Part two....Tuesday 5/6

Tuesday morning, we woke up and set out for the Hospitality House for breakfast at Olivia's. The restaurant is so bright...I loved it. They have all these pictures of the DVC members on the walls....very member-y and cozy. I am a sucker for those types of things. Have I mentioned I really love OKW? hehe

Anyway, after breakfast, we decided to head to Hollywood Studios to try and get Playhouse Disney out of the way. Also, I needed my High School Musical fix.

We waited for the bus:


After we arrived at DHS, we went into Playhouse Disney:



Playhouse Disney is a show and you sit on the floor. Grandma does not like the floor. So she skipped it. I normally don't have a problem. But the lady behind me did something horrific. I have a lot of phobias. I don't like feet. Why? No clue, but I don't like them. Well, the lady behind me took off her shoes and set her bare feet RIGHT NEAR ME. Okay, forget the fact that is was about 250 degrees out and they were probably sweaty. But they were also icky. Not nice feet. Icky....sweaty...OMG. I spent the whole show praying that she did not touch me with them. Because if she did, I would have hit the ceiling and screamed and embarrassed myself, John, the kids, AND bare icky feet lady. If you are this lady and are offended....well...next time, leave your friggin shoes on. Because...well, because EW.

When we came out, we found Grandma and went through the Art of Disney Animation. This is ALOT of fun. The movie with Mushu is adorable and the interactive stuff after is pretty cool. I admit, we did this for one reason....Sorcerer Mickey is back there, too. We found him:



Notice someone missing? Yeah, Johnnie was ready for naptime (maybe he has a thing about feet too?). We went back to OKW for a break.

Then we went down and caught the boat to Downtown Disney for John's second favorite activity: Shopping. (If you haven't met him, #1 is eating).
Flower rode with Johnnie.


When we arrived, the kids wanted to ride the carousel. Since Cinderella's Carousel in Magic Kingdom was down for refurb, we shelled out the $2 per kid to ride the one in DTD:



We then shopped ourselves silly for a while (because we need more Disney crap, of course). We also went to Guest Relations while we were there and changed Grandma, John, and the kids passes to APs. I had ordered mine in advance.

We also made the final decision on princess wear for Friday night's P&P party. Gainey went with the Belle yellow dress. I was very happy....she was leaning toward one with sleeves and it was HOT down there.

After we indulged ourselves with shopping, we headed back to the resort. I blame the lack of pics from Tuesday on bare icky feet lady. Seriously, I obsessed about it for HOURS. I thought John was going to crush up an Ativan and slip it in my coffee. I have only lost it a couple of times at Disney, and this was definitely one of them.

Coming next: Animal Kingdom, the new breakfast and Tusker House, and karma does some ass kicking!

Oh yeah, it is part one of the trip report....

or a bunch of pictures, whatever you choose to call it. Heavy on the photos, light on the commentary. Sorry.

Without further ado:
We stayed at Old Key West. We absolutely loved it. To my fellow DVC members, if you don't own there and make reservations late and think you are getting "stuck" with OKW, think again. You are lucky. The resort is beautiful and you will love it.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa in building 31, first floor. Our porch had a nice view of the golf course, with some traffic noise, but not much. The porch and view (note: my children have a need to be in every pic I take!):




The living room:


Grandma and Gainey's room:


The master bedroom:


Master bathroom with whirlpool tub. We LOVED the whirlpool tub.



After we checked out our villa, we headed over to Epcot, where we had reservations for dinner at the Biergarten. We found out that the ladybug release was about to start, so we headed over there before dinner. While we waited, the kids played on the playground that was set up:







Soon it was time for the release!!





Johnnie decided he didn't care for ladybugs, since they crawled up his sleeves.

After dinner, we headed over to the American pavilion. Grandma wanted to watch the concert. We hung out for a bit, then John and I headed over to ride Soarin' and Johnnie and Gainey stayed to rock out with Grandma. Flower stayed for the concert, too.



The photopass photographer took some shots at the concert:



Afterwards, we went back and met them. Johnnie wanted to ride Donald's boat ride at the Mexico pavilion, so we walked over there and took the first of several rides. Afterwards, we headed back to OKW to get some sleep before we set out for Magic Kingdom in the morning.

Monday, we woke up and ventured over to Magic Kingdom. We hit the bakery for breakfast (sticky buns and crumb cake!) and then it was off to ride some rides. We went on several, Mansion, Buzz, Pooh, etc, but I only took pictures on Small World (so I have evidence when I am committed) and Goofy's Barnstormer. Gainey went on it this time...I think she forgot she hates it. She quickly remembered, right about the top of the first hill. She then screamed AT me the whole ride. LoL Flower rode with the boys....she loves the Barnstormer! We also hit the character tent in Toon Town to visit some of our friends.

The pics:


Gainey on Small World....reminding me of the little warning in front of her: No disco dancing!

Donald:



Goofy:




Pluto:



After Magic Kingdom, we headed back for a short break. Then it was time to go back to Epcot, because we were expected at dinner with the ladies! The Princess dinner at Akershus in Norway.

We arrived somewhat early and there was hardly any wait for Nemo, so we ran over to take a ride. "Ohhhhhhhh science is great, there's so much to knooooowwww...climb aboard, explorers, it's time to gooooooooo!" I love Mr. Ray. lol We stopped out front to take our picture with the flying rats. Mine...mine...mine.

