Trip Report Beauty & The Beards Reunited: LIVE! Sponsored by Smoked Turkeys

And it has begun! :D

Ok so if you didn’t see our pre-trip report which explains the title and everything about the trip, here’s the first post:

A long time ago in a magical galaxy (and something something darkside) there were two Disney Twins who were separated at birth and kept apart by the evil Atlantic Ocean (darkside!). They grew up not knowing of each other’s existence, yet their twin-ness continued on. They both grew up loving all that is Disney and knowing Walt Disney World was there home. Both got a tattoo of their favourite line from Beauty & The Beast and dreamed of Adventures in the Great Wide Somewhere. Both fell in love with their bearded, tattooed soulmates and then one day, by a miracle created by Walt himself, they met on WDW Magic and noticed their similarities. They also realised that they both had upcoming trips at the same time. A meeting of fate was about to occur in December 2017...

Ok so we weren’t quiiiite separated at birth! :joyfull: Seeing as our birth dates are a couple years apart also... but that bit doesn’t matter! Alisa ( @dclfan ) and I are Disney Twins! Literally from the moment my husband Russ and I met her & her fiancé Jerome for a drink at La Cava del Tequila, we got on like we’d known each other for years. I was nervous to meet up as I can be a bit socially anxious but it wasn’t awkward at all. I even messaged Alisa 5 mins after we’d met to say how much fun it had been and about how I’d been nervous. And she replied straight away saying exactly the same, she has social anxiety too! But we’d both felt comfortable straight away. That never happens for the both of us. Disney magic! :happy:

It’s crazy. We have the most ridiculous amount of similarities and things in common. Interests, general likes and dislikes, dreams, outlook on life, right down to tv shows and other little things. Even stuff from our childhood and things we did and liked back then is similar! Let alone the fact we both have the same tattoo in the same place and both fell in love with guys who have beards and tattoos.
Alisa’s also getting married to Jerome in a small wedding abroad this year, in December- aged 29. The same age I was when I got married to Russ in December in a small wedding abroad- when I was 29! :jawdrop:
We still keep finding stuff that we’ve both done, or like, or our other halves have done or something they like that’s the same and being like “OMG we did that/we like that/that happened to us too!” It’s so much stuff now we kind of just shrug it off when something new pops up, like “Well, of course. We’re twins! Duh!”

And even better- Russ and Jerome got on like a house on fire too! In fact at first, those two were chatting away more than us! It was the best trip in December last year. We ended up meeting another 4 times and hanging out. We had such a blast. It really was like we were all old friends. When we said goodbye it was as Alisa & Jerome were going to the Galactic Nights in DHS & it was about 15 mins till the park closed to the public (Russ and I didn’t have tickets) and we all just group hugged in the middle of Hollywood Blvd for like 5 mins ha ha! :joyfull: We didn’t want to say goodbye. People must have been like what are these bearded guys & girls with Minnie ears having a giant hug about?! It’s crazy now thinking how we technically have only met for a total of about 6-8 hours. As Alisa and I have literally messaged back and forth every day since we got home. We all Skyped each other on New Year’s Eve for hours (and several times since then too) and have been totally hyped and pumped about meeting up again. We feel so far apart!! Finding a new best friend that lives in America when you’re from the U.K. is noooooo! :cry:

And so with that... this is what this pre-trip report is all about! WE’RE GOING TO BE REUNITED!!!!

I am SOOOOOOO excited to see you again Alisa!! These are the only photos of us (I don’t know how we were so lame in the photo taking over 4 days- we were having too much fun I think!) but I love these photos as they show the fun we were having.

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And the one group shot of us all!

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And a couple Skype shots :joyfull:

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Note to selves. Lots more photos this time!! Ha ha I bet we’ll now be the total opposite and take waaaay too many photos!

Anyway, back to the trip! We’ve been planning and trying to make this happen since the day we left WDW. Russ and I have a trip booked for October but we couldn’t stay away that long- and Alisa wouldn’t let me! Originally we tried to make this happen for May, as my birthday is May 29th and over in the UK we have a holiday week at the end of May (in schools & I work in education so I get this too) and also Alisa & Jerome would be in their new Florida home & settled by then, so it was looking like the best time to plan a trip. But timing & finances just didn’t quite work out for May. Boo. So, we kept looking at another time soon that we could go & when Jerome would be home from touring. And it started to look like July could work. Seeing how much Russ and I LOVE America and that we have never been in July- let alone been there for AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY- a trip around July 4th became the plan! We're going to be visiting Alisa & Jerome in Tampa for July 4th before going to Disney World after! We are ridiculously excited. I am pumped to be there for July 4th which is new for us- and to finally be reunited with our Disney Twins! :inlove:

So... the details!

