"You Guys Are Cast Members... Right?" - A December 2011 TR

[JessicaFaye508]

Hey girl! I'm subscribing! The moment I get all caught up with this craziness of coming back to the dis I am going to read this! But for now I just wanted you to know that I'm here and excited to begin the adventure!

 

[Eira]

Subscribed! Can't wait for some fun Disney goodness! I also obsessed with Disney trip planning since around grade five when I got the internet at home. lol! I look back and wonder how I didn't end up a travel agent specializing in Disney with all the research I did.

 

[marDgreen88]

I'm in!

Hi! Thanks so much! You were FIRST!

Subscribing! Since we had one day of overlapping on our vacations, I'm excited to see if my husband and I appear in the background of any of your photos, haha.

Thank you! That would be so cool! I guess we'll find out... eventually!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR PICTURE WITH EUGENE<3 My Prince!!!! I'm so jealous. He doesn't do M&Gs anymore and I am really NOT okay with that!

I can't believe your parents wouldn't take you to Disney all those years and you were obsessing over it and wanting to go so bad and couldn't. My brain would have exploded. You are a strong woman!

Wooohoooo!! Can't wait for more!

Hi Lia!!! OMG RIGHT?! He even did the smolder... oh my heart.

Hahaha thank you! I mean, they really just thought it would be too expensive, but I know they wanted us to be able to go. I think they just thought all the hotels were like the price of the Grand Floridian or something.

Thanks I'm so glad you're here!

I am sooo in!!! It looks like such a fun group. I can't wait to read all about it!!

Hi! Thanks so much for being here! I'm hoping to post the first update sometime tomorrow!

Subscribing! Looks like you went with a fun group of friends, can't wait to read about your adventures.

Thanks Lessa! We definitely had fun. Glad you're here!

I'm in, too! And making sure to say hi and not lurk. I have no idea why I lurk sometimes, but since I'm here early enough, I'm definitely letting you know I'm here and reading along! Looks like it is going to be one really fun trip.

HI! Thank you! I'm glad you said hello. I definitely understand, I used to lurk too. I found that it's so much more fun to be involved so I'm so glad you're along for the ride!

Haha, I'm so excited about this! can't wait to see what you have to write about us!

HI AMANDA! I'm so excited! I feel so special that I was your first post, hahaha. WOO HOO! I'm gonna write the first update tomorrow so I'll text you when I do!

 

[marDgreen88]

Hi Marissa!! I'm following over from Sarah's TR! Can't wait to read about your trip. I live in the Orlando area (used to be a CP/Intern/Seasonal) and I'm now a teacher but I stayed at WDW in Dec with my family...I wonder if it was the same week!?

Hi! Thanks so much for being here! How cool that you used to be a CM! What were your Disney dates in December?

I'm here!! I can't wait to hear all about your trip. It sounds like you went with quite the fun, Disney-loving bunch.

I love your mom's 'pilgrimage to mecca' line. It's just too accurate.

HI KARA! I'm gonna try to post the first update tomorrow.

Hahaha, I know right? It really is. Thanks so much for being here!

Also joining in! Knowing a CM sure has its perks, doesn't it?

Hi Sarah! Thanks for being here! YES, it definitely does! I know you know all about that!

Joining in! Gotta give you credit for waiting out those 21 long years to finally go to Disney. I waited 13 and thought I held the record... boy was I wrong lol Sounds like it was a fun trip, can't wait to read all about it!

Hi! Thanks! Hahaha well, 13 years is a really long time too! Let's just say... nobody should ever have to wait more than like six months to go to Disney. Well thank you for being here, I should have the first update up sometime tomorrow!

I'm joining too. I don't get to WDW nearly enough!

Hi, thank you so much! Yeah I completely understand, hahaha.

I'm in! Wow I can't believe you had to wait so long to get to Disney, you poor girl! Glad you're making up for lost time, now!

Hi! Yeah, haha I'm definitely trying anyway! Thanks for being here!

I'm in like Flynn (and even though that saying originated for Errol Flynn, I think we can all agree that it should really be Flynn Rider)! Great start...can't wait to read more!

Hi! Oh yes... that should definitely be about Flynn Rider! Thanks so much for being here! I'm gonna try to post the first update tomorrow.

 

[marDgreen88]

I'm in!!

You have my sympathy for waiting so long for a trip to Disney. You've earned this!

Jenelle is AWESOME for helping you guys with the discounts. That was super generous of her.

Hi! Thanks!

Aww, well thank you. I'm just glad I have been able to go three times now.

She is awesome! We really appreciated it, she definitely didn't have to help us! We're very glad she did though, hahaha.

Subbing! Looks like a really fun group. We were just there in early December and I am in the midst of major withdrawal right now, so I'm trying to fix it by reading a ton of TRs! Can't wait to hear about your adventures.

