Rachel & Chauncey-SBP/Morocco 12/08/09 Updated 6/10 TR IS DONE!!!!

[beatlesblonde]

WHAT!?!?! That's crazy!! I've never heard of anyone not getting their pics online!

I know, even Amy had said something about them going online when we asked her how long we'd have to wait to get our pictures. I'm gonna ask my planner and check cause I know that buying the DVD we gave up the album but I would hope that we could see them online first just in case there are any issues before we got it.

 

[beatlesblonde]

So I emailed Kathleen again and she said that since we're doing the DVD for the $395 we won't get our photos posted online. I guess they only post them if you are doing the regular photography package and adding the DVD unlike the trade that we're doing. Oh well, what's another 2 weeks right?

 

[beatlesblonde]

Dec 6th: Day 2 Part 1

So Sunday was our first full day at WDW. We got up about 8-8:30 and grabbed breakfast at Pop's food court. Chauncey got the breakfast platter with bacon and I got the chocolate chip pancakes.

We started our day at the MK. The RADP group was having several meets in the MK and we liked the idea of hanging with some fellow Disney fanatics. When we got to the MK they were doing taping in the hub for the Jonas Brothers portion of the parade. The Jo Bros weren't there at the time, but they were filming the group dance scene with the audience members.

It was pretty cool to see all the camera equipment as I have worked in TV before but we moved on cause we had rides to ride!

We still had some time before the RADP meet in Frontierland, so we hung out in Adventureland. Chauncey really wanted to slow down and take in the details so we poked around looking at light fixtures, stuff on the ground, etc. We did find some fun things:

Light hanging by the water on the bridge from Main Street to Adventureland

Little Mickeys in the iron work

Jewels embedded in the ground over by the Magic Carpets of Aladdin

We then did the Enchanted Tiki Room. I never got to see the original but I like the music in this version. Chauncey hadn't done the Tiki Room ever, so I told him we both need to pay attention so when we go to DL we could compare the two.

After the Tiki Room we took that pathway that connects Adventureland and Frontierland right by the Tiki Room and made our way over to Splash for the RADP meet. We were doing group rides on both Splash and Big Thunder. We only waited a few minutes before the group congregated and we all grabbed a FP for BTM. We got a group photo right outside Splash and then we were off:

 

[beatlesblonde]

Dec 6th: Day 2 Part 2


The wait for Splash wasn't very long and they were able to accommodate our large group fairly easily. Splash is one of Chauncey's favorite rides so he was quite happy to ride it. I got pretty wet but luckily I didn't get soaked. Good for me that after Splash we all cashed in our FP for Big Thunder so I got a nice "spin dry"

After BTMRR we split up from the group as Chauncey and I were getting hungry. We headed over to do Pirates and then off to Pecos Bills to get something to eat. Chauncey had the double bacon cheeseburger and fries while I had the taco salad and a side of yogurt. Sorry no food porn, we were so hungry that it was half gone before I could get the camera out.

After inhaling our food we decided to wander over to the Haunted Mansion. As we were throwing our trash away they were rolling out the floats for the Movie It, Shake It party/parade. We followed them as they were headed toward Liberty Square too where we found them parked right by the Liberty Bell. I guess they weren't ready to start the party yet so the floats were just sitting there with the characters interacting with the crowd that had gathered.

My favorite was the float with Mickey and Minnie on it. The CM at the top who sings and talks into the microphone was singing to Minnie "Isn't She Lovely" and while Minnie was loving it, Mickey couldn't bear hearing some other guy sing to his lady.....

 

[beatlesblonde]

Dec 6th: Day 2 Part 3

After hanging out in Liberty Square we tried to go to the Haunted Mansion but the wait time was longer than we liked. So we wandered to Fantasy Land for a pit stop and then just took in the sites. FL was packed and it was obvious that the rest of the park was following the trend. So we decided to head back to Pop and rest before going to the Studios that evening.

