I am NOT doing a TR... TR Updated 6/25 About This Page:

[OhToodles!]

All caught up! Great updates and photos - especially of Fantasmic!

[Cheriemek]

Another great update !!!

[lauren-roxy]

Sounds like a great evening!!

[skateycat]

great photos, terri....how funny about the "give us a kiss" thing. ha haha...i can just picture chris now....

[DrDolphin]

Day 3 -

The morning began EARLY - earlier than I wanted it to -- but we were having breakfast with Princess Sharon and her court of Passporters! You've heard about the merriment - so here are my pics.


A sleepy Princess Vanessa with Aunty Lesley


My turn - its been awhile since DN and DN were this age!


Janine and Goofy


Mickey and Tanya


Janine and Minnie


Chris and Donald exchange high fives!


Safe in mom's arms - Minnie doesn't look too scary


The polkadot twins!

After breakfast, and paying our tab (I had forgotten to get cash - so we had to wait on credit cards.... ), we headed down to get in the car and drive to the Studios. I wanted to be mobile today since we had Chris' birthday dinner tonight and other goings on planned.

We ran into Cheryl, Wendy, Janine and Peggy all waiting for the bus to the studios. I offered up a ride in my car - which in all honesty really should only fit five adults, but we did stuff six in and it was a bit funny as we drove!!

After arriving at the studios and unloading all of us (our impression of a clown vehicle in the circus complete), we headed into the park right as park opening was going on. It was crowded and HOT!!! After they FINALLY got on with it - we headed back to TSM to get fast passes and meet the rest of the PPers for that morning's trivia quest.

Some photos from here on out are BORROWED from other wonderful PPers!!


Chris and I waiting for all the PPers to gather.

After everyone gathered - we headed for the Behind the Scenes show - and after they saw how many of us there were - they put us into the beginning of a new show. As we waited for that show - a CM came out and asked if there were any volunteers who wanted to participate. Now I have wanted to do this FOREVER and never had the nerve - or was traveling with others that would have had zero interest. One thing I love about DH2B - is he is pretty much up for anything - so I grabbed his hand - and yelled - "you've got two here" and headed behind that special door.

We were each assigned rolls to play and given our "costumes". DH2B was the CAPTAIN (not bad for a former Navy Man) - while I was a deckhand (a fact I am still reminded of today ).


Being given our directions

Waving to our adoring fans (please note how everyone else is paying attention and quietly moving along...)

Pointing at the planes!
Now when can I apply for my SAG card?

I WISH they would make a DVD of the "movie" as a souvenir for the actors - that would be too cool!!

We headed through the prop warehouse and out to the trams - Cindy took these great pics of Chris and I -



After the tram ride (with the pre-recorded voice - ugh), we decided to head to TSM using our fastpasses and then to our lunch at Brown Derby. I had a headache and think the sun and the heat were getting to me.


Here are the final TSM scores - I was player one and beat Chris again (I am 3-0).

Next - lunch at BD, resting, dinner at FF and Illuminations.

[Colexis Mom]

Great update! CM's looked like fun, and how cool to get picked for the show!! More please!!

[mousestruck]

Great update! You are both awesome sports to volunteer for the show. (I never volunteer, as I hate to be wet... I know, not very practical at WDW when it's 1000 degrees... but still...) What great photos you have of the two of you! Come back with more soon...

[Cam22]

Catching up with your TR, Terri! I the Mickey/Minnie snowglobe and the Prince Charming/Cinderella figures that might top your cake. I would love to see Fantasmic some day from that special event area as your pictures are so awesome.

[DrDolphin]

We walked to BD, and within five minutes were seated (Chris did notice that Bindie Irwin - as in the Crocodile Hunter - had been at BD for lunch a few months before and signed the special guest book). I didn't really take notes on lunch - I had the Cobb salad - as I always do here. Chris THINKS he had tuna (we are still working on TR memory tricks for him - of course taking PHOTOS of the food would have been the best TR memory trick for me... bad PPer Guide!). We did hear and see the Cheryl/Wendy/Sue/Angie/Karen and Steve contingent - but they were far away and we didn't yell across the place and say HI!!!

They did bring him a birthday treat -

and it was yummy - chocolate! Who can say no to chocolate?

After lunch we decided to head back to the room - I still had my headache. I thought a nice nap in a cool room might help. We also stopped at the front desk where I quietly inquired about a birthday card, balloons, SOMETHING for Chris - since I know TA had put on the ressie it was Chris' birthday (the CM gave him a birthday button when we'd checked in and wished him happy birthday). The Cm behind the desk made a comment that she would take care of it.

