We're Disney Bound

I need to find a weatherman and complain because it is COLD here in Florida. The day time is great, the morning and evening though is KILLER. I nearly froze last night waiting for Illuminations (EPCOT's evening spectacular). Oh well, we're still having a great time.

There were a few things I forgot to mention in our first update that Erin reminded me of. Unfortunately, she is asleep and I can't remember all of them, but Erin did want me to relay that a bird pooped in her purse. That's right not ON her purse IN her purse. It was a direct hit, man! The bird had great aim. I, of course, found it hysterical. She...well... not so much. lol! Dad's walkie talkie got the brunt of the assault, but everything's clean and Erin has quit gagging, so it's all good... I guess...

As you may recall in the last post we were off to Downtown Disney after getting SOAKED at the Animal Kingdom. We did some shopping but only got to about half of the shops - no biggie, we are going back on Monday - Erin had figured out what she was getting her kiddos and was on a mission. I bought a ton of scrapbook stuff - again - and we killed our feet. Got into Coronado around 10:30 and went to bed.

Slept in a bit - or at least tried - yesterday... until Erin ROLLED out of bed. Litterally. One minute I'm listening to her yelling in her sleep ("Toni... stop it!") and then I watched her roll over and fall off the bed! Onto the floor! Between the wall and the bed! Needless to say the sleeping stopped there and we both were laughing SO HARD! I got video. It was great.

So we got dressed and bummed around. We both decided on tanks and I put on shorts... yeah... the sun was out and the high was supposed to be decent. But I decided that I didn't want to pack my clothes around the park all day so that came to bite me in the butt last night!

We both ended up with sun burns (very mild) but it was just a GORGEOUS DAY! We toured around the World Showcase, though the last few we just walked through because Erin *had* to get her passport filled. *rolleyes* nevermind we're going to go at least two more times but whatever.

Anyway we started off going around counterclockwise. That put us in Canada first and we toured around there, took a ton of pictures (which I am going to upload soon!), and then headed off to the UK. We actually made it all the way over to Morrocco before having to come back and check in for our lunch. In France we saw the sign for character greetings and who would it be but SLEEPING BEAUTY! Well, of course I got excited and we made that our top priority after eating...

So, we got to Le Cellier and checked in and didn't have too long of a wait, which was great because we were HUN-GRY! Sat down and I already knew what I want. We sat next to this really nice older couple and it was his REAL birthday so they told us happy bday (we all had bday buttons) and we just started talking. The minute you say Alaska or Montana for some reason everyone gets surprised that you're there. It's like - yes they let us out of the area. Really!

They asked us about Sarah Palin and we gushed about her - does anyone dislike this woman? I mean, really! It's funny how she becomes one of the first topics now, forget daylight questions or snow/temps... it's all about Sarah.

Anyway I ordered a Shaved Prime Rib sandwhich, and Erin had the Grilled Chicken sandwich with a side of baked mac and cheese. I had a couple of bites and it was tasty to me. My sandwich was very very good... and we were both very very full so we didn't finish. Ken = the birthday guy sitting next to us = got dessert for his bday and it was a chocolate "moose" it was really cute and Erin fell in love with it but didn't think she could eat one so Ken let her pose with his dessert! They were AWESOME!

After lunch we waddled around the world for a bit... took pictures with Sleeping Beauty, Belle & The Beast (or as Erin kept saying "Belle & the Beauty" LOL), and the Genie. Next time we'll get the Mickey characters and Snow White & Dopey, and Mulan & Mushu!

We also watched several of the street performers, and that was cool. The Jamminators are like Disney's small version of "STOMP!" and they were entertaining and a great way to kick off the day... then when we were in UK we got to watch a three man (plus audience members) reenactment of King Arthur and the Holy Grail. Very good, and very funny. We also saw a group perform Romeo and Edna in Italy, but we just caugt the tail end of that one.

We made it to Mexico THREE HOURS before the fireworks and sat down to save a seat for Illuminations. And we sat and froze. Met another nice older couple (they were from Illinois) and we chatted most of that time. They also gushed about Sarah Palin and so it was all good. ha ha!

While waiting for the pyro show to start we kept watching the guys in the boats driving around and everytime we'd see them come by we'd cheer for them. Needless to say I have no voice this morning. I sound like mom did after Big Thunder Mt. Railroad! haha!

We ended up sitting with the couple just because people kept standing in front of us and they were worried we wouldn't get good pictures so we hopped over and we all complained about how cold it was and that the wind was cruel lol... and that time ticks by way too slowly (But that's really a good thing because I don't want this vacation to go by that quickly, ya know? and it really hasn't... so far)

Anywho today we're headed for Disney's Hollywood Studio's (formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios) and we're going to spend all day there and we are going to find Maleficent. We have to!

