We. Are. CHUNKY! DISBoards Epic Girls Trip May 2019 THE END! Epilogue: Dream Cruise, Club 33 and a new TR!

[chunkymonkey]

That quilt is gorgeous!!!!!!

Isn't it? Soooo stunned it was gifted to me!

I like the name! It was a pleasure seeing you again and meeting your hubby!

Hi Jenny! So great seeing you again! Hope to meet up again soon!

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But true though

Absolutely!

It's been so much fun reading about that epic O'hana's dinner from various attendees. One thing seems to be constant...a ton of fun was had by all!
Those quilts are beautiful and quite creative. Such a nice gift!

Hi Alicia!!
It was definitely a memorable and fun evening! Everyone had a smile on their face! Hop you can make it to the next one!

Seeing HEA and the water pageant on a boat to the WL sounds amazing. What a magical way to close out the day.

It was certainly magical!!

I saw your pictures about your second VIP Tour and your meal in Club 33 - you're having some amazing vacations this year!

It is certainly the most Epic year!! And it's not over yet...still have a few more trips to go!

The 'Ohana dinner looks like SO much fun! The ears you received are amazing (that was seriously the first time she'd made ears?!) and the quilt is such a special keepsake.

Yup that was Jen's first attempt at ears!! I am stunned at everyone's generosity! But not surprising considering we are all DISboarders!

 

[Lesley Wake]

SO, finally caught up! Those quilts were so gorgeous! I have my safely stored away from my kitties...

 

[chunkymonkey]

(hopefully the pictures have been fixed so everyone can see them)

Hi everyone!
Sorry my updates are slow, I've been neglecting my TRs I know! This weekend is also NY Comic Con so we'll be away for most of the weekend. I don't know why, but my life just gets busier and busier, I thought I'd have it all together by now but I'm still running around like crazy.

BUT...on the PLUS side, I have another Disney-type trip coming up...and it was all unplanned!

The Disney Magic sails from NYC this time of year for it's fall cruises to Canada, Bahamas, and Bermuda. I work right by the water in NJ so I can see the NY port from my office. When it sails away on a work day I'm usually there outside as it sails down the Hudson River. I saw it leave early last week on a cruise to Bermuda. It had just completed it's transatlantic, and it actually docked early in NYC as it skipped a Canadian port to avoid the hurricane so i got to stare at it in port for an extra day. So when I saw it sailing away last week on the most perfect late afternoon, I felt pangs of regret for not booking a cruise from New York. I mean the port is right there!! I could be at port in about 20 mins!!

Look at this beauty sailing towards the Freedom Tower:

At this point I barely have any vacation days left, and I just bought flights for our Nov trip and we did not have the budget for another cruise so the thought of us taking another one before the end of the year was not even a possibility.

I posted a bunch of pics to the Disney Cruising facebook group like I do every year, saying how beautiful the ship was, and how sad I was that I wasn't on it, blah blah blah sob story, first world issues, pity party etc.

Then...by the magic of some Disney friends, someone we met on our last NYC cruise in 2017 saw my pictures and contacted me. We had hung out a bit on that cruise and then also at WDW (where he works as an EMT). Him, his wife and son were going on a 5-night cruise from NYC to Bermuda in a few weeks, and asked if we wanted to join them. Because his wife works for DCL she gets huge discounts on a few staterooms, better than regular CM rates. Usually they travel with other family who use the other staterooms, but this time they were not. What! No way! I said, well, how good could this deal be. He told me the price and it was a good price per person but it was still too much money to plunk down for a trip unplanned. Then he said no it is the price for TWO people, including gratuities, and my jaw dropped to the ground. It was less than half the price of our 4-night Disney Dream cruise in May. I checked the dates, and realized I only needed to take 2.5 days off from work as when we dock back at port at 7:30am i could just head straight to work and be there by 9am probably. This could just work! I ran it quickly by Steve but my mind was already made up, LOL. We booked that very day and now I can say we are going on our 5th DCL cruise in 2 weeks! (Oct 17th to be exact!)

Only downside was we had to cut our NYE WDW trip short, like probably by a good 4-5 nights because I had to reallocate the vacation days. I was thinking of being there on new years eve itself but now that I don't really have a full day off that day I am not sure it is worth it to get there later and battle all the crowds. We may arrive on Jan 1st instead and stay until the 6th or 7th. That actually saves us a huge chunk in airfare. A little bummed (but not really) that I won't actually have the full NYE experience but hey if you were offered a cruise at that price, you'd take it too!!! It was such a good price I even paid an extra 150 a person for an upgrade and now we have a full veranda instead of inside staterooms. #disneymathforthewin

I'm so over the moon amazed at how lucky we are to get this deal, and we get to go to Bermuda on the Magic in 13 days!!!!

Did I also mention that I love all my Disney friends?!? I love how we all look out for each other.


OK back to the EPIC TR!!

Day 8 Part 1: May the 4th Be With You!

Today was Star Wars Day!!! Our group had big big plans today - start off in DHS and then hit Epcot for our Eat n Drink around the World fest and top it off with a grand Illuminations cruise! Now big big plans mean big big hair, so I took my time in getting ready this morning and took the effort to do my hair properly because I thought, well we'd be taking lots of pictures that day! My sister is usually the first one up and gets ready first, and I'm always the last one up so I get ready last, with Steve just thrown somewhere between the both of us.

So I was the late riser, and got ready last. My sister and Steve headed downstairs while I was doing my hair, and apparently they had walked to the boat launch, when I was about to leave they said a boat had just got to the launch and if they should ride or stay and wait. I rarely like anyone to wait for me so I said just take it and I'd catch the next one. I didn't realize I was only a few seconds behind them and so when I got to the launch the boat was just pulling away.

My sister sent my family this lovely picture telling everyone how I was left at the dock. #sisterlylove

At least my hair looked somewhat good.

Since they arrived before me I told them to go to Launch Bay and check out what merchandise they had for May the 4th. Honestly it was not that impressive, just a white t-shirt, and some pins and tumblers. The tumbler was pretty cool, I got them as presents for some friends and my nephew in Singapore who are big Star Wars fans.

pic from Disney Parks Blog:

So at least going early the two of them were able to procure a few tumblers and some pins for gifts so by the time I got there, items were already purchased!

I met them at Launch Bay and we went to meet Chewie!

And our favorite little round droid:

I don't remember when CS met Kylo but she's either heartbroken or faking palpitations:

And we had to summon the force, of course,

I wore my special Star Wars magic band which is R2 and Leia themed:

(note this is my second magic band of this design as I lost my first one in RnRC a few years ago and they never found it, boo.)

We also got a few more pics, since I was having a good hair day:

Who look we ran into as well?

We met up with a bunch of Epic ladies who were also in the park for May the 4th. @Elevationist , @Lesley Wake , @IowaTater , @disneyAndi14 , @missjackiemcg , @Pluto0809 , and @Mollydolly334 were all there! @fallonkendra and Luke were also there as well.

Here's some of us as we headed to Star Tours:

We happened to all have very similar FP times that morning. Also Lesley just so happened to be friends with some of the Star Tours CMs so guess who was the Rebel Spy?!?

Well, it was actually half of Molly and half of Lesley who was the spy so let's just call her Mosley LOL.

Note that hair is still intact:

We made our way over to Toy Story Land where we all got on Slinky Dog! Lesley used her connections so that we could all ride at the same time (including @StarWarsMomofGirls! and her family) even though we did not all have FPs at exactly the same time, most of ours were overlapping though.

Steve and I are holding up 4 fingers to say it was May the 4th, LOL.

We commemorated with some pictures in front of Slinky Dog, but we forgot to do the Chunkydump! Sorry @Steppesister !

And some cute pictures at this sign

Note that my hair survived Slinky Dog too.

My sister needed some Star Wars churros just for the instagram picture so we had to get one of each color.

They tasted fine, I could do without the colored sugar as I just like the regular churro flavor best.

Then the lot of us (pretty much all the Crescent Lake Epic Ladies plus Jackie and Ariana) went to Sci Fi Dine in for lunch!

All the ladies including my sis sat in one car and then Steve and I had another row of another car.

Note hair is still ok.

Steve and I shared a meal. We got a wedge salad and a burger which they kindly split in half for us. It was all very good! We did not want to fill up because we had a lot of eating to do later.

I had to ditch Steve and get a pic with my Epic ladies...

...oh but what happened to Lesley?!?

Taking a little snooze I see. My sister took this pic and sent it to everyone. Very funny!! I guess the force was not strong in her today, LOL.

I got a different angle too:

We all had a good laugh. Everyone said how funny Su-Queen was, but that's probably because she was telling stories about me. Don't believe anything she says!

After lunch we all parted ways only to meet up again later in Epcot. Steve and I used our FP for RnRC. For the first time I could take a sleeping ride pic. I'm usually always screaming!

We left the park but my sister stayed on to take more pictures. She got some cute pics with Pluto!

Back at the room I changed and headed back out to Epcot.

Will my hair survive the afternoon festivities? Stay tuned...
​

 

[Tracy161]

I ran it quickly by Steve but my mind was already made up, LOL.

