Saying Goodbye is Hard to Do

Monday 2.24.14

After such an epic day I was excited for something a little more low-key. I knew today was going to be tough.

I started off my day by sitting by the pool with Karen. It was so amazing to sit in the Happiest Place in the World and have a heart to heart with someone you love! Yes, Karen, I love you!

Afterwards I got back to the hotel and changed quick to meet Kristy and Anne for our version of the Last Supper. Kristy, my perfect twin, made reservations again at a place I had never tried! I love when she does this by the way haha

As we were checking in I had to take a photo of just about everything I saw. This spot to me was like a little hidden gem!

Of course a Cast Member talked me in to being IN the next photo of it!

We took a photo together <3 I still can't believe how lucky I am to have found not one, but two sisters on this vacation. <3

The decor inside just makes your jaw drop and your head tilt back. Disney did a good job with this one. It takes a lot to impress me now on property and I was truthfully blown away by the ambiance of the Tusker House.

We were seated and almost immediately Kristy and I needed to eat, we were starving! The food is set up similar to a marketplace, so inviting. I wish I had taken photos of each food station. Next time.

They had everything you could imagine here AND MORE. I couldn't NOT get biscuits and gravy. I mean it was staring at me.

They had Jasmine rice, blintz's, tatter tots, scrambled eggs, home fried potatoes, coffee cake. It was a carb heaven!

All the characters were walking around in their best safari gear. Daisy stopped by to say hi. Check out those lashes, girl!

Oh Donald!

Of course Goofy was there too!

And you can't have a party without the Main Mouse, Mickey!

Sadly, yet again I got stuffed very fast.

After we were done with breakfast we decided to go to MGM. Kristy and Anne had to make the Magical Express by like 2.30pm I think and we wanted to ride Tower of Terror before having to go back to Pop.

Kristy, my fabulous vacation Fast Pass Planner, told us we had a little time before we were dropped in a service elevator so we walked around Pixar Studios.

Yup...Saw another Green Army Man. And yes I did push my way in front of a child. I just needed a quick photo and they were going to ask for an autograph. It wasn't my proudest moment but it needed to be done.

And what is a trip down the Streets of America without Singing in the Rain?!

After our ride on Tower of Terror, which I laughed the whole way through. We got 'thirsty'.

Lucky for Kristy and Anne, I knew JUST the place!

THE HOLLYWOOD BROWN DERBY LOUNGE!

Citizens Take Flight- Margarita Flight: Mango, Classic, Pomegrante.

And some desserts they now offer at 3 for $9.. (I should have just gotten a ginormous slice of grapefruit cake)

And a girl can't say no to a Champage Flight. The red one in the middle was the yummiest.

I didn't want the day to end. We were having so much fun.

Sadly the girls needed to get back to the hotel. We got on a bus back to Pop. When we arrived at the Magical Express Bus Stop I didn't want to prolong the sadness too much. I gave them both a hug a hurried away. P.S. I'm really bad with goodbyes. 

I stopped into the shop off the lobby and walked around to clear my head. I looked at my phone 2.30pm... TWO THIRTY PM! I realized my parents would be taking Ryan to the recruiter at that very time! I quickly called him and was incredibly relieved I was able to get to talk to him. I wished him good luck, told him I loved him and was very proud of him and hung up.....and then I cried. By the candy. I felt a little silly but then again...Ryan has never 'gone away'. He and I both stayed close for college and I kinda got used to seeing him at my parents all the time.

I immediately had an idea for a Graduation gift for him. And off I went with a purpose.

I changed out of my dress and got into leggings and a tee and figured now would be a better time than any to try out the Gladsoles I got. I'm not going to talk about them too much as I want to do a separate post about them. They are that awesome, trust me.

I made fast pass reservations for the princesses and boarded a bus to the Magic Kingdom.

My first stop was Ariel.... let's just cut right to the chase. I sobbed. Like SOBBED on her shoulder. I didn't anticipate having everything hit me in her Grotto but hey, I guess it needed to happen. She was amazing when I told her I Ryan was leaving for the Army and said he was a brave man and a ton of nice stuff. She will forever hold a spot in my heart. I am sorry about the water works though Ariel.

Then it was over to Cinderella and .....welp, not Aurora, must have been taking a nap or something.

Rapunzel was great! She told me my hair was awesome and made sure She was on one side with hers and I was on one side with mine. She said we had to show it off haha. It sure helped me keep it together while I was with her.

Although I began to keep my composure much better thoughout the rest of the day I found myself randomly crying/tearing up when I saw something that reminded me of him. Trust me, I know he's going to be okay and he's in Boot Camp/Basic Training its just this kind of change is a HUGE change and I'm having a little trouble working through it.

This Snow White was much more pleasant and less weird than the last one I met.

Gaston. Doucher. Bottom Line.

I wanted to stop for Merida but the line was a joke.

After realizing that the monorails were down AGAIN I waited almost 60 minutes for a boat to the Poly. I think the wait was worth it for this view though.

When I got there I made friends with a soldier on temporary leave with his family. I helped them find the lobby and thanked him for his service. I headed up to the Kona Cafe to get some coffee for my parents and charged my sadly dying phone.

Once the coffee was done I realized since I had asked my friends to raise a glass for Ryan I needed to as well.

I made my way to the Barefoot Pool Bar and grabbed a margarita and an outlet.

Na Zdrowie Baby Ryan!

Sammy came by a little later to pick me up for dinner. I was hitting another place I had never gone before. The Maya Grill at Coronado Springs.

We didn't need to wait very long for a table at all.

Our waiter kept calling us princesses all night. I have to admit I enjoyed it.

The food was amazing! Enchiladas Suizas

Fried Ice Cream and Churritos for dessert. mm mm mmm

We were both stuffed and tired. 

