KeyCon 2014 Trip: Day #6

Hey guys!  It's been a busy few days around here.  I'm back to finish my trip recaps! They're almost done!!!  KeyCon Day 6 did not begin with a great start.  I woke up around 6:00 am and was pretty sick in the morning.  Thankfully, I got it out of my system and got a bit more sleep before I had to get up.  Of course, since it was my second to last day, I was then greeted with this less than joyful site.  Ugh.

I got moving and joined everyone at the Magic Kingdom for our Social Media Scavenger Hunt.  That's where my day started to turn for the better.  My stomach was still a little queasy but Linda and I were determined to have a good time.  The scavenger hunt wasn't about winning, it was about FUN!

We were given the Social Media Scavenger Hunt sheet and we were off!  Linda and I completed all of the Main Street questions and then made our way over to Adventureland. We met up with Greg and Ryan and sat with them while Greg and Linda ate their Dole Whips.  Then we headed towards Frontierland and Liberty Square.

The best part of the hunt was when we were in Fantasyland and we had to solve the Rapunzel riddle, "She watched the lights float up on her birthday!  Find her tower and snap a picture of her color-changing friend if you can find him."  I'd never looked for Pascal before and didn't even realize he was even hidden in the scene.  Linda and I had no idea what to look for, but after a few minutes of intense observation, we found him! Can you find him in our picture?  (Apparently, he's in a few locations around Rapunzel's Tower.  I can't wait to find more Pascals this January!)

We continued on to Tomorrowland and met the rest of our group at the end of the scavenger hunt.  We all had lots of fun!  After, we decided that we'd grab something for lunch and hang out in the park together.  We decided to go to Sleepy Hollow and caught the Celebrate street party on the way over.

When we got to Sleepy Hollow and I saw the menu, all thoughts of my sensitive stomach went out the window.  I was starving at this point, and I LOVE waffles.  I couldn't help myself when I saw the Nutella with Fruit Waffle.  It was delicious.  (I'm very grateful that my stomach also enjoyed it.)

Cheryl, Stacey, Ryan, Linda, Greg and I decided to head to the Hall of Presidents next. It's definitely a classic show and I don't see it every trip so I'm glad we went this time!

Afterwards, we got caught in a downpour right as we left the show.  The group decided to split up; I wanted to go back to Pop before getting together with the gang later in the day. I decided last minute to try to watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade.  The weather was questionable at best, and instead, I ended up seeing the Rain Parade.  I'd never seen it before so that was still alright with me!

After the rainy day parade, I slowly made my way back to Pop.  I stopped to watch a Magic Kingdom rabbit eating some food on the grass.  I walked through the Emporium and looked at a few more items I was planning to get.  Eventually, I made it back to Pop Century to rest up for that night.

When I got up, I went over to Epcot for some last minute shopping.  On the way into the park, I went on Spaceship Earth since there was no wait and I walked right onto the ride. I've never been on it by myself before, but I still had a lot of fun!

I went to MouseGears and grabbed the Food and Wine Festival merchandise I wanted.  I said my goodbyes to Epcot and hopped on the monorail over to the Transportation and Ticket Center and then switched over to go to the Contemporary Resort.

I've been inside the Contemporary Resort before, but I'd never been to Bay Lake Tower. Ryan has a DVC Membership and he offered to get a few of us into the private lounge at the top of the building.  I met Ryan, Greg and Linda in the lobby and we headed up to the Top of the World Lounge.  We enjoyed the modern architecture and design of the lounge, especially the really cool chandelier.  I was pretty excited when I opened the menu and found the two glowing drinks like Ohana had.  This time around, I ordered the Magical Star Cocktail.  It was delicious and changed colors!

The best part of the Top of the World Lounge was that we were able to go outside on the observation deck to watch Wishes.  We had a great view of the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella Castle.  The Wishes soundtrack was also piped into the speakers of the lounge and on the observation deck.  It was amazing.  

Ryan, Greg, Linda and I all marveled at how far back the fireworks are set off compared to Cinderella Castle.  None of us realized how far away they were.  It was cool to see the show from an angle.  It really makes you realize how complex designing a fireworks show is!  It was a great experience that I never expected to have.  I'm incredibly grateful that Ryan invited us to go with him.  It was the perfect way to end the last night of my KeyCon trip- surrounded by my new friends enjoying the magic of Disney.

After the show, Linda drove me back to Pop Century.  (Getting out of the car was less eventful this time since there were only four of us.)  I gave Linda, Ryan and Greg big hugs and we said our goodbyes.  I went to my room and called Eliot to talk since I was feeling lonely.  While on the phone with him, I ended up spotting a Pop Century rabbit and that cheered me up.  After I got off the phone with Eliot, I started to pack everything in my room so getting ready the next morning wouldn't be as difficult.  Then, I went to bed.  °o°

KeyCon 2014 Trip: Day #4

Sunday was the first "official" day of KeyCon events.  I got up and put my Olaf outfit on and headed over to Epcot where I'd meet the rest of the Key to the World agents!  We were having a team building activity- a photo scavenger hunt all around the World Showcase!  I love scavenger hunts!  

