Two for One: Double Disney Birthdays! *Meg nonTR upd 9/23* // *Help out Katie! 10/22*

[Megablocks]

I have seen the Lady & the Tramp Jim Shore....I'm pretty sure its on my bday list! I got a Belle one for Christmas....I have a pic of that topiary from last year....it was one of the few that was up and complete (or semi-complete) when we were leaving last year. Patrick just played a video clip of Ty "talking" and the real Ty did not like hearing "another" cat in his house

That one was completed by the time we left, as was one of Rafiki holding up Simba. I saw Minnie's Butterfly Garden going up, and some flowers being planted around there. I took pictures of some of the progress I saw. I wonder if their getting ready for it was screwed up at all by the crazy weather?

That's really really funny because my birds are the same way! We have some old home movies, and if Michael played them, the birds would hear themselves, or their ancestors, on the TV and respond to it. Sometimes they even respond to the birds outside. They are so noisy and I don't even notice how loud they are a lot of the time, until I'm talking to someone on the phone or something and they can't hear me because of the background noise...

 

[Tink9721]

That one was completed by the time we left, as was one of Rafiki holding up Simba. I saw Minnie's Butterfly Garden going up, and some flowers being planted around there. I took pictures of some of the progress I saw. I wonder if their getting ready for it was screwed up at all by the crazy weather?

I saw Rafiki and Simba! By the time I left Epcot they had Mufasa and Simba's mom(I can't think of her name No wait. Sarabi! I just looked it up ), Timon, Pumbaa, Scar, Zazu, and a couple random giraffes.

And by the way, I picked up on that spoonful of sugar hint immediately!

 

[Megablocks]

I saw Rafiki and Simba! By the time I left Epcot they had Mufasa and Simba's mom(I can't think of her name No wait. Sarabi! I just looked it up ), Timon, Pumbaa, Scar, Zazu, and a couple random giraffes.

And by the way, I picked up on that spoonful of sugar hint immediately!

I thought she was just trying to say that she'd be nice and give me something sweet, like more of a hint.

 

[Megablocks]

Megablocks trip report update!

Friday, February 12 -- part 2. AK, complete with monsoons!

So when I last left you, we were getting ready to head out to AK. We grabbed some food at Everything Pop and headed out to the bus stop. It wasn't quite a monsoon at this point (or, as I like to say, "it wasn't monsooning yet"), but it was raining.

Dark skies, empty bus queues...where was everyone? Oh wait, probably staying dry at some indoor place. I wonder how crazy DisneyQuest was that day?

It was right about this time that I was really glad I had decided to bring my jacket, because I wore it every single day. I definitely needed it today, because while it is fleece, it keeps my clothes pretty dry, and even though it doesn't have a hood, I wore a hoodie underneath it and stayed pretty comfortable. My packing extra hoodies ended up being a good thing, because Kailyn ended up borrowing one of mine and wearing just that, or layering it with her other hoodie. See the hoodie she is wearing in this picture? It had to dry out for about two days.

When we were on the bus, I spotted Expedition Everest through the window right behind my parents (they were sitting across from Kailyn and I), and I hit Kailyn's arm and said, "LOOK! There's Everest! We're riding that!" Squealing commenced.

We got to AK and my dad asked if I wanted a picture in front of the sign. I think I said something like "no, it's raining too much," which is such a "Meghan" thing to say. What is the difference between taking a picture in front of the sign in the rain and walking around the park in the rain? Maybe I was just eager to get in.

We entered our first park, and my dad answered some survey questions for a very nice woman just past the turnstiles. After that, we headed to EE to grab some Fastpasses. They weren't for much later, so we decided to head over to Dinosaur, ride that, and then head back to ride Everest. I managed to snap exactly one picture of the Tree of Life. The rain was beginning to come down hard, and I didn't want to do any water damage to my almost brand-new camera. I killed my last one and I was NOT going to let anything happen to this bad larry. I do know that I took my phone out at some point so I could send a picture of Everest to Tink9721, since she and I had plans to ride it together in a few days.

I'm pretty sure that all the people in the picture were coming the opposite way as us -- as in, they were leaving. It was like salmon swimming upstream for a bit.

We got to Dinosaur, which only had a 20 minute wait! We basically managed to walk right in to where they show you the video. I swear they only post it as 20 minutes because it sometimes feels like it takes that long to walk through the queue and walk the movie.

For anyone who doesn't know, my sister is absolutely terrified of this ride. I used to be pretty afraid of it, too. Like last year, I always covered my eyes and probably cried a little. Kailyn is afraid of the ride because the first bad dream she remembers, which she had when she was pretty little, had to do with a dinosaur (I think a T-rex) that was stomping through our neighborhood. She goes on the ride, and she likes it, but she's always terrified on it. I used to be, but I swear that was partially because I always rode next to her and had her holding on to my arm and infecting me with her own fear. I myself don't like dark places, loud noises (or dark, loud places), or things that come out at you. I have come to basically learn what to expect on Dinosuar, so I managed to pose. I got even better at it as we rode more, too!

Kailyn was just covering her eyes with one hand, and the ear that wasn't pressed against my shoulder with her other hand. Poor Kailyn. I don't think she has ever seen this ride in its entirety.

We got off the ride, laughed at our picture, and then saw outside the gift shop just how hard the rain was coming down. Like, in buckets. Someone, probably my mom or I, or both of us, had made a comment about how the earlier rain was nothing compared to how it apparently rains in the summer months -- like, torrential downpours, and we weren't experiencing that! Well, we sure were now. You can't tell in the picture, but it was coming down HARD. It was most definitely torrential downpours.

My dad was freezing, so he purchased a hoodie for himself, and three ponchos. Yup, I swallowed my pride, decided to stay dry, and wore one of those dorky ponchos. Sigh. It did do a great job of keeping me dry, so I really can't complain. If I hadn't worn it, my jacket (which I needed for that night), and I would have been drenched and smelled funny. For anyone that doesn't know, wet fleece smells funny. Notice I said he purchased three ponchos, and there were four of us. Remember whose hoodie was drying out for about two days?

With some of us donning ponchos, we headed out. I think it was right about this time that I realized, "wow, it's really coming down." My sneakers were staying pretty dry, but my khakis did not stand a chance. Which I was well aware of. The bottoms of all my pants touch the ground and drag a little, and these seem to drag more than others. We headed to Asia, EE Fastpasses in hand.

When we got to Everest, I think it had something like a ten minute wait posted. We thought we'd get in line and then go through the Fastpass line after that ride. We basically walked on and then my dad, Kailyn, and I (my mom couldn't stomach it a second time in a row), decided to ride again, but not in the FP line. We decided if we couldn't use the Fastpasses another day, it would be a nice souvenir. Back through the standby line and back on the ride. I seriously love this ride. It's one of my all-time favorites. I know some people are not crazy about the backwards part, but that's one of my favorite parts. So dark and disorienting and crazy. I love it.

I was disappointed, though, because it was raining so hard that it was almost hard to see, especially when you wear glasses, so going up the big incline, I couldn't see things like SSE. Then, after the backwards part, when you're back outside, I had to ride with my arm over my face because the rain HURT. It was pelting so hard, and the ride goes so fast, that I couldn't move my arm away from my face because I was afraid to.

Two rides in a row satisfied us (my dad, actually, was ready for a third ride, but Kailyn and I couldn't handle it -- shouldn't it be the other way around? ) We decided to head out and try to dry out before heading to Epcot for the nighttime EMH and our Rose and Crown ADR.

For some reason, the walk out, and the trek to our bus, has stuck with me. My khakis were completely drenched up to my knees, and my sneakers were soaked and starting to fill with little puddles. As we were walking towards the bus stop, I managed to walk through a HUGE puddle. It was like a little pond. I just let out a little scream, and then laughed. I kicked through puddles and didn't even bother to try to walk fast. I was so happy to finally be there that I didn't care how soaked I was, that I had little puddles in my sneakers, and that I would need to change immediately upon getting back to the room. We were finally in Disney World, and I wasn't going to let a monsoon get me down.

Up next: Epcot and...

 

[karenmmk]

I was so happy to finally be there that I didn't care how soaked I was, that I had little puddles in my sneakers, and that I would need to change immediately upon getting back to the room. We were finally in Disney World, and I wasn't going to let a monsoon get me down.

Exactly!

All this time he's been wearing those and they STILL scare me.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Well, between the two of us, I think we have experienced the authentic weather theming of Animal Kingdom. I always feel like we are trapped in the oppressive heat of the jungle, and you were there during the monsoon season.

I do think the poncho really adds to the look of the glasses!

 

[Megablocks]

Exactly!

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All this time he's been wearing those and they STILL scare me.

They do still scare me a little too, but they mostly just make me laugh because they are so ridiculous...

Well, between the two of us, I think we have experienced the authentic weather theming of Animal Kingdom. I always feel like we are trapped in the oppressive heat of the jungle, and you were there during the monsoon season.

I do think the poncho really adds to the look of the glasses!

