Festing with the Mouse . . . and a gaggle of other people, too. **Updated 1/29** - Page 9 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Hi . . . my name is Sarah and I, apparently, am NUTS.
Or so that’s what I am told.
My alarm went off at 4:45am on Saturday, December 13th. Yes, I did, in fact, say 4:45am . . . as in, 15 minutes before 5:00am . . . as in, just a little over 4 hours before the parks opened for the day . . . as in, yeah, what was I thinking?! It was dark, it was cold, I was on vacation . . . and I was getting up at some ungodly hour of the day.
I was up and in need of caffeine (which I did NOT have, by the way) and waiting outside for Amy (iamgrumpy) by 5:15am. She pulled up right at about 5:30 and we loaded in and headed to DTD.
There just happened to be a big Annual Passholders/DVC members only sale (starting at 6:30am) going on that day and a group of us decided to go. We had to get in line once we got there so that we could get a wristband. The first 1000 AP holders/DVC members to show up (we were among them) got a blue wristband and that got us freebies . . . a limited edition pin and a Christmas ornament. They had doorbuster specials once an hour as well. Not worth it, IMO. Would have been better had they been free. But judging from the behavior of some of the people there, there’d have more than likely been more injured people if there were more free things.
The place was a MAD HOUSE!!! The first doorbuster were those roly-poly plush (you know, the ones that make the Fab 5 into basketball looking creatures) – we could choose from Minnie, Mickey and/or Donald – for $3 each. As soon as the doors were open, people pushed and ran to get to the area in the store where they were sitting and it was like mass hysteria. I was calling it Black Friday, Disney-style. People were pushing and ripping apart boxes and tossing the toys into the crowd . . . you’d have thought these people were starving and the toys were loaves of bread. Amy had pushed her way up into the crowd and was able to snag a Donald for herself and one for me (I couldn’t even get close) before they were all gone. I thought to myself, “If I find nothing else worth buying this morning, then at least I got Evan a cute Donald toy that won’t hurt him . . . I guess.”
There were some good deals and some not-so-good. Some things that were not-so-good at the AP sale were better later on in the week though. I spent a good chunk of money for myself and bought some things for Terri that she wanted as well (she had left the night before in order to teach that morning and had given me a list of Christmas gift items she wanted to buy before she left). I waited in line for over 45 minutes just to check out. All of the lines were like that, unfortunately, and EVERY register in the store was open with one cashier and one person to bag/wrap things up at each. I ended up in line in the infants department. There were at least 3 people who jumped the line and cut in front at the check-out counter before the next person in line could get up there. One guy even had the nerve to tell everyone in line that he had been there since 3:30am waiting for WOD to open and said “I think I have waited MORE than long enough. You all can just wait longer.” Well, thanks a lot, jerk.
I walked out of there holding 2 of the largest bags that they had and they were absolutely full, if that gives you any indication as to how successful my shopping trip was.
The resort buses from DTD don’t run until 9am and it was only 8:30 at this point, so I grabbed a cab back to OKW when I was done. I had to wake up the driver though as he had fallen asleep in the cab while he waited for a fare. I think I scared him half to death when I knocked on the window, though.
By the time we got back it was nearing 8:45 and I was supposed to be at the Yacht/Beach Club convention center at 9:30, since I was working at the Mega Mouse Meet. I dropped the bags off at the room then caught at bus to the Studios and dashed over just in time to catch a boat to the Yacht/Beach Club. It was 9:45 by the time we had docked at the Yacht and Beach Club so I booked it off of the boat and out to the convention center.
Taken as I ran past the tree at the Studios on the way to the boat dock.
There was already a HUGE line of people waiting to get in for the Mega Mouse Meet! I sat down to give Evan a bottle once I got there and then Amy and I headed in to staff the PassPorter table while Jennifer and Dave did their hosting duties/raffle calling/etc, etc, etc.
Lots of folks came by the table and said hello . I did have time to make the rounds and check out the other tables in the room, but didn’t get any pictures of them . . . though I am sure there are some out there somewhere.
The PassPorter table . . .
. . . and the view FROM the PassPorter table.
Evan got his own credentials for MouseFest as well thanks to a certain gentleman (and fellow PPer Guide) in California that happens to love a certain angry D. Duck.
Mega Mouse seemed to be over just as quickly as it started though . . . the time really seemed to fly (for me anyways) and before you know it, we were headed out. (But not before the youngest PassPorter attendee met the oldest PassPorter attendee. )
Evan and Grace
As Mega Mouse Meet was going on, I got a voicemail from Terri saying that she was on the road back to WDW. I told her that I was heading to Epcot afterwards and she agreed to meet me there.
Last edited by DopeyGirl; 01-28-2009 at 04:03 PM..
So, once Mega Mouse was over, we walked to Epcot . . . but not before popping through the Beach Club lobby to stare at the gingerbread carousel and find all of the Hidden Mickeys. (I didn’t get pics of all of them though.)
I took a few photos on the way to the International Gateway . . .
Once inside, I wandered around to the RefreshmentPort, taking pictures of the World Showcase as I went . . . playing with my lenses and zoom and such, so most of the pics of the pavilions were taken from clear across the lagoon. I think France, Canada and the UK were the only ones I was standing right close to.
