Tequila, Dole Whips & Tonga Toast: Celebrating 50 years! Read all about it!

[thecapells]

Sounds like a great morning (assuming you like EE).
And awesome luck with all the FP's and complimentary snacks!

 

[natebenma]

Sounds like you are making the most of your last few hours and for getting so many rides on Everest. The yeti must have been thinking "Its THEM again!" everytime she saw you!

Having a few snacks to burn is not a bad problem to have- I'll be interested in seeing how you resolve that situation.

Hope the rain holds up enough for that last round of putt-putt. We have never done it, but the courses look really fun.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Sounds like a great morning (assuming you like EE).
And awesome luck with all the FP's and complimentary snacks!

I was very happy he wanted to do EE over & over instead of heading over to Primeval Whirl one more time

Sounds like you are making the most of your last few hours and for getting so many rides on Everest. The yeti must have been thinking "Its THEM again!" everytime she saw you!

Having a few snacks to burn is not a bad problem to have- I'll be interested in seeing how you resolve that situation.

Hope the rain holds up enough for that last round of putt-putt. We have never done it, but the courses look really fun.

We usually spend the last day enjoying the pool & letting our feet rest & although I did a lot of walking, it felt like we had more down time this trip so it was nice to go out to do stuff on the last day for a change

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

A Golfing we will go! and then, sigh, HOME!

It was a perfect way to end our time in the parks, having rode Expedition Everst 5 times that morning I can now recite in vivid memory every delicious curve & drop in the ride and I know now where to look up to see the Yeti

Ahhh, good times!

DS & I walked a little slower out of the park, through the lovely setting of the OASIS & looked for the blue macaws we generally like to talk to each trip. Alas, they weren't not there & having recalled seeing them at the birds show a few days before, we figured that's where they were at the moment.

On the walk out, we decided since having just enjoyed the complimentary pretzels from the sweet CM, we'd postpone lunch & go use our mini-golf vouchers. I've learned since that most of the resort buses that pick up at AK will stop over at Blizzard Beach & Winter/Summerland, but not realizing it at the time we figured we'd ride a bus back to ASMusic, pick up DH & proceed on to golf.

So I call DH on the cell. It went something like this:

ME: Hi! Whatcha doing?

DH: Watching sports news on the TV.

ME: We're done at AK, rode EE 5 times!

DH: Cool, you coming back?

ME: We're on the bus, be there in about 5 minutes. Why don't you come meet us, we want to go play mini-golf.

DH: I dunno, I'm relaxed. Do you think it's going to rain some more?

ME: Who knows, we've had a lot of rain the past couple days but we always seem to manage to do what we want to do. Why don't you join us so we can kick your butt playing putt-putt?

DH: How long do we get the room?

ME: Until 1pm.

DH: If you don't mind, I think I'll just hang out here. I don't want to get all hot & sweaty.

And there you have it. DH isn't going to do a thing but fret over getting on ME, arriving at the airport, going through security and will not relax until we land in Dayton. It is what it is so I've learned to just let this go

ME: We're at ASsports, so we'll be at Music next, you sure?

DH: I'm going to relax in the room, it's been a long week & I'm a little tired so if you don't mind, I'll just hang out at the resort, okay?

ME: We'll meet you at the food court after we golf then.

So we get off the bus at sports, & into line for Blizzard Beach. Even with the "iffy" weather, a bus comes along shortly. It's not a great picture, but here's where we're going!

We get dropped off over at BB though, but it's a short walk over to Winter/Summer land mini golf. We golfed here probably 8 years ago so DS didn't remember how cute it was. Usually if we mini-golf, since we don't drive, we'll go to Fantasia golf since it seems easier to get to. We decided to do the "Summer" side first. It was a lot of fun & the holes are all themed for Santa & the elves summer vacation.

Since DH didn't golf, we used our vacation package voucher & one from the resort to play round one, then they let us apply part of our voucher to play the Winter side at 50%off the price, so we had left over for the gift shop later

Here is one of the holes from the winter side, isn't it cute?

BOth courses are just so adorable, I wish this were priced a little more family friendly, it's about $12.50/person for just one side so a family of 4 has $50 invested to play one side, and half off the other side makes it $75 but people do crazy things on vacation my dad always said, so if you've never enjoyed it & want to splurge I'd highly recommend playing it just once if you can swing it. The courses really are adorable. Towards the end of each course, they meet under a "sheltered" area and there is a huge Christmas theme with stockings hung by the chimney with care, Santa's boots hanging out of a chimney & all sorts of cute things there. The final hole on each course a computerized screen gives you a ho-ho-ho message thanking you for playing. It's Christmas with a Disney magic kick to it & so adorable I'm glad we got to play.

