The One with the Empty Stretch Limo... (May 2-11th)

[KMH1]

(Ahh, I remember the days when 10:00pm was time to get a shower to go out. )

You are getting so old!

 

[rosiejo]

Hey Jen - whats the secret for buzz??

I know the one for MIB and always managed to thrash Lee until he figured it out - but I am RUBBISH at Buzz and need all of the help I can get

 

[rosiejo]

Sunday, May 6th


After practicing repeatedly and successfully "shooting" our super important, amazingly difficult line ("Hollywood, Here we Come!") we were whisked away down Sunset Blvd to the Rock n' Roller Coaster, where we got a car all to ourselves! Everyone along the way welcomed us by name... it was great!

Naughty you for not checking - but that you got your magical memory

 

[rosiejo]

Ok, ok, I'll tell. You can't laugh though, because it's so simple that most people I'm sure already do it. I used to pull the trigger as I aimed at each target, and I learned this time that you can hold it down and have a near-continuous fire. Just that little change, and I swear I quadrupled my average!

Argh you already shared and I already knew that And yet I'm still rubbish! I thought it was a secret button or something

 

[rosiejo]

Monday, May 7th
We contemplated riding Universe of Energy at this point, but I just cannot bring myself to riding such a long ride. I still cannot get over a single attraction lasting over 45 minutes. I'm 23 and have a decent amount of patience, and I just about lose it on that one. Still, Kyle has NEVER ridden it prior to this trip, so we'll have to tackle it at one point or another...


Finally, we conquered Ellen's Universe of Energy. I can check that one off of my list for the next several years..........

I just can't bring myself to do it... I remember how painful it was last time I rode it... many many years ago with my family - we were so tired and I was so agitated that I could not get off even though I was bored stiff.

Lee has never ridden it... however I don't have your good grace so I'm afraidn he never will! Besides I know he'll hate it so he'll thank me for being so mean!

And I loved that butterfly garden - we went in there loads - I have hundreds of photos - and a few good ones - one guy even stopped and asked me what lens I was using... I just smiled sweetly and said I didn't have a clue

 

[rosiejo]

Tuesday, cont'd...



After dinner, we rolled ourselves out of the Magic Kingdom, walked out to our ridiculously close car and drove to Fantasia Gardens miniature golf. Now I grew up on Mini Golf, so I was stoked for this evening, and to finally try out two of Disney's courses!

We've never tried the Fairways course but I'll give it a go this time... as much as I love the theming of fantasia and the wintersummerland courses I have to be blashpemous and say last trip we sampled about 4 courses on the 192/535 and there's one on the 192 that kicks butt which we will now revisit over and above the WDW ones

 

[tink2020]

Finally! Some pictures are uploaded, but only through May 5th. The desktop is in pristine condition, though, so hopefully I'll get the rest up (and the last few installments) this week. My clock is ticking if I want to meet my goal...

 

[tink2020]

Thursday, May 10th

Up fairly early, and ready for the day quickly -- it's finally time for our Segway tour! As early as possible, I had booked us on the "Around the World" tour at Epcot. There were three time slots available, and we chose the 8:30 group. It wasn't too early, but would still provide ample time in the park (or at least in World Showcase) before it actually opened and filled with guests.

We had called ahead to make sure we could enter through International Gateway prior to the park opening, and were assured that it would be no trouble. Sure enough it wasn't, and we made it through the (very cool) empty park to Guest Relations at about 8:15am.

The group was much smaller than I anticipated, which was very cool. At exactly 8:30, our group leader was leading us to Innoventions to get started -- despite not having 2 people from the party. Call me whatever you want, but this made my day. I understand some people run late, things happen that are out of your control, etc. Believe me, I've been there! But it was so incredibly refreshing that Disney valued the time and money of the rest of us who arrived on time (especially since they advised us to get there 15 minutes early)!

The main CM leading our group was Lamonte, who, it turned out, helped start the Segway program at Walt Disney World! He was fantastic. The t our was absolutely wonderful, I would highly recommend it to anyone! There was a couple in our group from Virginia who owned their own Segways, and yet still take this tour each time they are in WDW. THAT is how worthwhile it is!

(By the way, it was on this tour that we saw the World Showcase drawbridge in action -- how cool!)

Since this time, we have priced and came so close to buying our own Segways. No joke. We even talk about moving to Celebration just so we can ride them more frequently. (We are joking here, most of the time.)

After saying goodbye to our Segways, it was time to say goodbye to Future World. Our trip really was coming to an end! I sat on a ledge for a few minutes just enjoying the atmosphere. After a little while, we headed to World Showcase a few minutes before it opened. Kyle and I sat on a bench outside the Mexico pavilion just soaking up the sun (before it got too hot out!) and watching the passersby.


When the World Showcase officially opened, we made our way towards the Morocco pavilion for lunch at the Tangerine Cafe. This is hands down one of our favorite counter service restaurants anywhere. I have eaten Mediterranean food for as long as I can remember, and turned Kyle onto it shortly after dating. This isn't the best I have had, but it's wonderful to have in such a place as Walt Disney World -- and the portions are huge!

For the Flower and Garden Festival, there was a tent (more outdoor-wedding-size than camping size) with outdoor living sets. There were some of the most gorgeous sets of furniture, barbecues, etc I have ever seen. We lounged in there for a good 10 or 15 minutes, just relaxing and listening to the sounds of nearby Dulcimer music while digesting our Shawarma.

For a few brief moments, I was feel very disappointed at all of the "wasted" time we had this trip, and the things that we missed out on. I was shocked that I would let us miss so much, after having so much time in which to see things. They were very fleeting moments, though, until I recognized how wonderful these "down" times had really been. We have to continue shouting to the hills -- we love our DVC!

After leaving Epcot, we went to Beach Club Villas for just a short while to gather some things we had left behind for our morning tour.... then it was back to Animal Kingdom! Today was the ONE day that was just gorgeous out! There was a constant cool breeze, bright blue skies and it was just a wonderful day over all. We saw Flights of Wonder, waited absolutely forever for Finding Nemo: The Musical (which, by the way, is fantastic but needs more "meat" if any rumors are true about making it a bigger, touring show a la The Lion King).

On our way out of the Animal Kingdom, we spent some quality time with a few characters. Finally, we were back at our room to start packing up.

 

[tink2020]

Thursday, cont'd...

{Intermission-style background music here, while I had the most horrific experience trying to mail a freaking package. I'm sorry, I just can't relive how incredibly annoying this 75 minutes of my life were }

Back from the aforementioned (sort of) package debacle, it was time for dinner at Beaches and Cream. I had a Raspberry Diet Coke (love soda fountains! ) and the Open-Face Roast Beef and Provolone sandwich. It was good, but I could hardly finish half of it! Kyle had some variety of giant cheeseburger, and a milkshake.

After dinner, we hit Jellyrolls. It was our first time here, and we absolutely loved it. I swear, I could go to such a place as this every night, and I am not a bar kind of girl, except for piano bars! Well, piano bars and karaoke nights at bars. And NTN trivia. Ok, so I love SOME things about bars, but I get tired of them quickly.... except for piano bars! There we go!

We knew it was going to be a spectacular "last night", when we walked in and heard Rappers Delight (Sugarhill Gang, anyone?) being performed with a piano accompaniment. Classic!

The song selections were phenomenal, the atmosphere was perfect. I could have stayed here all night!

At about 1:30am, though, it was way past my bedtime! Thankfully, I had been consuming enough caffeine to get me this far, but I couldn't keep it up. Walking back to the Beach Club was so peaceful in the middle of the night, and it looked absolutely gorgeous this late at night, so serene!

 

[tink2020]

Friday, May 11th

Breakfast our last morning was at Cape May Cafe. I said this before, I'll say it again. Having the breakfast buffets on the Wonder really spoiled me for future Disney Breakfast Buffet Experiences. They are fine, but I'm apparently a DBBE snob, what can I say?

We finished packing, sat in the room a few minutes, and headed downstairs to load up the car. (FYI, Art is still there. We were honestly concerned for his well-being when we saw him on Day 1, and didn't see him again for the next 9 days straight. He must have been on vacation or something). We took a few more pictures, and were off to the Magic Kingdom for one last time.

The park was incredibly crowded, so we knew we wouldn't be doing too much. It was just as well, as there was no need to rush our last day anyway. We road the Liberty Bell Riverboat (which was ENTIRELY different than I remember... from the (ridiculously) long refurbishment? ), then went to Fantasyland. We saw Mickey's Philharmagic again, and rode Snow White's Scary Adventures and then did Stitch's Great Escape in tomorrowland. Kyle got a smoothie from Auntie Gravity, which was excellent1 It was the "Tropical", which included orange, pineapple and mango. We enjoyed said smoothy on the TTA, then rode one last ride -- the Carousel of Progress, one of our absolute favorites!


As we were heading out of the park, we saw a little duck family sitting on a rock near Cinderella's Castle. There was one little guy that was such a rebel, so we watched for quite a while. Eventually, a few bully siblings emerged, pushing each other off the rock, etc. It was hysterical!

One last Dole Whip (of course), and we headed for the Animal Kingdom.

