Why Not Just Queue Up Another Disney Trip? Link to New TR 6/24 p136!

[tinacaplan]

Merry Christas! Beautiful pictures to conclude the HHI portion of your TR and I'm looking forward to the start of your Disney trip.

 

[KatMark]

MEK, the pictures of your departure day are breathtaking. I'm so glad you loved it, and I am looking forward to your December TR.

 

[Moira222]

Mary ellen what a wonderful update - Your HHI photos are terrific. You have such great shots of the sun rising and setting. Love those, and the Mickey Heads with shells

Hope you are enjoying your visit with family & having a wonderful Christmas.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Mary Ellen! I hope you had a great Christmas!! I can't wait to hear about your Disney trip.

Thanks for sharing your HHI trip with all of us. It sounds like it was wonderful. The resort is so beautiful.

South of the Border cracks me up because I stopped there a couple times when I road tripped from NH to FL with my best friend's family back in junior high/high school. I can't believe it still looks the same!

And the glove story is hilarious! We have EZ Pass too but do occasionally have to stop at a toll booth on our drives from DBIL's house to Orlando in our rentals. I've seen the gloves & think it's funny too... but I kind of get it... I'm a bit of a germophobe!

Can't wait to hear about Disney!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great ending to your TR, Mary Ellen! Love all the early morning beach shots, parting shots of the villa (love those tiles on the backsplash), and the South of the Border pics.

What a hoot about the toll booth incident, but I hate handling large quantities of money, so I can't really blame the toll booth attendant for wearing gloves. I might, too, if that was my job.

Now bring on the Christmas trip!

 

[Nermel9]

Great update! Love the sunrise pictures, and the pics of the villa, so pretty!

Ugh, South of the Border! We would stop there when I was a kid on our way to FL, it's such a strange place!

I would definitely be wearing gloves if I had to touch money all day!

Can't wait to hear about your Christmas trip!

 

[MEK]

Welcome Home Mary Ellen!! I'm so glad you had a fantabulous trip!!! I really enjoyed following you on FB and I can't wait to hear more about it!! Isn't the weather in the winter at Disney wonderful!!

Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks Jen! The weather was wonderful, even the overcast days were delightful. I am afraid that the lovely weather is going to spoil me for June when I anticipate searing heat again (like 3 years ago). But somehow I will manage.

I hope you and the prince and your entire family had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Merry Christmas to you adn the family, MaryEllen.

Thanks Kathy. Can I just tell you how much I LOVE this picture! It's perfect! Thank you!

merry christmas!

Thank you Lisa! I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas as well. I'm pretty sure by your FB posts than you did!

Mary Ellen, For you and your family wishing you a Merry Christmas

Thanks Pat. Same to you! I know your Christmas must be especially bright with a Disney trip just a few short days away. How I would love to go back right now!

Merry Christmas!!! Hope you had a fabulous day!

Thanks Pam. I hope you and your family had a wonderful day as well. Tell me - Does you upcoming trip seem closer now that Christmas is over???? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[MEK]

Great update. HHI is definitely on my list due to your marvelous pictures and attention to detail.

Thanks. HHI was fabulous! I can't imagine anyone not liking it, although I am sure there are a few people who don't. I considered it the perfect non-park trip! Can't wait to go back!

I am dying over the vinyl gloved hand, that is a riot! A lovely last morning although that drive home does NOT sound fun at all!

I thought it was hysterical. Not surprising given the times, but hysterical all the same.

Surprisingly I did not find the drive nearly as intolerable as I thought I would. I think its because I traveled with girls so the time was filled with girl talk. It many the miles go by much quicker.

I have not been through a tollbooth in ages but the gloved hand .....

I would have been caught off guard too.

.

That was exactly it. I don't stop at tool booths and there are so many high speed tool booths anymore than you see no one. I'm not surprised. I just didn't expect it and it cracked me up.

A wonderful end to a wonderful trip. That drive did sound long but then again I don't even usually drive to FL and that is only 8 hrs.

It was an 11 hour drive but because we hit surprisingly little traffic it was totally doable. I am used to sitting into ridiculous traffic everyday and this was nothing. Plus being with girls made the trip go so much faster.

Maybe I'm strange, but I would totally wear gloves if I was handling that much money/touching that many hands throughout the day! I don't think that's weird at all!

It's not weird. It's a sign of the times and I think nothing of the TSA people in their blue vinyl gloves, but perhaps since I have such a true aversion to stopping for tolls it hit me as very funny. I totally didn't see it coming.

