Clear Skies, Full Bellies...Can't Lose! A September 2012 Trip Report

Well…since it’s now been 1 month since I’ve been in Disney and I have received my Disney Photopass – I don’t have any more excuses to not start this trip report. So…let’s get this show on the road.

For those of you who don’t know me…I’m Jess.

Here’s my stats:
Number of Trips – this is trip #8
Favorite Park – EPCOT
Favorite Ride – Spaceship Earth
Favorite Disney snack item – Mickeys Cookies n Cream Ice Cream Sandwich
Favorite Disney Character – Ursula the Sea Witch

And traveling with me is my fiancé, Bill.

His stats:
Number of Trips - this is his 6th
Favorite Park – Magic Kingdom
Favorite Ride – The Haunted Mansion
Favorite Disney snack item – Red velvet cream cheese cupcake from Starring Rolls
Favorite Disney Character – Winnie the Pooh

This is our 5th trip together – once a year since we started dating. And on our last trip in May 2011…THIS happened…

Well I guess it’s not really a surprise since I already called him my fiancé and wrote a whole trip report on it.Here’s the link if you want THAT whole story…

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...s-and-a-proposal-may-2011-trip-report.796403/

But to cut to the chase: He proposed at night by the fountain in front of Spaceship Earth.

I cried. It was absolutely perfect. And I’ve yet to read any other stories of people getting proposed to in front of SSE…which makes it even more magical. (And if you know of one – keep it to yourself. Hahaha!)

This trip was born not long after our trip in May. My fiancé is in med school and his school works with 11 months of rotations and 1 month off. Bill’s month off was September. So we decided to go then and too go for our longest trip ever (8 days!) and to bump up resort levels after staying at POP Century for 4 trips. So this trip we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter. We chose it for the intimate size of the resort, the fact that it had a sister resort we could utilize and neither of us had stayed there before. Spoiler alert – we absolutely fell in love with the resort ! But we also bumped up an extra day because - this will be OUR (notice – not MY) last trip until 2014. We have a wedding date set for October 12, 2013…and we are NOT doing a Disneymoon.

I know…we’re crazy. But we’ve been there together so many times already and plan to go so many times after the wedding that we wanted a honeymoon that is unique and special. Plus – my Disney trips are anything but relaxing. And I want a honeymoon that is basically – sleeping, drinking, eating, and…other stuff that I wouldn’t talk about on a family site but you get my drift. Pure relaxation. And at Disney – I’m sun up to sun down kinda girl. Plus I’m going with my mom and sister in March 2013 and probably for a few days in September before or after my WDWMAGIC GIRLS CRUISE! Check out all the info on this awesome cruise happening with some fantastic ladies of wdwmagic!

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...agic-girls-cruise.816925/page-46#post-5173681

Ok. Enough with the explanations and shameless plugs for girl cruises (which again is September 8th – 12th 2013…plenty of girls still looking for roomies!) Let’s get on with the show!!!

September 11th, 2012

Work all day – blah. But at night…my sister, mom and I were going to see Jersey Boys in Pittsburgh. Every year on my sister and my birthdays…we buy each other tickets to see whatever musicals are playing in Pittsburgh. This year nothing great fell ON my birthday (October 15th) but Jersey Boys was playing mid September and I had never seen it.

I loved the show and was totally worth the 12:30AM bedtime that followed the show.

September 12th, 2012

Boy…2:45 AM comes really quickly when you pour yourself into bed at 12:30. We were up and moving (albeit quite slowly) finishing packing and such. Bill’s friend from med school came to pick us up and take us to the airport. We were flying out of the Pittsburgh airport but flying into the Latrobe airport because Latrobe is about 15 minutes from our house. But they had no outbound flights on this day. ANYWAY…we fly through security – grab a bagel & pumpkin spice latte to split and we’re on the plane at 6:05 AM. Touchdown in Orlando at 8:10am. Then I saw this and squealed like a school girl…

WOO HOO WE’RE HERE. Well almost. We head through DME and we were on a bus at 8:45 ready to head to our home for the next 8 days…

 

[plaz10]

I can't make any promises for tonight...Steelers are playing Monday Night Football!! Tuesday night is a better bet.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Thank you for the "Mecha Lecha Hi Mecha Hiney Ho"!!! People think I'm nuts when I have said that....Apparently not everyone watched Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Love the Report!

 

[lovenerds2012]

OMG that genie totally is Jambi!!! "Mecka-lecka hi mecka hiney ho!"

 

[lovenerds2012]

And btw I am from Pittsburgh too and since the Steelers are sucking at the moment I'm on the boards. HA!

 

[plaz10]

Thank you for the "Mecha Lecha Hi Mecha Hiney Ho"!!! People think I'm nuts when I have said that....Apparently not everyone watched Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Love the Report!

I am always afraid to put my iPod on shuffle in a car full of people or at a party or something because I have Pee Wee's Playhouse theme song on there. It's pretty fantastic. Haha.

OMG that genie totally is Jambi!!! "Mecka-lecka hi mecka hiney ho!"

Love it! Happy to see Pee Wee fans!

And btw I am from Pittsburgh too and since the Steelers are sucking at the moment I'm on the boards. HA!

AH they did suck last night. Hopefully Ben will heal quickly - otherwise we have a slim playoff future.

 

[plaz10]

Sorry for the long break. I don't have a good excuse except @blackthidot constantly calling my fiance and I to hang out. It's a bit ridiculous but he brings Colleen so at least I can have intelligent conversation with someone. Anyway....

September 16th

7:00 the usual morning line up...
Bus to Hollywood Studios at 8:15am.

Hey thanks...happy to be here.

Headed to Toy Story to grab FPs then jump in standby

We decided to head down to RnRC for my other favorite DHS ride. We met a very nice Baltimore couple along the way and talked fantasy football with them all the way from Starring Rolls to RnRC. The guy just started chatting up Bill about football (he gets that a lot - random people LOVE him) and then the wife mentioned she was a Ravens fan but played fantasy football too. So we swapped Disney stories, football stories, fantasy tips, etc...Really nice people! Never got their names. Haha. We even chatted through the whole line at RnRC but never introduced ourselves. Crazy.

Back to RnRC line...

Yep - the guy from Hannah Montana and Queen...clearly both on the same level. Uh huh...

We stopped to grab a breakfast sandwich somewhere and ate it on the way to

Jedi Training Academy going on...

 

[plaz10]

WOO HOO! This ride scares me, makes me sick and makes me feel like a nerd all at the same time!

AND we got Darth Vader. Which I geeked out over for a while because as we all know I love the villains and I love Star Wars so that's pretty fantastic.

Stopped to get a cream cheese pretzel

Then went to cash in our Toy Story Fastpasses...but first...

We decided to take some Photopass pictures. And I know there are those couples who wear matching shirts and everyone is like "wow so cheesy" and I say "I KNOW, right?" Bill and I clearly aren't one of those couples...

I mean...those are 2 totally different shirts! One is black while the other is GOLD (no, not yellow wiz khalifa). I know what you're thinking..."I'm glad Bill and Jess AREN'T one of those cheesy matching couples." Me too.

Now to cash in our FPs. Where...I WAS VICTORIOUS!

I was so excited...I GOT THE DEER. and I proceeded to yell about it from the point I saw it until I exited the ride.

I was also...

THE BEST THIS HOUR! Yes I was extremely giddy and not bragging to Bill at all...

Then time for a show Bill and I haven't seen since our first trip together 5 years ago

I went with the goal of being in the show. When I was NOT selected...we bailed about 15 minutes in. I've seen it before but I've never DONE it before. Perhaps next time...

Time for one of my all time FAVORITE (if not #1) Disney treats.

God - I'm so attractive when I'm stuffing my face full of Mickey goodness

 

[plaz10]

We then took the boat to EPCOT.

Hello International Gateway...

We walked around a bit and then decided to do an Agent P Mission

OH THERE YOU ARE.....



Spaceship Earth.

And Perry.

Our Mission took us to Mexico. Which was fun - but we had done the Kim Possible in Mexico so it was a bit similar. And since we're already in Mexico...we might as well stop at La Cava de Tequila

Avocado Margarita, please!

And free chips and salsa since I follow them on Twitter

And a 5 dollar shot of tequila? Bring it on!

Ok Bill did the shot. He enjoys tasting different tequilas. I enjoy tequila with mix and salt.

The chips and salsa only made me realize we hadn't eaten a solid meal yet and now I was craving tacos (which is about the only mexican food I like)

Steak tacos

Churro dessert

We split them both - good call as I was way full after 1 taco. But very good tacos!!! Not as good as Doritos Locos Taco - but what is?

 

[plaz10]

OH WAIT A MINUTE. We've been in EPCOT for a little over an hour and I haven't taken a Spaceship Earth photo shoot? Well...time to change that.

It never gets old, does it?

Nope.

It kinda makes you wanna....

break into song?

Yep. (youTube - Disney boom de yada)

(Check out the cool SSE reflection in Bill's glasses!)

Of course we rode Spaceship Earth (lost track of how many times by now)
We then left to go back to POFQ. We went for a run then took a nap. Oh wait...that's supposed to say BILL went for a run while I took a nap. Oops my bad.

 

[plaz10]

Well we took the first bus DHS and got there a bit early. We wandered around and went to the Art of Animation to see if there were any cool characters out. There were not. So we hit up the boat to Yacht and Beach Club for our dinner was at Cape May Cafe tonight!

This was our 2nd time at CMC and we really enjoyed it yet again! Mac n Cheese is by far the best mac n cheese EVER. Bill enjoys trying all the different seafood and such - I enjoy straight crab legs, mac n cheese and fried shrimp. VERY disappointed that there were no oreo bon bons. We even asked the waitress if the rumors were true and she said yes - we were hoping she'd get us some as I've read stories about on here - but no dice. She just told me where I could buy them. Lame.

BUT there are no pictures. Because I left my camera at DHS. Bill was all "let's just enjoy dinner and we'll call DHS to see if they found it. If not we probably left it in the room" and I'm all "SCARF THAT CRAB WE GOTTA FIND THE CAMERA."

Luckily I have about 10 different WDW numbers in my phone - reservations, dining, every phone booth in EPCOT and that magic number that a human always answers when you call it. They connected me to lost and found at DHS. And they said they had a blue camera matching my description. Technically the park had closed at this point but they let me in just to go to guest services. And they had it! YAY!

Now to grab a bus to Magic Kingdom for they had Extra Magic Hours.

Made it just in time to watch Wishes from the best viewing spot ever...Main Street USA.

Behind us...

Yep - I teared up again. Wishes gets me every time!

We then decided to head to Tomorrowland. We had not seen Monsters Inc Laugh Floor yet this trip and I really love this show. So that was our first stop.

Bill got the spot light on him again - although neither of us can remember what for. Last time it was to get up and dance...this time Bill says it was something about him being stupid and peanut butter or cats. Real descriptive, I know.

We then rode the TTA, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise (WORST. SKIPPER. EVER.)***, Haunted Mansion again, Winnie the Pooh twice and Mickey's PhilharMagic. Every ride was a walk on.

***Worst skipper ever - she had ZERO comedic timing. Seriously did not know a skipper could be so bad. Just...so bad. I couldn't wait to get off. It was like "THERESMYFAVORITEBOOKTHEJUNGLEBOOKLETMEPOINTOUTMYFAVORITEPLANTSTHATONEANDTHATONE" Yes...all rushed together. No comedic pausing or anything. AWFUL.

The park was closed but we still took a few pictures.

 

[plaz10]

AND THEN...IT HAPPENED.

MOTHERF*CKIN KISS GOODNIGHT. I had never seen it before. I was SQUEALING at first but then just stood in awe. I was so excited to see it. And unexpectedly too. Awesome stuff. Cross that off my Disney bucket list!

Then we decided to head to the front of the park.

We got back and headed to bed around 2am. Really fantastic day. AND the Steelers won. So that made the day even better.

Speaking of the Steelers - wearing our sports team was such a cool experience. We got comments (some good - some bad...not bad bad but funny bad) and saw a lot of other Steeler fans (not to brag but more than any other NFL team - naturally). It was a great way to interact with others and we talked to a lot of cool people. No one was mean about it or anything but it was very cool. One guy in a Jets jersey (who we were playing) was giving us thumbs down as we were taking a photopass picture - after the pics Bill went over to the guy and "tebowed" and the guy just laughed and shook his head saying "I know man...I know. I don't know what they were thinking."

