SSRmonkey Trip Report

[SSRmonkey]

Hellllooooooo Everybody! I'm back at SSR for the week and can't wait for the adventures to begin!

We left about 4 feet of snow at home and arrived to temperatures about 20 degrees warmer here. I'll take it! I'm glad I wore my long sleeved t-shirt but anticipate getting into my normal vacation attire later today.

We arrived around 7pm yesterday and checked in. The room is great with a nice view of one of the lakes. After unpacking my wardrobe I headed to Wetzel's Pretzels with mom and dad for our traditional first Disney meal. I was so hungry I got cheese all over my shirt, but luckily I had one of those Tide stain pen things. I carry one with me all the time since I'm so messy! After a not so quick perusal of World of Disney we headed to Wal Mart for some supplies. A side note--NEVER, NEVER EVER go to a Wal Mart in West Viginia on a Friday night!!!! Mom and dad had to stop for something and it was the most terrifying shopping experience of my life. I won't go into detail (it's too graphic), but peopleofwalmart.com has nothing on what I saw. *shiver*

Today we are off to Epcot for the morning and will probably head to MK for EMH tonight. I'll keep you posted!!

 

[CheapMom]

Hooray-ssrmonkey- my favorite trip reporter is on the move!!!

 

[LIFERBABE]

EahYEah!!! I'm in!

Great pic! Who is your new friend?

 

[Muushka]

Now I want to know what you saw at Walmart!

Love the picture. Have a great time!

 

[Checkers]

Looking forward to more of your TR. Have a great vacation!

 

[heaven2dc]

Oh boy....the horrors of Walmart!! I can't wait to read all about your stay (thanks for posting a live report!)

 

[La2kw]

Nice to see you again SSRmonkey! My motto is NEVER, NEVER, EVER shop at Wal Mart, EVER. Peopleofwalmart.com doesn't lie!

Looking forward to your next installment.

 

[SSRmonkey]

It's a beautiful day today. We couldn't have asked for better weather. The sun is shining and it's about 70 degrees. Perfect!

For those of you who don't remember my friend, the bear and/or marsupial (as Koala says) that hangs around with me is my best bud, Koala. He's a little fiesty at times and I have to make sure he's always tethered to me. He got lost once in Epcot and thought he was really in Japan...he had too much Saki and couldn't figure out how he got from Japan to Mexico so fast.

We headed to Epcot for a bit this morning. The parking lot was crazy due to the Princess marathon, but once we got into the park the crowds weren't bad. We first headed to Soarin to get FP. They were only for an hour later so we headed to the Figment ride. Koalas have a heigtened sense of smell in the spring and Koala decided that he didn't want to ride because he hates the skunk smell (even when he can't smell so well...). We couldn't leave him unattended though, so he found another remedy.

After the ride, Koala asked if they sell Figment Pigment but was disappointed when the nice lady said no. I guess I will mix some glitter with Crayola fingerpaint and that will have to do.

We went to ride the Seas with Nemo, but got kicked out because I tried to eat the barnacles on the way in. Koala has a clever disguise ready for the next time we try to ride.

We ate lunch at the Land--I LOVE the cookies they have there!!! Now we're off to do some shopping. Dad only buys shoes in Florida and his old shoes stunk up the car the whole way here. He's in desparate need of some new kicks. After that we'll head to MK and get our first huge rice krispie treat!

 

[Chellymouse]

Welcome back SSRMonkey! Can't wait to read the next installment! Your pics make me wish I was at home (SSR) too!

 

[helenk]

Looking forward to reading about your adventures. Love the "nose plugs".

 

[DiznyDi]

Thanks for taking us along on your adventure! Have a great trip.

 

[ccigliano]

Thanks for the trip report SSRmonkey. Koala is adorable and I can't wait to hear more. We just got back from the Animal Kindom Lodge - Kidani yesterday and despite the cold weather had a great time. It should warm up nicely for you this week. Have a great vacation!

 

[SSRmonkey]

We had a fun filled afternoon. Dad thought he knew how to get to the outlet mall. Luckily, mom was prepared with the Garmin so we could find the mall. It's really out of the way and hard to find...you know right by the highway and all. Ok, so it's just hard for Dad to find. Anyway, he was successful in his quest for new shoes. After that we headed to Subway for dinner. Nothing like fine cuisine from trained professionals. Don't you have to to go to culinary school to be a Sandwich Artist? We ate on the balcony at SSR while watching the balloon at DTD and watched the sunset.

Then Koala and I got packed up in our new backpack. It's really quite roomy.

We arrived to very few people at MK and walked right in to the Laugh Floor. I didn't even get time to submit my joke: "What's the Cheshire Cat's favorite dessert? Mice cream of course!" The audience there must have been sleeping or something. Depsite the monsters best efforts it seemed like people just didn't get the jokes. Amazingly the canister still got filled up. I think it's rigged.

