How Much Do You Ladies Charge to Haunt the Castle? -- Departure Day up (See index

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Pool, tropical drinks and dinner, beach, more pool, dinner

Some coffee here and there

Sounds like heaven to me! Some very relaxing days there. Just lovely! We enjoy Tommy Bahama's. It is a bit overpriced I think but lovely inside and pretty darn good food.

Bummer on the pixza though, bleh!

It was heaven. Tommy Bahama's was very good--but pricey (I walked out of the shop within five minutes

Todd really was NOT happy with that pizza.

Originally Posted by pas130

OMG MY back hurts watching Mark with that club

The Shrimp Shack is cute

He does it all the time...I don't know how he does it.

Shrimp Shack had some really cute things in it.

Originally Posted by mommy2mrb

wow more food porn...you are making me hungry Miss Kathy
not a seafood lover, but those hushpuppies look yummy!
funny about Mark using the kid club

Sorry....didn't mean to make you hungry...but food was a BIG part of the trip.

Seafood is my favorite kind of food after pork.

Originally Posted by mommy2mrb

the zoo looks cute! did you get the giraffe ears?

okay I definately need to go eat something, my tummy is a rumbling pizza looks good, but would of been happy with that bread!

what a nice view to end your day!

It was a cute zoo, but no elephants for Mark.

That bread was heavenly.

No, didn't buy the ears.

Originally Posted by mickeystoontown

Sounds and looks like a wonderful day from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the zoo pictures. Our zoo stinks (both figuratively and literally ) and is in the crappy part of town so we don't go there much.

We are so lucky to have two really great zoos here.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

The deja vu is getting thick in here.

Stop it now!

Ok, that just looks painful. I'm not sure I'd be able to stand up by the end of the round.

I guess it helps that he is short to begin with.

What happened here? Did he win a silver medal in gymastics?



Oh my...this had me

All in all, it seems like there was a lot of relaxing and eating going on. As it should be.

It was just perfect.

Originally Posted by FauntleroyFAN07

enjoyed all the updates.

is that how they serve pickles in that restaurant in a beer glass with the juice?

i bet that is so you can drink all of the juice after you eat the pickles.


and that steak and onion sandwhich in the last chapter looks like hte clear winner for best looking food pic of all the last chapters.

Ewwww...drinking pickle juice.

Mark really liked that steak sandwich.

Originally Posted by PhoenixStrength

Nice day! Love that you still took hat pictures, even away from WDW!

We take hat pictures everywhere...the man needs no encouragement from me.

Originally Posted by Tiggerrn2

All caught up!! Looks like you are having a wonderful time!! Loved the ornaments for your tree. Ours seems to be getting more and more Disney-like as well.
Hunting for seashells is always great fun. And it's addicting. We used to go every summer and stay on Anna Maria Island in Bradenton Beach. Loved those summer vacations. I spent hours combing the beach for shells.
I understand the Starbucks addiction. The holiday season is particularly tough to avoid the place. Peppermint Mocha--

1 Week!!! Bet you can't stand it!!

I used to have a variety of ornaments, but somehow that darn Disney just took over.

Mark talked about going to Brandenton Beach sometime...we'll have to look into it.

I don't do Peppermint...but I know it is a big seller.

4 days now...hurry on up.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by Nermel9

I read all four of your updates when I was bored at work! The zoo looks like fun! I love those little animal hats and headbands you guys tried on, I would have definitely bought the giraffe ears! And yum, all of the food pics look SO good! Even that pizza looks really good!

I do that at work too.

Trust me, the pizza was NOT good.

Originally Posted by shan23877

You've been an updating machine!!

I don't even know where to start! Love the kids golf club. I feel you pain-I swear my DH cheats at Monopoly. The zoo looks pretty nice! And of course I love the hat pics.

Were you ever able to find your dress or did you have to find something different? So disappointing when you find the perfect thing but they don't have your size.

Shannon, only four more days (well, 3-1/2) and I have to get this TR done.

Hmmm...Monopoly, that would be the game our youngest son cheats at. My husband says I cheat at Yahtzee because I am always getting Yahtzee's.

Nope, never found the dress. I plan on looking again in February when the new spring stuff comes out.

Originally Posted by Woth2982

That alligator guy is brave! Not sure I would be standing near an alligator during regular times, never mind feeding time! My dad likes to tell the story of how he once fed an alligator a cheese curl at the zoo. Crazy man my father. The views from Buzz's Lighthouse are so pretty! I can see why you enjoy going to Marco Island after Disney! However now I want garlic bread. That looked so good. Garlic Bread is my weakness.

I sure wouldn't be getting that close to the gators. He knew each one's name and when he called them, they came up for their food.

Garlic bread is a huge weakness of mine too...I could eat it with every meal.

Originally Posted by amandaw

Looks like y'all were having a lot of fun on the 2nd part of the vacation!! And all of the food is really yummy looking! It's making me that much more hungry for lunch than I already am.

We didn't have a bad meal this trip.

Originally Posted by Poolrat

Kathy - Looks like you are still avoiding Mark... But I think you must really feel bad. Hope you feel better.

Thanks, Pat. I really did feel lousy, but it sure came in handy in avoiding my husband right now.

Originally Posted by MEK

Holy crap - is that guy awful close to the alligators? That doesn't look all that safe. Just sayin!

I wouldn't come within 50 feet of those teeth.

Cool animal pictures. I love the big black panther and the cheetah. Oh - and that turtle looks pretty neat, too.

The cheetah was a new addition to the zoo.

Yeah - you can stop it with the food pictures now. Not good for any diet attempts.

A few more food pictures in the last two updates; I know it's not good for the diet...my waist told me so when I got home.

Those beach pictures are gorgeous. Wow - what a beautiful beach.

It really is a beautiful beach and so clean too.

And Mark - I guess he can find hats to try on wherever he goes.

Mark tries on hats at Target, K-Mart, Walgreens...wherever he finds them.

Originally Posted by marvali

I got a gold star!!!

Of course, you do.

Hey wait, you had breakfast for dinner. Doesn't it mess up your whole day to have breakfast for, well, breakfast???

Nope...doesn't mess up my day; sometimes I have breakfast for breakfast and breakfast for dinner.

Some of the decor at the Shrimp Shack is definitely interesting, and that seafood does look pretty good!

It's a really cute place.

And that is one of the more interesting mini-golf courses I have seen, but I hate when they use brick for the walls since you can't count on a true bounce all the time. As for Mark using a kids club, I would think that would be a disadvantage, so you might want to make sure he sticks with it or you may never win again.....

If I bounced it off a wall, it would be in the parking lot. If I've only won once in 30+ years, I don't think the chances of it happening again are not too good.

Looks like a good variety of animals, and so glad you got to see your favorite and surprise Mark with the feeding!

It was nice to let Mark have a chance with the giraffes. But I did tell him it would be the last time...ONLY I get to feed them in the future.

The elusive ice cream sandwich-eating Kathypus!!!

I like that name.

This hat pic requires no words..........or at least it is probably safer if I don't add any!!!

Yes, it is probably safer to keep your mouth shut this time.

Not sure you could have picked a more appropriate "hat" to model!!!

Thank you.

Yes, that does look yummy! Plenty of cheese.......

Never too much cheese on my garlic bread.

Interesting name for the restaurant, and MMMMMM.........Steak!!!

When Nicki told me the name of the restaurant I thought to myself, Disney might not like that.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by goofy4prez

Kathy, I have loved this report and can't wait to read about the surprise you have for Mark in the next few days.

Awww shucks...thank you.

Originally Posted by pas130

Thank you too.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

You might as well just stop mentioning the Starbucks part. I mean you don't tell us the sun rose in the east every morning.

Oh...those guys have rubbed off on you, haven't they?

Ok, I could just skip the meal and go for some of those desserts. They look amazing.

I have thought of that on an occasion or two.

No, no, no. Clearly you haven't tried to play with a club that is way too short. That is definitely a competitive disadvantage. If anything, he's trying to let you win.

I don't think so...he's short and I think it gives him an advantage.

