The 6 "Quack Pots" do Disney (MNSSHP, Segway, Saratoga Spa, Illuminations Cruise)

[melanieewr]

The Quack Pot Team;

Melanie..Me...42...All the planning is always left to me, which I prefer since I am pretty much a perfectionist. BTW, this is the first time to post a trip report. I have gained so much from reading others, that I decided it was time to take the plunge and write my own

Edwin...DH..47...Thankfully, loves Disney, but has a tough time leaving our trucking business in the hands of others

Martha...The most outgoing friend anyone could have...never meets a stranger...owns a 700 member Curves franchise

Bill..Martha's husband...Caterpillar (the motor, not the bug) rep. All wives want to "borrow" Bill for a week just to do those "honey-do's" around our houses...he's a sweetheart

Amy...WDW newbie and pretty much in awe of everything.

Heath...Amy's DH...owns a sawmill and 5 trucks...stayed on the phone as much as my DH attempting to keep it all running smoothly

Prelude;

I can't tell you how many times Edwin wanted to back out of this trip. I just refused to allow what I had spent months planning be enjoyed by everyone but us! Barring a major disaster...we were going or I would make Cruella look like Cinderella! Needless to say, all 30 of our employees were still here when we returned and nothing had burned or blowed away...whew!

October 30th...Departure!

Delta to Orlando. George w/ Southern Elegance Limos was waiting at baggage claim, which confuses Amy who for some reason thinks we are going to WDW by bus She doesn't catch on until he opens the limo door! It's fun having this small town southern gal along who is ooohhing and aaahhing at the stuff we take for granted...ie; the roses lining the drive to the Boardwalk!

After pit stopping for the neccessities...beer, water, snacks and diet coke (for the Crown), we arrive in our shiny, stretched out white steed to be greeted by our sorely missed "home". Yea! 2pm and our 3 studios are ready. 2064 and 2060 are pool view and our friends get those. 2061 is a garden/partial BW view and Ed and I take that. Love the location...just around the corner from the lobby! I have arranged for candy baskets for each of the rooms through fellow diser, Feralpeg. I finish up the paperwork at the desk while everyone else goes to their rooms...do they know how lucky they are to have me as their friend? The notecards for the baskets are brought to me so that I can write down the room #'s so they can be delivered while we are out. There's a little mix-up and Amy and Heath get Edwin's bigger basket. At least Feralpeg forgot to put my note of "Who Loves You Baby"..."I Do!" Could've had a Disney Divorce over that one! I let them keep the big basket...Amy's too skinny anyway.

Starving, we head for ESPN. Now, we are a little mismatched on our likes and dislikes of certain sports...except Nascar. We own a condo right on the Texas Motor Speedway and if you wanna hang out with us, Mark Martin and Ken Shrader, you better get your priorities straight! With the table tv set on the Busch race...we were set to get stuffed!

We gotta walk those hot dogs off, so it's to MGM we go. We hit TOT, which Amy loves, then GMR (I'm thinking of Janet2K during the entire ride). We walk into Fantasmic...oddly, none of us have ever seen this and really enjoy it, but I would not sit in line for it. We saunter in 15 minutes prior to the show and get great seats in the Jafar section

Hopefully, on my next post (which I will continue here) I will figure out how to get my photos on here...

 

[pumba]

I always wonder if We are going to make it and not until the plane is in the air ...do I question this.....
Thanks so much for your start

 

[Cinderellagrl]

Looking forward to reading more. My DH had the opportunity to race modifieds with Kenny Schrader 2 years ago. He seems like a really nice guy. I actually have pictures of the two of them lined up side by side in their cars...never be able to experience that again. It was a great opportunity.

 

[melanieewr]

Cinderellagrl;

It is so funny how people's paths cross. Edwin has raced dirt cars for about 10 years and he and Kenny have raced each other quite a few times in late models. They are both #99. Kenny is one of the nicest guys you would ever meet and about the only time we get to spend any real time with him is at Texas during the Busch races. He has been coming up for 4 years now. This year was the first time that Mark had been with us. We usually have about 25 guests watching the races and so this year was an extra special experience with both Kenny and Mark there. They are both so funny and down- to- earth.

