Disneydoc's summer 2013 trip - live from The World!

Day One

Hit the Character outlet this AM after checking out of the Fairfield. Could not get a parking place the day before, so I got there this AM at opening. Score! Found 2 nice laptop cases 2 for $15.99 (one for me, one for one of my daughters, the Disney one that I raised right), a Christmas ornament (also one for Allison), and a shirt for me with a sequined Mickey. Note: the CM said that the other outlet gets some different merchandise, as different parks "feed" it. So Animal Kingdom stuff might be at that one. Hmm. Maybe on my way home.

Well, did not make the scary clown pool - just had to walk to HS (because I could!). My BWV wasn't ready till 4, so I ventured over to have one of those strawberry cupcakes. Yummy! Disappointed to see that the Countdown to Fun parade is gone - just seems wrong not to have a parade. But, there is a new Monsters University thing at the Hat every night, and I will check that out. No Mulch Sweat and Shears either....hoping they are part of that Monsters thing....they are so good.

After checking in and loving the roomy studio I got (it feels bigger with no coffee table I guess) I headed over on foot to Epcot for Voices of Liberty then the first show of the Billy Joel tribute band. After a 10 minute delay to fix some tech issues, they were awesome. The mixing was still a bit off, but the Mouse will have it all straightened out tonight I bet.

Then hopped the monorail (because I could!) to MK for that first glimpse of the castle. Never ever ever gets old, does it? The crowds are really not bad at all, and the weather was nice too - hot, yes, but the clouds help, and it barely broke 90. I gotta say - Mainstreet Bakery rocks totally. Very roomy, efficient in and out, and it was awesome to get my venti decaf and plop down for the parade, the new Magic projection show on the castle, and front and center for Wishes.

A spin on Dumbo and Peoplemover to let the exiting crowds move on, and a quick bus ride back to BW. So awesome not to be tiredly plodding out to my car and driving off property.

Woke up this AM to birdies singing and sunshine spilling into my villa. Today - Be Our Guest for an early 4:50 dinner...and who knows what else.

Day 2

Slept in a bit (7:15) this AM after my late night at MK. Walked downstairs to the Boardwalk (!) to pick up some eggs from the General Store (very reasonably priced too) and came back up to my 5th floor room to make breakfast in my villa. Did you know that you can make scrambled eggs in the microwave? DVC villas rock.

After some eating, posting on this board and reading online, and talking on the phone to boyfriend/cat feeder for the all important update on the kitties (can you believe he does not love Disney?), and strolling around the Boardwalk (Soooo nice in the AM) i decided to chill by the clown pool first. By 9:30
I was nicely plopped down and loving the quiet. Very hot already. I hung out about 2 hours there, reading, swam a little, and planning the rest of the day.

After cleaning up I made a plate of veggies and ate a couple of pieces of turkey. Then went back down to Boardwalk Bakery to try one of those strawberry cupcakes. Very yummy!

Now it was time to get moving. I hoofed it over to Epcot, rode Nemo and did T Talk, took a spin around the WS and rode Norway, and ambled out of the park to the monorail. I love the monorail -it is an attraction in itself! Arrived at the MK and Tried to get fast passes for my favorite rides, but most return times were already late into the evening. Let's just say that the crowds have arrived!

But no matter - I did the Tiki Room, the Hall of Presidents, and enjoyed walking all over the park. It was soon time for my ressie at Be Our Guest, and they got me right in. I had a beautiful spot in the ballroom that took in the entire room, and faced the snowing window. I got to see Beast come in, and could see him receiving guests off in a side room.

So, food! I chose the new menu item Chicken Provencal. It was kind of just OK, which is what I thought of the lunch food too. But I went there really for atmosphere, knowing the food wasn't my favorite over other places. The servers were wonderful, and I was even given The Gray Stuff for no real reason other than my server like me! She told me to think of something I am celebrating while she was gone. That's a no brainer - I'm at Disney!!! I pulled the old "I got my PhD last year" out of the hat, and it seemed to work.

I hit the Laugh Floor, got another venti decaf at MSBakery/SB, and rode the train all the way around. Then out the gate, back on the monorail, walked through Epcot (with a stop at Club Cool for.A shot of watermelon soda), across the Boardwalk, and over to HS (I like to walk and take it all in).

