TavieP
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2012
- Messages
- 759
I know I'm the only one who will read this but I figure, gotta get practicing on my trip reporting skills, even if it's just for me!
The title of this thread refers to the recurring joke. You know when you go on vacation with a group of people and something happens that is so hilarious/striking that an inside joke is instantly formed? "Potato" was ours - I shall explain!
First, see my pre-trip report for the cast of characters.
I usually take my laptop with me and upload each day's pictures and blog each night about the day's events, but this time I just took an iPad and was too darn tuckered out every night to bother writing a full entry, so I ended up using the "Notes" app on my iPhone to jot down things that I wanted to remember from each day, and fleshed them out later on my blog.
I'll try to flesh them out even more, here!
Here's the gang (minus me - taking the picture!) Touching the Slipper:
This is a long-standing tradition of mine explained in detail here. Touching the slipper was especially poignant for me this time around because, this being our first trip after Mom's gone, I was really feeling that "connection" to her in a way that was different from all the previous "slipper-touchings" - really feeling that sense of "Mom was here, and touched this, and now I'm here touching it, and it's like I'm touching her." So that was very important and very special for me.
On to my trip "notes"!
For my 34th trip to Disney World, I took my "siblings", blood and adopted. It was my first trip since Mom's died and I wanted people who loved her, and who had Disney memories with her, to be there.
I took notes instead of blogging each night. Here's what I wanted to remember:
Day 1:
The night before, Kirsten and I slept over at Andrew and Joanna's place. We had dinner at Hop Kee and ate the surprise birthday cake Andrew and I had gotten from the Ice Cream Factory to celebrate Kirsten's and my 33rd birthday. We slept just a few hours - the cab picked us up at 6 and I think we were in "too excited to sleep" mode. At the airport, we met Steph and had breakfast at Wendy's.
Then there was a short, yet oddly uncomfortably flight (3 hours sleep the previous night was the max for any of us.) Joanna got Mickey Mouse Club hat at the airport Disney Store, which is really quite funny, because she's such a goth sort of girl. It worked on her, though!
Got on Magical Express. We were greeted as we stepped off the bus by a cute, chipper girl named Hope, who wished Kirsten and me happy birthday and gave us our buttons. Were taken to our room in a golf cart and pleased to see that both our requests (Miller Road bus stop and ground floor room) had been honoured. I had never been greeted stepping off the bus before - is this what online check-in gets you? If so, count me in going forward! It felt like red-carpet treatment, very luxurious.
Off to Olivia's for lunch. Joanna wanted to color so we got crayons. Can you guess which drawing was hers?
The waiter surprised us with a make-your-own brownie sundae for Kirsten and me, each with a candle, and the restaurant serenaded us. Oddly enough, Kirsten did NOT flee the scene.
We wore the birthday buttons almost every day, although it felt sort of like cheating after awhile. And I guess there's some sort of Intractible Disney Law that when a CM sees that button, they MUST wish you "Happy Birthday"! I lost count of how many we got - one woman in the Villain Shop in Studios actually serenaded us in front of the whole store, and wished us "Happy 21st" (to my delight!)
After lunch, the others went back to relax in the room while Kirsten and I hit Disney's Hollywood Studos (which we all still call "MGM") for a little sister time. We did Great Movie Ride, Star Tours and the Muppets. While we were browsing in the Muppet Studio Store, it started to rain a bit, so Kirsten procured ponchos. We decided to just bite the bullet and wait on the 100-minute line for Toy Story Mania. We kept one another busy by playing 20 Questions (Disney Characters).
These creepy, mouthless children gave me the willies.
The wait was agony on my feet, particularly the weak ankle and plantar fasciitis on my right foot. They did rush us past the last 10 minutes or so of the line - I think our birthday buttons may have contributed to that!
After Toy Story we limped over to Aerosmith Rock'n Roller Coaster, and then had dinner at Fairfax Fare. Exhausted, we skipped ToT and called it quits, headed back home, where the others watching Clue on the DVD I had brought and laughing hysterically. So nice to see everyone getting along and enjoying one another's company. K and I took a nice bubble bath in the in-room jacuzzi (in our swimsuits - we're not CREEPY twins!) and then we all collapsed into exhausted sleep.