 

[detective mickey]

it is so refreshing to see someone with the means and the desire to share with good friends, thats what its all about.

 

[melanieewr]

Day 2 AK and MNSSHP;

After a June "girls only" trip and being so smart as to make every EE day along with 20,000 other "smart" folks, we decided to sleep an hour more each morning this trip. It worked out great to be one of the "uninformed park-goers" and we were perky from the extra hour of sleep. Our good friends decided we were turning into "2 old people" because we let it slip that we had been sleeping in separate beds. Geez, if your hubby is 6'4, you are sleeping on a bed about 1/2 the size of that at home, and it's a major issue if I cross the invisible center dividing line (my part of the line is actually more like 1/3 of the bed), then you would also do your x-rated business then move to your own bed to avoid being squashed...and actually get some sleep. Otherwise, we would have been known as Grumpy and Sleepy the entire trip.

If you were in AK and saw 5 grownups trying to keep up with the big guy in front that would be us. I kept yelling, hey, I have the fast passes...slow down, you're not going anywhere without me! Of course, I was always at the very back. I hate to hurry.

After about 15 trips to WDW with our kids, friends and their kids, we have never made a trip to 1st Aid...until Heath. He was so proud of his new...yes new..."comfortable" sandals. Before we even left their room we told him to change or face the consequences. Well, you know what happened next. ONE hour after arriving at AK, he was pulling skin off the blister...ouch! Amy and I took him to 1st Aid with the rest of the group arriving a few minutes later to rub it in...and I don't mean the first aid cream

Fast Forward to MNSSHP;

I absolutely love Disney all decorated for the Halloween party...it really is something to see. I always start by bragging about how I will squash Edwin at Buzz and I always get busted. One of these days...

All of the CM's commented about our costumes. We are the Donald Duck bowling team the "Quack Pots" and had a blast. We are already contemplating next years matching getups. We get to LTT for dinner before the party and Martha (never meets a stranger) chats up the hostess. Before you know it she has us all reluctantly calling the Hogs...WooooPigSooie, WooooPigSooie, WooooPigSooie...Razorbacks! I think everyone within 100' stopped in pure disbelief...I Love My Friends! Once inside, our server Cole shows us our seating card. On it the hostess has written "these people are Cool!" Dinner was very good...way better than what we have eaten here in the past. We had so much fun with the characters. Heath's only memory of a very young childhood visit was Goofy in his face and him screaming. So, once again Heath was the brunt of the jokes...poor guy! I did comment on Goofy's big feet and told him "you know what that means"...he shame shamed me with his finger...naughty girl! The rest of the night was just as much fun riding all our favorites...but, really didn't care for the new Stitch ride. Loved the parade and fireworks...I even saw Janet2K and she has already pm'd me for not stopping to say hi...I wish now that I had stopped...definitely a missed opportunity to meet a fellow diser.



Still to come...Segway (I did crash ) and Illuminations Cruise (one of us revealed a little secret...uh oh...too much booze?)

 

[Janet2k]

Melanieewr, I am loving your trip report. And I am loving your photos. Your costumes were great. We went as a soccer team one year (my sister had the costumes created for us) and it was a ball -- there were seven of us and we were hard to miss (especially since we were in orange and black). This year we didn't make the time to create any group costume. I am regretting our laziness after having viewed your wonderful costumes.

I can't wait to read more about your trip. Keep 'em coming.

 

[melanieewr]

Janet;

I am so excited...I just started reading your vow renewal report. You know we will all be transfixed for weeks just waiting for each new installment. You are such an inspiration to all who dare to dream the seemingly impossible. Who knew that all that you have experienced at WDW was even available to the mere mortal. Thank you so much for all that you have given to we mere readers of your fantastic journeys.

P.S. I just know in my heart that you have no regrets!

 

[melanieewr]

Next Day;

Monday was spent doing all our favorites at MGM. We are sitting on a bench outside WWTBM, everyone has gone in and we are waiting on Heath and Amy who are standing in a long line with all the other children wanting a picture with Donald and Daisy...all we have do is yell Donald! and Heath nearly breaks his neck...anyway running up to one of the doors (which is locked) is the cute WWTBM host and darn it, I can't remember his name, but Martha (never meets a stranger) does and he remembers her from our June trip and her visit to the hot seat. Who wouldn't remember a gal who had never seen a Star Wars movie, made it to the hot seat at the Star Wars Special on the fastest finger guess question and was totally humiliated at the whole experience. It was the first time in all the years I have known her that she was fazed, dazed and completely terrified. I laughed so hard I cried...great friend, huh.

