Trip Report *Completed* That time we went to Florida and didn't tell anyone...

Hi everyone! I have a surprise trip to tell you about :)

Who?:
My Mom and I (Mary and Megan)
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Where?:

The Contemporary :) This is/was my dream resort so I am so happy we were able to stay there!

When?:
September 30 – October 3, 2016

Why?:

Well, on a rainy afternoon a few weeks ago my Mom and I were making tip envelopes for our November trip and in conversation I mentioned flights and hotels were on sale again. Collectively we convinced each other we should go back down to see if we could possibly see the MSEP once more. Also, we realized our dates would coincide with Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and my Mom knows I have always wanted to go to that - so that solidified our decision! We asked my sister Jill if she wanted to come, but she couldn't take a day off from work. We asked my Dad and he politely declined so it was just the two of us!

Why a secret?
1. I was sick of my fellow residents asking me why I always go to Disney and not anywhere else 2. I was given permission by my attending on my current rotation to miss a day of work, but was worried that would cause issues and 3. I'm an incredibly superstitious person and was worried that because I talked so much about wanting to see MSEP one last time on our last trip that I jinxed us so I refused to talk about it. A few of my closest friends knew I was going, obviously our family, and @Tuvalu because she saw me there :) Also @DisneyJeff may have known because we are snapchat friends haha.

T-1 day until we leave
I had an insanely busy day at work because we were interviewing potential residency candidates. Still, I managed to call our office and make sure that my schedule was blocked off from 2:20 pm on so I could leave on time for the airport. No problem everything was all set!

September 30, 2016
After a long morning I left the hospital to head to clinic. On the way I got a text that our room was ready! Hooray!!
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Unfortunately when I get to clinic what do I see? A full schedule! AHHHHH!!!!! :confused::mad:. They booked over the part that said "do not book." Luckily, I have a nice attending who took my last 3 patients for me so I was still able to leave by three. I rushed to my parent's house and we got got the car packed and headed to the airport! I didn't even have time to put contacts in haha
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We got to the airport at 4:00 pm. Southwest was dead so they again checked us in without having to use the computers. We both had TSA pre-check (yay, didn't have to take my computer out!)! Unsurprisingly the metal detector went off when I went through (again...no clue why), but when they wanded me all was good. I'm convinced there is some sort of metal in my body my parents forgot to tell me about!
We needed to eat dinner so sat down in the Anchor Bar (the best Anchor Bar in my opinion...in case no one knows what the Anchor Bar is its the birthplace of chicken wings) and I looked at my phone and it was 4:08 pm. No lie. We checked our luggage, went through security and sat down to eat in 8 minutes!!!
For dinner we split Buffalo bites (aka boneless wings) YUM!!!
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My mom was convinced that because we had plastic silverware someone was going to spill while cutting up the chicken. Well I did, but I had black pants on. Unfortunately, she did too but she had kakis on :( She predicted it correctly!
Sad stain :(
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We sat next to a really annoying woman who was in no hurry to order, but complained when it took too long because she had a flight to catch :joyfull:
Well, we still had plenty of time to kill at the gate so I worked on some TR notes.
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Actually some guy sitting across from us was also writing notes, but he seemed to be writing them about us, because he kept staring at us...:oops::eek:
Airport selfie!
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Soon enough it was time to board. You know how for Southwest you wait a little bit while everyone figures out where they are supposed to be in line? This was a great opportunity for us to hear a woman on the phone super upset with her doctor for not sending in her son's acne medication right away. "He needs it because he is a Freshman in college." I get being upset about waiting for a medication, but having been on after hour Friday call before it hurt my heart a little for the poor recipient of the call :oops:. She then proceeded to call her son and let him know it was all set. At this point her son informs her (I could hear everything) that they are "dropping part of his scholarship" and he doesn't know why. One could guess why as he also proceeded to tell her he had a couple C's. She didn't seem to think that had anything to do with it. Poor lady :confused:. We were also boarding at this time and she stayed on the phone and proceeded to knock into everyone with her bags :banghead:.
Luckily we didn't sit near her on the plane :)
We actually had a layover this time and I had a mild panic attack because we were not cleared for takeoff right away due to rain in Chicago. Luckily we still landed at 6:30 Chicago time - 15 minutes early! We rushed to the complete opposite side of the airport to make it to our connecting flight and we did. Everyone who was getting on our flight seemed to be drunk...no lie...everyone was drinking haha.
Time for Magic Bands!
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The gang was ready (in Halloween gear)
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Next up: traveling to the MCO
 