Group Hug!

11.06.13

I took my time waking up and had breakfast at Pop Century's food court. I will admit it took me all of Tuesday to be okay with spending time by myself. {Side Track} Obviously, I do it all the time when at home, but away from home, while others were with their families...I was a little sad. Until I started realizing that I wasn't 'alone'. I had hundreds of people enjoying their time and watching some of the children in the parks have that same look I know I gave the castle the first time I laid eyes on it, made me enjoy and appreciate all my parents have done for me. My family has sacrificed so much and been through a great deal of heartache. My father is the hardest working man I have ever met and I am not just saying that, he really is. He is also an amazing father. He's the one we would give all our park passes to and he would literally run to Tower of Terror or Toy Story Midway Mania to get fast passes, never EVER acting like he didn't want to. My mother is a survivor; That in it self speaks volumes. She literally went to Disney WHILE TAKING CHEMO....AND then beat cancer! Disney to me means more than just the characters and the food and the fireworks. On this vacation I really got to see families beaming with happiness....it reminded me of my own family and made this time more special than any before. So if it seems like I'm really REALLY positive with these posts, this is why. {Back on Track}

The breakfast was delicious. Who can argue with Potato Casserole?!?

Before I started my days in the park I had to walk around the hotel for a little. 

After usually spending time at the Deluxe resorts and Villas it was a blast to see so much effort put into transforming this resort into a trip through time!

My first stop of the day was Animal Kingdom.

Then as I walked towards Asia, I noticed an awesome creature in a tree. I am unsure how to spell her name DeeVine, Divine, D'Vine. However it is spelled, she is awesome and is so cool. I cannot believe I have never seen her before.

If you haven't been lucky enough to have an Island Margarita...get to Animal Kingdom. Right. Now. I love this drink more than popcorn. The cart where you get them is on the way towards Asia and on your right. It was a perfect morning.

This is one of my favorite, favorite parts of Asia.

My Island Margarita and I walked the Maharajah Jungle Trek to check out some Tigers! This is a great activity when it's hot too, most of the trek is in the shade.

 It took a lot of will power and fear to not go cuddle with this beast.

I mean COME ON! How cool is this!

I love the Animal Kingdom!

After another margarita I promised myself to try something else that I had never done before....the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail! I would find gorillas and hippos on this trail! So exciting!

Oh Hippos!

My favorite part of seeing the Silverback Gorilla just standing there...like this. Was a small child asking his mother why the gorilla wouldn't come closer and the mother said "you don't want him to come any closer. he would rip you apart limb, by limb". Ahhh the things you hear at Walt Disney World.

I had never traveled to Camp Minnie Mickey before so I figured now was the best time to go see what it was all about. I didn't expect to have as much fun as I did have.

This pretty much sums up everything.

Once I stopped laughing like a crazy person I wanted to do more. But I had already done everything I had wanted to at Animal Kingdom. I knew Sammy and I would end up going to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT again. I remembered that a new lounge had opened at MGM and boarded a bus for the Hollywood Studios!

 

The Hollywood Brown Derby was a whole week old when I visited. I found an adorable bar stool seat at a table for two...or one. And realized how hungry I was. And of course thirsty. *wink

I had read about the Margarita Flight and figured I would lose my Margarita Lovers Membership if I passed it up. The margaritas were classic, mango and pomegranate.

 So fabulous!

Although I ordered the Citizens Take Flight, I was brought the Martini Flight of the Stars, first. The waitress was incredibly polite and I ended up having great conversation with her. The 4 people sitting next to me, did not hear or see me turn away the martini flight and when I was brought the margarita flight I ended up getting into an awkward conversation. One of the women told me to be careful because I was on a higher up chair. I responded telling her, "I'm Polish, don't worry, I got this." No one at their table laughed........

I ordered the Derby Sliders because lets face it...who doesn't love House-made Chorizo.

 Bucky Greenhorn Derby Margarita

Melvin Macheezmo Mango Margarita

Ready Freddy Fiddlesticks Pomegranate Margarita

All of hte margaritas were delicious. I don't think I could pick a favorite. It was perfect sampling. I love how they were displayed too, such a fabulous way to carry them!

 Derby Sliders

House-made Chorizo burger

 Waygu Beef Burger

Verdict on the burgers: the chorizo burger is out of this world. I would order that itself if it was an option. The Waygu burger was eh, nothing special. It was tasty and for the record, I DID eat it with the avocado on it. Another first!

 This was my view, from my seat.

When I posted the photo of my drinks I learned that Sammy was in MGM as well. I wished she could have come and sat with me. This food was amazing.

What better way to end a meal than having the Brown Derby famous Grapefruit Cake. Ugh <3

After my deliciously filling meal, I wanted to walk it off a little by making my way around MGM. I started with getting incredibly lucky by having NO LINE waiting for Minnie Mouse. I couldn't even tell she was in her her little room, I loved getting to see her!

After my photo op and some time spent walking around MGM I made my way back to Pop Century for a late afternoon nap. Sammy got out of work and back to the room 5.45pm and we headed over to Saratoga Springs. Neither of us had ever eaten at The Turf Club Bar and Grill. This was a first for both of us. I am seriously in love with Saratoga Springs at night and would love to stay there one day.

We ordered buffalo chicken dip as an appetizer. 

Macaroni and cheese, crispy chicken breast and green beans almondine

Chocolate espresso cake with whipped cream and berries and vanilla port wine ice cream. mmm mmm mmm It is completely worth the fullness in your tummy afterwards!

After dinner Sammy agreed to go to Magic Kingdom. I think I was 13 or 14 the last time I had been to Disney during Christmastime and I had been dying to see all of Main Street decked out with decorations!

How much more gorgeous could it get.....