Making Lemonade from Lemons.

[DLo]

Just found your report. Chiming in with everyone else on the amazing pictures! Looking forward to reading more about your adventures.

 

[fractal]

What a fun night! Seems like a little bit of everything the family loves most - socializing and enjoying time together at Disney! Having a great time following along.

We had a blast! Trips are very different as your children get older and there are many things I miss, but I also appreciate all the new things and the emerging adult personalities of my kids.

Thanks for following!

Just found your report. Chiming in with everyone else on the amazing pictures! Looking forward to reading more about your adventures.

Thanks much @DLo !

 

[buzzrelly]

This was a sad sight. My favorite boat to photograph at AK was sinking!

Still makes for a nice picture though!

and this, which I really like in B&W.

Very cool!

Two seconds later I got a call from Alex. She arrived at the parking lot only to be told she could not enter. She didn't give the reservation number I texted her before the trip only because she didn't think of it. The CM she dealt with didn't seem very helpful and started to get rude with Alex. She more or less told her to leave even though Alex explained she had a reservation at The Contemporary and tickets for AK on this day (couldn't she scan her wrist band?).

Oh, no! That's terrible, but I'm glad you fixed it for her.

Alex is a wonderful human being. She always thinks of others before herself and that trait is what makes her an awesome nurse.

The driver slowed down as we approached. I could almost pull on it's tail.

"Hi giraffe butt." Toni said. See the difference in sisters?

Now pretend you're eating a leaf...

Oh my gosh, those giraffe pictures are amazing, and she is just gorgeous up close

UP NEXT- I'm buzzed, at Walt Disney World and belting out sing-alongs with our new Disney friends! Does it get any better than that?

Nope!

Sounds like such a fun night!

Alex wanted to at least attempt "drinking around the world" as she heard about it from a friend. Val agreed to join/babysit her. 20 years ago we were doing parent swaps at rides, 13 years ago we were doing Bippity-boppity boutique and Princess meals and now we are getting rowdy at Irish Pubs and drinking around the world. See! Walt Disney World really is for all ages!

My Allie is already planning her 21st birthday trip so she can do this…in 2024!

Another flashback - this time to 2011. Sterg, Toni and I spent some time in the Seas fish tank during our Seas Quest tour. After that we jumped on the "old" Test Track.

Aw, cute

I know this ride is 20 years old but it's still impressive and still works. This may be the first time I went Orange since my first ride in 2000 and I appreciated the extra edge it gave the ride. Toni loved it again and after we settled our ship at the canyon's edge on Mars we were off to our next adventure.

I've never done the orange side since I can barely handle the green side, but good for you!

 

[KEK1]

Love it when photographers do TRs! Fabulous, following along!

 

[DLo]

How did move in at Clemson go ? One of my friends moved her son in yesterday. We live in Georgia and have a lot of kids from our area go there .

 

[kclark9830]

How awesome to run into friends for dinner. Raglan Road is on my list for sure!

 

[CruellaNY]

OOH I fell way behind! Fun night at Raglan Road for sure, I am well aware what lots of leads to in Disney lol!

There were a pretty good cover duo and played a lot of the bar favorites; Piano Man, American Pie, etc.

RR isn't one of our favorites food-wise and we've never caught this cover band but I would definitely enjoy them!

ordered a red velvet cupcake and thoroughly enjoyed the little door opening to reveal my treat! The cupcake, by the way was delicious.

One thing we haven't tried! My choice would probably be red velvet as well so good to hear you enjoyed it.

And what says "relaxation" more than a 6 foot slithering black snake?

 

[fractal]

spent the week driving down to Clemson and moving Toni into her dorm room.

We then drove to Nashville to meet up with Alex. She was there after being in a wedding for one of her college lacrosse teammates -

After Nashville we parted ways. Val went with Alex and her journey west to her new nursing assignment in San Diego while I heading back home to Pennsylvania. It was four days of highways miles, memorable moments, and good old fun. Val and Alex are now in Kansas City Missouri with Denver as the next stop. I'm feeling good to be back home but really wish I was still with them.

 

[fractal]

Still makes for a nice picture though!


Thanks!

Very cool!




Oh, no! That's terrible, but I'm glad you fixed it for her.


It was a relief!








Oh my gosh, those giraffe pictures are amazing, and she is just gorgeous up close

Yes, beautiful animal!


Nope!

Sounds like such a fun night!

Very much!



My Allie is already planning her 21st birthday trip so she can do this…in 2024!

LOL!


Aw, cute




I've never done the orange side since I can barely handle the green side, but good for you!

I regret not going back and doing the new green side.

Love it when photographers do TRs! Fabulous, following along!

Thank you @KEK1 !

How did move in at Clemson go ? One of my friends moved her son in yesterday. We live in Georgia and have a lot of kids from our area go there .

Great - see below! How's your friend's son doing? It's not the college atmosphere we know. A number of Toni's friends are struggling at college due to all the restrictions and lack of social events.

How awesome to run into friends for dinner. Raglan Road is on my list for sure!

Fun night! Thanks!

OOH I fell way behind! Fun night at Raglan Road for sure, I am well aware what lots of leads to in Disney lol!


