The happyhaunts go South... the endless trip report!

[1000thhappyhaunt]

I think it's time for the happyhaunts to go west, don't you??

Hey! Rita! Baby!

Look...look! It's my much cooler alter ego on the Disboards. She rocks! (I know her... we've PM'd a bit)...

Yes... I think you're right. I've been thinking about going WEST to DL since we last talked. A lot. A lotlot. Now... I just have to convince the Big Mommy Man that it's a good idea. 'Cause he rules the roost, you know. Thanks for visiting me. Mel.

 

[javamom]

This is HARD, HOT work.

Ok, just curious how many days were you able to wear shorts. I find myself mentally packing cool weather items for this trip, but I know that I should also plan for some warm days too. Just hard to know how much to pack and not OVERPACK. KWIM?

 

[kpk89]

wow, 1000thhappyhaunt, I did not realize while reading your report that you were there some of the same days we were! We probably met in line for a bathroom or something -- cause that's where it seems like *I* spent a good chunk of the trip! Somehow my kids much prefer to have *me* take them to the toilet than their dad. I must have a gift. I'm a fun bathroom mama.

And my boy has some Calvinish traits, himself. Conversationally. I've never been asked my stance on donut babies, but some pretty interesting stuff nonetheless. And his true love is a Canadian. Well her parents are. From Quebec.

Your report has been very entertaining. Even the flood parts. Not that I'm entertained by other people's natural disasters, but you have a way with a story that makes it so.

 

[BbearRosenfeld]

My sister told me about your thread last week and I love it! We are a disney family and were amused with your report. Thanks for posting photos as well.

 

[MagicForMe]

I loved reading this report. I'm usually a lurker but just had to tell you that your trip report was so cool!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Just a couple of questions to answer, here, before I get into the story. For 1stTimeDisneyer: it's much easier to get lice than a babysitter for our three kids. Secondly... yes, The General STILL is in full command of our cat. Probably until all the reconstruction of the house is complete. By then, the cat will have, basically, forgotten about us and will weigh forty pounds. But... I've been phoning my Mother in the evenings and saying, "Hello? No. Not you. Nothing is new. Put the cat on." And then telling Lotus all our exciting news... while my Mom listens silently. Ha, ha. 'Cause I KNOW Lotus is on the phone because she always meows right back when I use a certain tone of voice and call her "My Baby Cat!". So I sprinkle that into the convo to make sure she's still there. And I KNOW my Mom is on, as well, because I can hear The General breathing. Ha, ha. It's fun. For all three of us. And, finally, to the Coffee/Software Lady: I think I might have confused you. And maybe some others as well. Because the last block of pictures I posted were from our trip in MAY of last year. Not DECEMBER of last year. Why? You ask. I don't know. Just felt like adding them is all. Sorry for confusing you. But... SURE... I'd pack shorts and tanks, again, for May in Florida. Without question. On to the story then:

Day 7, Dec 17: As I said, we were headed from Turtle Talk straight HOME. To Canada. In Epcot. To try and get into Le Cellier for lunch. I had been reading the Disboards for awhile prior to our trip. And had called trying to switch ADRs around to get into this particular restaurant for a bit before we left. No luck. Hadn't had any this week on our Epcot days prior, either. So I knew my chances were dicey to begin with. Perhaps, impossible. But I was prepared to do a number of things to get in. Plead. Cry. Entertain. Perform a badly executed cartwheel and, possibly, even flirt OUTRAGEOUSLY for a table for five. If all that went south... I'd demand a Table for ONE! Heh, heh. NO! I'd never do THAT. I wasn't raised in a barn you know. I've done a few things in a barn, before, but getting raised was never one of them. So, I unwisely left the rest of the happyhaunts playing with my camera outside the Canadian Pavillion and ventured around, down and underneath to Le Cellier. I opened the door only to come face to face with the most powerful CM in all of Disneydom. Yes. The podium CM at Le Cellier. She was a sweet, older, grey-haired grandmotherly looking woman. AH HA! So... it WAS going to be OUTRAGEOUS flirting, then! I started by asking her if there was any chance we could get in. I kept madly chatting away while she scanned THE BOOK. No. Fully booked. I pouted cutely. A cute, Canadian pout. Come back. She said. In one hour. I promised we would. In exactly one hour. Then I winked at her. Ha, ha! She actually winked back to me. That was kinda fun. I thought. I ran up the path and told the happyhaunts that I had a good feeling about this but that we must hang around Canada so that we could be back in EXACTLY one hour. When was that? Exactly? No idea 'cause I don't wear a watch. So I grabbed for DH's arm to check. I startled poor DH who suggested that we spend the hour looking for watches for me in the giftshops. Ha, ha! I swear to you all... I will never wear a watch. I will never have my life run by the clock. I will be in charge of my own destiny. Not some outrageously expensive Mickey Mouse time-telling device that I become a slave to. Because... IF I were to get one... it would be a Mickey Mouse watch. For sure. So, given our tight time constraints, we decide to head back down the path and do the Canada 360 film. OH CANADA! OH BROTHER! It was a little lame. First we were warned so many times not to SIT on the leaning bars that I was, actually, afraid to LEAN on the leaning bars. And... wouldn't you know it... the couple in front of us jumped right up on them, too. I figured they didn't understand the CMs' multiple requests so I tapped one of them on the shoulder and repeated the request in french for them. Not that it was any of my business. I just wanted to be "fancy" and say "Ne pas s'asseoir sur les barres s'il vous plait!".
They got down. Maybe they really were french. Sweet! We watched the film and there are parts which are really amazing. The landscape scenes are great. It's beautiful. And there is this one part where you are surrounded by a ring of red tunic wearing Royal Canadian Mounted Police. That was neat. It was even better when a kid behind us said, loudly, "Mom! I think those are all the SAME guy!". DH and I thought that was good. But... the film is hopelessly outdated, too. Straight out of 1980. Whew. And I thought I dressed pretty cool in high school. Not so much. Looking back. It was legwarmer city. They really need to update this film along with The River of A Waste of Time in Mexico. 'Cause we don't even have the tequila here to drown our sorrows. We have beer, though. And Bloody Caesars. Yeah. It was so bad it made me want to plow back a shot of Alexander Kieth's and chase it with orange and cinnamon. That bad. I swear. Message to the Main Mouse Man: redo the film in CANADA! After Star Tours. We exited the theatre in the round and ran smack dab into Santa Claus. Said hello. Calvin asked if he REALLY knows when he's been naughty or nice. Santa asked "Why? Have you been naughtly at all?" Calvin said, "NO! Uh... ummm... I was just wonderin'... that's it!" Heh. We headed up to the giftshop in Canada to look around. Look at what? You ask. A whole bunch of expensive crap that we can buy here, in Canada, for much cheaper. Of COURSE this is where Beth decides to spend her souvenier money. I'm amazed. She wanted a little stuffed Husky Dog. I tried to convince her that she didn't really want it. No use. She really wanted it. So I agreed and we went to buy it. There was a woman in front of us at the cash and so I started looking around. And my keen Hidden Mickey Eye noticed something pretty quickly. Those Crazy Canuck CMs had drawn a little ears symbol, just like the hidden mickey's, on the corner of their cash register... facing towards them. After we paid I asked the CM guy if THAT was an "Official Hidden Mickey"? What? I pointed at the drawn ears. He started laughing and said that no one had ever noticed that before. Well! How about that? Pretty good for 'ol Eagle Eyed Mel. I ALSO noticed that his fly was down but I didn't mention it. The Cute Fly Down Guy gave me a bunch of hints on where to find OTHER "official" Hidden Mickey's in the Canadian zone and we headed off to do so. Thanks. We took some more pictures and grabbing DH's arm told me we were just in time to check back at Le Cellier for a table. I left the pack looking at the gardens and went back to see my Le Cellier CM. She was sending everyone and their brother away, still. But when I got to her... I winked. Complimented her hair. And smiled a cute blond Canadian Girl smile. It worked. We were IN! Oh, happy day! Called the troops and proceeded to have a lovely, lovely lunch with fellow Canadian servers and plenty of that potent libation we call a "Caesar"! Then it was straight to Mission Space, again, to settle our stomachs after such a big meal.

