The 5 trips of My "Disney Free Year" - A Mermaid, A Buzz, A Boat and A Steak - 7/8

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Around 5 I woke up and Grumpy and I decided to take a walk to Jambo house.

They too had a small gingerbread display.

I think the scale of the giraffe compared to the house next to it is so funny.

Attack of the killer giraffe!

We went back to the room, and got ready for dinner, we had 8:00 ADRs at Artist Point.

So we took the bus to MK, and then waited for a boat to WL.

And we waited…

Finally a boat came, and we were headed to the Wilderness

We were a little (10 minutes) late for our ADR, but the resturant was nearly empty, so it actually didn’t matter – but they made us wait like 15 minutes anyway. So we explored the lobby for awhile.

Truer words have never been written…

So we were finally seated at Artist Point and Panic Queenie and I got a drink. It was like cranberry juice, sprite and vodka. It gave me the worst heartburn. When my buffalo came, I couldn’t breathe and I just felt awful. It went away after like 10 minutes, but I think it effected my thoughts on the meal.

My buffalo came with mac & cheese.

It was okay. But when we were there in January, it was FANTASTIC. I had high expectations probably unrealistic, and it didn’t live up to them.

DH had the seared tuna.

He liked it, but I thought it was really spicy.

Grumpy got the Salmon

Queenie got the fillet

And Panic got the gnocchi.

It was good, but not the fantastic meal that I remembered from January.

We caught the fireworks from the boat back to the MK

Uh Oh – the bus is going to be mad crazy!

It won’t be that bad

It was, but fortunately we were first in line for the 2nd bus that came while we waited, so we grabbed the back seats and it was fine.

After dinner, we had our nightly routine of a drink in the room and some Epic Mickey.

 

[wlake]

Happy anniversary! Your wedding pictures are beautiful!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Love all the resort pictures. And Happy Anniversary!

 

[luckylady]

Happy Anniversery. May you have many more happy years. I agree with the showers at Polly, they are so low that even at 5"4" I had to duck. Rooms were okay in May although I don't think I will stay again, To pricey compared to the first time we stayed for $120 a night. Great pictures looks like everyone had a great tim. Except Panic on CP. WHAT she doesn't like it!!!!!! Love the Grumpy shirt.Did he get it?

 

[Princess_K]

Happy Anniversary to you and your DH

 

[Panic Attack]

Great pictures looks like everyone had a great time. Except Panic on CP. WHAT she doesn't like it!!!!!!

More like Carousel of SNOOZE-FEST! Amiright?!

*insert laugh-track sound here*

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Happy anniversary! Your wedding pictures are beautiful!

Thanks! I get so few chances to flaunt them anymore

Love all the resort pictures. And Happy Anniversary!

Thanks!

Happy Anniversery. May you have many more happy years. I agree with the showers at Polly, they are so low that even at 5"4" I had to duck. Rooms were okay in May although I don't think I will stay again, To pricey compared to the first time we stayed for $120 a night. Great pictures looks like everyone had a great tim. Except Panic on CP. WHAT she doesn't like it!!!!!! Love the Grumpy shirt.Did he get it?

Thank you.

We always plan on spending time at the Poly, but I think unless there is a major overhaul of the rooms, we won't be staying there any time soon.

No, Grumpy doesn't wear t-shirts. But that one was so on the money, it was hilarious.

Happy Anniversary to you and your DH

Thanks

More like Carousel of SNOOZE-FEST! Amiright?!

*insert laugh-track sound here*

Who can snooze? That bleeping song is still in my head

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Today was DHS day. We were aiming for park opening, but one was pretty much it for us.

I was told it was supposed to be warmer that day so I wore short sleeves. It was cold that morning! I probably should have brought my sweatshirt, but more on that later..

We got to DHS around 10.

We Split into 3 groups this time.

Queenie and Grumpy

Queenie really wanted to go on the great movie ride. DH and I had just been on it in January, and that’s one of those like every 10 years rides for me, so we sent them on it by themselves. Thinking that it would occupy them for 45 minutes while we did what we wanted to do…

Me

I was the designated FP getter, so I headed over to TSM and got our FPs. I got some friendly jabbing from the Patriots fan CM at the FP machine, since my green and gold had just lost to them that Sunday. But the FP line wasn’t nearly as long as I thought it would be (maybe because the FP time was already 6:30!)

So I decided to hop into One Man’s Dream, because I figured no one else would want to go in there with me…

But I didn’t get very far before DH and Panic called me.

Panic and DH

The dynamic duo headed to Rockin Roller Coaster and TOT. When they got there both lines were in the 40 minute range, so they decided to do the single rider line at RnRC

The single rider line for ToT wasn’t open, so they called me to see where I was. So I arranged to meet them by the hat.