I wanted to see Fantasmic, and also some of the Monsters University show at the hat. Good news - the band "Scare Supply" is also my beloved Mulch, Sweat and Shears. The MH cheerleaders were awesome dancers too. Note to self - the 9:00 PM Fantasmic is rrrrrrreeeeaaaalllly crowded.

Hoofed back "home" to the Boardwalk. How cooooolll is that?

So up again this AM for another sunny Florida morning in the best place on Earth. ADR at my favorite place, Teppan Edo for lunch. Then.......who knows?

Day 3

Yet another sunny morning in the World. Too bad I do not have an amazing balcony view, or I would sit out there. I overlook the area where you drve up to the Boardwalk...but I still enjoy people watching and seeing folks all excited to be at the Boardwalk, like I am!

It is really pretty quiet on this side of the hotel, though, which I like.

I got up early again and enjoyed the Boadwalk for a while, ate my signature microwave eggs and a banana, and hoofed over to HS. I LOVE the Muppets! Can not get enough Muppets. I noticed some new (to me) stuff in the pre show...maybe I have never arrived early enough to see the whole thing before! So funny. This is one area where all 4 of my grown kids apparently "got it" - they can all still imitate the Swedish Chef, recite most of the Muppet Show episodes, etc. note: this is the only thing they can agree on these days.

I also took in a nice 10 minute preview of the new Lone Ranger movie in that mostly unused Soundstage. Awesome. I think it would be so cool if they screened vintage Disney films in there.

Then the real business of being there that AM - to snag a carrot cake cookie for this afternoon! In to the Writers Stop (gotta love getting a discount on this too), then hoofed back to the BWV to put it in the fridge. Yes, that cookie is worth a 2 mile walk. :awesome

Time to head over to Epcot for that noon ressie at Teppan Edo. Got some nice folks at my table this time. Shrimp and chicken, and saved half of it to bring back for later. Another savings of 10 percent too!

Hoofed back to BWV to store my food and go swimming, but not before scarfing down half of the carrot cake cookie.

Totally enjoyed the pool, and watching the kiddos play. I walked by the quiet pool, but it was too quiet! (Coming from a librarian, that means pretty quiet). I opted for my book and the happy sounds of summer at the clown pool. 2 blissful hours later, and a couple of dips in the pool because it is HOT, I cleaned up and decided I was in the mood for AK after all. I ate the rest of my lunch AND the rest of my cookie and caught the bus. Very little waiting, a couple of stops at Swan and Dolphin, and I walked into AK in time for the Nemo show (I love that show), some leisurely shopping, then the Festival of the Lion King. I could see that every day. Disney has such talented performers!!!!

AK was open till 8 pm, and it was so nice in the park. I hit the safari, and there were only 10 of us on the truck! I have never seen as many animals up and about - a hippo walking out of the water, a rhino standing right on the road so close I could have reached out and petted him, both lions walking round and the female pouncing on the male, the okapi running back and forth. It was just amazing.

After a spin on the little dinosaur dumbos, it was closing time. Rode the bus back to BW, had an apple and some veggies in the room, and went down to the Boardwalk. Found a spot on the bridge near the Swan and saw Illuminations fireworks, and walked around crescent lake a couple of times to enjoy the lights and sights. Just awesome, so peaceful.

Ended the evening in the villa with a little of my borrowed movie from the community hall (Ratatoulle).

So today? Lunch at Sci Fi, then you never can tell. I don't make too many advanced plans any more beyond ADRs.....just "go with the flow" these days..... later!

Day 4

Well, despite all the dark clouds and wind last night, it never stormed, and I am waking up to yet another sunshine filled morning on the Boardwalk. Julie and Mike had planned to come and hear Billy Joel music with me at Epcot, but the storms where they live, an hour from the World, changed their minds. I did get to see the concert, however - it sorta blew over. Florida weather in the summer, very unpredictable.