After that we went over to the Winnie the Pooh ride. Is it my imagination or did they change some stuff in there? I don't remember Gopher spitting water through his teeth. I think that's a great trick and Koala and I are going to learn how to do that so we will be entertained on the way home.

Since Dumbo was full we headed over to It's a Small World. The hula girls are still my favorite. How can you go wrong with a grass skirt? They are eco-friendly and look awesome on anyone. Plus, if you're ever stuck on an island you can make yourself a smoothie...as long as you have your Jack LaLanne juicer from QVC.

We took a ride on the Thunder Mountain Railroad and got to sit in the last seat. It was a bumpy ride, but cool in the dark. I never noticed the opossums and the donkey before. I'll have to watch for them the next time.

A word of warning...those of you who really like the Country Bear Jamboree, you may want to jump to the next paragraph. Let me just say that our Wal Mart experience in West Virginia was nothing compared to the Country Bear Jamboree. It was kind of like an animatronic freak show. Apparently these bears also watch QVC because they had "Bedazzled" their guitars. (For those of you who haven't seen the Bedazzler--Google it.) Also, I want to know where I can get a coon skin cap with the coon still attached. Of course I would have to be selective. I want a talented coon without rabies. Say hello to the bearded ladies...(sorry these next two photos are fuzzy)

And what is that big bear in the back supposed to be playing? Creepy...

After a stoll through Toontown we stopped on Main Street for a rice krispie treat! Yummy!

I have to get rested up for tomorrow. We are going to DHS for a ride on Toy Story Mania and hopefully a photo op with the Up characters. Then maybe some pool time (Koala has his Little Swimmers) and then a Segway tour of Celebration, FL! Night!

 

[kikiq]

So excited you are back at SSR. Looking forward to your report.

Sorry your Walmart stop was not the best...but I sort of know what you mean. I don't go to our Walmart late at night.

 

[Cee]

SSRMonkey, it's been too long! I was afraid you had angered Mom and Dad and they were punishing you by withholding Disney trips! We all enjoy sharing the adventure with you and your family.

 

[dgaston]

Good to see you again, along with Koala...

 

[SSRmonkey]

A busy morning today. We got to DHS just after it opened and were surprised to find very few people there. We headed over to Toy Story and got FP and then got in line. It only took about 20 minutes to get through the line but along the way Koala and I stopped to play Candy Land.

And then I tried to give Koala a heart transplant, but he insisted that this heart is not anatomically correct. Foiled again!

After that we crossed the street to see Buzz and Woody. At first they weren't quite sure what to do with us, but Woody wanted to take Koala home with him.

Once they figured out that mom and dad weren't trying to give us to them as a gift, they posed for a picture.

After that we walked right up to get our pictures taken with the Cars! Mater's eyes were closed, but the one with Lightning McQueen turned out pretty well.

Koala found some friends along the way. He was excited because he talks and dances too! You don't even have to press his hand. Unfortunately, though, he doesn't have an off switch.

I found this gargoyle who appears to have gotten some bad Chinese from across the street.

I went to get him a Coke to wash the bad taste out of his mouth. Don't they have Diet? He said he's trying to watch his figure.

We heard the characters from Up! were going to be around so we thought we better try to go see them. Koala and I wanted to ask Russell for some wilderness survival tips. I got nervous, though, and didn't ask anything. Dug is really big. And by the way-Wilderness Explorers should NOT wear short shorts!

I found my next job as a DVC guide.

Then we ran into some Monsters...

We grabbed a bite to eat at the Earl of Sandwich. I didn't have my grass skirt with me but had a Hawaiian BBQ sandwhich anyway.

This afternoon we are off to do some Segway riding and will probably head to DTD this evening.

Just a reminder to all the kids out there--safety first!

 

[SSRmonkey]

It's official--I am in the market for a Segway. Preferably one with a sidecar so I can take Koala with me.

We just returned from our Segway tour of Celebration. It was just mom and dad and me and Koala (and a really cool tour guide) and we had a great time. I didn't even crash! At one point a rouge squirrel jumped into my path, but Koala took control of the steering and luckily we narrowly avoided hitting the little guy. After riding for about two hours my paws are killing me, so we came back to SSR and I'm headed to the hot tub for a soak. Just my feet though. No wet monkey smell tonight!

There may be some shopping in my near future too.

ZE Tours has four thumbs up from me. (It's "Count Your Big Toes as Thumbs Day"--too bad Siskel and Ebert didn't think of that.)

 

[Tinks "SS"]

Oh wow! My first SSRmonkey TR. I seriously didn't know what i was missing!! This is fabulous!! I think i will have to go look up some more later.

 

[Disney Princess]

SSR Monkey I am loving your trip report. It sounds like you are having a great time. I love your Mickey T-shirt too!