The Moms Panel take on the Yeti, an EE5K TR ~*~ Completed ~*~

[vamassey1]

Wow Jo, you get to do the neatest things at Disney! Can't wait to read more, I love your MOM adventures.

PS I love HOT wings! The hotter the better.

 

[maroo]

Jo - WONDERFUL update!

Thank you so much for raising money for GKTW!

A podcast has helped me raise $1470 so far this year. I love that place!

I love that you raised money for GKTW! I was a wish-child in 1996 and stayed at the village for a week and was able to visit WDW, it started my obsession! We will be heading back to GKTW in December, they are throwing our wedding for us! Love it!!!

Oh my...

I am bawling. They are doing your WEDDING?

I love that place. I had no idea that they did weddings! Oh - to see Lauren get married - at Give Kids the World. That would be a DREAM come true.

Ok, I have totally lost it.

 

[TEminnie]

I love that you raised money for GKTW! I was a wish-child in 1996 and stayed at the village for a week and was able to visit WDW, it started my obsession! We will be heading back to GKTW in December, they are throwing our wedding for us! Love it!!!

That is so neat. Please do a TR--that is such a touching story.

 

[PrincessV]

Moms panellist Anna had been so moved by the great work done at GKTW that she had arranged a collection between the 2009 panel and some of the 2008 panel and between us we amazingly raised $1,550.

That's awesome - WTG Moms!

We were then led backstage to a meeting room where we all had a little gift, it was an ESPN digital photo frame which was so generous of them. My sister straight away said I should give it to her as it wouldn't work in the UK because of the voltage but I brought it home anyway

Bwahahaha!! Rebel.

Lunch was your typical ballgame food, well so I was told as I've never been to one, there were chicken tenders, wings, pulled pork sandwiches, fries etc.

That's ballgame food? I was thinking hot dogs and fries.

Whitney and her husband couldn't believe I'd never had hot wings before and were also amazed I didn't put ice in my drink, I know silly Brit huh

Hmmm. Well, now I'm confused.
I generally don't like ice in my drink, either. So I'd think perhaps I was British... except that we all know you aren't. Quite the conundrum. LY!

 

[DisneyJo]

Great update, Jo! But did you realize that there were two types of wings - hot and mild? I bet you would have enjoyed the mild! And yes, the frame was beautiful! I have mine on my work desk.

Oh I had the mild ones too and they were still too hot I haven't actually tried the frame yet, especially after I blew up Kay's pumpkin

As far as Garrett Popcorn, if anyone is interested, they gave us a coupon code for free shipping...they said it would be OK to share so for popcorn lovers: use GPSMOMS2009 - it's good through October 31st! And as Jo said, no calories!

Thanks for that Diane I couldn't remember the code!

I can't wait to hear how you try and explain the next part...go easy on me! LOL

It's MNSSHP next were you naughty at that?

wow--I've never heard of that! Sound so neat--like Make a Wish??

Someone else answered but that's where lots of them stay

Well, dang---you guys work for FREE, so you should be able to shop!

Well we do get a trip

Does it work??

Haven't tried it yet, I tried something else and it blew the fuse so I'm not sure what to do

What's with the "no ice" thing?? Cause I'll go nuts in Europe with Iced Tea and no ice! (should I pack my own??)

Ummm I suggest you pack your own iced tea too

Yum--good southern food---can't wait to tell Ab you hadn't had wings---do they not have them?? How do the chickens fly??

Oh we have wings just not hot ones and they're not a popular food item here!

Oh yeah--I saw you all on You tube--kinda scary....

I wouldn't be surprised if it's on there somewhere

I want a picture of THAT!

Sorry no photos, some things have to be kept off the net you know

Those both sound so neat!

Thanks CE, it was a good morning!

I lived with 3 English girls in college; they were from Wales, Liverpool, and the third town escapes me but I NEVER understood the no ice thing. I did enjoy mushy peas and chips though. And Gold Bars- those vanillay candy bars. Oooooo and HP sauce and fried eggs with tomatoes.

Mushy peas, yuck!!! Love gold bars though, you can still get them now, also don't like HP sauce sorry

Never had a hot wing?

I know, sorry

Yep! If Wish kids want to go to Disney World, Make A Wish (and lots of other organizations) coordinate through Give Kids the World.

Thanks!

I love that you raised money for GKTW! I was a wish-child in 1996 and stayed at the village for a week and was able to visit WDW, it started my obsession! We will be heading back to GKTW in December, they are throwing our wedding for us! Love it!!!

Wow that sounds fantastic, I hope it's amazing!

Wow Jo, you get to do the neatest things at Disney! Can't wait to read more, I love your MOM adventures

I know, it's pretty cool!

PS I love HOT wings! The hotter the better.

Yikes

Jo - WONDERFUL update!

Thank you so much for raising money for GKTW!

A podcast has helped me raise $1470 so far this year. I love that place!

Thank you and wow the amount you've raised already is amazing

That's awesome - WTG Moms!

We were amazed at how much was raised, next time they want to include donations from friends and family too!

That's ballgame food? I was thinking hot dogs and fries.

Oh yeah there were hot dogs there too, sorry forgot!!!

