The Trip Where Nothing Really Bad Happened - The End 6/1, Bonus Features: Disney 100 Celebration, Mickey Minnie Runaway Railway queue 2/8

I feel like I just saw you. :)

:laughing:

So happy your travel day was uneventful! Long Beach is the greatest airport ever. I love the outdoor ramps. :)

We'll see next time we fly, the closeness is pretty nice.

I miss Trader Sams! Can't wait to visit the OG version next month.

16 days!

Rain is no fun at WDW! Your dinner with the boys looked so delicious!

I can deal with an afternoon downpour. This was all day and cold. They were fun to see again.
 
Ok yay I am finally caught up! Dinner looks yummy! If I ever make it back, it'll be on my list!
 
I don't remember what it was, but a DISdad got a $5 fee added to his bill. It was something I recognized (so probably a long time partner), but I don't remember which.

Yeah, I was actually surprised that I didn't get any fees since I had multiple things delivered to to me.

I'd suggest giving it a try. It's very different from the other "regular" Lampoon movies.

Well....I'll see. I'll have to watch it when Fran is asleep. I don't think she would like it very much.

Um... I'd kill for that right about now! :lmao:

:laughing: And here we won't go outside when it is that bad!

I wonder how frequently the basketball and tennis court get used?


I saw people out there shooting hoops quite a bit on the nice days, and I think I did see some people playing tennis at least once.

Huh!
Well... convenient for the under-age crowd!

Yeah, but Disney put a stop to that.

Cheerios? Or something else? And that C-bun looks good!

Mine was Honey Nut Cheerios, hers was Rice Krispies.

Nice of her to go the extra mile.

I was very pleased. On vacation V8 is often the only veggies that I get!

I'm not sure whether to :hug:, :laughing: or :sad:

How about 🙄

mmm... bread...

Are you on another one of those kicks where you aren't eating something?

I know what it is, and have seen it both on menus and at the grocery store... but have never had it.

It's one of my favorites!

That's a good sign. :thumbsup2

It was delicious!

:scared:
I'm shocked you tried it again!

Well it had been nearly 30 years, and I wondered if it was a fluke.

:goodvibes

Wonderful when you click with certain people.

They're a lot of fun, and sort of mirror Fran and I. Scot is outgoing and usually happy, and Vinny can be a bit of a stick in the mud. Just like us. :rolleyes1

This is such a foreign concept to me. I've never seen that.

Well, when you are seeing commercials about conserving water, news stories about how low the reservoirs are and forced to water on only two days a week between certain hours, it starts to get ingrained in your brain.
 
Good thing you left that cruddy Southern California weather behind!

Yeah, as we are hearing about heat advisories being issued for the folks who came in from out of town for the Super Bowl.

It usually only takes one jerk to ruin things for everybody else.

And this time it wasn't @pkondz :laughing:

Those cinnamon rolls look terrific.

I couldn't even eat half my piece, I felt the sugar coursing through my veins after only a couple bites.

:love: :love: :love: Always appreciated!

I thought you'd like that!

:rotfl2: That must be a universal feeling.

You mean that you don't like your wife nagging you?

Deep fried? Yes, please!

I thought you'd like that too.

Chicken parm is better anyway.

I agree!

Can't blame you there!

Baths are especially nice with someone else's water bill!
 
Yeah, I was actually surprised that I didn't get any fees since I had multiple things delivered to to me.
Good surprise. ::yes::
Well....I'll see. I'll have to watch it when Fran is asleep. I don't think she would like it very much.
She might... if she enjoys Xmas movies. But I wouldn't watch it until the season, personally.

What about A Christmas Story? Seen that one?
:laughing: And here we won't go outside when it is that bad!
;)
I saw people out there shooting hoops quite a bit on the nice days, and I think I did see some people playing tennis at least once.
So... does get used.
I was very pleased. On vacation V8 is often the only veggies that I get!
This I knew. :)
How about 🙄
Okay.

:rolleyes:
Are you on another one of those kicks where you aren't eating something?
Nope. Not this year. After doing "no potato chips" last year, I'm taking a break from that sort of thing. I'm already doing enough with Covid restrictions anyways!
Well it had been nearly 30 years, and I wondered if it was a fluke.
Valid point.
They're a lot of fun, and sort of mirror Fran and I. Scot is outgoing and usually happy, and Vinny can be a bit of a stick in the mud. Just like us. :rolleyes1
:laughing:
Well, when you are seeing commercials about conserving water, news stories about how low the reservoirs are and forced to water on only two days a week between certain hours, it starts to get ingrained in your brain.
Yeah, I guess that would do it all right.
And this time it wasn't @pkondz :laughing:
:rolleyes1
 
Just found this. I'm glad that you scored a possibly drama free vacation! Looking forward to reading, but mostly seeing more.
 
I know what you mean. I'm finding it difficult to find time to be here, but I'm determined to keep it up!
Me too... I just keep plodding along.
Since this is pretty boring chapter I thought that I would insert some exploding helicopters to liven things up a bit.


Never hurts!
She had found everything but the V8 we ordered. No Publix in Central Florida expected to have any for the next 10 days to two weeks.
Say what? :confused::confused3
When we got to the table they had already brought the Artisan Bread.

And it looks fantastic too!! YUM!
 
You'd think that after all this time that he'd leave them be, but it seems that he does this "helpful" routine every. single. time. lol

I always tell Fran, "The way you can help me most is not to!!" :laughing:

My coffee, ie caffeine, hadn't reached it's intended space (my brain) and I realized that I am a grouch that early in the morning. Who knew?!? (well evidentally my own poor kid!) So, you are getting absolutely NO judgement from me! I understand all too well.

Nice to know I'm not the only one! I'm up at my folks house playing personal chef to my parents since my mom had her hip replaced on Monday. I planned a menu for the week, gave them a nice shopping list that my Dad executed pretty well. I got up yesterday morning and realized that I had not asked them to purchase "real milk" (my Dad drinks oatmilk, my Mom doesn't do dairy. So I was immediately out the door to Starbucks down the street. I knew going to a grocery store and coming back to make coffee (a real process in my father's house) was not going to cut it so I just went straight for the ready made option!

We are still recuperating from the snowpocolis from last winter and everyone's yards were decimated. It's been super cold lately so everything that grew back is probably hibernating for the winter right now too.

Ah, yes, I forgot about that.

We tend to have access to larger pieces of land, like 1/4 acre in the city possibly and multiple acres in the country.

I have a 1/4 acre yard, but my yard is unusually large for most of Southern California. Lots tend to be small, and especially newer houses are built so close together you could probably hear your neighbor flush the toilet!

The area around the street side of my house is/was beautifully landscaped but the back is pretty much neglected. I don't have the time, money, or aspiration to landscape anything further than what you can see street side.

I can understand that. I think our HOA would get on people if they didn't keep up their front yards. We have a super strict HOA.

Now if we ever get a pool or if we decide on a gazebo or something in the back I will make sure it's done up.

Our house "came that way" so we just keep it up, or rather our gardener does. I need to replace the roof on our Tiki Bar when we start entertaining again.

We have a small farm and anything that I could do out in the back 40 would get eaten, trambled or neglected so I concentrate on the front.

I get that. I wonder if the houses I was seeing on the way in to the airport also had farms.

In the city there are smaller lots and more landscaping though.

Yeah, most of what I was probably seeing was definitely more rural.
 
She might... if she enjoys Xmas movies. But I wouldn't watch it until the season, personally.

She doesn't particularly like Christmas movies, or the Christmas season. :sad2:

What about A Christmas Story? Seen that one?

Nope. Don't think so. I haven't even seen that classic one from the 50's, can't remember the name, the one where "an Angel gets their wings."

So... does get used.

I saw both being used.

This I knew. :)

Well actually on this next update, I do get some veggies at dinner!

Nope. Not this year. After doing "no potato chips" last year, I'm taking a break from that sort of thing. I'm already doing enough with Covid restrictions anyways!

Really, time to take out all the stops! Well the ones that you can!
 
Park day!

