The Unstoppable Force Meets the Immovable Object: A Trip Report - UPDATED 7/25/11

[Normangirls]

Wow! A Tinkerbellarella TR. My day just got a million times better!

Plus some of my favorite DISers here, along for the ride. Well, some of you are my favorites. You know who I mean. (Hey, that’s exactly what I told my kids last night.)

Would it be inappropriate to say I love the pic of your BF in his firefighter gear? If so, I won’t say it.

As always, I love your TR writing. Please keep it coming.

O.K., I’m slipping back into lurkdom.

 

[Nermel9]

Oh my DEAR. It's fantastic. My favorite Disney drink second only to the Italian Margarita from the Tutto kiosk in Italy (my #1) and a Lapu Lapu (sans Bacardi 151 floater) from Tambu Lounge at the Poly (my #2).

I am definitely getting a Pina Colava in October! I keep hearing so much about them, I have to try it!

I didn't know there was an Italian Margarita!!! I also didn't know there was a Tutto kiosk...sometimes I wonder what exactly I'm doing when I'm in Disney, because apparently I don't pay attention to anything!

Although, I'm pretty set in my ways when it comes to drinking in Epcot...margarita at La Cava, slushie of some kind in France, and beer in England. I have to start trying new things while I'm there!

I love the Lapu Lapu too! There's just something about drinking out of a pineapple that makes it SO good!

Ok, anyway, I'll stop talking about alcohol!

I can't believe all the problems you had with your ADR's! That's one of my worst fears. I'm glad you got them all worked out, though!

So Boma makes me a little nervous...I'm kind of weird when it comes to trying new things, and I always wondered if I could handle Boma dinner. Breakfast, no problem, I love the breakfast there, but dinner is a different story. But after reading your review, it seems like I might be able to give it a try someday! I like pork. I like mac and cheese. If anything, I could live on those 2 things for the night if I really hated everything else!

So sad about the zebra domes!! They sound like they would be delicious, from the way people drool over them here on the DIS! I have yet to try one, so I'm not sure what I would think of it, some things on the DIS that are legendary sometimes end up being not so good...like that cream cheese pretzel in MK. Ugh.

The cinnamon mousse sounds fantastic, though! Cinnamon makes everything better!

I'm gonna be quiet now, since I just wrote you a book! Sorry bout that!

 

[pooh'smate]

We ate at Boma and it was Nomtastic. You are right about that pork with the mustard sauce my dh and I agreed to die for. Right now we are leaning towards the AKL just for Lexi (but we still have over a year to go so I am sure we will still flip flop back and forth) and I really want to try it for breakfast. We wanted to do it this past trip but then dh said he didn't want to eat at the same place twice so we went to Tusker House, which also has that yummy juice.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Thanks for such a detailed review, I really appreciate it.

No problem. You certainly don't have to twist my arm to get me to talk about food. Especially Disney food!

Wow! A Tinkerbellarella TR. My day just got a million times better!

Wow.



Wow. Thank you.

Would it be inappropriate to say I love the pic of your BF in his firefighter gear? If so, I won’t say it.

No. Totally appropriate. The man can ROCK that uniform. And you should see him in his dress blues.

O.K., I’m slipping back into lurkdom.

Loved to see your face around here. Pop out of lurkdom every now and again!

I didn't know there was an Italian Margarita!!! I also didn't know there was a Tutto kiosk...sometimes I wonder what exactly I'm doing when I'm in Disney, because apparently I don't pay attention to anything!

Ok, so, facing the Doge's Palace building, look slightly left. There's a little stand there. THAT'S the Tutto kiosk and THAT'S where they sell the Italian margarita. It's like big people lemonade: margarita mix, limoncello and grappa. It doesn't have a strong taste of alcohol but one gives me a little buzz. They run around $10/$10.25 each and they are worth EVERY penny.

Ok, anyway, I'll stop talking about alcohol!

::sigh:: If you insist!

So Boma makes me a little nervous...I'm kind of weird when it comes to trying new things, and I always wondered if I could handle Boma dinner. Breakfast, no problem, I love the breakfast there, but dinner is a different story. But after reading your review, it seems like I might be able to give it a try someday! I like pork. I like mac and cheese. If anything, I could live on those 2 things for the night if I really hated everything else!

I was a little nervous too but the fears were completely unfounded. It was fantastic. Two Tinkerbellarella thumbs up!

...like that cream cheese pretzel in MK. Ugh.

Really? That one is still on my "to try" list.

I'm gonna be quiet now, since I just wrote you a book! Sorry bout that!

No need to be quiet. Feel free to write me a novel that comes in a 32-edition set, complete with decorative bookcase.

Right now we are leaning towards the AKL just for Lexi (but we still have over a year to go so I am sure we will still flip flop back and forth)

She'd love it. She really would. I think you would too. I had few complaints. The bus service wasn't as bad as I've heard some people complain about, though there is an extra stop to service Kidani, but that's not out of the realm of normal. Look at how many stops the BW/BC/YC/Swolphin buses make...unless I'm kickin' it old school right now and it's not like that anymore.

And on top of that, on the mornings when the bus wait was the worst (read: 10-20min.) there was a Disney Transportation CM there, radioing in how many buses they needed to send to flush out the waiting guests for each park. I have a feeling Disney heard the complaints and made the (excellent) decision to address the issue.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

To all my lovely readers...and ZZUB:

I know I've been averaging a chapter a day but I'll be taking the weekend off.

You see, I happen to have a date with my long-lost-yet-found-3ish-years-ago sister TK and a certain Captain, savvy?

I may get a chapter up today but, if work is anything like it was yesterday, I'll be lucky to get a 15 min. lunch in.

I hope you all enjoy the weekend. Up here in the Northeast we're crossing our fingers and hoping to FINALLY see the sun again.

TGIF!

Your gal Tink

 

[3dizdreamers]

Just so you know, you are my first. First TR and first post to the boards. Enjoying your trip so far. Thanks for helping me with my Disney withdrawal! REALLY want to stay in Animal Kingdom soon!

 

[pooh'smate]

She'd love it. She really would. I think you would too. I had few complaints. The bus service wasn't as bad as I've heard some people complain about, though there is an extra stop to service Kidani, but that's not out of the realm of normal. Look at how many stops the BW/BC/YC/Swolphin buses make...unless I'm kickin' it old school right now and it's not like that anymore.

And on top of that, on the mornings when the bus wait was the worst (read: 10-20min.) there was a Disney Transportation CM there, radioing in how many buses they needed to send to flush out the waiting guests for each park. I have a feeling Disney heard the complaints and made the (excellent) decision to address the issue.

Well we had to wait that long at Pop for a bus a few times so I wouldn't say that was bad. I think that since we are planning on going during the F&WF I think it would just be easier to rent points at Jambo too.

 

[pooh'smate]

I forgot to add....

Have a magical weekend


(For some reason it wouldn't let me edit my above post )

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Just so you know, you are my first. First TR and first post to the boards.

Hey now! Your FIRST DIS post was to my TR?! I will take that as an honor.

Also? I think you're my second or so DIS peep from Indiana. IN representin' on Tink's TR! LOL I'll be near-ish Indiana in mid-June. I'm flying to our Dayton office for a retreat. I hear Indianapolis (and those darn Colts) aren't all that far away...

(Sorry about the Colts comment. I hope it doesn't drive you away. I'm a die-hard Pats fan. To me Peyton Manning is like, Satan.)

(Except his commercials with Justin Timberlake. Those are pretty funny.)

I forgot to add....

Have a magical weekend

 

[ZZUB]

It was flippin' NOMTACULAR!

Huh? I have no clue what this word means. So now I'm numb.

I considered calling Disney Lost & Found, then again, it's not like these were lost ponchos or something.

What's that supposed to be? Humor?! If so, it's nomtacular. Whatever the heck that is.

I'm ok with you being nonplused by the zebra domes. That was more or less our reaction to Le Cellier. Zebra domes are good, but Ohana Bread Pudding it aint.

Count me as one of the people who don't get the Dole Whip fanaticism. They're good, but I wouldn't drive to Chappaquidick to get one.

 

[heartse]

We used to have a Dole Whip place in 10 min from us... but unfortunately they were in a bad location and went out of business. It was HEAVEN having a little bit of Disney so close!!

 

[3dizdreamers]

Hey now! Your FIRST DIS post was to my TR?! I will take that as an honor.

Also? I think you're my second or so DIS peep from Indiana. IN representin' on Tink's TR! LOL I'll be near-ish Indiana in mid-June. I'm flying to our Dayton office for a retreat. I hear Indianapolis (and those darn Colts) aren't all that far away...

(Sorry about the Colts comment. I hope it doesn't drive you away. I'm a die-hard Pats fan. To me Peyton Manning is like, Satan.)

(Except his commercials with Justin Timberlake. Those are pretty funny.)


Being that this is a Disney Vacation thread, let's agree to disagree about our respective football teams. (Peyton can't be the devil because your coach is) Sorry, couldn't help it! Still love hearing about your trip!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Huh? I have no clue what this word means. So now I'm numb.

Hmmm...how to describe nomtacular (a derivative of NOM) in such a way that would make the most sense...

Ginger cake from Japan = BLECH.
Zebra Domes = MEH.
Unfrosted strawberry Pop Tarts )or, if they're your fancy, the frosted cherry ones) = YUM.
Butter Grilled Pound Cake (R.I.P.) = NOM!

That was more or less our reaction to Le Cellier. Zebra domes are good, but Ohana Bread Pudding it aint.

I like Le Cellier a lot. Not enough to use 2 dining credits there for dinner but this girl has a slight obsession with the Cheddar Cheese soup.

Count me as one of the people who don't get the Dole Whip fanaticism.

See I LOVE me some Dole Whip Float goodness. The regular Dole Whip is good but the float is that much better.

They're good, but I wouldn't drive to Chappaquidick to get one.

What are you doing driving to Chappaquidick? Isn't that a bit of a drive for you? It's a bit of a drive for me and I'm on the right coast for it. And Lord forbid you take a wrong turn...

We used to have a Dole Whip place in 10 min from us... but unfortunately they were in a bad location and went out of business. It was HEAVEN having a little bit of Disney so close!!

I'd really like a Dole Whip machine installed in my kitchen.

Being that this is a Disney Vacation thread, let's agree to disagree about our respective football teams. (Peyton can't be the devil because your coach is) Sorry, couldn't help it! Still love hearing about your trip!

LOL It's a deal. I hold no ill will based on your choice of football team.

 

[creativeamanda]

Okay, Tink, I made it. And you are welcome to use the picture I took of you last week.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates. Work was REALLY crazy and I just finished up a week of travel for our department retreat. Things should be winding down a bit so I'll continue on our travels this week. Thanks for your patience!!! Have a great Sunday and Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads out there!

 

[TarzansKat]

Yay! More patented Tink updates coming soon!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Isn't it funny how we think we're in control of what goes on in our lives? Here I was, posting that you'd all have an update shortly and BAM! Not so. It's almost as if I wanted to be sure NOT to post, I just have to post that I will.

Hmm. I wonder if it works the opposite way also...and for other things in life.

I'm SO not going to win Powerball.

I wish I could say I've been crazy busy with lovely things. Unfortunately, I've been sidetracked by loss and sadness (and a fair bit of unexpected carp at work). A good high school friend very tragically left us far too soon on his 34th birthday. I hope he has found peace (R.I.P. Louis). My very good friend Missy, who accompanied me on my 2008 trip, has been dealing with her father battling bladder cancer over the past year or so. He recently finished a 4 week bout of horrific radiation, only to be admitted back into the hospital with severe pain and to find the cancer has spread to his bones. We're waiting to find out if it has made it's way to his brain. It seems like over night his time left has gone from a few years to only a few months (or weeks, if it is in his brain).

I kept thinking about this TR, though. Being behind. Wanting to catch up. Particularly this next chapter. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to write. Then I started to think about it. Missy is heartbroken. She's desperate for more time with her dad. I would give anything in the world (and the World) to give it to her. All I can do is give advice - to make the most of every second she has with him - whether it's a year or just a few weeks.

And I realized that that advice brings us to this point in our TR. This point in my story of all the lovely seconds I was graced with on this trip. This point, which is the whole reason I was participating in the 5K.

A year earlier, and far, far too young, my sweet Kitty Kat lost her mom quite suddenly and quite unexpectedly. My heart was about ripped out of my chest for her. For weeks, every time I saw my own mom I couldn't help but think of how I would feel if she was gone. And it hurt. I hurt for Kat and her family. I hurt for the loved ones I've lost. I hurt for all of my friends and family who had to say good-bye to people they kept so close in they're hearts. Soon, my thoughts turned to how I could honor all of those people, but most especially, Kat's mom. It dawned on me that it was quite simple, really. I could honor her by LIVING.

And what better way to show you're ALIVE than by pounding the pavement, sweat dripping down your face, breath coming fast but steady, heart pounding from the exertion but strong, every muscle ticked off at you for putting on all that extra weight but willing to support you through to the end. What better way than to be THAT ALIVE in Kat's mom's happy place - Disney World.

At first I was planning on doing the Princess 1/2 Marathon. I'm a bit of an overachiever and I quickly came to realize that was unrealistic. Instead I smartened up and started training for the Royal Family 5K instead. I was doing well - until a knee injury sidetracked me for a bit. Then winter slowed my training down (I hate the treadmill). But February creeped up and I told myself I could do it. I could finish!

Cut to about 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 26th, 2011. My eyes opened to my alarm and all I could think was, "Oh my sweet Lord, can I finish?"

Maria had returned to the room sometime after I'd gone to bed. I'm a pretty deep sleeper and so she hadn't woken me at all. I'd promised to wake her by 5 a.m., so we could be on the bus for 5:30 a.m. but I figured she could use a little extra shut-eye, so I tip-toed around the room, getting ready. I felt like a Chocolate Frog had taken up residence in my belly (I STILL can't believe the HP movies are done! )

Just before 5 a.m. I woke up Maria and she got ready as well. I'd gotten a yogurt from the Mara the night before and had some of that just to put something in my belly. I think Maria may have had a nanner. We got our stuff together and headed out for the bus to the start of the race. Although many of the activities were taking place at Disney's Wide World of Sports, the actual 5K was being held in Epcot. It began in one parking lot, ran around the World Showcase, through future world, and then back out into another parking lot. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a good pic online of the course but I'll try to describe it in detail as I talk about my race experience.

I really couldn't say enough about the wonderful people running the race transportation...until the bus driver that morning tried to kill us. Oh MY. This driver was determined to get us to the race and to get their FIRST. I'm not sure if it was his way of trying to amp us up for the event but let me tell you, he surely succeeded in getting our adrenaline going! I've never experienced a vehicle of that size moving that quickly and closely (and stopping so short) through traffic as I experienced that morning. And I hope I never will again. That driver was taking that traffic personally! I swear there was a collective sigh of relief when we arrived at the drop-off spot.

The sun hadn't risen yet and the horizon was turning from a pretty deep plum to lavender as we stepped off the bus. I checked my bag at the bag check and we headed for the start of the races. They had all sorts of activities going on - people taking pictures (not PhotoPass photogs but from another company - they were also spread about throughout the course taking 'action' shots), live entertainment and, as we would soon find out, some pretty funny people to lead us through some stretches. There were tons of people wearing team shirts, or decorated shirts (we had our Peggy's Princesses tie dye shirts on, made by the lovely Kitty Kat - pics to come later), and some were decked out in costume. At some point in the race, I was passed by an Asian man in his thirties dressed like Snow White, wig and all. It was great. Maria and I spent some time together, but soon, as it neared 7 a.m. and the sky was turning rosy, we parted ways. Maria was going to run the 5 K and I would be walking it (or so I thought). People are grouped into 'corrals' or 'chutes' based on what they think they're pace will be. I was at the back in the corral for the 15-16min./mile, also known as 'everyone else'. I think Maria was up with the 12min/mi. group.

The emcee and some Disney characters led us all in some more last minute stretches. That Chocolate Frog in my belly was now flipping out, pun intended. Great Disney music was blaring. I was breaking out in a sweat and we hadn't even started the race yet. Belle and Beast showed up, ready to send us on our way.

Ten...

I can do this!

Nine...

Can't I?

Eight...

Yes! I can! For Kat's Mom!

Seven...

I hope I don't have to pee five minutes in.

Six...

OMG.

Five...

Holy crap.

Four...

Will I finish?

Three...

Please don't let me fall so far behind they have to pick me up.

Two...

GULP.

One!

And we were off!

UP NEXT: Mile 1 or Wait a minute, am I RUNNING?!

 

[LegoMom3]

That bus driver was weaving in and out of lanes of traffic in that full-size bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude. I briefly considered extending my 5k and just running back to AKL.

.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

That bus driver was weaving in and out of lanes of traffic in that full-size bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude. I briefly considered extending my 5k and just running back to AKL.

.

I do think we wondered aloud if we would be reimbursed our registration fee if we couldn't participate due to untimely demise by bus.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I caught up on your TR while you were away and I'm so happy to see a new chapter.

I really really really REALLY want to do the Princess 5K but with my January trip I don't think I can swing it. BUT I know I will get there someday.

So all I have to do to get a savannah view is complain about noise!?

Kidding! Kidding!

Mostly.