Grateful, Thankful, Blessed: our 25th Anniversary SeaWorld Celebration (Spring ’18 TR)

[verleniahall]

awe! how swet of her! looks like you both enjoyed it so much!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Well, it's about time you finally showed up! My reports always lack a little "Je ne sais quoi?"when you're not chiming in.

"Je ne sais quoi" is exactly the way to describe me.

So I've spent days and days and days reading to get caught up here. All I can say is when the cat's away the mice will play. You've tried to give away MY future son in law, plotted coffee domination and cuddled with dolphins.

Dolphin dust, fish flakes...…..no, it's whale snot.
BTW, a Timmies franchise starts at $500,000 and goes up from there based on location and who's trying to buy it. The good news is that's Canadian dollars so for my friends south of the border it's mere $29.95. Since I live in the Tim Hortons capital of Canada we can all get together when you move here to attend Tim Hortons University. Yes, that's a real thing. You have to attend for several weeks before they let you open up a store.

@pattyw if you think you have a lot in your neck of the woods....come to Oakville. You do have many which I love but here we have intersections with Timmies on 3 of the 4 corners, stores that are literally side by side, inside the grocery stores, every mall has a least one and you won't need to drive more than 4-5 minutes to find one. Even Uber Eats will pick up for you.

 

[verleniahall]

What is a Tim Hortons?

 

[bankr63]

Dolphin dust, fish flakes...…..no, it's whale snot.

Ewww...

Actually, I've been dusted with whale snot while on an excursion in Mexico. Didn't really feel it was a lucky thing at the time...

What is a Tim Hortons?

It's basically Dunkin' Donuts, but a true Canadian will fight you to the death if you diss it; it is a major institution here. Apparently I'm not a true Canadian, because I'm pretty sure their coffee is about 50% sawdust, and avoid it like the plague. They are also well known for having the SLOWEST workers in Canada. It can actually take them 10 minutes to ring up and pour 1 regular cup of coffee.

 

[chiamarie]

Me too, kiddo. We are so blessed to know you! We love being able to hang out with you while we're in town! Now.....to get you to Michigan so we can treat you to some of the finer highlights of the Mitten .... in the summer, of course . I like you too much to ask you to visit in the winter time .

I hope you are up for a Kobes repeat when we're there in the fall. Unless you have another gem for us to try......you haven't led us wrong yet. Our treat, of course!!



Which reminds me, I have to get working on our photo book again!! It has taken a back seat almost as badly as this trip report .

Uh- CALLING ALL CENTRAL FLORIDIANS, (or Floridians in general.....) . Can I get some backup for how amazing. ROCCOS TACOS is?!??!?

Hands down, my favorite restaurant. The tableside guacamole is worth the $15. Margaritas, tacos, guac, churros. It's so good!

And nothing is spicy. I don't do spicy.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Ewww...

Actually, I've been dusted with whale snot while on an excursion in Mexico. Didn't really feel it was a lucky thing at the time...

Depends on how you look at it but if you prefer walrus snot.

It's basically Dunkin' Donuts, but a true Canadian will fight you to the death if you diss it; it is a major institution here. Apparently I'm not a true Canadian, because I'm pretty sure their coffee is about 50% sawdust, and avoid it like the plague. They are also well known for having the SLOWEST workers in Canada. It can actually take them 10 minutes to ring up and pour 1 regular cup of coffee.

Pretty sure we can still be friends....Ok, so I’m in the lot that’s got a major love on for Timmies. However, I don’t drink coffee. I do agree on the staffing comments. I swear that they post ads saying those with a brain need not apply. Everything takes multiple people and 47 minutes to figure out. From where I work I can walk in three different directions and get to a Tims. One of them actually has adult staff that have worked there for years. While they are in a grocery store,therefore having only about half the product, I go there regularly because the women always get it right. Shocking I know...but they will see a regular coming through the door and have your usual ready before you even order. Even more shocking they’re nice.

 

[dancin Disney style]

What is a Tim Hortons?

Google Tim Horton. It’s an interesting little story. He was a Toronto Maple Leaf player and was nearing retirement so he opened one little coffee shop. He was killed in a car accident shortly after.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

awe! how swet of her! looks like you both enjoyed it so much!

She is simply the GREATEST . A beautiful girl with a huge heart!