The zoo looks nice for not being great. I guess some are better than others, but it looks like they at least had a nice selection of animals there to see. Who needs a zoo though when you can see giant man eating jellyfish any time?

It ended up being a really nice zoo and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Those jellyfish were HUGE!

Originally Posted by WDisneyMom

Another fun update! Always love the hat pictures!! So Kathy, who has your favorite pizza here in Chicago?

Our favorite pizza place is called "Pete's Pizza" which is a few blocks where we lived when we got married near Western and Addison.

Originally Posted by marvali

Glad I wasn't when I read this!!!

STOP IT!

Originally Posted by brookelizabeth

It looks beautiful!!!!

Thank you, Brook.

I LOVE your beach pictures....ah!!!! Soooo nice. I would love a little escape to the beach right about now, it's starting to get really pretty chilly here and I'm already ready for it to be over!

Would you believe it is 60 degrees here today and going to be 66 tomorrow? This weather is so weird.

Great zoo pictures! Looks like a pretty decent zoo with the added animals.

It really was nice.

Originally Posted by emmysmommy

Now I'm caught up here too! Fun times with food, mini golf, zoos, more dining, friends... and of course the adorable dump shop headgear!! You two certainly know how to enjoy life!

Brenda, it was a great time with friends. We've learned that life is just too short not to make the most of it.

Originally Posted by englishrose47

I am all caught up to !! Was the giraffe's name CAROL!!!?Loved the Zoo Hats !! Way to go Mark!!! That garlic bread did look good !! We have VERY good Pizza here in WNY too and also Italian food !! Hard to beat it !!!

I didn't ask the giraffe her name.

New York, I'm told, along with Chicago have the best pizza.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by mommy2mrb

oh no Kathy...feel better! you can't be sick on your trip! get lots of rest and fluids too!

Thanks, Lisa...I'm feeling a lot better today. I'll keep the meds going until we leave.

Originally Posted by that's nice

I hope you feel better tomorrow. You can't be sick on your trip!


No, I cannot be sick on my trip!

Salad? That looks like a few pieces of lettuce with a couple croutons thrown on for garnish.

Nicki was a little shocked when it came out too.

Love your relaxing days.... I need a vacation like that someday. Maybe once my kids are out of the house. I guess I have a long time before I get to do that.

Yes, you will probably have to wait until the kids are grown and gone.
[/COLOR]

Originally Posted by goofy4prez

That stinks that you were not feeling well. Glad to hear you are feeling better. I guess looking at it in a positive spin is that you got sick this past week instead of in the next few days.

You are right...better now than Thursday coming up.

Originally Posted by englishrose47

Feel better Kathy!!!

Thanks, Rosie.

[KatMark]

[dizneeat]

1 dance per day!

[WDisneyMom]

Ok! How about the chain places...say downtown?! Giordano's here!!

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by dizneeat

1 dance per day!

Thank you for the four dances, Karin.

Originally Posted by WDisneyMom

Ok! How about the chain places...say downtown?! Giordano's here!!

We like Giordano's, but Downtown we prefer Gino's East.

[mommy2mrb]

happy to hear you are feeling better! did you get some Disney styled toes?

[Millie12591]

Originally Posted by KatMark

We had just walked through the Castle without anyone there so I could get unobstructed pictures and had our photo taken with a sword.

And as the theme of this trip kept moving along, we ran into some additional characters that we had never seen before. And it turned out to be at least a 10 minute gabfest!

I will now give you Mark's version of what transpired.

"We walked through the castle and as we were discussing where to go first, Kathy saw the Evil Stepsisters and suggested we hop in line to keep with the theme of meeting new characters this trip. We watched as some of the little Cinderella's didn't seem to thrilled with meeting the Evil Stepsisters."

"Soon it was our turn and we walked up and received the "evil" looks from Drizella and Anastasia and the I'm bored with you look from Lady Tremaine. I then asked them "How much do you ladies charge to haunt Cinderella's castle? And this is when all heck broke loose."

