Joan's Big Trip Surprise - updated 7/21 with both Parts I and II About This Page:

[poohsgirl]

<font color="purple"> Joan, this is absolutely hysterical to read!
I can't get the image of the taco bed out of my head!

Can't wait for more!</font>

[disneymom9092]

Joan, I know it has been said MANY times but you are too funny! I am so enjoying this!

[lauren-roxy]

Joan, I just got all caught up and you are just too funny!! I can't wait for more!!!

[krisk11]

Joan - I got little done in work yesterday afternoon because I read your trip report from start to finish (all 16 pages). It is one of the best trip reports I have ever read and definately puts mine to shame. I will try to do better next time.

[mitchg]

[ QUOTE ]
Joan, I just got all caught up and you are just too funny!! I can't wait for more!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

[JoanW]

I've been working on the next day all this week. It was a really long day for us, and the photos are taking me a long time. I may have to split the day into two parts.

[krisk11]

Please hurry!!!!!

[dsnytina]

Hurry back - we miss your humor!

[JoanW]

Friday, June 17, Part I Surprise Morning

I told everyone the night before to sleep in a little. We are separating the boys from the girls for the Surprise Day, at least for the morning portion.

I got up around 7:30 and made coffee. I got dressed and had a South Beach Diet peanut butter bar and a cup of coffee. Oh yum, cardboard and peanut butter. This is to make up for the amount of bread and potatoes I have mass consumed this week. Slowly the rest of the group started moving. I noticed we were losing speed as the week goes on. This will be a good day to take it easy. Once I mention shopping and I have money, the girls are dressed and ready to go by 9:30 am, a land speed record. It’s a little overcast and very humid. Rachel called shotgun for the ride there. Camille called it for the ride home. Grace had her Ipod and didn’t care.

I gather my brochures and maps and a list of outlets I got from Passporter WillCAD. The girls and I are in search of bargains. We decide on three goals for today. One is the Lake Buena Vista Outlets, which turns out to be only a few minutes from the house. The second is to hit Wal-Mart Supercenter for a few of their Disney souvenirs and to visit their photo center. The third and final goal of the day is Chili’s for Shanghai Boneless Chicken Wings, as recommended by Passporter Annabel.

The girls and I take the Windstar and head out into Kissimmee. First stop, Lake Buena Vista Outlets. But first, we must find a restroom for Rachel. We are not even ten minutes from the house and she has to go. She has TBS (Tiny Bladder Syndrome) with a side of HTCOTB (Has to Check Out the Bathrooms). We find the restrooms at the outlets and we are good to go.

We hit the Disney Outlet first, and gather up some good deals. I got a Castle candle topper for myself for $5; Grace found a t-shirt and a Castle coffee mug. Camille got the same candle topper for her future mother in law and a golf type shirt for her future father in law. Rachel got some junky souvenirs. I don’t even think they were Disney items. This outlet takes Disney Dollars, so I am happy that my cash was not spent. It started pouring outside, but passed over us before it was time to head out the door and became more humid, if that was possible. We walked over to the Vanity Fair Outlet. I like this store because whatever the price tag says, take half off. We have Vanity Fair at home, so I always find bargains here. The kids hit the Old Navy outlet too, but I don’t care for their clothes as much as the girls do. They found some tote bags and flip flops for a steal. We certainly needed to add to the flip-flop collection. I think each one has about 15 pairs, in a variety of colors and embellishments (I’ve watched too much HGTV and DIY channel, I know what embellishments are now!)

We decided to go to the Wal-Mart Supercenter, and spent too much time in there. Flip flops we saw in Disney for $15 were only $7 at WSC. Exact same flip-flops too. Grace got some Tink ones. Make her total 17 pairs of flip-flops now. I got more sunscreen and Camille got a disk for her camera. It’s now 12:30, and we are hungry.

We headed over to Chili’s on 192 right before Poinciana Boulevard. It was not crowded at all, and after we ordered our Diet Cokes, we started with the Shanghai Boneless Chicken Wings, along Lettuce Wraps for Camille. I thought we took a picture of them, but I can’t find it among the thousands of photos we took with four digital cameras between us. Verdict: they were delicious. We all devoured them. I will get them again, and we might go to the Chili’s in Annapolis next week to make sure they are just as good. Good advice Annabel! We also had big salads, such as the Grilled Caribbean and the dang Quesadilla Explosion for Grace (Napoleon Dynamite). I can’t remember what salad Rachel had .

