Turn Around and See What Happens -- It's Whoopi Time and that's a wrap 3/31; F&G add

[Tiggerrn2]

Enjoyed the report.
CP looked lovely. I have listened to it on YouTube before and it sounds wonderful. Maybe someday.
Sad to see it come to an end. Especially since I've finished mine as well. All my favorites are winding down. You all need to make some more trips!!
Wishing I could be planning one as well. DD took all my Dis money to go to a summer intensive for ballet. Nothing left for me. There's always next year!

 

[Poolrat]

It was the perfect weather for a nice walk. I don't recall if I had a drink at this point or not?

Cup in your hand??? figured you got a drink to stroll with. Not a slush cup but maybe a wine?

Hmmm...would that have been with your son?

Nope - it was a family dinner and a birthday one at that. The EXDH had a B-day and I just got the diver and the menu, back when they did that.
Let's just say the response was not positive. Last time I did that for him.



CP is still on my list. I think I need to do it before Christmas and I would be happy standing but I can be talked into the the dinner package.

Last days are always sad. Glad you enjoyed the CP and wrapped everything else to come home. It stinks that it was so cold at home.

 

[emmysmommy]

What a great last evening at WDW Kathy! We saw Whoopi with the CP package and it was our first experience for that so I was glad that we saw the version with her as the narrator.

You know me.... I have the photo of us that last morning. (I'd just rolled out of bed so I'm glad this isn't too much of a close up!) I'm so glad that I was able to get a few minutes and a squeeze from you two!

I love your Christmasy sweatshirt.

Sorry breakfast was awful at Captain's Grille. Our first breakfast there was terrible so it took me several trips to return.

I'm glad I could follow along with this TR... can't wait for the next!

 

[caitlinnf]

What a great last evening! The candlelight processional is something that I would love to see. I think Whoopi should don a choir robe a la Sister Act

I loved following along with your report!

 

[MEK]

I'm always sorry to see one of your Trs come to an end, but I know there is always another one right around the corner. Yay!

I heard Whoopi is an amazing narrator. Ugh to the poor people having to come off the stage. I did see a couple come off myself the one time I did the package and sat through the whole thing. I wonder what the signal is they give because the escorts just seem to know.

Sorry Mark wasn't up to Illuminations but I like the perspective on your pictures from the Boardwalk. Very nice!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Just like when you are on a trip, the end of a TR seems to sneak up on us. I'm so glad you got to do a December trip with Mary and the girls! CP looks so special - I really want to see it sometime, but I agree - when you have tickets, it shouldn't be so hard to get in and get seated. I didn't know you could see so much illuminations from BWV. Still don't want to brave the scarey clown, though.
I'm sorry Mark was feeling so sick. Not a good way to be on vacation. I will be praying for his surgery to go well. I'm sure he will feel much better when it is over.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Another fantastic trip!!! Even if Mark wasn't feeling better you guys still had the magic.

Let's get on with the PTR!!!

 

[goofy4prez]

Kathy, all good things must come to an end and unfortunately you have now completed this TR. I have enjoyed following it and was thrilled to actually be a part of this TR with meeting you and Mark in December. I hope you do another TR for your upcoming June trip and also hoping we will be able to have our paths cross once again and be in your report with our trip in June.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Candlelight Processional, we were completely blown away by it when we went and were fortunate enough to see Gary Sinese narrate it; he was fantastic. I hear Whoopie is pretty good as well.

I also know how much of a shock it is to leave warm sunny Florida and arrive in the frigide temps of our part of the country. When we left WDW it was in the low 80's and when we arrived in Cleveland it was around 20 degrees and the next day we were hammered with a big snowstorm and even colder temps that seem to have lasted up until yesterday.

Again, loved the TR and looking forward to your next one.

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

Awwww, that sounds like a wonderful note to end the trip on!

Glad you had a good time at the wedding, cute pics!!!

I may have just missed it along the way, but is Mark having his gallbladder removed? If so, good luck with that.....he should feel a lot better afterwards!

 

[KatMark]

It does kind of stink that you're paying a premium to be seated for the show, yet still have to waste time by waiting in line and battling a sea of humanity to get to your seat.