RR isn't one of our favorites food-wise and we've never caught this cover band but I would definitely enjoy them!

One thing we haven't tried! My choice would probably be red velvet as well so good to hear you enjoyed it.

Lol! The casual atmosphere of RR lends to us being more relaxed.

Cupcake was yummy!

 

[fractal]

Meanwhile in Mexico, Val and Alex are having their first (or second?) drink.

"Hola!"

Toni has never been a fan of SSE but she seemed more excited this day to go on.

We begin our trip through the ages and our study of human communications.

I was using the 24mm lens - the widest lens I think I ever used for this ride.

The wider view gives you a sense of the entire scene.

In all my trips through SSE, I honestly never noticed the scribe sitting on the floor until I looked at my pictures!

thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Greeks - my personal favorite!

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears...

What smells like a fire pit?

 

[fractal]

Love the lighting in this scene...

Those crazy monks.

I was getting the impression Toni was enjoying the history lesson.

Right now, one can't go see the real Sistine Chapel if one wanted to.

Read all about it!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

The Greeks - my personal favorite!

I wish Epcot could get a Greece pavilion! I love Greek food!

 

[WishesQueen]

Once again, thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures. You must be missing Toni....she must be missing you guys too!

 

[tundra1]

C

Call the Reedy Creek Fire Department! Alexandria is burning!

 

[fractal]

continuing through SSE..

Toni was impressed by this...

Going down...

"I really liked that ride." Toni admitted.

She was upset to hear that it was scheduled to be replaced.

The "post show" was sadly shutdown and completely empty. Where did everyone go?

We both thought it was sad and a little creepy.

With Ponchos on we decided to grab lunch and catch a quick flight...

 

[fractal]

Those walls again.

Quick photo opportunity.

Toni asked about The Seas. She doesn't remember going through the pavilion. It had been a long time as we haven't visited there during our last few trips. We decided to change that later.

Before long we made it to The Land.

We placed our lunch order for Sunshine Seasons, and grabbed a spot to sit. While waiting to be notified our food was ready I decide to take some photos.

Shooting straight up.

I then picked up our lunch and found Toni.

We both enjoyed our meals!

Some fish-eye shots...

Next I decided to check in with our Global libation seekers.

Sterg arrived on the scene and Alex was sounding very happy! In fact they all were.

I gave Alex the following bit of Yoda advise...

Well actually I didn't say that. I did say "Looks like fun, but can we just make sure you don't get kicked out of Epcot?"
She laughed at that. Alex was telling us how rough of a week she had at work so this trip was very therapeutic for her. As long as it wasn't too therapeutic.

Toni then reminded me it was time to board!

UP NEXT - Air and Sea/ Things start to go downhill for our drinkers/ Another WDW meetup!

 

[fractal]

Soarin' Selfie

We were bottom right - not the best seats but still excited.

and Liftoff!

I do like the original more. Actually love that version! But this one is enjoyable enough.

After Soarin' we left The Land and backtracked back to The Seas to keep a promise to ourselves.

 

[CruellaNY]

Glad you both got to drop Toni off! With all the virus protocol only 1 person could move each student in to Quinnipiac and they had both a "move in" day where we brought all their belongings and then a "drop off". So I did the move in so I got to see Ricky's apartment and help him set up and then my husband did the drop off. He still got to go in and help set up the TV etc but it stunk not being able to all say good-bye together. Understandable but sad Best of luck to Toni this year!

 

[fractal]

I wish Epcot could get a Greece pavilion! I love Greek food!

Agree - Kat Kora's was pretty good. Not sure why it was closed. My Mom (best Greek cook I know) even liked it, which is a big compliment.

Once again, thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures. You must be missing Toni....she must be missing you guys too!

Thanks for following along and your kind words!

I just spoke to her - Not easy adjusting to college under all the Covid rules.

CView attachment 526872

Call the Reedy Creek Fire Department! Alexandria is burning!

Lol!

Glad you both got to drop Toni off! With all the virus protocol only 1 person could move each student in to Quinnipiac and they had both a "move in" day where we brought all their belongings and then a "drop off". So I did the move in so I got to see Ricky's apartment and help him set up and then my husband did the drop off. He still got to go in and help set up the TV etc but it stunk not being able to all say good-bye together. Understandable but sad Best of luck to Toni this year!

Only 1 person was allowed with her to move things up to her room. So I did that while Val unpacked the truck. Once everything was up in her room both of us could go up.
All these rules definitely have changed the college experience; for parents as well as students. Thank you and same to Ricky!

 

[fractal]

Our thirsty globetrotters made it to Italy.

While we were now undersea. And alone!

Since it was so long again that I rode Nemo, it was like a new ride for us. I remember not being impressed with it but not much else.

This time however I actually was enjoying this nautical trip.

The fisheye gave some interesting perspective but could have used a faster lens.

Dude....

Both Toni and I enjoyed Nemo and glad we took the time to revisit.

Sea Base Alpha (or whatever they now call it) had more activity than I anticipated.

At least some parts did.

After exploring like good explorers, we made our way back outside.

Of course I had to take some photos of SSE.