Trip Report JenniferS (and Mike) will be live 9/2-9/13 ... maybe!

Yes, it’s that time of year again, time for another live trip report from two of your favourite Canadians ... which means of course, that another hurricane is headed to Florida.

This will be my fourth live WDW trip report. The “who” and “where” remain the same, but the “how” and “when” are very much up in the air right now.

2016 here: (No, I don’t know how to embed links in a little blue “here”)

Hi, my name is JenniferS, and I am a Disneyholic. I have been accused of being a Pixie Dust snorter. I've been accused of worse, so no biggie.

Once we get home from a Disney trip, I am always in a bit of a funk, and never really up to doing a proper trip report. For those of you who know me, I generally post live over in Chit Chat somewhere. This is my first dedicated live trip report in the actual Trip Report Thread.

The cast:
Me. JenniferS. Just turned 49. Honestly friends, I don't know how that happened. I still feel 27. But, my passport and driver's licence insist I was born in 1967, and I have two 20-something sons, so it must be true.

This is me, on my way to work this morning. All smiles, because this is my last day of work for almost two weeks!
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And this is Hubby. He is not on his way to work today, as he has been off work for 6 months. He is 48 years old and this is the first entire summer he has had off since he was 14. In 31 years together, this is only the second time I have seen him with a tan.

Goofy is his favourite character.
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And last year, he was obsessed with this over-sized "Stitchie". There was no room in our luggage, but this year, I am determined to buy it for him, and bring it home by any means necessary. Actually, I'm just going to bring our big SouthWest duffel bag, and pay for an extra bag coming home.

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This will be our first Disney trip, just the two of us, since 1992!

Okay, that's the Who.
Coming up next - the Where.

2017 here:

This will be my fourth live trip report in a year, and after NYC last week, I thought Hubby had reached his limit, but he says, "No, go ahead, do a live trip report. It lets me control the tv while you talk to your friends." (As we meet more of my WDWDisney friends, he uses finger quotes around "friends" less and less.)

So, here we go, another live trip report. I really don't have the will to do a post trip report, so it's "live" or nothing. Once I'm out of the bubble, I'm out.

Introductions.
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That would be me, Jennifer, on the left. Big Disney fan, big Blue Jays fan, big Hubby fan. Ace, in the middle - although he will always be BJ Birdie to me. Hubby, Mike, on the right. Although Mike is the one who first introduced me to Disney in 1991, it's not really his thing. He goes with me most years to make me happy. And also for the food.

As with our past three trips, we will be spending 11 days, 10 nights at Coronado Springs Resort. We booked a BounceBack offer before checking out last year, before knowing how much construction would be going on. Oh well, it is what it is. And what it is, is my favourite resort in my Happy Place; so it's all good.

We have a Preferred King room booked, which means Casitas 1, 2, or 3. Nonetheless, I think I will be sending in a room preference fax tomorrow asking for a refurbed King room in either 7A or 8A. I'll be happy either way. I am ridiculously easy to please whilst in WDW.

Yes, I am one of those Free Dining parasites. By booking the BB offer last year, we are actually getting the full DDP for free, instead of having to upgrade from QDP. I put great thought and effort into our ADR's. Mike is a big guy and eats a lot. The heat and humidity really kills my appetite, so Mike eats at least half of my meals too. (I've recently packed on 20 pounds, so that may be a good thing.)

Next up, our somewhat loosey goosey itinerary.

2018 here:

Technically this is a pre-trip report, but we’ll be going live in less than a week!

This will be my third live September trip report.
2016:
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/jennifers-is-live-9-7-16-9-17-16.918342/#post-7389286

2017:
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/jennifers-was-live-9-6-17-9-16-17.931263/#post-7871205

It’s going to be a lot of same old/same old, as the cast, location, and ADR’s are pretty much the same. What can I say - we like what we like. And what we like is each other, Walt Disney World, Coronado Springs, and Free Disney Dining.

First, the who.
Me, JenniferS - Uber planning, pixie dust snorting Disney-aholic, 51 year old kid at heart (despite what the mirror says).
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This is Hubby. He likes the Tar Heels, the Blue Jays, food, beer, and me. Not necessarily in that order.
The words most often heard coming out of his mouth are “Whatever you want, Baby.”
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This is us. We are adorable together. We’re each other’s ride or die.
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Last year, we were celebrating my 50th birthday (as much as women celebrate these “milestones”).

This year, we are celebrating Mike’s 50th (both of us born in August, so it’s close enough to count) AND our 25th wedding anniversary earlier this year.

We have children, but we don’t bring them to Disney very often anymore. If they decide to get married and start giving us grand-babies, I will re-visit this decision. But for now, they stay home. We are on Jen and Mike time.

After two live trip reports, I’m not sure how wordy this report will be, but it will be heavy on pics, most especially of food! As Mike says - I’m only here for the food.

To be continued ....

To be continued ....

 

[JenniferS]

From there, we trick or treated our way over to Pirates.

 

[JenniferS]

Splash was a total walk on.

Last time we rode this, I videoed the big drop. These are total waste of time photos:

 

[JenniferS]

By this time, it was just after 10:00, not enough time to ride again before the fireworks, but too much time to just stand there ... so we went through the candy line five or six times.

We watched the fireworks from the bridge directly across from Splash, facing TSI.

You can sort of see the castle projections. I mean I can’t, but you might.

I liked the reflection in the water.

 

[JenniferS]

We’re wet anyway. Back to Splash. Round 2.

No pictures to speak of. We had four very loud clapping “tour group” girls in our log, and eight more in the log behind them. I have totally become an old, cranky “get off my lawn” crab lately.

Also, didn’t the logs used to only seat six? Like making out on the bus, is this new?

 

[JenniferS]

From here, we hoofed it to the other side of the parade route to Pirates again. The live cast interaction was much enhanced from last year. We really enjoyed it.

From the front:

And behind:

The boys kept asking this guy (wayyyyyy up there) why all the rum was gone.

And this one.

 

[JenniferS]

We came out to the beginning of BTY. I watched it in between cycles through the Tortuga candy line. J dropped out first. Then K. (They stood to watch the parade.) Then Mike left to use the washroom, and I just kept going through. @Eric1955 will tell you - I have no shame in this regard. Like zero!

After the parade was over, we walked to the far end of the park again to ride SM in the dark. A-ma-zing!

 

[JenniferS]

I’ll have to do a game day wrap tomorrow. I am exhausted and hurting from head to toe. Mike made me a coffee, I’ve showered (AGAIN!) and now it’s time to dig up some Tylenol.

I’ll sign out for tonight with this:

Plus another 2224 since midnight.

Tomorrow’s morning/early afternoon plans are completely out the window. It’s going to be a total resort morning. Swimming, laundry, and lunch at the old Pepper Market.

For some bizarre reason, I have us going back to MK tomorrow afternoon/evening. Something to do with dinner at Wilderness Lodge, I’m sure.

Good night Peeps.

 

[Tuvalu]

Always been 4 rows in a log.

Now go stand on a bus and make out with Mike.

 

[wdw93]

In other news, I hate football. I hate everything about it. I don’t know him, but I don’t like Antonio Brown. I don’t know them, but I don’t like the Patriots. I am so sick of everything football.

On the plus side, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to post in real time, ‘cause ain’t nobody here talking about anything I care about.

Did I mention how good the chocolate sauce was?

 

[mollygirl21]

Always been 4 rows in a log.

Now go stand on a bus and make out with Mike.

Yep, you can stand on a seat!

 

[JenniferS]

Always been 4 rows in a log.

Now go stand on a bus and make out with Mike.

Google images says you are correct. I would have bet money they used to be three.

Who knew? Tuvalu knew. (Say that three times fast!)

 

[JenniferS]

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I don’t hate the Patriots in particular - although I’m led to believe this is a common thing. I hate ALL of the discussion of football swirling around me; much of it centred on the Patriots the past few days.

