Sorry Gaston, They are MUCH More Interesting Than You!*6/8* NEW Trip Report Link p154

[eandesmom]

Looks like you both may have had a cheese plate.



The cheese plate.... on the left side - another cheese plate??? I think you each had one.
Thats my Judy spotting skills right there.

Pat! The Cheese spotter!

Or really the Kerrygold butter wrapper spotter. I can tell you this... it is highly unlikely I'd have wanted to share mine....I'm a cheese junkie.

Yeah - Me too!!!! I feel like I am always borrowing.

you mean there are people who aren't always borrowing

jeesh...I'm almost out of 2014 and what is left is spoken for.

Boo for Cynthia's last day!
Yay for some pool time and more F&W - who doesn't love cheese? Now I'm craving some.

Major boo!

So very sad to see you go, Cynthia. How sweet of you, Mary Ellen, to give up Soarin' for more time with your DISfriend!
Kathy

She is a good DISfriend that's for sure. I was very sad to be leaving too.

Just wanted to say that you are such a good friend to give up Soarin for Cynthia.

Yes she is!

I didn't have the chlorine concern, so I must have simply chickened out.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the pool considering I had tried so hard to avoid it in June and again in October. Not really sure why I was avoiding it all that time?

Well you totally took one for the team as I know it was my call to go to the clown pool and I know it was not your first, or second choice. I definitely played the "it's closest" card



But I'd gotten such a great vibe from it from our balcony I was dying to visit it. I'd actually put the villa pool as my least favorite of the three.

 

[MEK]

Sounds great. Now I just need the points to use there. :

I hear ya sister. You basically have to give up a trip to stay there. When our friends decided to go it made my point usage go up by 2.5 X, but when I extended the stay I booked on cash and we split it. Much more affordable that way.

Looks like you both may have had a cheese plate. :

Thank you for clarifying both our memories.

The cheese plate.... on the left side - another cheese plate??? I think you each had one.
Thats my Judy spotting skills right there. :

Darn. You're good! And I am glad you are putting those Judy spotting skills to good use.

Yeah - Me too!!!! I feel like I am always borrowing.

Borrowing......always borrowing.....(said in my best Roz voice from Monsters Inc.)

Why do you think we are staying entirely offsite in June, Because we would have had to borrow even more points than we already have. It would have ended up leaving us to less than 2/3rds of our total. When I suggesting just borrowing for two nights Denny said no. We need a year of just using studios and not inviting other couples and then we will be caught up.

Boo for Cynthia's last day!
Yay for some pool time and more F&W - who doesn't love cheese? Now I'm craving some..

Boo is right for Cynthia's last day. I hated to see her go.

I actually got double pool time that day because I went back to the inn pool after she left.

who doesn't love cheese? Now I'm craving some..

Seriously, just WHO doesn't love cheese???????

Love the HHI pics! What building were you in? Looks like it was near where we were.

We were in building 17. Last time I was in building 22, whichhad a better marsh view and was super close to the pool.

Building 17 had a decent view and it was super close to the parking lot. I think it was so nice that they gave use a choice of buildings. I really appreciated that.

It was so funny because I kept going to the wrong building whenever I came back from the pool. I would walk past 22 and make a sharp right and ended up at building that faced the same direction as 17. One time I literally walked right up the steps, put my card in, and wondered why I couldn't get the dorr to open. Really?

 

[amazingact21]

Both great updates! Cynthia, I think enjoying the F&W Festival one last time was a great way to bring the Disney trip to a close. Especially since all your choices looked and sound delicious! I'm adding that dish from Canada to my "must try one day" list.


It's hard to pass up a Soarin' FP, Mary Ellen, but I think in this case relaxing by the pool and visiting was a good choice.
Your HHI pictures are great, and I'm glad you were able to extend your stay and get the opportunity to enjoy your time there a little bit.

 

[Pinkocto]

Great updates last day is never easy, at least you were leaving late Cynthia I didn't miss the tshirt reveal did I?

You guys tried so many delicious looking goodies

Love the HHI pictures Mary Ellen. I'm still trying to figure out when I can get there. Might have to squeeze in another long weekend trip next year.

 

[eandesmom]

Both great updates! Cynthia, I think enjoying the F&W Festival one last time was a great way to bring the Disney trip to a close. Especially since all your choices looked and sound delicious! I'm adding that dish from Canada to my "must try one day" list.

It was SO yummy, I highly reccomend it. It was a lovely way to close.

Great updates last day is never easy, at least you were leaving late Cynthia I didn't miss the tshirt reveal did I?

You guys tried so many delicious looking goodies

there was not a shortage of food on this trip, that's for sure

No, you didn't miss the reveal.

