For those who know Fran and I you are probably reading the title, and scratching your heads right now thinking, “Don’t all your kids have four legs and they aren’t allowed at WDW?”
I will admit to being in that category.
Well, yes. But it turns out that we have some other kids in our lives that we were’t so aware of.
.... wait. Isn't that physiologically impossible for a woman?
Unless you have some form of memory loss...
“Hold that Bus! How we barely missed almost every bus.”
I keep telling you. Get the VIP bus package!
Ever since we got back from the trip we took in 2010 where we brought my parents along, we've talked about bringing some friends. We knew that Jim and Alberto were the next set of friends that we would bring
I'm your friend! Take me!
It has actually worked out for the best as Alberto was able to join us for the trip in 2016.
New here. I assume they're a couple? Were they together back then? Or was it just that Alberto couldn't make it then.
The trip began with Fran and myself Cheating on Mickey with Harry.
You... You....
hussy!
(thanks! I don't get to use the word "hussy" in a sentence very often.)
they ended up on a red eye that arrived at 5:30AM in Orlando
Ouch. No.
Fran and I are the DVC owners and certifiable Disney Fanatics.
All I got from that was that you guys are certifiable.
but I have to say that these pictures they posted on FB while waiting for the doctor in the ER give you some insight into their character.
Okay, that one in the bottom left corner with the glove cracks me up.
Anyone who has followed previous TRs knows that leaving town is always an ordeal for Fran and myself.
This I know.
This has been a precedent for all of our trips for almost 20 years now
Good grief!
So... how does one wake "easily" at 4am????
We were cleared for TSA Precheck
Is this something you can do ahead of time? I presume you have to be a US citizen?
Once it got close to boarding time we found out that our flight left from a remote terminal.
Last minute gate change? Or was the other gate just a marshalling area?
That photo makes it look like the guy with the suitcase is towing Fran.
"Who are you people and why are you at this extremely remote location?"
I barely stayed awake during the end of the movie
Higher praise I can barely imagine.
I knew I barely had enough time to finish it so I forwarded through the scary parts with the evil mother.
I don't know why, but that tickles me. I like you more just for sharing that.
I had booked a Mears shuttle and we felt so special as our driver, Ali, was standing at baggage claim waiting for us holding an iPad with Fran's name on it.
Nice. I've always wanted to do that.
I've booked a couple of limos in my day, but never had the sign.
At 7PM we were awakened by a phone call from home about band nonsense that I was too incoherent to deal with,
What was so important that they had to bug you while on vacation?
Cool! That was on the ceiling??
First character meal!
We ended up ordering Dim Sum style, all appetizers. We got Beef Satay, Potstickers, Vegetable Spring Rolls, and Crab Rangoon.
mmmm.... that sounds so good.
Well here is a small IRL update. I'm working on making Beef Stroganoff for tonight.
Not a fan. I think it's the sour cream with the meat.
Either way.... meh.
Our recipe is low carb and does not include any noodles
No noodles?
What do you serve it with? Rice?
So I promise this is the only “rapid fire” update that you will get from me on this TR.
Uh, huh. I'll believe that when I see it!
I know the time because our fancy new clock that we used for the first time on the Mississippi cruise was projecting it strongly on the wall. Here is a picture I took later in the day. When the room is dark, the projection is brighter.
Elle had one of those. She had it projecting on the ceiling so when she was in bed, she just had to open her eyes to see the time.
Wow. Not even Cpt. Picard is impressed with it. Rude.
What is with me and sleeping on vacation????
I. Don't. Know!
I looked at FB. I tried to sleep, I wrote in my phone journal, I tried to sleep. Finally, I turned on World News Now which turned into America This Morning. I kept trying to sleep to no avail. At 6:25 the alarm that Fran had set went off.
We both got up and got dressed slowly.
"And then I promptly fell asleep and missed the rest of the day."
I didn't take any pictures as we were on a mission.
Did the tape self-destruct in 5 seconds?
but when the moment struck me I didn't want to take the time to get it out,
When the moment strikes me, I'm always happy to get it out.
You're talking about cameras!
Never mind.
By this point my tummy was feeling a little queasy.
Oh, no. Not again...
We found the Gringott's ride and found out there is no option to go through the queue and then bail on the ride. It's also not
scooter friendly (that's an understatement), so I said "so long" to Fran and got in line.
A gal's gotta do, what a gal's gotta do.
Nice! Haven't seen that angle before.
I was in line in the outside queue for less than 10 minutes before I got a very bad feeling in my stomach. I got out of line and ran straight for the first trash can I could find.
Oh boy. Poor Alison.
