Trip Report THE ONE WITH A FEW MAGICIANS IN AUGUST 🤡COMPLETE🤡

Hello again.
I have another trip booked in less than three weeks so I need to power through this. So let’s go.....

In my last TR you all convinced me to take a side trip to WDW after dropping my son off at school. I was on the fence until one poster (I am too lazy to look it up) said they would never pass up an opportunity to visit WDW. I agree.

Not too long after that we had a big family get together and I asked if anyone wanted to drive down to Florida with X and I then go to WDW with me for a couple days. My 16YO nephew said yes but he is kind of a nervous type so I did not take him seriously. A few days later his mother, my SIL said, “you know J was serious right?”

I went on DVC and booked a room immediately. I could not believe my luck when I got a 1BR at Boardwalk. I have been trying for 12 years to stay there. Yay!!!

THEN my SIL, also being the nervous type, said she would go too. WHAT???
She was just there at Christmas and she is going with me in September for food and wine. This is way out of character for her.

THEN my youngest, Dre, decides he wants to go. Wait. We are not all going to fit in X’s
truck.

SIL suggests she fly down with the boys and meet me at Disney. That is what we did. Let me tell you about it......

 

[meg0039]

Tuesday 8/27 cont

When we came out the Chinese acrobats were acrobatting.
Some of the performers look like pre teens! But they are so talented. I especially like the Diablos. The school my kids went to put on a fifth grade circus every year and 2 of my 3 boys chose the Diablos so I know first hand how difficult they are.
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This guy was seriously amazing!
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So good!

China picture spot selfie.
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We continued on our way.
Trunks up for good luck!
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Then we meandered into Germany. We are both of German descent, married into a big Italian family. (I am also Italian but my German mother did the cooking.)

The smell, returned us to our Grandmother’s kitchens.
And the Germans don't mess around when it comes to straws.
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We got a few things to share.
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The Noodle Gratin! I love you!!!
The potato salad was just like Grandma used to make❤

I love my SIL but I did not share this
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I dream about that potato salad....

 

[darthcarranus]

Tuesday 8/27 cont

We took our cups and started walking to Epcot. Dre was wearing a shirt from school and a man stopped us and asked where we were from. They live two blocks from us!! It’s a small world after all
It was a mom a dad and their son, perhaps 12, in a wheelchair. They had checked out and were killing time before their flight. They mentioned the son had gotten sick on the trip. I felt so bad for him. We talked schools but the boy went to the private school down the street while my kids go to public school. I was trying to figure out the logistics of the wheelchair in the boy’s school. I have been in there many times and it is all stairs and I have never seen an elevator. As I am going through the blue print of the school in my head the boy jumps out if the wheelchair and starts fiddling around with something on the back. Wait!?! What!?!

We continued on, cups in hand.
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The security oficers were great! (Maybe that is the prosecco talking) We were talking DVC points. 2 of them were DVC members. One of them had 650 points! 650 across three resorts. He said he uses the points to cruise. When we bought in we were told by our sales rep that using points on the cruise was not a good value. Unless you use them for the first (and second?) most expensive guest and pay cash for the others. That is a lot of points!

We weren't even thinking and walked right in with our to go cups. Ooops. Mine was practically empty anyway.

First stop! It had recently become my thing where I stop for a Moosehead in Canada when entering World Showcase.
But first, Max er @amjt660 , are you home??? He never is
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Even Dre looks sad.

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Wow! Straws a plenty in Canada.
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There it is. I have been trying to find Moosehead locally without luck. BIL is in the beer business so I have him on it.

Dre had been craving poutine. Not sure why. I don’t recall him ever having poutine.
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It was ok. The curds were a little big for my taste. The gravy a bit too sour. The boys devoured it just the same

Dre had been craving poutine. Not sure why. I don’t recall him ever having poutine.

. - my daughter is 16 as well - and she looks for Poutine whenever we're at a fair or food trucks are about

 

[krisri18]

Found a Halloween costume for you @Darstarr !

 

[Darstarr]

Out of curiosity--how is it pronounced?

Well, not the way it looks!! It’s pronounced more like ouse. Think house but without the H.

I dream about that potato salad....

Amen!!!

Found a Halloween costume for you @Darstarr !
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No way! Those are hysterical!!!

 

[Darstarr]

The only impact was the planned delay in start of school (precautionary), which resulted in moving in Tuesday instead of Saturday, and then starting classes the very next day!
That was hectic. But they're young and resilient, they survived it!

And they have good stories to tell!

 

[Darstarr]

It was so much fun meeting you! We wore the glow sticks you gave us to the Star Wars opening later in the trip. And of course we enjoyed all the stuff you gave us the next day...which I won't spoil because you're almost there in your TR!

PS Thanks for Wilson-ing me!

 

[Darstarr]

Those Chinese acrobats are so talented and I agree with you that some seem quite young! The food that you got in Germany looks delish and is that beer you got a Schofferhofer beer? I'm such a fan of the shop in the American Pavilion too. It's one shop that we always have to stop in after seeing VOL! Glad you were able to locate your "magician" friends and get some pics to share.

Yes it was Schofferhofer.
And it was delicious! As was the food.

 

[Darstarr]

Bee your "Wilson-ing" is going to become as famous as @Tuvalu 's Shirley Status!! It makes me laugh at the different ways you cover your face.

Originally I had edited her out by marking up her face with the marker. Ummmm, that didnt seem right so Wilson it was.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Originally I had edited her out by marking up her face with the marker. Ummmm, that didnt seem right so Wilson it was.

I thought that was the original picture! You're getting good with your pictures. @fractal worthy

 

[Darstarr]

Tuesday 8/27 cont


The boys said they got us a good spot for Illuminations. Do they even know what a good spot is???
I left bee and Le Tigre and sprinted to Canada to find this “great spot”. I made it with two minutes to spare and it was indeed a great spot!

There was a firework cannon right next to us. It scared the beejeebers out of us!

When Illuminations was over the boys wanted to ride Test Track. There were extra magic hours that night and Epcot was open until 11:00. SIL and I were going to walk home but we decided to let the crowds thin a little. We sat down in our viewing location.

And this is why you dont feed the wildlife!!!

I was putting on lipgloss and SIL was catching up on her social media when I felt like I was being watched.

He stuck his head right between the poles. I said hi and put my lipgloss away. Then he bit me. No lie. He bit me right on the tricep. I think he thought my lipgloss was food since my hand was at my mouth.
DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS PEOPLE!!!

 

[Darstarr]

I thought that was the original picture! You're getting good with your pictures. @fractal worthy

Normally I wouldn't subject you all with a closeup of me like that (especially since I didnt filter). I really took one for the bee.

 

[Nunu]

Originally I had edited her out by marking up her face with the marker. Ummmm, that didnt seem right so Wilson it was.

Me, clueless again, thought this was "Wilson Status"!

 

[MickeyCB]

[/QUOTE]

I was putting on lipgloss and SIL was catching up on her social media when I felt like I was being watched.

That is literally the stuff of nightmares! Sorry @DisneyGigi!

 

[DisneyGigi]

That is literally the stuff of nightmares! Sorry @DisneyGigi!
[/QUOTE]
Awww, he just wanted some lipgloss too!

 

[MickeyCB]

That is literally the stuff of nightmares! Sorry @DisneyGigi!

Awww, he just wanted some lipgloss too!
[/QUOTE]
Did you see that picture?! He looks like the duck that ate Manhattan!

 

[Swissmiss]

Me, clueless again, thought this was "Wilson Status"!
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Umm ... me too

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday 8/28
A.K.A. as the day BEFORE SW:GE opening
And the day BEFORE Food and Wine

Today was check out day. We were going to sleep in and then go to lunch and then go to the airport. Things happened....
First off, J’s alarm went off at 6:00. Ok. Honest mistake. But he hit snooze instead of turning it off. When it went off the second time SIL SCREAMED at him.
Now I am up!

