A Maria and Ben “Mousefest” TR: The Greatest Gift of All Update Finished 5/3 - Page 19 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Old 05-03-2010, 08:59 AM   #271
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Welcome Back, Maria. Sorry about the crowds.!!
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Old 05-03-2010, 04:32 PM   #272
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Saturday
December 13
Day 4
Ben and I woke up at about 8:30 AM and started to get ready for the House of Blues Gospel Brunch. I was really excited we were meeting Sheri there as well as Betty Sue and Chantel and her family. I was also excited because I had a new hat to wear. The brunch was at 10:30 AM and we left our apartment in Winter Park at about 9:15. We arrived at DTD early and wondered around a little bit.









Here is me ready to get taken to church…





Chantel and her family arrived first…rocking their Saints gear….Who Dat?!?



Sheri and David arrived and soon we were ushered inside. We had a wonderful table right in front of the stage. I had a awesome time at brunch. The food was out of this world fantastic…I had breakfast stuff as well as fried fish, shrimp cocktail and so much more that I can’t remember right now. I also took advantage of the cheap bloody mary’s and mimosas.

The music started soon and it was really good. I was expecting a whole gospel choir…but it was a couple of gospel singers but they definitely brought the house down.









I think I worked off most of what I ate dancing and clapping.
It was a great time.
After the brunch we all parted ways. Ben and I went to Molly and Joey’s room at the Saratoga to watch the Saints game. We stopped off at the Hess to get some beer. It was really nice of Molly to let us use her room to watch the game…I was scared security was going to show up because of all the yelling Ben and I were doing.
After the game we headed over to EPCOT for a short visit with Molly and Joey before they went to their reservation at The Flying Fish.

We headed over to HS to get some food before the CLQ meet at the Osbourne Lights. I grabbed a pretzel and frozen lemonade and I think Ben had popcorn and a coke.



We then headed inside the Tune In Lounge for a quick drink





Ben had a beer and I had a margarita….yum.
We started to make our way over to the lights but were stopped in our tracks by an awesome Christmas performance by Mulch, Sweat and Shears.



We had the best time watching them play.
Coming up…Osbourne Lights Again!!
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Old 05-03-2010, 04:42 PM   #273
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Glad you had a great time!
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Old 05-03-2010, 04:53 PM   #274
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Saturday
December 13
Day 4

We met our fellow passporters in front of the Writers Stop. Everyone was merry making and we got there right at the tail end of the ornament exchange. I did not participate but Betty Sue gave me an extra ornament she had made…and I love it! Ben went get me a drink…they had some special holiday drink they were selling form a kiosk …it was called something like “Winter Wonderland” and it was pretty strong. Someone gave me a really cute candy cane straw…which made my drink even more festive. I was able to meet a ton of new passporters and revisit with some ones I had met on previous trips. It was nice to see Cheryl who we missed with Wendy the night before.





After strolling around a bit a big part of the group headed to the Tune In Lounge for drinks. I was done drinking for tonight …the Winter Wonderland and the Margarita earlier not to mention the beers during the Saints games or the mimosas and bloody marys at the brunch…I was definitely done drinking. I sent Ben inside to get himself a beer. There seemed to be some kind of hold up because it took everyone forever to get drinks…but in the end everyone was sipping away happily.



After the little after party meet…Molly, Joey, Ben and I headed over to RNRC to try and ride but it was down. At this point Molly and Ben decided to high tail it to Toy Story…Joey and I sat down in front of the big hat and waited. Apparently toy story was down too…so that was the end of the night.
We went home and told Joey and Molly goodbye…I hate goodbyes.

Coming soon.
Decorations at Beach Club and Yacht Club
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Old 05-03-2010, 05:33 PM   #275
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Welcome back to your TR. Great updates!
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Old 05-03-2010, 05:33 PM   #276
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Who DAT indeed! I'd like to think our gear getting "blessed" had a bit of a hand in the win that day... LOVED finally meeting my home-girl (&guy) and whew!! don't worry how much you eat at the brunch, cause those bands work it off of you! I was getting text score updates all day @DHS, sitting on benches & screaming to myself...I think some folks thought I was part of the Streetmosphere...maybe the psychotic failed actress character...Debbie Drama.
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Old 05-03-2010, 05:40 PM   #277
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Great updates Maria! Glad you had a great time at the brunch! Mulch, Sweat, and Shears is our favorite! Great PP meet and great pictures!
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Old 05-03-2010, 06:09 PM   #278
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Glad to see the updates Maria, the brunch at the House of Blues sounds wonderful, I have always wanted to try that. Looks like some great meets and greets. Can't wait to hear more.
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Old 05-03-2010, 06:19 PM   #279
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Saturday
December 14
Day 5

We had no plans to go back to WDW today because I had a final the next day and then we were flying out to Louisiana for Christmas…but I woke up early and studied and at about 4PM we decided to drive over and see the holiday decorations at the Beach and Yacht Club.

It was a wonderful way to spend our last night in Orlando...before going home for break.

We parked at the Yacht Club because it always has a lot more parking spots than the Beach Club.

We have never had the luxury of staying at the Yacht Club but Ben and I do have a big crush on it. We love the nautical theme and grown up feel, The Christmas decorations were great and we really enjoyed them...next to the Saratoga they were my favorite.



