As an animal lover, the interaction opportunities at SeaWorld are something I can never get enough of. Those experiences always make for my favorite trip memories!

"Je ne sais quoi" is exactly the way to describe me.

So I've spent days and days and days reading to get caught up here. All I can say is when the cat's away the mice will play. You've tried to give away MY future son in law, plotted coffee domination and cuddled with dolphins.

Dolphin dust, fish flakes...…..no, it's whale snot.
BTW, a Timmies franchise starts at $500,000 and goes up from there based on location and who's trying to buy it. The good news is that's Canadian dollars so for my friends south of the border it's mere $29.95. Since I live in the Tim Hortons capital of Canada we can all get together when you move here to attend Tim Hortons University. Yes, that's a real thing. You have to attend for several weeks before they let you open up a store.

@pattyw if you think you have a lot in your neck of the woods....come to Oakville. You do have many which I love but here we have intersections with Timmies on 3 of the 4 corners, stores that are literally side by side, inside the grocery stores, every mall has a least one and you won't need to drive more than 4-5 minutes to find one. Even Uber Eats will pick up for you.

I miss good, Canadian Timmies coffee. The Michigan version is just not the same. Better donuts, but less impressive coffee. I've become good friends with my Keurig since taking up residency on this side of the border.

When you were MIA on this thread for so long, I thought our original marriage deal was off . Apparently its time to begin negotiations again. It would have to be a destination wedding, of course (I vote for the Poly Beach, with a poolside reception at the Vistana). Have you rented out that garden shed yet, or is it still an option for the newlyweds' first home together?

I simply have to draw the line on the "whale snot", however .

Snot is never, ever a good thing. Ever.

What is a Tim Hortons?

It's a Canadian Institution, and THE best coffee chain on earth. It's as much a part of the Canadian culture as hockey, beavers, and mounties.

Ewww...

Actually, I've been dusted with whale snot while on an excursion in Mexico. Didn't really feel it was a lucky thing at the time...

Ummmmm...what????

We're gonna need more details on that story .

It's basically Dunkin' Donuts, but a true Canadian will fight you to the death if you diss it; it is a major institution here. Apparently I'm not a true Canadian, because I'm pretty sure their coffee is about 50% sawdust, and avoid it like the plague. They are also well known for having the SLOWEST workers in Canada. It can actually take them 10 minutes to ring up and pour 1 regular cup of coffee.

Uh- CALLING ALL CENTRAL FLORIDIANS, (or Floridians in general.....) . Can I get some backup for how amazing. ROCCOS TACOS is?!??!?

Hands down, my favorite restaurant. The tableside guacamole is worth the $15. Margaritas, tacos, guac, churros. It's so good!

And nothing is spicy. I don't do spicy.

Okay, you convinced us! We officially have a Rocco's Tacos date for October (assuming you can make time for us old poops when we visit next ). I see they have a burger on their menu so I know I won't starve . But I promise I'll try to find something a little less boring to try so I continue to broaden my horizons just a bit more. I do draw the line at guacamole. A girl has to have SOME boundaries.

Depends on how you look at it but if you prefer walrus snot.

Pretty sure we can still be friends....Ok, so I’m in the lot that’s got a major love on for Timmies. However, I don’t drink coffee. I do agree on the staffing comments. I swear that they post ads saying those with a brain need not apply. Everything takes multiple people and 47 minutes to figure out. From where I work I can walk in three different directions and get to a Tims. One of them actually has adult staff that have worked there for years. While they are in a grocery store,therefore having only about half the product, I go there regularly because the women always get it right. Shocking I know...but they will see a regular coming through the door and have your usual ready before you even order. Even more shocking they’re nice.

Are you a tea girl, then?

Google Tim Horton. It’s an interesting little story. He was a Toronto Maple Leaf player and was nearing retirement so he opened one little coffee shop. He was killed in a car accident shortly after.

@verleniahall , here is a good history of our famous coffee chain:

http://www.canadaka.net/content/page/71-history-of-tim-hortons

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Sunday, May 6th: the conclusion

After leaving SeaWorld, we briefly debated what we should do about dinner as we finalized plans for meeting up later in the evening with @pattyw and her husband, Joe. Neither one of us were super hungry, so we opted to make a quick dash out to Kissimmee to pick up donuts to share with our guests and then opted for some pizza from Flippers for our main meal. We called ahead as we were leaving Krispy Kreme and it was almost ready when we arrived at the Crossroads. Heading back to SVR, we enjoyed pizza in our villa before readying ourselves for Patty and Joe's arrival around 7.