DS was stoked, he beat me both courses

The shame. To celebrate his awesomeness, we INDULGED in another Mickey Ice Cream bar - this time they TOOK our snack credits so we only had 2 left to use up!

We walked back to the bus stop, it was about 3pm & hot now. It didn't take long before an AllStars bus came along. I have to say, I was super impressed at the efficent transporation service during our trip.

We were back at ASMusic & DS was ready to use up his last CS & enjoy his last cheeseburger at the food court. I called DH, I think he was still in the room watching TV even though it was past our late check out. He figured if mousekeeping showed up & kicked him out he'd leave, otherwise he had been quite comfortable finally getting a day to relax to himself Lord knows I wasn't going to let him relax this trip, I'm sure he'd tell you!

By the time DS & I had our food, DH met us in the food court. If we were cartoon characters & there were thoughts written above our heads, this is probably what they'd say:

ME: Ahhh, what a fabulous trip. I've really had a great time

DS: I love these cheeseburgers

DH: I can't wait to be home

AFter lunch, DS goes to the game room to use up the 100 point voucher that came with our package. I always save the game room for the last day. We tell him we'll meet him in the gift shop.

DH & I go to the gift shop to look around. I buy a 2010 WDW photo album & with the left over resort voucher DH & I pick out a 2010 Christmas ornament that has room for a picture in it. We like picking out ornaments on trips. DH doesn't want anything else & neither do I, but then I realize I can get a WDW beach towel with my purchase so I go ahead & get one.

DS catches up to report the 100 point voucher was lame, it only gave him 2 plays at Mario Kart which he laments missing & looking forward to playing again when he gets home. He decides he doesn't want to play in the arcade anymore & will just wait till he gets home. I have to say, I appreciate his patience in not having to spend money to play something he can do at home.

DH thinks it's a good time to claim our carry on baggage & looks forward to sitting around waiting for ME, although we have about 45 minutes to burn

Then I realize I have 2 snack credits left, so we go back into the food court & pick out chocolate covered mouse ears Mickey Rice Krispy treats on a stick. I put those in my purse for the airport.

It was then I remembered I didn't take too many pictures of our resort, I used most of them for my arrival day chapter but here's one more of the pool

The weather is looking about as gloomy as I was starting to feel

As we get outdoors to wait for ME, one is just leaving & DH perks up wanting to leave "early" which would be about 3.5hrs before our flight. He asks the driver but they tell us the bus is full, ours will be along shortly.

DH:

He really wanted to get an early start!

In less than 1/2 hour, our bus arrives & we board. We head over to ASMovies to pick up some guest there. After that, we are heading out & driving away I take a picture of the back of one of the buses thinking about the people on board off to an adventure somewhere in the "world"

Our ME driver is very talkative! We continue over to Corando SPrings Resort, which was nice to get to see that resort again. We stayed there back in 2004 so it had been a while since we had been there.

It seemed to take a long time to get everyone loaded up & I think we had left our resort about 40 minutes before. As you can imagine, DH was looking a little antsy.

We are finally off & headed for the airport. The terminal is divided into 2 sections & naturally ours was going to be the second one. Our friendly driver is talking about the area, did you enjoy your stay, this stop if for those of you using airlines X, Y & Z and DH is looking over at me giving me THAT look.

That look that says, "ARE WE GOING TO MAKE OUR FLIGHT?"

I can't look at him

After looping around the airport one more time in the almost 6pm traffic, we FINALLY are let off at stop 2.

All we have to do is clear security.

And it's a LONG line

And there a very thorough TSA agent is scrutenizing every passangers ID, looking at them, asking them to remove sunglasses, hats, etc.

I'm wondering if something is going on at the airport?

We finally clear & are put in a line for scanning & I have to say, I can't REITERATE enough how important it is you NOT send your purse through the scanners until the very last minute when you're ready to walk through. I made the mistake of sending my medical equipment through & was held up by both the people infront of me having to walk through several times. By the time I got through, although I held up my purse, I couldn't find my CPAP machine. Frantically looking about, a TSA agent brings it back having checked it without me. This made me mad because I like to be present when my stuff is checked to make sure they use clean gloves before touching my stuff.

But having all cleared security, we now have less than an hour before our flight. DS and I enjoyed our Mickey treats waiting, DH wasn't interested. He was bound & determined to NOT enjoy anything until he was home in his bed that night!

We boarded & I'm happy to say, had a reasonably uneventful but on time flight home with no luggage, parking or any other problems.