So I highly recommend "sporting" (see what I did there?) your favorite sports team in the Disney parks!

Next Up - a NEW king of Disney dining experiences is crowned - upsetting the 2 year champion Le Cellier.

 

[PartOfYourWorld]

So I have a gajillion things i wanted to say...but of course I will forget a heck of a bunch of them. Forgive me.

Of course what I jsut wrote on your facebook wall about. SSE. Totally found a special place for it last trip. I honestly think that was one of the first times I stepped foot in a park and didn't ride a single ride...and guess what I LOVED it. And SSE at night. Just simply BEAUTIFUL AND MAGICAL. Nothing else to describe it. I was so sad to leave it But I'll be back very soon And I'll make sure to have a special photoshoot with her just for you

Onto POFQ..uh those things in the Food Court??? YA CREEPY. And that jester by the poool...I don't even want to look at it, but the gators I think their kinda cute And you MUST stay at Riverside at least once. The bus system really isn't all that bad. The grounds (be still my heart when I saw pictures of that beautiful Mill) BEAUTIFUL. LOVE IT. MY FAVORITE. But I can't wait to stay at POFQ again in less than 2 weeks! Because I like the outside of the room buildings better at POFQ.

Next up Princesses: That snow White and Ariel?? I little odd. I always notice how bad or how good princesses look. And it's funny I'm opposite you..I LOVE the princesses, but I love me the villains too so not too opposite. OH WAIT. I forgot to say I love the princes more hehe ::cough::Eric and Flynn:::cough::: I really have to say I love the interaction with Ariel and Eric (but let me tell you they could have found a much better looking Eric), sometimes being older i find the Princesses to be awkward but I meet them anyways. So its good to have some sort of interesting shirt or something to talk about. And Snow White..one of my least favorites too. I also don't like Aurora. I saw Sleeping Beauty for the first time a few months ago....I'll pass, it was kinda boring to be honest and the fight between Prince Phillip and Maleficant (totally spelled that wrong) lame. Oh well. Sorry about that random rant, but I'm glad you liked Akurshus (totally got that wrong too oh well) it was really good the last time we went!

Loved your drunken run into the Wedding Pavillion. I would have loved to see all those lights go on!!! And that's pretty awesome that they just left everything open like that!!!!

Lastly, Bill was very silly not to let you get Ursula. My fiancee is the opposite. He will buy me or let me buy any stuffed animal on this planet. I have a stuffed animal addiction. It's pretty bad Bill would hate me for it probably because they just sit on my bed with me BUT I LOVE THEM. And the majority are from Disney World LOL. So you better get that Ursula stuffed animal in March!!!

More please!

The Ariel/Eric interaction is too funny - as was @sweetpee_1993's comment. I'd look at Eric's junk - he's a prince. Don't be ashamed. We all have needs.

AMEN sister. Love me those Princes...especially Eric (just not that one) and Flynn <3

NOPE. Not that one. That pic is for Jess and Kenz. THIS is one of my favs...

YAY THANK YOU!!!!! <3 That is my love

 

[plaz10]

So I have a gajillion things i wanted to say...but of course I will forget a heck of a bunch of them. Forgive me.

Of course what I jsut wrote on your facebook wall about. SSE. Totally found a special place for it last trip. I honestly think that was one of the first times I stepped foot in a park and didn't ride a single ride...and guess what I LOVED it. And SSE at night. Just simply BEAUTIFUL AND MAGICAL. Nothing else to describe it. I was so sad to leave it But I'll be back very soon And I'll make sure to have a special photoshoot with her just for you

Onto POFQ..uh those things in the Food Court??? YA CREEPY. And that jester by the poool...I don't even want to look at it, but the gators I think their kinda cute And you MUST stay at Riverside at least once. The bus system really isn't all that bad. The grounds (be still my heart when I saw pictures of that beautiful Mill) BEAUTIFUL. LOVE IT. MY FAVORITE. But I can't wait to stay at POFQ again in less than 2 weeks! Because I like the outside of the room buildings better at POFQ.