If it makes you feel better, I’m sick of hearing about Mike’s Eagles, J’s whatever team, K’s sad sack Bills ... and every other team they’re playing, have ever played, or are ever going to play.

Sadly, it is Monday, so I suspect I am in for a day of Monday Morning Quarterbacking.

 

[NYwdwfan]

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EVERY time I ride I have to cheer "hooray" out loud. I get laughed at. A lot. Mostly by people I don't know.

I don’t hate the Patriots in particular - although I’m led to believe this is a common thing. I hate ALL of the discussion of football swirling around me; much of it centred on the Patriots the past few days.

If it makes you feel better, I’m sick of hearing about Mike’s Eagles, J’s whatever team, K’s sad sack Bills ... and every other team they’re playing, have ever played, or are ever going to play.

Sadly, it is Monday, so I suspect I am in for a day of Monday Morning Quarterbacking.

Plus there are two more games tonight. K's sad sack Bills beat my sadder sack Jets.

 

[JenniferS]

EVERY time I ride I have to cheer "hooray" out loud. I get laughed at. A lot. Mostly by people I don't know.


Plus there are two more games tonight. K's sad sack Bills beat my sadder sack Jets.

Mike and I always shout “Hooray” too, and throw our arms up in the air.

I’d like to think everybody does.

 

[JenniferS]

Without a hint of exaggeration, we have at least 50 lbs of candy in the knapsack. Mike was afraid the straps were going to break.

I only ate two pieces of candy yesterday - a one bite Milky Way and a three bite Snickers (?) Crispy. The boys seemed to be constantly eating something.

I did have a granola bar when we got back to the room though, as I was hungry.

As soon as we get home, I have to get back on my diet. I’m expecting a call with my hip replacement surgery date any time now. According to my FitBit, I’m still looking to lose 25.8 lbs.

The bulk of this candy will be handed out to our own trick or treaters this year. Not the Dove bars of course, but the Starburst and Skittles for sure. (I hate Skittles!) Mind you, I said the same thing last year.

 

[NYwdwfan]

Without a hint of exaggeration, we have at least 50 lbs of candy in the knapsack. Mike was afraid the straps were going to break.

I only ate two pieces of candy yesterday - a one bite Milky Way and a three bite Snickers (?) Crispy. The boys seemed to be constantly eating something.

I did have a granola bar when we got back to the room though, as I was hungry.

As soon as we get home, I have to get back on my diet. I’m expecting a call with my hip replacement surgery date any time now. According to my FitBit, I’m still looking to lose 25.8 lbs.

The bulk of this candy will be handed out to our own trick or treaters this year. Not the Dove bars of course, but the Starburst and Skittles for sure. (I hate Skittles!) Mind you, I said the same thing last year.

Hold onto the creamy peanut butter snickers. And the crunchy peanut butter snickers. Just put them in the guest room for visitors.

 

[Tuvalu]

EVERY time I ride I have to cheer "hooray" out loud. I get laughed at. A lot. Mostly by people I don't know.

Add me to the “hooray” club. And I don’t care who laughs at me.

 

[JenniferS]

95 degrees again today. Frost warning overnight at home.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

We were supposed to say goodbye for the season to Mike’s favourite Sirius station, Yacht Rock, at 3:00 am

My dh's favorite station during the summer. I like it too, but it seems like they only have 30 songs in their repertoire, and Steely Dan is played like every 5 songs.

 

[JenniferS]

I don’t hate the Patriots in particular - although I’m led to believe this is a common thing. I hate ALL of the discussion of football swirling around me; much of it centred on the Patriots the past few days.

If it makes you feel better, I’m sick of hearing about Mike’s Eagles, J’s whatever team, K’s sad sack Bills ... and every other team they’re playing, have ever played, or are ever going to play.

Sadly, it is Monday, so I suspect I am in for a day of Monday Morning Quarterbacking.

Apparently J’s team is the Rams.