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
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:

View attachment 282939

You might need to adjust your plans accordingly.

Noooo :confused:

Thinking about it I’m sure I’ve read this before now actually. We’ll have to rethink the epic balloonness! Thanks- I’m sure our plans will still be awesome!
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Oh my goodness just seen this and that’s so awesome you two ladies get to meet again - I’m beyond excited for you all and will definitely be following along!

Thanks!! :D We're beyond excited too. And extra exciting to be going back when you weren't expecting to! I think you know about that! :happy:
 

Ariel1986

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So probably about time for an UPDATE! :D

*Sidenote- I still miss the old smilies! The big smile one doesn't look as excited as I want it to be. And the mix of new and old messes with my OCD! :facepalm::joyfull:

ANYWAY. So... yes... 11 DAYS!! 11 Days until Russ and I come HOME! I feel that way about the USA as much as Disney World. So when we go to Disney it's just more than perfect! And it's 13 days until the big reunion!! Arghhh less than 2 weeks!

So I don't think I put in our original plans that Russ and I will be flying out on the 1st. We've 2 nights at Pop Century (1st stay there for us, I'm looking forward to it! Especially with the new rooms- really hoping we get one! I think they're almost completed). We won't have park tickets yet and we'll be arriving in the evening so it will just be crashing in the room after a 9 hour flight and falling asleep after watching the must do's! Oh Stacey's Must Do's how I've missed thee!

The next day we just plan to adjust to the timezone and spend our time at Disney Springs! We've got a hire car to pick up and we'll also head to the supermarket to get a few bits for when we go to Alisa & Jerome's and also because it's kind of our first day in the US tradition, visit a supermarket with all the different products we can't get in England! I think we'll head to Disney Springs early morning and then pick up our car, go to the supermarket and then maybe head back to Pop for some pool time. Then back to Disney Springs for dinner!

And then... the morning of the 3rd we're up and on the road to Tampa! REUNION TIME BABY!! :D

Soooooooooooo excited about July 4th!!!!

And then a whole Disney trip to follow. This is one of the best bits about Disney (apart from being there!) is the build up! Nothing like some pre-trip excitement!

Woo hoo!

I think I'm going to do a live trip report. If I create a new thread I'll link it here!
 

dclfan

Well-Known Member
I can’t believe we are at less then 2 weeks already. I feel like it’s been years since we parted ways in December but at the same time I feel like this trip has snuck up on us.

I think me and Jerome speak about your arrival nearly everyday. We have been hard at work prepping the food/drinks/ activities for 4th of July and every time we go to a new spot on the beach we’re like “ oh we need to bring Sam and Russ here. Tampa is going to be amazing by itself I can’t believe we get to cap it off with 6 days in Disney. It’s like a magical fairytale.

Are you guys interested in hearing about pre-adventures in the Tampa / Saint Pete Beach area as well?

I’m getting so excited to see Toy Story Lane as well. Hopefully we get to meet Woody! Those movies will always have a special
Place in my heart.
 

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