel]

Were you at the Sunday April 6th P& P Party by chance? The driving rain makes me think it was the same day we were there. We had a blast despite the rain and I hope to hear you did too. The rain looked so horrible, but it wasn't cold and we had lots of fun, like I said.
We will be heading to Universal November 1st--the kids think I have lost my mind. I have been letting them read along with your report and they are getting excited seeing your pictures. They have been promised a Disney day that trip and they both have so far voted for Epicot. I think you'll agree that's a big yea!

Thanks for your report, looking foreward to more!

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Lalalalala!

How did I miss the checkin saga?

And then another sweeeeeet segment - except the picture of the little Poo menu kinda freaked me out.

I love the prenager! I've got one of those too. Just turned 10. Won't wear his Hotwheels sunglasses anymore. Very strange.

I thought your photoskills were great. Hard to take a arch picture in the driving rain (nopunintended). I didn't see a bare foot in sight!

P&PP in the rain in April. Was there, done that and can't wait to hear your version!

Keep the la coming!

 

[stinkerbell007]

way cool.

I'm in....

 

[MomofCKJ]

You had me at the Keurig coffee maker. Whoa nellie, I would love me one of those in my hotel room. Universal is getting a little more interesting the more your report goes on!

Allyson