Thank you! Yeah we definitely had a lot of fun! Hahahaha I hear you on that! Disney withdrawal hits the second I'm off property! It's just so sad. What were your December dates? Thanks for being here!

Subbing in! A trip with friends sounds like a ton of fun.

Hi! Yes, it was definitely tons of fun! Thanks for being here!

I'm in!

Hi, thanks so much! I'm gonna try to have the first update up tomorrow!

I'm in!!! I have to go back and read but I'm here!!

Hi! Thanks, I'm so glad you're here! Hope you enjoy!

Hey girl! I'm subscribing! The moment I get all caught up with this craziness of coming back to the dis I am going to read this! But for now I just wanted you to know that I'm here and excited to begin the adventure!

HI JESS! Thank you! Oh you take your time, I understand! Thanks for joining in!

Subscribed! Can't wait for some fun Disney goodness! I also obsessed with Disney trip planning since around grade five when I got the internet at home. lol! I look back and wonder how I didn't end up a travel agent specializing in Disney with all the research I did.

Hi, thanks so much! Well I hope you enjoy the Disney goodness I have coming up! Oh, I understand! We started young, what can I say? Thanks for being here!

 

[LilAnn]

I'm here! Excited to read along and a friend trip sounds like so much fun! I now I loved going with close friends. Oh the shenanigans that ensue!

 

[marDgreen88]

I'm here! Excited to read along and a friend trip sounds like so much fun! I now I loved going with close friends. Oh the shenanigans that ensue!

Hi Ann! Thanks for coming over! Oh yes, there will definitely be shenanigans...

 

[RyansMommy1]

Subbing!! Excited to read along!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Oh my goodness! You're intros are fabulous! Can't wait for more!

 

[dara00]

joining in!

 

[emma212010]

I'm joining in!! Looks like fun!

 

[marDgreen88]

Subbing!! Excited to read along!

Great! Thanks so much, glad you're here!

Oh my goodness! You're intros are fabulous! Can't wait for more!

Aw, thanks so much! I'm glad you liked them!

joining in!

Awesome, thank you so much for being here!

I'm joining in!! Looks like fun!

Aw thanks! Glad you're here!

 

[marDgreen88]

The One Where I Spontaneously Combust

Day 0: Tuesday, December 13-Day 1: Wednesday, December 14, 2011

My Disney Eve started just like any other day. Only, that isn’t true at all. The only thing on my mind when I woke up was: “I AM GOING TO MY FAVORITE PLACE EVER TOMORROW MORNING AND I MIGHT DIE OF HAPPINESS AND I HAVEN’T EVEN PACKED YET OR DONE MUCH AT ALL IN THE WAY OF PREPARATION.” Yeah… seriously. Once I was able to start thinking clearly, I freaked out some more. I mean, my official countdown had started at 118 days. So when I changed it to say 1 DAY, I just couldn’t believe it!

At that point, I had been to Disney twice. My first trip was with my family in late June 2010, and my second trip was five and a half months later in early December 2010. The day I had last been on Disney property was December 11, 2010, so it had been over a year at that point. It was too long of a wait. In other words, I never want to have to wait more than like six months to go back, ever again. The way I see it, I did my time. 21 years of hard time, to be exact.

Listen, I told you I go off on tangents… right?

So, Disney Eve was a busy day. Honestly, it would have been a busy day even if I hadn’t had to prepare for Disney. So finally around 10:00 pm I was able to take a shower and START packing. I took this BEAUTIFUL picture. (And yes, I do have a gigantic framed Titanic poster on my wall.)

Packing all my stuff actually didn’t take all that long. Thankfully, I had already sent some stuff ahead with Amanda, who was at that point already on her way with Ryan. (More on that later!)

After I was finished packing, I went to sleep. UM, YEAH RIGHT. I was wide awake. I mean... WIDE awake.

I went on the DIS, watched Aladdin, and did some Disney nails. I did basic Minnie Mouse, red with white dots. I didn’t take any pictures of them because I wasn’t in my right mind, but they’ll show up in random pictures later on. At this point it was about 3:00 am, and I was STILL awake. So I decided to do what any sane person would do at 3:00 in the morning: I rode my exercise bike 2 and ½ miles. Then I started to watch my favorite movie of all time, The Little Mermaid. Apparently having a movie memorized allows you to fall asleep on it. When all was said and done, I probably fell asleep at around 4 am.

I woke up at 7. (That’s 3 hours of sleep for those of you keeping track. ) But really, who needs sleep when it's DISNEY DAY?!?!?!?!?! The time I woke up was about the time that Sally was taking off on her first flight of the day!

I guess this would be a good time to explain to you our travelling situation. Originally, Sally was going to fly because her mom could get her flights for free, because she had Delta points to use up.