On the way over, I stopped to take a few pictures of the Food and Wine Festival displays and topiaries.  As I approached the World Showcase, I heard my name.  I turned around to find a group of KTTW management and agents right behind me!  I joined them and we stood in the shade in Great Britain while we waited for the World Showcase to open.  

Eventually, we met up with the entire group and gathered at the American Adventure to be assigned to our teams.  I was on Team Japan with Wanda, Stephanie and Shannon. Go Team Japan!!!  We had so much fun running around the World Showcase for two hours. We had to take pictures of all the Food and Wine Festival signs at the booths.  We also had to take pictures in front of certain landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, a phone booth, and the Totem Pole in Canada.

In addition, we had to act out some of the photos.  Some of my favorites poses were: wearing a warm hat, growling with lion statues, posing with a camel, viking pose with viking statue and holding beer steins.  (Note: The original PDF file of the scavenger hunt can be found to download at CarissaDesigns if you would like to do it for yourself!)

We finished the scavenger hunt in Mexico and Jeff bought a margarita for anyone who wanted one.  (At that point, I was so hot, sweaty and dehydrated that I passed.)  We hung out and cooled off for a bit inside.  When we finally split up, I went back to Pop Century to relax.  I'd been planning to go swimming in the pool at Pop Century and this was the perfect chance.  I was in the 1980's section so I was right next to the computer pool.  The pool wasn't that busy.  There was even enough room for me to do a few laps back and forth.  I mostly leaned against the side and enjoyed the sunny day and the cool water.  I brought Eeyore along in his swim trunks for a photo op.  

When I finished swimming, I took another shower and saw that I still had plenty of time before I had to leave for Ohana.  I worked a little more on the top secret KeyCon project and took progress photos so I could show Jeff and Heather at dinner.

I made my way to the Magic Kingdom bus waiting area.  I looked up a minute later and my Team Japan teammate Stephanie and her husband Patrick were also waiting for the bus.  They had dinner reservations for Ohana too!  It was nice to have someone to talk to on the way over.  Poor Patrick… Stephanie and I chatted pretty much the entire bus ride and monorail ride over to the Polynesian.  I'm incredibly grateful they were also going to Ohana since I had absolutely no idea where I was going.

When we arrived at Ohana, I wished Stephanie and Patrick a good dinner and I met the rest of the Key to the World crew over by the bar.  The girls had gotten some Lapu Lapu drinks and sat at the bar while we waited to be seated.  We took a few photos and I made sure to show Jeff and Heather the top secret project.  I was thrilled when I saw their expressions!  A few minutes later, we were heading in to be seated.  Heather and Jeff made reservations for their families to eat together at one table and for the "KeyCon singles" to have another one.  It was nice of them to make sure those of us who traveled alone still felt included.  We had a lot of fun!

I was really excited to eat at Ohana.  I'd heard awesome reviews and I was not disappointed.  I was even more ecstatic when I opened the menu and saw the Blue Glow-tini.  I had seen pictures of the glowing drinks online and I swore I'd find a way to order one this trip!  It was so yummy.  The meal was absolutely amazing.  I can't even begin to tell you how good it was.  (I'm dying to go back in January but I know Eliot and Jeremy won't go for it.  I'm debating kidnapping my parents, Nana and Papa though…) The lettuce wraps were so good.  Then they came out with the pork, and the steak, and the shrimp.  My taste buds were in overload.  It was especially delightful since I hadn't had a hardy meal the entire trip.

However, the best part of the entire meal was definitely the company.  Wanda, Linda, Tara, Ryan, Greg and I had a blast.  We were laughing so hard.  The waiter had fun with us too.  Linda asked him for corn on the cob, and he told her he'd have it by "next Wednesday."  The only corn she would be getting was the baby corn in the noodles. Then, our waiter told us a few silly jokes about Disney characters.  One was "what do you say to Simba to get him to move faster?"  "Mufasa."  We laughed pretty hard at those.  Finally, we enjoyed our bread pudding with the banana carmel sauce for dessert while watching Wishes off in the distance.

The most memorable part of the evening was the car ride home.  Linda drove to Walt Disney World so she had her SUV and offered to take Wanda and Tara back to Boardwalk, me to Pop Century and finally ending up at Port Orleans where she, Ryan and Greg were all staying.  We all agreed and thanked her.  I volunteered to sit in the back of her SUV, where there wasn't room for you to put your legs.  It took me a few minutes to get in, but once I was in there, I was ok.  (Or so I thought.)

Getting out… now that's another story.  My legs got cramped up and my right knee was locked up.  (It's nothing new; it happens often when you've had knee surgery.)  When we got to Boardwalk and dropped Wanda and Tara off, I planned to move to the back seat so I could easily hop out of the car at Pop.  Needless to say, it was incredibly entertaining and someone should have video taped it.  There were no doors in the back and I got myself (very) stuck on the way over her back seats.  Everyone got quite a chuckle when I stated "I'm 30 darn it!  Heck, I'm not even 30 yet!"  Eventually, I (not very gracefully) extricated myself from her car and landed on the pavement at Boardwalk.  Of course, I had to make fun of myself to lighten the moment and I declared "And she sticks the landing!"  (I should note that this in no way is a reaction from the drink I had earlier in the night.  This display of sheer grace would be the reason my mother calls me Gracie Lou.)

After a lot of laughs and bidding Wanda and Tara goodnight, Linda took me back to Pop Century and I went to finish the secret project.  When they were finished and I was happy with the result, I headed to bed to get some rest before our official KeyCon meeting!!!  °o°

Wedding Trip Recap- September 18, 2012

Tuesday morning we got up so we could try for get our marriage license take 2.  We also had to run a few errands at Wal-Mart, so both Elissa and my brother Jeremy decided to join us for the ride.  

The courthouse was open, thank goodness.  Even though there is no 3 day waiting period for people out of state, I still wanted to have that piece of paper in hand so I didn't need to worry about it!  Elissa came into the courthouse with us and took a few photos while Jeremy stayed in the car.  It was pretty unceremonious.  We filled out a piece of paper and then we signed our marriage license.  In Florida, the bride and groom have to sign it at the courthouse and then have the officiant sign it after the wedding and he sends it in.  (If I'd known this, I would have made a decorative marriage license to have our officiant, our maid of honor and best man sign that we could frame when we got back home.  Oh well!)

After the courthouse, we went over to Wal-Mart long enough for the boys to get haircuts and for Elissa and I to grab our list of last minute items.  Then we quickly drove back to Disney property so we could get a few wedding things crossed off our checklist before the rest of our guests arrived later on in the day.

Once we were back at Pop Century, everyone else was still out and about at the theme parks, so we took advantage of the quiet time and worked on more of the craft projects that we had to get done.  Elissa was huge help getting the bubbles out of their plastic wrap while I worked on my wedding shoes and glued shells onto my miniature sandcastle and our beach guest book pen holders.  

Eliot helped cut out some of the papers for our welcome folders while Elissa and I were busy.  Then the three of us stuffed the Cinderella welcome folders with park maps, times guides, Pop Century maps, invitations to a few wedding events, and our own custom made "guide map" with information about our wedding designed by Ever After Printables (who is now unfortunately closed).

We also had Eliot and Jeremy double check their tuxedos from Men's Warehouse to make sure that they fit them alright.  Eliot was being silly and decided to dance around our messy, project filled hotel room.  (I guess he was pretty excited to finally be getting married at Disney!)  They looked pretty good and I was relieved that they coordinated how we'd hoped that they would.  Another thing off the list!

My maid of honor and best friend Katie arrived mid-afternoon in the middle of our craft party and fearlessly went to work in her hotel room ironing the rhinestones onto our bachelorette party shirts.  I had found them by Bridal Bling on Etsy and I fell in love with the Disney font and Minnie Mouse ears on top!  They were perfect for us to wear.  When Katie was done making them, she even delivered them to all of my bridesmaids.  And she took pictures of all of them!  Katie's pretty fabulous!  (The fairy godmother one was for my Nana who is definitely Eliot's and my Fairy Godmother!) 

A few hours later, we had crossed a lot off of our to-do list and were getting ready to go to Downtown Disney with our wedding party for a Welcome Dinner.  We wanted to have a welcome dinner with our wedding party and a few family members so everyone could meet each other a few days before the wedding.  We had chosen to eat at the Rainforest Cafe since it's a favorite of Eliot's and myself, but also because we thought that everyone who hadn't been to one would enjoy the experience.  We had a great dinner and I even got to enjoy my favorite Rainforest drink, the green python!  Yum!

Afterwards, we were having our Bachelor and Bachelorette night.  Before leaving the Rainforest Cafe, Katie gave me my attire for the evening.  I got a Cinderella wedding play-set complete with a flower bridal crown and a big heart ring that just fit my little finger.  Of course, there was also a little bouquet so I was instructed that I had to hold on to it the entire night.  Between the Cinderella accessories and my rhinestone "Bride" shirt, there was no mistaking that I was a Disney Bride!

Eliot and I had decided to have a Bachelor/Bachelorette night together so that our wedding party and close friends would be comfortable with each other at our wedding.  Our friends came from all over the country so it was a good way for everyone to meet and have a good time together. Katie, Ryan (our best man) and BJ all were in charge of the plans for the evening.  They came up with a fun scavenger hunt idea to do in Downtown Disney so those who had limited days on their theme park tickets wouldn't have to use a whole day to only go in the parks for a few hours.

Katie read aloud the rules outside of the Rainforest Cafe.  We were split into teams, Team Tigger (the girls) vs Team Eeyore (the guys) and then we were off!  Team Tigger had a blast.  All of us girls were laughing so hard as we ran from one end of Downtown Disney to the other taking photos.  It was pretty funny when we ran by the guys a few times.  (There might have been a little good natured trash talk...)  In the end, we all had a lot of fun taking pictures of our scavenger hunt items, and Team Tigger won by one picture.  (Woo Team Tigger!!!)  I ended up winning a $25 Disney Gift Card, so that was pretty awesome!  I wasn't expecting a prize!

Afterwards, our large group headed back to the hotel since we knew that the next day was going to be super busy… and super early.  Only one more day between us and our wedding!  °o°