August and Everything After WDW - Trip Report - Thread 2 **Updated 11/1** COMPLETE About This Page:

[pamcarey]

Omigosh, what a fun installment with so much great character interaction!! I tried to get GG ressies in August, but we couldn't get in . We've never been there, and I wanted to go while they still had the characters.

Love the pics of Andy from your honeymoon trip!

[bethf]

Love the pictures of Andy with the characters, and I still can't figure out what Mickey was doing I've never gone on Ellen's Energy Adventure, but now I'll have to give it a try next time we are there. Can't wait to read more!

[MattUGA]

If you want a 45 minute break from the heat, Ellen's the place for you! I'd say you could sleep in there but the benches are slightly less comfortable than a triple layer of concrete.

[lindawdw]

What a great update Melissa! Loved the pictures of your GG lunch and the cute pics of a younger Andy Can't wait for more.

[mickeycrazy]

I am looking forward to trying GG for Thanksgiving! Looks like fun! Great update.

[MMMD]

Love the updates. Your pics are so cute.

[Disneyismylife]

You guys are hilarious! Looking forward to your next update!

[mestitch]

So I figure there's nothing better than a little digression from the TR to share a little mini-tr from this past weekend
Andy and I spent the night in uptown Charlotte Saturday night to go to the Charlotte Shout Festival. We went back in 2006 when I met Anthony Bourdain and this year Take Home Chef Curtis Stone was going to be there. We got there around 3, checked in at the Doubletree on the Johnson & Wales campus (they give you a fresh baked cookie when you check in ). The festival was set up right outside the hotel which was nice. There were around 14 restaurants with booths set up with food samples. There were also a couple different cooking demonstration booths, a Robert Mondavi wine area, a Grey Goose Martini tent, and then the main stage. We ate, and ate, and ate some more.
Some photos...

Andy and his tokens and the Johnson and Wales Cooking School in the background


Andy enjoyed a balsamic grilled artichoke with remoulade while I chowed down on a grilled peach that had been soaked in pinot grigio, topped with a goat cheese/honey mixture.


The peaches in action


One of the cooking demonstrations. That little boy down in the corner of the photo was cracking me up. Future chef in the making. He was watching EVERYTHING that guy did.


Andy had to try the homemade hummus
And then we happened to wander up towards the book signing area and Curtis was out way before his time to speak...


To end the night we watched his cooking demonstration. He was very good at keeping the audience entertained and really seemed to have a love for cooking and food. I was impressed


Okay, back to the regulary scheduled TR.......

[mestitch]

So we got back to POFQ after our morning at Epcot. I had been texting Eileen some photos that morning and realized my stupid cellphone was about to bite the dust and I didn't bring my charger b/c I have one in the car.... yeah, smart I know. So we got into our swimwear and headed out to the car. Since we were in the 6th furtherest away room our car was right there. We sat in the car and charged the phone for about 15 minutes just so it would have some juice when Brandi called later that night. Fun time right?
After it charged some we hit the pool for a bit. Then we came back and got ourselves ready to go to Epcot. We stopped by the lobby to do some more pin trading. I snagged that Buzz lightyear Stitch pin that I spotted the day before.
We caught the Epcot bus and man was it packed. By the time we got to the POR stops there was no more room on the bus. We had to leave people behind to wait for the next bus While we were sitting there I spotted this guy on the bus with his family. This is where my weirdness totally comes out So you know I'm a huge Who fan. And I have an old man crush on Roger Daltrey. Well, this guy TOTALLY looked like a younger Roger. I mean totally! I had to whisper it to Andy and he actually agreed. I mean this guy's profile, it was a perfect match. But when he talked and he didn't have that fabulous accent, well, it kinda ruined it. But I told Andy I was going to have to put it in the TR. I thought about snapping a point blank photo, but didn't have the nerve

We got to Epcot and met up with Brandi and Pom.

We watched the 6pm show and then afterwards headed into France. We had promised Pom we'd go watch the Frenchie movie since it wasn't open during EMH the night before. So that's just what we did. We'd never seen it before and I thought it was a nice relaxing thing to do. The music, however, drove me NUTS! I'm one of those that hears music in a movie once and anytime I hear it after I go crazy till I place it. Well, the music they use in that movie was so familiar to me but I couldn't place it. Even when I got home I searched online and all I could find was that it was used in the trailer for the new Brad Pitt movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons..YouTube - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button Trailer
I'm still not satisfied though. I know I KNOW that music from something else...

Anyway, yes I'm obsessive compulsive

.... some pics..

In the backity back of the theater

After the show Andy and I were hungry for dinner and wanted to get something from the Patisserie. Andy went to get Pom a banana smoothie since he's addicted to those like crack. I went and got our food. We both went for the ham and cheese croissant. I don't remember what we got for dessert but it's a must to get dessert there. I'm sure I got Andy something chocolatey and eclair like. I think I had something fruity, yes... I had the apple tart
We took our very full tray over to the UK to eat and get ready for the 8pm show. We had a great time sitting over there, causing trouble, telling tales and having fun with Brandi and Pom. Therefore there aren't many photos.... too busy laughing and talking.