 

[MEK]

So very sad to see you go, Cynthia. How sweet of you, Mary Ellen, to give up Soarin' for more time with your DISfriend!

I will always choose Cynthia over Soarin! I was very sad to see her go.

Those HHI pix make me long for a trip there someday!

Kathy

It is such a great resort and such an awesome island. I love it there!

Hm, I thought I had commented on the HHI post, but somehow I can't see that post, so maybe I did not.

I think you snuck in a post right before my HHI post, so you may not have seen it.

Just wanted to say that you are such a good friend to give up Soarin for Cynthia.

Like I said, I would always pick Cynthia over Soarin!

I just loved to see the HHI photos. Not very likely we will go there any time soon, so this is MY way of visiting. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks. Glad you liked the pictures. I will probably do a more comprehensive TR at some point. I think I'll combine it with my June TR.

Well you totally took one for the team as I know it was my call to go to the clown pool and I know it was not your first, or second choice. I definitely played the "it's closest" card



But I'd gotten such a great vibe from it from our balcony I was dying to visit it. I'd actually put the villa pool as my least favorite of the three.

I'm actually really glad I went to the Clown Pool. I'm not sure if I ever would have because I thought I was going to hate it. But I loved it. How could I be so wrong about something?

Both great updates! Cynthia, I think enjoying the F&W Festival one last time was a great way to bring the Disney trip to a close. Especially since all your choices looked and sound delicious! I'm adding that dish from Canada to my "must try one day" list.

Noshing around the world was a great way to end the trip. I just loved F&W so much. I can't believe how much fun it was.

It's hard to pass up a Soarin' FP, Mary Ellen, but I think in this case relaxing by the pool and visiting was a good choice.

It was a prefect choice!

Your HHI pictures are great, and I'm glad you were able to extend your stay and get the opportunity to enjoy your time there a little bit.

Thanks! I have soooooo many more pictures that I think I am going to have to do a legit TR.

Great updates last day is never easy, at least you were leaving late Cynthia I didn't miss the tshirt reveal did I?

Nope - you didn't miss the T-shirt reveal. There will be one, won't there????

You guys tried so many delicious looking goodies

OMG - there were just so many amazing things to try. I just loved F&W. It really was so much fun. I can't wai to go back. And I feel like we barely scratched the surface in comparison to all they had to offer.

Love the HHI pictures Mary Ellen. I'm still trying to figure out when I can get there. Might have to squeeze in another long weekend trip next year.

It's such an awesome resort. I hope you do get a chance to visit it some day. It's definitely worth it.

 

[eandesmom]

All good things must come to an end.

I really don't like that saying. Why do they? Why should they? I don't like to think of endings, I prefer to think of new beginnings and next time. Or, until we meet again. But since I leave for Aulani in TWO WEEKS I need to wrap things up here, and over on my other TR so...WAH...here I go!
Before it ended, pool time, as you all now know, was in order. First though, I wanted to take a picture of the picture in the elevator lobby. For some reason it always made me smile when I walked by it.





And then...the NOT SO CREEPY Clown!

Who Brooke calls George though I have no idea if that is really his name.





These folks look like they wanted George to get them...or their kid was stuck. I can't quite figure it out as they seem level with the slide opening!





Token not so creepy clown pool shots taken to document what we did, I simply lounged and relaxed with Mary Ellen, soaking up my last few hours. I do recall at some point, and even more than one I think, during the day I had issues trying to check in either via the Alaska Airlines App, or their website. I needed to pay for my bag and the app had no feature for that so once I selected I wanted to check a bag, boom, it would hold it up. And for some reason the online check in was an issue. I honestly don't remember what I ended up doing but if memory served I had to take care of all of it at the counter.

The Depressing Express. I did have an awesome driver though, wish I could remember why I thought that but I seem to recall him being amazingly chatty, in a good way.



WAH!



I checked my bag, whined about my issues and basically got a "yeah" we agree, it sucks and we are sorry. It’s a known issue and we aren't sure why they aren't fixing it. Lots of empathy but that's about it.

Just a small line at security







But since the Depressing Express makes you leave a full THREE hours before your flight, even with check in and security issues, I still had time to stop my my new traditional pre-flight location.





I gotta tell you, for airport food it's a darn good margarita and guac! Not to mention a nice place to wait an hour. On our flight home in August (spoiler) we got takeout from the same spot for the plane.

Soon enough though it was time to get on my plane which thankfully had no delays. And although the last thing I needed was food, I have to admit, I am a sucker for the menu on Alaska. It is all really tasty and really reasonable and I figured I would be hungry by the time I got home and so...



Yum!