It was just crazy; everyone was complaining.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I really think we're leaning towards doing a CP dining package... at Garden Grill, of course.

Of course you are, Mr. Smartiepants!

:: WOW!!! That isn't good at all!

I really felt bad for them.

Good idea, Mark!

It worked out perfectly.

I hate that part...

Stinks, doesn't it?

I'm glad that you had a great trip, and were able to enjoy your last evening despite Mark not feeling so great. I think CP is a fitting end to your trip!

Thanks, Andy.

Great end to a great trip! I have read all along just didn't always post. But when you start your ptr I'll read that too. Now that I have met you and Mark, of course I have to read.

Thank you, Judy. No worries...I know how hard it is to post everywhere. I'm glad you read along, and we were delighted to meet you.

I'm definitely going to hit up the Candelight Processional this year, fingers crossed that it is Gary Sinese because I love him. That is so scary that the performers were dropping because of the heat!

I hope you do; we really enjoyed it. I understand that Neil Patrick Harris is very good too.

Beautiful pictures of Illuminations, that looks like a great spot to watch if you want to beat the crowds. Granted you can't see the globe but even when I'm close I still can't see what's happening on those tiny screens. I usually get bored during the globe part which is probably why I rarely stay to watch Illuminations.

I'm not an Illuminations fan in general so I enjoyed just seeing what we could of the fireworks; I get bored with the globe and the crowds and why we never stay for it anymore.

I can't believe the report is over all ready! At least you are going back again soon so we can get a new report.

Yep...very soon; I'll be doing a PTR for that and I'll probably post a little "mini" TR within this one of just pictures from our trip to Flower & Garden last month.

What a perfect last evening together at Disney...enjoying a viewing of Illuminations, just the two of you. That indeed sounds Heavenly!!!

It was the perfect way to end the evening and our trip.

What a great way to end a trip to Disney....the Candlelight Processional! I do think that Disney needs to figure out a better way of getting guests into the theater when it's a bought and paid for event. You aren't the first person that I've heard complain about the long line to get in. But, you are the first that I've read about people almost passing out from the heat. That's crazy!

I've read a lot of complaints too about how they let people in, etc. It was a really warm and humid night that night and with all of the lights on the stage, I'm really not surprised.

How nice it must have been to sit down and watch Illuminations from a not-so-crazy location.

It was wonderful.

I agree!! Ours was that long too. Like you we ended up with ok seats but on my word! And the regular line...wow. Double insanity

It's crazy; they really need to reevaluate how they handle this.

that is NOT good. We didn't see anything like that but we were at the last show and it wasn't that warm of a night.

And we had a really warm and humid night; I felt bad for all of those people (one girl was in tears).

What a lovely way to end the trip!!!

Cynthia, it truly was perfect (and just another reason that the Boardwalk is moving up to the top of my list).

Except for the bad breakfast, so sorry to read that!!!!

Yes, breakfast was a huge disappointment.

Some day I NEED to do the Candlelight Processional! It looks like such an amazing show. Whoopi would be cool to see!

I hope you do. Mark definitely wants to do this again on a future holiday trip.

Yikes! Wow, that's unsettling indeed!

I felt so bad for the older people and the younger people. They all walked in with such joy in their faces and a hop in their step and then this happened.

What a great ending to your trip, IllumiNations from the quiet boardwalk sounds so wonderful.

Thanks; it turned out to be the perfect ending for us.

 

[WDisneyMom]

Thank you, my friend. Just trying to take it one day at a time.

CP looks and sounds amazing from all of the pictures I have seen and all I have read in TR's. Thank you for another wonderful report!

 

[that's nice]

We arrived to check in for our ADR. We were dining here:

I never had the desire to eat here.

We got our pager and waited for it to go off so that we could be seated. While we were waiting, Mark and I both looked at each other and prayed that we would NOT be seated by the family of seven that was waiting in the lobby with us. Grandma and Grandpa were arguing, the kids were hitting each other, bouncing off the walls and the parents were oblivious to it all because they were both on their phones.

Oh boy… you are in for a treat in September!