After the show we had planned on catching the monorail to the MK for EMH. Brandi and Pom would have none of that and offered to drive us over to the TTC. We walked with them out Epcot's back door to their car. They had parked at the BC, which I have no problem with, especially since Pom has his chair. They dropped us off right at the front and pretty soon we were on the monorail to the MK. I'll be honest and say I don't remember too much more. I only took like 2 pictures..... and we were pooped! We cut through the stores as we usually do. Then we hopped on the Jungle Cruise before park closing. We were seated right up beside the skipper. He was funny but I could barely hear him!!! He cracked a few jokes with me to the side and I just had to nod and laugh b/c I couldn't hear a dang word. He could've called me a dumb bunny for all I knew. I just laughed and nodded along "yes, yes, I'm a dumb bunny, ha ha ha" We again had a fairly dead boat. So we played along and did all the stupid ducking down and moaned and groaned and his groaners (what we could hear of them). I just can't help but wonder if newbies ride that for the first time and are either A) confused B) offended or C)both
Right at the end the poor guy had his iPhone in his pocket and had pulled it out for some reason and dropped it He looked right at us and was like "that couldn't have been good"
After the JC we hopped on POTC b/c I don't think we rode it in May.
After Pirates we headed around and rode BTMRR. We didn't have a very long wait which was good. We then hopped in line for the HM. I remember it was lined all the way back to the Riverboat, but they weren't winding the line at all and we were in the stretching room in no time. I tried my darndest, but I didn't spot any real happy haunts in there. Next time I'll buy me an EVP recorder and take it with me and do some EVP work in the library Sheesh I watch too much Ghost Hunters.....

After the HM we made our way around towards Tomorrowland, through Fantasyland. We stopped off in Frontierland so Andy could make a potty break (which is highly unusual for him). I copped a squat on a rock wall thing and waited and people watched. I started thinking he'd been gone a long time so I started kind of looking around for him and what do I see? Him trying to sneak up behind me on the porch. HA, can't get me!

When we got to Tomorrowland we hopped on Buzz with the determination of finally hitting that sweet spot.....but alas, we still weren't victorious. I think we hopped in line again b/c there was no line, but I was so tired that after that we decided to head out. By the time we got to the bus I was ready to pass out. Soon enough we were back at the POFQ and in our comfy beds ready to rest up for our last full day tomorrow.
Here's the only two pics from the MK....

In line at the JC, and a crappy self shot on the boat at POTC.

Coming up: A wet and wild morning!

[MattUGA]

Great times! Oh I thought about you guys when I was watching The Office (U.S. version) on Thursday. When Michael tore up the Counting Crows concert tickets, I said oh I wouldn't stand for this. Neither would Andy and Melissa!!!

[mestitch]

Originally Posted by MattUGA

Great times! Oh I thought about you guys when I was watching The Office (U.S. version) on Thursday. When Michael tore up the Counting Crows concert tickets, I said oh I wouldn't stand for this. Neither would Andy and Melissa!!!

I have to tell you, we sat here on the couch like this when that happened. I mean first off, he tore up some dang good tickets and secondly, how stupid can that poor guy be!!!! That girl would so be all up in his business if he'd let her!!!!
(BTW, I heart Jim and Pam!) We've been watching The Office since it started and LOVE it!! Andy sometimes can't watch b/c he's so embarassed for poor Michael Steve Carell is the best!!!

[tinker_me_happy]

Ok... You TOTALLY got me distracted by that whole music thing..... Sounds a LITTLE bit Harry Potter-ish, but I'm wondering if he (Alexandre Desplat the composer) didn't use some of that in another piece you might have seen working in the media center? I can have my DH (musician and audio-post production engineer) listen to it to see if he recognized it! See... Now you've got me all crazy!

[tinker_me_happy]

Originally Posted by mestitch

One of the cooking demonstrations. That little boy down in the corner of the photo was cracking me up. Future chef in the making. He was watching EVERYTHING that guy did.

TOO CUTE!! He reminds me of my DS Evan! He was just like that! Now he is the one who cooks most of the time!

[wayneava81]

That kid in the cooking pic is so cute! Definitely a future chef! Great update!

[amandal]

Boy, where can I start . . . .
First and foremost - Curtis Stone is sooooooooo HOT me some Curtis Stone . . . .
Is Brandi wearing a David & Goliath "School makes bunny throw up" T-shirt?????? I need to have that immediately . . . . I have a hilarious one that says "I can tell your bag is fake" AWESOME!!!
Great update with the regular scheduled TR. You really did get alot accomplished despite the fact you were ridiculously tired towards the end. Good job!!

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