Will You Chill Out if I Sprinkle You With Pixie Dust? The End p136 *New TR Link* p138

[marDgreen88]

Ugh, yes. Test Track looks terrible right now! I got so depressed looking at it! I hope it doesn't end up being steel like that. It's not welcoming.

IllumiNations is the best. It's so beautiful and the music just makes it that much better.

Looks like a fun DISmeet!!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

What a nice Dis-Meet. I don't think I will be having a meet on this trip, no one seems to be going this week.

Tomorrow early we leave for WDW, I really need it this year!

Going to try to find that viewing area of yours.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I must have been posting when you put up the last part of your update.

Great DIS meet - I love the Cheesecake Factory - big menu! Thankfully the closest one is on the other side of the city, so I don't go often - I'd eat way too much!

Hey Wicket's mom - have a great trip!!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Oh my gosh, I hate losing updates, that's the worst! I type all my updates in Word now because I've lost them before and just gotten so frustrated at having to retype everything out.

Soarin' feet!!!

I'm not going to lie, the very first time I went on Soarin' (which was back when it was only in California Adventure), I totally flinched when the golf ball flew at the screen. Such a loser.

I'm going to have to remember your favorite Illuminations spot. I like the idea of having a good spot right before the show starts.

I thought it was always okay to eat with internet strangers?

What, you've never been to the Cheesecake Factory?! Oh, you are so right, it is not like Applebee's or Ruby Tuesdays. Sooooooo good.

 

[petals]

I must search out this Cheesecake Factory place next time I go to U.S.

Luvin the illuminations pics.

 

[krhst25]

Where is that spot by Norway? I 'll have to look for it although in December we have the CP dining package so I think we get to go to the reserved area for Illuminations.

Wow- the week went fast with your brother. Is that because they took the train?

Cool Dis Meet!

 

[glennbo123]

This was a wing it moment and I think I had a really fun update going, but I lost it. BOO.

Oh bummer! Sorry to read that.

Some of it was about my upcoming trips.

I'm sure Denny can help you with that, he knows all the details.

But one part of it was about a DIS meet I had last night.

Yup, that's right - 3 DISers from Delaware and 1 DISer for PA met at the Cheescake Factory at a local mall for a Delaware DIS meet.

Somehow I managed to convince Denny that it was OK to go out to eat with internet strangers. And guess what, I think he actually enjoyed himself. I know the rest of us did.

Yep, we had a great time! Thanks for coming out to meet us.

I posted my pictures too. You can see them here

I have a love hate relationship with the cheesecake factory. Menu is so big it annoys me, it is typically a long wait and it's a little on the pricey side to take the whole gang. But it is pretty good food! The funny part is I don't think any of us have ever actually had the cheesecake, we are too full!

We commented that the menu is like a book -- so hard to decide. Judy always gets just an appetizer and then cheesecake, of which she only eats half and takes the rest home. You really need to try the cheesecake sometime!

 

[amandaw]

So glad the rain stopped and that y'all were able to have a nice night in EPCOT!!

And what a fun DIS meet! I love the Cheesecake Factory sooo much! YUM! I wish there was one by us where we live. Although that's probably a good thing there isn't as much as I love cheesecake.

 

[Moira222]

Yay for a new ticker! A cruise sounds like a great way to pre celebrate a milestone birthday!

Loved your Soarin pixs even if you did get in trouble. We have only ridden Soarin once--we never manage to get FPs early enough and waiting in a two hour line is nuts!

How nice that you finally found your brother's happy place in Disney!

You and Denny should get major points for letting your bro and sil go to dinner alone. And it looks like you had a nice dinner as well!

 

[Poolrat]

3 Judy's!!! (This is actually the first time I am FIRST at a Judy guess!! Can I get a half point for this or something??)

I was going to post 3 Judys too!!!!


Illuminations is wonderful. I really like the full orchestra music.

I have great memories of that show, so I keep going back.

 

[annmarieda]

We watched Illuninations not far from that spot in December... not the EXACT spot.. but it was still pretty nice.

How fun to have such a big dismeet. I envy all of you in the midwest to east part of the country...seems like there are more disers out there. Course... I know there are actually few of us out this way( eandesmom ) just not as many.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

What a fun DIS meet! I love Cheesecake Factory... although I once made the mistake of looking at the nutritional information. I don't recommend doing that. You're better off not knowing...

So glad your brother's family got to experience Illuminations. I'm a big fan of the show. I have never tried a Norway viewing spot... maybe I'll give it a try in October.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I'm so glad that you guys got to watch Illuminations for your nephews last night. It is a wonderful way to end a vacation! Its sad that they have to leave, but I'm sure you appreciated a little breathing room. Its always nice to vacation with extended family, but its nice to have a little solo time too.

 

[englishrose47]

3 judy's ooops wrong threadBy the way I won that round of Judy's !!! Great piz of Soarin' and Illuminations !!!