"Lady Tremaine informed us that the castle was not haunted, but the Haunted Mansion was haunted. And the stepsisters stepped in and literally, in unison said, but Mother we could haunt the castle."

It was absolutely hysterical. These characters stay true to form throughtout. The people waiting in line seemed to be getting a little impatient with us; even the Castmember who escorts the characters said to wrap it up, but the three of them would not quit. We were literally with them for 10 minutes. A few pictures from one of our best character interactions ever:







Practicing to be a ghost to haunt the castle:

The picture of Drizella with the dress up over head actually made me and Mackie laugh out loud!! Mackenzie loved reading this post, and more importantly loved seeing the pictures of Lady Tremaine with her not so pretty looks on her face.

This looked like a really fun day! John and I really do need to go for a short trip and have a great time letting him take us where he wants to go for the day. I'm so bad about wanting to plan everything I leave no room for spontaniety. This trip I'm going to try and let go more.
For a last day y'all know how to do it up right!

I'm with Mark, I love going on IASW at least once every trip!
I know you hate it, but it's a tradition! We make the kids go on it with us every trip.

Your time on Marco island looks like it' shaping up to be an amazing/relaxing time!!

Soooo glad you are feeling better, by the way.

[wigdoutdismom]

Mmmmmm, we love Gino's East. A couple of days ago I was thinking of having a couple of them shipped to us.
Perhaps we will after our Christmas trip. Just the thing to beat Disney depression.

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by that's nice

Don't mind me...

Just catching up from page 33.



So you didn't want to drink tequila to stay on schedule but you just stood there for 40 minutes? You should of went back and did some tequila shots!

I am still catching up. .....but this was my thought too.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by mommy2mrb

happy to hear you are feeling better! did you get some Disney styled toes?

I didn't get my pedicure today. They called me just as I was leaving the house to ask if anyone had called to tell me Bianca would not be there. I said no and asked if she worked Monday or Tuesday...my last opportunity to get it done. They informed me she was no longer at the salon. They rescheduled me with someone new tomorrow night. I did get my massage with Edward and he told me what happened with Bianca and I sent off a very nasty email about the reason she was fired. I told them I would not be coming back there for a pedicure after that episode.

When I do get them done, they will be Minnie red.

Originally Posted by Millie12591

The picture of Drizella with the dress up over head actually made me and Mackie laugh out loud!! Mackenzie loved reading this post, and more importantly loved seeing the pictures of Lady Tremaine with her not so pretty looks on her face.

Camille, believe it or not, it was even funnier in person.


This looked like a really fun day! John and I really do need to go for a short trip and have a great time letting him take us where he wants to go for the day. I'm so bad about wanting to plan everything I leave no room for spontaniety. This trip I'm going to try and let go more.
For a last day y'all know how to do it up right!

It's so nice to just let it all go and go with the flow...it was such a great time.

I'm with Mark, I love going on IASW at least once every trip!
I know you hate it, but it's a tradition! We make the kids go on it with us every trip.

I'll do IASW...just don't like it.

Your time on Marco island looks like it' shaping up to be an amazing/relaxing time!!

It really was realxing and fun too.

Soooo glad you are feeling better, by the way.

Thank you...feeling a whole lot better and I'm headed to bed in a few to try to get another full 8 hours sleep.

Originally Posted by wigdoutdismom

Mmmmmm, we love Gino's East. A couple of days ago I was thinking of having a couple of them shipped to us.
Perhaps we will after our Christmas trip. Just the thing to beat Disney depression.

Oooh...that sounds like a good idea.

Originally Posted by jenseib

I am still catching up. .....but this was my thought too.

Not a tequila drinker; actually, I don't drink a whole lot unless I'm on vacation.

[DMGeurts]

Just checking in to see how many days you have left... Whoot... I can barely wait to hear about Mark's reaction!!!

D~ <--- who wishes someone would surprise her with a Disney trip... Sigh.

[blessedmom4]

Kathy, That M&G with the Steps was absolutely HYSTERICAL!...and Lady Tremaine looks like a man in that last pic! It must be a hoot to live with you and Mark, what a great question. Looking forward to more!