Next up Princesses: That snow White and Ariel?? I little odd. I always notice how bad or how good princesses look. And it's funny I'm opposite you..I LOVE the princesses, but I love me the villains too so not too opposite. OH WAIT. I forgot to say I love the princes more hehe ::cough::Eric and Flynn:::cough::: I really have to say I love the interaction with Ariel and Eric (but let me tell you they could have found a much better looking Eric), sometimes being older i find the Princesses to be awkward but I meet them anyways. So its good to have some sort of interesting shirt or something to talk about. And Snow White..one of my least favorites too. I also don't like Aurora. I saw Sleeping Beauty for the first time a few months ago....I'll pass, it was kinda boring to be honest and the fight between Prince Phillip and Maleficant (totally spelled that wrong) lame. Oh well. Sorry about that random rant, but I'm glad you liked Akurshus (totally got that wrong too oh well) it was really good the last time we went!

Loved your drunken run into the Wedding Pavillion. I would have loved to see all those lights go on!!! And that's pretty awesome that they just left everything open like that!!!!

Lastly, Bill was very silly not to let you get Ursula. My fiancee is the opposite. He will buy me or let me buy any stuffed animal on this planet. I have a stuffed animal addiction. It's pretty bad Bill would hate me for it probably because they just sit on my bed with me BUT I LOVE THEM. And the majority are from Disney World LOL. So you better get that Ursula stuffed animal in March!!!

More please!




AMEN sister. Love me those Princes...especially Eric (just not that one) and Flynn <3


YAY THANK YOU!!!!! <3 That is my love

HI JESS! Man...your name is awesome.

SSE is just my favorite structure ever built. It's so simple yet so beautiful. I'm obsessed - can't lie. I would much appreciate a SSE photoshoot on your (i'm so freaking jealous you'll be there again in less than 2 weeks) Thanksgiving trip. Actually Bill will be in Florida next week (Tampa) for med school residency interviews and he was teasing me that he was going to drive to Disney for a day to see all the Christmas stuff and take pictures. I was seriously angered. "You CANNOT see the Christmas decorations before me! You better not!" Haha ohhhh our love.

I promise to put PORS in our rotation for a future trip. Bill really fell in love with POFQ so it will be hard to get him to stray...I'll work on him.

Disney Princesses. I'm not hating on them - but I don't LOVE them either. Belle, Ariel and Rapunzel are my girls. I can take or leave the rest. Villains though...love 'em all. OK I could do without Queen of Hearts. But the rest are pretty top notch. Disney PRINCES on the other hand...yummy. Yes I said YUMMY about cartoon characters. Flynn, Aladdin, Eric...in that order. Yep.


Ursula will DEFINITELY be coming home with me. I can't get enough Ursula love. I bought some Ursula tumbler cups at Target a few years ago - don't think I've ever actually used them - but it was something Ursula...had to have it! I paid a pretty penny for that Ursula shirt online...justifying that "How often do you see an Ursula shirt?" Often enough to see it in Villains in Vogue for $15 less. Ooops.

Don't be mad...but I don't even like Tower of Terror. I like the way it LOOKS and the theme is great but the whole ups and downs - makes me sick. I sorry. I've ridden before and needed to sit for like 15-20 minute after to lose the sick feeling. But I'll send the camera with my sister and mom in March when they go ride while I do single rider RnRC. Eeek...

 

[Kristia]

UPDATE!!!!!

11/9/12
Friday 10:05pm

Colleen and John meet Jessica and Bill (White Dude) at Eat N Park.

Fun stories are shared. Jess had Cheese Sticks, Bill had Pumpkin Cream Pie and a Pumpkin Latte. Colleen had Chicken Quesadilla's and I had French Toast with Dippy Eggs, and Sausage.

So totally love Eat N Park!! I was so mad when they closed the one in Carlisle, PA. We would stop there on my way out to Central PA to visit my aunt. Now I need to go even further west to find one. Loved their Cream of Broccoli soup and smiley cookies.

 

[plaz10]

So totally love Eat N Park!! I was so mad when they closed the one in Carlisle, PA. We would stop there on my way out to Central PA to visit my aunt. Now I need to go even further west to find one. Loved their Cream of Broccoli soup and smiley cookies.