Who: Well I think you know by now- 4 crazy best-friends-within-hours Disney fans! And multiple Smoked Turkeys.

Russ & I (Sam):

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Alisa & Jerome:

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A smoked turkey:

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When: July 5th-10th (Alisa & Jerome)
July 5th-14th (Russ & Sam)

Where: Caribbean Beach! Yep, we know about all the "magical enhancements" currently happening there (as the CM called them upon booking!) but it's such a good rate and we know what we're heading into. Plus we're going to be spending so much time in the parks and hanging out, it's not about the resort this trip. But Alisa stayed there not too long ago anyway and said it's not really that bad if you're prepared. The newish rooms seem great anyway and we're really liking the look of the new QS at one of the pools! The menu looks great.

So you may also be wondering what all this Smoked Turkey talk is about. Well, back in December we discovered (of course) that this was Jerome & Russ' favourite Disney drink. On our last day hanging out this was what we decided to drink. But as detailed in my last trip report we went from bar to bar on the Boardwalk and no-one was serving them! It felt like a hidden quest to try and find one. So the guys never got to have their drink together. I mean, many other drinks were consumed (of course ;)) but no Smoked Turkeys! It's like all they talk about together now! :joyfull:

So this trip, MANY Smoked Turkeys will be found and consumed! Russ and Jerome are coming for you speciality cocktail menu, be warned! :cool:

So I think that's everything! We have a few ADR's booked and Alisa and I have already planned a years worth of plans to fit into our 5 days together in the world, so it's going to be a crazy, awesome adventure! AND WE CAN'T WAIT!

FP+ window is Sunday so that's the next step!

64 Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays!!!! :eek::D:D:eek:

And the link if you want to read anything else in the pre-trip report!

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/beauty-the-beards-reunited-sponsored-by-smoked-turkeys.940357/

And on to right now... we’re going to DISNEY WORLD! TOMORROW!!!! :eek: :D

So today Russ and I have headed to the airport to stay overnight at an airport hotel before we fly tomorrow. I woke up at 6am today when we didn’t need to leave until the afternoon! I’m just too excited!

On our way! Waiting for the train to London.

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Making our way across the city!

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Bye London!

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And hello airport hotel!

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We’re currently watching the planes take off (runway view from the hotel!) with drinks in hand. That will be us tomorrow!

We’re on our way Jerome and Alisa!!
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I saw you guys at the Rose and Crown pub last night. I was going to say hi but I didn’t want to be a creeper and then by the time my husband told me I should you were leaving. Hope you had fun!

Ahh you should of said hi! :cool: Hope you’re having a good trip too!
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So continuing from yesterday we left HS to take the walk to the Boardwalk onwards to Epcot. We passed what we call the “Argument Bridge” as when Russ and I were walking this route once there was this at least in their 80’s couple having an argument about which way they were walking and which park they were going to & it was really cute & funny so we always now pretend to argue when we get to this bridge.

Anyhoo so onwards to Epcot!

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First up we thought we needed to make a stop at The Rose & Crown in England. The only England Russ and I like, the one in Florida! It’s also the only British pub we know that has air conditioning...

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Alisa and Jerome also wanted some British food. Russ and I had a taste- it wasn’t too far off!

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After a brief visit to our home country (bleh!) it was onwards again around the world to Japan. Ramen was on the menu!

I liked this window in Morocco.

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Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So Japan it was for Sake & noodles! I just love this pavilion and it’s QS. It’s so pretty!

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Again, I also love how the dining plan includes alcohol on the QS meals too now!

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We had an awesome time sitting amongst the trees and eating- we did realise maybe eating boiling hot noodles in the 90+ degree heat maybe wasn’t the best idea, but hey, it was still tasty!

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Beautiful Epcot!

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Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
And more from yesterday! Goodnight Epcot!

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We now made our way back across the Boardwalk to Hollywood Studios again. Our goal now was Slinky Dog Dash in the dark!

The Boardwalk and the route to DHS sure is pretty during sunset! :inlove: We spent the walk trying to work out how Alisa and Jerome can adopt us so we can live here and go to Disney forever!

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We made it to DHS about 9.20 and headed on over to Toy Story Land. It’s so cute in the dark too!

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The que was at 50 mins but we waited about 30- well, it would have been 30 if the ride didn’t break down for 15 mins! But we won’t count that because Slinky Dog in the dark is even more fun than the day! And we we lucky to have timed it with the Star Wars fireworks so they were going off all around us. It really is a fun little coaster- I hope we get to ride again before the end of the trip!