 

[MEK]

Well, hello stranger!
I'm going to use the links to get caught up.
I know this trip report has some good stuff to read.....

Wait a minute. There are links, right?!?

Long Lost DISer! Yes - there are links and I usually keep them pretty well up to date. Sometimes I don't put the last link up right away. I know you are super busy right now, so take your time. Once you get behind on the DIS its easier to just let it go.

Dang!! I got really behind!! I have been working and getting ready to leave on our trip Thursday!!!!! Woo hoo, I can't wait!

So you are leaving THIS Thursday! I couldn't tell for sure by your TR that I was checking out yesterday. You must be SO excited. I hope you all have a great time! I have the weather is perfect and the crowds are lower. There certainly are a lot of DISers in the world this September and I am losing track of who is going when.

I LOVE the strawberry shortcake at Sunshine Seasons! On our first trip, we went to Epcot first. I will admit, we were totally overwhelmed!! We were shocked to see such long lines for Soarin' as in CA they have soft openings at CA Adventure and we would go in and ride Soarin' about 4 times prior to park opening!! Anyway, we ate there and I had the shortcake!! My grandmunchkin, 3 at the time, called it strawVERY shortcake, as it had so many strawberries!

strawVERY shortcake! That is too cute. It was pretty darn yummy.

I find the lines for Soarin somewhat overwhelming. That's why I like to get my FP and get out. I don't want to go back near the crowds until its time to use that FP.

As for Figment, we go on it every trip, usually staying on and riding it twice, or 3 times. My grandmunchkins love it. I think it's cute and so different, so that makes me like it even more!

It's a great ride for little kids, so I knew my nephews would enjoy it, especially the younger ones.

How cool that your brother liked Soarin' so much! I'm feelin' his new found Disney love now. :

Yup - he definitely started feeling the Disney love on this trip. It got stronger and stronger as the time went on. Lots of this -

The cruise sounds great! My daughter is trying to talk me into a Disney cruise out of TX next year. Really the prices are not horrendous, but I told her we would do a cruise AFTER she gets a job.

Good plan. I hope you are able to plan one in the future. I am really looking forward to mine.

Looking forward to you Epcot night!! I love Epcot!

Me too. The weather cleared and we had a lovely evening.

Just keeping up so I don't get to far behind!!!

Rosie - you are so funny! You are always keeping up, but the funny part is you always post right before I do an update. It's like you have ESP or something.

I love Illuminations!! The music is so wonderful - I will listen to that at home, work, in the car...
Where precisely is that spot?? I may have watched from there in the past. We often end up near Norway or Mexico.

If you walk out of the Norway area just literally go straight ahead. I am usually standing with the Askerhaus to my back. I discovered it a long time ago when we had just gotten over the Maelstrom and Illuminations was getting ready to start. I looked around and it was fairly empty, so we lined up and had a great view. It just sort of stuck because I am so last minute sometimes.

DH told me the other night that we (the DIS crowd that will be there in October) should all go in together and book a party or reserve or whatever you do to sit on that patio in Italy to watch Illuminations! I've no idea if that's possible or what. But I thought it was funny that he suggested it!

Christine actually looked into that awhile back. It's a little pricey for the dessert party and you have to have a fairly exact number. As cool as it would be, it seemed like it would be a nightmare to plan. That's so cute that your DH suggested it because it really IS a great idea.

I love your evening shot of Spaceship Earth!!! I seem to take a lot of those - it's always so pretty.

Spaceship Earth is definitely my favorite iconic Disney structure. It's such a great focal point. I mean, nothing can compare to the castle, but SE comes pretty darn close.

Too bad your Bro's family is done. I hope they enjoyed it for the most part! And you and Denny can have some quality time too!! YAY!

It's a shame that for a week's vacation they literally only had 4 park days and 1 evening in the park. But, yes, they really did enjoy it and I think it was just enough to entice them to go back.

What a fun meet! And it appears....adult only? wow!

I know. Pretty cool. I have to give the shout out to Glenn for pulling that all together. It came together fast. And, of course, I have to give a shout out to Denny who agreed to go. At first he said, "no way". Ever so slowly he may turn into a DISer.

I have a love hate relationship with the cheesecake factory. Menu is so big it annoys me, it is typically a long wait and it's a little on the pricey side to take the whole gang. But it is pretty good food! The funny part is I don't think any of us have ever actually had the cheesecake, we are too full!

The menu was HUGE and I basically just ordered the first thing that caught my eye because I rather talk than waste time studying it.

I didn't notice the wait to be very long, but it was so crowded in there.

I would definitely go back there to eat as I found the food really tasty.

You must try the cheesecake next time. They are very great about boxing the leftover cheescake as no one can finish it. I took a slice home for Brian and Nick to split and it was sooooooo good.

