David and Gwen Battle the Spring Break Crowds

[stefa70 205]

That's what it's all about!!!

NO CAROL! Haven't you heard? The hokey pokey is what it's all about! :rofl2:

Thanks for another great update Gwen.

I love the truck!! We have a GMC and couldn't be happier with it.

I say go for it! It's only money, you can't take it with you. :)

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

NO CAROL! Haven't you heard? The hokey pokey is what it's all about! :rofl2:

How could I forget!!!!! :rofl2: :rofl2:

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

CCIntrigue, I like your pictures of the handprints. I have never taken the time to really look through that area so I don't know whose handprints are there!

It's interesting. Quite a few of the people who made the prints have since passed away.

Love the update!! I could spend LOTS of time in One Man's Dream!! That's what it's all about!!!

You and David ... I think he could spend all day there!

NO CAROL! Haven't you heard? The hokey pokey is what it's all about! :rofl2:

Thanks for another great update Gwen.

I love the truck!! We have a GMC and couldn't be happier with it.

I say go for it! It's only money, you can't take it with you. :)

Let's do the Hokey Pokey, let's do the Hokey Pokey!

Thanks for letting me know you like your truck! If it's only money, could you loan me some? Or better yet, give me some?

How could I forget!!!!! :rofl2: :rofl2:

Old age? That's my excuse!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Okay, now that the board is cooperating again, let's finish up our Monday morning!

Monday, March 12 – A Great Day! Part 2

More handprints at the Chinese Theater:

Did you see Alan Alda's nose print?

We walked through shops on the way out of the park. What will they think of next? Minnie Mouse dressed as Tinkerbell ?!?

More DHS shots:

Then we made our way out of DHS and went to return the rental car.

Didn't have so much trouble finding the car this time. I loved the light poles in the parking lot:

We went back to Dolly to take Kassie for a walk and Karla was gone! I was so disappointed! We talked the first day I arrived and then never saw each other again!

Next up -- stuffing ourselves at EPCOT.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Looks like a BEAUTIFUL morning!!! I think the handprints are cool!!

I know what ya mean about finding the car. I now send a text to Rick noting the row number!!!

[Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64]

Jeff, thanks for your suggestion. It's a good idea, but I'm not sure we'd trust this dealer to do the work. It's a tiny little dealership up in the mountains and they probably have no experience with this. It's worth asking, though.

Remember the connection for the Blue Ox to the truck is mainly a bolt on problem that the dealer should be able to handle. The dealer may also be able to run your auxilary lights (plug-in) cheaper. I know the Honda dealer in Florida knew nothing about how to install the Blue Ox (or they would have charged more). I think the hardest part is the bumper modifications for the Blue Ox pins/connection. Also do you have an breaking system for when you are towing?

[Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64]

Oh and enjoying the pictures :)

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Love the pictures!! Karla is allusive, we kept missing each other last Halloween too.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Looks like a BEAUTIFUL morning!!! I think the handprints are cool!!

I know what ya mean about finding the car. I now send a text to Rick noting the row number!!!

Good idea!

Remember the connection for the Blue Ox to the truck is mainly a bolt on problem that the dealer should be able to handle. The dealer may also be able to run your auxilary lights (plug-in) cheaper. I know the Honda dealer in Florida knew nothing about how to install the Blue Ox (or they would have charged more). I think the hardest part is the bumper modifications for the Blue Ox pins/connection. Also do you have an breaking system for when you are towing?

GMC provides the bumper modifications and the tow loops from the factory, so that would save us about $500. The biggest expense would be the braking system. It's mandatory in NC, and the one we're looking at is over $1,000 without installation!

Oh and enjoying the pictures :)

Thanks!

Love the pictures!! Karla is allusive, we kept missing each other last Halloween too.

Thanks, Cherie! Sorry you had the same problem.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Monday, March 12 – A Great Day! Part 3

We went over to EPCOT for lunch at Les Chefs de France.

Rode the boat across the lake:

As always, we had a great meal there. We each got the price fixe

and a glass of Pierre Sparr Rieseling.

After the great bread (which I only nibbled on):

David had the lobster bisque (wonderful):

I had the French Onion Soup without the bread:

Then David and I both had the Quiche Lorraine:

For dessert David had the Creme Brulee:

And I had something special just for me. Before ordering the price fixe (which clearly says "no substitutions") I explained to our server that I'd like to order it but that I don't eat anything with sugar or flour. He spoke to the chef, who agreed to make me this!

It was delicious! Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. It was so huge that David had to help me eat it!

We had a visitor during lunch, but he just breezed through the dining area. Barely enough time for a photo and very little talking:

Oh, well. We know his tricks anyway.

As we left the restaurant, the crowds were really picking up:

We meandered around awhile and took more F&GF photos.

Is Goofy trying to bowl with a pot of petunias?

Don't bother going into the Festival Center unless there is a scheduled activity going on. Otherwise there's nothing to see or do.

Thankfully Tink's thighs weren't quite as big this year:

More F&GF photos to come ... too many for one post.

[Lou... 3,118]

I was at property control a few months ago and they had this really beautiful desk for $20. It looked old, but was in great shape. It's cash and carry and I didn't have any way of taking it home. It was gone when I went back, of course.