We go back to the Boardwalk and I walk over to the Dolphin to get a van for a one day rental...we are going to Charley's that night for our traditional fantastic steak dinner. The process was extremely easy...had the keys ready, valet brought the car around, I drove to the BWV and we returned the car to valet...so simple!

Got to Charley's at Kissimmee and our fantastic steak was a fantastic flop! We will go to different location next time. The bottle of wine that I drank helped to ease the disappointment. Of course this meant that Ed would have to ease me out to the van...he doesn't mind since I am such a happy drunk This was the first alcoholic beverage I have consumed in a pretty good while and it hit me like 80 ft drop on TOT......

 

[melanieewr]

The Segway Day;

Being that most of our group is over 30...some of us much over 30 (Amy is 26), we were a little nervous about hopping on a breadbox attached to a pogo stick that wouldn't even stand up on its on, much less with an uncoordinated body and overused knees. But, we all did quite well...that is until I bopped the wall in the training room. I tried to blame it on the nice lady in front of me, but it might have been might my own fault (Jimmy Buffet is haunting me) okay, okay...it was my own d*** fault. It was a small mishap and only threw me off the breadbox and I did land on my feet.

Outside was a different story...

I wanted to ride at the back of the line considering my earlier embarassment. During the ride outside, we are mostly single-file with a CM in front and one in back. After a few minutes of "KEEP IT IN A SINGLE LINE", we dubbed the tailend CM "A. Hitler" and decided to go to the front and let someone else have their turn with him. Before that happened...we were going over a small bridge and the man in front of us clipped the corner and crashed. A. Hitler was not happy...off with his head! Then the same man's wife hit a barrier...which fortunately was there or she would have hit the lake!

I have to admit that I was more than a little concerned about Ed and Heath being on anything that they could "race". I really gave a stern warning beforehand that we would be removed from the tour to live out the rest of our days in "It's a Small World" if they did not behave. That scared them well enough.

We all had a great time and probably will do the Segways again.

 

[melanieewr]

Saratoga Springs Spa!

After the "grueling" Segways, we ladies needed massages. I had been given a gift certificate from a friend for whom I planned their Disney vacation...I Love My Friends! It was a little bit of a trick to find the spa since the maps didn't seem to match the buildings, but once we did....aahh...it really is a lovely spa and not sterile feeling at all. We were taken to the dressing room and given our keys to the lockers and a waffle robe and knobby slippers. All 3 of our appointments were for the same time. I was given Natalie as my masseuse and she was wonderful! The table was cushy and the room was big and softly lit. I chose my aroma oils and let her do her magic. I don't like to talk during a massage and she caught on to that quickly and let me indulge in the sensory pleasure of the massage and the aroma.

Amy said she also enjoyed her massage.

Now, Martha who says "why do I always get the weird ones???"... Her masseuse twisted her into a pretzel and told her she had tensions in her head and proceeded to relieve it by PULLING HER HAIR! Poor Martha...she does always get the weird ones.

Martha and Amy left to shop at DTD and I stayed on to get a Peppermint Pig Pedicure. I was left in the serene lounging area with my water and fruit until time for the pedi. Now this was a co-ed lounge and I am a little uncomfortable in my robe with NO underwear. I know the men are not paying one bit of attention to me, but it is still in the back of my mind that I could move the wrong way and give them a view that could scar them for life! I was still uncomfotable in the pedi room, even though it was just women...I wanted my panties! Pleez...legs bent, with the poor gal working on my feet...she probably would have went and got my undies for me! It was different than any pedi I have had...not as good as some, but better than most. I really liked the leg scrub with brown sugar oils and the masque. My feet felt totally revived and ready to carry my weight again!

Here are some of the spa photos...


Martha's Masseuse;

The Ladies Changing Room

The Ladies Only Lounge...I wish I would have been left here!

Makeup/Hairdryer Area

The Spa!