After, we strolled over to World Showcase and checked in at the Norway pavilion. Our waiter's name was Kristofer and I wanted to take him home in a doggie bag. hehe We met all our favorite girls:
Ariel:

Aurora:

Jasmine:

And I was amazed to see Cinderella over here!!!


Belle was in the foyer in her gorgeous yellow gown, taking the pics with the families. The picture package with Belle is now included in the price of dinner, and since there were 5 of us, we had a set with all of us and a set with just Gainey and Belle. However, those pics will not be appearing here because I am an idiot and forgot to have them added to our photopass. Such is life.

After dinner, Mommy went and had the first of many Fiesta margaritas. We also snapped some pictures with a few of the amazing topiaries that were created for the Flower and Garden Festival:

Johnnie didn't want to get out of the stroller, so I just took his picture:



Since I was tipsy, I also attempted to take the ever elusive shot of John. And holy crap, I got one!!! This is what he looks like when you say, "hey John, you know what?" and he turns around to say "what?" lol


After our wonderful night in Epcot, it was time for bed again. Tuesday morning, we have reservations at Olivia's!

I swear I did not forget about this thing.

I usually take 700 pictures and then use those to remember what the heck we did on what day. This time, though, I let the Photopass photographers do a lot of the dirty work, and I am waiting for my CD so I can post pictures along with my babbling. I do have most of the first day or two on the laptop from my camera, including pictures of the villa at Old Key West, so I plan on getting that started this weekend.

I WILL get a complete trip report up on here. I think I can...I think I can.....

Florida is my nirvana.

We made it here in one piece.

We landed in Orlando 15 minutes early (I absolutely love Southwest Airlines). We proceeded to the lower level and found the longest line for Magical Express that I have ever seen. After waiting in that nightmare line....we boarded the bus for Old Key West. Arriving just in time to stand in ANOTHER line to check in. However, since I was not at work, I could have cared less.

Also, our room was ready. Before noon. Old Key West gets two thumbs way, way up from me.

We were driven to our room by a very nice bellman. We are in the Turtle Pond area, bldg 31. Our balcony overlooks the golf course and a pond, with a fountain in it. Beautiful. We can hear the traffic on Buena Vista Drive, but again, I could care less. I am out there right now as I write this.

After we dragged our butts and our Owner's Locker to the room, we freshened up and were about to head out, when the bellman returned with our groceries from Garden Grocer. We put everything away and set off for the bus stop.

Our bus for Epcot came pretty quickly and we were off for our first park!!!

More later...

The airport and my son.

We made it to the airport. We are sitting at the Southwest gate waiting for the plane to board. It is about 6:39 right now, we should board in the next 20-25 minutes.

Johnnie woke up at 1 a.m. and climbed out of his crib. He did a lovely going away mural on the wall with the lipstick I stupidly left on the bathroom counter.

Despite that, we managed to make it here in one piece. John is a big crab ass though. I will have to yell at him later.

So we are on our way! I will try to report some more tonight!

It is that time again.

Well, the crap is packed, the kids are in bed, and I am plodding through my last 2-1/2 hours of work. Yeah baby.

I am working til midnight, then squeezing in 4 hours sleep before getting up to head to Orlando. Not much sleep, you say?? Who the frig cares???!!! I will be in Disney in 12 hours people!!!

We are pretty excited. Well, I am. The kids are unconscious at the moment. Some day I will remember that it would probably be a swell idea to take off of work the night before we leave and get some sleep myself. I was hoping the rain would cause Road Runner to have technical difficulties tonight, but no such luck. Now if I wanted to work, the connection would suck.

I have to take a shower in the morning and then throw a couple of things in the suitcase before the shuttle gets here to pick us up. In case you were wondering, of COURSE I am obsessing that they won't show up. Silly readers, that is my JOB!

John told me to leave the pedal at home and I am relieved. It is so nice to be taking the laptop for pleasure only. Normally, I drag the pedal with me, not that I ever get any work done, but at least this time I won't feel guilty about it.

I checked in for the flight this morning at the ass crack of dawn, but at least I had the good sense to go to bed a little earlier last night.

It appears I am now rambling with excitement, so I will stop before you all attempt to hang yourselves with the mouse cord.

I will be posting all week, hopefully with pictures if vacation laziness does not overtake me.

It's MAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wooohooo!

Finally. I am now 2-ish days and 23 working hours away from Disney. I have 8 tomorrow at the hospital and 16 at home. Then I am leaving....on a jet plane...I really hate that song.

I am somewhat packed. Translation: I threw all the junk I had stacked in my room into 2 suitcases, hoping I remembered everything we need. Very un-Steph-like. I am fully expecting that someone in my family will find themselves in Orlando with no underwear.

Our DIS croc friend, Flower, has arrived. We went and bought her a pretty blue collar with a bell and are getting her info on a metal tag so she has something sturdier and more permanent. Yes, I am a little nuts.

I made arrangements today for Jerry to feed Freak while we are gone. I am about to confirm our shuttle pickup.

Yes, life is good right now and I am ready for vacation. Now, I promise I will TRY to update this with pics while we are in Florida. John has to do a paper for school, so the posts may be short, but I would like to try and keep my friends updated as to what we are doing down there.

Note the TRY. lol But I do think I will be far more post oriented when I am sitting out on my balcony at Old Key West in the evening with my laptop.

Hopefully, I will get one or two more posts in before we go.