Hmmm. Well, now I'm confused.
I generally don't like ice in my drink, either. So I'd think perhaps I was British... except that we all know you aren't. Quite the conundrum. LY!

 

[maroo]

I love that you raised money for GKTW! I was a wish-child in 1996 and stayed at the village for a week and was able to visit WDW, it started my obsession! We will be heading back to GKTW in December, they are throwing our wedding for us! Love it!!!

Ok. I finally stopped crying!

I am so excited for you!

I hope that you will share this experience for us in a trip report. That would be awesome!

Also...you are welcome anytime (anyone reading this) to check out the Wish Trippers Unite thread. It is the blue link in my siggie. We talk about planning wish trips and there are a bunch of wish trip reports that past families have written - complete with pictures and such.

But a GKTW wedding. How cool would THAT be!

 

[Disneymoon09]

Jo - WONDERFUL update!

Thank you so much for raising money for GKTW!

A podcast has helped me raise $1470 so far this year. I love that place!






Oh my...

I am bawling. They are doing your WEDDING?

I love that place. I had no idea that they did weddings! Oh - to see Lauren get married - at Give Kids the World. That would be a DREAM come true.

Ok, I have totally lost it.

I know! I was having a really hard time finding somewhere affordable to get married in Orlando when my mom suggessted contacting GKTW. I didnt want to, I thought it would be tacky. BUT I did, and talked to the most wonderful guy and explained what we wanted to do and he was naming all these things that they would do and then I asked for a ballpark figure, and here it is. FREEEEEEE!!! So now my parents get to come see us get married (they were going to pay for the wedding before so they would not have been able to travel from Ohio to be there). We are thrilled and cannot wait. Those people are magical beyond all words. There is a little more about it in my PTR.

Sorry to Hijack Jo!!!

 

[CoP Luv]

Margaret had befriended people at Garrett's Popcorn and they had given her 2 huge tins for us all to share. I'd never had it before and OMG the caramel popcorn is to die for, it's so buttery and moreish and I'm sure has no calories whatsoever :

This was my dinner while I was waiting for my plane down for that weekend! I usually get the Cheese kind but this time I spulged and got Cheese and Caramel.

It was such an amazing dinner!

I was on vacation...by myself! I could do what I wanted to!

Glad you liked it!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Jo!!!!

 

[PartyOf5]

That's right, Jo...MNSSHP is next - was thinking it was Saturday night already! Can't wait to read more. Hopefully you can finish before our December trip! LY/MI!!

 

[DisneyJo]

Sorry to Hijack Jo!!!

You're fine hijack away

This was my dinner while I was waiting for my plane down for that weekend! I usually get the Cheese kind but this time I spulged and got Cheese and Caramel.

It was such an amazing dinner!

I was on vacation...by myself! I could do what I wanted to!

Glad you liked it!

Sounds like a great meal Becky It was actually the cheese and caramel type we had but I don't mix sweet and savoury, it's a Brit thing, plus cheese popcorn sounds but the caramel was nice

Hi Jo!!!!

Hi Rosie

That's right, Jo...MNSSHP is next - was thinking it was Saturday night already! Can't wait to read more. Hopefully you can finish before our December trip! LY/MI!!

I thought you may have skipped a day I hope I can finish by then too

 

[winkers]

silly question...do you drink your pop warm?

 

[ejud]

silly question...do you drink your pop warm?

I don't even have a Pop- and why would anyone 'drink' one??? is that some kind of slang the kids are using now???



Jud

 

[winkers]

I don't even have a Pop- and why would anyone 'drink' one??? is that some kind of slang the kids are using now???



Jud

ummm, is that a serious question?

pop....soda...soda pop...

 

[englishrose47]

silly question...do you drink your pop warm?

When I drink it it is preferred room/cellar temp and NO ICE!!! Right Jo!!!!

 

[ejud]

ummm, is that a serious question?

pop....soda...soda pop...

hehehehee... I am so totally serious!



I drink Pepsi. Used to drink Coca-Cola till they changed it- but you young 'uns don't know about that... biggest blunder in the history of American marketing...

Anyway, despite my proud British roots, I drink it out of glass, and over ice, and from the fridge ideally at 34 degrees.



Jud

 

[praisehisname]

That's so cool about the money you raised for GKTW! Sounds like a fun time at WWS, too!

Denise

 

[DisneyJo]

silly question...do you drink your pop warm?

Well it's normally stored in a fridge so it's already cold

I don't even have a Pop- and why would anyone 'drink' one??? is that some kind of slang the kids are using now???



Jud

Jud we call it pop over here too, normally fizzy though

When I drink it it is preferred room/cellar temp and NO ICE!!! Right Jo!!!!

Definitely

That's so cool about the money you raised for GKTW! Sounds like a fun time at WWS, too!

Denise

It was an interesting visit Denise and we were amazed at the amount of money raised!