Last edited:

DisneyDaver

Well-Known Member
Exactly
what I was thinking. In 9 more months when I graduate residency I won't have the time :) I love traveling with my Mom. She told me when I get married someday she better still go on trips with her haha

Your Mom must love going on these WDW trips with you. So great that you have this shared interest. When my daughter is a older (she is only 16 months now), I hope she loves WDW as much as me and wants to do multiple WDW trips each year. We are off to a good start as she loves Mickey and Minnie and will be Minnie for Halloween this year.
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Your Mom must love going on these WDW trips with you. So great that you have this shared interest. When my daughter is a older (she is only 16 months now), I hope she loves WDW as much as me and wants to do multiple WDW trips each year. We are off to a good start as she loves Mickey and Minnie and will be Minnie for Halloween this year.

AWW! Minnie as a costume is so sweet! I will say, my Mom definitely liked Disney before all these trips but now she LOVES it! Almost as much as I do :) Going on multiple trips has convinced her
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 2
Since we didn't get to bed until 1 am the night before we decided to not set an alarm and just see what time we woke up. In usual fashion we woke up at 7:15 and surprisingly we weren't too tired so we got up and got ready to head to the MK!
This is quite the sight to wake up to!
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It was a wee bit foggy out this morning
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We headed down to Contempo Cafe for breakfast! The elevators are the main issue at the Contemporary. We waited forever, but every time an elevator came it was full. We ended up taking the stairs, but you had to walk all the way down to level one to get back into the hotel...its weird. Either way we were happy to have a quick service back in a hotel we were staying at!
I think its cool that they find your table by your buzzer and bring you the food!
My Mom waffles...of course! A lot of food comes with this! I grabbed her sausage off her plate because it was grossing her out :p
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I got the Adult Breakfast Platter
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This was so much food! Neither one of us could finish our breakfasts!
We headed down to the front desk after this so we could change credit cards around and the CM informed of that it was the hotel's 45th Anniversary (as was it MK's). I'm ashamed to say I had no idea...:oops:
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We chose to walk the path over to the MK which was nice!
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We found some pumpkins of course!
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We had a FP for SpaceRanger Spin so headed there!
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Next up: defeating Emperor Zerg
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 2 continued
My Mom beat me on this ride...again!!! This was the second time in a row!
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Terrible picture, but she beat me by a lot!
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We decided to go on again! I was winning the entire time...until the end she hit something big and won again!!
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The line was still short so we rode a third time. I will spare you the picture since it looks the exact same as the one above....but I finally won!!
:):D
It was already time for our next FP so we headed to Space Mountain!
On a sidenote, I heard the Space Mountain in Disneyland Paris is amazing! I hope someday I can go there!
I'm not sure why there is no wait time listed for this ride...
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I guess I don't have the Photopass picture! I will have to ask them for it!
It's not a typical day for us without this ride...
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My Mom calls it our "catch up ride" because typically I use it to review our plans and she uses it to catch up with our family :joyfull:
Here I am making some dining reservations I happened to find!
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After our nice spin we headed over to our next FP.
We had yet to leave Tomorrowland! Thats OK, its my favorite land :)
The Tomorrowland Speedway was our next stop :) We enjoy this even though its pretty much made for kids :inlove:
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Next up: It's so hot, what will we do?
 

LisaBelle

Well-Known Member
OMG! I am sooo jealous! But also happy to have another Doc Disney TR to read. You certainly are gaining on @Tuvalu. Can't wait to read about you running into her. I am super behind on my TR reading, so I haven't finished your other TR yet. I logged on to try to get caught up and couldn't believe my eyes when I found this new TR waiting for me. Love your theme park view :inlove:. Walking to MK would be sooo awesome. So happy you were able to take this surprise trip. Looking forward to more.
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
OMG! I am sooo jealous! But also happy to have another Doc Disney TR to read. You certainly are gaining on @Tuvalu. Can't wait to read about you running into her. I am super behind on my TR reading, so I haven't finished your other TR yet. I logged on to try to get caught up and couldn't believe my eyes when I found this new TR waiting for me. Love your theme park view :inlove:. Walking to MK would be sooo awesome. So happy you were able to take this surprise trip. Looking forward to more.