I think if I was a toll collector I probably wouldn't use them, but I sure as heck would use a lot of gel cleanser. Definitely the economy size!

Glad that you enjoyed HHI! It seemed like a lovely and relaxing place!

Can't wait to hear about your WDW trip!!

I absolutely adored HHI and I really look forward to returning. It was the perfect combo of relaxation and touring and it kept me quite satisfied.

WDW trip updates should begin this week. Hopefully soon!

Great ending to your TR, those sunrise pics were beautiful! Love the pics from South of the Border! We used to stop there on our trips to/from WDW driving from Philly. We used to go in the stores just to look around and take pics. My parents were both smokers and cigs were cheap there too. We did stay in the hotel once too, it wasn't the best hotel we ever stayed in but it wasn't too bad at the time.

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the sunrise pics.

I'm glad you found the SOTB pics nostalgic. My GF L said the same thing about the motel. She remembers thinking it was so cool to stay there. It is cool from the standpoint that it is so retro 70's and believe me, I stayed in plenty motels like that while traveling with my parents as I was growing up.

Hope you had a great Christmas and can't wait to hear about your WDW trip.

I had a great Christmas. I hope yours was wonderful as well. WDW update coming soon!

I love all of your early morning pictures. I will always lament the fact that sadly, I am not an early riser, and will likely never get pictures that great.

I guess that is definitely an advantage to being an early riser. It takes me about a week of vacation before I can even start to sleep late and then its time to come home. Figures, right?

That toll booth story is too funny. I would have been the same way! You wear gloves now! Get out of town.....We have IPass here in Illinois, same concept. So nice not to have to worry.

I firmly believe everyone should have some type of toll pass. It should be a requirement. It will never happen, but its a great thought! Maybe a scanner built into a smart phone! I'm sure that technology is coming and how great would that be. A mobile toll app. Someone needs to do that. Then you could travel cross country and just switch to the system they use in that region. Perfect!

Loved hearing about your trip to HHI! You took some great pictures!!

Thanks. I'm so glad you enjoyed my HHI TR. I really do think it would be a fun place for an East Meets West reunion. There are so many fabulous restaurants in that region we would not even know where to start.

Now I have to tell you I'm especially looking forward to your pictures and your TR for your December trip!! CAN'T WAIT!!

I started out a little slow in the picture department, but I did fill a whole 8GB card and we took a ton of cell pics, so I ended up with plenty to share. I think my favs are going to be the Osbourne Lights. Those turned out pretty good. I'm pleased.

 

[MEK]

Merry Christmas! Beautiful pictures to conclude the HHI portion of your TR and I'm looking forward to the start of your Disney trip.

Same to you Tina. I hope you and the boys are a great day! So glad you enjoyed the pics since I took most of them with my cell and I didn't edit a thing.

My Disney TR will be starting very soon. I may work on the written part today and add the pics in the next several days.

MEK, the pictures of your departure day are breathtaking. I'm so glad you loved it, and I am looking forward to your December TR.

Thanks Kathy. I am so happy I hit the beach house at such a perfect time. And to think I almost missed sunrise on the beach. Next time I visit (and there will be a next time) I am going back with the real camera!

December TR is in the works!

Mary ellen what a wonderful update - Your HHI photos are terrific. You have such great shots of the sun rising and setting. Love those, and the Mickey Heads with shells

thank you! I was so lucky to see so many wonderful sunsets and sunrises. Really the best consecutive sun ups and downs I have ever witnessed. One of the many reasons I can't wait to go back.

I now have that Mickey Head picture as my screen saver on my phone. It makes me think Mickey and Warm all at once.

Hope you are enjoying your visit with family & having a wonderful Christmas.

Thanks! I hope your Christmas was awesome as well!

Hi Mary Ellen! I hope you had a great Christmas!! I can't wait to hear about your Disney trip.

Thank You! I hope you and your family had a great Christmas as well. Did you boys ever go to sleep???? I've heard a lot of stories of young kids defying sleep this year to get a glimpse of Santa.

Thanks for sharing your HHI trip with all of us. It sounds like it was wonderful. The resort is so beautiful.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it and I'm glad I had the chance to share it because it IS such a special place and I smile everytime I see my decal on my car.

South of the Border cracks me up because I stopped there a couple times when I road tripped from NH to FL with my best friend's family back in junior high/high school. I can't believe it still looks the same!