When they came to the hat, we talked a bit and they decided to go to the animation class since we knew Queenie and Grumpy wouldn’t want to do it.

So that left me to wait for Queenie and Grumpy….

Me

So I just wandered around the hat for a while and took pictures

 

[meeko_33785]

I enjoyed the pics from Wilderness Lodge. It has to be one of the most beautiful of the Disney resorts at Christmastime. The decorations are great.

You look pretty cold in those short sleeves. I hope you can get a sweatshirt or something before your 6:30 ( ) Fastpass time.

 

[clayfolks]

I have now read all of your TRs and am officially addicted!! Thank you for all of the entertainment. Please keep posting!
Sue

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I enjoyed the pics from Wilderness Lodge. It has to be one of the most beautiful of the Disney resorts at Christmastime. The decorations are great.

You look pretty cold in those short sleeves. I hope you can get a sweatshirt or something before your 6:30 ( ) Fastpass time.

I really liked the Wilderness's decorations. There's something really Christmas-y about the rustic decor there.

It was cold. I felt so stupid about not bringing my sweatshirt along.

I have now read all of your TRs and am officially addicted!! Thank you for all of the entertainment. Please keep posting!
Sue

Hi there! Thanks for reading along, glad I could provide some entertainment.

I haven't gone anywhere, I've just been super busy at work and other life things. However, due to Snowacaine 2011 (also known as Snownami, Snowmageddon, or Snownado) I have a snow day today! I'm hoping to get at least 1 or 2 updates done.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Let me just point out that at this point, we had been at DHS for just over an hour, and I have done exactly NOTHING. Epic fail on the planning on my part. After such a good morning at MK, DHS was just not working.

Soon, I found Queenie and Grumpy and we headed to the AIE show.

They were doing some pre-taping for the show when we arrived.

The show wasn’t crowded at all and we ended up in the 2nd row center.

The show was cool, a little predictable, but nice. I wish we would have been able to catch the finale show too…maybe I can get DH to go with me in the future

After the AIE show, we met Panic and DH at the Brown Derby for our 11:45 ADRs

We all had the brie soup (YUM)

And the Cobb salad (okay, but disappointing)

Our waiter was HILARIOUS. His parents were there for the holidays and were actually there that day, and he was totally out of sorts – but in a jolly, funny way.

He’s also the only one that “understood” Grumpy’s hat. As you’ve probally noticed, we’re a group that doesn’t often sport overtly Disney stuff. Grumpy is no exception. But he would tell everyone that would listen that he was wearing a Disney Hat.

It says JB on the front and on the back it says Jamaican Bobsled Team. Get it?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Buler?

Our waiter got it! Cool Runnings. Grumpy’s favorite Disney movie. Have I ever mentioned that we’re obscure? I say as I’m humming “why should I worry” from Oliver.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After lunch, Panic said she wanted to check out the Art of Animation film.

This better not be lame missy!

We got there in between shows, so we had to wait a while.

Look it’s art from the most awesomest Disney movie ever – The Rescuers Down Under!!

Art of the fashion model?

When is she going to stop taking pictures??

See – I’m still here. I had to keep taking self pictures to prove I was there!

When we got into the “studio” Panic was asked to be part of the show….

As a child, I’m sure the show is fun and entertaining. As an adult, I wish they had a more informative show with less obnoxiousness.

After the show, we walked around the gallery (it was warm in there, I milked it for all it was worth!)

They had Tangled Art.

It makes me sad that this isn’t a working studio anymore.

I remember being fascinated watching the animators at work.

Then again, as I child I was fascinated by wet wipes too, so maybe that isn’t the best selling point.

 

[Princess_K]

I love Cool Runnings! Sometimes DBF and I will say in our best accents: "Jamaica's got a bobsled team." Does that make us strange too?

 

[beachgirl2000]

Wow -- I totally thought JB meant Jimmy Buffett -- but then again - all things mean Jimmy Buffett to me -- I mean WWJBD, right? (What would Jimmy Buffett do?)

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I love Cool Runnings! Sometimes DBF and I will say in our best accents: "Jamaica's got a bobsled team." Does that make us strange too?

Well that and so many other things
Sorry you totally set yourself up for that one - and I'm never one to miss if you lob it over the net like that

I love Cool Runnings, I think it's a great movie. I like that other people acknowledge the under-appreciated movies like that!

Wow -- I totally thought JB meant Jimmy Buffett -- but then again - all things mean Jimmy Buffett to me -- I mean WWJBD, right? (What would Jimmy Buffett do?)

Hahaha Now I TOTALLY have 5 o'clock somewhere in my head!