To be continued...

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Reading all your posts about your trip makes me want to go to Disney RIGHT NOW!

We aren't going till August - TOO FAR AWAY!!

 

[tammyandtommy]

I am soo behind I printed your thread! If I get in trouble tomorrow at school, Im tellin them its your fault! I need to study for a exam tomorrow! But during lecture I have my reading material! LOL

Nursing school rocks........ NOT

 

[Kanga1]

Happyhaunts,

Looking forward to reading your report!! Is it finished? I haven't started reading it yet because I want to sit down and read the entire report. I've heard a couple of people say that it's finished, but I can't seem to find the end of it...everything I have ends in "to be continued." ( BTW, I LOVE the long ones!!) Am I missing the ending somewhere?

Thanks for putting so much time into your report!!!!

 

[Cinerama]

On vettechick's thread I saw that you mentioned your favorite reports (gopherit's are my fave), but don't forget Kevin Stringer's. They're part of that great tradition of reports that we all have become addicted to....with your's now high on that esteemed list!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Happyhaunts,

Looking forward to reading your report!! Is it finished? I haven't started reading it yet because I want to sit down and read the entire report. I've heard a couple of people say that it's finished, but I can't seem to find the end of it...everything I have ends in "to be continued." ( BTW, I LOVE the long ones!!) Am I missing the ending somewhere?

Thanks for putting so much time into your report!!!!

I'm far... FAR... from done. Still have two and a half more days to subject you all to. And, considering the amount of supid, pointless babble I add... it should take me about a week or two more. Probably two. I warned everyone it was going to be ENDLESS. By the time I'm finished this... I'll probably be off to our May '06 trip to BWV. We'll be "celebrating" Mother's Day there, at WDW, that should be a tale in itself. My loving family usually plans something "special" on Mother's Day. And then there's THE GENERAL's "surprise", too. Then we'll be home, again. Then I'll have to do this trip report thing all over again. Maybe. Maybe.

P.S. Who is Kevin Stringer? How might I find his report(s)? What's the title(s)? How could I have missed it????????????

 

[Shelby5514]

I'm far... FAR... from done. Still have two and a half more days to subject you all to. And, considering the amount of supid, pointless babble I add... it should take me about a week or two more. Probably two. I warned everyone it was going to be ENDLESS. By the time I'm finished this... I'll probably be off to our May '06 trip to BWV. We'll be "celebrating" Mother's Day there, at WDW, that should be a tale in itself. My loving family usually plans something "special" on Mother's Day. And then there's THE GENERAL's "surprise", too. Then we'll be home, again. Then I'll have to do this trip report thing all over again. Maybe. Maybe.

P.S. Who is Kevin Stringer? How might I find his report(s)? What's the title(s)? How could I have missed it????????????

You can find him on the UK boards, but here is a link to his website with his trip reports...
http://freespace.virgin.net/kevin.stringer/index.htm

 

[labdogs42]

I'll probably be off to our May '06 trip to BWV. We'll be "celebrating" Mother's Day there, at WDW, that should be a tale in itself. My loving family usually plans something "special" on Mother's Day. And then there's THE GENERAL's "surprise", too. Then we'll be home, again. Then I'll have to do this trip report thing all over again. Maybe. Maybe.

P.S. Who is Kevin Stringer? How might I find his report(s)? What's the title(s)? How could I have missed it????????????

OMG!! I will be at Disney at the same time as you!! I bet your hubby would be really freaked out if you wanted to actually meet someone form the DIS boards, since he doesn't even want you to post pictures, huh? Hmmmm...I must figure out a way to meet you so I can be in your next trip report (I am reluctant to meet people IRL that I have met online, for fear of them being axe-murders, but so far you haven't mentioned being an axe-murderer so I think it could be ok )

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

OMG!! I will be at Disney at the same time as you!! I bet your hubby would be really freaked out if you wanted to actually meet someone form the DIS boards, since he doesn't even want you to post pictures, huh? Hmmmm...I must figure out a way to meet you so I can be in your next trip report (I am reluctant to meet people IRL that I have met online, for fear of them being axe-murders, but so far you haven't mentioned being an axe-murderer so I think it could be ok )

I AM an axe-murderer. That little tidbit WAS going to be in this afternoon's chapter.

 

[labdogs42]

Well, I'm glad I asked. Good to know. BUT, I'll still find a way to try and be in your trip report...perhaps I'll be the person whose kid pukes on your shoes, or the people who run over your foot with the stroller, or the person Calvin talks to randomly while standing in line for a ride...you'll never know, but I'll know when I read the report!!

 

[1stTimeDisneyer]

What dates in May will everyone be at DW? We are going May 7-13. If I see a little boy order a table for one I will know it is Calvin.

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Well. Since labdogs42 RUINED my big surprise for you... I guess I'll just have to continue on with this ridiculously long trip report. I was, in fact, thinking about asking Jessica(lds42) to join me for a margarita in Mexico next trip... however, she has let it slip that her DS is a "SHOE-PUKER"! I'm a shoe-girl. So that, understandibly, bothers me a little. However... my sexy crocs are plastic. I KNOW. I KNOW. They're NOT that sexy. But... I already told you that I don't give a half of a crap. Onwards, then:

Day 7, Dec 17: Whenever we eat in Epcot, we seem to head directly to Mission Space afterwards. I don't know why. Yes, I do. We are the thrifty, reiterant, livin' on the edge during vacation happyhaunts. We laugh in the face of botulism AND forcefull public vomiting. Good thing. 'Cause those two seem to naturally go hand in hand. At MS, DH and I took turns riding with Beth and Calvin whilst Tommy played endlessly in the kiddy climber. The first ride Calvin and I took together, he threatened to call Ralph on the big porcelain phone. Yeah. He screamed, "I'm gonna choke!" Or puke. Or hurl. Or blow chunks. Or roll out the colour-coded carpet. You get the picture. (And, perhaps THIS also needed a disclaimer. Too late. Once again.) He was convincing because he made a grab for the in-flight barf bag. But then yelled "PSYCHE!". What a darlin'. I'm sure the two other strangers in our pod were so thrilled. And, I'm sure, if they ever decided to ride MS again they were going to look carefully around the Pre-Flight room to make sure WE weren't standing on the dots in front of them. But... it was fun. The ride. Then DH and Beth did it and then he did it with Calvin, once more, while Beth played Mission Control and I looked around the dump shop for a bit with Tommy. ONCE MORE. I decided to buy DH a little gift. Well... a big gift. 'Cause he wears a XXL shirt. I got him a black MS t-shirt. And I bought Tommy one of those swirly-whirly toys that light up. It was a Stitch one. He LOVED it. Calvin and DH showed up and DH told me that his eardrums were bleeding because he ended up with Calvin and two other boys slightly older than Calvin... but just as immature. And they ALL screamed that they were ALL gonna barf throughout the ride. Can you all say "Manual Override"?! My Big Mommy Man HATES that. He takes Mission Space very seriously and you better... you BETTER... press your own button when it's your turn. If you know what's good for you. However he WILL let it slide if you're actually sick... or "hot". I cheered him up with his new MS shirt. He was quite pleased. DH was a happy, big t-shirt wearing DH. He was glad I didn't have it sent to the room, though, he said he wanted to wear it to dinner that night. Then the happyhaunts headed over to Test Track to make it all better for Tommy. Although we could have skipped it. He was as happy as could be with his light-up Stitch toy. DH suggested we get the kids a treat. WHAT?! Oh, nevermind. He was talking about the free Coke place. So we went over. To load up. For free. We were all pretty thirsty anyhow. Tommy had one little cupfull of Beverly (thanks, Calvin) and then announced to me that he had to go potty. So I took him out and around the building to the washrooms. Where we spent a good 15 to 20 minutes while I cheerleaded him through his "spikey poop" extravaganza. I won't elaborate further. Met back up the the other three haunts and wandered up World Showcase way via Mexico. But we didn't have margaritas. We wanted beer instead. We paused briefly in Norway so that I could check out the inside of the restaurant there. I was contemplating a Princess Storybook Dinner for our May trip and wanted to see the inside. Tommy would LOVE the PSD. He loves princesses. Calvin doesn't mind them either. They've got a little of their 'ol Dad in them, after all. So I asked the CM at the entrance if I could look around and use the washroom. Sure. I did. Then we headed to Germany for beer. Yum yum. I do like beer. BEER... YUM! Sometimes I feel a little like Homer Simpson. Oh...sorry. That's DH! So DH hurries over to order us some draft and Calvin and I notice two things. One is that Tommy has suddenly dozed off. Man. That kid falls asleep fast! And, two, that Snow White was standing over ALL BY HERSELF in Germany. And... I just HAD to laugh when I read something very similar in ZZUB's trip report... cause it was the exact same phenomena with us. So Calvin and I rushed over to get a picture. I kept waving Beth to join us but she didn't want to. She's really shy sometimes. Or else she thought Snow White really WAS a total loser princess. No matter. We got some good pics with her and Calvin and me and her, too. And then the three of us. Thanks Beth! Then a crowd started forming behind us for autographs and such. Melly came back with two beer. OHHHHH! THAT was why he was waving at me! So the server could see that I was the other beer drinker with him. What a stupid rule... if you ask me! So we walked slowly through the vibrant and pleasurable World Showcase, drinking beer, and pausing only to mail postcards in the good old USA. As we strolled towards France, we noticed a cute young couple of newlyweds wearing the Minnie Ears Veil and the Mickey Groom Tophat. I told DH that we should have done our Honeymoon at WDW, again, and then we could have worn those. DH laughed. Hard. He said that he would never, ever wear that hat with the ears. But... he's WRONG. Do you know why? Because I got him to wear the Tigger Ears for a little while at the Studios the other day. Just for a bit. But he DID it. Talk about some weird looks. He really looked sweet, though. Cute. Gentle. And slightly moronic. But... it kinda turned me on, too. I'm ashamed to admit. Any of you Disladies ever seen the movie "Tim" with Mel Gibson? 'Nuff said. Probably too much said. So let's continue on so that I can dig myself out of this hole. Looking at the honeymooning couple prompted Calvin to ask DH a question, "Daddy? Are you sorry you married Mommy?" Ha. Not "Daddy... are you HAPPY you married Mommy?" but "SORRY". Geez. DH looked all serious for a minute and answered, " No, Calvin. Of course, not. Because I wouldn't have you three awesome kids now... would I? And, I have to say, my life has certainly been more interesting with your Mother in it. I'm happy I married her!" AWWWWW! DH! That was SUCH a "Disney Moment" for me. Until he added, "However... I'd probably live a lot longer if I hadn't." Grrrrr! It was a classic moment not unlike the "Tommy Draws Fire" love-in Calvin had a while ago. Romantic moment over, we continue through France where I take some blurry pictures of the Eiffel Tower and then the BCV. They ALL came out blurry. And... I'm not even drunk yet!

To be continued...

 

[tammyandtommy]

Ok well a small update! I dont remember anything that my prof said today during the am lecture! I was reading the 25 pages of your trip report! I even edited out the other posters! LOL So I guess i have more reading to do!

 

[javamom]

So I now get to say stuff like this: "Mai tai have a sip of your drink?", "Mai Tai tell you that it's not as bad as you think." and, even, "Mai Tai ask why you ordered this particular drink when you hate rum?"

Ok, must comment here. I have been reading these to DH and he loves them as much as I do. It has become our Sunday evening "thing." Anyhow, when I read this post to him (um, yes he can read but they are funnier when I read them) he gave me that "sounds familiar" look. Then a few days ago, I was teasing him mercilessly about something (I've forgotten what, since I have slept since then) and he looked at me and said "see, see, I told you that you sound just like her." Funny thing was he didn't even have to explain who he meant by "her." I SO knew.

 

[weluvdisney]

Just Wanted to let you know how much I am LOVING these reports !!! Keep' em coming. I am dreading the end!!!!

Thanks!!!!