[LAURENGOLD]

The back story, or how this trip came to be, or My Trip Report. Part 1.

I've been waiting for this trip since February. We were offered DVC points, with an offer so good, I'd be crazy to have turned them down. We had been home from our February vacation less than a week, and it was snowy and cold....what a better way to cheer ourselves up than to book another Disney vacay!!! Thank Goodness for AP's!!

Here's the thing. I knew there was no way DH-Shannon would want to go before the end of July, which was when they expired. Well, he'd want to go, but that thing called his job seems to get in the way . Soooooooo.......... when I talked to him about it, he said exactly what I knew he would......... you can Being the psycho....I mean psychic that I am I had already asked my Mom, if Shannon doesn't want to go would she possibly like to. She was very excited at the thought, and the plan was in motion.........

So, I called my connection and gave her the dates we were interested in. I told her any resort, it really didn't matter to me.

We were in. SSR, studio from June 18th through June 21st. Booked the airline tickets. Flying JetBlue, which we were all excited about. Don't get me wrong, I love my DING! fares, and I also would rather fly out of Providence any day of the week, but- the extra space with the seats, Direct TV, and the competitive fare they were offering sealed the deal for us.

About two months later, I got a phone call from Shannon. It started with "How much do you love me???" Awe.......so much. Well, how would you like two more nights added onto your trip. Uh, no thanks, we're good at 3. OF COURSE we would!!! The woman who had given us our stay in February, also had points that had to be used, or else they would expire. Well, there was some confusion with the dates we were already there, and she booked the wrong two nights. We were scheduled to check out of SSR on Thursday, the 21st. We'd be checking into BWV on Friday the 22nd for two nights. That left us with no digs Thursday. Hey, I was totally planning on winning a stay in the castle anyways . So, she ended up calling back and was able to get us the only thing available on Thursday, a 1BR at BWV. What a shame, I hate the 1 BR's.

So, we had three more nights added, just had to change the air. While I was doing that, my Mom decided that the original dates were enough for her. She'd never been away from my Dad before (although he goes on an annual hunting trip, I think she was a bit anxious about being away by herself) Well, just watch. That comes back and bites her!!! I mean really, who wants to leave WDW?

So, that's the beginning. The who, what, where, and when of it. Let's go to Walt Disney World!!!!!

[emamasa]

hurray - another TR!! I'm loving this!

extra days - oh well, if you insist!! haha!

[DisneyTeacher]

You have an awesome hubby, Lauren! I can't wait to read more.

[Peppertink]

Yippee! Another TR:)

[LAURENGOLD]

So, we were up and off!!! My Dad and Shannon drove us into Boston. Regular traffic, got in in plenty of time. Plenty of time to take plenty of pic's!

Devyn and My Mom



Devyn and Me



We loaded the plane..... (see, I have proof!)
Enjoying a little TV on the plane!



We were extremely lucky to have a woman pilot!!! Yes, that's right!!! She made a joke when she was talking before we took off, about how everyone pays more attention when she says she's the pilot! She also said she had plans to get us there early. Being a woman, she liked to arrive early!!

Early we were!!! NOTHING beats arriving early to a WDW vacation!

We got our luggage, which was in the first group off the carousel and went down to National to get our car. Word of advice here....use the automated check in!!! It was soooooooo easy. We went out to the garage and picked our wheels for the week, a Chevy Malibu. It was really nice, I enjoyed driving it. .

We hit the open highway...and arrive "home" in no time at all. Driving into SSR, my first impression is that it's very pretty. We check in and have a lovely young lady, named Lauren. Ok, so maybe I'm partial. She's very sweet and it's also helpful that our room is ready We are in the Grandstand, which is pretty far from the main happenings. I do ask if there is anything closer, in which the answer is no. Oh well!

We go and check out our room, we have a nice view of the golf course, and just to the left of us are the Treehouse Villas. Boy, would I have loved to stay in one of those back in the day! So, by now we are starving. We head over to Artist's Pallette and get some lunch. We did buy two refillable mugs here as well. One very nice thing about SSR is the locations of the refillable sodas. They have one at all the pools, even the quite ones. It was convienant.




At Artist's Pallette they have drawing easel's on almost all of the tables in the seating area. Devyn drew a picture of Mickey. After you draw, you turn it in and it goes on a large display easel, and they will give you an "Artist of the Day" magical memory. Sweet!