We got home about 11pm & happily greeted the kitties hello

The next morning DH reported he gained 7lbs

I gained 5 lbs

It was worth it & within a week of getting back on our South Beach diets I'm happy to say we both got the gains off!

It was a truely magical trip & I loved (mostly) every minute of it!

It's a great place to celebrate birthdays & an anniversary.

ANd even turning 50 years old

Can't wait to go back!

Thanks for reading my first ever trip report

THE END

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Great job! For a first report it was very good, it held my interest. I don't know if I could do as good a TR as your's.

I should start a PTR, but don't know if I could keep it going.

Welcome home!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Expedition Everest 5 times!!!!!!! Yeah baby!!!!

In all of our trips to Disney, we have never played mini-golf. I always thought it would be too much of a hassle to get there and back. Now that I've read your report, I know it's no such a hassle after all.

Too bad your hubby spent the last few hours worried about getting to the airport. I guess he was just as happy just lazing around in the room though as you were playing mini-golf.

You did a fantastic job of writing your report. You kept me thoroughly entertained.

So, when's the next trip to Disney?

 

[natebenma]

You and DS certainly made the best of your last day. A fantastic time at AK and a lot of fun playing mini golf.

I can totally sympathize with you on DH's airport jitters. My husband gets very tense, too, as we are waiting to leave. I just have to grin and bare it until we clear the security line, then he is fine.

Really great trip report!!! I thoroughly enjoyed following along. Your family seems like a lot of fun and your conversations are very entertaining! What a wonderful way for your family to celebrate all of your milestones.

Look forward to hearing if you make it to Food & Wine. Cheers!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Great job! For a first report it was very good, it held my interest. I don't know if I could do as good a TR as your's.

I should start a PTR, but don't know if I could keep it going.

Welcome home!

Gwarsh (I know, Goofy says that but I could only find Pluto )

Thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoyed reading along. I'll bet if you just started a TR you'd find that you'd do just fine. It does prolong the fun of your trip & when it's all over, then you have a great journal to print of your trip to tuck into the back of the ole' photo album! At least that's my plan once I figure out how to only print the writing part, that'll give me something to rack my brain over

Expedition Everest 5 times!!!!!!! Yeah baby!!!!

In all of our trips to Disney, we have never played mini-golf. I always thought it would be too much of a hassle to get there and back. Now that I've read your report, I know it's no such a hassle after all.

Too bad your hubby spent the last few hours worried about getting to the airport. I guess he was just as happy just lazing around in the room though as you were playing mini-golf.

You did a fantastic job of writing your report. You kept me thoroughly entertained.

So, when's the next trip to Disney?

Thanks so much I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, EE 5 times was a thrill seeker dream come true morning

I do hope you will take the time to try the mini-golf on one of your trips. Our family has always been mini-golf junkies, we even planned a weeks vacation to Gatlinburg, TN one year around playing all the mini golf courses there It cost a small fortune but it was a load of fun, plus we like talking "trash" to each other how we're going to annilate one another. We get a little carried away with our fun

Oh I just love time away with my guys to play & forgot the grunt & grind. As for when we'll be able to get back to WDW, it may be a while for us 3 as next year DH most likely will want to cash in on his beach vacation, if we vacation next year. However, I am hoping that my aunt & I will be able to manage to get there next so cross your fingers it works out!

You and DS certainly made the best of your last day. A fantastic time at AK and a lot of fun playing mini golf.

I can totally sympathize with you on DH's airport jitters. My husband gets very tense, too, as we are waiting to leave. I just have to grin and bare it until we clear the security line, then he is fine.

Really great trip report!!! I thoroughly enjoyed following along. Your family seems like a lot of fun and your conversations are very entertaining! What a wonderful way for your family to celebrate all of your milestones.

Look forward to hearing if you make it to Food & Wine. Cheers!

I'm so glad you enjoyed the TR I would like to especially thank you for providing the food pictures! I now know next time to TAKE A PICTURE of the dang food before I enjoy it

I think DH is open to doing a delayed anniversary during food & wine one of these days, but alas, it won't be this OCT Right now with DS in school OCT is just not doable for us & I don't have the heart to go without him knowing how much he loves it. We will be that family they used to advertise on TV with the grown man wanting to go to WDW with his parents who say they don't think his wife & kids would appreciate him going without them

So for now, when we go, it's going to continue to be when everyone one else across the country with school age kids go....fighting crowds, avoiding heat stroke & all the wonderful things that make our August trips sooo special

Thanks again for reading everyone