What Time is the 4 o'clock Rain? -- Updates 11/2-4 -- Tim's surprise and Marco&Recap

[that's nice]

Tim hope you get dinner adr at BOG...we got dinner, still trying for lunch though!

Thanks. I'm still holding out hope.

Does Melody even know you are going on this trip with all the secrets you have about it?

She knows we are going but the kids don't. She doesn't know about AKL, BOG lunch, Boma lunch & dinner ADRs. She knows about the rest.

No problem; I keep checking for Crystal Palace for mine so I might as well plug yours in while I'm on there four times a day. Just don't be surprised if you get a phone call at 2 in the morning needing your credit card info.

Feel free to call but I usually keep my phone on vibrate. Should I just email you my credit card info now?

 

[KatMark]

Enjoy your time in Dubuque with the kids and the grand-puppy. Awww I know if must be disappointing to hear the kids won't be able to go but just think in a few years they could be accompanying you and bringing the grandbaby!!

I was so looking forward to it because Markie has not been in 14 years; but I think it will be more fun with a grandbaby. I told him I was taking my "granddaughter" to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique; he strongly informed me that my "GRANDSON" will not be going there. He wants a boy first and then a girl; I told him he's going to have all girls!

Making mental note of your August dates.

Those are tentative until we know if Mark has a job. We will make it a week later if he is without a job because we know it won't interfere with his trade show because he won't be there. But I will definitely keep you posted and we do know where we are staying and I have a friend who is giving us his points.

That was a nice touch to announce your special occasion for the front row in Soarin'. So does Mark do the orange or green experience on Mission Space? (Michael can only do green IF he does it at all.)

It was very sweet of them. What is the side that made me sick? Orange? Is that the worse side? All I know is I won't do either side.

I had to think for a moment where Dinosaurs would be in FW but they I had an aha moment.... I think I know where you are heading not too far from Mission Space.

Silly girl.

Safe travels this weekend my friend!!

Thank you; so much for getting any sleep this weekend again. We will be on the road by 7:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Perhaps you and Mark need to let them know it's suppose to be fun, not work, on having a baby.

I think he knows that.

That was a great update Kathy!

Thanks, D.

First of all - I really like your first set of next year's dates better than the second set. :whistle

Is that a hint, my friend?

Secondly - what a bummer that the kids can't come - but BONUS - I love their reasons for staying behind! I am super excited for them - you will make awesome grandparents!

I do have to give them credit for their reasons, and I am so looking forward to being a grandma.

I do have to say that Soarin is one of our favorite rides... Every time that ride goes up - though - I get butterflies in my stomach... But I've never ridden on anything other than the front row.

I love it too; I just wish they'd fix the screen.

I don't ride MS either - the girls do - and they love it. I really need to take notes from you and find more coffee places in WDW...

This one is right on the left hand side once you finish walking the pathway between the buildings on either side and get into the open. I do wonder though if it will still be there now that Starbucks is open?

I hope you have a fantastic weekend this weekend - safe travels.

D~

Thanks, D. We promise to be safe.

Sounds like they have their priorities straight, though. Must have had good parenting.

They do, and I'm very proud of them for that.

Of course!

Used to be Test Track until they messed that all up.

CM awesomeness never gets old.

It certainly adds more magic to the trip.

Sure, what the heck.

Good...they are coming up soon.

I haven't posted much but have been following along. It looks like you guys have been having a lot of fun.

It's so good to see you; thanks for stopping by. We had a really great trip overall.

 

[KatMark]

I've done all the DISmeets spread out over 3 years 35 for one trip would be a lot

Phew...you scared me there that you were doing 35 in November/December. And all the while I'm trying to figure out how we are going to do all of ours and it certainly isn't 35!

sorry to hear the kids won't be making the trip with you next year, they do have a wonderful excuse though and just think of the wonderful trips you will have with the new grandbaby
have a great time with them this weekend!

It is a wonderful excuse and the only reason I am forgiving them. We plan on going to lunch at a local bar that makes THE best cheeseburgers in the world, then bowling, then their house for dinner (Alisha is making lasagna) and then boardgames. Sunday we will go to breakfast and then Markie has to be at the college for coach pictures and we are probably going to stop at the casino on the way home and see if I can win a little bit of money.

sweet you were announced to the crowd about your anniversary!
we are going to try Mission for the first time - green side though - got our FP+ for it already!

It was very sweet of him. No Mission for me ever again. Once was enough.

First of all! I hope you have a great weekend visiting the kids!!

Thank you, Toni-Marie; I'm sure we will have a blast.

I'm sorry they won't be able to join you next year, but those are pretty great reasons!! Perhaps there will be a new wee grandbaby to take in the next few years!! I know this past trip was the absolute greatest for my parents because Laura was there! It's a totally new kind of magical experience, they said!

I'm so glad you had a magical experience with that adorable princess of yours. I can't wait to share Disney with my grandchildren.


Mark looks so happy in that first picture!

It's very rarely that you will see him not happy (well, except recently with this stupid job situation).

Hooray for Epcot and a first Soarin' ride!!! There's something so peaceful, but exhilarating about that ride! Definitely a favorite here!!

I'm with you...a definitely favorite.

I love that the CM announced your celebration in line! That was really sweet Awesome for front row too!!

I love front row and no dangling feet and it was very sweet of the CM.

Mission Space-- I've always been curious about the ride, but am too nervous about it to try it!

I'm so sorry I ever let my husband talk me into it.

Cool hidden mickeys at the ride exit!!

I can't believe in all the years I waited for him at the end that I never saw those.

Dinos?!? Oooh! Can't wait!

(PS. I've started my TR (well intros anyway)! If you're interested, the link is in my PTR )

Yep, Dinos coming up. And I was first to subscribe to your TR.

I'm sorry M&A won't be joining you next year but their reasons do sound understandable. Hopefully you can all make the little trip to St. Louis next summer. What will A be studying when she returns to school?

I'm sorry too, but I do understand. Alisha is going to radiology school. She was on a wait list for two years and that is why they ended up moving up the wedding date (the kids weren't supposed to get married until next year). She got a call that she could start up this past August, but with the house being torn apart to remodel, she didn't want to quit her job this year. So she'll start next year, quit working full-time and probably go back to her part time job as a CNA.

Great morning picture of Mark at OKW! Cute!

Thanks.

I love Soarin'! Oranges!!

I love that smell in that attraction.

What are your thoughts on visiting the World in August?

HOT HOT HOT and RAIN RAIN RAIN. We would do it again if we had to (reason we have two different sets of dates for possible next year), but we much prefer April, May and September.

Also, our quote of the day at work today is from Walt Disney:
-"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality."

LOVE IT!

I will take Disney any way I can get it! Especially these days.

I hope things are getting better.

Have fun visiting the kids and rolo this weekend.

Thank you, we will. I'll try to get some pictures of Rolo with his grandpa and me.

YAY!!! How fun for you..

Can't wait to be on the road in the morning.

I'm so Sorry!!!

I am too.

WHAT?!?!? THIS IS AWESOME!!! You deserve a grandchild!!! Oh my goodness this baby will be spoiled Perfectly!!!i AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!

You are just too sweet. Let's not get too excited though. They aren't even going to try until the end of next year and she has had some health issues which we are hoping won't cause her to not get pregnant.



Don't cry because....

When will you be in Disney?!?!?
now i am really excited!!!

Now you are happy. Whichever week we go with, we start in Disney for seven nights and then drive to Marco for 10 days.

This is just way too adorable.

Yep; he's a keeper.

But it says DO NOT ENTER!!!

Ssssh....don't tell anyone.

but of course!

Dinos coming up soon.

Well you sure got an early start at Epcot. I can not do Soaring.. it made me dizzy, well dizzier than usual

I'm sorry; that's how Star Tours makes me feel.

Sorry the kids won't be going with you next summer. We always go as a family. A couple of trips my son Brian has not made it. This year my son in law Sean isn't coming. But my daughter Megan is a diehard Disney lover. In fact she and I have done 3 trips without Andy. Of course she has the two grandsons and I don't think they would let us go without them. This .Dec Cody will be turning 13 on our trip so probably soon he won't think we're cool But Connor is only 5 so we will have him for many more trips

You never know...Connor may end up being the one that loves Disney the most. We had Andy with us a couple of times since he became an adult, but never Mark. But I'll gladly wait until they give me grandbabies for them to all come.

 

[KatMark]

Well, those certainly are good reasons for not going. I know you and Mark will have fun anyway, but too bad they couldn't tag along.

Oh, I'm sure we'll survive without them (I told Mark that we are doing a tour again since we're not paying for the kids )

Nice extra touch.

It was.

Of course you did.

I almost went back for a second one but the line was too long.

Well, yeah, but unless you're talking about the ones in AK, the back of my eyelids usually get in the way.

I don't know why Universe doesn't get more love here?

Kathy I am 20 pages behind I think Sorry, VERY glad to hear your brother's procedure went well And very very sorry to hear what is going on at Mark's job Just horrible! Thankless, after all Mark has given to the company!

Thank you, my friend. Bob is doing really well (saw him last night) and we are just waiting for the end of the year to see what happens.

And I see Mark redeemed himself on Buzz, it was a close margin though

Very close margin!

She knows we are going but the kids don't. She doesn't know about AKL, BOG lunch, Boma lunch & dinner ADRs. She knows about the rest.

You are the sneaky one, arne't you?

Feel free to call but I usually keep my phone on vibrate. Should I just email you my credit card info now?

Maybe you should!

 

[afwdwfan]

I don't know why Universe doesn't get more love here?

I like it. I really do. But it has a lot of things working against it. It is one of those attractions we always do during the middle of the day when we don't want to wait in line for something else so you're already kind of tired. Then you're spending about 45 minutes in a dark air conditioned building where you're going to be sitting down for a while.

Yeah, no way I'm staying awake.

 

[KatMark]

So in my last update, I promised you some dinosaurs. So here we go.

We headed here:



We arrived near the end of the pre-show with Ellen and Stupid Judy:



Then our cars started their extremely slow forward motion and we were seeing these guys:



I took a few pictures during the ride (no flash) and I'll post them (although they aren't great):



It's Stupid Judy:



After our ride with dinosaurs, we headed back towards Mark's favorite:













We hadn't done a very good job of watching the time and realized that we would not finish lunch to use our fastpasses and we would be late if we tried using them right when the started. So being the kind people we are, we found a newly married couple who were heading towards that area and gave them our fastpasses. I got the biggest smile from the groom and the bride asked if she could hug me. It made me feel good to share some

So we proceeded on our way to World Showcase which is where we were having lunch. I took a few pictures along the way:











We saw Alice skipping to meet some special guests as we continued our walk:





And then we were there

Continued in next post

 

[KatMark]

We had arrived at our destination:



They were not quite open for business yet, but told us we would be the first one's seated. While we waited, I took a few pictures:







At exactly our ADR time, we were being shown to our table.





The view from our window:



Menu:



Our lovely waitress came over and took our drink order -- a diet coke for me and an iced tea for Mark



Our waitress suggested with what we were planning on ordering that we get the Prix fixe 3 course menu. Mark and I both ended up ordering the same thing:

French Onion soup topped with Gruyere cheese



Our bread (yes, we were pigs and had two of these):



Our entree -- the Classic french toasted ham and cheese sandwich:



And then came dessert. Oh my.

I believe mine was the Profiteroles au chocolate sauce



And Mark had the Creme Brulee



We first ate here last December with Todd and Nicki on Mark's 60th birthday trip and it is now a must-do at least once a year. We just love it and everything was perfect.

Soon, we had a visitor:



Our darling waitress took a photo of the two of us:



Up next, more World Showcase, a planned DIS meet and an impromptu DIS meet.

Have a great weekend everyone...going to see the kids.

 

[KatMark]

I like it. I really do. But it has a lot of things working against it. It is one of those attractions we always do during the middle of the day when we don't want to wait in line for something else so you're already kind of tired. Then you're spending about 45 minutes in a dark air conditioned building where you're going to be sitting down for a while.

Yeah, no way I'm staying awake.

I can see that. I remember the first time we rode Universe of Energy with both kids...Markie was about 18 months old. He hadn't "gone" to the bathroom and he was cranky and we figured tired. So, knowing you can nap on this ride, we thought we'd try it. Well, we no sooner started moving in our "slow moving" cars and he decided it was time to fill his diaper. I was sure the entire place could smell it. The good news is that he did fall asleep.

 

[emmysmommy]

There's those Dinosaurs! Stupid Judy! I'm not sure why I like this attraction so much.. it's not thrilling, it's not nostalgic per se, and it doesn't even move fast. Maybe Ellen just makes it entertaining.

Ahhhh lunch at Chefs de France. I love that place. We usually sit by those windows in the front too. Great tables for two. This was the first time we had to miss eating here since we first started coming to WDW. It was for a good reason but I haven't made it that far in my TR. Glad you two liked it. I always order that soup and the crème brulee. Nice couples pose. It looks like you are trying to keep Mark under control by holding his arm!!

I know which Dismeet is which!!

 

[Millie12591]

Oooh, Ms. Kat. So sorry to hear about the kids not going next year. I know how excited you were about them coming.

But! As you said, it's all for very good reasons, and before you know it, you'll have the sounds of pitter pattering feet to chase after!!
I can't wait to get the amazing news you are going to be GRANDPARENTS!! <said in my best Coral voice>

Mark looks so cute looking over the balcony with his Mickey hat on.

Have an amazing weekend, and let us know how it goes. We want pictures of the grand-puppy and kids!

 

[MEK]

Beautiful pictures of France!

Love that you were seated first. I had the exact same lunch and I thought I would die from being so full. That soup and sandwich were SO delicious. What a yummy lunch.

Pretty view from your table.

Oh yeah - Stupid Judy!

 

[KatMark]

I'll do replies after the weekend, but I got my Photopass CD and wanted to share the pictures I have up to my latest update. Enjoy:







































Continued in next post

 

[dreamsofdisney]

Subbing along!

I've loved hearing about your trip so far and seeing all of the wonderful pictures you've shared! You two are absolutely adorable and every picture of the two of you smiling or being silly together brings a smile to my face! How lucky you are to have each other!!!

Okay, that was a whole lot of exclamation points, but I just thought you should know that your report is bringing a little bit of sunshine to a lot of people out here in DISworld!

 

[KatMark]

I failed to mention on the appropriate day (which would have been Sunday), I talked Mark into seeing the princesses when we first got back to the Magic Kingdom. We had never done it. He wasn't thrilled, but he did it for me. Here are the pictures from that encounter.

First up, Cinderella:







Aurora:









And last, but not least, was Rapunzel. I have to say she was the best of the three. We had a blast with her. She was charming and funny.





She asked if we could make funny faces for a picture. I thought it best to let her and Mark go at it:







Continued in next post

 

[jedimeg16]

I'm still catching up, but I have to say that we had the same Rapunzel during our April trip and she was great! And how the heck did Aurora not know that the front of her dress was flipped up in a weird way?

 

[KatMark]

For some reason, we didn't get many photopass pictures at the Animal Kingdom...probably because we were determined to get a lot done (which we did). And my photopass pictures with Donald Duck at Tusker House are missing? Luckily, I had the one from my phone/camera.

Here's the rest of the pics up until our lunch at Les Chefs de France:

 

[Luvchefmic]

What wonderful Photopass Anniversary pictures

 

[englishrose47]

Love those PP pix !!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Great photopass pics, Kathy! I thought about picking out favourites, but I can't, they are ALL great!
Thanks for sharing.

 

[MEK]

WOw - your PP pictures turned out GREAT! So many cute shots of the two of you!

I'm doing a PP share this trip. I guess I am really going to have to try to get some cute shots like those.

I really like your outfit in the very first pic. Looks great on you!

Have a great weekend!