The day began with another pot of coffee made here in the villa (I bring my own), a small bowl of Cheerios to tide me over till my 11:45 lunch at Sci Fi, and a walk around the Boardwalk. Stopped in to browse in the gift shops and chat with those friendly CMs. Also stopped at the concierge desk to ask if they could take a look at my bed - it feels lower on one side, and by day 2 I had a backache. Should have asked them the first day, as they fixed it while I was out - it is perfect now! But here is the Disney difference - they sent up mouse keeping to do a FULL clean and restocking of all my supplies (I love the H2O soap and products)! I was only due for trash and towel as a DVC guest. Wow.

I forgot to mention another Disney touch: my first night I wanted to watch a little of a DVD, and totally could not figure out the remotes. Very embarrassing for a media specialist. A call to the lobby brought a very sweet female CM up immediately and she finally figured it out after going to get a different remote. (At least it wasn't just me). But the Disney touch - when I opened the door to her, she held out a bag full of VIP H2O products for me for my troubles! I am now set for soap till I can get back home to AKL in November.

I always feel so cared for here at Disney. I cannot think of anywhere else I would be so comfortable traveling alone as Disney.
I also don't feel alone here at all. I get to interact with folks as much as I want. Watching the little kids is truly a high point for me. The best part, though, is that at the end of the night I get to be a bit selfish again and love my quiet time too.

So back to my day....finally hoofed over to HS for my ressie, and took in the exhibit and show about Uncle Walt. If I could have lunch with somebody in history, he would be high up on my list. His smile just wipes me out - he was so playful and sparkly.

Lunch at Sci Fi was so much fun!!! Have not been there since my kids were little. I did not expect the food to be good based on what I have read, but it was delicious! I had the smoked turkey sandwich on multigrain bread with some yummy cucumbers marinated in vinegar/sugar. I ate half, and brought half back for later. My "carhop" was awesome too...and the bill is called a "parking violation".....I cracked up when he said that. Total bill was only around $13 before tip.

Back to BWV to store food and swim for about an hour and a half. Note: I have already read one entire ebook, half of another book, and one magazine in this first half of the trip. When staying offsite last year, I read nothing, ran around constantly, hurt a lot, never sat by a pool or swam once, and always felt like I was missing something. DVC has changed all that.

I had some amazing ice cream from Seashore Sweets this afternoon too. This is another place that I blew by over and over on my trek to see and do it all in a day. You guys MUST try them if you like ice cream....they share some favors with Beaches and Cream. I had a single scoop (which oh my goodness was a mountain sized scoop, but I kicked it nonetheless). I had "dulce de leche," which is vanilla streaked with caramel, and it tasted very toffee like. I also got the 10 percent AP discount.

After some shameless pool lounging (the CMs were playing music from different attractions for the kiddos and giving prizes - I am proud to say I knew them all), I cleaned up and had an apple in my villa. Julie called to debate the weather and coming up, and so I decided to take a spin around the WS. Of course I popped over to swig some watermelon soda at Club Cool, and also rode Spaceship Earth while the lines were short.

Back to the BW to have a light dinner in my villa - veggies and some turkey. By then Julie and Mike decided to try and come tomorrow. Waited a bit on my scenic porch , and decided to take a chance on the Epcot concert. I told Julie that carrying my industrial strength poncho (Coleman, bought at CVS for 7.99) has thus far warded off the rain all week. Well it worked last night too - the 6:45 was awesome, only one song repeated from the 5:30 set. I saved the 8:00 show to hopefully enjoy with my Florida friends.

Then I hoofed over to HS to see more of Scare Supply and those awesome "Fear Leaders." Tried to get into the 9:00 Fantasmic, but no go. Crazy crowded. I may try to do this later, and arrive as soon as they open the gate to get a better seat than I had last time.

Took the boat back to enjoy the nighttime lights and sights. Got off at Swan and Dolphin and walked around to the General Store for some milk, then up for some rest. The repaired bed no longer leans to the sweet side - nice.

So this AM?....Ressie at The Plaza for a late lunch (2:30 was all I could get, even months ago!). I am heading out via bus (no driving for me this trip!!!) for MK, and will try to walk up a little earlier. Sometimes they will let you come early if they can.

So as Stacey says on "Disney must do's"... Time to get my ride on! Later...........