Amanda and I were going to drive the 500 miles over to Tennessee to our school to pick up Kristen, and just spend the night in her apartment, and drive the rest of the way to Florida early the next morning.

After I thought about it, I decided to try to get a flight down. See, I have a really weak stomach, (you’re gonna want to remember that little tidbit for later) and sometimes too much traveling by car and having to eat fast food every meal makes me sick. So I booked a flight down to Orlando on JetBlue, and I was going to be the first to arrive.

When Ryan officially decided to go, it was decided that they would drive his mom’s car because it’s bigger than Amanda’s car. Then they decided to skip the ‘spend the night in Tennessee’ thing and just keep on truckin’ down to Florida. Sally switched to earlier flights so we would be able just GO once we all got there. PHEW! Let’s continue.

After I woke up (and skipped around my room like a maniac), I got ready in record time, gathered up all my stuff, said goodbye to my mom, brother, and cat Sammy, and left! Before I could leave though, my mom took this picture of me. I look so tired already, oh boy haha. (That would be the last time I would need my jacket!)

My dad was taking me to the airport. We stopped at Starbucks along the way so I could have some breakfast. I got a morning bun (something you should all have if you have the chance) and some water and we continued on our way to RIC!

We made it there around 9, parked temporarily, and headed in. I had already printed my boarding pass and didn't need to check any bags, so we just headed to the little seating area outside the security gates and waited. My flight was at 10:30, so I didn't want to be sitting alone at my gate forever. My dad updated his facebook status to say: "Sitting at RIC with Marissa who is about to board her Christmas present to Disney World." He thought that was pretty funny, hahahah. I was getting a little antsy, so I decided to go through security at 9:30. That way, I would have a little bit of time to relax before boarding.

It was my first time experiencing the new security system and it was... interesting. Everything was okay for me, but not so much for the guys behind me. The security lady asked me, "Is this your suitcase?" I told her no, and she said, "You should be glad about that."

...

Right, because the girl with the blatant WALT DISNEY WORLD t-shirt and Mickey Mouse earrings is always the first suspect...

Apparently this father-son duo behind me thought they could bring about four snowglobes and two huge bottles of water through security. Um, hello? I guess everything turned out okay for them though, because they ended up on my flight!

After I stood at the gate for a while twiddling my thumbs, it was time to board the plane! We boarded a little after 10 and before I knew it, we were taking off! I just love JetBlue. I'm not even really sure why, it's just my favorite.​

The flight was a little bumpy, but nothing too bad. I watched the Price is Right while I listened to a million Disney songs on my iPod. Is it just me or is that guy NOT Drew Carey? I mean I know it is but GOODNESS, he looks so different!​

We ended up landing in Orlando a little bit early!

Continued in Next Update​

 

[arbolita]

Yay first update!!

I totally get where you're coming from with wanting to be in Disney all the freaking time. My parents took us once when I was 5, and that was it. I didn't get back there until 2008 As you can see from my signature, ever since my first trip back there, the time between visits keeps getting smaller and smaller. Clearly the solution is that I just need to move down there.

Anyway, TANGENT. Back to your TR =)

I really think you only need 3 hours of sleep to make it through your first day at Disney. You're going on so much adrenaline, you could probably do it on less!

I've never been on JetBlue - probably because they don't have any direct flights to Orlando from here, haha.

And yes on Drew Carey! Good for him for losing the weight/getting in shape, but he looks SO WEIRD to me now.

Great start! Can't wait to read more =D

 

[ZFamily5]

Great update!

Love that you rode your exercise bike when you couldn't fall asleep! Sounds like something I might do!

And I definitely agree you've put your time of waiting in! 21 years is a long time!

Can't wait for more! ​

 

[PirateKate]

I'm here and excited to read about your trip. I have to ask- which choir were your friends in together?

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I can never sleep properly the day before a big trip, it is all the excitement and travel nerves, at least you channeled that into exercise.

 

[LilAnn]

Wow, I am impressed that you were able to exercise while you were so antsy in the middle of the night. I probably would have just been camped out in front of the tv watching dvds or shows or whatnot.

love the Titanic poster - I may have had the same one in my dorm room. Right next to my Clueless poster. Because I was obsessed.

Um 4 snowglobes and 2 water bottles? Really? besides the fact that the suitcase must have been crazy heavy, did they miss all the security signs?

Best part of TRs coming up - arrival to Disney!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Great update! I know what you mean about being crazy before a trip! The excitement with a little added stress make for some interesting situations!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

I'm loving all of the attraction references in the intro post.

HAHAHA i love that you went on your exercise bike... because I do that all the time. I write my updates when I'm on it. It takes me mind off of the whole exercise aspect.

I love jet blue too. It's the best!

Can't wait for you to arrive at Disney!