Oh and my awesome best friend who got me to ride Space Mountain for on the second time in my life (And final time!) bought me a wicked cool light up Princess Aurora toy last night (because we couldn't find it at the Magic Kingdom) for being so good on the ride. ha ha! I love it! Erin ended up getting one of Minnie Mouse. They're cool because their skirts light up and spin. Wheeeeeeeee!!!!!


Alright. Erin needs the computer for work stuff so I'm going to jump in the shower.

Edit 1 - here are the links to the albums on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=95418&l=276d7&id=733500663
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=95821&l=7d374&id=733500663

After issues with the internet - my laptop is just pathetic - we're online!

We got into Orlando withtout mishap right on time. Got to DME and spent a bit of time in line and the bus but nothing horrible like the 'horror stories' by unhappy guests I've read online. Personally I think there are people who just think Disney should drop everything the treat them above others. This has been incredibly evident the last two days and while it's not ruining the magic too much for us it's certainly annoying. Everyone paid the price of admission, so suck it up princess.

Sad thing is - it's never the kids, it is the PARENT(s) that are whiney and beggy and pouty. Go figure.


Anyway we got into Coronado Springs about the time I figured we would. Played phone tag with the rents and judy while on the bus, and then we checked in. I love that there were NO LINES at check in. Met a really nice CM named Austin who checked us in. By this point ERin and I were pretty slap happy, and anyone that knows Erin knows what that means. I think she had him totally flustered because he kept forgetting what he was doing and half of the information was not talked out. That and Erin has people thinking I know everything about the parks/resort - which I don't! LOL

Anyway I asked for a bday button and then Erin asked if she could have one too... so she's stealing my thunder this week. She keeps lying and saying her bday is the 17th... she never says JANUARY = but it is implied. The bad girl. Still, she loves the attention, so it's good, I guess. Ha ha!

Anyway we were given a room in the Cabanas, not my first choice, but I'll take it. So far it's worked out pretty well. We went to the hotel room and flopped our stuff down, deplaned, and then headed over to the Pepper Market for some dinner. Grabbed some food and then sat down by the lake to eat. Then we walked around the resort so that Erin could get aquainted with the place and we could calm down. It did the trick and we came back to teh room. We unpacked and set up our room so that it looked spiffy.

Sleep came easily and we'd planned to get up at 8am so that Erin could get to her pedicure by 9, but we both popped up at 7:30. Erin was SO STOKED for not just her pedi but for Chef Mickey's. We haven't really been hit by by the jet lag bug, yet. Which is a good thing.

Erin went out to her pedi and had a great time. She got a chocolate mud put on her feet and then after all of that had her toenails painted purple. No Mickey ears, but her toes look fab. I met her over there about an hour later, and as she was finishing up I chatted with the lady doing the pedi. She found out I was from Alaska and asked how Sarah [Palin] was doing and we all gushed about the wonderful Governor! It's been so cool, I've run into so many people who are in LOVE with my Governor. EAT THAT MSM (...and John McCain)!

Anyway after that we both realized we forgot half of what we needed to we hoofed it back to the room, got stuff (and then went back again because I forgot something else) and then headed to our bus stop (Stop 4) and caught the bus to the Magic Kingdom. From there we took the Monorail and got to Chef Mickey's in plenty of time (though we thought we'd be late!), Erin was......... spazzing. And when I say that I'm not talking the norm. I'm talking Erin like I have NEVER experienced. It's no wonder her dad just laughed whenever we talked about going to Disney. He knew I had no idea what I was getting into!

Erin brought her Chef Mickey hat and wore it and basically was on cloud nine. She was like the five year old kids running around. Before we got seated we got to watch some of the action, and then Mickey went to take a small break and I told Erin that he wasn't coming back and she did a double take. Her facial expression was PRICE.LESS!

We were seated and then the magic just kept coming. Not only did the characters have fantastic interaction, Erin bounced, but we had a view of the Magic Kingdom. Top it off with the fact that we were both given bday cupcakes and it was just the perfect way to start the trip.

After that we headed to teh Magic Kingdom and didn't touch a single fastpass. I LOVE coming in the off season. We did a lot zooming from attraction to attraction but it was good. Rode Thunder Mt., pouted a tad about Splash Mt., said hi to Captain Jack. It was good times. WE got our pics taken with several characters and all in all it was enjoyable.

Our first attraction, though, upon entering was none other than......... FIRST AID! Erin forgot her ankle brace in Montana and so she went in there and got an ace bandage. So far, though, no other injuries! KNOCK ON WOOD!