As we left Slinky Dog we started to make our way out of the land until we saw Toy Story Mania was only a 5 mins! Yes please! We got in line and decided this time it was girls vs boys (earlier in the week it was England vs USA- and USA won! Although I actually beat Russ for the first time ever!).

This time the boys won... but that’s because our guns were broken! And that wasn’t just an excuse, they weren’t working at all! Alisa and I spent the ride watching the screens without being able to play :facepalm: But we let the CMs know when we got out and they let us back on again. And this time... the girls... lost again! :joyfull: But fair and square this time. Jerome is still the reigning champ!

Cute little que details outside!

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We walked out singing You’ve Got A Friend In Me. Because we all do! #cheese :joyfull:
With that the park was closed and we made our way out. We’d had an awesome Disney day!
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So today (Monday 9th) was Typhoon Lagoon!

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We had a really fun morning. Crush and Gusher, Slides, Lazy River and the wave pool! I love that wave pool, I could swim in it all day! And the “new” Adventure Falls ride was actually really fun! Definitely better than the other big raft rides (we went on Gangplank Falls later and it was rubbish!) However I wouldn’t recommend 4 adults in one raft- we thought it would be fun to ride “as a family” but... well if we weren’t close before we are now! :jawdrop: It was a tight squeeze! :joyfull: And we definitely didn’t exit that raft elegantly...!

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We also later found these “chairs” on the lazy river rather than the rings- you sat in them like a chair and they were awesome! Soooo comfy. Bliss. Just need cup holders and drinks in there now! :cool:

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We also ate a quick service of Cuban Sandwiches which were quite tasty!

After Typhoon we went back to the resort to chill for another hour before heading to Epcot for dinner, which tonight would be Le Cellier!
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
And so to last nights dinner!

After freshening up at the resort we grabbed and Uber to the Yacht Club to grab some drinks before dinner. We stopped by Crews Cup for a round of Smoked Turkeys (of course), Mai Tais (me) & wine for Alisa.

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Look at my beautiful Tangled Bag Alisa got me for my birthday :happy: :inlove: It lights up too! (Don’t try that on a dark bus though. Strobe lighty! :joyfull:)

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We then grabbed some drinks to go and started walking to the international gateway, imagining our future Yacht & Beach Club stays.

Our restaurant awaits!

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So Russ and I have been here before and we enjoyed it then. But today- wow some of this was so delicious!!

Pretzel breeeeeeead :hungry:

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This Poutine is crazy delicious!

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As were the venison meatballs...

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And the cheddar cheese soup!

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The dining plan allowed us to substitute a dessert for the soup and we all shared the meatballs and poutine. We were fat and happy just after the appetisers!

Russ and I then shared the Porterhouse with crispy onions & sides of Lobster Mac & Cheese and Mashed Potatoes (we subbed the mushroom risotto for the mash).

:jawdrop:

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I think Alisa had the fillet & Jerome the rib eye. All was eaten & enjoyed!
This was such an awesome meal. We talked & laughed and ate & drank. We were quite silly at times but it was a really nice meal. It was actually quite funny when we left and it was still daylight outside- we stepped out imagining it was midnight after the dark restaurant and fun meal.
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We continued around World Showcase taking it all in and to make our way to our only FP of the day.

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Chosen by the boys of course! ;)

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Alisa and I sang and smiled throughout and we all held hands and yelled Beauty & the Beards during the drop :cool:

We carried on walking & stopped to open some sake Alisa had bought in Japan along with a Tipsy Ducks in Love I had got in China.

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Epcot was really pretty tonight! We started walking towards Future World as we were going to catch the monorail to the TTC for MK. But first a stop by Mexico to remincise our first BATB date! Ahhhh this is where we all first met! :happy::joyfull:

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Alisa also wanted me to photo her sake with Spaceship Earth on the walk out! :joyfull:

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It got soooo hot outside at this point! Either that or the meat sweats from Le Cellier! We made a stop at Leave A Legacy to spot a young Alisa looking very suave sketched onto stone about 15 years ago! Jerome also got stopped for some Beard Appreciation by a CM on the way out. An older CM who has worked here for years and talked about how he’s just allowed a bit of beard now but he used to have a much longer one he couldn’t keep. He told Jerome he might be able to be a CM one day... in a decade or so!

Once we arrived at TTC the Brit’s fell again- this time it was Russ who was now in a steak coma and was not feeling MK & HEA :( No Russ, no-one but me is allowed to be ill or tired! :p

So Alisa & Jerome went their own way to DHS & Russ & I got the ferry to MK to grab some breeze and a bus home before crashing out asleep.

Soooooo beautiful Bay Lake!

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We can’t talk about today yet (Tuesday 10th). Because today... Alisa & Jerome are leaving! :cry::cry:
 

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