I woke up late again today, after 9AM, and found a text from Pam (who had the day off today) asking what our plans were. I also had texts from two other former DISers that were going to be in Epcot. I told Pam that I would love to see her and hang out if they could manage it. Eventually we made a plan to meet at Epcot around noon and she could stay until about 3PM. She has an awful work schedule that necessitates her waking at 3:30AM to get to work by 4:45, so that she can treat patients and finish her work day 12 hours later! I don’t know how people work that hard/long!

Anyways, we got up, got dressed and I made us breakfast in the room now that we had all our supplies. I finally got Fran's eggs right. I cook her two eggs and somehow at home, I always seem to break one of the yolks when I’m flipping them. This time I got it just right!



And my plate…..



Pam texted that their arrival would be around 12:30PM which was good because we didn’t finish our breakfast until 11:30AM. We were finally on the monorail at 12:22PM, we were able to board easily because it was in a holding pattern due to Monorail Orange ahead of us that was experiencing technical difficulties. Well five minutes later they were herding us off the monorail and promised that a bus would take us to the TTC. Well it took us forever to get off the monorail platform because there were so many strollers and ECVs needing the elevator that i’m sure we missed the first bus.

So we waited the proverbial 20 minutes for a bus and finally they were strapping us in to travel to the TTC. Fifteen minutes later we were waiting for an Epcot monorail when I saw the very same monorail that we were on, monorail red, pull into the TTC. We probably would have been better off just waiting on the floor of the Contemporary where security for the monorail was located until the monorail started running again.

Once we were on the way to Epcot, I snapped these pictures of what a mess Epcot still is with all the construction.





Finally by around 1:30 we met up! After about fifteen minutes of catching up standing in the sun of the park side of the turnstiles, I suggested that we go ride Mission Space.

I caught these pictures of Goofy and Pluto on the way.





Pamela and I rode Orange Team while Fran and JJ sat out in the sun.





After the ride we went through Creations, the new Mouse Gears. I didn’t plan on getting anything, but somehow the two necklace earring sets that had sort of caught my eye the day before were now speaking to me. I have so many Disney items that at this point they have to really “speak” to me for me to buy them, and these did. However, there was a slight language barrier between Fran and the clerk, she didn’t understand that Fran asked for two pairs of each of the earrings, and one of each necklace. I got one of each necklace but only one of each set of earrings. That’s OK, we could fix that at the Contemporary later.





As we were on our way out of the store, this shirt spoke to me as well, so I had to have it.



I couldn’t decide what size, so they told me to just go try it on. Fitting rooms aren't reopened at Disney in California, but Fran reminded me that this is Florida, and that’s all I’ll say on that. It was an accessible changing room and it was huge!! I invited everyone to come in so they could help me decide which shirt fit better. We fit both scooters with ease, but Pam was shy and preferred to wait outside. I'm not embarrassed changing clothes around other women. I grew up in a swim team locker room, and don't even get me started about marching band in the 80's. I'm sure kids now are required to have separate changing rooms, but back then, the bus was everything for everyone!

Purchases in hand, we decided to leave before I did any more damage. We had decided to ride The Land next. When there were FP, they always sent us down that queue and this time it was the same, only it was called Lightning Lane.



I thought it was so sweet that they were welcoming us back!



My pictures of the actual gardens didn’t come out so well, but these flowers were pretty.






Mickey topiaries!



Hello Eggplant, I gave you another chance, but I just don’t think it’s going to work.



More Mickey plants!



After the ride it was nearing 4PM, well past the time that they planned to hang out, so we said goodbye to Pam and JJ until Sunday and headed towards WS.

[Continued in Next Post]
 
[Continued from Previous Post]

Our dinner reservation was in Mexico, and we originally started that way, but when we picked up a guide book, we discovered that most of the things we wanted to eat were more in the other direction so we decided to backtrack.

But we saw Minnie posing while we were on our way.



We stopped for a few pictures where the Festival Welcome was located.



After Pam and JJ left, I had been texting with a couple folks whose trips had just happened to align with my own. We didn't have any formal plans, but we all knew that we would be spending the same two days at Epcot. Two of them were going back to the room to rest, and the other two wouldn't be in the park until around 6:30, so we all decided to play it by ear.