They were still filming the parade on Main Street with Kelly Rippa, Steve Rushton and the Santa Buddies. DH could see more than I could although I did catch a glimpse of the puppies

We got back to Pop and watched football and just relaxed for a few hours. We were also waiting for my mom to come by and pick up her park ticket from us. This was the reason that we had those 1 day base tickets seperated from our room keys when we checked in. Being AP holders we didn't need park tickets but to get the free dining promo we to buy at least 1 day base tickets. We had bought the EPCOT Segway tour for both our mom's and DH's mom had park admission but my mom did not so we donated one of our 1 day base tickets to her so she could do the tour. So in the end it worked out well for everyone.

After giving my mom the ticket she went back to her condo and Chauncey and I went to the Studios for EMH.

We made sure to hit our favorites, RnR and ToT. I'm still not sure if I like the new procedure for EMH with everyone having to show their room key. The wristbands were much more convenient, but we dealt with it.

After wandering the Studios for a few hours we headed back to Pop to get some sleep.

 

[tnkr mom]

Looks like you two are having a ball! Great updates, keep them coming!

 

[beatlesblonde]

Dec 7th: Day 3 Part 1

So today was the day before the wedding and it was a busy day. Chauncey, Terry (FIL), Taylor (BIL) and I were doing the Keys to the Kingdom tour while my mom and Tweeter (MIL) were doing the EPCOT Segway tour.

Since some of our story overlaps I'll start with the mom's part first.

My mom and Tweeter took my mom's rental to EPCOT with my uncle Chuck in tow. He wasn't doing the Segway tour but tagged along and he hung out at the park while the mom's did their tour. It was a good thing he went along, cause as they were leaving the condo complex they got a flat tire! Luckily Chuck and Tweeter knew what to do and they still made it in time.

Our moms LOVED the Segway tour. They had lots of fun and it certainly made it worth our investment.

After their Segway tour was over, our mom's hooked back up with my uncle to play in EPCOT for the afternoon. They hopped on Soarin' where they enjoyed the new games in the que.

Then they did Test Track, one of my mom's favorites.

After a while it was getting into late afternoon so they decided to park hop to the MK where they'd eventually meet up with the rest of us (but not before taking some pics in the area by Spaceship Earth).

Off to the Magic Kingdom!

 

[beatlesblonde]

Dec 7th: Day 3 Part 2

So while our moms and my uncle where having their fun in EPCOT, Chauncey and I were starting our day in the MK with Terry and Taylor doing the Keys 2 the Kingdom tour.

We started with breakfast at Pop. I had the sausage egg cheese croissant sandwich

And Chauncey had french toast platter

After breakfast we caught the bus to the MK where we were greeted with rain. Luckily it wasn't raining hard and by the time that Terry and Taylor arrived it had cleared up. We gathered next to City Hall and got our badges and pre-ordered our lunches and soon we met our guide, Debbie. We started our tour right on Main Street USA and then worked our way into Adventureland. Debbie was a GREAT guide, she got into a lot of detail about the Disney company, the parks, Walt himself and much more.

Once we got to Adventureland we got to ride the Jungle Cruise. Instead of getting the usual skipper spiel, Debbie played skipper for us and managed to give us some real facts along with some of the Jungle Cruise facts.

After the Jungle Cruise we walked further into AL toward Pirates. Now if you've ever done the K2K tour or have read about it, you probably know that the tour does the Jungle Cruise and the Haunted Mansion. However Debbie is a big Pirates fan so as a special treat we got to ride Pirates! She tried to talk to us while on the attraction, but due to the noise it was kind of hard to hear her but it was still very fun.

After Pirates we got a quick bathroom break and while we were waiting Debbie pointed out two props from the POTC movies that are on display (although a bit hidden) in the gift shop.

Elizabeth's medallion necklace

The key to the chest of Davy Jones

We walked into Frontierland and this is where we got our first visit backstage (so no pictures!) We got to see where they house the parade floats, the backstage area of Splash Mountain where all the water runs and few other locations.