Hmm... and look at that it is 5:00 and I think I need a margarita (snow day today - all day stuck in my house alone with Queenie.....) You're a really really good influence

 

[Caretames1]

How'd you make it through "BLIZZARD 2011" We are too far north to nhave gotten anything. I was so dreaming of a snowday

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After that, we didn’t really have anything we wanted to do. Our FPs for TSM weren’t ready yet, and Star Tours was closed, so we were wandering. We wandered over to TSM to see if the line was sane. It was not. 140 minutes.

So we wandered into One Man’s Dream.

This is one thing that I really wanted to do, and have for a while, but I can never convince who I’m with to go with me. I think we were all so cold that someone could have suggested “hey come to this 4 hr. dissertation on the importance of the banana slug, and ps the building has heat” and we would have signed up in a heartbeat.

Fortunately, One Man’s Dream was much more interesting than a lecture on banana slugs.

Some classic EPCOT memorabilia. Despite how much I love soarin’, I do have fond memories of food rocks. It was delightfully creepy!

Rocketeer!

Oh Tokyo DisneySea

I could have spent hours in there looking at everything. Unfortunately, Queenie and Panic didn’t feel the same way.

DH even said it was interesting.

I love seeing all the models of all of the parks and castles.

The movie was kind of a sappy snooze, but really what movie isn’t?

After OMD (yeah, that abbreviation doesn’t really work does it?) Queenie said she wanted to go to the backlot tour despite our warning that it was dumb.

I know they had to change it when their contract with MGM ended, but it is so lame and pointless now.

To make it extra lame? Apparently it was too cold to have actual “extras” in the first part, so they did the whole disaster movie thing with no people.

Look, I see the two headed monster from MIB…wait wrong company…

Yeah. It’s pretty lame with people. Remove the people and it’s just like ?????

We walked through the prop room.

Then we basically all took a nap…. We all declared it meh.

Afterwards, Panic was reunited with her people.

In the shop we found another t-shirt that describes Grumpy to a T.

After this, it was 2:45 and we wanted to head out. Problem. The parade starts at 3, and we were at the backlot. You have never seen these 5 people regroup and move so fast and with such a purpose.

We made it to the bus stop at 2:55, and watched the parade deploy from the confines of the bus stop. Success.

We hopped onto the bus to the Contemporary and headed to the DVC Merry Member Mixer.

I was interested in this, because I couldn’t find very many TRs that mentioned it.

Sorry DVC, this was the biggest waste of time ever. I was so perplexed and we stayed there for such a short amount of time I forgot to take pictures.

The 1 “treat” we were allowed was a rice krispy treat. 1 each. No snacks, just the pre-packaged sugar. They were so sugary the 5 of us split 1 and that was enough – for the entire trip.

(taken later that day)

There was a DJ, child craft area, and a character opportunity. But seeing as we didn’t have any children with us and characters aren’t our thing after a glass of watered down punch, we headed out.

From reading the few previous reports I was able to find, I was expecting to receive an ornament or something as a departing gift. No dice. Not that I feel that we deserve something, and I do understand that we’re in a recession, but I think DH put it best, “Enjoy that $20,000 rice krispy treat”

It just felt like “we have your money already, so whatevs – get a cavity - on us”

I’ll get off my soap box in a second, but I feel if you are going to advertise something as a member perk, it should actually be um…a perk! Even if they just had popcorn and cookies, I think it would have been nicer.

After that disappointment, we wandered around the Contemporary for a while.

At this point it was becoming apparent that we weren’t going to get back to the room this afternoon, so I went on the search for something warm to get me through the night.

I didn’t find anything at the Contemporary, and we weren’t quite ready to go back to DHS, so we hopped on the Monorail to our old friend – the POLY

Though some of us briefly entertained the idea of getting another Kona Kone, our destination was the Tamu Tamu Lounge.

Get these people some alcohol STAT

Much better.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

How'd you make it through "BLIZZARD 2011" We are too far north to nhave gotten anything. I was so dreaming of a snowday

First off, its proper name is Snowacaine 2011

I did get a snow day, but I am so busy this week, I was praying for a not-snow day!

We live slightly North of Milwaukee, so we were in the thick of it - but not as bad as those south of Milwaukee.

We had about 10 inches of snow, and the drifts were about up to my waist. My aunt who lives south of Milwaukee had drifts over her head!

To make matters worse, my mom was snowed in with me, so she forced me to clean the house all day. Not how I would have liked to have spent my snow day. However, my house is nice and clean now

 

[portobello_rd]

yay! so happy you are still alive!
my husband is down there right now, working. hes working nights at the power plant in Racine. he got done at 4 am, and said that there were abandoned cars everywhere in the road including the intersections! he had to drive on the wrong side of the road most of the way back to the hotel- then he had to dig through a four foot snow drift with tupperware just to get into the parking lot! im so glad it didnt come up here!!!
he also stood in line outside walmart for his turn to go in- apparently only like 5 employees made it into the building so they were only allowing a dozen or so people in at a time! nutters!