I should have worked on the plane. I had my laptop for that very reason. I did work. Just not the way I'd planned. Instead of "work work" I did Cynthia work. Which meant bee in the bonnet spreadsheet crunching.

Crunching what you ask?

The cost difference to add on at BWV instead of SSR like I'd planned.

Yep. The clown was THAT not so creepy. I might even be a little bit in love with him!

For those of you following my other TR you know how this story ends. We did add on at BWV though it was not without drama. We are booked to spend next New Years Eve in a Boardwalk view 2 bedroom. Can you say excited?????

Woot!

Before I get to the reveal I thought I'd run a contest. So up next....Guess the Tee!

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

Continued from previous

I went to the World with a mission. A guilty mom mission but a mission nonetheless. Yes…I felt compelled to not only bring my children spoils from my trip but I also allowed them to have input in what they wanted and what I should look for. It turned into a pretty fun thing with me texting pictures of tees to Jeff's phone, Jeff showing them to Evan and Eric. It kept us connected while I was gone, and they could literally see where I was, by the pictures I was sending over.

They had been very specific with some pin requests and while I didn't detail it out (as I lost the list lol) I spent a good chunk of time the last 2 days searching for certain pins and trading like a maniac. On the shirts however it had been pretty simple. I was to look for:

1. Shirts from favorite rides (Eric)
2. "Funny" shirts (Evan)
3. Anything else I thought they might like.

Somehow they still think Mom is all knowing when it comes to stuff like that and always gets it right. Which is great...until it isn't. As they age, they are pickier and at $24.95 or so a pop, I wasn't taking chances stuff I "thought" they’d like even if I do get it right about 95% of the time.

I considered going back and posting all the tees. But...frankly there are SO many that I took pictures of I figured it would be easier to just look through the posts where I showcased them. Hopefully I didn't miss any!

The Festival Center
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47206699&postcount=437
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48022397&postcount=1500

Magic Kingdom
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47549782&postcount=901
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47669194&postcount=1047
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48120732&postcount=1628

DHS
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47817672&postcount=1222
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47817754&postcount=1223
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48071277&postcount=1571
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48071431&postcount=1572

Yacht Club
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47817787&postcount=1224

Boardwalk
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47817861&postcount=1225

Epcot
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47897329&postcount=1305
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47897432&postcount=1306

Animal Kingdom
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47897432&postcount=1306

Which shirt did each boy pick? Feel free to list 2 choices in order of preference as while they did get their first choice as a souvenir, Santa brought them their second.

Bonus points if you can guess the “why”

Double bonus points if you can guess any pins (or maybe triple as I don't think I mentioned a darn thing about it).

I have not included myself in the contest as honestly I didn't take pictures of most of the things I was eyeing...so that didn't seem fair.

 

[MEK]

I fell asleep with my computer on my lap and I woke up with you update. I'll be back to vote on T-shirts. I've got to give this some thought because I have absolutely no idea.

 

[KatMark]

I have told the kids they have to call the wedding off as they are really messing up my DIS time.

Great updates, ladies.

Cynthia, I agree...I prefer to look at it as "until we meet again" as I hate goodbyes.

And I'm sorry...it's still a scary clown pool.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Aww, Cynthia had to go home! BOO!

I'm going to guess on the t-shirts:

Eric - 1) black space mountain - I thought this was his favorite ride
2) Aerosmith RNR with blue guitar

Evan - 1) ToT black with dropping elevator
2) pull my fender - Mater - just that type of humor he'd probably appreciate

Jeff - Beers around the world

 

[natebenma]

Trying to catch up!!!

First off, Mary Ellen- congrats on the new job. I hope all is going along as expected. July 1 start still?

I think I left off just before Cynthia was entering Bear territory. I can honestly say that your pictures from the show are the best I have seen in a long time. Were there many people in the theatre? I think I last saw the bears with the boys back in 2004, but like you, it is a nostalgic attraction from visits of long ago.

The final pictures of you as you are leaving MK are awesome!!! So nice of the pumpkins to coordinate with what you were wearing.

Check this out. I can't believe this is from my iPhone

Wow!!! Love the colors in the top picture.

The one of ToT is awesome too.

Your PP pictures during your run really did come out great. It is fun to have some pictures that are a little different from the usual. I have a couple of pictures of me as a drowned rat during the class trip and it really captured the spirit of that night (and trip)

Spaceship Earth is always a great time. We spend a lot of time (at our 11 year old son's insistence) rating EVERYTHING at Disney World- rides, restaurants, snacks, lands- and I think SSE tops everything else in EPCOT for me. My favorite experience in my favorite park.

Now that they have the "Choose your Future" experience, the kids think it is a blast too. Your future pictures are great.

I'm caught up to the reunion between you and Cynthia, so now I need to read on.