We watched SpectroMagic across from the Sleepy Hollow snack shop. Then we got our sillouettes done - they are awesome! - and watched Wishes from there for a bit, but you couldn't see much so we made our way over to the hub and got some semi decent views. We'll park our keesters in a better spot next time.

Came home, I uploaded our photos onto facebook (have a few more to add) and then got our photopass stuff all figured out as well. If I can figure out how to put a link to our photopass photos I will because they are awesome. Erin is hysterical. I am so boring next to her.

Anyway we stayed up way too late and 7am came way too early (ok so *I* stayed up late. Erin was smarter than me - for once!) and we ended up being late to Donald's but not too bad. Had a great meal - food was way better than at Chef Mickey's and we had the GREATEST SERVER in all of WDW. Luis was so much fun! He's like the Spanish male version of Erin so they hit it off REALLY WELL. It was hysterical watching them interact.

After that we hit the parks. I kid you not - everything was pretty much just step on the flipping ride. We didn't wait more than 10 minutes for a ride or attraction. I tackled Everest again, and got dizzy... again. But then Erin went on it again by herself. It's her new favorite ride!

We also went a little character happy. Yay for photopass! I'm looking at them now. Erin's photos are so much better than mine it isn't fair!

The rain started to pour soon after we entered Bug's Life so we headed over to camp Minnie Mickey, got our photos and gave up. Got to the resort around four, soaked to the bone but happy. We've cleaned up and we're going to head to Downtown Disney in a bit. I gotta clean up my desktop first and upload pics.



oh and I almost forgot. When we exited Magic Kingdom last night Erin got on the phone with her dad and we were talking to him and I wasn't paying attention and I ran head on into those posts that are there as you exit. I pulled and Erin. She, of course, laughed incredibly hard and yeah.. so did her dad. The pootards!

ok I better get off before Erin gets mad at me.

Edit 1 - here's the photopass link = http://www.disneyphotopass.com/photoshareviewer.aspx?share=382b03ed-a3ce-4430-a237-8db91bcac4f5

Good morning, we are at day six in the countdown, and thankfully the day is not going by painfully slow... it's just slow. I have a job interview later this morning and then I'm going to be a cooking machine...

Anyway to continue our travel plans day five puts us back at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This is a clean up day of sorts and there are no ADRs to keep so it's a wide open day. We can always park hop if we desire considering the park closes early and depending on how the crowds are the first day as well as this day we might get it all done and be bored. Who knows! Anything is possible!

Day Five: Animal Kingdom Day 2
07:45a - Wake Up
08:30a - catch bus to DAK
09:00a - Park Opens / Watch the Opening Show
09:30a - Breakfast @ Kusafari Coffee Shop
10:00a - Character Stalking / Head for Camp Minnie-Mickey
01:00p - Yak & Yeti Counter Service
01:30p - Continue touring / hitting favorite rides / Character stalking
03:00p - Parade (if we want to watch again)
05:00p - Park Closes (Head to EPCOT? MK? DHS?... Mini Golf?)

Dinner will most likely be the Pepper Market, and I have no problems with that! :) I also like that this day is flexible... gives us more options, eh!

Good morning and happy single digits to the Dork Twins! We are now at nine days and the hours are SLOWLY ticking by. Which is a very cruel form of torture that Father Time has put upon us. But, if this is how all of January will be I won't complain because that means our trip won't just blow by.

Anyway, our second day has been pretty set from day one. We'll be at the Animal Kingdom, we're going to eat with Donald, we're gonna just have fun. This park is always warmer, to me, than the other three so I'm planning on shorts and a tank, at least after the sun pops up... Actually I'm planning that for the whole trip, but yeah...

Day Two: Disney's Animal Kingdom
07:00a - Wake Up, get ready.
08:00a - Catch bus NO LATER than this, if possible catch an earlier bus.
08:30a - Donald's Safari Breakfast @ the Tusker House
09:00a - Park Opens / Hit Killamanjarro Safari first thing.
09:30a - Fast Pass Expedition Everest, tour Asia
11:00a - Tour Dinoland / Fastpass Dinosaur
01:00p - Lunch @ Flame Tree BBQ
01:30p - Tour Discovery Island
02:45p - Head over to Africa and find a spot for the Parade
03:00p - Mickey's Jungle Jammin Parade
03:30p - Finish touring Africa
04:15p - Head for Camp Minnie-Mickey, catch Festival of the Lion King
05:00p - Park Closes to non-resort guests / Extra Magic Evening Hours
07:30p - Head back to resort. Pool Time!
10:00p - Lights Out!