Eat n Park - its no gourmet food but it's always good. I love their grilled stickies too! Good stuff. Now I'm craving EnP instead of my lunch!

 

[CinderMama]

Totally agree with "sporting " your team in the World! We were there right before our Packers played the Steelers in the Super Bowl (sorry about that), and we wore our green and gold everyday. It was so much fun hearing perfect strangers say 'Go Pack", and there was plenty of banter with Steelers fans! Our waitress at the Whispering Canyon Care even found some Steelers fans in the restaurant too and had everyone in the restaurant picking sides. It was hilarious.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Yeah, John is pretty annoying isn't he? Thank goodness you have Colleen, that's for sure! haha

I've worn a couple different sports shirts to the parks before. The day we wore our Bruins shirts this little kid in a Montreal shirt walked by us and we had beaten Montreal the previous spring in overtime of game 7 to eliminate them. He quickly hid behind his father when we walked by haha. But a lot of people commented on them. Maybe next time I'll wear a Patriots shirt... you know... the BESt football team EVER!!!!

My friend is a manager at Cape May. Glad you liked it. I will pass the word along to him!!

Ahhhh, Wishes.... always gets to me. LOVE it!!!

 

[plaz10]

Totally agree with "sporting " your team in the World! We were there right before our Packers played the Steelers in the Super Bowl (sorry about that), and we wore our green and gold everyday. It was so much fun hearing perfect strangers say 'Go Pack", and there was plenty of banter with Steelers fans! Our waitress at the Whispering Canyon Care even found some Steelers fans in the restaurant too and had everyone in the restaurant picking sides. It was hilarious.

That was a rough Superbowl. And it doesn't look like this will be the season to get in another one. Oh well - next year! Hahaha! Everyone was super cool about it but a lot of fun conversations with Steelers fans and non Steeler fans alike. We definitely plan to wear Pittsburgh stuff every trip from now on!

Yeah, John is pretty annoying isn't he? Thank goodness you have Colleen, that's for sure! haha

I've worn a couple different sports shirts to the parks before. The day we wore our Bruins shirts this little kid in a Montreal shirt walked by us and we had beaten Montreal the previous spring in overtime of game 7 to eliminate them. He quickly hid behind his father when we walked by haha. But a lot of people commented on them. Maybe next time I'll wear a Patriots shirt... you know... the BESt football team EVER!!!!

My friend is a manager at Cape May. Glad you liked it. I will pass the word along to him!!

Ahhhh, Wishes.... always gets to me. LOVE it!!!

I think we hang out with John because we feel bad for Colleen having to be with him all the time. Poor girl. Haha.

Those overrated Patriots? Hahaha! I'm playing Bill in fantasy football this week and he has a man crush on Tom Brady. So I'm hoping if Tom throws ANY touchdowns - they are all to Gronkowski. And check the rings, dear - Steelers are clearly the best team EVER! Not this season though...haha! But I really love wearing sports teams. Hopefully we'll get the chance to wear our Penguins gear next trip...stupid hockey!

Pass along that I want them to start serving Oreo Bon Bons again too! Thanks lady!

 

[harveyt0206]

So totally love Eat N Park!! I was so mad when they closed the one in Carlisle, PA. We would stop there on my way out to Central PA to visit my aunt. Now I need to go even further west to find one. Loved their Cream of Broccoli soup and smiley cookies.

My husband and I live in Columbus, Ohio. We use to have family that lived in Reading, PA. One of the best parts of our trip over was stopping at Eat N Park. It would take us about three hours before we would see the first one. Hmmmmm....three hour road trip just might be in my future. Eat N Park misses me, I'm sure of it. Time to visit.

 

[plaz10]

My husband and I live in Columbus, Ohio. We use to have family that lived in Reading, PA. One of the best parts of our trip over was stopping at Eat N Park. It would take us about three hours before we would see the first one. Hmmmmm....three hour road trip just might be in my future. Eat N Park misses me, I'm sure of it. Time to visit.

It's just good food, consistently! And their pies...YUM. Always good food and good times at EnP.