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

[Pinkocto]

I'm sorry there was a situation at home. As long as you enjoy doing it you must continue. I didn't want to praise your talents earlier since I know you didn't do it for that. You have a very beautiful voice Mary Ellen

 

[eandesmom]

Just wanted to say Kudos to Brian for hanging in there and for going back. That is big time!

Oh my goodness, all the stuff floating around today about all the new stuff at Flower and Garden has me getting excited. I'll email you later but I may have a few points after all

 

[MEK]

I know I started reading this but where my subscription went, who knows!

I hate when that happens and I'm glad you are back!

Love reading your girls trips. It is so great the fun you both have together.

Girls trips are so much fun. We did have a great time!

Love your pictures from WL. Tom and I were just talking last night about how much we miss staying there. It was our home when we went prior to owing DVC. Just love the look and feel of that resort.

Well, then its time for you guys to stay at the WL again. I think its pretty available at 7 months, but beyond that - forget about it.

I met Pat a few years ago in her hometown. She is such a nice person and very easy to get to know. Glad you had a good time meeting her.

She really is easy to get to know. She has a great personality. We had a blast hanging out with her. You will definitely be seeing more of her in this TR.

Love your pictures of the MK at fall. It is so pretty.

It really is. Fall is such an awesome time to visit. Love it!

Glad you liked Storybook Circus. We saw it in April and then again in November. My family loved the bakery in the Storybook circus. They have a chocolate covered pineapple there that is delicious!

Chocolate covered pineapple? I so did NOT see that there. YUM-MY! I did really enjoy SB Circus. The whole area was so cute.

I forgot to add this. I know I posted on FB but what a moving tribute to your friend, Mary Ellen. You had me in tears. Tracy seemed like a remarkable lady. So sorry for your loss.

Thank you so much for watching the video and for your lovely comments about the video. I cried a bit myself as I was writing it.

What a great tribute to Tracy!

Thank you and thanks for taking the time to listen. I really appreciate that!

I just realized that I missed your link to the tribute video (I was feeling lost there for a bit!) It's absolutely beautiful, very moving. A wonderful way to remember a friend.

Thanks so much Wendy. Thanks for the positive comments and for taking the time to watch the video!

great job on the tribute, and awesome job on writing and singing the song. very well done.

Thanks so much for listening and thank you for the wonderful comments. Its so appreciated it!

Mary Ellen - Catching up & joining in.

Rebecca! Thanks for joining in! It's good to see you since you have been a bit of a stranger lately!!!!!!!

Your tribute and voice are beautiful. Sorry for the loss of your friend Tracy.

Rebecca

Thanks so much for taking the time to listen to Tracy's video! I really appreciate your positive comments.

I'm sorry there was a situation at home. As long as you enjoy doing it you must continue. I didn't want to praise your talents earlier since I know you didn't do it for that. You have a very beautiful voice Mary Ellen

You're right Pam - I didn't do it for me. It's strange though - I have an affinity for wanting to play music for memorial services and to honor other people. I guess it really is a calling. I just knew I had to make this video for Tracy, but I debated over putting an original song on the video because I really don't want the attention. On the other hand, though, it is so heart warming and inspirational when I receive positive feedback. It inspires me to want to do more. Thank you!

 

[MEK]

Just wanted to say Kudos to Brian for hanging in there and for going back. That is big time!

Thanks Cynthia. I really think he is turning the corner. I do think he was able to focus better being at home, but he had to go back. He is a little behind right now - not a full semester, but probably about 6 credits or so behind where he should be. That's why he is taking winter session. It would also help if he takes one of his electives at a community college this summer. It's a liberal arts school and for the school of business they require 2 science lab courses like biology and chemistry. I think he'll take intro biology at a community college. cheaper and potentially a little easier.

Oh my goodness, all the stuff floating around today about all the new stuff at Flower and Garden has me getting excited. I'll email you later but I may have a few points after all

I did not even read that. I guess I better get on it. I am definitely going spring 2014. Can't wait. Yeah for left over points!

 

[MEK]

Goofin' Around!

After our spin on Dumbo we checked out the line for the Great Goofini. I remember seeing this line in June and it was …well for lack of a better word….long. Really long.

But today - SCORE - another walk-on. Cynthia and I just sort of looked at each other and said, "why not?" I told her that I had never ridden this before - both when it was still called just the Barnstormer and in it's recent reincarnation as the Great Goofini. Personally, I like the original name better, but who am I to judge?

Ah, but wait - according to photo bucket I am getting ahead of myself. We actually stopped and took some pictures of the cool water play area before riding Goofini.

Cute area, but from what I hear you can really get soaked here. So bring extra clothes if you decide to check it out. That goes for you adults, too!

In the queue for Goofini

Love the view of Space Mountain

Looking in the opposite direction

A sneak peak at the track

Waiting to load. Hope we don't need any of that first aide equipment

Not our Goofini car

This IS our car

Up we go!

Love this! LOL!

Nice view

And just like Dumbo, the ride ended much too quickly!

