Disney/Universal Training - Day 3

Today was checkout day at Pop Century with me heading to Universal for my FAM trip and Ami and her family heading home.  Before leaving, Ami and her family took me to 1900 Parkfare for breakfast! We ran in to Princess 1/2 Marathon traffic but it broke up  after turning off of World Drive. We were only a couple minutes late for our 9:30 reservation.  We were seated and got our food going which is quite easy to do here! No need to go in to all that I ate but trust me, I got my share!!

DVC at the Grand

being welcomed by Richard

Doesn't get any more grand than this!

I think this was Plate #1

Alice was showing us her tea

Madhatter is so funny!

We walked in the grounds to take a look around. Lots of construction, not just with DVC. I would not be too happy with all these walls that are up.

Snow White Splash area

We hopped on the monorail and headed over to the Magic Kingdom where it was Dapper Day!  There were lots of people dressed up in their finest attire.  I love it when people dress up for fun!

Magic Kingdom seemed quite crowded when we arrived. My pass is starting to reject at the turnstile so it may be time for a new one. It really bugs me that AP holders have to use the old method and those machines NEVER work!

We walked down Main Street with no real agenda and decided to ride Pirates. The right side is under construction so you have to turn a different way when entering instead of going straight in.  We went in the left side and only had a few minutes wait. I took some pictures on the way to Pirates.

After Pirates we continued in to Frontierland, noticing Splash was down.  We were deciding at that point how long to stay in the park. Everyone wanted to leave for various reasons.  We knew we weren't going to be staying all day anyways, the Ellers were anxious to get home and I had to get over to Universal.

Splash is down

Saw this show on the way out, a fav of mine! CLANG CLANG!!!

on the boat back to the Grand

Well, that ends the Disney portion of the trip!  It was short but great; there was no way I was coming down to Orlando and not spend some Disney time!

Ami was so sweet and had offered to drive me to Universal, so we were on our way!  It was drizzling out by now but still very humid, ugh.

We had a bit of traffic and it took about 30 minutes to get there. I was one of the first to arrive and my room was ready! woo hoo!  I invited Ami and the girls to come up and check it out!

I have this entire room to myself!

Ami had to leave so as not to incur a high parking fee, which goes up after 30 minutes. We said our goodbyes til next time!

I unpacked my dress clothes and hung them up. Everything is so pretty here!  I had about an hour to relax which was perfect.  We all met down in the lobby and got our IDs and swag bags. It is great to finally meet everyone I "work" with for the first time!

 Our first stop was to tour Hard Rock Cafe and it was such an awesome tour!  We went back in to the concert area and got to stand on the stage where sooooo many superstars had played, elton John, Paul McCartney, to name a few.  Then we were taken upstairs to the Beatles room where they have recreated an exact replica of John Lennon's NY apartment.  The walls were covered with actual memorabilia and they even had the couch where he wrote many Beatles songs.  We took our picture on the huge white couch!

our tour guide

looking out from the stage

After the tour, we were led to our tables downstairs and given our menus.  I had Grilled chicken with twisted macaroni and garlic bread, it was SO good! The hot fudge sundaes came out! OH MY!

After dinner, we had our Blue Man Group Show.  I could not take pictures.  I don't even know where to start to describe this show!  It was a cross between a rock band, light show and audience participation! I never knew this show also had comedy!  It was a packed audience and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.

Afterwards, some of us were going back to our rooms via water taxi and some were going to Rising Star for karaoke.  I was in the group to go back.  I made myself a bubble bath and relaxed in the hot bath while listening to the Oscars. There are speakers in the bathroom!  I then put on my lovely Loews Bathrobe and just am SO enjoying this time to myself!

Tomorrow we have VIP tours of both parks!

Saturday, Day 2 - Part Two

As I walked around the World Showcase, all kinds of characters were out. The lines to see them were not long at all! Only took pictures in between guests for the most part.

Saw this cute little guy in Morocco

and he took off right in front of me!

Where is everyone?

Woody!

an old favorite

Snow and her dwarves

I finished up my grand circle tour and decided to head out. I got a "swarberry smoofie" in Mexico. When I asked what flavor it was, that is the answer I got. It was so funny!  It really hit the spot since it was about 88 degrees out!

I headed to the bus stop and Pop Century stop is literally the very last one as far as you can go.   I waited about 15 minutes for a bus. Nothing gets on my nerves more than when a bus pulls up, lets off and then says this "isn't his stop" and you cannot board and he pulls out! GRRRR!!!  I got back to the room and it had not been service yet.  I freshened up and headed out to the Magic Kingdom for the Mickey Moms Club meet and greet that I was helping to sponsor with my friend Janice and her site The Adult Side of Disney.

Magic Kingdom was very crowded and people were getting ready to watch the 3:00 parade, which was the time of our meet and greet.  Nobody wanted to wait on the curb in the hot sun so there were plenty of spaces to be had!  At 2:30,  I headed over to Cosmic Ray's patio where I found Janice frantic that her Cosmic Rays contact person FORGOT to section of tables and chairs for our meet!  So we were claiming tables as people left and the CM was cleaning them.  It all worked out and we had plenty of room. So many great online friends showed up!  We had some great giveaways and Janice provided gifts for everyone that attended. It was a great success thanks to Janice's hard work!  I did not take many pictures but did see this kid on the ledge before the meet and greet and was honestly worried, she was going over!

Sonny!

Our view

The meet finished up and it was almost time for our Be Our Guest reservation!  Janice had asked me awhile ago to join her and her family for dinner!  I was so excited!  I could not stop gasping as I entered!

I did take a little peek of the 7 Dwarfs Mine Ride

Janice checked us in and we waited on the bridge til we were called.  It truly was like being in the story, no other way to describe it.  We even had a little Belle with us from Janice's family!

The enchanted forest

the main dining room

my view, it was snowing in the mountains!

our expensive lemonades

The Beast walked thru

The Beast, I go my picture with him!

Belle, meet Belle - so precious!

After eating, we chatted a bit and everyone went their separate ways. I headed to Philharmagic with a 5 minute wait.  Afterwards, I was heading right in to Main Street Electrical Parade and headed out to a VERY CROWDED Main Street and hub area.  I watched Wishes for a bit and then we were ushered out behind Main Street and I got to the bus and was the last one to board.  Back at Pop, it was 9:00 at night and you would think it was 9 in the morning! The place was packed!  I got a cup of tea and sat down for a few minutes while it cooled and then headed up; Ami and family were already settled in.  Here are the last few pictures for the night.

Top of castle from Tangled

Little Orange Bird was saying go home and go to bed!