 

[MEK]

Eric



(1)

(2)

The one on the left.

Now I have to do E #2, but that will have to wait for tomorrow.

 

[emmysmommy]

Cynthia: Argh for the luggage and check in difficulty! At least if you have to leave, you can spend the last hour or two relaxing by the pool with "George". He actually reminds me of Curly from the Three Stooges!

I remember reading about your DVC saga in your current TR (you signed your contract in CA?) How exciting to go back in December. In a 2 Bedroom! Emmy and I will be at BWI in December as well, just earlier in the month - our first holiday trip to WDW!

It is good to have a favorite airport bar/snack place. Speaking as a guac lover I may need to check out your place. (And the name is...? ) I need to pick a new favorite because Cinnabon isn't exactly health food and the amount of running I have to do to get over the guilt doesn't exactly work for me!

Although all good things appear to come to an end.. better things are in the wings to take their place. So with that I wish you a ton of fun in Hawaii!!!

BTW: Happy birthday to Mary Ellen! (It is still officially your birthday here on the West Coast!)

 

[teekathepony]

All good things must come to an end.

I really don't like that saying. Why do they? Why should they? I don't like to think of endings, I prefer to think of new beginnings and next time. Or, until we meet again.
[/I]

I like this. I like the way you think. Why DO good things have to come to an end anyway?
I'm assuming the clown is less scary in person then, because in pictures he still creeps the heck out of me.
Ugh, sorry to hear about the luggage checking issues.
I can't believe it's over! Thank you so much for sharing your trip! I enjoyed reading about it all. I'm going to come back later and guess t-shirts, I'm running late for work now!

 

[afwdwfan]

All good things must come to an end.

I really don't like that saying. Why do they? Why should they?

I agree!

But since I leave for Aulani in TWO WEEKS I need to wrap things up here, and over on my other TR so...WAH...here I go!

And that bit about Aulani is the main point here. No pity party for Cynthia.

And then...the NOT SO CREEPY Clown!

I still say it is ugly, I don't care how creepy or innocent it might look.

What is up with the eyes anyway???

I should have worked on the plane. I had my laptop for that very reason. I did work. Just not the way I'd planned. Instead of "work work" I did Cynthia work. Which meant bee in the bonnet spreadsheet crunching.

Crunching what you ask?

The cost difference to add on at BWV instead of SSR like I'd planned.

Well, I'd say you had your priorities right!

Ok... I'm going to guess on the T-shirts, but I haven't read enough of your older TR's to know the E's all that well yet. Based on the criteria you established though, I'll take a stab at it.

Eric
Black ToT shirt with the falling elevator - Great ride, great shirt and it is funny.
Periodic Table of Pirates - Everybody likes that ride and it has humor that takes a little bit of thinking. It seems like that type of thing would actually fit both E's. I almost put this for Evan, but there seemed to be a glut of humorous shirts.

Evan
Who Backfired - He wants funny shirts. Who doesn't like/get this humor?
I'm Chillin with my Homedroids: Again, kind of like the Pirates shirt, I can see either of them liking this one, and I could just as easily put it under Eric.

Jeff
Brews around the World. I know you had to have purchased a shirt for him and this is the best of the bunch.


Let me just be honest here. Like I said, I have no idea specifically which shirts each of the E's would prefer. I just kind of went with the ones I liked the best.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

All good things must come to an end.

I really don't like that saying. Why do they? Why should they?

I agree. Don't all bad things come to an end too? "Nothing lasts forever" sums it up better.

And then...the NOT SO CREEPY Clown!

Nope...still creepy. I saw Poltergeist; you're not fooling me.

I should have worked on the plane. I had my laptop for that very reason. I did work. Just not the way I'd planned. Instead of "work work" I did Cynthia work. Which meant bee in the bonnet spreadsheet crunching.

Crunching what you ask?

The cost difference to add on at BWV instead of SSR like I'd planned.

Everyone has priorities!

I'm always amazed at those security lines in Orlando's airport. There has to be a better way.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

T-shirt guesses:

Eric (favorite rides)...
1. Space Mountain (gray shirt listing him as commander or whatever it was). Because boys like to think of themselves that way.
2. Black ToT shirt with the elevator falling off the end. Because it combines the ride and being funny.

Evan (funny ones):
1. Please stand clear of my vacation shirt. Has the added benefit of a monorail.
2. Pull my fender Mater shirt. Because, like Andy said, who doesn't laugh at this stuff?

I also agree with Andy that you got Jeff the Beers Around the World shirt.

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm sneaking this in at work so need to come back later to look at the shirts so I can enjoy them.

Congratulations on the add-on!!!! That's so exciting!!!!!!

 

[wiigirl]

Cute shirts!