We were nearly starving and it was still almost three hours until dinnertime, so we decided to try a couple items from the kiosks. Our first pick was from Deconstructed Dish.





It was the Deconstructed French Onion soup: Beef Broth Ravioli, Gruyere Espuma, Onion Bread Pudding, and Onion Textures. Yummy. It may look a little funky, but it was very good. That giant ravioli was filled with beef broth, and when you took a piece with all the other little bits it was tasty!



In her ongoing struggle to reduce our giant carbon footprint, Fran had bought us three sets of reusable utensils for Disney festivals like this. We forgot them at the DCA Festival of Holidays, so this was our first chance at using them. Here is what is contained in each packet, we got silver, blue and this multi-color set.



While Fran was in line to order our next items, I was stalking this white bird, but he never really posed nicely for a picture.



Next we decided to try a dish from the Refreshment Port. We got Gnocchi Poutine with Red Wine-braised beef, Cheese Curds, Basil and Burrata. It turned out to be weird. The gnocchi were fried and not little pillows of goodness. Parts of it were good but in the end we did not finish the dish and tossed the last third. That was OK, we didn't want to get too full before dinner.



We also got this beverage Blood Orange Cosmo: Vodka with Blood Orange, Cranberry and Lime. Sorry about the blurry picture. I liked this one a lot.



We saved this cookie for later. Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie. It was good, mostly just a chocolate chip cookie, but it was in Disney so that makes it better!



We continued around WS checking out the various art booths and noting which food kiosks that we wanted to taste the next day. While making our way around World Showcase, we decided to check out the Remy ride area.



Fran thought there might be a dump shop, but the shop is across from the ice cream place, not near the ride. But, we did find out that there is a DAS….I can’t remember what it stands for but the D is for Disabled, and it’s a special pass that you can sign up for. It lasts for 60 days and you can include your entire party, they just need to be friends with you on the app.

Once you have signed up at a Guest Relations or Guest Experience kiosk, you can use the app to reserve rides. The only thing is that you have to wait the amount of time that the line is currently at, so if there is a 60 minute wait when you sign up, and hour later you can use the lightning lane. Armed with that knowledge we decided that we would sign her up the next day on our way into the park.

We continued around the world picking out various art pieces that we might consider. We also made a stop at Karamel Kuche. I’ll show you our haul a little later! We stopped to use the facilities in Norway and when I came out there was this lovely sunset!





We got to La Haceinda de San Angel at 6:30 and tried to see if they could move up our 7:15 reservation, but no dice, they were running right on time. However, that gave Kari and her fiance the opportunity to catch up with us and say quick "hi". We didn’t take a picture, but trust me it happened. If you don’t believe me wait until tomorrow. I have proof!

We were seated right at 7:15. I had been studying the menu and stalking the reviews on Yelp and had pretty much decided what we were going to have.





We started off with an order of Guacamole.



And a flight of Margaritas (each)



What kind of Margaritas are those? Well look here on the menu.



But what is in those Margaritas you ask….



Based on the descriptions we decided that we would probably like all of them, so we went for it. Guess which one was our favorite. The Clasica, yep we’re boring!

And for dinner we went for the Parrillada Del Mar, the Seafood platter for two. I read so many reviews of this on Yelp, many said that it was the best plate to be had on Disney property. If you noticed on the menu, you could pay an upcharge and substitute Snapper or a NY Strip for the fish, so I wondered what the “standard” fish was. The server said that it was Mahi Mahi. Why in the world would anyone want to substitute Snapper for Mahi Mahi was beyond me. As far as I’m concerned Mahi Mahi is probably the best fish ever! It was perfectly cooked and everything was so tasty!



It was served with tortillas so that you could mix everything up in a little tiny taco! Sorry about the blurry photo.



We gave it a good shot, but there was no way we would even come close to finishing this platter. We took home two of the shrimp, a scallop and about half the fish, as well as as bunch of the esquites and vegetables and tortillas. There was only one problem, it was sooooo good that I didn’t realize when I should stop eating. Most of the time I stop before I’m all the way full, and as the food starts to digest, I fill up all the way. Well this time I didn’t stop eating until I couldn’t eat anymore, so the whole way home on the monorail I was feeling icky and bloated.