We went up to the room, turned off the light, fell asleep and 20 minutes later - there was a knock at the door - I got up and got it - a balloon bouquet and a card from Mickey and crew.... with a 20% off gift certificate for photopass (more on that later).

After about an hour or so, we got up and started getting ready for dinner. I had planned an evening at Flying Fish to celebrate Chris' birthday. We both REALLY like it and this is our third trip in as many WDW trips.

After we were dressed and presentable - we drove over to the Boardwalk, valeted the car, and checked in. They weren't quite ready yet - so while Chris was sitting inside, I feigned a trip to the restroom, headed back outside to the check in table and verified that the birthday cake I had ordered was on my reservation. The CM confirmed it was. I had beed worried since I had ordered it almost a month before, and they did not give me a confirmation number...SO - i was relieved that it was there.

I snuck back into Seashore Sweets, and then into Flying Fish - right as the buzzer went off (whew!!). We were seated at a table over in the corner, near the windows. They had made special menus for Chris.


We clean up pretty nice!

personalized menus - now if only I was a scrapbooker!!

I started with the tuna tartare with asian influeces (a personal favorite)


Chris had the artisinal cheese plate (he is a big cheese fan - the stinkier the better).


We both had the mahi special - it sounded too good to pass up.


After our dinner entrees, the server came over and asked if we wanted dessert. I mentioned there should be a NOTE on the reservation... he looked at me like I had two heads. Now the last thing I wanted to say was "go and get his birthday cake, its in back" - but I almost had to do that. I suggested that the CM go reread the reservation notes... he looked at me weird, said ok and left.

About five minues later - he came back, with a gaggle of CMs and a manager in tow to sing happy birthday to Chris - and he was carrying the birthday cake!!

We each had a slice, and the boxed up the rest for us to take back to the room. One small problem - they did not have a bag large enough to carry the box in - so we ended up carrying the box by itself into EPCOT for Illuminations (I wanted Chris' birthday to end with a BANG - but had forgotten the cake in the equation).

We entered EPCOT at the International Gateway. The Security Cm did ask if we'd brought enough cake to share... and then we took a few photopass pics -


We finally settled in and found a pretty nice spot along the railing between the UK and France. I was thirsty - and headed to the UK to get something to drink - leaving Chris to hold down the fort (and the cake).

*** ok minor rants coming***
#1 - When you decide to plant your rear on a staircase and spreadout - leaving no foot path at all - do not complain when people trip and fall on you while trying to navigate the STAIRCASE. Its not bleachers - its stairs. As you can probably guess - I tripped over a guy, lounging on the stairs and he complained loudly about watching what I was doing. It was dark and he was underfoot (literally). I apologized and he kept at it - so I finally said - "if you don't like being stepped on, don't sit on the stairs", and walked off.

#2 - Illuminations was a wee bit delayed due to technical issues, and I walked into the Rose and Crown right at 9pm and asked for a coke, I was told - "sorry we are closed" - and then I asked - "where can I get a coke" - "no where, everything is closed". Now in the MK - everything does not close right at closing time, they stay open to sell things and MAKE MONEY. I pointed out that due to the delay in Illuminations, the bar could actually be increasing its profits this evening by serving the HOT, TIRED and THIRSTY EPCOT guests. The CM rolled his eyes at me and pushed a plastic cup of coke across the bar. When I tried to pay for it - he said again "we are closed." I thanked him anyway and headed back to the viewing area to find Chris.

About 10 minutes after I got back, Illuminations started. I actually didn't take any photos. I was tired, hot, cranky and irritated (stair man and no soda man had danced on my last nerve). I did notice that for part of the show - two of the fountains were not lit up - and saw a boat racing around in the middle of the pyrotecnics to get them "rebooted". All appeared to be better by the middle of the show.

After Illumincations ended, we walked back to the Boardwalk, claimed the car, drove back to the CR and headed right to bed.

[Cam22]

What a lovely dinner at Flying Fish! about the cranky man and no coke CM.

[chezp]

Great updates. Lovely photos from the evening.

I've often thought the same thing about Epcot closing their food and drinks outlets so quickly at park closing time - maybe there's something in their licence? I just don't get that... :

[lauren-roxy]

Sounds like a lovely birthday for Chris, despite the couple of cranky people. YOur meal at Flying Fish really looked delicious!!

[wheatenwalker]

Aww, sounds like a great bday for Chris

[mcc0313]

Looks like Chris had a great birthday - your meal looked great

[Hugmonster]

Sounds like a great Bday for Chris. You are going to have problems topping this.