Pre-Trip Beauty & The Beards Reunited!! Sponsored by Smoked Turkeys...

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:
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Sounds like you guys are going to have a blast!! Following along. :joyfull:

I’m always excited for a Disney trip, but I think I might be the most excited I’ve ever been for this! I’m trying to decide at the moment whether to do a full live report- or a semi live one before a full report when back. Either way I can’t wait to post about it! Alisa will be posting too, I think this will kind of be a shared report.

Loved your intro. Sounds like it’s gong to be a fab trip.

Thanks! I think and hope it will be!
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Oh I didn’t explain Beauty & The Beards although might be self explanatory! Beauty & The Beast is both of our favourite films (both having matching tattoos of “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere”) and so we’re both Belle & our guys the Beards! ;)
 
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dclfan

Well-Known Member
WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what I can say that Sam hasn't covered but our best friends are finally coming back to visit us and we couldn't be more excited. I am seriously counting the days until this epic adventure. I don't know how many times a day we say "we wish Russ and Sam we're here" or "Russ and Sam would love this" so it's exciting that it actually happening.

We we're putting off talking about it our of fear that it might not happen but now that it is booked we can move forward with our planning. YaaaaaaaaaHoooooooooo. Jerome is trying to arrange a bald eagle flyover for our 4th of July BBQ to really impress our America loving friends hahaha. This will actually be our first officiall BBQ in our new house so it's going to be extra celebratory and then DISNEY WORLD.

Me and Sam have seriously been booking this trip over Skype for months changing hotels and coming up with different itineraries but ultimately settled on Caribbean Beach because of the epic deal. We will be in 2 King Rooms hopefully near the new spyglass grill or transportation. We already have plans to wake up early and have breakfast on the beach or at the new restaurant before waking the beards. Who needs sleep in Disney, right?

Next Up Dining Plans.....
 

dclfan

Well-Known Member
Like @Ariel1986 mentioned Sunday is our FP booking window and we already have a plan of attack to ensure we get FoP, Slinky Dog, and Alien Saucers. But for Real we have lists with who is taking which FP's at 7:00 am to ensure success. Early morning Skype session is happening. We will try to snag some photos from the insanity to share with everyone. I cannot wait to see Toy Story Land.

That being said we have all of our restaurants booked. Although I'm sure it will change about 100 times in the next 60+ days lol. Here is the rough outline.

Thursday, July 5th.

We meet up with the 5th guest on this trip report, Smoked Turkey, at the Tambooo Lounge followed by a 7:05 ADR at O'Hana.

Friday, July 6th.

6:35 ADR at Spice Road Table. One of me and J's favorites and a first for Russ and Sam. We will eat all of the calamari, shrimp, and Meat.

Saturday, July 7th.

The specialist of all the days we have planned down here. No ADR's booked but I'll let @Ariel1986 take over and explain today.

Sunday, July 8th.

12:40 ADR at California Grill for the Brunch at the Top. I am so excited to try this. Sam and Russ went in December and only had GREAT things to say. All of the mimosas will be consumed.

Monday, July 9th.

5:05 ADR at Le Cellier Steakhouse. This was a special request by beard 1 (My Beard) as he wanted Beer Cheese Soup anhd you guessed it, MORE MEAT. We were all too happy to jump on board with this decision.

Tuesday, July 10th.

We ADR's at both Sanaa and Boma as we haven't decided which one we want to eat at. Me and J have done Sanaa and Russ and Sam have done Boma. We are open to any of your recommendations on one of the other.

That's it in terms of dining but like I said we have TONS more planned to eat AND DRINK besides these few ADR's. What's great is that both of us vacation in the exact same way. Lots of rides, lots of eating, and lots of drinking so this is bound to be a trip for the record books.

