SOOZE 10 year Anniversary Getaway.. All DONE!

[donaldtutter]

Great trip report so far.

 

[pooksma]

that explains it! How can one eat when there are mountains to climb and oceans to swim. Great updates today Sooze!

 

[PrincessV]

SOOZE!! Remember how my User CP constantly lost your last TR, leaving me updates behind on a regular basis? It's happening AGAIN! My goal for today is to get caught up

 

[Sooze]

Can't wait for more.

Hey.. I got two installments done in one weekend!! That's pretty good for me. Hope to do another on Saturday... this week is crazy busy!

Love, love, loved your last two installments!

Your description of the morning at POR & DHS sounds wonderful. I am totally a morning person who loves to enjoy the sun rising and the birds singing. When we stayed at POR I can remember the dewey smell of pine trees in the early morning, well our backyard is filled with big old pines and on early summer mornings I can relive those memories of POR with that "dewey pine smell". Okay enough of my sappy memory stuff.....

I really liked the picture of the waterfall that you took, very pretty.

Can't wait to hear if you had success with that DD restaurant! Looking forward to more!

Thank, thank, thanks to you! Glad you liked them!
That Saturday morning at POR is one I can close my eyes and go back to whenever I need to getaway. It was picture perfect!!

you waited till you got back to POR to check. I would have been on the phone as I hung up.

great pics and updates. Now I see why u did not eat right away and for good reason.

Did u like Flame Tree? I don't know if I missed that part. I just went back and read it. so forget it.

Nemo for me next time.

I know... I just wanted to talk face-to-face with someone, so I waited til I got 'home'. You'll just have to see if it worked out for me...

I loved Flame Tree!! Can't wait to go back and have it again!

 

[Sooze]

Not only is she dancing to a Disney song, the name of the recital is "Wishes" and the entire group of dancers sings the Wishes song at the end. Almost every dance is Disney-related. I was really impressed with the program last year. It's pretty professional for the YMCA. Of course, it's Fishers....

That sounds great! I just love Y-sponsored activities. Tyson took karate from our local Y last fall/winter and it was great for him. Make sure you take lots of pictures of the dance recital.. and share!

Your "solo" trip is just getting better and better! I wanted to see the bug show but I didn't feel well enough to wait.

I am jealous that you got the pulled pork sandwich!! After Jordan talking about it, I wanted to try it soooo bad but didn't get to.

The pulled pork was FABULOUS! Hope you get to try it.

And the bug show... you should see it eventually, but don't feel too bad about missing it!

I loved your MGM oops Hollywood Studios report! You did the top 2 things on my list for Animal Kingdom. Nemo musical and Flame Tree, I have never been able to get there. Don't feel bad about getting emotional during the Nemo performance. I cry every year when watching DCI's when they show the performers breathing so heavy after their performance

So... are you coming to Indy this summer to cry at DCI?! I'll be there!

 

[Sooze]

LOVING these reports Sooze, I now think I would be lonely by myself too, wanting to share those memories with others. I agree about tough to be a bug, Lauren freaks out and I felt bad for bringing her in. We still haven't seen Nemo and I can't wait to see it, especially after your report of it. Bummer you won't get to check out AKL, I was hoping you would but understand why you didn't. Hope you get some ressies.
Oh, and on yesterday, surprised you like the back seat of Rockin Roller coaster better than the front, I did both this last trip and think the front seat ROCKS, just love that ride. To each his own I guess.
LOVING the report and can't wait for more, thanks for 2 great installments this weekend.
Lesley

So happy to entertain you!! Yes, the first day solo was great.. but I was very lonely by the end. Still LOVED it! But knew I would never be able to do it for more than a day or two!

I sure hope you guys get to see Nemo this summer. It really is fabulous!

I think the front seat experience I had was swayed by the fact that my head was already hurting from a short night's sleep plus no coffee. By later in the morning, I was feeling much better and was able to enjoy it more the 2nd time around. That take off is awesome, eh?!!!

Great updates on your solo day. Your picture of Donald is so cute, I just love that part of the Animation tour. Wish I would have skipped the show on our last trip, the wait was 30min for the drawing part, couldn't get my DD to wait. I will always try to sit up front or near the front on RnRC, much smoother ride for me, the back tends to bang my head back and forth too much . And I am with you, LOVE EE, I think it really feels like you go upside down during part of the ride, it is SO much Fun! You are doing a great job keeping yourself busy.

I would love to take Tyson to the drawing thing, but I don't think he'd want to wait, either. Plus, I can see him getting really frustrated during the lesson. They move pretty fast and they don't give you and eraser!

