Turning 30 with the Mouse - 05/12/09 update

[studentmom]

Great trip report, Dolce! The Illuminations cruise sounds awesome!

 

[wonderlanne]

Hey, Wonder! I didn't know you were around.

.... that's not a hint there, now is it....

Well, sit back. Get comfortable, find a drink I'm having red wine tonight, but anything will do.

wouldn't miss it for the world!

 

[MainStMandy]

I'm back... work has been nuts. I love reading your report but I have one question.


YOU DIDN'T EAT THIS???

I would have figure out how to take him home!!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Quote "Disclaimer: I can at any time make additional disclaimers in regards to anything pertaining to this trip report including, but not limited to, the next update."

Good luck using that one. I think there is a statute of limitations which may expire before the next update is released!

 

[Dolce27]

Great trip report, Dolce! The Illuminations cruise sounds awesome!

Thanks! The Illuminations cruise was awesome! It's a bit pricey, but I highly recommend.

wouldn't miss it for the world!

Good. Now, here's a few more as it may not be until next Friday or Saturday before I can update again.

I'm back... work has been nuts. I love reading your report but I have one question.


YOU DIDN'T EAT THIS???

I would have figure out how to take him home!!

I know, I know! I was so upset when I had to toss him. Believe me - no room in that suitcase. Like I said, I had to pay the extra 50 bucks to get that suitcase home. It was jammed packed. The next time I go, I'm ordering one of them again but this time I'll eat it!

Quote "Disclaimer: I can at any time make additional disclaimers in regards to anything pertaining to this trip report including, but not limited to, the next update."

Good luck using that one. I think there is a statute of limitations which may expire before the next update is released!

Yeah, you're probably right....

 

[debbieandroo]

about that poor half of a cake....not to mention white chocolate Mickey....

other than those sad events, your update is once again excellent. I'm sorry you didn't get to see EPIC again - that was the one show I did see at DHS. Am definitely checking out the Muppets when I go down again.

and your pictures of IllumiNations - kazowie....those are fabulous. And you did this without a flash and a 2 second delay?

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Wanted to post again last night but was having some communication problems to the disboards. As usual, the update was a croud pleaser and as much as I'm enjoying them, I am also dreading the end. Keep up the good work! When's the next trip?

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I love your long updates Dulce! Beautiful firework photos. Ya know, I don't think I have ever met anyone in real life who has an actual nanny. Does she get to go on all of their vacations with them? How cool!

 

[disneydad861]

This Has to be the best trip report I have seen. You are extremely funny and you know how to make the readers feel like they are there. I just found your Trip Report And I read the whole thing in one sitting. Thanks for sharing and those are some real good pics to.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Just bored at work

 

[heaven2dc]

Great update! Belated Happy Birthday!!

That was an awesome treat for your Aunt I had to laugh outloud while reading this at work about your Grandma & Mom holding onto her wig - I would have loved to see the expression on your faces when the driver sped up I loved Illuminations at Christmas time - we saw it from our BWV room each night and couldn't get enough of it.

The Yacht Club lobby is beautiful! Your pics are fantastic - esp of Illuminations. Great job

 

[Dolce27]

Wanted to post again last night but was having some communication problems to the disboards. As usual, the update was a croud pleaser and as much as I'm enjoying them, I am also dreading the end. Keep up the good work! When's the next trip?

None planned at this time.

I love your long updates Dulce! Beautiful firework photos. Ya know, I don't think I have ever met anyone in real life who has an actual nanny. Does she get to go on all of their vacations with them? How cool!

Thank you! Yeah, I think that Mary goes; my aunt and uncle usually prefer to have someone go with them to help out.

This Has to be the best trip report I have seen. You are extremely funny and you know how to make the readers feel like they are there. I just found your Trip Report And I read the whole thing in one sitting. Thanks for sharing and those are some real good pics to.

Thank you. I appreciate the compliment.

Great update! Belated Happy Birthday!!

That was an awesome treat for your Aunt I had to laugh outloud while reading this at work about your Grandma & Mom holding onto her wig - I would have loved to see the expression on your faces when the driver sped up I loved Illuminations at Christmas time - we saw it from our BWV room each night and couldn't get enough of it.

The Yacht Club lobby is beautiful! Your pics are fantastic - esp of Illuminations. Great job

Thanks! Honestly? I keep forgetting that I've now hit 30. I feel so old.