Day 2:
Magic Kingdom day, and we JUST made rope drop!
I'd never seen it before, so that was delightful.
Steph stayed in the room to sleep in a bit and meet us later. We rode Thunder Mountain with no wait, then Splash with almost no wait! Getting there early really does make a difference, as I tend to forget. Over to Pirates, where Joanna and K wanted to get their hair braided with colored threads, so Andy and I hit Sunshine Terrace for some Citrus Swirl.
I was delighted to note the return of that retro icon, Orange Bird, and bought myself a souvenir Orange Bird cup.
We rejoined the girls and hopped the WDW Railroad to meet Steph at Pinocchio's Village Haus for lunch. While we waited, the old conductor correctly guessed that K and I are twins. He was the only one, all trip, who did! Before lunch, we also took the chance to ride Peter Pan with the Fastpasses Kirsten had gotten after darting off ahead the instant we arrived in the park.
Met Steph at Pinoke for lunch. Caprese flatbread was surprisingly good, although the chocolate gelato was like frozen frosting. After lunch, Andrew and Joanna headed back to the resort to rest before dinner; Steph and I did Philharmagic and then met Kirsten for Carousel of Progress. Peoplemover was down so I went back to the resort for a nap mid-afternoon, leaving Steph and Kirsten to their adventures.
After a shower and a change, we all headed back to Contemporary that evening for dinner at California Grill. We had a delicious meal - I got my usual, nomomnom.
Here's where the title of the post comes in. I guess we were really hungry, gobbling down bread and cheese plate like nobody's business, and Andrew tells the following joke to pass the time:
A blonde, a brunette, and a red head are running from a cop. While running they come across a zoo, so they run in to hide. So the red head goes into a lion cage, the brunette goes into the ape house, and the blonde goes into a potato sack. So the cops go in there, while looking for the three... the cop goes to the lion cage and says "Is anybody in there?" So the red head goes "ROOOOAR" and the cop shrugs and moves on. Then the cop goes to the ape house and says "Is anybody in there?", so the brunette goes "OO-OO-EE-EE-AA!" and the cop shrugs and moves on. Then he gets to the potato sack and goes "Is anybody in there?" So the Blonde goes "Po-ta-to?"
No, I know - you really did have to be there. The combination of his delivery (a small, plaintive, "po-ta-to?"), the champagne and our hunger made this the funniest joke in the history of the world. For the rest of the trip, we would just randomly look at eachother, someone would say, "Po-ta-to?" and we'd all burst out laughing.
The table was covered with Mickey confetti in honour of our birthday. Andrew and Joanna had "2nd Anniversary" buttons as well, so it was their, celebration, too.
Our resident ham stuck the confetti all over his face.
Steph ordered a bottle of Fairytale Champagne and we all toasted Mom, for bringing us back again and again.
We went to watch Wishes - the viewing platform was crowded, but Kirsten noticed the second balcony that had almost no people on it, so we went out there and enjoyed the show with breathing room! I remembered the quiet moment with Mom the last time I had been there and she slipped her arm around my waist as we watched Wishes together; this time, Steph put her arm around my shoulders.
We went back and enjoyed our delicious meal. Kirsten and I elected to return to the Magic Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours, so we all rode the monorail together.
We had our own car and sang "It's a Small World" loudly and with much laughter the whole way around the lagoon.
Kirsten and I peeled off to ride HM, Space Mountain, Peoplemover, Buzz, Astro Orbiter! Then home and sleep.
Day 3:
Some of us slept in, while Andrew & Joanna hit Epcot early. I met them soon after and we rode Spaceship Earth, getting stuck at the very top for the Earthscape scene (a dream come true! Very magical.)
If you're gonna get stopped in Spaceship Earth, this is where you want to be.
Then we met the others at Biergarten for a beer-y, delicious lunch.
Lurched through the searing heat to America to watch The American Adventure.
Joanna played a little beanbag tic-tac-toe on the way.