I think you're right about the authentic weather theming! I don't understand how that park is always so much hotter -- I could never be there when you guys are, I don't handle heat very well at all.

Doesn't it? I think that is one of my favorite glasses pictures, the others being from when we rode the carousel.

 

[DisKate]

Yay for an update! I love the glasses! We have been stuck in a "monsoon" at AK too! And the water is crazy! Have a good weekend everyone! I'll try to update from NYC....As of right now our flight is on time, so hopefully we make it!

 

[MeMom]

We've walked around ankle deep in water at AK, too. Not too fun.

I showed Trent the picture of you guys on the bus and told him this was who he was supposed to meet. I scrolled down and showed him the one of the whole family on Dinosaur...

and then I scrolled down some more and showed him your dad's poncho picture!

It didn't scare him off.
He said he'll be happy to meet you guys on a future trip.

 

[Megablocks]

Yay for an update! I love the glasses! We have been stuck in a "monsoon" at AK too! And the water is crazy! Have a good weekend everyone! I'll try to update from NYC....As of right now our flight is on time, so hopefully we make it!

I could not believe the amount of puddles. I can't even remember if I texted you. I think I was terrified to take my phone out, because I knew if I dropped it, it would be done for, which would have killed me! And I can't remember, did you get to see the glasses in person? I was so sleep-deprived that I cannot remember much, which is disappointing.

I'm really excited to hear about NYC (especially now that I know you finally got to take off ) I've only ever done a day trip there, and taken a bus there and back on the same day to see Wicked...yeah I haven't seen much of it

We've walked around ankle deep in water at AK, too. Not too fun.

I showed Trent the picture of you guys on the bus and told him this was who he was supposed to meet. I scrolled down and showed him the one of the whole family on Dinosaur...

and then I scrolled down some more and showed him your dad's poncho picture!

It didn't scare him off.
He said he'll be happy to meet you guys on a future trip.

I'm so glad that didn't scare him off. What a guy. I would really like to meet him on a future trip! It's too bad it didn't work out on this trip, but I totally understand why he and Jamie didn't stay too long at MK -- it was a madhouse!

 

[Cat0727]

I hear ya about the rain- the worst I've been in at Disney was when my sister & I were in Epcot. It just started pouring out of nowhere and wouldn't stop

Luckily we were in China so we saw the movie & shopped for a while and then were able to wait some by the time the rain let up a bit...but my sister had flats on and she was complaining about her wet feet so we went back to our room. We were able to go back out later, though. I swear, everywhere she goes she thinks she's going to a fashion show, the way she dresses

Right now I'd rather be in rainy Disney than in snowy NYC, haha (we're getting a foot as I write this). Sigh.

 

[Megablocks]

I hear ya about the rain- the worst I've been in at Disney was when my sister & I were in Epcot. It just started pouring out of nowhere and wouldn't stop

Luckily we were in China so we saw the movie & shopped for a while and then were able to wait some by the time the rain let up a bit...but my sister had flats on and she was complaining about her wet feet so we went back to our room. We were able to go back out later, though. I swear, everywhere she goes she thinks she's going to a fashion show, the way she dresses

Right now I'd rather be in rainy Disney than in snowy NYC, haha (we're getting a foot as I write this). Sigh.

That was what it looked like when we were at AK! We've had really, really good luck weather-wise on our trips -- I think the last time it rained like that was on a trip several years ago.

Sounds a little bit like my sister... I'm not sure exactly why she didn't want to wear a poncho. We tried to convince her and she just kept on saying that she didn't want to, that she was fine with the hoodie. She did wind up getting one at some point that day -- I think before we headed to Epcot. That only happened because when we were going back out, she had to wear one of MY hoodies and I told her that if she wore my hoodie, she was wearing a poncho over it so it wouldn't get drenched. She wasn't thrilled.

Katie is in NYC till Sunday! There was some storm around Buffalo, I think, and she was worried about her flight getting canceled this morning. It ended up just being really delayed. I haven't asked her about the weather, but she is having a good time so far. I can't believe you guys are getting a foot. I'm going to be so upset if we get more!

 

[Tink9721]

I love the picture of your dad in the poncho I think it's even funnier now that I've met him

I got lucky with the rain. We didn't get one drop until Sunday and that was a tiny 5 minute shower. And then some rain Monday afternoon. But that was because Mickey was sad that I was leaving It was POURING when we were taking off Monday night!