My little artist:


We head back to the room, and decide to swim and cool off. We use the "quiet" pool by our room, which is actually themed quite nicely with "starting gates" and horses that turn into sprinklers.

[Dopey]

OH, I am excited. The trip reports are coming in at a pretty good clip. More please with pictures

[LAURENGOLD]

Shoot. I was hoping the pictures would just post. Any suggestions?

[Dana]

Lauren - I cannot get over how grown your DD is....wow. she's a little lady now. Can't wait to hear more about this trip.

[Voldemort]

Off to a fine start.

BTW, Lauren, you and your daughter are quite the matching set.

[LAURENGOLD]

So, after the pool we head on over to Epcot. We scored a Le Cellier reservation for tonight!! I had tried to change it to another night during the week, but it was the only one available. And it was for 8:40. YUCK. But, on the other hand.........YUM!!!

We got there and went to Devyn's favorite place in Epcot, possibly the World. Club Cool. My Mom, who doesn't like Coke anyways, was like "this is it?, soda samples??" Yeah, but Mom you have to try the Beverly!!! LOL, actually I wouldn't do that to her.

So, Devyn got her coke fix (which is HUGE....she is not allowed Coke at home, NOTHING with caffeine for her, she doesn't sleep as it is ) and we were off.

In February we were lucky enough to eat at LeCellier twice. Each time we had an early reservation. Each time as we were waiting to check in, a family (or two) would be asking if there was any way they could get a reservation there. Each time they were told if they wanted to eat NOW (one ADR was for 4:50 and another was 4:10) they would be able to seat them. Otherwise no.

So, we figured we'd take our chances. We arrived around 5:00. I very sweetly told the CM we did indeed have an ADR later, but was there any way we could eat now?? We'd totally understand if it was not possible.

She got on her handy-dandy, super-special, LeCellier Cast Member walkie-talkie, that only she and I could see and spoke with someone. Mrs. XYZ is here. She DOES indeed have a coveted ADR. Can she eat now? over-and-out. Some nodding on the CM's part. Okay, I nodded too. Also smiled a lot at her. More walkie-talkie business. She can eat if they want to sit by the kitchen door? The kitchen door where Devyn later sees a CM picking her wedgie?? No problem!!! We're so IN!!!

We get right down to business. Our waiter is sooooooooo nice. I totally forget everything about him, except that he was nice. He brought out the yummy pretzel bread. I honestly don't know why they even bother with those other kinds. Anyone?? He asked if we'd ever had the cheese soup, and when we said no (well, I had it at F&W and wasn't impressed) he brought us some for free!!! What a guy!!! See, I told ya he was nice! It was much better on the end of a piece of pretzel bread!!!

Devyn and I had the filet (maple glazed) and Mom had the Prime Rib. Ours was great, a little "spicier" than the last time, but still so good. My Mom's was DELISH!!! It was so good. We skipped dessert and headed out to the World.

[LAURENGOLD]

Originally Posted by Dana

Lauren - I cannot get over how grown your DD is....wow. she's a little lady now. Can't wait to hear more about this trip.

Unbelievable, isn't it?? She's almost as tall as I am!!

voldemort-I call her my Mini-me!!

[LAURENGOLD]

Heading out, it looks like it's going to rain. And it did. Boy, did it ever!!! We went into the Canada store, where we bought Devyn a passport. The sweet CM there notices her Birthday button, and she gets her phone call from The Goofster. She then got a magical moments certificate (#2) where the CM writes her a book about how she hopes she's having a great Birthday, and hopes she gets to see Pluto, since that is her favorite character.

Devyn needed to make a stop. It seemed as though she had a very important phone call to make.

[LAURENGOLD]

We got her passport stamped and she starts on a mask. We make it through to America, where the Bee-Gees tribute band is playing. We "stay-alive". To bad we missed Bon Jovi . They are actually pretty fun to watch and we spend a little time doing just that.

When we got to where they stamp the passports in America, there was a HUGE line. We decided we'd come back and do it another time. The CM working in the store overheard us and said wait just a second. She went out and got an extra stamp and signed the book for Devyn!! She then also noticed the Birthday button and presented her with another Magical Moment!! (#3!)




We then poked around a bit more, and left as Illuminations was beginning. We had gotten up very early and all the traveling had worn us out. Off to SSR for some much needed rest!

Here are some random Epcot pictures.

[Southern Belle]

i am loving the trip report and your little girl is just too cute!

[jk8]

Yay, a girls trip! Keep it comin'!