[emamasa]

hurray - more TR!! you are so beautiful! and i am so happy for you to get to be going back so soon!! congrats!!

[Pooh Fan]

I am just now getting caught up. I am loving your trip report. Your wedding sounds so perfect. I can't wait to read more and see more pictures!

[janiebird66]

What a beautiful wedding! I can't imagine a more magical place to celebrate then at WDW

[MickeyMcFizzle]

I want to update more today but can't - why does real life have to get in the way of trip reporting?!
My brain hurts from work

More coming tomorrow for certain though...

[Princessbaby]

Beautiful ceremony! Can't wait to read the rest!

[lovemysons]

Oh, I love that picture of you dancing with your hubby.

[MickeyMcFizzle]

Day 6: Tuesday May 22: Epcot with Friends

Since Mike and I had so many guests visiting with us, we split up our days so that we could get a chance to spend time with everyone for a little bit.

This first day was spent with my three bridesmaids (Jill, Christina, and Karin), their boyfriends (Jill's BF Dave and karin's BF Jay), and Mike's 2 friends (Dave and Paul).

Our camera was with my brother this day, so we didn't have any pics, since he was using it to take pictures at the wedding. So you'll have to use your imaginations!

We were meeting everyone at Spaceship Earth at 1 pm. Mike and I were checking out of the Beach Club in the morning and checking in at the Coronado Springs.

To be honest, I was kinda happy to be leaving the Beach Club - it's not that I disliked the hotel, but it felt a little less "Disney-ish" than I was hoping for.

This was my first time staying at a Deluxe Hotel (other than the weekend trip I took in September to do wedding stuff where we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge). For the amount of increase it costs to stay at the Beach Club, even versus the Wilderness Lodge, it wasn't worth it in my opinion. Yes, the pool was great, but the room was less than impressive to me, as was the service we received.

I had a few problems with check-in and check-out on the day of the wedding (between our regular room and the complimentary concierge room from our wedding planner for that night). I won't get into the boring details, but it was my WEDDING DAY, I was having a DISNEY wedding, and they gave me a hard time about the stupidest things. It really soured me on the place I guess.

Anyway, so after sleeping in a bit, Mike and I heded over to Coronado to check-in. This was quick and painless, and we were off to Epcot.

[MickeyMcFizzle]

We met up with everyone on time, and Jill (my MOH) and her BF Dave were so excited to get going on the park. As were Mike's 2 friends. But Karin's BF Jay was a bit of a Debbie Downer. I get it, Disney isn't your thing - but can't you just buck up and try to have fun for the sake of making it not uncomfortable for everyone? Seriously, this guy isn't a favourite of mine on the best of days, but he really annoyed me this day. He was acting like a 5 year old child until he had a beer in his hand later in the day...

We hit Spaceship Earth, followed by The Seas with Nemo.

I Spaceship earth. It feels so classic Disney to me and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I didn't love Nemo - I know it's a kids ride, and I usually love these, but I just didn't love it. There's one part where you hear something repeating over and over again that made my head hurt. But I loved the theming, and it was cute.

We ran to get FP's for Soarin' after this, and then it was off to Test Track.

This was a first time to Disney for all of my friends, and they loved this ride, as do I.

Lunch was next - I had yummy Sushi from the CS place in the Land Pavillion. Sooooo good!

We were off to Soarin immediately after. We waited for a first row "flight" so they could get the best possible experience.

Everyone LOVED this ride, of course. How could you not?

We toured around the World Showcase for the afternoon, and Jay ran ahead to get a beer from Germany. Thank God, because I couldn't take much more of his negative Nancy whining about how lame everything was. Once he had his beer, he was in much better spirits and stopped talking about how he wished he was back at his hotel drinking.

My friends really loved the World Showcase and were amazed at the shopping and awesomeness of the structures. We rode Maelstrom, and skipped the movie.

Eventually we made our way to Canada, with tim to spare for our 7pm ressie at Le Cellier.

I'm always slightly embarrased when I am at the Canadian pavillion - lumberjack Goofy really bugs me, and I feel bad for my fellow Canadians wearing the same outfit as him! Poor lumberjack Canadians

We hung out in the store for a bit, and one of the CMs was dying to see a Toonie as he hadn't seen one in about a year, so I gave him one for keeps and made his day.

We were sitting down for dinner shortly thereafter.

Our waitress was from Windsor, which is about 4 hours from Toronto, and went to the same Unviersity as Jill and I did. We chatted for a while and really hit it off.

All the girls order the Filet Mignion and the guys all ordered the giant New York. I loooooooooooove the Pretzel bread! Everyone raved about this meal - it was amazing, as always.

Our lovely waitress gave Mike and I a "dream" for dessert - a strawberry-ish something with a sparkler and a dream certificate signed by all the Canadians working at Le Cellier that night, for our wedding. It was so sweet

After dessert we were just in time or Illuminations. Beautiful, as usual.

It was EMH that night, so some of our friends stuck around, but Mike and I headed back to the Coronado with his 2 friends Dave and Paul, and sat in the Hot Tub. After about a half an hour, we were both so exhausted, and went to bed.

It was a fun day, but its stressful doing the Parks with big groups!

Here's my one pic from Epcot that day, that one friend took.

[dac921]

ohhhh more TR... yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MickeyMcFizzle]

Day 7: Wed May 23: Animal Kingdom and MGM

This day we were spending with Michael's family, consisting of:
Donna - Mike's mom
Chris and Brandi - Mike's twin brother and his wife
Lisa and Mark - Mike's sister and her husband
Aunt Janet - Mike's Aunt (His mother's sister) and 2 of her 4 kids Lindsay (My age, 27) and Kyle (23). These three were only doing MGM with us later on.

Mike and I were both excited for this day, because Donna loves animals and has never been to AK. However, for some reason, Chris woke up on the wrong side of the bed and was really grouchy. This really put Mike in a bad mood, and made him anxious - for some reason, Mike cannot stand when his brother is upset, or angry, or anything other than happy - it makes him really anxious. It is a twin thing I just can't understand.

Anyway, despite moodiness the second day in a row (what is wrong with peope? You are on vacation and are an adult!), we arrived at AK by about 10 am. We got Donna a wheelchair (she has a bad hip and can't walk long distances) and I ran ahead to get FP's for Everest for everyone.

We headed over to Kilimanjaro Safari immediately after, as we figured we'd wait for this one, do some stuff around Africa, and then head over to Everest for our FP's.

Here are Mike, Chris, Lisa, and Donna waiting for the Safari.





We waited FOREVER for the Safari. It was about 90 minutes. When we got to the baording area... the ride shut down. Something happened, but they wouldn't say what.

Everyone in line was so mad... and totally taking it out on the CM's. Not cool... it's not their fault! I hate it when I see this...

Anyways, we gift-shopped our way towards Dinoland. Lisa was asked how her day was going by one merchant, and she replied "not so magical". She explained about the Safari, and he gave us a group fastpass for us to use later in the day when it was back up, which was really nice.

Donna loved Dinosaur, as did the ret of the group. I closed by eyes as usual
I don't know why, but this ride really scares me!

After Dinosaur we did Everest, which was a big hit, and then it was lunchtime. We ate at Flametree - yum!

We went back for the Safari after lunch, which was back up and running, and the animals were really out in full force - so many up-close encounters, it was the best ride I've had on this.

We did It's Tough to be a Bug after the Safari.

We love Bug Eyes!



We hit Kali next, and luckily no one got soaked.

Donna wanted to see the walking trails and shows, but there just wasn't time. We had a reservation at the Brown Derby @ MGM for 5:15 pm, and it was already 4, so we had to book it.
Mike and I planned to take Donna back later that week to see the shows and trails, but unfortunately, we ran out of time. Oh well - she told me the other day that it's just another reason why we need to go back!

