Sister Wives, First Times and Lots of Wine/An Epic Girls Trip...Updated 8/13

[Jenny Sanders]

See, you did it properly by starting at Pop and then moving over to a deluxe! We started deluxe, then ended with a value

I will be staying at ASM in August. But, I sure will miss the WL!!!

there's just too many things I want to try when I'm at Disney!

Ditto!!! I just had school bread for the first time this trip!!! I think I was the only one on the DIS who hadn't had it yet...

You two are just so adorable!

You are honestly the sweetest!

So enjoying your reports-a different perspective from each of you! Thank for writing!

You are very welcome! Thank you for reading!

Oh, my gosh, that's so funny!! I didn't even spot myself in that selfie

OMG! I thought that was you!!!!

Very cool celebrity sighting! I was oblivious to it

It took Joe a little convincing before he went up to him...

Still fuming I didn't get to go on the tour or see Michael Shannon. I couldn't place him when you told me and oddly we had Superman on over the weekend and I commented on how creepy he was

You should have seen him in Boardwalk Empire!!!! Super creepy!!!

 

[suse66]

Selfies in Disney and my BEAUTIFUL AP card...

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Yay!!!! Best purchase ever!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Timmy just received his Disney College Program Alumni assignment for the next 12 weeks...He will be working custodial at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. He's really looking forward to going back. His bosses from MK have already reached out to him asking if he'd like to pick up extra shifts on Main Street to which he happily replied, "Of course."

So great!

I now get to do some shopping in Disney Springs AND she booked dinner for us at Narcoossees (I think Thursday night). As most of you know, Narcoossees is one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property. AND, we get to stay to watch HEA!!!! I am so excited! I honestly have the best sister in the world!!!

You will have the best birthday!

We were up super early this morning. I think we set the alarm for like 6:30 am...But, we had a BIG day ahead of us. First, we had to check out of Pop Century, and check into the Wilderness Lodge...We pulled up, dropped our bags with bell services and went into the lobby to check into our Courtyard View room. We didn't expect our room to be ready and it wasn't until later that afternoon. But, that was fine with us, because we had some mighty big plans to get to...So, I'll drag this suspense out a little longer by showing you the obligatory room and view photos...

Gorgeous view!

Ok, here goes...We didn't have long to wait and our EPCOT bus was pulling up...Epcot, what's so EPIC about Epcot you might ask???? Well kids, let me tell you...About a week before our Epic Girl's Trip was to begin, I received a PM from @chunkymonkey. She told me she had a big surprise and I needed to let her know when Joe and I were arriving and if we had hoppers and or AP's...We messaged back and forth for a bit and then she dropped the BIGGEST PIXIE DUST BOMBSHELL OF ALL TIME!!!!! Someone (who will remain anonymous, but knows we are all eternally grateful to her for such a magical gift) had gifted our group a VIP Tour with 2 guides. I was absolutely stunned, shocked, surprised...I couldn't believe it. This had been on my bucket list and something I never in a million years thought I'd get to experience. And let me tell you, it was everything I dreamed it would be and more. I immediately called Joe to let him know. He was as excited as I was and it was literally all we talked about up until the point of the tour starting. Then we kept asking each other if it was really happening. We were like little kids in a candy store...

Wow! so special!

Next thing I know, Joe is shaking hands with Michael Shannon and waving to me to come over.

Love it!!

 

[Steppesister]

Hey Lady....

Finally getting around to reading and catching up. Just subbing in and will be back this weekend to read more thoroughly!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Ditto!!! I just had school bread for the first time this trip!!! I think I was the only one on the DIS who hadn't had it yet...

I still haven't had one, so now I'm probably the only one left!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Yay!!!! Best purchase ever!!!

Best decision we made this year!!! It's already saving us money...

You will have the best birthday!

And now I get a little bit of Disney thrown in...

Hey Lady....

Finally getting around to reading and catching up. Just subbing in and will be back this weekend to read more thoroughly!

Hi Liesa! So happy to have you! It was so nice meeting you!

I still haven't had one, so now I'm probably the only one left!!

OMG! It's as good as everyone says it is!!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Hollywood Studios!

After the 3 top rides in Epcot and our first of 2 celebrity encounters, it was time to head to our second park, Hollywood Studios...We went to a back exit in Epcot and loaded into 2 vans. We were instructed that we couldn't take pictures because we were "backstage." Jon (our guide) pointed out a lot of trivia and interesting Disney facts. He talked about the new Ratatouille attraction and about some of the other lands in World Showcase. It was very cool to be behind the scenes.

When we arrived at HS, we were taken to a back entrance where a couple CM's were waiting for us. They offered our group bottled water and a variety of snacks, like popcorn, Cheese Its, Skittles and Starbursts. This was much appreciated because we were starving at this point. It was also a very nice touch.

It was finally time for me to see Toy Story Land for myself and I was so excited. I personally think it's adorable and I love the attention to detail. Seeing it wasn't the best part tho...We got to ride Slinky Dog Dash!!! And, not once, but twice with no waiting in line!!! We rode it the first time in the very last row and the second time in the 4th row, so we had 2 very different perspectives of the coaster. I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite rides in WDW. It's so smooth and a ton of fun. Joe and I laughed and screamed the entire ride...

Unfortunately, after SDD, it was time to head to our 3rd park of the day...

Where did we go next? Hint, there are only 2 choices. Hee! Hee!