Gotta get my nephews on this first thing in the AM!

After Goofini we decided to look in the big tent which hosts the character meet and greets. Imagine our surprise when we found it empty! It was really pretty cool to walk straight in and get first dibs on the characters.

I don't love the way our pictures came out, but here's a few

Continued in Next Post........

 

[MEK]

Continued from Previous Post

We decided to check out the dump shop and in true Disney marketing form there was a huge display of food right in the center of the shop.

I mean, after all, people are bound to work up an appetite waiting around for Dumbo, the Great Goofini, and character Meet and Greets.

Everything looked really yummy, but I was more interested in healthy food in the form of lunch, although those candy apples did catch my eye.

At this point it was about 10:30 and we needed to hightail it out of the MK for our 11:30 lunch date at Via in Epcot. So we caught the train!

Then we hit the monorails and that was all the pictures I took until we were doing the roundabout in Epcot

I remember the first time I rode the monorail from Epcot to the transportation center and back again. I thought it was SO awesome!

No, a weird sand storm did NOT hit central Florida!

Nor did Spaceship Earth come now with a case of the measles.

Just me fooling around with photo bucket

We hurried off the monorail and check our time. Oh crap. It was almost 11:20 and we still had to hit the festival center to pick up tickets.

I texted Melissa and told her we were on our way!

Festival center pictures while speed walking

Into the center we go

Looking backwards. It had been years since I was in this building. In fact, it may have been my first trip over 10 years ago when the body wars ride was still running.

Continued In Next Post.......

 

[MEK]

Cynthia picked up our seminar tickets and I took pictures of the pretty wine stoppers. I was now trying to decide whether to treat myself to one (I already have two other mickey versions at home so I decided against it)

Then I took pictures of all the wine bottles. I have a fixation with pretty bottles that contain alcohol. I am sure that is a question on a "Are you an alcoholic?" questionnaire somewhere.

Skinny girl wine? Seriously, what marketing genius. Probably tastes like crap, but still genius!

I stand corrected - It was probably right about NOW that we realized we were going to be late for lunch, so I put the camera away and we hightailed it over to Italy.

Note the blurred effect to the picture? That's probably what my vision was like after all the exertion.

There - that's clearer and Italy looks downright vacant.

Melissa and John were already waiting. We were also supposed to be meeting Mark and Anita. We had arranged probably a month ahead of time. But, alas, Anita and Marks' APs had just expired the day before and the weren't planning on renewing right then and there. Too bad.

This is the only picture I took in the restaurant and that was because I was sitting right across from it.

No wait, I took this picture too!

I also took pictures of my food. I can't forget my food pics!

Appetizer Eggplant Caponata - eggplant salad with olives, capers, pignoli nut, tomatoes, and raisins $7.00

Cynthia and I shared this: Capriciossa - eggplant, artichokes, prosciutto, mushrooms

So good! And was really the perfect amount of food with us splitting the individual pizza and having an app! I would have that pizza again in a heartbeat.

We really enjoyed our visit with Melissa and John, but as I warned you - there are no pictures to prove we met.

All too soon our visit was over. Cynthia and I had a seminar to attend at 1pm, so we said our good-byes and hightailed it back to the festival center.

Up Next - mole sauce and meeting back up with Pat!

 

[cheekypoppins]

AHHHHH I need to go see Daisy dressed in those crazy clothes in Storybook Circus I love it!!!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I'm thinking I should have ventured into the Circus area! There certainly wasn't any crowd in there. AH well something to look forward to.

I finally got my photos on PB, so I will get in gear & get started on my TR!

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks Cynthia. I really think he is turning the corner. I do think he was able to focus better being at home, but he had to go back. He is a little behind right now - not a full semester, but probably about 6 credits or so behind where he should be. That's why he is taking winter session. It would also help if he takes one of his electives at a community college this summer. It's a liberal arts school and for the school of business they require 2 science lab courses like biology and chemistry. I think he'll take intro biology at a community college. cheaper and potentially a little easier.

It sure sounds like it! That is exciting and 6 credits is definitely something he can make up.

I did not even read that. I guess I better get on it. I am definitely going spring 2014. Can't wait. Yeah for left over points!

Well I wouldn't really call them leftover lol but honestly after Aulani and then the big trip (which is a crazy amount of points) I didn't think I was even going to have anything left to borrow until 2015! Which for me starts in Dec of 2014 and that's always a little weird. I think though, in looking at it that I will have some avail and still be able to get caught up for whatever family trip comes next. I guess the good news is all these bigger trips in a row pays off the investment pretty darn fast.

There are a few postings on some of the FB DIS/DVC threads about it, let me know if you don't see them, they are adding some seriously cool things so I hope they are there in 2014 as well!

Gotta get my nephews on this first thing in the AM!

After Goofini we decided to look in the big tent which hosts the character meet and greets. Imagine our surprise when we found it empty! It was really pretty cool to walk straight in and get first dibs on the characters.

