Smokin’ Hot Fun with the CLQ and the Louisiana Crew Updated 10/5 COMPLETE! About This Page:

[mousestruck]

Just catching up, Jill. Those pics are just precious! Your girls really are adorable.

[JoanW]

Oh boy Maddie sure looks like you and Mary Devall looks like Thom. But cuter.

[Jillybean]

Saturday, June 6 Day Three

Thankfully we had nowhere to be this morning because this was the first of many “sleep in” mornings for the Koenigs. Breakfast consisted of doughnuts and the donated pancakes and toast from Monica. We rarely eat breakfast in our room (even when staying in a villa), so this was a nice change of pace for us to stay put. Since Thom had missed the big “reveal” the night before, Mary Devall and I filled him in on all of the excitement. I think that the crazy ladies never cease to amaze him.

Our big plans for the day were to meet up with Karen and Zack (and now Sharon ) at DHS for lunch at Sci Fi. About 11:30, we caught a boat headed to DHS and once again, it rained while we were on the boat and then quit as soon as we got there. We high tailed it to Sci Fi where we immediately saw Karen outside of the book store. I had just seen her less than two months ago, but I think I squished her as if it had been years! It was so good to see that beautiful face again!

After a round of hugs, she led us into the book store where Zack and Sharon were waiting. Mary Devall has a built-in homing signal for Zack so she immediately made a beeline for him. And Thom was finally able to see our surprise guest, Sharon!

We were still chatting away when our name was called and we were led to the very front row - - a first for us! Zack sat up front with the girls, Karen and Sharon took the middle row and Thom and I were the hitchhikers (so that we could neck in the back row, per Karen ).

As usual, I ordered my ginormous Space Invaders margarita (delicious and economical ) while the rest of the adults went with a Space Monkey. For my entrée, I went totally “out of the box” and went for the Double Dip For Two - Spinach and Artichoke Dip and our Seven-Bean Chili with Corn Tortilla Chips for dipping. I’m pretty sure that everyone else went with the regulatory cheeseburgers. Of course, I have zero idea of what my children ate because they were far away from me in the front row gazing longingly at Zack.

While we waited for our food, Karen disappeared from our “car” and then, moments after her return, our server mysteriously approached our table with three gift bags from the big cheese himself, Mickey Mouse! The girls were absolutely blown away because their bags were each bedazzled with their names on them and contained tons of goodies including gummies, goldfish crackers, a blow up alien, and a cool card with that day’s message. Karen . . . um . . . I mean Mickey . . . had outdone her . . . um . . . I mean himself!!!

The card from Day One!



When Zack compared what was in his bag as compared to the girls, he questioned why he didn’t get something that the girls did (I think the green blow up alien). Before Karen could answer that Mickey probably thought he was too old for it, our server responded in her best “you want a piece of me?” voice “Do you need to see Mickey?” It was hilarious!

This meal was such a great way to start our trip with Zack, Karen and Sharon! Lots of laughing and chatting, good food and good drinks . . . it just doesn’t get any better (well . . . true perfection would have included Eileen being there too ).

After lunch, Thom, Mary Devall and Zack went next door to ride Star Tours while the rest of us hung out in the area checking out the Star Wars characters and the tourists dressed like Star Wars characters. Maddie was just hanging out in her stroller holding her green alien from her gift bag when one of the alien band members (don’t even ask me his name because although I have seen Star Wars I only know the major characters ) came up to play with it. He then took it, walked away with it and showed it off to the other band members like it was an old friend of theirs (as in . . . “Larry, how you been, bro?” ). Oh my gosh, it was so funny! Once the alien had been properly reunited with its people, the band member brought it back to Maddie and then gave her a kiss. I was waiting for Maddie to blow a gasket since he looked pretty scary, but it didn’t seem to phase her.

When Thom, Mary Devall and Zack returned from their ST adventure, it was evident that Zack was worn slap dab out. We said our with plans to hook up later at Epcot and then took off for Sunset Blvd. for a little “tennis shoe test.”

Thom had packed Mary Devall’s tennis shoes in the backpack so that we could try the RnRC height check with a little more lift. We stopped at a bench on Sunset Blvd. and had her switch out her trusty flip flops for the dreaded tennis shoes (she abhors wearing tennis shoes but was willing to do so for this purpose ).

As we approached the height check, I knew that Mary Devall was a bit ambivalent about the outcome. She longed to conquer the height check, but at the same time, she was still was a little leery about riding RnRC. I’m pretty sure that she let out a little “whew” when a nearby CM informed us that her head actually had to hit the bar and not just barely touch it. The decision had been made for her - - RnRC would have to wait for another day.