We spent a lot of time at the Yacht Club really enjoying the ambiance. We then decided to head over to Beaches and Cream to have a sweet treat before going over and see the decorations in the Beach Club lobby.





What to order? What to order?




That'll do!!


Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!


Thanks CM for this awesome picture of us. (sarc mark)

We were now on a crazy sugar high and decided it was time to go over and see the decoration at the Beach Club.


We really enjoyed these decorations.
















Crystal was my favorite horse on the carousel









The carousel was very popular there were tons of people there taking pictures.We noticed that it was almost time for Illuminations. We walked over to the International Gateway and got a pretty good spot in front of Canada to see the show. Unfortunately, the wind was not in our favor and half the show was blocked out by smoke.







We took a leisurely stroll back to our car and then we drove back home. I prepared for my last final the next morning and our Christmas trip home to Louisiana.
Coming Soon…The Wrap Up!
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Old 05-03-2010, 06:32 PM   #280
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The Wrap Up

I love Disney! I especially love Disney around Christmas time. Ben and I had a great time and can’t wait to start planning our next Disney Christmas Excursion. I would really like to thank Molly for inviting us to stay with her and Joey at the OKW,,,that was a blast. I would also like to thank Chantel for planning the Gospel Brunch…it was so much for to do that with a group of people. I would like to thank the New Orleans Saints for beating the Falcons…making it well worth it to be cooped up in a room all day Sunday watching the game (and if you haven’t heard we went all the way baby).

Look for another PTR coming soon...Maybe something around the F&WF.

See Ya’ll Real Soon!
Maria
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Old 05-03-2010, 07:44 PM   #281
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Okay so that was a lot of updates to comment on
First of all LURV the hat at brunch but then again you know I it
You are just too swanky
The gospel brunch actually looked like a lot of fun!
It sounded like a full day of drinking and friends and good times....especially with lots of new and old PPers
Love the last day...I would love to live there so you can just soak up all this really cool stuff that you guys get to do! The holidays are my fave time of year to go...hmmm thinking I should try to go for a few days this year jsut to see the decorations again.
OOOHHH BTW...if you go to the F&WF you better totally come meet us for drinks! sersiously though..
that was a great wrap up and a great trip!
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Old 05-03-2010, 07:56 PM   #282
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Originally Posted by scdisneyfan View Post
Okay so that was a lot of updates to comment on
First of all LURV the hat at brunch but then again you know I it
You are just too swanky
The gospel brunch actually looked like a lot of fun!
It sounded like a full day of drinking and friends and good times....especially with lots of new and old PPers
Love the last day...I would love to live there so you can just soak up all this really cool stuff that you guys get to do! The holidays are my fave time of year to go...hmmm thinking I should try to go for a few days this year jsut to see the decorations again.
OOOHHH BTW...if you go to the F&WF you better totally come meet us for drinks! sersiously though..
that was a great wrap up and a great trip!
We will def come and meet up with you guys for a drink.
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Old 05-03-2010, 08:19 PM   #283
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Since I was reading this all in one shot I actually opened a word doc so I could type as I go. So here is my random list of comments and love:

First of all… we so need to scheme and get the Princess 5k plans in order since we are so alike you make me smile! Lol!


I read through this while at a grad class and I literally laughed out loud at Ben’s big boy crush on the Kwanza lady. Your 2 years ago Christmas pics were fab! We didn’t get to see the Epcot festivities when we were there in January 2006.


Your “3 things” about Hess almost made me spit out my water (yes I am still at my grad class)


I love this quote and need to hear one of these stories asap…. Lol… “
A Molly and Joey story is like well choreographed dance….and these stories will make you gasp aloud, laugh out loud and possibly pee your pants”

Okay so Grand Floridian tea—I NEEEEEEED to do this. If our flight times don’t work out in October, this is a must must must if I can work in a March weekend at the World! I will even pay for you, I swear!!! Lol! Your hats rocked my socks, btw!


You abbreviated Monsters Inc Laugh Floor as MILF—which made me re-read the entire thing twice. Haha!!! I was thinking of the American Pie meaning of MILF…. How am I the first one to acknowledge this?


The windy pic of you outside AK with the Dunkin coffee is too awesome for words. I can literally feel the wind/caffeine need.


I love love love the Poly cameo! Yay! Can’t wait to go there for the first time eva! And I am with you—I ADORE the pics you took of the Chef Mickey’s tree! Too cute! I also love the gingerbread tree. I think we missed too much Christmas stuff coming in January. Gonna have to work another xmas trip in one of these days! Lol!


This comment was soooo very Rob & Mel “I was so proud of him b/c he didn’t even complain that it was served on a whole wheat bun…oh wait yea he did.” ROFL!!!


In conclusion, you did an amazing job of braving and conquering crowds and getting to see so much Christmas Disney Magic! Thanks so much Maria, Ben, Molly, and Joey (and all the other Passporter cameos)!!! Excellent TR!


And its summer hot in NY and your winter pics cooled me down!


And your blurry pic outside Beaches and Cream is awesome and hilarious and perfect.
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Old 05-03-2010, 08:19 PM   #284
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Great last day at BC/YC! Great pictures too! Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us Maria!
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Old 05-03-2010, 08:25 PM   #285
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Great updates!!! Looks like you had a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
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