They were called in first and we were called in shortly after. I looked as we were led to our table to see if I could see them. I saw them on the far, opposite end of the restaurant and we were brought to our table. We had a table for two right next to the acquarium. SCORE!

Did you book our CP meal at separate tables?

Now, let me tell you about our waitress. She was awful! Let me explain. She has been a waitress at Disney for years (I want to say she said 12 or 13 years) at Cap Jack's at DTD.

You know you've been to Disney a lot when you recognize the waitress and know she's worked there for 12 years.

You want to see more fish? I will tell you now, I did NOT order fish off the menu...a little tough with them swimming right by me.

Fish are friends!

I had the Grilled New York Strip Steak

Looks kinda thin to me.

When we FINALLY got our bill and settled it, Mark wanted to go see Nemo one more time. So off we went:

I hope everyone has a great weekend. We are going to a wedding tomorrow (Andy's best friend is getting married...they've been best friends since we moved to our home 21 years ago) and Sunday Mark is umpping his first two games of the season and then I want him to hang the rest of our pictures back up from when we took them down for the painting of the house and I'm getting a massage on Sunday with Edward.

You go to more weddings than anyone I know.

We left Nemo and friends and headed towards America for the show. The line was ALL THE WAY PAST MOROCCO. It was a madhouse. Seriously, Disney needs to "assign" seats when you purchase the package so that you don't have all this congestion on the walkway with people coming and going, people cutting in line, etc. It was just insane. We finally got to the entrance of the theater and it looked as if we would be sitting in one of the very last rows as I feared. But once we entered the theater, a CM directed us to the second row on the right hand side. I'd say we were about half way down the row so we were basically smack in the middle of the row on the right. It wasn't close to get a very good picture of Whoopi, but the seats were good for seeing the chorus, etc.

'Hey everyone, let's stand in line for 4 hours before the show starts.'
'Sounds like a great idea!'

Again, we thoroughly enjoyed the performance and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Glad you enjoyed the show!

Once back at the Boardwalk, we hit the gift shop on the Boardwalk (not the one in the resort) and I purchased a Christmas decoration I had been eyeing the whole week. I got a cup of coffee at the Bakery and it was such a gorgeous night that Mark suggested we sit there and enjoy the nice evening and see if we could see any of Illuminations from there.

More shopping? I'm shocked!

Mark and I met up with Brenda in the lobby; she was very sweet and got Mark a t-shirt I had seen from when she was at DL and got me all of this adorable kitchen stuff. I know we took pictures and I am hoping Brenda still has hers because I cannot find mine.

Sweet! 1 final DISmeet before you left!

Thank you fall for reading along.

Thanks for sharing Kathy!!!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We left Nemo and friends and headed towards America for the show. The line was ALL THE WAY PAST MOROCCO.

Wow, how many years have they been doing this? You'd think there would be a better system by now.

We LOVED the show. It was spectacular. Whoopi was wonderful, the chorus was wonderful, and loved hearing the Christmas story.

Awesome! I'm glad it was worth all of the effort. Sounds like another addition to the must-do list.

I got a cup of coffee at the Bakery and it was such a gorgeous night that Mark suggested we sit there and enjoy the nice evening and see if we could see any of Illuminations from there.

I like the way he thinks.

Mark and I met up with Brenda in the lobby; she was very sweet and got Mark a t-shirt I had seen from when she was at DL and got me all of this adorable kitchen stuff.

Another cool meet in the books.

It was a great trip and I'm so glad that we have now been able to do two Christmas trips with special friends. It doesn't get any better than that.

Thank you fall for reading along.

Thanks for another great TR!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I love the Candlelight Processional! We have only been at WDW once while it was going on and just caught some of it standing behind the theater seating. I bought the CD that has Philicia Rashad narrating and it is fabulous - I listen a lot around Christmas.

What a great evening for you guys - too bad you had to go home to more winter yuckiness. I bet it's still going on where you are! It snowed this morning here and it's windy and 20 degrees! No Foolin! Ish.

Looking forward to hearing about more of your trips - thank you for sharing it all with us!!

