Two birthday girls - updated Nov 20 About This Page:

[LizardCop]

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Hey guys.... looks like I can only post updates from work - the laptop and AOL have decided dial up will not cooperate at the Navy Lodge - even though it worked fine my first night here - so when I get breaks, I will work on it.

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What are breaks and how do you get them???

Really enjoying the TR, and getting wore out at the same time. I thought I was busy then....

Here's an energy boost

[Nick and Ryans Mom]

Terri you are going to need another vacation. Just reading about trying to take this one is exhuausting!

[JoanW]

All that marathon training was really not for running, it was for your life! Can't wait to read more and I do hope you found time to sit in the deck chairs and enjoy yourselves! And drink of the day too!

[DrDolphin]

Lunch Break!!!



Saturday 25 Sept 2004



Cheryl woke up at 740am - which was a good thing or we would have missed our gym appt with my personal trainer.... Cheryl was being tested for baseline (I did this back in March) and I was being retested to see how I have progressed. After basically being a lump in the car for 18 hours of the previous 72, and eatting McDonals, etc - I was not all that keen about getting on the scale.



We arrived at the HIT Center @ 8am. Melissa took Cheryl to do all her testing - while Alicia redid my tests.Weight 0 218.6 - down from 225 in July!!! Another 7 lbs. Slow (really slow) and steady (no comment on working out and eatting since coming back to Ivan).. cardio fitness has improved leaps and bounds. I am very happy.



After the workout, we headed back to my house - took showers, finished laundry and packing. Emptied the trash, left money and instructions for the cat sitter, kissed the kitties goodbye, loaded up the car and locked the front door. The only thing remaining to do was go get my car from the lot at work and park it in my garage since it was parked under large oak trees and I was not comfortable leaving it there in light of Jeanne's pending arrival. We drove to the office, and after 30 minutes - Cheryl was following me home.



We hopped back in the rental car and headed to Wendy's for lunch ($6.08 each). The drive was easy and not crowded at all - we even went thought Orlando on I-4 instead of my usual go around of 417. We stopped in Daytona for bathroom breaks and drinks. I noticed how grey the sky was getting. I also started taping our trip at this point - great video commentary - now to figure out how to get snapshots from it or post a piece of it to the boards...



We arrived at the Hampton Inn Kissimmee West Gate around 3pm, checked in and headed to the Grand Floridian. While driving down - Cheryl had called Disney dining about options for meals the next couple of days. We got a PS for Narcoosees (New for us) for 630pm and then thought we could go back to MK to record Wishes on my new video camera. We also got a PS for the Japan pavillion tomorrow evening for dinner.



We arrived at the GF, valeted the car and were informed that Narcoossee's was closed - but 1900 Park Fare and Citricos were open and serving an identical "characterless" buffet. We decided we wanted something else and headed to Guest Services to see about options in the MK - Tony's Town Square was chosed since Cheryl has not eaten there before.



We rode the monorail over to MK and found out that the park (all the parks) would be closing at 7pm to prepare for Jeanne.



We took a great photo of us in front of the castle - and as soon as I get home and get access to a scanner - I plan to scan it and make it my new signature photo. We headed back to Tony's and had a really nice dinner. They were serving a combo lunch/dinner menu. We both ordered the Insalata alla Caprese (8.99), I also ordered the Fruitti di Mare "fruit of the sea" (22.49). For drinks - Cheryl had a diet coke, while I had the "Thats Amore Cooler" with special mug for $7.99 - Mine was Strawberry lemonande.



As we waited for our meals - The Dapper Dans came in and serenaded a newleywed couple with "Bella Notte". I videoed the event, and took photos. The Dapper Dans also did an encore of Cruella Deville - which Cheryl and I proceeded to sing the rest of the week!!! We could not get away from the song.





The Dapper Dans sing Cruella Deville



We rode all three of the mountains in less than an hour - as well as a couple of rounds with Zurg. We headed back to the hotel at 7pm and settled in to watch the Weather Channel. I think we went to sleep around 9pm.



Next - Jeanne arrives, carb heaven and I need protien!!!

[BritDisFan]

Oh my goodness Terri, you so need that cruise, I can't believe how much tooing and froing you had to do .

Karen

[DrDolphin]

Sunday - September 26 - Hurricane Jeanne Arrives

I have no photos from this day - I do have lots of video -- but no photos.

I actually need to add a bit to yesterday -- after we left Disney, we spent about an hour driving around trying to find a place to buy water and food for jeanne's arrival. I do not know why we did not do this BEFORE we went to MK - but we didn't.. live and learn. Nothing was open. After an hour of looking (and freaking Cheryl out - although she will never say that she was scared) - we went back to the hotel and went to sleep.

We woke up to a very windy, rainy and grey morning - Jeanne was in Kissimmee. I think we got up around 7am. Cheryl got dressed and headed down to the complimentary breakfast and loaded up on all the food she could get. Good thing to -we lost power right around 830am.