Boozy slushies in France. then Mexico to cool off/see Donald. Afterwards, Joanna and Andrew headed back to the room, K to Norway for pastries, and Steph and I over to Captain Eo. We were the most enthusiastic people in the room, but I think it caught on some. Steph is a blast to enjoy 80s nostalgia with. Then Steph insisted we pay tribute to the jumping fountain "for old times sake", so we cooled off a bit. Met K in Land, where we shared goat cheese salad. Steph gave me her Soarin FP, and Kirsten and I rode for Mom, who loved "Zoarin".
K had a toothache, so I saw First Aid in Odyssey for the first time. The CM running the front desk was a woman from Westchester who complained that her old neighborhood's gone downhill! She said a man came in earlier that day who had been to WDW 53 times and dropped into First Aid because "it's the one place I haven't been before." They gave Kirsten some dental wax and a referral to an Orlando dentist.
Andrew and Joanna decided to stay at OKW, so Steph, K and I went on for our ADR's at Coral Reef.
It's lovely there in an 80s sort of way, really beautiful - I hadn't been since I was a kid. We were late and were last seated. Waitress told us to take all the rolls home in a napkin - she actually brought us a BIG basket of rolls because, as she said, "I'm afraid they'll throw them out so I'm giving them to you!" She was a hoot and even wrapped them in the (cloth) napkin and told us to take them home with us! We breakfasted well the next day.
After dinner, we headed home. Steph, Andrew and I had an epic, 3-hour gossip-and-soak in the quiet pool. Retired late and woke late the next day.
Day 4:
Everyone slept in. K's cracked tooth was no joke, so she and I took a cab in torrential rain to an Orlando dentist - our cabbie was a Dutchman named Khan with lots to say. She got there, got x-rayed and made an appointment for the following morning. On the way back, I realized we had never gotten our refillable souvenir mugs, so K and I grabbed them and filled the with beverages to bring back to the others in the room. Steph and Andrew were in the quiet pool for hours, enjoying the cloudy weather.
Since it was Extra Magic Hours again, we all went late to the Magic Kingdom. We started at Mom's other favorite, the Tiki Room, which we were delighted to see had returned to its 1960s version!
I squealed when I heard Sebastian Cabot's distinctive voice in the pre-show. I am such a nerd.
Then dinner at Pecos Bills - I had a "Steak'n'Pork" plate that sounds more promising that it was. Meh. As we ate, we caught glimpses of the Main Street Electrical Parade going by out the window.
Kirsten went out to watch, and dragged me outside the moment she saw Elliot go by.
Then we did Pirates (again), Haunted Mansion, Small World, and scooted back to Main Street for some ice cream (where we lost and then found Steph.)
We were just really craving ice cream.
On to Peoplemover - which stopped in Space Mountain for a few minutes, and the lights actually came on!
That was novel, I do love it when the lights come on in a ride.
After Peoplemover, everyone headed back but me and Steph - we stayed to see Stitch's Escape (starring Kevin McDonald!) and have a little bonding time together. On the way out, we went through the Emporium, got Andrew a Ducktales shirt and posed in some silly hats. For my collection, you know.
Phineas and Ferb were absolutely everywhere, by the way. It was a Phineas-and-Ferbsplosion in EVERY gift shop in EVERY park. Weird.
Steph and I headed back and watched some of the Hunchback of Notre Dame DVD I had brought, before falling asleep.
Day 5:
Checkout. Boat to Downtown Disney. (Steph stayed behind to swim.)
We sang silly songs the whole way, as we were the only passengers. I wonder what the skipper thought of that? He stayed mum.
Lunch at Earl of Sandwich - yummy. Andrew was fascinated by the goofy face of the picture on the wall of the REAL Earl of Sandwich.
After lunch, we split up into two groups (me and Kirsten, and the marrieds.)
Kirsten bought me beautiful Mary Blair mural vase in Art of Disney and Mary Blair coasters. The vase was stunning, a gorgeous gift. It's in my kitchen now in a place of honour on the windowsill.
We also bought Dad a Captain Nemo lightbox. Then did World of Disney, bought some last-minute items, met the guys and headed back to hotel for Magical Express back to reality.