After seeing this photo, I said that's it, well at least a copy of it. They must have made duplicates of it for some reason and didn't use it.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

I was at property control a few months ago and they had this really beautiful desk for $20. It looked old, but was in great shape. It's cash and carry and I didn't have any way of taking it home. It was gone when I went back, of course.

After seeing this photo, I said that's it, well at least a copy of it. They must have made duplicates of it for some reason and didn't use it.

Wow, that was quite a bargain! Wouldn't it be great to have a duplicate of Walt's desk!

[dvccamper 32]

Okay, your pictures have convinced me to try France for lunch next visit. Your meals look sooo good!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Great pictures and a yummy lunch!!! Rick doesn't really like Chef's de France, so I try and eat there when Im by myself.

Also, it seems like they planned better this year and finished the sand sculpture earlier. It seems like they were still working on it later in the month last year.

[Lou... 3,118]

Also, it seems like they planned better this year and finished the sand sculpture earlier.

Gwen asked if it's really sand and won't it wash away in a heavy rain.

I haven't seen it, but it looks like regular sand and it's not covered.

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

I will have to remember to ask next time I want dessert (which doesn't happen often). I would much rather have fresh fruit instead of a heavy sweet dessert.

I'm really enjoying your TR!!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Okay, your pictures have convinced me to try France for lunch next visit. Your meals look sooo good!

It was! Give it a try! Out of all our dishes, I think the lobster bisque was the best.

Gwen asked if it's really sand and won't it wash away in a heavy rain.

I haven't seen it, but it looks like regular sand and it's not covered.

Lou, I'm thinking it's made from a mold with sand mixed with some kind of resin or polymer to make it hard and rainproof. Just my guess. Then they would set it in place and just sprinkle sand around the edges. It had rained heavily on it and the water didn't affect it. Or could they have really sculpted it from sand and then sprayed some kind of waterproof topping on it?

I will have to remember to ask next time I want dessert (which doesn't happen often). I would much rather have fresh fruit instead of a heavy sweet dessert.

I'm really enjoying your TR!!

Thanks for reading along, Cherie. That bowl of fruit was the perfect ending to the meal.

Great pictures and a yummy lunch!!! Rick doesn't really like Chef's de France, so I try and eat there when Im by myself.

Also, it seems like they planned better this year and finished the sand sculpture earlier. It seems like they were still working on it later in the month last year.

Last year we there in May, and of course everything was in place. It was fun to see it all being set up this year.

Everyone have a great day! We're headed out of town to see the one grandchild we didn't get to visit with last Saturday. I'll try to post another installment later today.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Okay, I just googled EPCOT sand sculpture and found this from last year: http://www.disneyeveryday.com/huge-african-cats-sand-castle-in-epcot/. So they really are carved from sand!

[mikmouse 3]

Wow. Looking at this little by little when I have time. It's an amazing TR. Gwen you are a fabulous photographer. I'm enjoying it all. Luv it

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Wow. Looking at this little by little when I have time. It's an amazing TR. Gwen you are a fabulous photographer. I'm enjoying it all. Luv it

Mikmouse, thank you! So glad you're enjoying it! I'm gonna post another update shortly.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Wow. Looking at this little by little when I have time. It's an amazing TR. Gwen you are a fabulous photographer. I'm enjoying it all. Luv it

Mikmouse, thank you! So glad you are enjoying it! I'm gonna try to get another update posted in just a few minutes.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Monday, March 12 – A Great Day! Part 4

More F&GF photos:

I saw this shirt in MouseGear and debated getting it for Cailyn. I wish had bought it. Poor girl, with three brothers I'm sure she feels this way sometimes!

We rode Spaceship Earth:

And then we made our way back to the fort. Our view from bus stop #1:

Went to the Settlement TP and found a sweatshirt for David.

We checked out the chairs:

They are actually more comfortable than I thought they would be. But I didn't like the screen printing. Not sure how it would hold up outdoors.

Got a license plate for Dolly:

We had ice cream for dinner -- okay, it's sugar free and we're on vacation! We were still too full from that huge lunch to eat a meal. Then we took Kassie looping on DeeDee for awhile.

The 700 loop was still full. Every day or so someone would leave, but within a few hours someone else would arrive.

It had been a great day.

Next up -- a sad day but a great surprise!

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

I am so happy that you had such a great vacation. You deserved it. Do I sense the end of another great TR is near?

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

:'( Yes, the end is near. Only 4-5 more posts. It's so sad. Reliving it has been so much fun!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Tuesday, March 13 – A Sad Day but a Great Surprise! -- Part 1

Our last full day at WDW. We got up early and did some cleaning in preparation for leaving in the morning. Had breakfast at TE one last time.

And then we headed over to the Magic Kingdom. I just love this sign:

Oh, it was crowded! Got FPs for Peter Pan, then rode the Peoplemover. Posted wait times:

HM - 40 minutes

POTC - 45 minutes

And these were the short lines!

But wait! Lucky us! Look at that -- a few people are walking into the Fantasyland expansion! So off we went.

Unfortunately I forgot to change my camera settings from indoor to outdoor. So I had to photoshop several of these pics and they still aren't great.

But hey, I think I'm the first fiend to post their own photos of this, so here goes!

The train station:

The Barnstormer:

Dumbo:

I loved the CM costumes:

We used our PP FPs, stopped by the Emporium to buy Lucas a Buzz Lightyear for his birthday, and left the park.

Aah, back home: