Go Home, December. You're Drunk. - A December 2015 TR - COMPLETED

[SnowWhiteOz]

Oh, and then there were fortune cookies. And this was mine. Make of it what you will.

...Naughty.

Finally the SUPER NICE elderly gentleman CM asked who all was with me, I explained it was just me and two others, and he said "You know what? Why don't ya'll just come right on in here?" And he let us into the COMPLETELY EMPTY roped-up section he was was guarding! He told me it was for the Candlelight Processional package people, and that the show would be letting out in a few minutes, but that Mark & Debby and I could go in and find us a spot before they arrived, since he couldn't figure out a place for us! HOW AWESOME.

Moral of the story: I LOVE OLD PEOPLE NOW.

That is some awesome pixie dust

 

[DisneyJo]

How wonderful that you got a great spot for illuminations and I'm so pleased your Aunt and Uncle stayed to watch

What a lovely way to spend your last evening, just zooming around riding all your favourites

So sorry about yours and your Aunts legs, I hope they healed quickly.

 

[tabrizia]

Yay awesome viewing, boo end of trip! Yay pixie dust .

 

[cinderkelly]

My hair is super jacked in this photo. I like how Mark looks like "Da hell?" and I'm like "Whaddup, bro!"

Rofl! Disney hair is awesome, dude

From there, we made our way over to Expedition Everest! Now, we had 10:10am FP+ set up for this. But at this point it was only 9:55am or so, and there was NOBODY in the Single Rider line. After about 3 seconds of discussion, Mark and I said screw it and just went and jumped in the Single Rider line instead!

Sweet! For some reason I couldn't get my iPad to copy and paste the pic of you on EE but the little girl in the row in fron of you looks like she's terrified!!!

The coffee from earlier had worn off, and I dozed through most of the show... right up until a FALCON BUZZED THE TOP OF MY HEAD. Yeah, that'll wake ya up, lemme tell ya!

I so admire you ability of spontaneous ECV nappage. Nothing like getting woken up by a falcon buzzing your head, yo!

I approached the podium, dripped some honey on the hostess, explained we didn't have an ADR, flashed my Landry's Club card at her... And within 5 minutes, we were lead to a great table upstairs, overlooking the dining room below. SCORE!

Score! Does your Landry's card get you preferred access or something?

FINAL NIGHT AT DISNEY WORLD.

No!!!

After dinner, it was about time to try and grab a spot for Illuminations, and that's when Debby said they were wanting to go back to the room. They were going to miss Wishes AND Illuminations? This time I kinda laid it on thick... Told them it was our last night there and it would really mean a lot to me if they would stay for the show. I would find them a bench to sit on and watch from and everything (which I knew was a VERY tall order). They agreed, so I went off in search!

I can't believe they were about to bow out on Illuminations. Good for you for convincing them to stay.

And then invited us into into the COMPLETELY EMPTY roped-off section that he was was guarding! That's when he told me it was being reserved for the Candlelight Processional package people, and that the show would be letting out in a few minutes, but that Mark & Debby and I could go in and find us a spot before they arrived, since nobody could tell him where to send us for Accessible viewing! WHAT. OMG. AWESOME.

Now that is some Disney Magic How sweet of him to do that for you!

So they headed for the bus stops without me... What, why? It's EMH night, that's why! And I got some rides to be hittin'!

Solo time!

 

[LinderInWonderland]

We had some time before our next FastPass, so we stopped and did a first for me, and something I wanted to do especially for Aunt Debby, since she loves birds: Flights of Wonder! It was super cute. At least what I saw of it... Not gonna lie to ya'll. The coffee from earlier had worn off, and I dozed through most of the show... right up until a FALCON BUZZED THE TOP OF MY HEAD. Yeah, that'll wake ya up, lemme tell ya!

That is my nightmare! I cannot stand birds, but my SIL deeply loved Flights of Wonder and begged us to go. I conceded, but only if we sat in the back row all the way to the right (and not in the bleachers because I knew they would send birds up there). It was a great show, but still... (Shudder).

I smelled it before I reached it, parked my wheels, and sauntered on into a very crowded lobby at Yak & Yeti. I approached the podium, dripped some honey on the hostess, explained we didn't have an ADR, flashed my Landry's Club card at her... And within 5 minutes, we were lead to a great table upstairs, overlooking the dining room below. SCORE!

Well done, you!

Oh, and then there were fortune cookies. And this was mine. Make of it what you will.

...Naughty.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

With full bellies, we decided to do some shopping! Debby found her a few things, and I found this AWESOME totebag. It was also cheap. I don't remember how cheap, I just remember it was a lot less than most bags I'd looked at this size:

I just love it! I actually use it 3 times a week to bring my workout clothes/sneakers/water bottle to the office with me on gym days!

That is a great tote! I love the colors!

SASSAFRAS!

Finally our pager we off and we were led into the restaurant and our table with a family of 5... Mom, Dad, and 3 young boys. Mark and Debby got to talking to the parents a good bit towards the end of the meal. Me, however... I was just incredibly awkward.

I was nervous about the shared tables, especially since we were looking forward to adult beverages at Biergarten. We were sat with a family of 4 (mom, dad, and nine year old twin boys). The boys loved my husband and one of them drew a napkin picture for him. It's still on our fridge!

My first stop was at a section near Germany that had been roped off, and a CM was standing there, an elderly gentleman. I asked him if he knew where the closest Wheelchair/ECV seating section was. He was VERY VERY nice, and he wasn't sure, so he radioed to somebody, who walked over a few minutes later, another CM, this time an elderly lady, who was also EXTREMELY nice. She didn't know either, and they tried radioing a few other people... NOBODY COULD GIVE THEM AN ANSWER.

Finally the SUPER NICE elderly gentleman CM asked how many people I had with me, I explained it was just me and my aunt & uncle, and he said "You know what? Why don't ya'll just come right on in here?" And then invited us into into the COMPLETELY EMPTY roped-off section that he was was guarding! That's when he told me it was being reserved for the Candlelight Processional package people, and that the show would be letting out in a few minutes, but that Mark & Debby and I could go in and find us a spot before they arrived, since nobody could tell him where to send us for Accessible viewing! WHAT. OMG. AWESOME.

I love solutions-oriented CMs!!! Sounds like that was the theme of the rest of your night, minus final Photopass guy. That is a good picture of you, despite the rando in the background.

 

[Saphire5742]

Pretty Christmas tree outside the gates...

Love that the decorations are done to reflect AK.

With full bellies, we decided to do some shopping! Debby found her a few things, and I found this AWESOME totebag. It was also cheap. I don't remember how cheap, I just remember it was a lot less than most bags I'd looked at this size:

I just love it! I actually use it 3 times a week to bring my workout clothes/sneakers/water bottle to the office with me on gym days!

Nice bag. Another great gym motivator.

While at the bus stop and waiting on Mark and Debby, I was on my phone checking Facebook, and somebody had commented that they hadn't seen me in my tiara enough on the trip. I just happened to be wearing my tiara at that exact moment, so I snapped this pic and replied to her comment with it:

SO MUCH SASS. But really ya'll, what the crap was going in with my hair on this day? Geez!

Check out this Princess with Attitude!!!!

Anyhow, so Epcot! We arrived safe and sound, and this time we stopped at the entrance for PhotoPass pics!

Finally! Great pics by the way

Finally, it was close enough to dinner time to wander back on over to Germany! Where I happened to spot a PhotoPass photographer...

Another great group shot!

We poked our heads into the Karamel Kuche, but the line was 12 miles long. I definitely wanted a treat from here, but I decided to check back in after dinner... and then never went back.

That's too bad.

Can't wait to try this out myself.

My first stop was at a section near Germany that had been roped off, and a CM was standing there, an elderly gentleman. I asked him if he knew where the closest Wheelchair/ECV seating section was. He was VERY VERY nice, and he wasn't sure, so he radioed to somebody, who walked over a few minutes later, another CM, this time an elderly lady, who was also EXTREMELY nice. She didn't know either, and they tried radioing a few other people... NOBODY COULD GIVE THEM AN ANSWER.

Finally the SUPER NICE elderly gentleman CM asked how many people I had with me, I explained it was just me and my aunt & uncle, and he said "You know what? Why don't ya'll just come right on in here?" And then invited us into into the COMPLETELY EMPTY roped-off section that he was was guarding! That's when he told me it was being reserved for the Candlelight Processional package people, and that the show would be letting out in a few minutes, but that Mark & Debby and I could go in and find us a spot before they arrived, since nobody could tell him where to send us for Accessible viewing! WHAT. OMG. AWESOME.

LOVE THIS!!!!!

How wonderful that you got Mark and Debby to join you for this.

(And I know how you girls think, so before you even go there... No. It wasn't like that. And he was too short for me, anyhow. )

So she one-ups me, and shows me her legs, and the fronts of her lower calves are covered in somewhat swollen, hot-to-the-touch bright red blotches... Guess who got the DISNEY RASH?! As soon as I saw it, I knew what it was (thanks to @Chicago Mo and others on these boards), so I was able to tell her about it and put her mind at ease a bit

Had to stop reading to look this up. YIKES!!!!! Good thing you knew what it was and were able to let Debby know.

Sounds like an awesome last full day.

 

[LindseyJo22]

Sounds like your park experiences were awesome!! I am glad you were able to convince everyone to stay for Illuminations - and that you got such awesome treatment from the CM So awesome!

Love the tiara picture too - so much attitude (in an awesome way)

Never heard of Disney rash, but now I'm a bit terrified - it reminds me of the time that my father-in-law got the chemicals wrong in his hot tub and we all ended up with a yucky rash. Not fun at all :/

And sad the trip is almost over - but you're getting closer and closer to October!

 

[TeresaNJ]

Really enjoyed your report!

 

[ursalita]

I had gotten it in my head that I needed one last omelet!

There's always time for one last omelet.

It was an iced coffee though, so I pretty much chugged it.

Only way to do it.

Now the next FP+ was for Kali River Rapids, but for some reason we decided not to do it. It's been 2 months, I can't remember these kind of details!

Didn't feel like getting wet?

I approached the podium, dripped some honey on the hostess, explained we didn't have an ADR, flashed my Landry's Club card at her... And within 5 minutes, we were lead to a great table upstairs, overlooking the dining room below. SCORE!

Oh, and then there were fortune cookies. And this was mine. Make of it what you will.

...Naughty.

SO MUCH SASS. But really ya'll, what the crap was going in with my hair on this day? Geez!

Florida. It's hell on the hair.

I bought a little hair clip that I now cannot find! I'm hoping it will surface, it was a really pretty little butterfly!

I hate it when that happens. I bought a Christmas ornament in April that I couldn't find when it was time to put it on the tree this Christmas. I found it when I was putting everything away after the holiday. Oh, well. Next year. I hope you find your hair clip.

Afterwards I thanked Mark and Debby for staying so I could share my favorite nighttime show at Disney with them. Debby said she was glad they stayed, and that it was beautiful. Yay.

Then as I was heading over to Mission Space, I noticed my scooter was limping along and running very low on power again. I was NOT going to let it force me to end this night early, so I had an idea.

Show that scooter who's boss, Billie!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I love the bats, too!

Crazy talk

The coffee from earlier had worn off, and I dozed through most of the show

Aww, that's a shame. it really is a fun show. Hopefully you get to see it on a future trip.

Afterwards I thanked Mark and Debby for staying so I could share my favorite nighttime show at Disney with them. Debby said she was glad they stayed, and that it was beautiful.

So glad that they stayed for the show!

 

[Glam]

Great trip report. Just found it, but I enjoyed following along

 

[rndmr2]

Nice update! Great that your aunt and uncle stayed for Illuminations, that's such a great show, we missed it on our last trip, our 1st Epcot day we were so tired after our fairly late dinner and were ready to go back to the room at about 8:30-8:45 and for some reason it wasn't showing until 10p that night. Our 2nd E night we were eating dinner in Via Napoli while the show was going. (that dinner took a LONG time, service was So slow)

Sorry you are having so much trouble with your scooter, glad the CM's in the store let you plug in while you were on the ride.

I can sympathize some with your and your Aunt's aches and pains. Our trip in 2010 was my first trip in 6 years and oh wow I was in serious pain most of the time, my back, my hips, feet, you name it. Not used to all that walking and out of shape. Our next 2 I was ok except my feet, a lot of foot pain, normal pain from walking and then blisters too. (2011 I had 2 blisters when we got there because I walked around a festival at home the day before we left)

 

[KathyM2]

Shhhh. I'm trying to gloss over stuff like that in the report!)

Oh now I get it lol. Just checking that we think the same way lol

In general looks like you had a pretty good trip. Sorry to see it come to an end!! (as I'm sure you were) At least you have another one to look forward to!!! And at least you did manage to convince them to stay for Illuminations - I hope they really enjoyed it too!!

 

[Elevationist]

Hahaha - my brain knows that rides are safe, built to account for arm raising, and no one has been ejected from a Disney ride. But my hands won't listen, and resume death grip stance, just in case! (Also why I haven't been able to ride Splash ever - where are the locations for the death grip?!?)

I just hate when people raise their arms because they usual block the face of the person behind them in the ride photo. Our Tower of Terror photo has some dumb broad hand blocking Mark's face, which is a shame because from what tiny sliver of the side of it you can see, it's clear he had a huge smile and was having a great time. It would have been an awesome photo if not for the stupid arm-raiser in front of us! And in our Splash Mountain photo, he and I weren't blocked, but I noticed that child in the front of us got their face blocked by the arm-raising fool in the row in front of them. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOCK THIS OFF. It upsets me. Clearly. But on Everest, it looks like the angle makes it so people can raise their arms without blocking the face of the person behind them in the photo. This makes me happy.

And that is money well spent!

It certainly was!

This is a great picture! Your hair was apparently saving itself for the sexy Epcot picture!

Pffft, it looks awful here, too! You're too kind!

Double yay, for some pixie dust and Illuminations! I'm glad you forced them into some serious Disney magic. And glad you got to get in your rides after!

Yes! I WILL FORCE THE MAGIC UPON THEM, BY GAWD!

This had me cracking up! That was some major pixie dust you got there!

I sure did! God bless those elderly darlings!

Great update! I can't believe it's your last night already! Vacations (and their accompanying TR's) fly by way too fast!

I know! I'm going to do one more post and wrap this TR up this week! Maybe even today, if time allows!

Oh, good. You got the joke. And that means you have a dirty mind.

That is some awesome pixie dust

It really really was!

How wonderful that you got a great spot for illuminations and I'm so pleased your Aunt and Uncle stayed to watch

Yes, I was very happy they stayed, too! I hated for them to miss another magical moment! Those those, to me, and part of what makes all the walking and the hurt feet and the tiredness worthwhile!

What a lovely way to spend your last evening, just zooming around riding all your favourites

Yaaaassss! It was delightful. If I ever do Disney with them again, now I'll know their traveling style better, and will plan for them to head back to the room after dinner most nights, while I go have me some solo time!

So sorry about yours and your Aunts legs, I hope they healed quickly.

They did! A week or two after she got home, Debby's legs were back to normal. It took a few days for my legs to deflate, and the toe thing is still weird. I've gotten feeling back on the right side of it, but not the left. My doctor says it's fine, though. So weird!

Yay awesome viewing, boo end of trip! Yay pixie dust .

Pixie dust is the BEST!

Rofl! Disney hair is awesome, dude

Disney hair is NOT awesome! How dare you!

Sweet! For some reason I couldn't get my iPad to copy and paste the pic of you on EE but the little girl in the row in fron of you looks like she's terrified!!!

LOL And not even a screaming terror, but a frozen stiff, blank expression, terror! Poor thing!

I so admire you ability of spontaneous ECV nappage. Nothing like getting woken up by a falcon buzzing your head, yo!

I can't sleep worth a dang at night, but during the day, I can sleep LITERALLY anywhere. I actually found out recently that I have something called Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, and have since I was a little girl. I'm now working with a sleep specialist to try to correct it, but so far, no changes!

Score! Does your Landry's card get you preferred access or something?

It sure does! You get priority seating! BAM!

I can't believe they were about to bow out on Illuminations. Good for you for convincing them to stay.

Yes! I wasn't letting them run off this time, dangit!

Now that is some Disney Magic How sweet of him to do that for you!

Totally! He made my night for reals!

Solo time!

AWWW YEAAAAUUHH!!!

That is my nightmare! I cannot stand birds, but my SIL deeply loved Flights of Wonder and begged us to go. I conceded, but only if we sat in the back row all the way to the right (and not in the bleachers because I knew they would send birds up there). It was a great show, but still... (Shudder).

You poor thing! I don't love 'em but I don't hate 'em. My aunt, however, loves them, so I knew she would enjoy it. The falcon buzzing me just amused me more than anything else.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

So you get the joke! You have a dirty mind, too!

That is a great tote! I love the colors!

Me too! I just love it, it's so pretty! I think it was something like $20? Maybe $25? It was a steal!

I was nervous about the shared tables, especially since we were looking forward to adult beverages at Biergarten. We were sat with a family of 4 (mom, dad, and nine year old twin boys). The boys loved my husband and one of them drew a napkin picture for him. It's still on our fridge!

Awww, that's so nice!

I love solutions-oriented CMs!!! Sounds like that was the theme of the rest of your night, minus final Photopass guy. That is a good picture of you, despite the rando in the background.

It's a WEIRD photo of me, but it's fine, I'll take it.

Love that the decorations are done to reflect AK.

Me too! That's exactly what I wanted to capture in the photo!

Nice bag. Another great gym motivator.

It really is! Not gonna lie, I love having a reason to pack it and carrying it to work 3 days a week!

Finally! Great pics by the way

Thanks!!!

Another great group shot!

It's okay!!!

That's too bad.

Can't wait to try this out myself.

Me either! Karamel Kuche is getting in the MUST MUST MUST DO column for October, even if that means sucking it up and standing in the 12-mile line!

LOVE THIS!!!!!

How wonderful that you got Mark and Debby to join you for this.

Yes!!! It all worked out so perfectly!!!

Thought I'd head off the "romantic" commentary before it even started.

Had to stop reading to look this up. YIKES!!!!! Good thing you knew what it was and were able to let Debby know.

It's CRAZY looking, right?!

Sounds like an awesome last full day.

It really was!

Sounds like your park experiences were awesome!! I am glad you were able to convince everyone to stay for Illuminations - and that you got such awesome treatment from the CM So awesome!

Yes! Everything worked out so well! Hooray for pixie dust!

Love the tiara picture too - so much attitude (in an awesome way)

I had my sassy pants on!

Never heard of Disney rash, but now I'm a bit terrified - it reminds me of the time that my father-in-law got the chemicals wrong in his hot tub and we all ended up with a yucky rash. Not fun at all :/

If you've never gotten it before, you're probably safe. It seems like some folks are prone to is while others aren't for some reason.

And sad the trip is almost over - but you're getting closer and closer to October!

One more update and this TR will be wrapped up! Just a little over 8 months until the next one!

Really enjoyed your report!

Thank you! I'm so glad!

There's always time for one last omelet.

That's what I'm saying!

Didn't feel like getting wet?

You're probably right!

That's totally how I was like at the podium too, girl.

You too get the joke, therefore you also have a dirty mind!

Florida. It's hell on the hair.

It sure enough is, good lawd!

I hate it when that happens. I bought a Christmas ornament in April that I couldn't find when it was time to put it on the tree this Christmas. I found it when I was putting everything away after the holiday. Oh, well. Next year. I hope you find your hair clip.

DOH! That sucks about your ornament misplacement! At least it will seem all shiny and new next year!

Show that scooter who's boss, Billie!

I made it bend to my mighty will!

Crazy talk

I thought of you when I was writing the line about how much I like the bats. You poor thing. It's good then that they give you the option to walk right on by them! (I'm like that with any kind of spider or insect exhibit. CANNOT HANDLE IT.)

Aww, that's a shame. it really is a fun show. Hopefully you get to see it on a future trip.

I saw enough of it to get the gist of it! It was cute with the back and forth with the two actors/handlers. I'm sure I'll catch it again someday!

So glad that they stayed for the show!

Yes, me too!!

Great trip report. Just found it, but I enjoyed following along

I'm so glad you're enjoying my ramblings!

Nice update! Great that your aunt and uncle stayed for Illuminations, that's such a great show, we missed it on our last trip, our 1st Epcot day we were so tired after our fairly late dinner and were ready to go back to the room at about 8:30-8:45 and for some reason it wasn't showing until 10p that night. Our 2nd E night we were eating dinner in Via Napoli while the show was going. (that dinner took a LONG time, service was So slow)

In October, I'll be in Epcot on two nights, on one of them I'm booking a late ADR at Tutto Italia, so I'll miss the show that night. I'll definitely catch it the other night, though... it was the first thing at Disney to ever bring tears to my eyes, so it holds a special place in my heart!

Sorry you are having so much trouble with your scooter, glad the CM's in the store let you plug in while you were on the ride.

Yes, they were SUPER nice and helpful!

I can sympathize some with your and your Aunt's aches and pains. Our trip in 2010 was my first trip in 6 years and oh wow I was in serious pain most of the time, my back, my hips, feet, you name it. Not used to all that walking and out of shape. Our next 2 I was ok except my feet, a lot of foot pain, normal pain from walking and then blisters too. (2011 I had 2 blisters when we got there because I walked around a festival at home the day before we left)

Gosh, I can't imagine STARTING a Disney trip with blisters! I would have been going through moleskin like crazy, I'm sure!

In general looks like you had a pretty good trip. Sorry to see it come to an end!! (as I'm sure you were) At least you have another one to look forward to!!! And at least you did manage to convince them to stay for Illuminations - I hope they really enjoyed it too!!

It turned out to be a pretty great final night!

 

[Elevationist]

DAY 8
December 11th, 2015 - Friday
Departure Day & Trip Report Wrap-Up

BOO! NO! IT'S OVER! I DON'T WANNA GO HOME! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!

That's pretty much how I woke that morning. But that's how it goes for me on the departure day of every Disney trip!

I drug myself out of bed and checked on Mark and Debby to make sure they were up and on-time, as we did have one last yummy breakfast to attend. I always book one for departure day. Just waking up and checking out of the hotel and getting in the car and driving home is just too cruel. I have to slowly eeeease my way out of the Disney bubble!

So we got all packed up and the car loaded and my scooter turned in, and waved goodbye to Art of Animation. It was a LOVELY stay, and I'm so glad that I got to experience it!

Where was our breakfast that morning you ask? Those of you who have followed my last few trip reports might have guessed. It's the one place that I've hit on every single trip for the last 13 years. It's tradition! And I do love it so...

Yessir! It was time to get my Boma on this morning!

We arrived a bit early, so we looked around in Animal Kingdom Lodge's gift shop for a while. Just as I was about to go grab my aunt and tell her we could probably go down and check-in at the restaurant, I heard a lady near me say "Billie?"

I turned and sad "Yes?" and she smiled bright and explained that she recognized me from the DisBoards! Which has NEVER happened! It was Beth, aka @emmaca , who happens to be the mama of Lessa, aka @Lifelong_Dreamer ! SAY WHAAAAAAT! I was so excited! My first DisMeet! I hugged her, and we chatted about how our trips had been. She and her family were staying there at the Lodge, and it was just so neat to bump into her!

Not wanting to be late to check-in to our ADR, we said our good-byes, and I lead Mark and Debby downstairs to the podium. We got our pagers and had a seat, and where sitting there waiting when Beth found us again, and suggested we get a picture. And me, in all my tired-brain state was like "A picture? Of what?" And goes, "Of us!" And then it clicked in my head and was like "OMG YES LET'S DO THAT YOU'RE SO SMART I'M SO DUMB." Okay, I probably didn't say that outloud, but I was thinking it! So I handed Debby my phone and she snapped us, and I'm SO HAPPY that she did!

Isn't she ADORABLE? And so little! (Especially next to my tall self!) I'm just thrilled to have met you, Beth! And thank you for having the good sense I did not have that morning, and thinking to get a photo together!!

Also, I have no idea how I managed to get my bag all jacked around me like that. Usually it rests on my hip.

Shortly after our pager buzzed, and Mark and Debby and I were led to our table. Now of course, I wrote the most about the food over HERE on my Dining Report, but here I'll throw down a photo of my final plate of Mickey waffles of the trip...

God. So good. So carby. I'm thinking that in October, I'm going to have to find a way to have omelets and Mickey waffles EVERYDAY. Because it's seriously all I can think about!

During a seriously delicious breakfast, we reflected on the trip as a whole, and Mark and Debby seemed to have a great time. And that was really important to me, so it made me happy to feel like the trip had been a successful one! I drank my weight in POG juice. We ate and sighed and lingered. Finally it couldn't be avoided any longer... It was time to get on the road. We settled our bills and made the walk out to the car, got settled in, then said good bye to Walt Disney World (for now!).

************************************************************

So what's next for me? Well, I'll be back at Walt Disney World for a solo week, October 21-28, 2016! I would love for you all to join in the planning chats and random conversations on my PTR for that trip: Adulting is Hard, So I'm Running Away! - An Oct. 2016 PTR

After that, I'm hoping to attend the Princess Half-Marathon weekend in February 2017, and am training for the 5k already (I have a LONG way to go)! No PTR for that yet, but eventually there will be one!

That's it, ya'll! Thank you SO MUCH for helping me relive my memories of this crowded and crazy early December journey! I love you guys! Stay pantsless!

 

[Saphire5742]

BOO! NO! IT'S OVER! I DON'T WANNA GO HOME! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!

That's pretty much how I woke that morning. But that's how it goes for me on the departure day of every Disney trip!

It's tradition!

Couldn't help myself

I turned and sad "Yes?" and she smiled bright and explained that she recognized me from the DisBoards! Which has NEVER happened! It was Beth, aka @emmaca , who happens to be the mama of Lessa, aka @Lifelong_Dreamer ! SAY WHAAAAAAT! I was so excited! My first DisMeet! I hugged her, and we chatted about how our trips had been. She and her family were staying there at the Lodge, and it was just so neat to bump into her!

How WONDERFUL!!!!! Great pic!

Thank you for another great TR

 

[DisneyJo]

What a great way to spend your last morning and with a DIS meet no less I've met Lessa and her family and they're lovely aren't they

 

[Elevationist]

I KNOW! It's the WORST feeling!

Couldn't help myself

BAHAHAHA!!! Nice.

How WONDERFUL!!!!! Great pic!

It was such a surprise! And she was SO sweet!

Thank you for another great TR

Thank YOU for sticking around and chatting with me about it!

What a great way to spend your last morning and with a DIS meet no less I've met Lessa and her family and they're lovely aren't they

Sadly I only got to meet Beth, I've forgotten where she said Lessa was that morning! She was positively lovely though, yes!

 

[KathyM2]

he smiled bright and explained that she recognized me from the DisBoards! Which has NEVER happened!

How awesome!! A spontaneous Dismeet!! Love it!!

And of course your breakfast looked awesome and I loved reading your TR....I guess for a while I will have to be content with reading a Billie PTR lol

 

[SarahDisney]

Are ya'll tired of omelet pictures yet?

Do people get tired of omelet pictures? Omelet pictures are awesome! (I like omelets)

I like how Mark looks like "Da hell?" and I'm like "Whaddup, bro!"

That is the most accurate description of that picture ever. Seriously.

right up until a FALCON BUZZED THE TOP OF MY HEAD. Yeah, that'll wake ya up, lemme tell ya!

Just reading that freaked me out. Holy crappers.

Oh, and then there were fortune cookies. And this was mine. Make of it what you will.

...Naughty.

I dunno, I have one finger that does something else. I show it to people and they instantly know what I'm thinking.
But ... yeah. And now that you've said that I can't think anything else.

Mark and Debby got to talking to the parents a good bit towards the end of the meal. Me, however... I was just incredibly awkward.

That's pretty much exactly me at Disney. Beth makes all the friends, I kinda just stand there being awkward.

Finally the SUPER NICE elderly gentleman CM asked how many people I had with me, I explained it was just me and my aunt & uncle, and he said "You know what? Why don't ya'll just come right on in here?" And then invited us into into the COMPLETELY EMPTY roped-off section that he was was guarding! That's when he told me it was being reserved for the Candlelight Processional package people, and that the show would be letting out in a few minutes, but that Mark & Debby and I could go in and find us a spot before they arrived, since nobody could tell him where to send us for Accessible viewing! WHAT. OMG. AWESOME.

That is awesome!!!! Best seating experience ever!!

Once the Candlelight Processional let out, people started to trickle in my roped off area, and a guy came and stood next to me and started setting up a small tripod. He struck up a conversation, and we talked for a while. I can't remember his name now... Steve, maybe? Big Disney World fan, PodCast listener, etc. (Not a DISer, though... I asked!) He was recently divorced, and was there for his very first solo trip. And with me being a solo trip veteran, that gave us plenty to chat about. He was a nice dude, and it helped passed the half-hour or so until it was time for Illuminations!

Yay! Fun new friend story! New Disney friends kinda are awesome.

I love this picture! So beautiful!

Yessir! It was time to get my Boma on this morning!

Yay! It's Boma time!!

Isn't she ADORABLE? And so little! (Especially next to my tall self!) I'm just thrilled to have met you, Beth! And thank you for having the good sense I did not have that morning, and thinking to get a photo together!!

This is an awesome picture! Yay DISmeet!
But it also makes me nervous for our Princess race. Because when we stop for pictures, I'm going to look super short. I know I'm short, but I'm regular short, I only look super short next to tall people like you.
I guess I'll have to practice running (or fast walking) in heels...

During a seriously delicious breakfast, we reflected on the trip as a whole, and Mark and Debby seemed to have a great time. And that was really important to me, so it made me happy to feel like the trip had been a successful one!

YAY! I'm so excited that Mark and Debby had a good time!

Thanks for sharing your trip - I always love reading about The Adventures of Billie at Disney, even if this was a very different trip than your solo adventures. I'm looking forward to the continued fun on your PTR!