 

[Woth2982]

What a nice end to you TR. The CP is so pretty. I really enjoyed it when I went back in 08.....has it really been that long? I am stunned they don't have fans for the performers. Poor kids in those robes must be dying. I hope the people escorted out were OK.

Such a nice view from the Boardwalk. So nice to sit out and enjoy the night with some fireworks off in the distance.

Sorry your last meal stunk. I think I had CG for breakfast once and it was decent. I did not get the buffet foods so maybe that is why? Although when dinner is great and Breakfast stinks it is a huge let down!

I hear you on wanting to be back in the 80 degree weather! When I was heading home from Princess weekend I said I wasn't going. My friend's mom said she would write me a note to get me out of work. Not sure the boss man would have gone for that!

 

[KatMark]

Fun to see what you did after we left. Enjoyed the peace and quiet I bet Girls and I are very excited to see you soon!!

It was a nice evening with the CP and then sitting on the Boardwalk; but we were missing you girls too. I can't believe our trip is coming up so quickly, and very excited to spend time with all of you again.

What a GREAT Epcot night -- CP and the fireworks.

Thanks; we really enjoyed it.

Sorry to hear about all the problems with heat among the performers - that's crazy!

It really was crazy how many went down.

Aren't the Epcot Christmas fireworks amazing! You got awesome seats and an awesome narrator at the Candlelight Processional as well.

The fireworks were very nice; we really liked Whoopi.

Great trip report

Thank you.

We loved seeing Gary read.during our CP night!

Perhaps if there is another chance that we can go at that time, we will try for Gary Sinese.

Too bad dome of the singers had issues with the heat, scary !
Illuminations area was just an area no actual seats other than the ground was a good view though and faster getting out of the park afterwards.
Sorry you didn't have a good breakfast, great you were able to meet up with Brenda though !

Well, then I'm glad we didn't stick around for the "special area." I am delighted that we got to see Brenda...she is such a sweetie.

What a great way to end your trip. Well except Mark not feeling good. He does seem to have good ideas. Glad you were able to enjoy some coffee and a little of Illuminations. Sad this trip is over. but can't wait for your ptr.

Thank you; it was a great end and Mark made a wonderful suggestion. I'm glad you were here for it and I'll be sure to link the PTR when I start it.

Enjoyed the report. Thanks Linda.

CP looked lovely. I have listened to it on YouTube before and it sounds wonderful. Maybe someday. It truly was beautiful.

Sad to see it come to an end. Especially since I've finished mine as well. All my favorites are winding down. You all need to make some more trips!!
Wishing I could be planning one as well. DD took all my Dis money to go to a summer intensive for ballet. Nothing left for me. There's always next year!

Well, I do have a trip in 58 days and will be starting a PTR in the next week for that. And I still have to add our two days in March here...but it will just be some "favorite" pictures.

 

[KatMark]

Cup in your hand??? figured you got a drink to stroll with. Not a slush cup but maybe a wine?

You have good eyes; I made the picture bigger and I'm pretty sure it was a slush cup...I was just holding it oddly (I remember needing napkins because it was dripping.

Nope - it was a family dinner and a birthday one at that. The EXDH had a B-day and I just got the diver and the menu, back when they did that.
Let's just say the response was not positive. Last time I did that for him.

Now I understand.

CP is still on my list. I think I need to do it before Christmas and I would be happy standing but I can be talked into the the dinner package.

I would love to do it again, but hope Disney would come up with some better way for the seating.

Last days are always sad. Glad you enjoyed the CP and wrapped everything else to come home. It stinks that it was so cold at home.

It was bitter cold and then we got hit with snow.

What a great last evening at WDW Kathy! We saw Whoopi with the CP package and it was our first experience for that so I was glad that we saw the version with her as the narrator.

Wasn't she terrific? I just love her; I'm glad you got to see her too.

You know me.... I have the photo of us that last morning. (I'd just rolled out of bed so I'm glad this isn't too much of a close up!) I'm so glad that I was able to get a few minutes and a squeeze from you two!

I knew I could count on you! Thank you for posting it. We were happy that we could give you a squeeze too! I'm sorry we missed Em though.