I recognize the top you are wearing

I think I wore that to Jiko. Funny, cause I don't wear it all that much. I guess I'll have to retire it now so it doesn't appear on the DIS boards again.

Great update. The last fireworks show, anywhere, is always bittersweet. What a lovely evening for it. I really need to get that music.

I need to get that music too. Because when I look at the pictures I try to conjure it up and it doesn't work all that well.

How cute that he brought it up! Now that Jeff has been spoiled by an illuminations cruise, and TOL, he is looking for those kinds of things too. Once upon a time there was some talk about doing that but it never really went anywhere official.

I feel the same way. It really is nice to plan those little "extras". They add so much to a trip. I don't want to get to far ahead of myself, but Denny and I ate at the Bistro later in the trip and we had the most amazing view of Illuminations. Definitely added that extra touch.

3 Judy's!!! (This is actually the first time I am FIRST at a Judy guess!! Can I get a half point for this or something??)

I am never first at a Judy guess because I can NEVER see the pictures till I get home. So, yes, I think you deserve a half point or something. Don't you agree Glenn?

Yay for Illuminations!! I love love love that show!

I saw it two more times before the trip was over and it was fabulous each and every time. Love it!

I'm glad you liked the Cheesecake Factory! I love it there! (Not just because it was the location of DF's and my first date )

It was really good. I am not a fan of the mall because its crowded and the parking stinks, but the next time we head out again for dinner I am going to suggest it. I did have a glass of wine and Denny had a beer and those drinks were more like Disney prices. I hate that.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I thought I had only taken a picture or two on our first ride in the afternoon before I got nailed for taking pics, but in actuality I found more pics on my phone. I doubt I had the nerve to take them that evening, but here they are.

You are such a rebel.

Doesn't Test Track look dead. literally.

I can't wait to see what it's like when it opens again, though!

But we did ride Maelstrom and I have one crappy picture to prove it

Ah, yes. Where vikings, trolls, oil rigs and cruise ships combine to tell the story of...something.

After we rode Maelstrom we went to my favorite viewing spot in Norway to line up for Illuminations.

Why is it my favorite you ask? Well, because you can literally walk up to the spot one minute before the show starts and get a wonderful view. Very few people know to stand there. Is it the closest vantage point to the globe? No. But the unobstructed view makes up for it.

I wish I had known of this spot. I think your cell phone pictures turned out better than ours.

Once the fireworks from the lagoon start to clear you notice this non descript globe

I still think they spend too much time on the globe spinning around.

I really love when the globe starts to separate

That is a cool part of the show.

I think everyone was touched. It was lovely. And I felt bad for my brother and his family because it was their last night. Tomorrow they would be packing to return home. I am sure they were all wishing that the magic could stay a little longer.

But you were also a tiny bit relieved, right?

Yup, that's right - 3 DISers from Delaware and 1 DISer for PA met at the Cheescake Factory at a local mall for a Delaware DIS meet.

This picture was taken with the flash. It stinks, but please note that a certain DISer is making rabbit ears behind my head.

What a jerk. I would have kicked him in the shins.

In my defense, that was on about the 80th picture we took.

Somehow I managed to convince Denny that it was OK to go out to eat with internet strangers. And guess what, I think he actually enjoyed himself. I know the rest of us did.

I enjoyed meeting him. He probbaly thinks I'm hard of hearing because I kept asking him to repeat himself.

 

[KatMark]

Love the pictures from Soarin'.

Great update on Illuminations, MEK. I did not know about that spot. If we stop for the show (I'm not a big fan....I know I'm in the minority), maybe we'll check out your spot.

for a DIS meet! And why am I NOT surprised that a certain DISer is giving you bunny ears?

 

[MEK]

I enjoyed meeting him. He probbaly thinks I'm hard of hearing because I kept asking him to repeat himself.

OMG. I really have to get off the DIS boards now, but I am laughing so hard I had to reply to this -

You probably wouldn't have had to ask him to repeat himself if he wasn't mumbling. I was sitting right next to him and I couldn't hear him. So, Mark, you are NOT losing your hearing.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

for a DIS meet! And why am I NOT surprised that a certain DISer is giving you bunny ears?

You probably wouldn't have had to ask him to repeat himself if he wasn't mumbling. I was sitting right next to him and I couldn't hear him. So, Mark, you are NOT losing your hearing.

Whew. Well that's a relief!

 

[amazingact21]

Hmm, I don't think I've thought to watch IllumiNations from Norway before. I'm going to store that little tidbit of information away for the future.

Even with your cell phone, I think you got some great Illumination shots.


And that picture of the fountain on the way to MouseGears. Made me wish I were in Epcot right now.


That's really cool that you got to have a DISmeet dinner. Sounds like a lot of fun. I've never been to the Cheesecake Factory before, either, but the dessert definitely looks delicious!