Those of you who are friends on FB might have seen the post I made that night about being “bring me a bucket” full.

We did make it out of the park before the fireworks show started, and safely back to the room with our leftovers and other goodies. Fran went right to bed while I put away food, washed our utensils, charged the scooters, and did all the necessary stuff before my tub.
 
She doesn't particularly like Christmas movies, or the Christmas season. :sad2:
Ah. Well then no, she probably won’t like it.
Nope. Don't think so. I haven't even seen that classic one from the 50's, can't remember the name, the one where "an Angel gets their wings."
It’s a Wonderful Life.
Well actually on this next update, I do get some veggies at dinner!

:eek:
:faint:

Back to read the update when I can.
 

That cinnamon bun looks decent! I like them with loads of cinnamon and no raisins!


Boom! This did make me laugh!

Fran and I split the Parmesan Duo, Chicken Parmesan and Eggplant Parmesan with spaghetti.

I love chicken parm! I think I've had eggpplant parm once and it was ok, but why have it when there's a crispy chicken breast to eat!

This time I got it just right!


Looks pretty spot on to me, crispy but not disintegrating bacon!

What's this going to be, do you know?

Fran asked for two pairs of each of the earrings

1 to lose right!


Love this shirt! Totally want it! Need pic of you in it!
I grew up in a swim team locker room, and don't even get me started about marching band in the 80's. I'm sure kids now are required to have separate changing rooms, but back then, the bus was everything for everyone!

Ya we always group changed, I have no issues at all with it

I was stalking this white bird

Stalking this white bird :rotfl2:

We got Gnocchi Poutine with Red Wine-braised beef, Cheese Curds, Basil and Burrata

Mmm I love poutine, so would be into this for sure!

The gnocchi were fried and not little pillows of goodness

Fried though, hmmm I think I'd want pillows too!


Object being to use the brush to paint the cookie with blobs of icing?

And a flight of Margaritas (each)

Yummy yum yum! Favs?


mmmmm I want tiny tacos right now!!
 
She has an awful work schedule that necessitates her waking at 3:30AM to get to work by 4:45,
Ugh! Nope! Mine's bad enough, but that's awful. I used to do something like that (Up at 4:00-4:30 to be out of the house by 5:00 to get to work by 7:30 (yes 2.5hr commute) for my 8am-8pm shift.)... but I didn't work as hard physically as she must.
I cook her two eggs and somehow at home, I always seem to break one of the yolks when I’m flipping them. This time I got it just right!
:thumbsup2
I hate when I break the yolk. Usually, when I'm cooking for others, I'll serve that one to myself.
Well five minutes later they were herding us off the monorail and promised that a bus would take us to the TTC.
Ugh...
Fifteen minutes later we were waiting for an Epcot monorail when I saw the very same monorail that we were on, monorail red, pull into the TTC.
:laughing: No!
We probably would have been better off just waiting on the floor of the Contemporary where security for the monorail was located until the monorail started running again.
Yeah, but if you'd said "We decided to wait until the monorail started running again"... then your next sentence would've been "After waiting for over an hour and a half, we decided to take the bus." And then you still would've said: "Fifteen minutes later we were waiting for an Epcot monorail when I saw the very same monorail that we were on, monorail red, pull into the TTC."
:lmao:
I snapped these pictures of what a mess Epcot still is with all the construction.
A necessary evil, I suppose.
Pamela and I rode Orange Team while Fran and JJ sat out in the sun.
Nice. :)
Glad you got a DISmeet in. :)
After the ride we went through Creations, the new Mouse Gears.
Oh! I didn't know about that. Is it in the same place?
there was a slight language barrier between Fran and the clerk, she didn’t understand that Fran asked for two pairs of each of the earrings, and one of each necklace. I got one of each necklace but only one of each set of earrings. That’s OK, we could fix that at the Contemporary later.
That sentence is something that bugs me about Disney. Gone are the days of shops with unique items. Now it seems you can get the same stuff everywhere.