I don't love the way our pictures came out

I need to get the E's on the Great Goofini as well, I thought it was darn cute but that splash area really was the best thing there, they did such a great job with it!

I was a little bummed with these pictures. I mean I take lousy interior low light pics but you'd think if they set it up as a PP area, they'd have the lighting right and in all our shots, I thought the lighting was a huge issue, just off coloring big time.

I really liked the area overall and was pleased we were able to basically do the whole thing in an hour. it was empty!

Cynthia picked up our seminar tickets and I took pictures of the pretty wine stoppers. I was now trying to decide whether to treat myself to one (I already have two other mickey versions at home so I decided against it)

Then I took pictures of all the wine bottles. I have a fixation with pretty bottles that contain alcohol. I am sure that is a question on a "Are you an alcoholic?" questionnaire somewhere.

I was a little jealous, so many cute things in that shop I wanted to look at and we didn't have time. I was also annoyed that I couldn't get our 2nd seminar tickets at the same time, I think that's silly. Funny thing is I'd really thought I'd pick up a bottle somewhere along the trip to take back to the room and never did.

Melissa and John were already waiting. We were also supposed to be meeting Mark and Anita. We had arranged probably a month ahead of time. But, alas, Anita and Marks' APs had just expired the day before and the weren't planning on renewing right then and there. Too bad.

The 4 of us waited a bit trying to get a hold of them before we found out, it was such a bummer! They had bought the new PAP's already I think but were going to wait to activate, which makes sense but was a bummer. It was so fun to finally meet John and fabulous to see Melissa again. I can't believe we didn't get a picture, totally lame.

I also took pictures of my food. I can't forget my food pics!

Appetizer Eggplant Caponata - eggplant salad with olives, capers, pignoli nut, tomatoes, and raisins $7.00

Cynthia and I shared this: Capriciossa - eggplant, artichokes, prosciutto, mushrooms

So good! And was really the perfect amount of food with us splitting the individual pizza and having an app! I would have that pizza again in a heartbeat.

I loved that pizza! And my app, which I will post a picture of. My gang wouldn't go for what was on the pizza so it was so fun, although odd that I actually had eggplant 2 days in a row, I never have eggplant. I mean ever! Not that I don't like it, I do, there are just other things I like better and Jeff truly despises it.

 

[KatMark]

Clean bathroom, huh? That won't last long.. I promise.

Great update, MaryEllen. LOVE the photopass pictures of you and Cynthia in the big tent! Very cute...especially with Minnie.

I have to say I miss Body Wars and that area; I wish they would do something with it.

Skinnygirl wine? Seriously? What will they come up with next?

Your lunch looks very yummy.

 

[marDgreen88]

The new meet and greet with Minnie and Daisy looks ADORABLE. Oh my goodness. Yall really lucked out with no waits that morning!

Lunch looks yummy! Via Napoli is fantastic.

 

[amandaw]

Great update! Looks like y'all were really getting a lot done this day.

I love the new queue for the Barnstormer. I think it's so cute! And the characters are so cute in their circus outfits. I was so excited to see them on our trip. They really have some yummy treats in the Big Top Souvenirs tent!

YUM....lunch at Via Napoli!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I really like all the circus theming with the water play area and the Great Goofini.

LOVE the pictures of you and Cynthia with Minnie and Daisy! They are so cute in their new costumes!

Sounds like a lovely lunch! And those Mickey wine stoppers may have to go on my wish list.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

The splash area in New Fantasyland does look like it will DRENCH you!!! But I love all of the bright fun colors in that area!

Love the various photobucket edits of Epcot!

Your lunch at VN looks really good!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Those apples are delicious. You must try one but they are definitely meant for sharing.

I found the meet and greet to always have low crowds when we were there at thanksgiving. Sort of strange. It is a neat meet and greet.

Your nephews will love the great goofini. Jeremy could ride that thing all day.

I have never been to food and wine. It is on our bucket list. Looking forward to hearing about your seminars.

 

[dawnbu40]

I love the pictures with Minnie and Daisy. We were disappointed that area wasn't open when we were there.

Your VN lunch looks delicious! Looking forward to going back there in May

 

[amazingact21]

I love the view you have on Barnstormer, it's pretty neat being able to see Space Mountain in one direction and Fantasyland in the other. And you definitely have to take your nephews on it!


Sounds like you two had a bit of a time crunch issue. Hope once the festival seminar began you were able slow down a bit and relax.


The pizzas at Via Napoli are so good and splitting one is more than enough food for 2 people! Seeing your photos of the place makes me wish I were dining there right now.

 

[petals]

I need to go to the new Fantasyland.

Via Napoli. Yummy food and sights

 

[glennbo123]

It cracks me up how you write one thing (like "I didn't take any pictures in Via Napoli"), find out that your pictures disprove it ("Oh, I guess I did take more pictures. And my food pictures, of course."), but you just forge ahead!

Interesting meet and greet area -- I'm not sure about Daisy as a fortune teller.

I'd sure like to try some pizza from Via Napoli someday.