We showered, packed and dressed. Not in that order
We had gatorade and beer and a few other odds and ends that we were not going to take with us. I know! I will give it to @bee She is staying here. I messaged her and went about packing, fully clothed btw.
Then the force was too strong...

Yes, another beer before breakfast. I was still in vacay mode.

@bee arrived and I was able to unload....er, donate our unused groceries. Plus I gave her our popcorn bucket and some glow necklaces. It was great seeing her again and she is just as beautiful in daylight as she is in the nightime world showcase light!

We brought our bags to bell services and hopped on a bus to MK.
We were heading to the Contemporary. I took this pix and sent it to our sept trip group text (we were going to be staying at BLT).

We were a little early so we shopped

Wow! I would actually wear that. I dont think I could pull it off but I would still wear it. If I recall it was expensive. I know that is a relative term so if anyone knows the exact amount please chime in!

Finally lunch or brunch or whatever it was!

We ordered drinks.

I ordered the blushing mimosa (I think)

SIL ordered the cranberry mimosa.

That is not the cranberry mimosa! That is nyquil mixed with Jaegermeister with a touch of acai.
In other words, it was disgusting! Our server had not delivered our drinks. Someone else had and when our server finally came around we (I) said something. She agreed that is not what SIL ordered because she does not allow anyone to order that particular drink because it is so awful.
Then she went on and on about whose fault it was, hers or the bartenders. Hello! Dont care!!!

She brought us the proper drink and declared it was not her fault. Still dont care!!!
(BTW, server was from Brooklyn)

My plate. Some of my favorite things.

Then

And this was J’s plate. Talk about carbo loading!

The food at Chef Mickeys is so good. The service is not. Our server was totally MIA. After she dropped the check we never saw her again! She dropped it early and we weren't done eating yet. The dirty dishes kept piling up. And her tip kept decreasing by the minute!!!

Chef Mickey’s:
Food good.
Service bad.
Characters hit or miss.

 

[DisneyGigi]

Just saw this Halloween costume idea .. @bee @Darstarr

 

[Darstarr]

Just saw this Halloween costume idea .. @bee @Darstarr

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I love that!!!

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday 8/28 cont

This was SIL’s correct drink

Dre was smiling!!!

After we paid we had a little time so I asked the boys if they wanted to do the Searaycers. SIL was a little apprehensive but my favorite CM, Irma, was there to soothe her feelings.
(Irma was our driver from Christmas if any of you read that TR)

The boys had 30 minutes as we were on a tight schedule. We still had to get a bus back to the Boardwalk and you just never know with Disney buses.

Of course the boys stayed out too long. Irma was great! She was just about to call harbor patrol when we spotted them coming in. Then she rang us up so when the boys hit the dock we could run for MK to catch a bus for Boardwalk. If there was a bus there or one within 5 minutes we would be fine.

There was one couple in line when we arrived at the bus depot. They had already been waiting 15 minutes. I didnt need to be upset with the boys because even if they had finished on time it would not have mattered. We waited 45 minutes. Why didnt we take an Uber you ask? It was too late to catch our ME and if we were going to pay for an Uber I figured we should pay for it to take us to the airport.

We finally arrived at the Boardwalk. Bell services heard our story and walked us into the front desk. We could have caught the next ME but there was no next ME. Not another scheduled departure for an hour.

Everything happened so quickly I didnt get any CM’s names. The man helping us called his supervisor over and explained how we waited for a bus, after brunch (he skipped the fun boat part), for 45 minutes. “Wow!, said the supervisor looking at her watch. She quickly printed up some paper work and said they had a mears taxi waiting for us outside. “Just give the driver the voucher.” What?!? So awesome!

We rode to the airport #shirleystatus in our own minivan taxi paid for by Disney.

Excellent customer service. Awful selfie.

We arrived home drama free.
Someone was happy to see me.

Two days later I was toasting the end of summer:

Two days after that the kids were back in school.
Three weeks after that I was back for Food an Wine!
.............