I just realized that the trip report didn't include one picture of ME, so here you go - me and Steph waiting for the bus at Miller's Road:
The title of this thread refers to the recurring joke. You know when you go on vacation with a group of people and something happens that is so hilarious/striking that an inside joke is instantly formed? "Potato" was ours - I shall explain!
First, see my pre-trip report for the cast of characters.
I usually take my laptop with me and upload each day's pictures and blog each night about the day's events, but this time I just took an iPad and was too darn tuckered out every night to bother writing a full entry, so I ended up using the "Notes" app on my iPhone to jot down things that I wanted to remember from each day, and fleshed them out later on my blog.
I'll try to flesh them out even more, here!
Here's the gang (minus me - taking the picture!) Touching the Slipper:
This is a long-standing tradition of mine explained in detail here. Touching the slipper was especially poignant for me this time around because, this being our first trip after Mom's gone, I was really feeling that "connection" to her in a way that was different from all the previous "slipper-touchings" - really feeling that sense of "Mom was here, and touched this, and now I'm here touching it, and it's like I'm touching her." So that was very important and very special for me.
On to my trip "notes"!
For my 34th trip to Disney World, I took my "siblings", blood and adopted. It was my first trip since Mom's died and I wanted people who loved her, and who had Disney memories with her, to be there.
I took notes instead of blogging each night. Here's what I wanted to remember:
Day 1:
The night before, Kirsten and I slept over at Andrew and Joanna's place. We had dinner at Hop Kee and ate the surprise birthday cake Andrew and I had gotten from the Ice Cream Factory to celebrate Kirsten's and my 33rd birthday. We slept just a few hours - the cab picked us up at 6 and I think we were in "too excited to sleep" mode. At the airport, we met Steph and had breakfast at Wendy's.
Then there was a short, yet oddly uncomfortably flight (3 hours sleep the previous night was the max for any of us.) Joanna got Mickey Mouse Club hat at the airport Disney Store, which is really quite funny, because she's such a goth sort of girl. It worked on her, though!
Got on Magical Express. We were greeted as we stepped off the bus by a cute, chipper girl named Hope, who wished Kirsten and me happy birthday and gave us our buttons. Were taken to our room in a golf cart and pleased to see that both our requests (Miller Road bus stop and ground floor room) had been honoured. I had never been greeted stepping off the bus before - is this what online check-in gets you? If so, count me in going forward! It felt like red-carpet treatment, very luxurious.
Off to Olivia's for lunch. Joanna wanted to color so we got crayons. Can you guess which drawing was hers?
The waiter surprised us with a make-your-own brownie sundae for Kirsten and me, each with a candle, and the restaurant serenaded us. Oddly enough, Kirsten did NOT flee the scene.
We wore the birthday buttons almost every day, although it felt sort of like cheating after awhile. And I guess there's some sort of Intractible Disney Law that when a CM sees that button, they MUST wish you "Happy Birthday"! I lost count of how many we got - one woman in the Villain Shop in Studios actually serenaded us in front of the whole store, and wished us "Happy 21st" (to my delight!)
After lunch, the others went back to relax in the room while Kirsten and I hit Disney's Hollywood Studos (which we all still call "MGM") for a little sister time. We did Great Movie Ride, Star Tours and the Muppets. While we were browsing in the Muppet Studio Store, it started to rain a bit, so Kirsten procured ponchos. We decided to just bite the bullet and wait on the 100-minute line for Toy Story Mania. We kept one another busy by playing 20 Questions (Disney Characters).
These creepy, mouthless children gave me the willies.
The wait was agony on my feet, particularly the weak ankle and plantar fasciitis on my right foot. They did rush us past the last 10 minutes or so of the line - I think our birthday buttons may have contributed to that!
After Toy Story we limped over to Aerosmith Rock'n Roller Coaster, and then had dinner at Fairfax Fare. Exhausted, we skipped ToT and called it quits, headed back home, where the others watching Clue on the DVD I had brought and laughing hysterically. So nice to see everyone getting along and enjoying one another's company. K and I took a nice bubble bath in the in-room jacuzzi (in our swimsuits - we're not CREEPY twins!) and then we all collapsed into exhausted sleep.