 

[DisneyJo]

So after our whistle stop tour of ESPNWWS we had about 45 minutes back at AKL before we had to head to the MK for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Em went off for a quick dip in the pool whilst I tried to nap as it was going to be a late night. All too soon it was time to go again so we put on our matching shirts and were off. All the Moms had decided against big hot heavy costumes, even though it was discussed and ideas such as giant M&M's etc were thrown out there, but we ended up ordering customised shirts. Phew..... goodness knows how I would have packed an M&M costume LOL. Thanks to Diane L I didn't even have to worry about packing my shirt as she had kindly ordered most of the shirts for us and handed them out at WWS, thanks Diane

We met up with a few Moms in the lobby, I can't remember who but they were wearing pink so must have been part of the group We arrived right at 4pm which was perfect timing as that's when our tickets allowed us in. We wandered down Main Street taking in all the gorgeous Halloween decorations and we were first to arrive at the Crystal Palace for our 4.30pm dining reservation. The reservation was for about 35 of us as many of the Moms were there with husbands, children, parents etc. Eventually we all arrived and checked in where we were told it would be a little wait. We amused ourselves by having our own photo shoot and chatting!

Whilst we were waiting I noticed a couple go past wearing tie dye Mickey shirts and just knew it had to be Lynn and Chuck aka Nts4wdw, so like any good DISer I ran like a mad thing and pounced on them Luckily it was them, by the way I did know they were going to be at the party and don't just attack random strangers, anyway they were so pleased to see me and we had a lovely chat. I gave Lynn some Moms Panel goodies that I had for her and she asked me if I'd received her gift. Lynn apparently had left a gift for me at AKL on Wednesday yet I hadn't received anything, thank goodness we met so I could go and ask for it!

So after all this you would have thought we'd have been called by now wouldn't you.......... nope, over an hour after our reservation time, when we were all dying of thirst and about to hit Casey's for a hot dog our name was finally called. Did these people not know who they'd kept waiting?

The meal was as good as always, but I must admit I drank more than I ate as waiting for over an hour in the heat sure makes you thirsty. During the meal we suddenly heard Happy Birthday being sung and there at the end of our big table was Gary-Jerry with an enormous cake. Since our first meeting with him back in December it has kind of become a Moms Panel tradition that he always celebrates his Birthday when we meet, goodness knows how old he is LOL We even had Tigger join in our celebrations!

It was finally time to get our ride on and as we only had 30 minutes before our next meet we had to be quick. Jodi & hubbie, Diane C & hubbie, Joanne, Emma and I all headed straight for Splash Mountain which was a complete walk on. We ended up in a boat with a single man in the back row, poor guy was subjected to all our giggling and singing, I think he had fun too though! Well Diane was sat in the front row and got absolutely drenched it was hilarious, so what's the best way to dry off? A ride on Big Thunder of course! This again was a walk on and is so much fun!

(sorry this is so blurry, I obviously need to work on my moving camera skills!)

After our ride we had just enough time to make it to the Main Street station where we were scheduled to shoot a mini video, Diane of course was still soaking All the Moms were already there including some of the 08 panel and we all stood around catching up, eating cookies and enjoying all the beverages, including alcohol, I know, this is the second time I've been allowed alcohol in the Magic Kingdom!!! Sometime during this Angela (Askelton) came by for a quick chat, I also got to meet her husband Mitch for the second time which was great.

The shoot didn't take long and it was soon parade time, the train station is a fantastic spot to view both the parade and fireworks but after my December trip I knew the photos wouldn't come out great so I didn't take any - sorry! I was stood next to Amber and her 2 gorgeous children who are about 1 and 3, well they were so cute during the parade pointing everything out and so well behaved!

There was time for a little shopping after the parade was over, it was just window shopping though, we didn't actually buy anything. By the time we got back to the train station near enough everyone had gone and it had been reopened to the public We still managed to grab a couple of chairs right by the railings and luckily right by the Garrett popcorn tins too, yep we still had loads of popcorn left! The fireworks were fantastic especially towards the end where they were literally going off all around us, I think my sister was pretty impressed!

It was now past 10 and since arriving at 4 we had only managed to do 2 rides, Splash and Thunder, we were itching to get going so some of us headed to Buzz. It all gets a bit blurry now, I know we hit lots of candy stations, rode lots of rides, met up with other Moms etc and generally had a fab time. I do remember after riding Haunted Mansion Diane L and her daughter went to ride Philarmagic with Em and I and when she saw me struggling with my bag she kindly gave me one of her Mickey Halloween bags, it is so cute, thanks Diane

Midnight came way too quickly but we were all ready for bed, remember how long I'd been awake? It was amazing I was still upright LOL Once we arrived at AKL I asked if there was a package for me and low and behold there was, why they hadn't given it to be before goodness knows, this wouldn't be the last time something like this happened!!!

The package was so cute and included a cross stitch book mark, notepad with my initial on, Halloween earrings and an enormous Tootsie Roll. This was such a coincidence as earlier in the day at WWS I tasted my very first tootsie roll LOL Thanks Lynn you were so sweet doing that for me

Oh and I can't go without showing you photos of our stash, all for the girls you understand!!!

Click here to continue!

 

[PartyOf5]

Jenn and I had so much fun trick-or-treating with you and Emma! I can't believe how fast the time went by that evening! And I don't think that is all your candy in the picture...I swear your bag weighed at least 50 pounds!