Thom had been unable to ride his favorite ride yesterday, so I suggested that he ride while the girls and I ride TSMM. He quickly took me up on the offer and the girls and I were soon in the (thankfully) entertaining standby line. I’m pretty sure that we waited an hour because Maddie fell asleep on my shoulder about the same time that Mary Devall was picking out three pairs of 3D glasses for us.

As we neared the front of the line, I asked Mary Devall if she would be okay riding by herself and she gave me an emphatic “.” Hmmm . . . I wasn’t expecting that from the Single Rider Line Queen. Thankfully, the CM assigning rows assured me that all three of us could sit together.

I propped a sleeping Maddie between us thinking that she could continue snoozing while we played. Imagine my surprise when Maddie suddenly woke up, grabbed her glasses and tried to scoot me out of the way. She wanted me to switch places with her so that she could be behind a gun, but I informed her that we were locked in already. I quickly followed that up with a promise that she could shoot the gun while I positioned it for her.

The three of us had THE best time riding together and shooting like mad. Since I wasn’t worried with my own score, I was able to position Maddie’s gun for her and cheer both her and Mary Devall on. Both girls ended up with their best scores ever and I ended up with an experience infinitely better than trying for my own best score.

Thom was waiting for us outside of the ride, but the four of us only made it as far as the Toy Story gift shop. Ever since watching Toy Story 2 a few days before our departure, the girls and I had been kidding each other about who was going to buy what Toy Story character. I honestly was considering buying a Jessie doll for myself (yes really ) because that scene where her owner leaves her in a box to be donated just about kills me. Unfortunately, the Jessie doll was a bit too big, too plastic, and too expensive for me. And, alas, there was no Stinky Pete doll, so I left empty handed.

The girls, on the other hand, were able to find new fluffies after several minutes of intense shopping. Mary Devall went with a Cowboy Mickey while Maddie stayed true to the Toy Story theme with a Hamm pig - - although she refused to call him “Hamm.” She began with “Sweetie” which went to “Sweet Piggie” which finally became “Piggie.”

I had missed out on a shake at lunch, so my next stop was at Min and Bill’s for the thickest shake on property (or maybe even in the universe ). My little girls rarely let me snack without them so in addition to my vanilla shake I ordered a chocolate shake for Mary Devall and a frozen lemonade for Maddie. With treats in hand, we headed out DHS and hopped a boat back to BCV.

Up next . . . meeting my favorite lioness!

[Colexis Mom]

What a great time at DHS! Sorry Mary Devall wasn't tall enough for RnRC!!

[Minnie Lor]

What a wonderful update! Your meal at Sci-Fi along with friends and surprises sounds like alot of fun. I love how you managed TSMM.

[Luvsun]

Don't you just love that spinach and artichoke dip at Sci-Fi? I just love it!
Poor Zach...all tuckered out! Did Sha leave with Karen and Zach? I can't believe she didn't go ride her favorite ToT?
I am sorry that Mary Devall didn't get to ride RnRC....but I am sure by the time you guys go back again, she will be tall enough.
Your ride on TSMM sounds like great fun!

[mcc0313]

What a great lunch at the Sci-Fi with great company. Love how the waitress brought out the gift bags, those were such a cretive idea and I love the notes.

Sorry that Mary Devall did not hit the height requirement but I am sure that when she does next year she will be ready...

[OhToodles!]

A fantastic morning and afternoon at DHS! Glad you got to enjoy TSMM with the girls. And I the story about the girls (and Zach) getting their goodie bags!

[angiek1024]

Sounds like a great meal at Sci Fi. Love the bags with all the goodies! Sorry Mary Devall didn't get to ride RnRc but glad you all had such a great time on TSMM! Can't wait to hear more!

[disneydreamer33]

Love the goodie bags. They must of been really surprised. Nice surprise, Jill, Karen and Eileen. Very cute.
I am sure Mary Duvall will be able to ride next time and maybe she will be ready too!
Sci-Fi sounded great. I can't wait for Sept because we are trying it for the first time.

[bethf]

Great update! I loved all the photopass pictures of Maddie with the princesses!!!

[KandJluvdisney]

great update jill
glad you got to have a great meal with great friends
sorry that mary devall still can't reach rnrc
great time on tmmm
hurry back with more please

[vfair]

Wonderful update! I have still never tried a shake from Min & Bill's - gonna have to do that in a couple of months.

[mom2twingirlies]

Sounds like a really nice day.
How cool that the CM brought the gift bags and they played along.
What a great way to experience TSMM.

[PrincessSharon]

Lunch was a lot of fun (and I could go for a Space Monkey right now ). I headed back to WL for a nap (after hanging out at EMH and not getting to bed until nearly 2 a.m. and then getting up to surprise Karen at like 6, I was in need of a little nap). I wonder if Mary Devall will be able to ride RNRC on her next trip.