:) Its the annual pass that got to me. Just as @Tuvalu predicted. How can you not go down when its cheap flights and hotel sales :) I loved walking to the MK and waking up to the castle everyday. If only I could afford a longer trip there :p
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I was actually just watching Gillian at Home YouTube vlogs of her trip to Disneyland Paris and she made it seem like their space mountain is terrible! I couldn't believe it! Loving your report, and totally not jealous at all or anything!!

Oh really?! I have only every heard amazing things about it. On a podcast I was listening to the other day they said it was the best thrill ride Disney has ever made (at least in DL, DL Paris and WDW)

Following along :) I am super jealous of your frequent Disney trips!

I think I saw that you will be at Epcot on 11/7? I will be there too! :D If I see you I will say hello! (if i'm not too shy haha)

Oh please say Hi if you see me! I'm also very shy, but love meeting people from this site, or people who have seen my Youtube channel! I also tend to be lost in my own world in Disney and am not paying attention so I usually miss seeing people haha
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 2 continued:
We hopped in our car and I took the driver's seat. My Mom always makes fun of me for how bad I drive in these things, but they are hard to steer :)
Camera accidentally still in vivid for this shot
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We really had no real plans after this so decided to head towards Liberty Square to see if we could find Christmas ears yet (sadly, we did not).
First, we took 100000 pictures
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It was at this point we noticed a HUGE line down Main Street past Casey's. It ended up being the line for the 45th Anniversary merchandise! We (for now) settled on our free pin :)
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Next up: We are on a boat!
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 2 continued:
We briefly considered standing around to watch the new castle show, but decided instead to do something newish for me (My Mom insists I did this as a kiddo, but I have no recollection)
The Liberty Square Riverboat :)
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We JUST missed the boat so took advantage of the shade while we waited!
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Finally it was time to board the boat!
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This boat was SO hot! Literally sweat was dripping down my back :hungover: So much for getting out of the sun :)
Some views from the boat
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I wonder how the construction guys/girls feel about being stared at all day long :)
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In my mind I built up how great this boat ride was, instead I searched for FPs and tried to not fall asleep :joyfull: I'm sure it would have been better if it wasn't so hot
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Next up: Splashing away
 

Ciara

Well-Known Member
I love Petey and Drake's halloween costumes! Too cute :D

So funny as i am looking at the pics of you guys on the fonorail i saw the businessman in the reflection and was wondering if he was going to say something to you guys since he was getting so close to your mom! haha

Excited to hear about MNSSHP :D:D
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I love Petey and Drake's halloween costumes! Too cute :D

So funny as i am looking at the pics of you guys on the fonorail i saw the businessman in the reflection and was wondering if he was going to say something to you guys since he was getting so close to your mom! haha

Excited to hear about MNSSHP :D:D

Sometimes I think people will commit me for posting their picture since I'm a grown adult ...but they have always traveled with me haha
I never noticed he was in the reflection!!! Thats really funny!
 

LeighM

Well-Known Member
Our trips overlapped :) I checked into POR on October 1st and did the Halloween Party on the 2nd. Can't wait to read more about your trip.
 

AuburnBelle919

Active Member
I took a surprise spontaneous trip down there the same weekend for the 45th anniversary and to get started on some of the food and wine festival things that I wanted to try. I didn't tell anyone I was going because I get the same reaction from everyone when I go back to Disney.

I actually feel like I have more time for little trips now than when I was in residency so the fun definitely doesn't have to stop when you get a real job (it helps that I moved to Florida after residency)! Can't wait to read more about your trip!
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Our trips overlapped :) I checked into POR on October 1st and did the Halloween Party on the 2nd. Can't wait to read more about your trip.

I was at the Halloween party on the 2nd too!!!

I took a surprise spontaneous trip down there the same weekend for the 45th anniversary and to get started on some of the food and wine festival things that I wanted to try. I didn't tell anyone I was going because I get the same reaction from everyone when I go back to Disney.

I actually feel like I have more time for little trips now than when I was in residency so the fun definitely doesn't have to stop when you get a real job (it helps that I moved to Florida after residency)! Can't wait to read more about your trip!

Ah! That is good news that even after residency you have some leeway! If I could handle the heat I would totally consider moving to Florida, but unfortunately I really can't haha. Plus I would miss winter and fall :) People drive me nuts when they react the way they do when I say I am going to Disney again...I don't tell them where to take their vacations! :) Hope you had a great trip!
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris is pretty amazing. It's more like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. I hope you get a chance to experience it.

I really hope I do too! Its definitely on my list of must -dos! I have been to Europe, but never France so if I go to France its a must that I go to DL Paris!
 

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