We split a lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue (yum!), and one snack credit got us french fries (strange). We walked through the Tree of Life garden area, watched the Steel Drums , visited the shops...

I don't have a lot of details from this day, because I had what turned out to be the flu or something (which Kyle would get after getting home), and could hardly walk without being completely exhausted/achy. We drove around the World, stopped in and visited the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Coronado Springs Resort (where we scored a seriously huge water, some Mickeyroni and Cheese and a big box of Entenmann's donuts for our remaining snack credits ), and finally drove through the gates and headed for the airport. Our wonderful trip had come to a close!

 

[tink2020]

So I apologize immensely for this being the most boring trip report I've ever written... particularly the last, oh, 9/11ths or so. I came very close to dismissing it altogether because life sometimes throws curveballs at you, and leaves you with little humor or energy with which to write. I have made it a point,though, to write these out as often as I can. If nothing else, it allows me to have record of such wonderful memories we create on these magical vacations.

So sorry for the glossing over, the boring writing. Sorry that there are no Cliff Huxtable or Danny Tanner moments this time around, but at least I finished "on time". A few parting thoughts...

I really adore Saratoga Springs Resort. Beach Club Villas is a wonderful place, and of course the location is tough to beat. But it was so busy everywhere, and just didn't have the same feel. I think that Samantha Brown (I know, I'm a dork) described it perfectly as "Grandma's Fabulous Beach Home". That it was! But the granite countertops, gorgeous landscaping, sprawling "campus" that is SSR (which, I know, drives some nuts) just feels more like home to me. This isn't a "my resort is better than yours" thought. I think we'll add on at least one other resort (which we already have in mind), if not two. It was just that SSR is more my "style". I don't mean that in a snotty way, but it is less bustling, less "busy", and more upscale -- which I prefer. I don't know, I can't put it into words. It is just more along the lines of the atmosphere that I am accustomed to having, and I missed it dearly when we drove there to look at the AKV models. I can't wait to take my mom and sister there for dinner next week!

The Flower and Garden Festival is really cool. I think that I would be thrilled to go again, maybe in March - if I can figure out the week away from spring break crowds. I was told repeatedly that it was "hotter than expected" in May, but it was really hot. Oh, and of course really crowded, compared to what we have gotten used to.

I'm not sure what we'll do when we don't have the additional year worth of DVC points to use! I guess add-on, no? Because seriously, I have been so spoiled this year with frequent trips, but the fact that this one was "so long" (for us) just took the cake. It was by far the most wonderful balance we have ever had of "doing Disney", and relaxing on vacation.


And finally...
I'm going back in 2 days!


I won't make any promises, but I'll try and make my next trip report a) more timely, and b) more entertaining!

Thanks for your patience and pity!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Jennifer--i enjoyed reading this....i cant beleve youre going back sooo soon!! cant wait to hear ab out it--have a great time!

 

[roberrl187]

Great report. I look forward to another one when you get back.

 

[tink2020]

Jennifer--i enjoyed reading this....i cant beleve youre going back sooo soon!! cant wait to hear ab out it--have a great time!

I can't either!

 

[tink2020]

PICTURES

... but only through May 7th. I am trying so hard to get this off of this card, but we are so busy with everything else as well. I'll get more on here tomorrow, hopefully the last few days!

 

[KMH1]

Jen,

Yay, you finished it!

I hope you, Kyle, and your family have a wonderful trip! I'm praying that you have decent weather too!

Hope to see you soon, my friend! I miss you!

Amy

 

[rosiejo]

Jen - will you please stop apologising for your writing style in this report - I LOVED it! You are a very talented writer.

And you have reminded me that I keep meaning to visit Jelly Rolls... and as I'm actually just looking at the itinerary for the next trip I'm pencilling it in! AND dinner at B&C... do I need to call for reservations?

Hope you're enjoying your trip honey - can't wait to "read" all about it when you get home... from being at home... if you know what I mean!

 

[tink2020]

Jen - will you please stop apologising for your writing style in this report - I LOVED it! You are a very talented writer.

And you have reminded me that I keep meaning to visit Jelly Rolls... and as I'm actually just looking at the itinerary for the next trip I'm pencilling it in! AND dinner at B&C... do I need to call for reservations?

Hope you're enjoying your trip honey - can't wait to "read" all about it when you get home... from being at home... if you know what I mean!

It was a good trip, but it is much more relaxing when not traveling with family!

No reservations accepted at Beaches & Cream, but it's usually not too bad a wait. We went at the end of dinner rush this trip and were seated in under 20 minutes. In May, we had about a 10 minute wait.