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

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Even though I didn’t get to sleep until 3, predictably, my eyes popped wide open at 5:30. Why can’t this happen when I have to get up for work?

I lay in bed for a little bit, and then decided to take a shower to get the plane funk off of me. After my shower I called Chris to remind him to wake up. No answer. I had an anxious feeling, but decided to give him a little time.

I really didn’t know what to expect, this was my first time ever even considering staying at a Mod. I could definitely see staying here for longer than a night; it was quite nice!

Anyway, After I was de-funkified, I decided to wander around the grounds. POR-FQ always looks so beautiful in other people’s pictures.

It was really hot and humid, even at 6 before the sun came up, my camera fogged up massively as soon as I walked out of my room.

Hey, look – it is possible to make the POR-FQ’s slide look creepier!

I will EAT you, and my alien friends too!

The low light was bad, so I headed inside.

Finally, I was starting to get hungry, so I headed over to Sassagula Float Works, but they weren’t open yet, so I guess my mission was just to check out the creepy faces,

This is just too creepy for pre-coffee me!

Nothing says good morning like a giant eyeless face staring at you.

I also called Chris again to make sure he got his butt out of bed to make the flight, but no answer again! I was getting really worried.

I swear these aren’t all the same picture, apparently I really liked this view because there are a ton of pictures.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Just pretend I’m a calling Chris to no-answer in between each of these pictures, and you’d have an accurate picture of my morning.

I’m sorry, but the theming is just creepy. I know it’s supposed to be New Orleans and cartoon-y but CREEPY…

At least I was making friends. Creepy ones, but friends is friends right?

This made me giggle. I’m 3 apparently.

Um…. Not sure why I took like 8 pictures of this tree. It’s green and tree-y?? (don’t worry, I’ll spare you all 8)

Fascinated by this fountain too. I really need to get out more.

Wow. Are you still reading? Cuz these pictures are getting way boring. I promise I eventually do something. But not yet.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Finally, I put my camera down, and grabbed my bag from my room, and headed out for some breakfast.

Pastries you tempt me, but I had my heart set on something else.

Beignets. I was way excited about these.

I was disappointed.

They were TOTALLY hallow. It was not a beignet. It was a fried piece of dough. Fill this baby with cream and call it a cream puff, but it is not a beignet.

It was about 7:00 and, I needed to get to Saratoga Springs. I was thinking of taking the boat, but silly me, the boat service wasn’t running so early.

On my way out, I met this guy.

Since the boat wasn’t running yet, I broke my own rule, and ordered a cab!

It was only $6, so it wasn’t so bad. But I got there at about 7:15, so I tried my luck checking in.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Apparently I'm a little kid too, because I always chuckle when I see the Rue d'Baga too.

I do love POFQ, but my only rub with the place is the campiness of some of the decor. I think I would have been creeped out a little if I had to take the pictures when it was dark out too.

Okay, I hope the fact that you aren't able to get a hold of Chris isn't a premonition of sorts.....

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Apparently I'm a little kid too, because I always chuckle when I see the Rue d'Baga too.

I do love POFQ, but my only rub with the place is the campiness of some of the decor. I think I would have been creeped out a little if I had to take the pictures when it was dark out too.

Okay, I hope the fact that you aren't able to get a hold of Chris isn't a premonition of sorts.....

Haha It made me think of the camp game where you say rutabaga with your lips over your teeth. Hmm... now that I think of it, I have no idea what the point of that game is I just remember saying rutabaga....

Yeah, the resort was really nice, but the main areas' decor was a bit on the over-the-top side.

Let's just say, this trip did not go as planned

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

So anyway, I tried my luck checking in at 7 am, an lo and behold, they had a room for me, so I had Bell Services take me there. I was in the Paddock.

My view

So I dropped my things off in the room and called Chris again (still no answer) By this point, I was ANGRY at Chris. He’d better be on that plane. Would you want to mess with me?

So I walked back to the main building – about a 10 minute walk.

Originally, I booked an early morning spa appointment for myself, figuring this was a great way to ensure relaxing and ensure that I would let Chris sleep in. Now that I was on my own for the morning, it was a good distraction to tide me over until he arrived and keep me from calling him every 3 minutes.


I booked a Swedish massage, it was so nice and relaxing. And then a mani/pedi. My nail technician was so nice and funny.

It was a great morning distraction. As I was leaving the salon, I called Chris again. This time he answered.

He overslept and missed the plane.

SERIOUSLY. My head exploded. So much for the $ I just spent on that massage to help me relax!

There may or may not have been some not-so-Disney language being screamed at him…. Just saying.

Once I calmed down and could see straight, I told him to get to the airport and see what he could do. Meanwhile, I now suddenly had the afternoon free. What to do what to do?

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Since I now had an unexpectedly solo afternoon waiting before me, I had to figure out what to do. I didn’t feel like walking around Downtown by myself, so I decided to remedy an serious oversight in my plans, and head to EPCOT.

I was trying to get updates from Chris, but he wasn’t answering his phone. I was just so angry and him not answering the phone wasn’t helping his cause.

What to do, when you’re in Epcot and super angry at a situation you have no control over? Go on Mission Space of course silly!

There was a 15 minute wait. Not too bad.

I seriously want to be an astronaut. I know I’m way too old, but I do!

I always want to try mission control. But I just know it will be lame, so I’m always too chicken to do it.

Yes, I just said I was too chicken to do the thing they use as the chicken consolation prize.

Hi Gary Senise, old buddy!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After my successful training mission, I was walking by Test Track, I remembered they had a single rider line, so I hopped in.

Ahh, the good ole Jounce and Squirm… WHAT?

Hidden Mickey?

Front Seat!

Wait, am I back on mission space?

Nope, still on this boring ride.

This picture makes the ride seem like 1000 x more thrilling than it was.

The “thrilling” part (i.e. what I experience with my windows down every day driving to work…)

Weeeee

As I was leaving, the room afterwards, was really interesting. I’m usually asleep when we get to this point.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I always want to try mission control. But I just know it will be lame, so I’m always too chicken to do it.

Yes, I just said I was too chicken to do the thing they use as the chicken consolation prize.

Yeah...um...I have pretty much no idea what to say to that . Why are you chicken about sitting in a chair and pushing buttons? Or am I missing something stealthy and dramatic?

Ahh, the good ole Jounce and Squirm… WHAT?

That just sounds uncomfortable.

Oh man I would have been so annoyed too!!! Hopefully Chris made a plane in the near future!!

 

[Caretames1]

I'm Here! I have a good excuse why I wasn't earlier... I was in Disney!

I love Mitchell Field! We park at Exec Park arcoss the street, it's cheaper than the airport, and the shuttle is fast!

Good job on traveling alone! I flew by myself for the first time when I was 17 and it was awesome! I had my nose stuck to the window the whole time

I agree with you about the creepy alligator statues, weird!

Epcot is the park I'd go to alone. There's so much to wander through!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Ugh. I had a feeling that was coming.

I'm with you girl! I would have been completely peeved if that happened. NO SOUP FOR YOU!

But, I would have also done what you did, which was gone and had a good time all by myself. That would be like, HA! Take that!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Yeah...um...I have pretty much no idea what to say to that . Why are you chicken about sitting in a chair and pushing buttons? Or am I missing something stealthy and dramatic?



That just sounds uncomfortable.

Oh man I would have been so annoyed too!!! Hopefully Chris made a plane in the near future!!

Okay...well when you put it that way

I'm chicken to say I'm chicken. (really, it still doesn't make sense) Nothing dramatic about mission control as far as I know - but it would be AWESOME if there was!

I'm Here! I have a good excuse why I wasn't earlier... I was in Disney!

I love Mitchell Field! We park at Exec Park arcoss the street, it's cheaper than the airport, and the shuttle is fast!

Good job on traveling alone! I flew by myself for the first time when I was 17 and it was awesome! I had my nose stuck to the window the whole time

I agree with you about the creepy alligator statues, weird!

Epcot is the park I'd go to alone. There's so much to wander through!

So jelly you were just there! I love Mitchell too, my "I'm running late" reflex always outweighs my "I'm cheap" reflex, so I usually park in the attached lot I'll have to check that lot out though!

I'm pretty used to flying alone... but the "being" alone was new for me.

Ugh. I had a feeling that was coming.

I'm with you girl! I would have been completely peeved if that happened. NO SOUP FOR YOU!

But, I would have also done what you did, which was gone and had a good time all by myself. That would be like, HA! Take that!

Honestly, so did I I wasn't happy, but I wasn't shocked. There was definitely no soup for him!

Yeah, I was like "dude, I'm in Disney. you're not sucks for you"

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After TT, I was getting hungry, so I headed (really slowly) to the World Showcase.

Hmmm, what do I want to eat? No Mexican, I got food poisoning from Mexican food by my house a few weeks ago, the memory is still too fresh.

I thought about trying lunch in Norway, but decided that China was calling my name.

I grabbed orange chicken from the lotus blossom,

while I was eating, I called Chris to get the status. By my calculations, he should have been getting on the 1:30 plane shortly. So I was planning on heading back to SSR after lunch to wait for him.