The Sauna and Steam Room

There was also a huge shower area and a place where you could put your bathing suit to extract the water.


Next...Illuminations Cruise...

 

[Patio]

I am loving every minute of your trip report, you are a riot. You guys seem like so much fun to be around. I can't wait to read, and see, the rest.

 

[Janet2k]

Originally posted by melanieewr
This was the first alcoholic beverage I have consumed in a pretty good while and it hit me like 80 ft drop on TOT......

Melanieewr, I am reading you loud and clear. My first week in WDW was very stressful. One day things became too much for me (to add insult to injury that day, I placed a call to my workplace only to be told that the layoff was happening, yikes). I headed into Epcot and right to Mexico. I purchased a margarita from the quick service place and proceeded to drink it down in an effort to escape from my reality. About 15 minutes later, it hit me, just as I knew it would since I don't drink too often. Too bad I wasn't in Disney Studios. The Tower of Terror ride would definitely have been a fun one to take with a slight buzz on.

Your Segway photo is great. Bonzie1 and her husband took the tour earlier this year. Your photo reminds me so much of theirs. I have got to take that tour one of these days. However, I fear the klutz in me will come out and I will probably break leg # 2. On second thought, I'll just live vicariously through everyone else's Segway Tour Trip Reports.

Keep your reports comin’…

 

[melanieewr]

Janet;

I am convinced that God put me on earth so that all other Klutzes would have someone to show them how it's done. I have had over 100 stitches from bicycle accidents, falling through doors, fainting in the Dr.'s office (scared them more than it did me...got 2 scars on the side of my face for that one) and finally the hatchet that mysteriously fell on my toe! The hatchet incident was very minor and when we get to the emergency room, I have a Dr. with a strong accent. He asks "ah can geev ya 1 steek or 2 steek" me...what??? Dr..."1 steek, no deadnin, 2 steek...deadnin an steetch"...I said, Let Me Get This Straight. You are going to sew me up with no local...that's 1 stick or local and a stitch...that's 2 sticks? Dr. says ya ya, thaht's right. Me...you are not sewing me up without a local...I'll take 2 sticks! It ended up taking 2 stitches anyway. Those were my last stitches...due to an accident anyway.

The moral of this story...If I can do Segways...anyone can.


Also...I really wanted one of those "frozen concoctions that help me hold on" from the Cantina...it was just too hot during the day to risk it.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I'm loving reading your trip reports.

 

[melanieewr]

Illuminations Cruise;

I must start by saying that I really didn't think we would enjoy this much and that it was one of those things that I thought we should at least give a try.

After the obscene pedicure, I waited and waited for the boat from SSR to take me DTD to meet up with the girls...they already had at least an hour jump on me. I LOVE arriving to DTD by boat...it is sooo pretty. I grabbed a couple of must haves and we go to the Toy Store. My main goal was to stuff some Mr. Potato Head boxes for Christmas gifts for some of our employees kids. This was a whole lot more complicated than it sounds. It took the 3 of us frantically searching for left and right arms, ears, etc. and trying to figure out the best way to cram all this into an already full of Potato Head box. We did stuff the inside of the potato too. We grabbed some cookies...the rasberry white chocolate chunk and the snickerdoodles are sinfully good.

Back at the BWV...Edwin, Heath, and Bill are AWOL. I go to the boardwalk...no sighting of the 3 amigos. I go back to the room...maybe I missed him. His tennis shoes are in the middle of the floor, so maybe he is on the balcony...silly girl...I check the balcony even though the door is locked. Now I am thinking he is out wandering around aimlessly with no shoes since I am not there to dress him...wait...he does have sandals...and they are missing...whew! Finally, my brain kicks in and I call his cell phone...duh. They are all at the pool, back in a little corner...drinking beer and chatting. I grab the rest of his beer, some sodas and Amy (the skinny one) and I get the cute mickey roll around ice chest I have brought along and head to the pool. Hubby's have brought their own ice chests...WDW plastic bags which now are full of water and drippy.

I decide that a Crown and Coke sounds pretty good...Heath obliges by filling my glass half full of Crown! I guess he thought the Charley's Wobble was funny enough to warrant a repeat.

We head over to Y&B for our cruise. There's a little confusement due to the fact that I don't know the last name of Liz with whom I have traded nights for the cruise??? But our mighty cruise captain Michael returns shortly and has it all worked out.