 

[Jazzylolo]

I found you TR though MainStMandy's PTR. My DH and I are going to WDW with Amanda and her DBF ...so I guess it is a little of my PTR too

I have been reading your TR for the past few days (it has taken me a while to get through them all) and it is so much fun to read. I have decided we would be good friends! I too...LOATHE flying. I completely agree that the more I fly the more I hate it. All I think of is how I am going to plummet to my death at any moment...it's bad. In fact, when we go to WDW my DH and I are driving down. Yes, it saves money but it also saves my sanity!

Also...I NEVER use flash. I hate flash in photos unless used as fill flash for a portrait (sometimes it is needed...sometimes). I own a wedding and portrait photography business so I am very critical of photos...and I LOVE your photos! You get angles that are unexpected. Beautiful. I would enjoy seeing what you can do with a DSLR. I never go on a trip without mine - just can't do it. Can't.

Your TR makes me want to just walk around and explore WDW. I had my first trip last August (I grew up in CA so Disneyland is my home park ) There are so many little hidden things to enjoy.

Can't wait to read the rest of your TR and see the rest of your photos!

 

[Dolce27]

I found you TR though MainStMandy's PTR. My DH and I are going to WDW with Amanda and her DBF ...so I guess it is a little of my PTR too

I have been reading your TR for the past few days (it has taken me a while to get through them all) and it is so much fun to read. I have decided we would be good friends! I too...LOATHE flying. I completely agree that the more I fly the more I hate it. All I think of is how I am going to plummet to my death at any moment...it's bad. In fact, when we go to WDW my DH and I are driving down. Yes, it saves money but it also saves my sanity!

Also...I NEVER use flash. I hate flash in photos unless used as fill flash for a portrait (sometimes it is needed...sometimes). I own a wedding and portrait photography business so I am very critical of photos...and I LOVE your photos! You get angles that are unexpected. Beautiful. I would enjoy seeing what you can do with a DSLR. I never go on a trip without mine - just can't do it. Can't.

Your TR makes me want to just walk around and explore WDW. I had my first trip last August (I grew up in CA so Disneyland is my home park ) There are so many little hidden things to enjoy.

Can't wait to read the rest of your TR and see the rest of your photos!

Welcome to the thread!

Thank you for the compliment about my photos! I'm still very much a 'amateur' with my photography, I need more training and especially with digital. I love to be artistic with photography and I love b&w. I've taken a couple of b&w classes in London (that is some of my London work in my sig) and the US. I wasn't allowed to use flash in my classes so I can't work with flash, I have no experience with it. I really like film b/c I love working in a darkroom.

I'm trying to jump onto the digital bandwagon. Actually, I have shot a wedding. My ex-step-brother's. I did their wedding and then worked with a local professional photographer to have the pictures professionally bound as a wedding gift to them. That was the most nerve racking day in my life! And, again, I wasn't working with flash yet it was the most horrid lighting conditions ever! Interior rooms with no exterior lighting! I had to work with a high ISO, a wide aperture and a slow shutter speed.

It was for this wedding that I purchased a DSLR and I'm grateful that I did. Actually, the pictures turned out pretty well, they were very happy with them. B/c of the slow shutter speed, I had a bit of movement in several of the shots that actually worked artistically. But I do hope to sign up for a more advanced photography class at a local community college soon.

And just to let everyone know - I should update by tomorrow night.

 

[Jazzylolo]

Welcome to the thread!

Thank you for the compliment about my photos! I'm still very much a 'amateur' with my photography, I need more training and especially with digital. I love to be artistic with photography and I love b&w. I've taken a couple of b&w classes in London (that is some of my London work in my sig) and the US. I wasn't allowed to use flash in my classes so I can't work with flash, I have no experience with it. I really like film b/c I love working in a darkroom.

I'm trying to jump onto the digital bandwagon. Actually, I have shot a wedding. My ex-step-brother's. I did their wedding and then worked with a local professional photographer to have the pictures professionally bound as a wedding gift to them. That was the most nerve racking day in my life! And, again, I wasn't working with flash yet it was the most horrid lighting conditions ever! Interior rooms with no exterior lighting! I had to work with a high ISO, a wide aperture and a slow shutter speed.

It was for this wedding that I purchased a DSLR and I'm grateful that I did. Actually, the pictures turned out pretty well, they were very happy with them. B/c of the slow shutter speed, I had a bit of movement in several of the shots that actually worked artistically. But I do hope to sign up for a more advanced photography class at a local community college soon.

And just to let everyone know - I should update by tomorrow night.

Flash is very tricky. I cannot work with on camera flashes, I have to use an external flash. That is the only way to get rid of annoying shadows and you can control how much flash is put out to reduce shininess and glare. Your photos in your sig are gorgeous. I was wondering if you took them
I love film too but it is just not practical. If I had like a million dollars and could have my own darkroom I would work with film more, but alas I don't have that kind of money. I have grown to love digital though and for weddings...boy am I glad I have digital!

