Showing posts with label animal kingdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal kingdom. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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. 


Thursday, March 6, 2014

Fit for a Princess Expo 2014

Thursday 2.20.14

Sadly, Sammy had to go to work again, but this would be her last day. Kristy, Anne and I boarded a bus bound for ESPN's Wide World of Sports at 9.23am We were surprised when the bus took right off. When we arrived at WWoS there were no lines, we were a little confused but weren't going to argue with it. When we walked in around 9.35am all the vendor booths were open and there were a handful of people.


After last years fiasco I realized we needed to hit the Official Merchandise first before anything else. I was so happy we had gotten there 'early'. This was SO much more organized and was easy to navigate compared to last year.


I'm still kicking myself for not getting this shirt for Ace. I did get a ton of good loot though. I can't wait for y'all to see!


I also loved that for the first time they had walls of participants names for each of the races. 


Time clock counting down the hours till celebration. 


I had to pick up Brandi's and Sammy's bibs so we walked over to the pick up. After grabbing Brandi's 5k bib, Sammy's 5k bib, my 5k bib and my Glass Slipper Challenge bib AND Sammy's and my team sashes and bib's we made out way back to the building with vendors and stopped to get our photo taken with the footmen.  I missed out on this photo last year because I was SO nervous.


I love this years 5k shirt and bib!


Half Marathon Team Sashes and Bibs: Team Peace, Love and Pitbulls <3 


10k Shirt and Glass Slipper Challenge Bib


Half Marathon shirt and Glass Slipper Challenge Bib


Glass Slipper Challenge shirt and bib


I really like the array of shades, they are neutral and work with my less than enthusiastic clothing choices haha.


Luna Bars were giving away inspirational posters and I had to grab one after my favorite princess! I stuck to the theme of Glass Slipper because I knew I had already done the half. I snagged a wine glass, plastic tumbler, Sweaty Band, pull over and the I Did It shirt which might be my favorite <3


After successfully spending all our cash we went back to Pop to drop off our bags and change. Kristy had made reservations at Yak and Yeti for us and I was overly excited as I had never eaten there before!

We were starving when we got there so of course I grabbed my favorite Island Margarita and some popcorn to hold me over. While walking around we saw a dance party happening! Some of the kids in this photo totally knew all the moves.


Kristy had made Fast Pass reservations for Expedition Everest for all of us and we noticed there was plenty of time to get a ride in before dinner. Kristy and her two cousins got put on a train before us so Anne and I were left alone to brave the mountain and Yeti. I think I may have laughed so hard I almost threw up. Anne was screaming, she's not a fan of roller coasters. Personally I forgot how scary this ride can be.



Magic Bands UNITE!


Anne was checking out the beat on the drums.




I don't know what I would have done without Kristy making all the advanced plans. She surprised me by saying we had Fast Passes for the Safari Trek. (She's the best!) I hadn't been on it in years and felt like a little kid.


We were so close to Zebras...


AND LIONS! Ugh I just wanted to snuggle with him.


And Ostriches too!


We certainly had worked up an appetite. I couldn't wait to eat!


I loved the decor.



The food blew me away! I ordered the Honey Chicken and Fried Rice.


Gotta love the dining plan. The fried wonton dessert was to die for.


After successfully feeling stuffed we headed towards the exit, BUT in true Meg form I noticed Doug and HAD to say hi! I got some really great photos with him. His handler commented on my shirt (which I completely forgot I had on) and told me Doug loves rescues too!


He wouldn't stop hugging me! 


My shirt says "Keep Calm and Love a Pitbull" it was a booster sale from It's a Pittie Rescue. Unfortunately I don't think you can get the shirt anymore BUT if you are looking for a best friend or maybe some other rescue shirts, hats, bumper stickers they are a great place to have your money go to!.


Kristy jumped in for the last couple photos and we did our "Doug Pose" I loved the time we got to spend with him and the fact Kristy was JUST as excited as me when she saw him. <3


Doug said goodbye and was pretending his paws were antlers like on the back of Kristy's tank. AHHHH ISN'T THE CUTENESS TO DIE FOR!


Afterwards we tried getting to the Contemporary to make the DisBroads Meetup at The Wave but just missed that bus from the Bus Stop at AK. We ended up listening to a very interesting bus driver who said he would take us to the Grand Floridian and we could hop on the monorail to the Contemporary... WELL anyone in WDW the week of the Princess Half would happily remember that the monorail tracks were being worked on from 11.30am-7pm. He failed to let us know that little gem of information. After a mini tour of the Grand Floridian pool and boat dock we decided we would have a better chance of waiting for the monorail to return to service. 

At 7pm we got on the first monorail out of the Grand Floridian. We arrived at the Contemporary late for the DisBroads meet up. There were a ton of people there! I felt bad we only swung it at the end, damn transportation. I did get to see April and finally meet Andi and Ashley and Shawna and Monica and Walter and at least 5 other people who, I love you! It was dark and I was overwhelmed I apologize!

I was so excited though that Kristy and I both put our names in Patty's silver tin of magic as I will refer to it and we BOTH won prizes! Thank you DisBroads!!! <3 

We need to get back to our rooms and rest for the night so I said my goodbyes and Kristy, Anne and I made our way back to Pop for the night.

I was SO excited for the 5k I couldn't contain my excitement!!