Be back with more plans soon........
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what I can say that Sam hasn't covered but our best friends are finally coming back to visit us and we couldn't be more excited. I am seriously counting the days until this epic adventure. I don't know how many times a day we say "we wish Russ and Sam we're here" or "Russ and Sam would love this" so it's exciting that it actually happening.

We we're putting off talking about it our of fear that it might not happen but now that it is booked we can move forward with our planning. YaaaaaaaaaHoooooooooo. Jerome is trying to arrange a bald eagle flyover for our 4th of July BBQ to really impress our America loving friends hahaha. This will actually be our first officiall BBQ in our new house so it's going to be extra celebratory and then DISNEY WORLD.

Me and Sam have seriously been booking this trip over Skype for months changing hotels and coming up with different itineraries but ultimately settled on Caribbean Beach because of the epic deal. We will be in 2 King Rooms hopefully near the new spyglass grill or transportation. We already have plans to wake up early and have breakfast on the beach or at the new restaurant before waking the beards. Who needs sleep in Disney, right?

Next Up Dining Plans.....

:happy::happy::happy::happy:

This gif always makes me laugh as this was us after La Cava Del Tequila!



Aaaannnyway.

Yes! So excited for the next planning stages and for the actual trip! Sunday will be exciting :joyfull: I love having a planning twin who is as crazy as me. It's funny, we're all actually quite laid back and don't let little things annoy us at Disney, love taking it slow and taking it all in. Relaxing in lounges and looking at all the little things. But at the same time we love all the ADR & FP+ planning! I think it's easy to do both though. Have your FPs for the must do rides and then take everything else as it comes.

Speaking of must dos- yay I've just remembered Stacey and the must dos! I can't wait to be in a Disney resort again. And yes we're both in King Rooms at Caribbean, hopefully we'll end up near each other. We've already done online check in!

I'll be excited to update our FP and plans here on Sunday and I'll detail the July 7th extravaganza day too later when I've some extra time!

Is it July yet?!
 

dclfan

Well-Known Member
So exciting for you guys! You will have the best time. And of course we can't wait to read all about it. You dining plans look fabulous! Can't wait to hear all about your trip when you guys are back!

Thank You. We are so beyond excited about it too. In fact me and @Ariel1986 have just been chatting about it for the past hour. We will be sure to update while we're there and provide a full report once we get back with all of the delicious details.
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Ok so the plan for July 7th and why it's special- we're going to make this my honorary birthday day! As on our original trip for May it would of been my birthday and we had planned an epic food and drink extravaganza! So we're still going to do it.

Starting at the Tamboooo Lounge for breakfast drinks (yep they have a breakfast cocktail menu! It's like they knew we were coming!) and then maybe Capt. Cooks for some actual breakfast. From there we're heading to MK to acquire a mickey balloon which is important to the festivities! (Birthday, hello!). I love Astro Orbitor- I think it's my favourite ride in MK so this is the only ride I need to go on this morning along with buying a balloon. Once said balloon is attached, it's "follow me!" around Disney World for the rest of the food and drink crawl celebration! We're heading to AK for (hopefully!) a FoP FP+ and drinks in the Nomad Lounge. Then it's on to Disney Springs to try and drink and eat in as many places as we can! There are so many bars we love and places we want to try, we're going to try them all! Sitting at the bars and sharing some small plates and appetizers at as many places as possible. All while following the mickey balloon!

Now here's where July seems like when this trip was meant to be anyway. We had talked before about how we really hoped in May they would announce some After Hours events, because that would be an awesome way to end the night. Obviously May didn't happen, and no After Hours were announced anyway. But literally the day we booked- they were announced for July!! And two dates fell on our trip- one being the day we had planned for my honorary birthday!! Disney magic once again :D

So, we have to see still if we can manage to add it on, and buy tickets before they sell out. But I really hope so! We actually love the idea of 3 hours with barely anyone else in the park so I can end my 'birthday' riding all the rides as much as we want! And being able to take amazing Main Street and castle photos of us all together. I have seen a few Instagram videos of an empty hub and Main Street and it looks amazing! And even more amazing... a completely empty Starbucks! :hilarious:
If we can manage it, it truly will be the most awesome day.
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So... this morning was eventful! :joyfull:

There I was at 10.50am over here, 6.50am EST waiting for the Skype with Alisa, getting ready to go for half the FP while she hit the other half. It got to 6.59am and she hadn't yet rung which I thought was odd- but maybe she had overslept and was going straight to the booking? So 7.00am EST hits and I go to make FPs. And I'm locked out!! It's saying I'm too early or that my tickets/reservation isn't linked. But they are linked! And I'm at 60 days! I start to panic... Alisa isn't replying to my messages either. What is going on?! Our Pandora and Toy Story Land FP hopes are dashed! It's now 15 mins into our FP opening. So I ring the Disney technical line. Closed! What is going on?!

Russ was leaving for work and I was telling him of the disaster whilst he was trying to say goodbye, poor man! I was probably unintelligible at that point. I even posted on WDW magic asking for help.
ALISA WHERE ARE YOU?! Ringing the technical helpline again they now stated their opening times. They would open at 12pm. Why 12pm...? 12pm UK time, minus 5 hours that would be 7am EST...

giphy.gif


I have forgotten how to do math! It's not yet 7am EST! For goodness sake :facepalm::hilarious: 11am = 6am EST! I'd been sitting waiting for Alisa to call at 5.50am :hilarious:

For some reason I had it in my head all day yesterday that I needed to be ready at 11am over here in the UK because that's 7am EST. I have no idea why! I KNOW Florida is 5 hours behind not 4! I've been enough times and booked FP+ enough times and love Florida obsessively enough to know its time zone! I felt like such a rookie lol!

So ANYWAY, after that mass panic and laughing from Alisa when she got up to my flurry of messages in distress, we Skyped at the actual 6.50am EST (not the one in my mind) and logged on at 7am to get our fastpasses with success! We got everything we wanted including FoP and the Toy Story Land rides!

I'll update our plans in the next post. I need a drink now after all that! :joyfull: Or maybe that was the problem in the first place... it was a late night yesterday! :bored: :joyfull:
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So... onto our now more detailed plans!

Thursday, July 5th
Early check in and then off to DHS!
FP+ Rock n' Rollercoaster, Alien Saucers and then Tower of Terror.
Really excited to see Toy Story Land! We'll definitely be hitting up Baseline Tap House and maybe the Brown Derby Lounge along with a ride on Star Tours if the standby isn't too bad. Then it's off to Trader Sam's (we might pop back to the resort if our room wasn't ready on arrival earlier) and then time for our 7:05 ADR at O'Hana. We are going to try and get to MK for HEA if possible after. And that's day 1!

Friday, July 6th
We actually aren't sure yet which park to hit this morning. We're going to leave it to how we feel, but it will either be AK or Epcot at rope drop to hit some rides without FP. Maybe back to the resort for some pool time. Then it's over to our 6:35 ADR at Spice Road Table before making our way to DHS for late night extra magic hours (the park is open until midnight) and to see the Star Wars fireworks!
FP+: Rock n' Rollercoaster and Toy Story Midway Mania.

Saturday, July 7th
My honorary birthday! :D Poly drinks and breakfast, MK for a fly on Astro Orbiters and to purchase a mickey balloon. Then it's AK for
FP+ Safari, Flight of Passage and Everest.
Drinks in the Nomad lounge and then onto Disney Springs for our food and drink bar crawl extravaganza! Then... hopefully... After Hours at MK!!

Sunday, July 8th
I think we might need a slow morning by now! So our 12:40 ADR at California Grill for the Brunch at the Top is just about perfect. YES! Bring on the bottomless mimosas. It will then be a hop over (or a slow roll after California Grill! :joyfull:) to DHS and into Toy Story Land for our FP+ Slinky Dog Dash.

That reminds me, I so want this headband! I'm getting it and wearing with pride!

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Monday, July 9th
Typhoon Lagoon! So excited to go here, we didn't manage to in December and the year before it was closed for it's annual refurbishment. I love the wave pool and lazy river! And we haven't gone on Crush n' Gusher for years. I don't think Jerome has ever been either- right @dclfan ? We then have a 5:05 ADR at Le Cellier Steakhouse. Meeeeaat. Fairly soon after Le Cellier we do then have a FP+ for Test Track and Mission Space. This may not end well... :hungover: :joyfull:

Tuesday, July 10th
Today is a pool morning! Time to hang at Caribbean's pool and try the new Spyglass Grill. I'm so looking forward to pool time this trip since the last two trips have been in December and the weather hasn't been warm enough! Pool, drinks and some chill time sounds like bliss. Especially when it's a Disney resort pool and Disney drinks :inlove:
We then have ADR's at both Sanaa and Boma as we haven't decided which one we want to eat at yet. We'll decide a few days before! So before we head to AKL around 6pm we have FP+ for FoP and Everest. I'm sure another visit to the Nomad Lounge will happen too!

That's it for the Beauty and the Beards part of the trip! :cry: Alisa and Jerome will then be heading home as Jerome is off on tour :(

Russ and I have a few undecided days after this, but we do have a Frozen FP for the 12th and another FoP on the 14th, our last day before our flight home. We also have an evening ADR at California Grill on our last night as it's kind of tradition to do a CG evening meal. We swapped it out for Narcoosees last time and we kind of regret it.

I've also realised we haven't even really made plans for any QS meals. I don't know how we're going to fit it all in! :joyfull: We will though. We will persevere! We do have the dining plan after all!

Wooooooo hooooooooooo, it's now 60 DAYS!!
 
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DisneyJeff

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Ok so the plan for July 7th and why it's special- we're going to make this my honorary birthday day! As on our original trip for May it would of been my birthday and we had planned an epic food and drink extravaganza! So we're still going to do it.

Starting at the Tamboooo Lounge for breakfast drinks (yep they have a breakfast cocktail menu! It's like they knew we were coming!) and then maybe Capt. Cooks for some actual breakfast. From there we're heading to MK to acquire a mickey balloon which is important to the festivities! (Birthday, hello!). I love Astro Orbitor- I think it's my favourite ride in MK so this is the only ride I need to go on this morning along with buying a balloon. Once said balloon is attached, it's "follow me!" around Disney World for the rest of the food and drink crawl celebration! We're heading to AK for (hopefully!) a FoP FP+ and drinks in the Nomad Lounge. Then it's on to Disney Springs to try and drink and eat in as many places as we can! There are so many bars we love and places we want to try, we're going to try them all! Sitting at the bars and sharing some small plates and appetizers at as many places as possible. All while following the mickey balloon!

Now here's where July seems like when this trip was meant to be anyway. We had talked before about how we really hoped in May they would announce some After Hours events, because that would be an awesome way to end the night. Obviously May didn't happen, and no After Hours were announced anyway. But literally the day we booked- they were announced for July!! And two dates fell on our trip- one being the day we had planned for my honorary birthday!! Disney magic once again :D

So, we have to see still if we can manage to add it on, and buy tickets before they sell out. But I really hope so! We actually love the idea of 3 hours with barely anyone else in the park so I can end my 'birthday' riding all the rides as much as we want! And being able to take amazing Main Street and castle photos of us all together. I have seen a few Instagram videos of an empty hub and Main Street and it looks amazing! And even more amazing... a completely empty Starbucks! :hilarious:
If we can manage it, it truly will be the most awesome day.

Plans sound awesome!!! However... I believe that AK has a no-balloon policy, because of the animals.

I found this on the Disney website under Park Rules and Regulations:

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You might need to adjust your plans accordingly.
 

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