As for the boys, Pat and I had decided months ago to treat them to the Richard Petty Driving Experience. For Pat, it was kind of a “Male Bonding Experience” with his “Future Son in Law with Many Tattoos” and the “Child of Ex-wife with Many Ex-husbands” (kind of their Dances with Wolves names). Marco was not old enough to do the “Drive” (must be older than 18, and he is 16) and can only do a Ride Along, so to be fair to all, that’s what they both did.

Pat did not tell them where they were headed after we left that morning. Neil drove the Impala, with Marco riding shotgun. He called it. Pat was in the back seat, with his camera to get their reactions when they pulled in. The Richard Petty Experience is over by Magic Kingdom. As they were getting closer, Pat kept telling them keep to the left. Finally it dawned on them as they were right in front what they were up for.

Pat explained about the age requirements. He did try and get Neil upgraded to the Driving Experience, but reservations are needed for that, but not for the Ride Along. They had to suit up in the official clothing and put helmets on.


They take photos of you in the car.

Neil said he felt a little queasy going around and around, really fast. He was too excited to hurl. Marco could hardly speak.

They were probably done by noon and were napping when we got back. We came in and there was large male snoring going on. I checked on Pat, who was enjoying the flatness of our bed, resting his eyelids, and snoring loud enough to make waves in the pool. Neil was in his room, equally snoring, mouth open, comforter around his head. Marco must have been playing a little Stuntman, and had to rest on the sofa. So naturally, the quiet sweet girls woke them up by yelling “Room Service”. How cruel. No manicotti for you!

They all jumped up and both Neil and Marco came over to me and gave me big hugs and “we’re not worthy” (Wayne’s World), and “you are the woman” for arranging the Richard Petty Experience. They both said that the Swim with the Dolphins on the cruise was awesome, but this topped it all. They mentioned NASCAR words and names that I am clueless about, car names, car speed, engine things, and whatever. Male Magic Kingdom. Testosterone Wonderland. They both got plaques with the Richard Petty Driving Experience logo on it with their photos. They did look really cool.



After we looked at the photos Pat took, I gave everyone the 15-minute warning that I wanted to get to Epcot. We had a PS at Biergarten for 5:40 and it was already 3:30. We all got in the van and headed on up the road. If we only had Satellite Radio in the van, I could have found a polka station to prepare us for our evening entertainment! Yawol!

We parked the car and actually walked into Epcot. No Fun Tram Ride this time. Like I wanted more walking and exercise. Geesh. I’m on vacay. I want a twenty-foot ride on the Fun Tram!

Pat went ahead and got us Fastpasses for Test Track for after dinner. We checked at Soarin, but no way. The standby wait was more than 80 minutes. We’ll try again tomorrow. We meandered around and started heading towards Germany. For me, Epcot is the perfect reason for coming back over and over. So much to see, not enough hours in a day or week. So many things to taste and smell. All those bread products calling my name.

We stopped along the way and Rachel spied the Chinese parasols. “Oh I can hang this in my room”, “I won’t use it as a weapon”, and “I won’t open and close it 1000 times”. I had painful visions of getting it home to Maryland intact. I mentioned the RNR drumsticks and mini drum, the ears with the princess veil, and other tsotchky stuff we’ve purchased over the week. She gave me the sad Rachel face. So I told her we’d be back tomorrow for the rest of Epcot, and “perhaps” we could think about it for tomorrow. I bought myself some time. She only mentioned it 50 or 60 more times the rest of the evening.

[crystalloubear]

I heard the voice of the soup nazi from Seinfeld saying - "No Manicotti for you!"
Another great update - keep it coming

[DawnDenise]

Another wonderful update Joan!!! More please!!!

[lauren-roxy]

Thanks for the update Joan!! I was so excited to see an update, and it didn't disappoint!!! You are just to funny, I want to go on a trip with you!!! Can't wait for more!!!!

[DrDolphin]

As usual - you are HILARIOUS.... You should So write!!! This is too funny. More - please.

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update Joan Can't wait to hear what antics come about at dinner

[luv2sail]

Another great one Joan! Keep em coming!!!