We spent all day in the room, sometimes with the door open, other times with it closed. We read bookw while sitting on the floor near the window, I wrote trip report notes, we talked to concerned family and friends.

At 6pm, the curfew for Kissimmee was lifted and we were desperate for non-carb type foods (we had eaten bagels, muffins, oranges, apples, english muffins, etc) and had drank 90% of the water we brought with us for the parks. We hopped in the rental car (hey - its a rental) and headed toward Disney - we knew we needed to be at the Poly at 900am to catch the bus and I wanted to check out the roads. There was one tree down between our hotel and 192, we made it around that and headed toward Disney. As we got close to EPCOT, I noted that Swan and Dolphin were lit up brightly -- and I said to Cheryl -- "They have power"!!

That was all she needed to hear, we headed there, got in the front door and looked for bathrooms and a place to eat. We settled on Kimonos. Great sushi!! I think we spend 2 hours sitting there - dragging out the meal since neither of us wanted to go back to that hot, dark hotel room.

After dinner, we shopped at the Swan shop for a few snacky foods and found a great frame for our MK photo.

Back to the dark Hampton Inn - where they had an emergency generator, but it was only for lighting - no AC -- and when we opened the window to allow in some air - the generator was so loud - there was no way you could sleep.

I think we went to bed around 9pm, there was no power and no lights - so I am clueless as to time.

Next - Poly, MK and the Wonder...

[Tara O'Hara]

Oh my gosh!! Your crusie had better be the most wonderful experience of your life!! You certainly need it!

[pparm]

And I think I need a vacation!!
Paula ºOº

[buckysmom]

This is so painful....I hope the cruise makes up for it...and soon!

[statelady01]

I am going to take a nap - you wore me out. More please.

[OffKilter_Lynn]

I'm exhausted just reading about your adventures!

Please tell me you had a wonderful time on the cruise?!?!

[luvnwdwgal]

Well I'm glad you're finally getting some Disney Magic! Too bad you weren't staying on property though. Looking forward to reading all about your cruise!!

[poohsgirl]

<font color="purple"> You sure do alot Terri! Man I'm pooped! I sure hope your cruise makes up for all the setbacks! </font>

[Big Baloo]

Sounds like you're going to need a vacation from your vacation! Can't wait to read more--

[DrDolphin]

OK - since I am stuck at a desk, waiting for the county administrator and traffic engineer to get back to me - here is part one of Sept 2 (ps - this was my birthday).

Sept 27, 2004 - Monday

We were up at daybreak since we had slept with the curtains open. We awoke to no power and a hot stuffy room. As quickly as possible, we packed up, checked out and headed to the car. The original plan had been to put one night on my credit card and one night on Cheryl's - but since we used hers to check in, and the computers were down, we had to leave the entire thing on her credit card.

After a wonderful dinner (and mind saving) last night - we opted to head for the swan again for breakfast - we headed to Fresh Mediterranean Market. They have an all you care to eat, made to order buffet. It was very very good. I had an egg white omlet, with green peppers, ham and cheese. I also had a full plate of fresh fruit. Breakfast was 16.95 plus tax and tip - no Disney Dining Exerpience Discount (I made notes each time we got the discount). We each paid $20.00 to cover tax and tip.

We hopped back in the car, and headed to the Polynesian to check in at DCL. After a joyous "Aloha" - and a happy sigh of relief walking into one of our favorite resorts, we drug our heavy heavy suitcases back to the DCl desk and checked in. The CM handed us an envelope with lunch vouchers, told us to check our bags out with baggage handling at the front of the resort and be back at 130pm..... HUH??? We were delayed to 130pm for our departure to Port Everglades - and we never did find out why. Needless to say - I am still annoyed.

For a company that usually does an EXCELLENT job communicating with its guest - Disney definately dropped the ball on this one...

So - we left the Poly, left the car there - checked the baggage and headed to MK on the monorail. While we were waiting for the monorail, I saw this couple wearing matching t-shirts saying they were celebrating thier honeymoon. Then I realized that this was the couple we had seen 2 days before at Tony's being serenaded. We starting talking with them - and I offered to copy the tape of the serenade for them as a wedding gift. I have thier mailing address - and as soon as I get home from Ivan work - I will make a copy of that portion of the tape and mail it to them. The bride was telling us that when they got engaged and started talking about honeymoon locations - it was not "where do you want to go" - but "which resort are we staying at?" There was never a question that they were honeymooning at WDW.

One side story - when we checked our baggage - the CM asked for our room number at the Poly. I told him we were not staying there and he gave me this very strange look. He said - "ok, I will just set these over here". Mind you - "over here" was no where near the other bags with "Wonder" luggage tags on them....

So all morning and afternoon we wondered if we would have bags when (and if) we got to the ship.

Next - another morning in MK, and lunch on Disney!