Day 2:
Magic Kingdom day, and we JUST made rope drop!
I'd never seen it before, so that was delightful.
Steph stayed in the room to sleep in a bit and meet us later. We rode Thunder Mountain with no wait, then Splash with almost no wait! Getting there early really does make a difference, as I tend to forget. Over to Pirates, where Joanna and K wanted to get their hair braided with colored threads, so Andy and I hit Sunshine Terrace for some Citrus Swirl.
I was delighted to note the return of that retro icon, Orange Bird, and bought myself a souvenir Orange Bird cup.
We rejoined the girls and hopped the WDW Railroad to meet Steph at Pinocchio's Village Haus for lunch. While we waited, the old conductor correctly guessed that K and I are twins. He was the only one, all trip, who did! Before lunch, we also took the chance to ride Peter Pan with the Fastpasses Kirsten had gotten after darting off ahead the instant we arrived in the park.
Met Steph at Pinoke for lunch. Caprese flatbread was surprisingly good, although the chocolate gelato was like frozen frosting. After lunch, Andrew and Joanna headed back to the resort to rest before dinner; Steph and I did Philharmagic and then met Kirsten for Carousel of Progress. Peoplemover was down so I went back to the resort for a nap mid-afternoon, leaving Steph and Kirsten to their adventures.
After a shower and a change, we all headed back to Contemporary that evening for dinner at California Grill. We had a delicious meal - I got my usual, nomomnom.
Here's where the title of the post comes in. I guess we were really hungry, gobbling down bread and cheese plate like nobody's business, and Andrew tells the following joke to pass the time:
A blonde, a brunette, and a red head are running from a cop. While running they come across a zoo, so they run in to hide. So the red head goes into a lion cage, the brunette goes into the ape house, and the blonde goes into a potato sack. So the cops go in there, while looking for the three... the cop goes to the lion cage and says "Is anybody in there?" So the red head goes "ROOOOAR" and the cop shrugs and moves on. Then the cop goes to the ape house and says "Is anybody in there?", so the brunette goes "OO-OO-EE-EE-AA!" and the cop shrugs and moves on. Then he gets to the potato sack and goes "Is anybody in there?" So the Blonde goes "Po-ta-to?"
No, I know - you really did have to be there. The combination of his delivery (a small, plaintive, "po-ta-to?"), the champagne and our hunger made this the funniest joke in the history of the world. For the rest of the trip, we would just randomly look at eachother, someone would say, "Po-ta-to?" and we'd all burst out laughing.
The table was covered with Mickey confetti in honour of our birthday. Andrew and Joanna had "2nd Anniversary" buttons as well, so it was their, celebration, too.
Our resident ham stuck the confetti all over his face.
Steph ordered a bottle of Fairytale Champagne and we all toasted Mom, for bringing us back again and again.
We went to watch Wishes - the viewing platform was crowded, but Kirsten noticed the second balcony that had almost no people on it, so we went out there and enjoyed the show with breathing room! I remembered the quiet moment with Mom the last time I had been there and she slipped her arm around my waist as we watched Wishes together; this time, Steph put her arm around my shoulders.
We went back and enjoyed our delicious meal. Kirsten and I elected to return to the Magic Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours, so we all rode the monorail together.
We had our own car and sang "It's a Small World" loudly and with much laughter the whole way around the lagoon.
Kirsten and I peeled off to ride HM, Space Mountain, Peoplemover, Buzz, Astro Orbiter! Then home and sleep.
Day 3:
Some of us slept in, while Andrew & Joanna hit Epcot early. I met them soon after and we rode Spaceship Earth, getting stuck at the very top for the Earthscape scene (a dream come true! Very magical.)
If you're gonna get stopped in Spaceship Earth, this is where you want to be.
Then we met the others at Biergarten for a beer-y, delicious lunch.
Lurched through the searing heat to America to watch The American Adventure.
Joanna played a little beanbag tic-tac-toe on the way.