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Great update Sarah!! Glad you got some good shopping in!! Although I don't think I could get up at 4:45!! The MMM looks like fun too!! Great pictures!!
I think you're nuts but in a good kind of way. What did Evan think of this mad house? I can't believe the nerve of people pushing for Disney stuff. Glad you and Amy came away unscathed. Looking forward to more trip report.
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Great update, Sarah! What a successful shopping trip, even though it was total madness! Sounds like a great time at MegaMouseMeet too! Looking forward to more
After hearing about the WOD fiasco, I'm glad I decided to pass on it! Although, I suspected it might be like that, which is the biggest reason I decided not to go. Glad you got some deals, though. Love your shots of WS, too.
And I guess I have to add my obligatory "Evan is so cute!" too.
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
I was getting hungry. I was near the Refreshment Port, which is, as most of you know, where you can get McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets and fries. I have a “rule” against eating McDonald’s while in Epcot when there are SO many other choices of things to eat. I totally broke my rule. I felt shame.
But I was hungry . . . and we had no ADRs or set plans for lunch and . . . I know, no excuse.
But yeah, I broke my Chicken McNuggets rule. But I wasn’t hungry anymore after that . . . so there.
Terri got back (and stuck at the International Gateway for a good while due to the system in the turnstiles being broke down) and once she was able to find me breaking my McDonald’s rule, we headed over to Mouse Gear (passing by the Epcot Christmas tree on the way)
. . . so that we could take advantage of the sales. Yes, SALES. Disney World had a SALE. 40% off all t-shirts, mugs, beach towels and baseball hats . . . 50% off ALL Christmas items, Christmas hats and “red-boxed” jewelry and watches.
We both spent a little bit of money and had it all sent back to the resort then headed back into the World Showcase so that we could attend the Margarita Meet in Mexico. Neither of us had a margarita but we did participate (as a team, with Sara ) in the Mexico scavenger hunt. We were the first to arrive back with all of the answers and our “team captain”, Terri, won the BIG prize.
Sara and her margarita . . .
. . . which Evan was eyeing up . . .
. . . until Terri won the BIG prize.
From the margarita meet, we headed over to the UK pavilion for Deb (Eeyore Tattoo)’s meet and eat meet at the Yorkshire County Fish Shop. We didn’t eat (we had an upcoming ADR at Teppan Edo) but it was fun to hang out. Lots of laughs were had . . . including over Terri’s duck giblets for her Crocs and WillCAD’s constant soundtrack (and his dead-on impression of the narrator on Maelstrom.). We had to head out from the meet to make our way to Japan for our 7:00pm ADR. We tried to get in a bit early but we weren’t seated until closer to 7:15.
This was the first time I have ever eaten here . . . but Teppan Edo may now very well be my favorite Epcot restaurant. I love Le Cellier but . . . yum. I really need a drooling smiley at this point. This is definitely a MUST do for our trip in June. MUST. DO.
I think what kept me away for so long was that I wasn't sure I would eat anything there . . . what the heck was I thinking?! I think what stood out to me the most was the simplicity of the meals. You pick the meat and they mix it with zucchini, mushrooms, onion and udon noodles. Then they give you a bowl of steamed rice on the side. SIMPLE. Simple and DELICIOUS.
Terri had the steak and shrimp while I had the steak and chicken and it was DELICIOUS. We shared a table with a father and his 10-11 year old daughter and an older couple who were "locals". We all kind of kept to ourselves throughout the meal but did talk a bit on occasion. Except for Evan . . . he was awake at the beginning but ended up falling asleep before we even had food put on our plates.
Just for good measure I would, once again, just like to emphasize the deliciousness of the offerings at Teppan Edo.
Our chef was Hiroshi and he made us a giant onion volcano . . .
(you'll have to excuse the guy across the table there . . . every time Terri picked up the camera to take a picture of the cooking action, the guy looked up and RIGHT at her. I think he was making eyes at her myself . . . )
Terri’s plate.
Oh, my-LANTA . . . just looking back on those photos made me hungry and borderline drooly.
Last edited by DopeyGirl; 01-29-2009 at 03:46 PM..
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I spent a good chunk of money for myself and bought some things for Terri that she wanted as well (she had left the night before in order to teach that morning and had given me a list of Christmas gift items she wanted to buy before she left). I waited in line for over 45 minutes just to check out. All of the lines were like that, unfortunately, and EVERY register in the store was open with one cashier and one person to bag/wrap things up at each. I ended up in line in the infants department. There were at least 3 people who jumped the line and cut in front at the check-out counter before the next person in line could get up there. One guy even had the nerve to tell everyone in line that he had been there since 3:30am waiting for WOD to open and said “I think I have waited MORE than long enough. You all can just wait longer.” Well, thanks a lot, jerk. 
. I did have time to make the rounds and check out the other tables in the room, but didn’t get any pictures of them . . . though I am sure there are some out there somewhere. 
The MMM looks like fun too!! Great pictures!! 
)
I think you're nuts but in a good kind of way. What did Evan think of this mad house? I can't believe the nerve of people pushing for Disney stuff. Glad you and Amy came away unscathed. Looking forward to more trip report.
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Sounds like a great time at MegaMouseMeet too! Looking forward to more
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Glad you enjoyed the MegaMouseMeet. 
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