I love your Christmasy sweatshirt.

Thanks; I got that while we were at Disney...I love it.

Sorry breakfast was awful at Captain's Grille. Our first breakfast there was terrible so it took me several trips to return.

I'm not sure we will return any time soon since we have so many breakfast places we do love, including WCC thanks to you.

I'm glad I could follow along with this TR... can't wait for the next!

I'm glad you were here.

What a great last evening! The candlelight processional is something that I would love to see. I think Whoopi should don a choir robe a la Sister Act

Thank you. I half expected Whoopi to come out in a choir robe.

I loved following along with your report!

Thank you fo rbeing here...I truly appreciate it.

I'm always sorry to see one of your Trs come to an end, but I know there is always another one right around the corner. Yay!

Thanks for being here for yet another one, MaryEllen.

I heard Whoopi is an amazing narrator. Ugh to the poor people having to come off the stage. I did see a couple come off myself the one time I did the package and sat through the whole thing. I wonder what the signal is they give because the escorts just seem to know.

She really was...she really got into it. I wonder what the signal is as well?

Sorry Mark wasn't up to Illuminations but I like the perspective on your pictures from the Boardwalk. Very nice!

It turned out really well going to the Boardwalk and watching the high fireworks from there.

Just like when you are on a trip, the end of a TR seems to sneak up on us. I'm so glad you got to do a December trip with Mary and the girls! CP looks so special - I really want to see it sometime, but I agree - when you have tickets, it shouldn't be so hard to get in and get seated. I didn't know you could see so much illuminations from BWV. Still don't want to brave the scarey clown, though.

It truly does, doesn't it? It was an extra special trip doing it with very special friends. It defiitely should not be that hard to get in and get seats. I am wondering how it will go in September when we have some down time and we are at the Boardwalk? I'm thinking that quiet pool will be calling my name.

I'm sorry Mark was feeling so sick. Not a good way to be on vacation. I will be praying for his surgery to go well. I'm sure he will feel much better when it is over.

Thank you; I will post an update on FB after the surgery.

Another fantastic trip!!! Even if Mark wasn't feeling better you guys still had the magic.

Mark is such a trooper!

Let's get on with the PTR!!!

Maybe the end of the week or early next week. I still want to post our F&G photos here from last month.

 

[KatMark]

Kathy, all good things must come to an end and unfortunately you have now completed this TR. I have enjoyed following it and was thrilled to actually be a part of this TR with meeting you and Mark in December. I hope you do another TR for your upcoming June trip and also hoping we will be able to have our paths cross once again and be in your report with our trip in June.

Bob, we were thrilled that you were a part of it. I will be doing a PTR and I'm sure a TR for May/June and we are hoping to see you on this next trip.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Candlelight Processional, we were completely blown away by it when we went and were fortunate enough to see Gary Sinese narrate it; he was fantastic. I hear Whoopie is pretty good as well.

It truly was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad we did it.

I also know how much of a shock it is to leave warm sunny Florida and arrive in the frigide temps of our part of the country. When we left WDW it was in the low 80's and when we arrived in Cleveland it was around 20 degrees and the next day we were hammered with a big snowstorm and even colder temps that seem to have lasted up until yesterday.

It stunk that's for sure. We had 67 yesterday, but back to only 50 today and then 40's for the next days. I would be happy with 60 for awhile!

Again, loved the TR and looking forward to your next one.

Thanks for being here, as always, Bob.

Awwww, that sounds like a wonderful note to end the trip on!

It truly was.

Glad you had a good time at the wedding, cute pics!!!

Thanks; it was a fun wedding and we lots of old friends.

I may have just missed it along the way, but is Mark having his gallbladder removed? If so, good luck with that.....he should feel a lot better afterwards!

Yes, he had been having stomach pains off and on since late November. When we went for his physical they sent him for a scan and discovered gallstones. He'll have his gallbladder removed April 17. He's been feeling good on the meds, but I know he wants to get off those.

Thank you, my friend. Just trying to take it one day at a time.

It's all you can do, my dear friend.

CP looks and sounds amazing from all of the pictures I have seen and all I have read in TR's. Thank you for another wonderful report!

It truly was; I'm so glad we splurged on it. Thanks for being here, Starr.

I never had the desire to eat here.

We've enjoyed our meals here, if not the service.



Oh boy… you are in for a treat in September!

I find it HIGHLY unlikely that your children are anything like these kids or parents were. And I know for a fact that Mel would be keeping an eye on them and not chatting on her phone.

Did you book our CP meal at separate tables?

No, I did not. Actually, I figured I'd sit next to Ana and Mark could sit next to Christopher and that way he and Christopher could make funny faces at the rest of us and perhaps throw food around the table.

You know you've been to Disney a lot when you recognize the waitress and know she's worked there for 12 years.

I didn't recognize her, she told us silly!

Fish are friends!

That is hysterical!

Looks kinda thin to me.

It does, doesn't it? But it was really very good.

Mark LOVES that picture.

You go to more weddings than anyone I know.

I don't think so. Last year we got hit with 5 of them after not having gone for 15 years or something. This year, we had the one this past weekend and we have one in November. I'm hoping no more after that for awhile.

'Hey everyone, let's stand in line for 4 hours before the show starts.'
'Sounds like a great idea!'


They really need to assign seats on a first reservation basis (just like you would for a concert!).

Glad you enjoyed the show!

We really did and hope to do it again in the future.

More shopping? I'm shocked!

Hey, I hardly bought anything this trip.

Sweet! 1 final DISmeet before you left!

You can never have enough DISmeets.

Thanks for sharing Kathy!!!!

Thank you for being here when you could, Tim.

 

[natebenma]

Great report from a very special trip! Fantastic resort, time with good friends, meet-ups with special people and some memorable activities like the CP. So sorry Mark was feeling poorly by the end.

Hooray for the countdown to your next adventure!

 

[KatMark]

Wow, how many years have they been doing this? You'd think there would be a better system by now.

Seriously, they need to do something. Despite the crowds, add in the dark and people bumping into people, etc.

Awesome! I'm glad it was worth all of the effort. Sounds like another addition to the must-do list.

Definitely should be added to your bucket list.

I like the way he thinks.

He's the brains, I'm the beauty of this relationship.

Another cool meet in the books.

Yes it was; we had several this trip.

Thanks for another great TR!

Thanks for reading along, Mark.

I love the Candlelight Processional! We have only been at WDW once while it was going on and just caught some of it standing behind the theater seating. I bought the CD that has Philicia Rashad narrating and it is fabulous - I listen a lot around Christmas.

I didn't know they sold CD's. Did you get it at Disney?

What a great evening for you guys - too bad you had to go home to more winter yuckiness. I bet it's still going on where you are! It snowed this morning here and it's windy and 20 degrees! No Foolin! Ish.

You got more snow? We've not had that, thankfully, but we are going to get cold again after a beautiful day yesterday.

Looking forward to hearing about more of your trips - thank you for sharing it all with us!!

Thanks for being here, Sheree.

What a nice end to you TR. The CP is so pretty. I really enjoyed it when I went back in 08.....has it really been that long? I am stunned they don't have fans for the performers. Poor kids in those robes must be dying. I hope the people escorted out were OK.

Thank you; it really is pretty. Since 2008? I think it is time for you to go again. I am assuming it was just heat exhaustion (and they might have been in the parks earlier and it was a blaring sun that day).

Such a nice view from the Boardwalk. So nice to sit out and enjoy the night with some fireworks off in the distance.

It was lovely with the light breeze from the water and the peacefulness around us.

Sorry your last meal stunk. I think I had CG for breakfast once and it was decent. I did not get the buffet foods so maybe that is why? Although when dinner is great and Breakfast stinks it is a huge let down!

And we ordered off the menu. Perhaps it was an off day?

I hear you on wanting to be back in the 80 degree weather! When I was heading home from Princess weekend I said I wasn't going. My friend's mom said she would write me a note to get me out of work. Not sure the boss man would have gone for that!

Probably not very well; mine wasn't amused when I told him that I almost didn't come back in March. Thank you for eading along.