Ah well.
As we were on our way out of the store, this shirt spoke to me as well, so I had to have it.
Who wouldn't want a talking shirt!?!?
"Hey, bub. Move back a bit, will ya? You're rubbing me the wrong way... literally."

or

"Ate too much, huh? I can feel that belly growing against me as I speak."

:rolleyes1
Fitting rooms aren't reopened at Disney in California, but Fran reminded me that this is Florida, and that’s all I’ll say on that.
:rolleyes2
It was an accessible changing room and it was huge!! I invited everyone to come in so they could help me decide which shirt fit better.
Everyone?!?!?!?

Just how many friends, visitors and staff were within hearing range of this invitaion?
We fit both scooters with ease
Whoa! With ease? That room is huge!
When there were FP, they always sent us down that queue and this time it was the same, only it was called Lightning Lane.
<sigh>
I need to do research on how all this works... :sad2:
I thought it was so sweet that they were welcoming us back!
:laughing: :goodvibes
Hello Eggplant, I gave you another chance, but I just don’t think it’s going to work.
:lmao:
It was the Deconstructed French Onion soup
That's the one I would've picked. :)
That giant ravioli was filled with beef broth, and when you took a piece with all the other little bits it was tasty!
mmmm!
In her ongoing struggle to reduce our giant carbon footprint, Fran had bought us three sets of reusable utensils for Disney festivals like this. We forgot them at the DCA Festival of Holidays, so this was our first chance at using them. Here is what is contained in each packet, we got silver, blue and this multi-color set.
Good idea! But... what do you do with them between snacks? Do you wash them in a washroom each time?
While Fran was in line to order our next items, I was stalking this white bird, but he never really posed nicely for a picture.
Jerk bird. Stand still!
We got Gnocchi Poutine
Interesting sounding.
We also got this beverage Blood Orange Cosmo: Vodka with Blood Orange, Cranberry and Lime.
Yes please. I'd be all over that.
We saved this cookie for later. Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Pretty. :)
It was good, mostly just a chocolate chip cookie, but it was in Disney so that makes it better!
::yes::
While making our way around World Showcase, we decided to check out the Remy ride area.
I'm looking forward to seeing that for the first time, too. :)
But, we did find out that there is a DAS….I can’t remember what it stands for but the D is for Disabled, and it’s a special pass that you can sign up for
Disability Access Service
I have a friend who used it all the time.
The only thing is that you have to wait the amount of time that the line is currently at, so if there is a 60 minute wait when you sign up, and hour later you can use the lightning lane.
Better than standing in the line. ::yes::
We continued around the world picking out various art pieces that we might consider.
Curious to see what you wind up with. :)
However, that gave Kari and her fiance the opportunity to catch up with us and say quick "hi".
Oh! Nice! I miss her. :)
I had been studying the menu and stalking the reviews on Yelp and had pretty much decided what we were going to have.
And I guessed wrong on both appie and main. (But to be fair, I only looked at the entrees and not the specials.)
We started off with an order of Guacamole.
Not a fan, so I guessed queso.
And a flight of Margaritas (each)
I'd do that. ::yes::
Based on the descriptions we decided that we would probably like all of them, so we went for it. Guess which one was our favorite. The Clasica, yep we’re boring!
:laughing:
And for dinner we went for the Parrillada Del Mar, the Seafood platter for two.
Yep. Blew that one. Guessed the tenderloin.
many said that it was the best plate to be had on Disney property.
Really! I've never even heard of it. Now I have to share that with DD. I'm going to try for Space, but if I can't get it (and most likely won't), then I'll maybe book this instead.
Why in the world would anyone want to substitute Snapper for Mahi Mahi was beyond me.
:sad2:
There was only one problem, it was sooooo good that I didn’t realize when I should stop eating.
Ah yes. I've done that. Last night, actually...
Well this time I didn’t stop eating until I couldn’t eat anymore, so the whole way home on the monorail I was feeling icky and bloated.
I know that feeling. And every time you say to yourself that it's the last time.
Those of you who are friends on FB might have seen the post I made that night about being “bring me a bucket” full.
:laughing:
 

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