Everyone else on the dock is not so lucky. It seems there has been a rash (one that has been spreading since the night before) of double bookings. Captain Blythe is in a BAD BAD Mood and I am happy to have Captain Michael, who wants to get out of there ASAP before it turns ugly and Captain Blythe is tossed overboard to be eaten by the ferocious Boardwalk ducks!

In case you haven't done the cruise...ours went kinda like this...it is just the 6 of us and our Captain and we go cruising to the S&D and I am not sure what happens after that, since the Crown is kicking in and I am giggly and Captain Michael is fitting right in with us...then it happens, our friend (the skinny one) announces they are not going to Hawaii with us (she previously said it was because of a hunting trip) because she is getting an upper body enhancement! Now, almost all of my friends have at one time or another contemplated this, but she has an appointment to actually get it done! The rest of us are just not that brave...or maybe we're too old and set in our ways and our bodies. Edwin asks if we can have a "viewing party"...men are just dumb. Captain Michael is almost giddy and disconglomerated and retorts that he is sooo happy that we are in his boat!

We park under the bridge...I still swear there was not enough room for us to squeeze in between the other 2 boats, but Mighty Captain Michael sucks it up and we are in there! He then explains the entire story behind Illuminations...the meaning of the colors of the globe, the animals in the globe the 55? famous faces in the globe, the only 2 countries that don't light up in the WS, etc. etc. Please don't ask me to go into too much detail...I was still feeling warm and fuzzy at that time, even though I had only had 2 drinks. Fortunately, we could not make a pit stop or I probably would have thought I could "wobble" on water...with another drink in me...

Notice the Arms in the Other Boat...CLOSE!

My Head After 2 Crown and Coke

Mighty Captain Michael

Blinded By The Light

 

[melanieewr]

In Retrospect;

1. I enjoyed this trip more than any since the first one we took with our kids 12 years ago. I didn't really know how it would go since we normally either go by ourselves, take our now grown "kids", or only one other couple at a time. Sometimes when you mix too many different personalities (even though all of our friends get along very well) it can only mean trouble...not so with our friends...fantastic trip!

2. If you do a massage and then a pedicure...slip your undies into your robe pocket for after the massage...you will be much more comfortable.

3. I wish that studios had King beds.

4. Matching costumes for MNSSHP were so much fun, especially if you have a group. I thought that more adults would be dressed in costume on the 31st, but we didn't feel uncomfortable at all as the "Quack Pots"...it was a blast!

5. Always be prepared to call the Hogs if Martha is with us...wait...how can you ever be prepared to yell WoooPigSoooie in front of hundreds of folks who gotta be wondering what institution we escaped from!

6. Friends should not let friends wear new sandals at Disney.

7. Never be too shy to say hello to a fellow Diser...Hi Janet2k!

8. Even "world class klutzes" can do the Segways!

9. For future trips, I will be "attempting" to follow Janet2k's extraordinary example and plan something special each time...memories are priceless. Even the WDW tour things we did this time added so much to our experience...

10. Finally, these boards have been such a help to me over the years and I really haven't posted much considering how long I have been "lurking". I have gained so much knowledge about my favorite place in the world and I hope I have managed to share info here that will help someone else in planning their trip...afterall, that is the basic reason we are all here on these boards.

 

[Disneygrl36]

From one Melanie to another.....girl, you have made me laugh. Thanks for that!!!! I love Martha's massuese. Sounds like you had a great time. Me & my husband, his sister & her husband were all there about the same time you all were & we didn't do nearly as much together as you & your group of friends did. But then again me & my hubby have a great time all by ourselves. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[bobcat]

OMG your friends sound just like mine! LOL except one of my friends would have been playing the pig part.

 

[melanieewr]

Bobcat;

Pleeez don't give Martha any ideas! The mere thought is sending goose bumps all over me...


Melanie;

I love going to WDW with just my DH...it is always a very relaxing trip and we only do the stuff that we love.

But...this group was sooo much fun! I think the Halloween atmosphere is great for enjoying with a group.

Hmmm...you are a "Volunteer"??? I will be so glad when Arkansas has a great football and basketball team again...