Yeah.. the G-force on EE certainly gives you the feeling of going upside down. I love it too!!

Great trip report so far.

Many thanks!!

that explains it! How can one eat when there are mountains to climb and oceans to swim. Great updates today Sooze!

I knew you'd understand! Thanks for reading along!

SOOZE!! Remember how my User CP constantly lost your last TR, leaving me updates behind on a regular basis? It's happening AGAIN! My goal for today is to get caught up

Just don't get technology sometimes! I'm sorry you lost me.. but glad you're back! If you go to my 1st page, there are links to the individual installments. That might make it easier for you to catch up! Enjoy!!

 

[DisneyJo]

Your day sounded great, you are noticing so much stuff by being solo, I think I need to ride EE solo so I can really enjoy it instead of wondering if DD is fine the whole ride!

So did you get dining ressies????

 

[PrincessV]

I'm all caught up! And, sadly, I'm out of time. I promise to stay up-to-date and post a much better reply next time around!

 

[Sooze]

Your day sounded great, you are noticing so much stuff by being solo, I think I need to ride EE solo so I can really enjoy it instead of wondering if DD is fine the whole ride!

So did you get dining ressies????

Lots of time to notice stuff, for sure... Looking back, I wish I would've slowed down even more, and done some more exploring of things unknown!!

You'll have to see.....

I'm all caught up! And, sadly, I'm out of time. I promise to stay up-to-date and post a much better reply next time around!

Hey! I'm just glad you're here! I certainly don't judge others by the quality of their replies!!

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Your report is amazing.
I have been a shy on-looker for a while..

 

[byoung]

Nice report.

 

[Sooze]

Your report is amazing.
I have been a shy on-looker for a while..

Nice report.

Thank you both very much! and aboard!! Hoping to do another update this weekend!

 

[Sooze]

So when you last heard from me, I was on a mission to find a reservation just a few short hours from now. So I decided to head home to POR for some concierge assistance. I walked to the POR bus stop at Animal Kingdom and there was a bus waiting for me! Yes! They must know I'm in a hurry...

I guess not. As I'm looking out the window, I'm beginning to sense that we are not going the right way. It just doesn't feel like we are headed towards POR. Just when I see the bus making a turn onto the drive that circles the Epcot resorts... the driver comes on the speaker and says, "Sorry folks, I went to the wrong resort".... We went around the entire circle, passing BW, BC, YC, Swan, Dolphin... I took almost 30 minutes to get from AK to POR. Crazy!

But you know what hit me on that extra long bus ride? I hadn't been taking pictures for Shae's alphabet book! Just totally forgot! Better get going, I have a whole day to make up now!

I found my way to the concierge. She actually laughed at me when I told her my predicament. ADR's in DTD on a Saturday... in just 2 hours!!! I told her to just find a place.. anything that had availability. The only thing she could find was Portobello's Yacht Club. I had never heard of it! But she said it was Italian, so I thought that'd be great!

I grabbed a hot chocolate in the refillable mug then went back to the room to rest. I closed my eyes, just for a second... then went OUT!! I am never more exhausted than when I'm at Disney (in a GOOD way!) Luckily, my eyes flew open fifteen minutes later. A perfect cat nap.. and I felt totally refreshed!

I took another cruise on the Sassagoula. Just love those boats. I especially enjoy looking at the Treehouse Villas on my way to DTD. I'm just intrigued with those things.. I'd love to stay in one. Here are a few pics from my ride:

Leaving POR:

The water towers (Wonder if they used to say "Dixie Landings")

Some of the POR Mansions:

Pulling up to DTD:

Fulton's:

More DTD:

I actually had enough time to stroll over to Goofy's place again.

I got to have our Mickey head Rice Krispie treats made. I still can't believe these things were only $3!!! It is THE best deal in Disney. These are HUGE and completely DELICIOUS!! Here is the CM making our yum yums:

Sorry I didn't take a picture of the finished product... but it was, again, pretty crowded and I just wanted to get out of there!

On my way over to Portabello's it started raining again. It really was just wet and chilly all day. Not that I minded, just wished for more sun.. which I got later in the weekend!

I found Matt and Beast and we were seated immediately at the restaurant. Actually, DTD was not THAT bad for a Saturday night. I bet, if we tried, we could've been seated at Fulton's. I think the chilly rain was keeping folks away. But I'm GLAD we stayed at Portabello's. We enjoyed some seriously delicious food! We decided to go with an appetizer extravaganza!! (remember, I only ate about 3 hours earlier.. so I wasn't too hungry!)

Shrimp:

Beef bruschetta:

Portabella mushrooms, of course!:

Cheese pizza, Tuscan Fondu, and a Caesar salad too!

Completely delicous! This was a superb restaurant for adults. It had a fancier atmosphere than most places, and I probably wouldn't bring Ty and Shae here, yet!

Matt and Beast still had some time to kill, so we walked over to Arabas Bros. Glass store again. Beast found a beautiful glass slipper for under $75. He bought it for Belle for Valentine's Day and had her name engraved on it. It was beautiful!!

We spent a lot of time looking at this:

This, my friends, costs $37,500!!!! We spoke to the CM at the store for a while about it. Turns out, they made 50 of them and, at that time, FIVE had been sold!! I can't believe ONE person could afford something like that, let alone FIVE!! She also said that the last one they sold, the man bought it for his wife for Christmas. He also included a coach, Cinderella, and her prince, which brought the total to $46,000! And all I got for Christmas was a cute pair of socks from DH!!!

Matt and Beast headed back for another round of late night meetings. I went back to WOD for a few more souvies, then called it a night!

I grabbed a boat back home. I got comfy in my PJs then worked on the postcards for my DISfriends who were stuck at home! While working, I had on some HORRIBLE teen movie about cheerleading... Ashley Tisdale's sister was in it. It was awful.. but for some reason, I watched it! Vacation for my brain, I guess!!

I took a shower to try to save some minutes for the next morning.. then hit the bed like a ton of bricks.

Of course, I was just on the verge of falling asleep, when Matt called me...

with a GREAT surprise.....

 

[Hedy]

I love those castles.

 

[beckanoah]

Yay, another update!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

hey....where'd ya go , u didnt leave us HANGIN did ya?? ohhhhhhhhhh nooooooo, come backkkkkkkk

 

[PrincessV]

Look, look, looky - I fixed it... your TR popped up in my User CP just like it's supposed to do!

The only thing she could find was Portobello's Yacht Club. I had never heard of it!

Oh, I love PYC! Used to eat there often, but haven't in a few years. I hope it's still good...

But I'm GLAD we stayed at Portabello's. We enjoyed some seriously delicious food!

Hooray!

Portabella mushrooms, of course!:

OMG, I could live on this dish!

This, my friends, costs $37,500!!!!

You could buy house big enough to LIVE IN for that!!! Well, okay, not here in FL, but somewhere!

Of course, I was just on the verge of falling asleep, when Matt called me...

with a GREAT surprise.....

 

[IluvXU]

All caught up now... what a great trip. I hope someday to go again for a short trip with just my husband and I.... he has a conference in October, but with a newborn at home I think that I won't be tagging along this trip. Keep it coming!

 

[Sooze]

I love those castles.

Oh my gosh! Even if I could afford one, I don't know what the heck I'd do with it!!!

Yay, another update!

Yay! And you didn't even have to wait for the weekend!

hey....where'd ya go , u didnt leave us HANGIN did ya?? ohhhhhhhhhh nooooooo, come backkkkkkkk

I sure did... look for the answer this weekend!

Look, look, looky - I fixed it... your TR popped up in my User CP just like it's supposed to do!


Oh, I love PYC! Used to eat there often, but haven't in a few years. I hope it's still good...

Hooray!

OMG, I could live on this dish!

You could buy house big enough to LIVE IN for that!!! Well, okay, not here in FL, but somewhere!

If not a house, a really nice CAR... or, heck, a BUNCH of DVC points!!

And the portabello was UNBELIEVABLY delicious!

All caught up now... what a great trip. I hope someday to go again for a short trip with just my husband and I.... he has a conference in October, but with a newborn at home I think that I won't be tagging along this trip. Keep it coming!

I've been wondering where you are! So happy to have you back. How are you feeling with new little one on the way?

 

[DisneyJo]

I took almost 30 minutes to get from AK to POR. Crazy!

What, that's ridiculous

But I'm GLAD we stayed at Portabello's. We enjoyed some seriously delicious food! We decided to go with an appetizer extravaganza!!

Sounds yummy

Beast found a beautiful glass slipper for under $75. He bought it for Belle for Valentine's Day and had her name engraved on it. It was beautiful!!

Awww how sweet, did she like it?

Turns out, they made 50 of them and, at that time, FIVE had been sold!! I can't believe ONE person could afford something like that, let alone FIVE!!

But where would you put it?

Matt called me... with a GREAT surprise.....

Another cliffhanger