Boozy slushies in France. then Mexico to cool off/see Donald. Afterwards, Joanna and Andrew headed back to the room, K to Norway for pastries, and Steph and I over to Captain Eo. We were the most enthusiastic people in the room, but I think it caught on some. Steph is a blast to enjoy 80s nostalgia with. Then Steph insisted we pay tribute to the jumping fountain "for old times sake", so we cooled off a bit. Met K in Land, where we shared goat cheese salad. Steph gave me her Soarin FP, and Kirsten and I rode for Mom, who loved "Zoarin".
K had a toothache, so I saw First Aid in Odyssey for the first time. The CM running the front desk was a woman from Westchester who complained that her old neighborhood's gone downhill! She said a man came in earlier that day who had been to WDW 53 times and dropped into First Aid because "it's the one place I haven't been before." They gave Kirsten some dental wax and a referral to an Orlando dentist.
Andrew and Joanna decided to stay at OKW, so Steph, K and I went on for our ADR's at Coral Reef.
It's lovely there in an 80s sort of way, really beautiful - I hadn't been since I was a kid. We were late and were last seated. Waitress told us to take all the rolls home in a napkin - she actually brought us a BIG basket of rolls because, as she said, "I'm afraid they'll throw them out so I'm giving them to you!" She was a hoot and even wrapped them in the (cloth) napkin and told us to take them home with us! We breakfasted well the next day.
After dinner, we headed home. Steph, Andrew and I had an epic, 3-hour gossip-and-soak in the quiet pool. Retired late and woke late the next day.
Day 4:
Everyone slept in. K's cracked tooth was no joke, so she and I took a cab in torrential rain to an Orlando dentist - our cabbie was a Dutchman named Khan with lots to say. She got there, got x-rayed and made an appointment for the following morning. On the way back, I realized we had never gotten our refillable souvenir mugs, so K and I grabbed them and filled the with beverages to bring back to the others in the room. Steph and Andrew were in the quiet pool for hours, enjoying the cloudy weather.
Since it was Extra Magic Hours again, we all went late to the Magic Kingdom. We started at Mom's other favorite, the Tiki Room, which we were delighted to see had returned to its 1960s version!
I squealed when I heard Sebastian Cabot's distinctive voice in the pre-show. I am such a nerd.
Then dinner at Pecos Bills - I had a "Steak'n'Pork" plate that sounds more promising that it was. Meh. As we ate, we caught glimpses of the Main Street Electrical Parade going by out the window.
Kirsten went out to watch, and dragged me outside the moment she saw Elliot go by.
Then we did Pirates (again), Haunted Mansion, Small World, and scooted back to Main Street for some ice cream (where we lost and then found Steph.)
We were just really craving ice cream.
On to Peoplemover - which stopped in Space Mountain for a few minutes, and the lights actually came on!
That was novel, I do love it when the lights come on in a ride.
After Peoplemover, everyone headed back but me and Steph - we stayed to see Stitch's Escape (starring Kevin McDonald!) and have a little bonding time together. On the way out, we went through the Emporium, got Andrew a Ducktales shirt and posed in some silly hats. For my collection, you know.
Phineas and Ferb were absolutely everywhere, by the way. It was a Phineas-and-Ferbsplosion in EVERY gift shop in EVERY park. Weird.
Steph and I headed back and watched some of the Hunchback of Notre Dame DVD I had brought, before falling asleep.
Day 5:
Checkout. Boat to Downtown Disney. (Steph stayed behind to swim.)
We sang silly songs the whole way, as we were the only passengers. I wonder what the skipper thought of that? He stayed mum.
Lunch at Earl of Sandwich - yummy. Andrew was fascinated by the goofy face of the picture on the wall of the REAL Earl of Sandwich.
After lunch, we split up into two groups (me and Kirsten, and the marrieds.)
Kirsten bought me beautiful Mary Blair mural vase in Art of Disney and Mary Blair coasters. The vase was stunning, a gorgeous gift. It's in my kitchen now in a place of honour on the windowsill.
We also bought Dad a Captain Nemo lightbox. Then did World of Disney, bought some last-minute items, met the guys and headed back to hotel for Magical Express back to reality.
I just realized that the trip report didn't include one picture of ME, so here you go - me and Steph waiting for the bus at Miller's Road:
