What Do You Do With a Nine Pound Lemon?? LINK TO NEW TR!

[IheartDDuck]

Love all of the stuff that you got from Mousegears, especially the wallet! I am actually now the proud owner of the 40th anniversary cross body bag.

 

[taymacsmom]

Hi Nikki I was a lurker on your PTR and decided now was the time to come out of "lurkdom". Guess why!?! My sister and I were lined up at the 5K directly behind you and Erin!(Your pictures don't show how tall you actually are) I debated about saying hi to you but I felt a bit shy and didn't want to seem like a "stalker". We actually ran right with you for a while but then I "lost" you guys in that massive crowd. We had a great time at the run and I can't wait to hear about your trip. Maybe I will show up in some of your pictures.

Can't wait for the rest and I promise to chime in from time to time.

Kelly

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Mine is international shipping and yours isn't, so I doubt you'll have to wait as long as I do.

Oh well that's a little bit of a relief!

Hi Nikki - I have been a lurker on your other trip reports, but I just had to come out of hiding!! I love your enthusiasm - it is contagious!! Makes me feel like I'm there with you!!

Looking forward to hearing about this trip, and your plans for the next one! You are so lucky to live so close - unfortunately 18 hours in a plane puts paid to going too often!

I love your purchases, too! The photo frame looks great. Just what I would be looking for, I think!! Don't you love getting a parcel delivered - especially if it is from Disney!

Sooooo glad you decided to post! 18 hours plane ride?! That's insane! I could literally DRIVE to WDW in less time!

Love all of the stuff that you got from Mousegears, especially the wallet! I am actually now the proud owner of the 40th anniversary cross body bag.

Isn't the pattern awesome?! I have the Kristen tote and I love it!

Hi Nikki I was a lurker on your PTR and decided now was the time to come out of "lurkdom". Guess why!?! My sister and I were lined up at the 5K directly behind you and Erin!(Your pictures don't show how tall you actually are) I debated about saying hi to you but I felt a bit shy and didn't want to seem like a "stalker". We actually ran right with you for a while but then I "lost" you guys in that massive crowd. We had a great time at the run and I can't wait to hear about your trip. Maybe I will show up in some of your pictures.

Can't wait for the rest and I promise to chime in from time to time.

Kelly

Awww!!! I SOOO wish you would have said something!! It wouldn't have been the first time. I met around 6 or 7 DISers on my honeymoon and even met one in World Showcase on this trip. That's too bad. We could have gotten a picture! I have a lot of pics from the 5K so definitely be on the lookout for yourself!

 

[Tracy161]

I LOVE your purchases!!!!!!!!!! And it makes it so exciting to still have a part of the vacation experience after you get home! YAY!!! So excited for the TR!

 

[kate_wdw]

Your photo of Spaceship Earth is gorgeous! What type of camera do you have?

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I LOVE your purchases!!!!!!!!!! And it makes it so exciting to still have a part of the vacation experience after you get home! YAY!!! So excited for the TR!

Oh definitely!! We LOVE to ship home!

Your photo of Spaceship Earth is gorgeous! What type of camera do you have?

Thanks! We just bought it this summer...our first DSLR. It's a Nikon D3000.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I know I said I was going to start my TR tonight, but I've spent the last few hours working on itineraries and tips for two clients I have traveling next month! It's so much fun but very time consuming. I said to Tom, I can either work on our vacation video, start my TR or do client itineraries, what should I do? He said I should do the itineraries! So hopefully tomorrow!

 

[jecskc]

I NEED that puzzle !! Along with the Thomas Kinkade one of Cinderella's castle. Can't wait for the TR to start !! I already started mine and when I get my photopass CD, I will just insert photos. You have so much more patience than me. Oh, and I love your videos !!

 

[anjalee6]

Awesome picture of Epcot. I definitely love seeing the ball at night. It's my absolute favorite park so it's hard not to love it! We finally did pick a pearl this last trip and it was such a fun time! Can't wait to have my kids fully appreciate world showcase.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I NEED that puzzle !! Along with the Thomas Kinkade one of Cinderella's castle. Can't wait for the TR to start !! I already started mine and when I get my photopass CD, I will just insert photos. You have so much more patience than me. Oh, and I love your videos !!

I am the most IMpatient person EVER! But fortunately, I have some other things to keep me busy, like working on the new video (yay!) and doing some trip planning for a few clients. I can't do much more with my video without my photopass cd either but I've got those first 8 seconds DOWN!

Awesome picture of Epcot. I definitely love seeing the ball at night. It's my absolute favorite park so it's hard not to love it! We finally did pick a pearl this last trip and it was such a fun time! Can't wait to have my kids fully appreciate world showcase.

Thanks! Isn't it so beautiful? I feel the same way about Epcot. I have never done pick-a-pearl! Maybe I need to start making a list of things I must do on the next trip.

 

[dvc4life]

Loved the cupcakes! How cute were they. Good Job!

And I loved your purchases. That wallet is really cute.

Now let the party begin!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Guess what came in the mail today?!?! Photopass CD!

Should begin sooooon!

 

[stephielela]

Love love love all your purchases, ESPECIALLY the wallet! I realllllllllly want one, but I have resisted so far! Very responsible decision to work on the itineraries

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Loved the cupcakes! How cute were they. Good Job!

And I loved your purchases. That wallet is really cute.

Now let the party begin!

Thanks! I'm still munching on the cupcakes even though Tom thinks we should've thrown them out by now! Ha!

Love love love all your purchases, ESPECIALLY the wallet! I realllllllllly want one, but I have resisted so far! Very responsible decision to work on the itineraries

Isn't the wallet awesome?! Yes, I got a lot of "work" done yesterday so I just spent about an hour working on my video and now it's time to start the TR!!!

 

[chloe770]

Guess what came in the mail today?!?! Photopass CD!

Should begin sooooon!

whoo hoo! I really can't wait to see your race photos and 40th photos.

 

[Dream426]

YAY!!! Can't wait!!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Are you ready?!?!

As Rafiki says..."It is time..."


Wednesday September 28, 2011

Sooo, after working what seemed to be the looongest school day ever, I sped...I mean, drove responsibly, home where Tom was waiting with last minute packing questions for me! He wonders why I'm such a spaz-oid for days and even weeks before the trip but it's because I want to make sure I think of EVERYTHING and don't have to wait until the last minute. So after packing a few extra things, we grabbed our two stuffed carry-on bags and headed outside to wait for my good friend, Jill and her husband Jeff, along with their son Jeremy, to pick us up and take us to the airport.

(Those of you who followed my honeymoon TR, Jill was the one who helped me with my wedding centerpieces. She's such a good friend!)

So to my surprise, Jill, set up her car tvs to play a slideshow of her recent Disney trips and made us a make-shift Magical Express transfer! It was so great! The only problem was while Tom and I were oohing and aaahing over her pictures, she wanted to know what was going on on the screen!

We got to the airport fairly quickly and we were sooo psyched that, since we printed our tickets and had no bags to check, we could head straight to security.

It's always so nerve-wracking to go through security but after waiting in maybe a 15 minute line, we were through in a flash and headed to the gate.

While we were waiting, we heard lots of conversation of people going to Disney and a few times we were silently praying we weren't sitting next to that family on the plane or that we don't run into this family in the Magic Kingdom. Since it was a holiday weekend, a lot of folks had the same idea as us.....late flight Wednesday to Sunday. Therefore, the plane was 4 seats overbooked!!! They were offering people some incentives to switch to tomorrow morning but no way jose!! We bought those tickets over 10 months in advance!

So finally we were boarded and since we purchased our seats so far in advance, we had been somehow moved up to the second row in economy. After a little worry about our not having room for our bags in the overhead, we were settled....just in time for a flight attendant to come and ask us if we wouldn't mind moving into an exit row to accommodate a child. Instinctively, I said, "Sure, no problem!" Tom was not thrilled but who cares! We were on our way!

I was VERY worried about the plane being delayed because it had been a rainy day but after just a little wait for the runway to open up, we were off! There was a LOT of turbulence, probably the most I've ever experienced. It wasn't too too bad but I do get motion sickness so I wasn't able to read my magazine or do my logic puzzles because when my eyes are forced to focus during too much motion, it makes me feel yucky!

The one good thing about this flight was that it had individual tv screens so we played some games and I mostly tracked the progress of the flight. I tried to watch the movie Bridesmaids but I did NOT think it was funny AT ALL! And most people loved it! Same thing with The Hangover but I guess my comedic taste is a little different than most people's....my most recent favorite comedy is Forgetting Sarah Marshall. OMG, I die laughing every time I watch it!

Anyway....we land, wait wait wait and finally we are off! I was a little nervous about finding the rental car area because I had never done that before but it was soooo easy! Because I had checked in online, all we had to do was find the row of cars marked "compact" and pick the one we wanted! We chose a Hyundai and I have to say, I kind of loved it! Although I drive a GMC Envoy so aside from not really being able to see anything like I can in my SUV, it was a really nice car.

So all we had to do was stop at the gate on the way out and show my license. Super easy! Then we were off!!

I was super excited to be driving to Disney World! First time EVER since coming as an adult. Tom helped me follow the direction I had printed before we left. It was very easy and pretty direct.

Tom was also excited to get the perfect picture of the Walt Disney World arch as we drove up. But would you believe....it wasn't lit up! This was the best he could do...

Now I don't know if it's never lit up or if it just wasn't that night but we were both pretty disappointed with that. However, we got over it very quickly and before we know it, we were pulling into Port Orleans Riverside!!

We parked in front of the lobby and waiting in a very short line. (Oh btw, it was around 10pm/10:30pm at this point...)

I honestly don't remember who I was texting! Maybe Erin...they were in Epcot and I wanted to let them know we had arrived!

When I checked in, Tom went to find out what time the bar was open until. I was a little disappointed that he wasn't there with the camera because I paid for the balance of the room with maybe 12 gift cards! Not even exaggerating! The CM was so nice about it, as it most likely was a pain in the butt for her to do! But when she was done, she fanned them all out and that is when I wished the camera was handy!

She gave us our room number it was exactly the room we thought it would be......connecting rooms with Gary and Erin!! I think that's pretty cool that even though Gary and Erin arrived 2 days before us, they were still able to make it work so that our rooms could be connected.

So we drove over to the mansion section and parked in the lot in the back of Oak Manor. Our room was more towards the front of Oak Manor so there was a little bit of a walk.

A Mickey towel arrangement was there to welcome us!

We pretty much just dropped our bags and headed back to the main building because Gary and Erin were on their way back and we were told to order Gary a beer! First we went to Fulton's General Store and bought two Coronas just in case Gary didnt' make it back before last call at the bar! They were crazy expensive, btw. A 6-pack was over $30!

Then we went and sat in the River Roost for a little while while Yehaa Bob performed. Of all the times I stayed at this resort, that was the first time I saw him. I have to say, for it being 11pm, he had a LOT of energy and everyone seemed to be really into it!

I was so exhausted by that point (after having worked a full day) but Tom was excited to have his first beer with his brother. When Erin texted to say the bus had pulled in, I was so excited, I ran outside to meet them when they got off the bus! It was a VERY happy reunion and Conor was so thrilled that we were finally there with them. There was much hugging and jumping up and down before heading back in to meet Tom at the bar. Erin and I sat with them for a few but then we headed back to the room with Conor while Tom and Gary ordered as many beers as they could before last call!

I told Erin the gift card story and how I wished I had gotten a picture. Then I showed her how many gift cards I still had left so we decided I should just fan those out for her to get a picture!

I got myself unpacked, turned on the sweet music of my facebook friend Stacey and fell fast asleep.....




I have to apologize for all the chatter and lack of pictures. Normally there are more visuals than words but you know how arrival day goes......trust me, there are TONS of pictures!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Yay...perfect timing on my part. Can't wait to hear about your trip!

 

[kathleen27]

I am joining in!

Love your friends idea for the photo show on the way to the airport!

I started walk/running this summer and plan to do the 5k when we are at Disney in Feb. I'm excited to hear about your experience and to see the photos!

Your Epcot photo is beautiful, looking forward to more!

 

[Nermel9]

Great update! I love the slideshow your friend put together for you, what a cute idea!

I LOVE Forgetting Sarah Marshall...in fact, I need to watch that again soon, it's been a couple of months since I've seen it!

I can't believe the Disney arch isn't lit up at night! That's kind of disappointing...I could swear I have seen pics from other TR's where it is lit up!

Glad you got the connecting rooms you wanted, and $30 for a 6 pack of Corona???