Unfortunately, He had forgotten his wallet on his first trip to the airport, (seriously, this boy can't do anything on his own!) and when he returned, he tried to get on the 1:30 flight, but it was overbooked. So they gave him a choice of a 2:00 flight with a 3 hr. layover in Atlanta or a 7pm direct flight. He didn't want to deal with the layover, so he said was booked on the 7:00 flight.

If I said I was unhappy, it would be a gross understatement. I am a bit ashamed to admit it but I proceeded to be one of “those” people having a totally inappropriately personal conversation right in the middle of EPCOT. Sorry if you were anywhere near me! I was so frustrated with him. Not exactly my proudest moment.

After hanging up with Chris, I had the new plan that I would meet him around midnight. Which meant I had about 10 more hours to kill.

After China, I kept wandering, I had no real destination in mind.

found myself listening to the voices of Liberty.

After that, I decided “why not” go to the American Adventure? I haven't been in ages if ever.

It was crazy crowded (obviously)

Wow. It’s really sappy and mildly historically inaccurate!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Oh boy...this did not sound like a relaxing day for you!! I'm hoping the 7pm flight worked out fine!

Did you see this? I thought of you when I read it - the jalapeno cheese pretzel is now in Epcot!

 

[fromscratchmom]

Then we played wii Pictionary.

Um Queenie and I make the worst team ever – just FYI.


But the technology was really cool, and it was nice to just be all together.

A nice boring first day.

I'm so impressed with your new wii drawing pad and your game-- Now I want to play pictionary this Christmas!

 

[fromscratchmom]

This made me giggle. I’m 3 apparently.

Um…. Not sure why I took like 8 pictures of this tree. It’s green and tree-y?? (don’t worry, I’ll spare you all 8)

I like the side walk thingy too. And I like to make cornish pasties that have rutabaga in them too.

That is a magnolia tree and they are pretty cool aren't they?!

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

Oh boy...this did not sound like a relaxing day for you!! I'm hoping the 7pm flight worked out fine!

Did you see this? I thought of you when I read it - the jalapeno cheese pretzel is now in Epcot!

No, it wasn't the best way to start off my trip. I should have booked the massage for the end of the trip!

Okay, first I love that that there's a whole blog post just on pretzel updates. Seriously, only Disney fans Secondly, though I did know that the pretzels were there, I TOTALLY forgot and now I'm so sad How could I have missed out on pretzely goodness??

I'm so impressed with your new wii drawing pad and your game-- Now I want to play pictionary this Christmas!

Haha. The drawing pad is super fun! I highly recommend it.

I like the side walk thingy too. And I like to make cornish pasties that have rutabaga in them too.

That is a magnolia tree and they are pretty cool aren't they?!

Mmmmm... pasties. I think I'm hungry

Hmmm... a magnolia tree you say. It really fascinated me so early in the morning

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

After the American Adventure, I caught a little bit of the parade.

Seriously, I think this was more time than I've spent in American Adventure ever before combined. But, basically, that was just way too much patriotism form me to hang around. So, I kept wandering around the World.

Spicy!

I was still kind of wound up about Chris, so I decided I needed something to take the edge off… so I started with chocolate!

While eating, I saw Ms. Marie.

Yummy, but chocolate wasn’t quite strong enough, so I kept wandering.

Hmmmm…. If chocolate didn’t work, surely alcohol would? I stopped off for a pint at the Rose and Crown.

As I was enjoying my strongbow, I contemplated what else I wanted to do in EPCOT. I was in a bad mood and wandering around the world showcase was just making me lonely. I felt kind of pathetic drinking alone. But I still had about 5 hours until Chris was supposed to arrive, so what to do?

 

[IheartDDuck]

Okay, I was totally thinking that if I was in the same situation, I would have some less than Disney friendly words to say too!

No need to worry about looking pathetic drinking alone. I would have done the same thing and I'm sure no one noticed.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Wow, you are updating this report so fast! I'm keeping up though!

Hahaha yeah, I've never spent much time in America for very long. I once saw the Grass Roots there, which was pretty cool! Since they have the pretzels there, maybe I'll stop to get one of them too! (I know this probably sounds pretty terrible of me, but I just really never found it to be an interesting pavilion. But to be fair, I've never seen Voices of Liberty or the show that I forget the name of at the moment. Should I give it a fair shot? Or just keep walking to Mitsukoshi and look at the fun candies like I usually do?)

Meh. I wouldn't have felt pathetic drinking alone in Epcot! The chocolate crepe is one of my favorites! I'm hoping you started having a more fun afternoon!