I bet its a great landmark for people traveling to Florida and the road signs certainly help with some of the boredom during those long stretches of nothing. I think its cool that it still looks the same. That's what makes it so unique.

NH to FL - wow - now that's a trip!

And the glove story is hilarious! We have EZ Pass too but do occasionally have to stop at a toll booth on our drives from DBIL's house to Orlando in our rentals. I've seen the gloves & think it's funny too... but I kind of get it... I'm a bit of a germophobe!

I totally understand why they do it. I'm not a big fan of touching money and other people's hands myself, but I just found it so amusing.

It's funny because Denny always drives in Orlando, so I never pay attention. I'm just focused on the arrival!

Can't wait to hear about Disney!!

Starting sometime this week!

Great ending to your TR, Mary Ellen! Love all the early morning beach shots, parting shots of the villa (love those tiles on the backsplash), and the South of the Border pics.

Thanks! I really enjoyed my final morning on the beach. That memory will last me through the cold winter months ahead!

Aren't those tiles great? I'm so glad I remembered to take their picture!

And SOTB - I am really glad we stopped there. It's a place I have always heard about, but never seen. It was fun!

What a hoot about the toll booth incident, but I hate handling large quantities of money, so I can't really blame the toll booth attendant for wearing gloves. I might, too, if that was my job.

I swear the reason I am the credit card queen is because I hate touching money, so believe me, I do understand. I just am too easily amused, me thinks!

Now bring on the Christmas trip!

Coming soon!!!!!!

Great update! Love the sunrise pictures, and the pics of the villa, so pretty!

Thanks! That sunrise on the beach (even though I technically missed it) was so wonderful. I really enjoyed my last few minutes down there. So peaceful. A wonderful memory!

Ugh, South of the Border! We would stop there when I was a kid on our way to FL, it's such a strange place!

It is a very amusing place and I am so glad L wanted to stop there, otherwise I doubt we would have. It's just a piece of Americana so it was almost a necessity, KWIM?

I would definitely be wearing gloves if I had to touch money all day!

That seems to be the general consensus, although I am still amused by it all.

Can't wait to hear about your Christmas trip!

And I can't wait to hear about yours. At least you have your arrival up to date. Hopefully I'll get that posted soon!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Such pretty early morning pictures! Someday I'd love to check out Vero, Hilton Head and Aulani. But I need more points!!!!

Looking forward to hearing about your most recent trip!

 

[Pinkocto]

Thanks Pam. I hope you and your family had a wonderful day as well. Tell me - Does you upcoming trip seem closer now that Christmas is over???? Inquiring minds want to know!

I was in no means hoping Christmas would go faster, I just love Christmas so much. But the morning of the 26th it was one of my first thoughts. We're less than 80 days now!!!! And this Thursday I can finally made my reservations for things on the Dream which will really make it feel close. I have firmly decided that I need a break every three months. Not a big break, just a long weekend will do, but for my sanity I need to get away and relax.

 

[MEK]

Such pretty early morning pictures! Someday I'd love to check out Vero, Hilton Head and Aulani. But I need more points!!!!

Thanks!

Here's what I am hoping on HHI - I hope I get another unbeatable member discount rate the next time I go in late October. It was seriously killer and it saved me a TON of points.

I hear ya on Aulani - Even if I use all my yearly points I think I can probably only stay about 5 days. It is point pricey! That's for sure.

You would love Vero. There is nothing like the pool, room, beach circuit without minimal movement. It's fab!

Looking forward to hearing about your most recent trip!

Hope to start things rolling this week!

 

[LilAnn]

Those are gorgeous sunrise pics, especially considering you took them with your phone.

I would have to agree with your friend. I have a bridge phobia and would hate to drive the Chesapeake Bridge at night. Who am I kiddin? I wouldn't like driving over it during the day, either!

 

[MEK]

Those are gorgeous sunrise pics, especially considering you took them with your phone.

Thanks! I should probably work on some photobucket edits, but I like them the way they are. I love the one with the wake boarder (or whatever its called).

I would have to agree with your friend. I have a bridge phobia and would hate to drive the Chesapeake Bridge at night. Who am I kiddin? I wouldn't like driving over it during the day, either!

Truth be told, I'm not a big fan of bridges either and I could see myself developing a phobia of them as well, so I think that's why I force myself to do it. I make it into a joke and then its all good. I actually hate driving through tunnels more than I hate driving over bridges.

 

[jenjolt]

Yes the heat in June can be a bit "special" but you will have an amazing time!! One of these years I'm going to see Disney at the Holidays...it is the one thing I haven't done...I'm going to cross 4th of July off the list this year and then that just leaves Christmas!!!!

I'm so excited to see your Osbourne Lights pictures. I have no doubt they are going to be fabulous!!! Did you guys swim at all??!?!?

Yeah I would love to Hawaii but just thinking of the flight gives me anxiety....and to think I'm considering London and Paris LOL!!!

Hope you have a fabulous day Mary Ellen!!!!!

 

[MEK]

I was in no means hoping Christmas would go faster, I just love Christmas so much. But the morning of the 26th it was one of my first thoughts. We're less than 80 days now!!!! And this Thursday I can finally made my reservations for things on the Dream which will really make it feel close. I have firmly decided that I need a break every three months. Not a big break, just a long weekend will do, but for my sanity I need to get away and relax.

Sorry I missed this yesterday! Doh!

I agree with the every 3 month thing. I wish I could do it, but I do find that the shorter trips aren't fulfilling me as much. I guess I'm getting greedy.

Re: Christmas - I would think in all the preparation you don't think about your trip as much and then - Bam - Christmas is over and you're like, "Wow - When did it get this close?" 80 days

Yes the heat in June can be a bit "special" but you will have an amazing time!! One of these years I'm going to see Disney at the Holidays...it is the one thing I haven't done...I'm going to cross 4th of July off the list this year and then that just leaves Christmas!!!!

I never even thought about 4th of July, but I do think it would be fun with a bunch of DISers. I bet the late night park hours are insane.

I've had 3 prior June trips and several August trips, but the June 09 trip was scoorching. I know Jackie can vouch for that because she was there at the same time. I was so hot that by the last day I told Denny we had to go sit in the AC somewhere ALL DAY! I told him I didn't want to go back outside until we left for the airport. Now that's hot. But I do like going into the MK at 4pm and staying until midnight. I think its a blast.

I'm so excited to see your Osbourne Lights pictures. I have no doubt they are going to be fabulous!!! Did you guys swim at all??!?!?

I took about 130 Osbourne light pictures. That doesn't include Denny's phone pics. I went crazy. REALLY crazy! I was so excited that they weren't blurry that I just kept snapping away.

Yes - we swam, but mostly I sat in the hot tub, which was huge and never crowded.

Yeah I would love to Hawaii but just thinking of the flight gives me anxiety....and to think I'm considering London and Paris LOL!!!

I hear ya - I am no longer a long distance flier. 2 hours is plenty for me - Thank you very much. And to think that I actually flew to New Zealand once. I don't think I could do that now.

Hope you have a fabulous day Mary Ellen!!!!!

Thanks Jen. You too!

 

[glennbo123]

Loved your pictures from the beach on your last morning.

Thanks for the TR...it was a great look at HHI. I definitely want to try it myself sometime.

 

[MEK]

Loved your pictures from the beach on your last morning.

Thanks! That last early morning on the beach was heaven! If/when I go back I will most certainly run down there again in the morning so I can have more moments like that!

Thanks for the TR...it was a great look at HHI. I definitely want to try it myself sometime.

You're welcome! I hope you do decide to try it and the drive really was NOT as horrible as I thought it would be. Definitely doable. I recommend 301 though if you are going to drive during the day time!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hey Mary Ellen! I just spent the better part of the afternoon catching up on your report. Thanks so much for the chapter links, that made it sooooo much easier!

Loved, loved, loved all of your pictures from your HHI trip, especially the ones from Charleston. Isn't that just the most beautiful city?! Glad you enjoyed it too

Can't wait to hear about Disney!

 

[MEK]

Hey Mary Ellen! I just spent the better part of the afternoon catching up on your report. Thanks so much for the chapter links, that made it sooooo much easier!

Michelle - Your BACK! Where have you been?????? I'm so glad you got caught up and I'm glad the links helped.

Loved, loved, loved all of your pictures from your HHI trip, especially the ones from Charleston. Isn't that just the most beautiful city?! Glad you enjoyed it too

I absolutely LOVED Charleston. I am certain I have never been in a more beautiful city. I am already planning to go back in fall 2013 with Denny. I figure we can stay in Charleston for a couple nights before heading over to HHI or we can do it in reverse. There is still so much I want to do and see.

Can't wait to hear about Disney!

Well, you are in luck because I am posting my first update tonight!