One of the nice TMs was working at a cart next to the trash can and offered me the napkin dispenser that he had just restocked.
Nice of him.
He offered to get me medical attention, but I knew exactly what it was as I had suffered a similar problem a few weeks ago. It all comes down to sugar and caffeine don't go together when it comes to my stomach. I left the queue to find Fran and my bottle of water.
Ah. Good that you knew what it was, too bad that it happened.
After a few minutes rest, I decided again to give it a shot.
That seemed pretty quick recovery time. Good!
I assume they were animatronic and moving?
It was a neat ride, but it was really uncomfortable.
Too bad about that last.
They tried to push the bar down hard on my legs and it hurt while I was riding.
Ouch. Maybe if you do it again, flex your leg muscles or go on your toes a bit?
The fact that most of the ride relied on projections on a video screen also took away from the Wow factor
Too bad. Maybe some day I'll get a chance to see it for myself.
After the ride, we went into the animal store.
Cool! Never even knew this existed.
It was cool, but almost every place was selling the same souvenirs for the four different houses, and I'm getting so over "stuff".
Darn. I really hoped for some unique merch in there.
Good job Universal! You found a way to sell every bleepin' kid a wand to wave around and annoy everyone in a 3 ft radius!
Then we decided to take the Hogwarts Express. But first i had a visit with Stan and the Night Bus.
Nice shot!
The train was interesting. We got to see the "wall" where you transform but scooters couldn't go that way, so I watched a few people go through and then we went through a regular door to the boarding area.
The "wall"? What does it do?
Nothing???? Then again, considering your recent acquaintance with a trash can, perhaps that's for the best.
I did have to use the facilities and was glad I did, I had forgotten that
@afwdwfan has reported from back in January that Moaning Myrtle was in there!
Oh, that's right! How was she?
I would highly recommend taking it both ways if you're a fan. It was different on the two trips.
Didn't know that either. Interesting.
I haven’t watched the Simpsons in years
Ditto.
They had a giant pink donut! I showed it to Fran and we both decided that we had to have one.
Well, of course.
One does not say no to giant pink donuts.
It was as big as my head!
Good Lord.
But it matches your outfit, so... you have to get it.
and they even had my Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock T-shirt!
Love that show.
Bonus points if you can name what that is from!
Not only is it from The Big Bang Theory, but it was invented by (and introduced and explained by) Sheldon.
I got in the water and it was definitely refreshing.
Nothing like a dip on a hot day, especially after doing a lot of walking.
Looks.... decadent. Niiiice.
I thought about getting a second one, but when I saw that it was $15, I said "forget it!" Evidently your 1st drink comes with a "souvenir" glass, then every drink thereafter you get $5 off. Still a little more than I wanted to spend.
Way too pricey. Especially for a glass that I'd wind up throwing out.
I probably got a good two hours of sleep when I was awakened again with the lameness of band.
Again? What the heck's with that?
No shivering while I'm lathering up my hair, the warm water just kept flowing!
Interesting. You live in Cali and shiver, I live in Canada and don't.
Hey! You could where a wet or dry suit when you shower.
No?
This stream runs through the front of the resort. It doesn’t look like its really “running” though.
Meanders through? Stagnates through?
At first glance, I didn't think the water was coming out of containers.
OK, what the heck! I will do a contest (yes, call me crazy).
Okay. You're crazy.
I will even try to give 24 hours notice before the next post goes up.
And I thank you for that!
1. In the last update I showed you one large donut and four small donuts. How many total Large donuts did we actually buy? (10 points)
2. What drink did I order in the last update? (10 points)
3. You should gather from the fact that the valets hailed us a cab, we are not eating on Universal property. I don’t remember if I spilled the beans on this one somewhere beforehand, but Veteran TR readers may have an advantage on this one. Where did we have dinner? Hint: It’s a chain restaurant. Fran told me to add that it’s not Chili’s. (10 points)
4. We almost always order the exact same things when dining at this establishment. What did we add to our repertoire this trip and plan to get it again as long as it on the menu? (25 points)
5. Did I sleep through the night? If not, what time did I awaken at night? Either way what time did I decide I was done sleeping? (5 points, 10-20 depending on your answer)
6. We went to Disney on this day. How long did we wait for our first bus to Epcot? (10 points)
Oy.
Okay, here goes. Totally random off the top of my head.
1. Two
2. Mai Tai?
3. Benihana?
4. no clue. Calamari
5. No. Up at 3.
6. Just missed it... so 20 minutes.
Of course it is interesting that Jim's driver's license says he is older than both Fran and myself. 