After going backstage we made our way to Liberty Square where Debbie told us about how Disney received one of the copies of the Liberty Bell and the seal in the carpet in the Hall of Presidents.

We also learned a few treasures about the design of the buildings in Liberty Square.

Anyone know the story behind these two things?

By then it was time for lunch so we went inside the Columbia Harbor House to eat.

 

[beatlesblonde]

We got our disk with our DPS pics yesterday. Unfortunately there was a snaffu with the loading of the pics onto the disk so we're missing some of our EPCOT portrait pictures. But my planner assured me that they'd be sending us a new disk with the missing photos in the next week or so. Until then here's the link to the Photobucket album I loaded with the ones we got, enjoy!

http://s810.photobucket.com/home/frendreception/allalbums

 

[MainStMandy]

Rachel these are gorgeous!!!

 

[figmentfan814]

Your Epcot photos are so beautiful. I love that you were able to get some shots inside the restaurant and the store. Some of my favorites were also on the bridge in Japan. Are the shots that you're missing from any of the other countries? I just love the World Showcase as a backdrop for photos.

That's so great that your moms enjoyed the segway tour, we've wanted to do it to visit the area where we were married without all the crowds around I didn't realize they had added the games in the Soarin' queue, what a great way to pass the time in line. Even though it was crowded the day you were at MK when they were taping, its pretty neat that you got a glimpse of the parade for the Christmas special. We've taken the Keys to the Kingdom tour several years ago and really enjoyed it. I don't remember the story behind the windows though. Oh, I love the group shot in front of Splash. We never managed to get the entire group together for a picture except at the wedding!

 

[beatlesblonde]

Rachel these are gorgeous!!!

Thanks Amanda!

Your Epcot photos are so beautiful. I love that you were able to get some shots inside the restaurant and the store. Some of my favorites were also on the bridge in Japan. Are the shots that you're missing from any of the other countries? I just love the World Showcase as a backdrop for photos.

That's so great that your moms enjoyed the segway tour, we've wanted to do it to visit the area where we were married without all the crowds around I didn't realize they had added the games in the Soarin' queue, what a great way to pass the time in line. Even though it was crowded the day you were at MK when they were taping, its pretty neat that you got a glimpse of the parade for the Christmas special. We've taken the Keys to the Kingdom tour several years ago and really enjoyed it. I don't remember the story behind the windows though. Oh, I love the group shot in front of Splash. We never managed to get the entire group together for a picture except at the wedding!

Yes the shots that are missing are from Italy and Germany and maybe a few more from Japan.

It was so much fun that everyone was able to have these experiences. The tours were definitely worth the investment as they are something that our families would have probably never been able to do.

 

[tnkr mom]

Thank you for posting your beautiful photos and allowing us to "share" in your day!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hi, I just read through the beg. of your TR. You guys look so happy together. congrats and i'm going to come pack and check out your pics from the photographer!

 

[beatlesblonde]

We got our new disk today and all I can say is WOW! We ended up getting an additional 85 pictures! I've uploaded them to the same album (the Epcot portrait) so feel free to take a look:

http://s810.photobucket.com/home/frendreception/allalbums

 

[beatlesblonde]

I hadn't realized that not all of the pics had uploaded, so feel free to go back and check out the rest of them!
http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/zz25/frendreception/EPCOT%20Portrait/

December 7th: Day 3 Part 3

Lunch was nice. They put us upstairs where we found our meals already out with our names next to them. Our name cards also had our special Keys To The Kingdom pins on them. Taylor had the chicken strips and the rest of us had the BLT salad. It was nice to just sit and relax while eating after all the walking around we had done earlier.

After lunch we stayed in Liberty Square and did the Haunted Mansion. We started out by the que where our guide gave us some history on the attraction (along with a few spoilers!) We then entered the attraction through the "servants quarters" which was very cool. I'm always amazed at the attention to detail Disney puts into everything, even places that the general public might never see.