Weddings are very stressful sometimes, especially if it is your first one. The ceremony is the worst...if you miss something you miss it. There is nothing you can do about it. I love them though and would do nothing else in life if I could!

Can't wait to read another update!

 

[Dolce27]

Flash is very tricky. I cannot work with on camera flashes, I have to use an external flash. That is the only way to get rid of annoying shadows and you can control how much flash is put out to reduce shininess and glare. Your photos in your sig are gorgeous. I was wondering if you took them
I love film too but it is just not practical. If I had like a million dollars and could have my own darkroom I would work with film more, but alas I don't have that kind of money. I have grown to love digital though and for weddings...boy am I glad I have digital!

Weddings are very stressful sometimes, especially if it is your first one. The ceremony is the worst...if you miss something you miss it. There is nothing you can do about it. I love them though and would do nothing else in life if I could!

Can't wait to read another update!

Weddings: I accidently jerked during "the kiss" shot. I was so mad at myself! There was a slight blur to the image. It was still good enough to use in the album but it wasn't that great of a shot; esp. for being a 'key' shot.

But, yeah, film isn’t practical for the things that you do. As long as I can have darkroom access, it’s fine for what I want to do since I just do it for artistic purposes. But, still, I need to really work on my digital. I recently had to purchase an external flash. I’m hoping to find time next fall to enroll in some classes that will teach me how to work with flash as I need to understand that.

I still plan for an update tonight. I’m currently having computer issues – my laptop and not my desktop (although my desktop is a piece of crap that is being replaced with an iMac by the end of this week. ) So, trying to resolve these issues and then I should begin working on another update for tonight.

 

[Dolce27]

December 30, 2008

It’s my birthday! I’m old. I feel it, I tell you. I feel it!

I decide on a chocolate croissant for breakfast (ok..ok, so maybe I shouldn’t have been that surprised by the extra ten pounds that I brought home with me)

And then off to the International Gateway at EPCOT I go and am in the park just before 7:00. That’s AM to all of you out there that aren’t aware of what the hours that come before 10:00 are. The plan is to meet Mom, Granny and Tamera outside of the Land pavilion.

(Ok… so that’s prettier than the Land Pavilion. I’m posting that instead. It's on the way to the Land Pavilion so it counts - right?)

Plan doesn’t happen.

I find Mom and Granny at the front of the park but Tamera is running a bit late (husband and kids are to blame… or so she says…. )

We find a scooter for my grandmother and head on towards the Land Pavilion to wait for Tamera. She’s not too far behind and once she catches up I leave all where they are and, with everyone’s park passes in hand, rush inside to fight the massive crowds to obtain FP’s for all.

With the coveted FP’s tucked away, (my mother’s complaining that she can’t do Soarin’ – she’s never been on it – as she’ll feel motion sickness. I ignore her and tell her that she ought to try once; I’ve read about many people, who claim to have motion sickness, not have a problem with this attraction) we head over to Spaceship Earth. Tam and I in one seat with Mom and Granny behind us. Our pictures didn’t turn out for the little video thing at the end. I let Tamera pick her “ideal” living since I’d done it a few days before. She lived underwater, I think. I honestly can’t remember now… but I think she picked water.

We detoured through Character Connection. Funny, only my mother and I enjoyed this. Tamera let out a lot of sighs as she waited the lines with us; my grandmother found a prime spot for her scooter and happily people watched for the next twenty or so minutes.

Yeah… didn’t like how the pictures turned out much… not posting those.

My grandmother cracked me up on that scooter; the way she’d pull up to wherever we wanted the picture, her entire body still facing that way and then she’d turn her head with a “I’m ready; hurry up” look.

I once again left my family to grab a FP for Mission Space. I did, proudly, wear my birthday button this day (except for pictures) as it was my actual b-day and I received a nice grin, a Happy Birthday and a free FP for MS from the CM standing by the machines as I approached.

That was sweet. I had a nice grin on my face as I walked over to Ellen’s Universe of Energy to meet-up with the family.

Honestly? I hadn’t done this one since (at least) 2003 – maybe not since 1999. We were walking up to the building when Tamera turned to me and inquired about lunch plans. I didn’t have any. We had dinner reservations for House of Blues that night at Downtown Disney so I figured we’d find counter service, somewhere, to grab for lunch.

Nope, Nope, Nope. No counter service. Not going to happen.

Allllright….. I pull out my cell phone and call Disney Dining to find out what they had available for lunch. Chefs de France work for you, Tamera? I received a huge grin in response: the woman loves French food.

Chefs de France it was.

We enter a pretty deserted waiting area for Universe of Energy. We watched Ellen’s dream version of Jeopardy. We walk into the room and sit down in the large moving trams. We pass by all of the dinosaurs and then move into the room with the large screens.

I begin to watch my mother. Her eyes were closed and I realize that she’s having problems with motion sickness.

*sigh*

I loved Soarin’ and wanted her to experience the attraction but I’m not such a mean daughter to make her suffer through it if she’s really going to be miserable.

Really, I’m not a mean daughter. I promise!

As we exit the Universe of Energy, my mother once again proves that she doesn’t listen to me. (Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? Shouldn’t it be the daughter not listening to the mother??)

My mother was needing something to eat so I tell her to go into the store that we were passing, find something and then meet us outside the Land Pavilion (where we waited for Tamera earlier that morning) and the rest of us would do Soarin’.

“OK.” She says as she veers off towards the store that I directed her to and the rest of us take off for Soarin. We park my grandmother’s scooter outside (couldn’t figure out how to go down to the attraction with a scooter; or if you even could) and begin the trek down to the attraction. This quickly begins to become a nightmare. My grandmother is having serious problems with walking on this day. We have to stop every few feet and let her rest. Tamera is looking very nervous and I’m very concerned. We trek on, reach the FP line and begin the long walk down the queue. Still stopping every few feet. It honestly feels like we’re never going to make it.

We finally reach the end, hand over our FP’s and walk over to load. As this was my grandmother’s first – and I knew it would be her last – trip on Soarin’ I made the request to sit on the first row. I made this request to the first CM at load we encountered, they sent us on up to the next loading area. I made this request to the second CM that we met. They sent us on up to the next loading area. I make the request to the third CM we encountered and he tells us to wait.

My grandmother is not looking to good but she wants to go on. She’s stubborn like that. I can’t fault her because I’m pretty stubborn myself. Tamera is looking upset and nervous and I’m feeling very anxious. There isn’t anywhere in the loading area to sit except on the ground and my grandmother isn’t in any physical condition to do that.

Unbeknownst to me there were two available seats on the first row and one on the second row, just behind, for the group that is about to load. The CM didn’t inform us of this and I was too worried over my grandmother’s status to pay attention. The guy coming up behind us, with his two sons, noticed and asked the CM for the seats. The CM put them on and I was a bit upset.

I wasn’t mad at any particular person (ok, I was a bit irked at the CM for not offering that scenario to us as I would have gladly taken the second row seat) but I became very frustrated with the situation. My grandmother needed to sit down, I was really worried about her and because those seats weren’t offered to us; we had to stand out at load for an entire show before we could line up for the next one.

I let my agitation be known to my family (no one else, just Tam and my grandmother) and Tamera looked at me and said “Don’t be mad at me.” in a wounded voice.

I spent the next five minutes attempting to explain that I wasn’t mad at anyone, least of all her; I was frustrated with the situation. And I was only frustrated with the situation because my grandmother needed to sit down. I don’t have a problem with waiting; esp. if I make a special request like I did; but those seats could have been ours and she and I knew that my grandmother needed to sit down ASAP.

At this point in time we had no idea that my grandmother was suffering from pneumonia. We thought she was only having problems due to her heart condition.

Finally, because you know it takes forever when your in a situation such as this, it's our turn. We load, all on the first row, and my grandmother really enjoyed the attraction. I was really happy; I figured that this would be something she’d loved. I knew my mom would have also so I was disappointed that she couldn’t go on.

Stupid motion sickness.

We leave and walk over to the meeting spot … and my mother is no where to be found.

*sigh*

Figures.

I try to call her cell phone and have problems reaching her at first. She finally picks up.

“Where are you?”

“By the Imagination Pavilion. Where are you?”

“In front of the Land, where I told you to meet us at.”

“No you didn’t. You left me. I didn’t know where you went and you wouldn’t answer your phone.”

(My cell couldn’t pick up reception down in Soarin’)

“No. I told you that we were going on Soarin’ while you grabbed some food and to meet us in front of the Land.”

“No you didn’t. You left me.”

 

[Dolce27]

We meet up with my mom and head off towards the World Showcase. We stopped in Canada and I had to have a cheesy picture of the thing you stick your heads through.

I made Tamera take the top hole; she wasn’t happy about that. She’s at least 4” taller than I am. There was no way I could look though that hole, unless she wanted me to stand on top of her. I’m too short. My mother walked right up to where she wanted to stand and ignored Tam and I as we fought over the bottom hole.

On to the UK. Lunch wasn’t that far away…. but I just had to purchase some Cadbury digestives while at the pavilion. I just had to! (Darn those ten extra pounds!) We sat off, over where the Beetle’s cover band plays, and ate the digestives.

“What are digestives?” Tamera asks, giving it a quizzical look.

“You don’t know what digestives are?!?!”

Tamera.. Tamera… Tamera…..

When I was living in London for school and the dorm had a particularly bad food night (which was quite often, I don’t care all that much for British food) I’d run over to a small grocery and grab smoked Austrian cheese, a French baguette and a pack of digestives for dinner. Soooo good.

We move on and explore the Moroccan pavilion

and then on to Japan for pick a pearl.

My mother and I were the only two to participate; Tamera looked on in interested and decided that she’d have to bring Rachel in to do it.

I can’t tell you the size of my pearl. 7mm maybe? But I was happy with my pick and had it set at the pavilion

Leaving the pavilion, we back trekked to the French Pavilion and were in Chefs de France

and seated within moments. There was no wait. Our server was very nice, it was his first week in the United States but I think that he’s worked as a waiter in France so he was quite good.

I started off with the cheese plate. Soooo good. I love cheese. I had the Crepe Basquaise for my entre. Not so good. In fact, I could barely eat it; it was making me nauseous. Everyone else enjoyed their entrees but I can’t tell you what those were.

Dessert time and I order the Assiette de sorbets du jour. I couldn’t eat anything heavy. Too many digestives.

Several of the servers came out holding my small plate of sorbet with a lit candle tucked in singing Bon Anniversaire. My aunt decided that she’d cover the cost of the meal. My mother and grandmother didn’t have another TS on their dining plan, I wasn’t on a dining plan so my aunt asked them to take her TS credit off of her dining plan and then charge everything else to her room.

My grandmother was looking quite weary, but she wasn’t going to admit it. (I know she was too concerned that she’d ‘ruin’ my day, there was no way she could. The fact that she was there at all made this trip extremely special for me) We tried to decide if we should finish the World Showcase or not. My grandmother decided that it was up to us. My mother pleaded to be too tired (she wasn’t but she knew that my grandmother was) and they decided they’d return back to the hotel for a rest.

It was then that we encountered a problem.

The room charges on my aunt’s card were denied and she quickly realized the problem. When my uncle decided to join this trip all of the suites at the Grand Floridian were booked so he had to book two separate (but connecting) rooms: one for him and Tam and the other for Mary and the kids. Upon check-in the day before it was discovered that the room he and Tamera had booked wasn’t available for the night. The prior guests had decided to smoke in it.

Gotta love inconsiderate people.

So, the hotel put them into a different room for the night while they cleaned the first room. Apparently Guy had already taken care of switching the room from the temporary room to the original booked room and the card that my aunt had was for the temporary room.

Granny and mom left to return to their room for the afternoon while Tamera and I waited to have this sorted out. We were actually sitting there for quite some time; our server had to have a manager come to our table. The manager finally showed up and, actually, we had a great chat with him while he worked to resolve the problem. He was hysterical. He was from Paris but he married a Texan and they now lived in Florida. He kept us laughing while he took care of everything. Fortunately my aunt knew the room number for her new room and that helped matters.

Problem finally resolved, I walked Tamera back to the front of the park. I then walked on to Mission Space with my fast pass (Navigator this time! Woo-hoo!) and then off to Soarin’ with my mother’s unused FP from earlier that day. Soarin’ was packed – as usual – and I had to laugh at the person standing in the stand-by line (who I couldn’t see) hanging a sign over into the FP line reading:

Who wants to give/sell a Fast Pass?

I left Future World and headed back to the World Showcase. I stopped off at the pin cart in the UK and purchased pins for everyone:

Mom = Pluto
Tamera = Tower of Terror
Granny = Disney Wizzard of Oz

MoRockin was performing as I passed.

I saw the candy lady in Japan, but didn’t stop.

I picked up my pearl and bought two of the little cats. I can’t recall what they are called. Each color is supposed to bring you good luck in a certain area of your life.

The French guy was back to climbing up chairs.

The sky writer was at work

The water was calm as I left the International Gateway

as I slowly headed back to the Boardwalk to get ready for tonight.

 

[Dolce27]

Sorry - not as big of an update tonight as I wanted. Hopefully I'll finish the day out tomorrow night.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Sounds like you've had a pretty good birthday so far.

There is a handicap elevator in the Land. It's tucked away to the left of the spinning restaurant. It lets you out next to where the Kitchen Caberet used to be- to the left of living with the land.

Sorry there was no one to let you know where it was