WHAAAAAT?! That is SO exciting, OMG!!! And, from someone still recover from NYE at Disney from 2 years ago, I think the sacrifices you made to make this cruise happen are well worth it!

Hopefully it's just me, but most of your pictures I wasn't able to see? I did see the one of Lesley napping though

 

[SimplyGoofy]

Wow, what exciting news on your upcoming cruise! I understand why you couldn't turn it down. Have a wonderful time!

For some reason most of your pictures aren't showing up for me - the same thing happened yesterday with another report so I'm sure they'll show up later. Who knows why?! I'll be back to look at them later as I look forward to seeing them!

I know May the 4th was a letdown in terms of the park's "special events" but it appears you made the most of it. I'm thrilled you were able to get on several attractions with the EPIC ladies and enjoyed a nice lunch at Sci-Fi. I'm also glad your hair did so well that day!

 

[dolewhipdreams]

I'm having the same issue not seeing your photos

Did I also mention that I love all my Disney friends?!? I love how we all look out for each othe

That's such a cool story! Score another one for the Dis community

I didn't realize I was only a few seconds behind them and so when I got to the launch the boat was just pulling away.

Ah juuuuust missed it

Well, it was actually half of Molly and half of Lesley who was the spy so let's just call her Mosley LOL.

Note that hair is still intact:

Thank goodness! Since I can't see the photos I've been worried about the hair.

My sister needed some Star Wars churros just for the instagram picture so we had to get one of each color.

Do it for the gram!! She knows her priorities.

Note hair is still ok.

Whew!

Will my hair survive the afternoon festivities? Stay tuned...

I am ON EDGE here!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

So extremely cool about the cruise AND it's right around the corner!!! How exciting!

 

[dizneeat]

we are going on our 5th DCL cruise in 2 weeks! (Oct 17th to be exact!)

That is AWESOME! And what a great deal!

Unfortunately only two of your photos show up for me ........ well, I guess I might try again later.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Argh! I don't know what the deal is with the photos. I store all mine on google as I always do, but maybe I will just re-link them.

 

[dizneeat]

Argh! I don't know what the deal is with the photos. I store all mine on google as I always do, but maybe I will just re-link them.

Thank you!

 

[missangelalexis]

Exciting news about going on the DCL at such a great price!

 

[Woth2982]

So exciting you are going on a cruise in 2 weeks! I hit the 100 day mark for our cruise today, got some bad news this morning (nothing major just disappointing) so finding out Im at the 100 day mark made up for it!

Also can't see your pix I will go back and read through when they decide to show up.

 

[MinnieWebster]

So exciting about the cruise!!! That will be so much fun!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Well, it was actually half of Molly and half of Lesley who was the spy so let's just call her Mosley LOL.

HAHAHA! I love it!

...oh but what happened to Lesley?!?

Taking a little snooze I see. My sister took this pic and sent it to everyone. Very funny!! I guess the force was not strong in her today, LOL.

Yup... well, the force controlled by the Sandman maybe?

 

[MeghanEmily]

I can't believe that crazy deal for your cruise! Wow! How very kind of your Disney friends to invite you—I'm sure it will be worth having to sacrifice a few days at New Years.

Your May the 4th antics looked like fun!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Today was Star Wars Day!!!

YEAH!!!! WE were so excitied to be there for this day! Even though it was so busy!

I love this picture of you both!

Well, it was actually half of Molly and half of Lesley who was the spy so let's just call her Mosley LOL.

Ha! I love that.

We made our way over to Toy Story Land where we all got on Slinky Dog! Lesley used her connections so that we could all ride at the same time (including @StarWarsMomofGirls! and her family) even though we did not all have FPs at exactly the same time, most of ours were overlapping though.

We are so far back you can't see my short self! I am glad that we overlapped a little today!

 

[disneyAndi14]

Your hair looked beautiful and you are as sweet and funny as your sister!

This was a fun morning and lunch even though we bored Lesley to sleep

I’m so excited for you to take a cruise with Disney friends and at a great price, wow!!

 

[dizneeat]

OMG! That is too funny!

Very cute!

Will my hair survive the afternoon festivities? Stay tuned...

If it survived Slinky - I bet it will!

 

[amazingact21]

Congrats on the spontaneous cruise! I can imagine how hard it had to be to resist booking a trip when the port is right outside your window! The temptation would be too much!

Sounds like a fun May the 4th morning. I love your Mickey ears for the day!

I'm equally impressed with the sleeping RNRC photo; that took some concentration.

 

[DLo]

Wow. What an amazing cruise deal. Definitely couldn’t pass that up .

Great start to the day . Fingers crossed your hair makes it through the day ; )