Our Disfriends arrived right on schedule, kindly bringing us a lovely bottle of wine and some delectable treats from the World of Chocolate (thank you so much for those, @pattyw ! You guys were so sweet!). After some brief introductions for our husbands' sakes (Steve, meet Joe and Patty......Joe, meet Gina & Steve), Steve got to work preparing a round of drinks for our little group. Our fridge was having some issues making ice -- it was an issue that plagued us the whole trip, but I never did get around to alerting maintenance -- so Steve and Joe set off on a quick run to Walgreens for a bag to get us through the evening while Patty and I stayed put.

Once again, I have to say how blessed we are to have met such wonderful people as a direct result of these boards. As we sat around in the living room of our villa at SVR, conversation was so easy and relaxed, it was if we had known Patty and Joe for years. It felt like hanging out with old friends . If any of us had worried about awkward silences or if we would have enough to talk about, those concerns dissipated almost instantly as we shared fun, easy chatter and quickly learned how much we had in common. When we first learned that our dates overlapped and we were able to work this Dismeet into both our plans, Steve and I had hoped that their visit would make a pleasant way to spend an hour ..... but I was shocked when Patty checked her watch and it was well after 10 pm . Time really does fly when you're having fun!

Though we experience some embarrassing "technical difficulties" with the selfie stick I had brought along JUST for this purpose (I blame Steve ) we did manage to get at least one photos of the 4 of us.

That Sunday was probably our most treasured day of the whole trip . A first-time Dismeet with @JaxDad and his two awesome kids, a surprise Dolphin Encounter and some bonus time with @chiamarie , and a wonderful evening (and another first-time Dismeet.....though hopefully not the last!) with @pattyw and Joe. Does it get any better?

Coming up: another awesome day at SeaWorld. We had so much more to do!

 

[verleniahall]

i LOVE all of your reports! sounds like you had a great day.

AMD is it all timeshares? we had ice problems with ours in Branson over memorial day!

I'm hoping that we get to meet up in october

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

i LOVE all of your reports! sounds like you had a great day.

AMD is it all timeshares? we had ice problems with ours in Branson over memorial day!

I'm hoping that we get to meet up in october

Aw, thank you!!

We've never had an ice maker issue at SVR before, so I think it was just an anomaly this trip. I do feel badly that we never reported it to maintenance, though. My failure to alert the resort means the next person had to be frustrated with the same problem.

We will move heaven and earth to be able to say hello in person when we're both there in October . I am very much looking forward to our Dismeet!

 

[pattyw]

Hey @dancin Disney style ! You'd be a perfect addition to our Tim's franchise group! might turn into a family business if the marriage works out!

I have to say that our Dismeet was so wonderful! Yep- it was like catching up with old friends as the conversation never stopped! Joe and I are truly grateful, thankful, & blessed as well to have met you guys! and we will meet up again!!

 

[bankr63]

So, really good job on the relaxing first couple of days! Waiting anxiously to see what the busy days are like...

Ummmmm...what????

We're gonna need more details on that story .

Not a lot of details really. It was this gal here; wave hello...


Ooops, she's a little shy...



She surfaced near our Zodiac and and blew; I didn't get a picture of it unfortunately. Really was more of a mist than a shower, but boy does it smell...

It was actually a mamma with her baby and another "guard" along. They were teaching the baby to roll, so lots of pictures of fins, but they never really breached for us. Was still one of the most magical things I've witnessed.

This was in Cabo maybe 5-6 years ago now? We're heading back this March and will certainly do another whale excursion. Also looking forward to another round of x-rails in the desert.

Yes, sorry!

See, maybe I really am Canadian.

As a grammarian, I find it hard to frequent an establishment that misspells its own name. Now if it was Tim Horton's perhaps I would feel differently. First Tim Hortons, next I'll start rooting for the Toronto Maple Leaves.

Of course the good news is that Tim Hortons coffee won't be hit here in Canada by the recent coffee tariffs on US sourced coffee (since it's not really coffee). The bad news is that US based Tim Hortons will now have to deal with the tariffs on softwood lumber...

 

[pkondz]

As a grammarian, I find it hard to frequent an establishment that misspells its own name. Now if it was Tim Horton's perhaps I would feel differently. First Tim Hortons, next I'll start rooting for the Toronto Maple Leaves.

From Wiki:

The company had removed the apostrophe after signs using the apostrophe were considered to be breaking the language sign laws of the Province of Quebec in 1993. The removal of the apostrophe allowed the company to have one common sign image across Canada.

 

[Monykalyn]

Dis-meets are so fun! Between the DCP parents FB page and here (even though I've only gotten to meet a couple fellow dissers) my family now is used to me saying "I'm meeting so and so from _____".
Sounds like a truly lovely day!

 

[Joanna71985]

Uh- CALLING ALL CENTRAL FLORIDIANS, (or Floridians in general.....) . Can I get some backup for how amazing. ROCCOS TACOS is?!??!?

Hands down, my favorite restaurant. The tableside guacamole is worth the $15. Margaritas, tacos, guac, churros. It's so good!

And nothing is spicy. I don't do spicy.

Should I admit that I've lived in Central FL for almost 9 years, and have never heard of them?

 

[afan]

Which reminds me, I have to get working on our photo book again!! It has taken a back seat almost as badly as this trip report .

This reminds me I've been meaning to ask who you use to do your photo books. I normally do a scrapbook so I can use all the fun Disney things I find at the craft store, but my last trip the book is so fat I don't really want to do that again. Plus with 3 Disney centric trips this year I'd like to have them all in the same book if I can rather than one for each of the week long trips and then photos elsewhere from the SF weekend for the museum. Which also reminds me, is the site one I can start working on it now and add pictures and edit until I'm ready to order in December after I've done my last trip?

 

[chiamarie]

Okay, you convinced us! We officially have a Rocco's Tacos date for October (assuming you can make time for us old poops when we visit next ). I see they have a burger on their menu so I know I won't starve . But I promise I'll try to find something a little less boring to try so I continue to broaden my horizons just a bit more. I do draw the line at guacamole. A girl has to have SOME boundaries.

A burger?!?!?! At a taco place?!?! WHAT?!?!

And I'm gonna get you to at least TRY the guac and tell it's not awful! Once upon a time, I was scared of avacados. But it's not a staple in my diet thanks to my Epcot margaritas, and Rocco's Tableside Guac.

Should I admit that I've lived in Central FL for almost 9 years, and have never heard of them?

Umm, well you should change that. Because it's amazeballs. Well, if you're a taco guac, and margaritas loving person like me, you can't go wrong. But seriously, you could go just for drinks, guac, and churros and it's a full meal! And it's soooo good!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I miss good, Canadian Timmies coffee. The Michigan version is just not the same. Better donuts, but less impressive coffee. I've become good friends with my Keurig since taking up residency on this side of the border.

When you were MIA on this thread for so long, I thought our original marriage deal was off . Apparently its time to begin negotiations again. It would have to be a destination wedding, of course (I vote for the Poly Beach, with a poolside reception at the Vistana). Have you rented out that garden shed yet, or is it still an option for the newlyweds' first home together?






Are you a tea girl, then?

I've had many a US Timmies and I have to agree....not quite the same. Actually, I've had it from many other Canadian cities and it's little different there too. I have officially decided that it's the water.

The marriage deal is still alive and well. I NEVER go back on a business deal. I've already been told that I will have no say in any wedding arrangements. I think that GC will want more than a pool side reception. Think more along the lines of the Disney princess wedding.

Yes, the shed is still available. In fact, it's had a makeover. All new wood, hardware and paint.

Tea all the way!!!!! It's my Scottish side. Black tea with milk....none of that herbal dishwater stuff.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Hey @dancin Disney style ! You'd be a perfect addition to our Tim's franchise group! might turn into a family business if the marriage works out!

I have to say that our Dismeet was so wonderful! Yep- it was like catching up with old friends as the conversation never stopped! Joe and I are truly grateful, thankful, & blessed as well to have met you guys! and we will meet up again!!

I would gladly move to Florida and pour coffee. Leaving the stress of my current business is just what the doctor ordered. Sole ownership SUCKS! ANNND......I worked in restaurants all through high school, since that was just a couple of years ago I'm highly qualified.