After riding the HM we headed back toward Main Street where we made our way down to the utillidors. It was very cool being in the "hidden city" below WDW. Obviously I don't have any pictures but those of you who have done the tour know what I'm talking about. And if you haven't done the tour, I highly recommend it!

After touring the utillidors we got a few more minutes in the parking area behind the shops on Main Street where our guide gave us one last opportunity to ask any questions and get a real (aka backstage/true) answer. We then headed back to City Hall where we turned in our badges and headsets and bid farewell to our guide.

By then it was getting into the afternoon and we still needed to get our marriage license. Tweeter, my mom and Chuck were on the way to the MK from EPCOT, so while they were in transit we went to the Osceola County courthouse and got our marriage license. Luckily it wasn't busy so we didn't wait very long for them to process it and we were good to go!

 

[beatlesblonde]

December 7th: Day 3 Part 4

By the time we got done at the courthouse and back to the MK, the mom's and Chuck were back in Liberty Square riding the Haunted Mansion. I was hungry so I along with Terry went to Casey's Corner to get something to eat. After we got a seat watching the cartoons everyone else had gathered and we were able to catch up on the day.

After eating we all headed to Adventureland to ride Pirates. Unfortunately while in line my brother called to let me know he and our dad had landed at MCO so we bid farewell to everyone so that we would be at Pop when they arrived.

By the time we got on the bus and got back to Pop my dad and brother were on ME so we just hung around our room for a little while. We headed down to the lobby where we found my mom and uncle waiting as they were giving us all a lift to their condo for the rehearsal dinner. When my dad and brother arrived we checked them in (we were paying for their room) and walked them to their room. Now THIS is where things got a little funny. We get to their room which was in the same building and when we opened the door, there was someone's luggage in it! The tags had the previous day's date on it which made it even weirder. So we wandered back to the lobby to talk to someone at the desk. They checked the computer and confirmed there was no one else in that room and they would be sending someone to gather the luggage. To be safe we dropped my dad and brother's stuff in our room and then we all piled into my mom's rental.

We got to the condo complex which was really close, located over by DTD. My mom, Drew and Chuck were in one condo, while everyone else was in a condo literally across the parking lot. Tweeter and Terry and traveled to the Olive Garden for dinner. We had pasta, salad, chicken, breadsticks...all my favorites! *YUM*

It was a nice relaxing evening with everyone just talking and catching up on what everyone had been up to since we'd seen them last.

We gave the groomsmen their gifts, pirate cufflinks!

Me giving my dad his tie

Then Chauncey and I exchanged gifts. I got him Metallica cufflinks, cause Metallica is his favorite band.

Chauncey got me a new laptop, one of those netbooks. Really light to carry and great for traveling. Unfortunately I don't have a picture, but this is similar to what I got:

 

[beatlesblonde]

December 7th: Day 3 Part 5

After dinner and exchanging gifts my mom proposed a toast. She had been saving a bottle of wine that she had received as a gift from one of her clients that they had picked up when they attended the Sydney Olympics The wine ended up not being to great, but my mom's toast was nice:

(Sorry about the lovely view of my uncle's rear end! )

Before we closed up the night I went over the details for the next day with everyone sitting there so if there were any questions I could answer them.

By then it was getting late and we all needed to get some sleep. Tweeter needed to know how to get to Pop so she could come take the getting ready pictures so she tagged along while my mom took us back. Jenni was staying with me as well so we had my mom driving, Tweeter in shotgun, Chauncey, my dad and myself in the back seat and Jenni with my brother and both our dresses in the back part of the SUV. Luckily it was a short trip and we got there in one piece. We unloaded and said good-night to the mom's, then I had to say good-night to Chauncey as he was staying with my dad and brother. I'm sure Jenni has a picture but I don't have all of her's yet. Anyways, we said farewell to the boys and soon Jenni and I were tucked into bed, getting our sleep for the big day to come!

 

[tnkr mom]

Keep those updates coming!!) We are looking forward to the Big Day details

 

[beatlesblonde]

Keep those updates coming!!) We are looking forward to the Big Day details

Big day details are coming up!