 

[missjackiemcg]

DHS was such a fun part of our day!! I loved that we decided to do SDD twice instead of trekking over to another ride and some people having to sit out (if we had done ToT). I agree, having those snacks was a perfectly timed surprise!! I was starving, but enjoying the tour too much to care about stopping to grab food LOL Plus, the salt and vinegar kettle chips I tried were amazing!! I only took that one thing and a water on this stop, but the next time snacks were offered, I was like, "can we have more than 1?!" and totally loaded up on candy

 

[Jenny Sanders]

DHS was such a fun part of our day!! I loved that we decided to do SDD twice instead of trekking over to another ride and some people having to sit out (if we had done ToT). I agree, having those snacks was a perfectly timed surprise!! I was starving, but enjoying the tour too much to care about stopping to grab food LOL Plus, the salt and vinegar kettle chips I tried were amazing!! I only took that one thing and a water on this stop, but the next time snacks were offered, I was like, "can we have more than 1?!" and totally loaded up on candy

HS was a blast!!! It was super fun for me because up until the announcement of the tour, I didn't think I'd get to see TSL yet again!!!

 

[missjackiemcg]

It was super fun for me because up until the announcement of the tour, I didn't think I'd get to see TSL yet again!!!

I hadn't seen TSL either, and it was really fun to walk through with Jon pointing out the things I may have missed, like Andy's giant footprints on the ground and the date of the original Toy Story movie release printed on Rex's box price tag. SO cool!!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

This just sounds like the most fun day ever. I've still never done Slinky Dog and hear mixed reviews, but omg it feels like ridiculous fun which I'm always here. My guess is the next park is DAK so y'all can end at MK for the fireworks, unless your VIP tour guides don't know what they're doing hehe

 

[BlvInMagic]

Joining in!

 

[fallonkendra]

Ditto!!! I just had school bread for the first time this trip!!! I think I was the only one on the DIS who hadn't had it yet...

You weren't missing much

They offered our group bottled water and a variety of snacks, like popcorn, Cheese Its, Skittles and Starbursts. This was much appreciated because we were starving at this point. It was also a very nice touch.

Agreed! It was so nice to have those snacks!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I hadn't seen TSL either, and it was really fun to walk through with Jon pointing out the things I may have missed, like Andy's giant footprints on the ground and the date of the original Toy Story movie release printed on Rex's box price tag. SO cool!!

I didn't know that Jackie!!!! So, you were a TSL virgin too...I loved all of Jon's "insider" information.

This just sounds like the most fun day ever. I've still never done Slinky Dog and hear mixed reviews, but omg it feels like ridiculous fun which I'm always here. My guess is the next park is DAK so y'all can end at MK for the fireworks, unless your VIP tour guides don't know what they're doing hehe

SDD was soooo fun! I don't understand how anyone could not like it. You're right, we did do DAK next!!!!

Joining in!

Thank you so much for joining!!!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

Agreed! It was so nice to have those snacks!

I was soooooo hungry at that point, so it was wonderful!!!!

 

[missangelalexis]

I'm glad you loved TSL! Getting to ride slinky dog 2 times (without any wait) sounds like a definite highlight of the tour!!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

September trip Update!!!

Originally, we had reservations to stay at the GF in a Lagoon View room. Today, I changed that reservation...We are now staying at the Contemporary Resort in an Atrium Club Level room!!!!! I am soooooo beyond excited for this...Back story...A year and a half ago, we were magically upgraded at the Contemporary to CL and we loved it so much that it just made sense to actually reserve it this time around. There are just so many benefits to staying CL that I couldn't pass it up since there was still availability. We loved being able to see HEA from the lounge every night. We loved the snacks, wine, and beer that was offered etc...It's just so nice to be able to pop in to grab a snack or bottled water, especially when traveling with a 3-year-old...Plus, it's nice to be able to walk to MK, where we will be spending the majority of our time this trip. I also love this resort a little bit more than the GF. But, the WL will always be my fav Deluxe...

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I'm glad you loved TSL! Getting to ride slinky dog 2 times (without any wait) sounds like a definite highlight of the tour!!

It was definitely the highlight for me (Joe too).

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

oday, I changed that reservation...We are now staying at the Contemporary Resort in an Atrium Club Level room!!!!! I am soooooo beyond excited for this...

EXCITING!!!! That is a bucket list item for me.

was that your first time in Toy Story Land? We love it. But I love the Toy Story Movies. They are all so good!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

EXCITING!!!! That is a bucket list item for me.

I know, right!!!!

was that your first time in Toy Story Land? We love it. But I love the Toy Story Movies. They are all so good!

Yes, it was and I fell in love. Sooooo incredibly cute!

 

[Cloe Colton]

Okay I don't know how I missed so many updates!!

That is far from the lobby lol DH and I were actually farther down that hallway so I completely know that walk!! But WL is worth it!! That's a cool view too!

I figured it had to be a VIP tour! lol I had serious FOMO when I saw you all doing it! That is seriously such an amazing gift! I definitely want to do one someday, DH and I are trying to figure out how we can do one once both SW rides are open! lol The Blue Angels had to be pretty cool to see! Especially over SE!

SDD is one of my favorites too! There's something just so freeing or exciting about it! You can't help but enjoy it! Unless you're a grump lol but I agree, its amazing! My Mom said on our last trip that she see herself still riding SDD when she's 80! haha

OMG what a switch for your September trip!! DH and I can't wait to stay there again in the Atrium level in June. Disney is DEFINITELY on to something when they pixie dust people to stay in CL! lol It definitely gives you a taste that you can't move on from!! That will be super convenient with Gia though!