[MickeyMcFizzle]

We arrived at MGM about a half an hour before our reservation, and met up with Aunt Janet, Kyle, and Lindsay.

Unfotunately, the Brown Derby had to seat us at 2 separate tables, so Mike, Donna and I ate with Janet, Lindsay and Kyle, and Lisa and mark and Chris and Brandi ate together a few tables over.

Janet, Lindsay, and Kyle


Mike, Donna, and I


Chris and Brandi


Mark and Lisa


I didn't really like the Brown Derby - kinda blah food and the atmosphere wa a little boring.

However, our waitress did bring Mike and I Champagne for a wedding toast, which was sweet.

Brandi got really sick there too - like, violently ill and had to go back to the hotel, so she and Chris left immediately after dinner.

Everyone had done MGM together the day before, so we were really just there to do Fantasmic after dinner.

However, we had some time to kill, so we headed over to The ToT. Janet had somehow convinced Donna that it was not that bad in terms of the "thrill factor" (I kind of figured out why towards the end of the trip, and I'll explain that later).

She was PETRIFIED! The group picture from this ride was absolutely hysterical. So much so, that Donna bought 4 copies and a frame to remember it by (Because she will NEVER go on it again!). I will try to scan my copy and post it if I can - it's too much.

Donna is beside Mike, with a terrified expression, holding on for dear life. Mark is behind her with his hands on her shoulders as if holding her down from flying up. Lisa is beside him, screaming. I am beside Mike, screaming.
Janet and Lindsay are pointing at Donna and laughing. Kyle looks like he is sitting on the bus.

Hilarious.

Anyways, Donna, Janet, and Mike went to get seats for fantasmic, and the rest of us rode ToT 2 more times! lol

When we got to the Amphitheatre, Brandi and Chris had returned. Fantasmic was so good, as usual. I just love this show.

It was EMH, so Chris, Brandi, Mike and I rode the ToT once mroe, while Lisa and mark and Lindsay and Kyle did RnRC.

Then it was back to the Coronado and bed to prepare for the next day - and my favourite Disney thing - Typhoon Lagoon

[LuvDisney24]

What a great TR!!! Keep it comin'!!!

[bransworld]

I just started reading this TR today. I am loving it. Thanks for helping my boring day at work go by.

[allirella]

Yeah! More of the fabulous wedding week TR. Sounds like fun. Sorry that the attitudes put a little damper on friend and family time...

[MickeyMcFizzle]

Day 8: Thurs May 24th: Typhoon Lagoon and Downtown Disney

Ah, typhoon lagoon. My favourite Disney thing!
Mike and I woke up early this morning to head to the lagoon by 10 am. We decided today that we were going there, and whoever wanted to join was welcome to, but we didn't have plans with anyone.

We were joined at Typhoon lagoon by Jill and Dave (My MOH and her BF), and Chris and Brandi (Mike's bro and Best Man, and his wife).

Perfect day! We did the Crush and Gusher soooooo many times. My fave is the Cocunut Crusher. And I spent as much time as possible in the surf pool

Jill was really scared of the waves... it was kinda funny

I don't have any TL pics because I didn't bring a camera that day.

We went back to the hotel for a nap, as we were heading to DTD tonight.

We arrived at DTD around 8pm. After seeing this sign, I wanted Monique (pictured in the ad) to make me into a princess - Belle is my favourite. Do you think I could pull it off?



First stop - Earl of Sandwich of course!

Mike and I had our usual - Scudetto for me, Club for him.

Mike's family and his two friends Paul and Dave were already there - great minds think alike! They loved EoS too.

Mike in line at EOS:


Paul and Dave enjoying a bevvie at EoS:


We shopped around for awhile, bought some candy at Goofy's Candy Co. (I overdid it on the Jellybeans). We also bought t-shirts for the doggies and a monorail tug-toy.