Plankton and the Mason's "Magic"-al vacation!

[Karen Mouse]

We got through the turnstiles

then headed to Rock n Roller coaster

I tried to tell Planky he didnt need his own red guitar and that he would NOT be able to jam with the band, but he insisted.

My favourite ride in MGM- I just love this ride!

we did the backstage tour

then we headed for dinner at SCI-FI

I LOVE THIS PHOTO

Yet again Planky ordered himself a pint. He didnt even need I.D.!

After dinner we headed for Tower of Terror. Only a 10 minute wait. Now forgive me trippie readers, but I would not let Planky ride......... - I soooo wanted to get a photo of me holding Planky as we dropped but I was too scared incase I let go that I chickened out, so he stayed tucked up safely in my bag. (Brenda breathes a sigh of relief)

then we did Fantasmic. We didnt arrive til 7.40 and there were still seats!

Then we headed back to the hotel and went straight to bed.

Tomorrow - Packing and Epcot

 

[Karen Mouse]

Friday 19th October

Today we went to Epcot!

and of course,Planky came too!

Planky insisted on leading the way and got out his map to plan a route round the world

We went on Test Track

Heres Planky in the queue

Then we did the living seas - he was hoping to find some of his friends but we didnt spot anyone he knew

Then Ellis and Planky got eaten by a shark named Bruce

We did Soarin, the land and then ate lunch in Mexico - very nice!

Now, do any of you remember we had dinner reservations for Le Cellier but didnt go and I was sulking over not getting the soup? Well, you can get it from a stall outside cos of the Food and Wine festival - yippppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I thought...........


The reality - bleuch! - its vile! How come all of you like it????

I adore cheese and I was sooooo looking forward to it and after 2 mouthfuls I handed it to Neil. After 1 mouthful he threw it away.







Now, I'm pretty sure this wasnt in Epcot, but I'm posting them here cos I cant remember where they were taken


Hat photos - just for Heather


Here's Neil - he has a very big head

Here's Ellis

and I cant believe I'm posting this but here goes

and some more of Ellis

Ok, hat photos over, we headed out of Epcot via Publix - key lime cheesecake and choc marble cheesecake and wine and beer for the cruise.

We got back to the hotel, packed the rest of the stuff up and had an early night ready for the cruise tomorrow.

Can't remember where we ate tonight, but I wouldnt have tasted anything anyway - I was tooooooo excited about the next day!!!!!!!!!!

 

[disgrits]

love love love the pics!!!!

more please............

 

[Scouter]

Great job on the report Karen

LOVE the photos! MORE, MORE, MORE

 

[JLDSMD]

Here's Ellis

I love this pic.

 

[JLDSMD]

Great thread so far Karen. Can't wait until the cruise portion starts.

Looks like you guys had a wonderful and fun time.

 

[JLDSMD]

Ooohhh, may I have the honors of the 3rd FO on your thread?

 

[GOS]

Friday 19th October

Here's Neil - he has a very big head

Here's Ellis

and I cant believe I'm posting this but here goes

and some more of Ellis

Thanks Karen - love the hat pics. I have a new one to show you, once they are uploaded.

Heather

 

[Timon]

Karen, great job on the trippie so far


I don't have a pic of you with your arms up I think I was too slow for that one but I do have the official handoff..

But Planky was up to no good before you even got there!!!!

And then of course I have this shot...

The evil grin from inside of his horrible temporary new home!

And for Nancy....

 

[Timon]

Oh and I must say a word or two about that Cheese Soup!

I had it for the first time INSIDE the restaurant and it was MAHVELLOUS!! And then I also had it later in the week from the booth OUTSIDE the restaurant and it was HORRID!!!

So, if you do get to Le Cellier again, try the soup, you might be surprised!

 

[Dyerneeds]

loving the report karen. we miss you guys!!!
the pics are great!!!

 

[Sheldon J. Plankton]

Evil Plan Z is working perfectly.

It's evil. It's diabolical. It's lemon-scented. It can't possibly fail!

 

[Karen Mouse]

Thanks for your kind posts everyone - I'm just sorting out the start of the cruise trippie now

and thanks for posting the photos Cass

 

[Karen Mouse]

SATURDAY 20TH OCTOBER

AKA - Cruise day!

OK, the day we've all been waiting for - cruise day



I was awake most of the night gazing at the clock til it got to a reasonable time and I could start waking Neil and Ellis.

I ran my bath, made coffee and tea, had my cheesecake for brekkie and woke up the lazybones.

Once bathed and showered we packed the remaining toiletries etc and Neil did the run down to the car with the luggage.

We said goodbye to the hotel room and checked out.

Straight into the car and a quick stop at Walgreans for some throat stuff for Ellis - he had lost his voice the last couple of days - no pain or discomfort or anything but we didnt want to take any chances, so we bought one of everything off the "throat" shelf and quickly back to the car.

Petrol next ....why oh why do we have to fill up today - couldnt Neil see I was almost bursting to get on the road to the port


Ok, petrol sorted we FINALLY head off on the right road - only 30 minutes behind schedule. With a bit of nifty foot work on the gas pedal we nearly made that up on the journey down.

Uneventful journey.....until we got to the bridge near the port........







I squealed, I squealed and then I squealed some more.....there it was!



I could see it



Camera ready I took about 50 shots as we got nearer and nearer.

Oh geez you're all thinking...50 photos of a ship getting bigger in each one - great




Dont worry -

I'll just post one

FOR NOW



We got to port and Neil pulled up at the kerbside to drop us and the luggage off.

First people we see - KK'ers! - AFEG - Chris and co.
Next people we see - more KK'ers - Cass and co!
Then I spot Nancy's hubby Chuck -another KK'er!

I kid you not - the first bunch of people I saw were all KK'ers.

We handed the 2 cases and rolling cooler to a porter, tipped him well to make sure they didnt get lost, and then Neil was directed to the car park while I took Ellis into the terminal.

We go through bag check and up the escalator. Right at the top theres a lady waving with Mickey hands. I wish I had my camera ready to snap Ellis's reaction, but alas I didnt. I bet mine was equally daft

By this point I'm scanning crowds looking for green bracelets and KK tshirts.

So is Ellis.....every 30 seconds he's pulling at my t shirt shouting "look mom! another KK'er!"

We go to the desk and they check our paperwork and tell us to join a rather long queue. I mention that I'm English and I thought I had to join a different queue but she said no, I'd be fine in that one. Neil re-appears and joins me in the queue.

Just at that point I spot Heather at a different desk checking in. She's at the desk for Non-USA.

Then as if by magic Jeff appears! our table mate! The Non USA desk is empty so Jeff asks if we can check in and she says yes!

We duck out of the other queue and check in really quickly. I'd done most of it online so it was really speedy and she hands us boarding card number 7 .....7?........7?................I wanted number 2 ...oh well,...... 7 it is then

All I can think is "if we hadnt stopped for petrol.... "

Jeff asks us what number we got and I reply "7". He replies "No you're not ...you're a number 2! " and pulls out a spare number 2 card.


Now let me just pause for a moment and tell you about Jeff.....He knows more than anyone I know about the cruise...he was my very own walking talking travel guide

Even before the cruise he oganised my Palo rezzies, my dining rotation, and loads of other tips for which I'm eternally grateful. If it hadnt been for him I'd have missed out on half of the things onboard, so here's a great big thank you to Jeff


THANK YOU TABLE MATE


Ok, mushyness over.....back to the story....

We left the queue and from then on it was KK MADNESS!

Let me explain.....

Jeff had organised us all to wear green rubber bracelets so we could recognise each other....Cass had made us a fab logo for us to print and make t shirts...half the terminal had green bracelets and KK T shirts on - wow! - It was brilliant!...people were turning up every 30 seconds introducing themselves..... (I'm bad with names but I think I did ok on the day - did I KK'ers?)

It was hugs all round for everybody - what a fab start to the cruise. It was great to finally meet people I had been chatting to online for so long.

Then I had chance to take a few photos

Of the ship in the terminal

Of Mickey

Of the ears doorway

they'll be on the next post - I've run out of room for photos

 

[cntkg1]

Does Neil know that you were in the back seat with another man? And in front of Ellis...shame on you Karen!

Fantastic job with pics and Plankie. They're a hoot!!

And for Nancy....

I think I laughed so hard that I may have soiled myself when I was making that t-shirt.

(FYI for all Non-KKers: Karen was afraid that she would iron her transfer onto her t-shirts backwards and end up with "Sresiurk Deknok" instead. )

Evil Plan Z is working perfectly.

It's evil. It's diabolical. It's lemon-scented. It can't possibly fail!

oh oh....we're in trouble now. Look who showed up Karen! OK, from now on, only nice things about Plankton.

I squealed, I squealed and then I squealed some more.....there it was!

And I think I even heard you Karen.

Jeff had organised us all to wear green rubber bracelets so we could recognise each other....Cass had made us a fab logo for us to print and make t shirts...half the terminal had green bracelets and KK T shirts on - wow! - It was brilliant!...people were turning up every 30 seconds introducing themselves..... (I'm bad with names but I think I did ok on the day - did I KK'ers?)

You did just fine.

And here's one just for you!

I also caught the papparazi snapping pictures of the KK's. (Short, but cute wasn't he)? Thank you Stu.

 

[Karen Mouse]

I think I laughed so hard that I may have soiled myself when I was making that t-shirt.

(FYI for all Non-KKers: Karen was afraid that she would iron her transfer onto her t-shirts backwards and end up with "Sresiurk Deknok" instead. )

Nancy I loved that T shirt - I wore it with KK pride - Thank you so much for making it for me.


oh oh....we're in trouble now. Look who showed up Karen! OK, from now on, only nice things about Plankton.

I ONLY HAVE GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT PLANKY



And I think I even heard you Karen.

You probably did Nancy

And here's one just for you!

Thanks Nancy - thats a great shot!

I also caught the papparazi snapping pictures of the KK's. (Short, but cute wasn't he)? Thank you Stu.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Karen Mouse]

Ok, little re-cap - today is cruise day - here's some photos I couldn't fit into the last post



Remember the 50 photos I took before I even got to port?

And I said I would just post one?...yeah right!... Like I'd let you get away that easy....heres some more

its getting closer!

and closer!

and closer!

and closer!

ok....enough punishment...heres one inside the terminal

and another!

and heres Ellis with the Big Cheese himself!

The model of the ship was great

Planky liked it too!

Just to show you what I mean about our KK t shirts

Heres the back of mine.

and the front of Ellis's

A little side story - remember I had a number 7 boarding pass?....well another KK had a number 11 so I gave her my 7....just passing it on folks



And then it happened....they called people with boarding passes number 2!

Thats me!...Thats me!... Thats me! Its my turn to go through the big ears doorway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY! NEIL! - WHAT BIG EARS YOU HAVE!

Seriously though - look how excited he is! - and this is the man who wasnt bothered about cruising!

Here we go then - through the big ears doorway

I squeal again - look! - Welcome Aboard!

I'm really getting on the Magic!!!!!!!!!!!



Gangplank!

KK'ers - they were everywhere!

Heres 2 more! Hiya Robin and Mike

View from the gangplank

and then it happened -

we got onboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[GOS]

Karen - I'm lovin' the trippee, so much so that I want to go back NOW!

Did I tell you that I didn't get one decent piece of cheesecake the whole holiday. Have to recify that in August.

 

[Karen Mouse]

Re-cap - We've just got onboard and had our photo taken...

we then head to Parrot Cay for lunch

I must say this was a lovely respite from the overwhelming excitement..I actually took a breathe and chilled for about a minute. The buffet was lovely and we sat and relaxed for a few minutes.

Then, of course, excitement took over again and we went to explore the ship a bit and find the kids club and check Ellis in....I had done most of it online, so it was just a matter of sorting out his medication with them, talking through their procedure for allergies etc and getting it all labelled and then getting the pager. I felt totally comfortable with Ellis being in there.
We spent a bit of time in there and Ellis checked it out and then it was almost time to go to our cabin!

Our cabin!...sorry! - stateroom!

It was ready just after 1.30pm.....so in we went!....

Just as we were going in we met our room host - he asked how many bags we had and then went and found them - we had our luggage within minutes! -now thats what I call service! I had heard of people not getting their bags til 6pm etc so I was really pleased ours had come early.

So in we went....

The first thing we saw was a lovely cheese and fruit platter and a bottle of red wine! Heres the cards that came with it. It actually reads "Blankton"

Mould, Mould, glorious mould!

Courtesy of Planky! (Well....Planky's Mom and Dad) - thank you so much Brenda and Jason - it was very kind of you, totally unsnecessary but very much appreciated.....and absolutely delicious! - you know I adore cheese - especially the mouldy stuff - I stuffed it in like I hadnt even been to Parrot Cay

We took some shots of our room before we started unpacking ........ it would never look this tidy again

Bombsite of a room now - mid unpacking but Neil has time for a beer.

Planky chills out while I unpack

Planky by the infamous clock

Planky holds our dinner ticket

Planky checks out the bathroom

and then I started unpacking....we had bought loads of stuff...too much....but somehow it all fitted into our little cat 11 no problem at all. For 2 adults and a young child a cat 11 is absolutely fine and big enough

I managed to finish unpacking and have time for a glass of wine and more cheese..........

..........And then it was time for the KK Official Meet - 3pm by the Mickey Pool.

Next episode - meet the KK'ers

 

[oybolshoi]

Thanks for the great pics, Karen! Jason and I are really getting a kick out of seeing them all - it's so nice to be able to see everyone having such a great time.

BTW, is it wrong for me to plug my own newest food report for those people who want to see what Plankton was up to before he joined you? We've got some pretty funny pictures going if I do say so myself. Just let me know ... I can always plug shamelessly somewhere else... don't want to take away from your fun.

Looking forward to more!

PS. Have you seen Plankton? He went missing yesterday ...