 

[DisKate]

Hi! So I don't have much of an update on NYC to provide...Our flight was supposed to take off at 5:50am, but they delayed us until 6:30am...They then boarded us at 6:30am and said we would take off really really soon....then it was like a snowball effect...they would say we were taking off at x time and then at that time they would state a new reason for a delay. We sat on the plane from 6:30am until we took off at 10:15am! It wasn't fun and we were all grumpy by that time! Then to make it even better when we got to JFK they didn't have a gate for us, so we got to sit on the plane there for another hour. So, I got to sit on a lovely JetBlue plane from 6:30am until 12:15pm today! We were supposed to be in NYC at 7:15, actual flight time from Buffalo is only about 50minutes, but our trip took almost 6hours. Since we have been up since 2:30am, and only slept about 45min. on the plane, we didn't do much tonight...we just went to MoMA and had dinner at Heartland Brewery....tomorrow is the Guggenheim and possibly the Natural History Museum. Have a good Saturday everyone!

 

[Megablocks]

I love the picture of your dad in the poncho I think it's even funnier now that I've met him

I got lucky with the rain. We didn't get one drop until Sunday and that was a tiny 5 minute shower. And then some rain Monday afternoon. But that was because Mickey was sad that I was leaving It was POURING when we were taking off Monday night!

And now you can vouch for the fact that he really is as crazy as I say he is

I remember you texting me about Disney being sad that you were leaving because it was raining! That was so sad. I guess the reason there were monsoons on the day that we got there was because Disney was mad that it took us so long to get there and decided to punish us.

Hi! So I don't have much of an update on NYC to provide...Our flight was supposed to take off at 5:50am, but they delayed us until 6:30am...They then boarded us at 6:30am and said we would take off really really soon....then it was like a snowball effect...they would say we were taking off at x time and then at that time they would state a new reason for a delay. We sat on the plane from 6:30am until we took off at 10:15am! It wasn't fun and we were all grumpy by that time! Then to make it even better when we got to JFK they didn't have a gate for us, so we got to sit on the plane there for another hour. So, I got to sit on a lovely JetBlue plane from 6:30am until 12:15pm today! We were supposed to be in NYC at 7:15, actual flight time from Buffalo is only about 50minutes, but our trip took almost 6hours. Since we have been up since 2:30am, and only slept about 45min. on the plane, we didn't do much tonight...we just went to MoMA and had dinner at Heartland Brewery....tomorrow is the Guggenheim and possibly the Natural History Museum. Have a good Saturday everyone!

I didn't know you got stuck sitting on the plane for another hour because they didn't have a gate -- that really stinks Was the Heartland Brewery where you got that mini hot fudge sundae that you sent me a picture of? I was trying to make out what it said on the glass next to it, and I thought it was some kind of brewery but I wasn't sure.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that when I got your texts, I felt so bad that you had to go through all that, but all I could think was, "I'm so glad they weren't on the way to Disney when that happened." You understand, right? I feel like that comes off kinda mean

 

[Charleston Princess]

Katie, I can't believe you were stuck on the plane for so long! Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful!

 

[DisKate]

And now you can vouch for the fact that he really is as crazy as I say he is

I remember you texting me about Disney being sad that you were leaving because it was raining! That was so sad. I guess the reason there were monsoons on the day that we got there was because Disney was mad that it took us so long to get there and decided to punish us.



I didn't know you got stuck sitting on the plane for another hour because they didn't have a gate -- that really stinks Was the Heartland Brewery where you got that mini hot fudge sundae that you sent me a picture of? I was trying to make out what it said on the glass next to it, and I thought it was some kind of brewery but I wasn't sure.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that when I got your texts, I felt so bad that you had to go through all that, but all I could think was, "I'm so glad they weren't on the way to Disney when that happened." You understand, right? I feel like that comes off kinda mean

Hey Meg! It's not mean that you thought that, because I was thinking the exact same thing!!!!! And yes, the mini hot fudge sundae came from Heartland Brewery! It was really good too!

Katie, I can't believe you were stuck on the plane for so long! Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful!

Thanks CP! I'm sure it will be! We are getting ready to head down for breakfast right now, then I have to do some quick homework...

 

[DisKate]

14 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two weeks from right now I will be waking up to get the car loaded and head to the airport at 10:30. It will also be Kris' 20th birthday! I can't wait!!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Two Week Dance!!!

 

[Megablocks]

Hey Meg! It's not mean that you thought that, because I was thinking the exact same thing!!!!! And yes, the mini hot fudge sundae came from Heartland Brewery! It was really good too!

I figured you would understand and would probably think the same thing, but I wanted to make sure

Happy TWO WEEKS! I was going to come on here and do it for you if you hadn't had a chance to, but you did. I am so excited for you!