The Happiest Day of Our Lives...

[Raspberry Bubbles]

We found the train station and waited for 20 minutes for the train to arrive and depart, lugging all our suitcases with us.

Here's the underground connection at Heathrow. I did add a photo of me on the train but took it off as you would have noticed how awful I looked, even more so than the day before and to add insult to that you would also have observed the ENORMOUS scar on my forehead left by my eyebrow waxing a couple of days earlier. I had a bad reaction and as a consequence was left looking like a unicorn.

...finally we arrived at Terminal 4!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Day Two Continued...

So we checked in and got through the horrid crowds at 5am, having panicked because United Airlines were trying to pay people $1000 to take a different flight. I was so scared we would be bumped. Anyway, we got on and even got an upgrade to Premium Economy, by an exit so we had sooooo much legroom!

I love flying. I love take-off and landing best of all, but I love flying. Flying means holidays!

We had breakfast and we could not stop laughing as these pancakes were NASTY. Hard and nasty and we kept snickering about hoping they were better in Florida...

The view was perfect and blue..

We watched "Fool's Gold" and I was in heaven. On my way to get married!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Then we arrived! (after a switch in Washington Dulles which was uneventful and slightly stressful and we won't bother with that) So, when we got to our final destination airport, as we'd been in February for our planning trip we knew where to go, so we breezed through security and got on the shuttle...

We found the Disney Sign in record time!

and I checked us in! They congratulated us and we grinned all the way to the coach. I love the system there, it's all go. Person to person to person to coach, then you're off. It's so efficient!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

The coach was a Disney Cruise Line bus which made us smile all the more because we were so looking forward to our upcoming cruise!

We took a photo of the regular buses through the window. We were grinning like cheshire cats!

We watched the little promotional video and then we saw it ~ the sign!!! It always feels like coming home.

Then we were on Disney property and off to Port Orleans French Quarter for our first night!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

The bus dropped us at the French Quarter and we checked in and made our way to the room…

We took some pictures as soon as we arrived before we destroyed the room unpacking and rearranging….

The view from the balcony…

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

We were at POFQ for the night and had just arrived. We had reservations that night at the California Grill because I thought Gavin would love that, on top of the Contemporary with a fantastic view. We only had one problem though ~ our luggage hadn't arrived and Gavin was in shorts still. I called POFQ reception and they confirmed that the dress code was formal and no shorts and so we contemplated what to do...whilst I made my hair style even worse.

We eventually decided to go for a walk and get some lunch. Close by of course, was Sassagoula Floatworks! We stopped to visit some reptilian friends on the way I loooove reptiles and these guys were the reason I chose POFQ over POR...

We strolled along and spotted even more little reptiles! We go crazy when we see these little fellas as we can't get over the fact there are little lizards actually living around there in bushes. I can't explain it ~ but I would LOVE to live in an area with reptiles roaming freely

...we arrived at Sassagoula. I had a taco salad! Still looking like a unicorn, of course, still looking awful.

I love this place, it's so larger-than-life and cheery!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

We wandered back to the room after lunch and decided that we would in all probability end up eating in the hotel room. I could tell Gavin was upset because he really wanted to go to the California Grill but I tried to make light of it, until our cases arrived!

We got showered and changed quickly and headed out to the CG, on the bus and then the Monorail. Gavin LOVES the monorail, I have no idea why. As you will see in our wedding photos, he cannot get enough of them...

Upon arriving in the lobby, we made our way to the reservations desk to gain access to the lift! At the top of the lift we got out and were directed to the bar after collecting our buzzer. We sat in the seated area and gazed out of the window for a few minutes.

The view is just so amazing and so clear from those windows. It felt so magical and close, and I felt overjoyed inside that the rest of the month I would be spending in this amazing place with the people I loved the most (aside from my furkids at home).

We were seated quickly and Gavin and I were really rather annoyed to find that there were SO MANY people in shorts and t-shirts, sandals and flip flops up there! Why is it always one rule for one and one for another? I know Disney does not like to upset people but Gavin and I were prepared not to go because we would have been contravening the dress code, yet there were people here who clearly didn't care. I don't mean to sound harsh, but why have a dress code if it isn't enforced. I would have been so upset if we had missed our reservation because of our lack of trousers for Gav and then found out all these other people were here in their beachwear.

Anyway, I digress...

We were offered drinks and I noticed Pelligrino was on the menu (if you're a die-hard Father of the Bride fan, you'll remember Howard Weinstein..."Pelligrino, espresso, champagne...?" So Gavin found it amusing that I wanted just that.

We were seated right next to the "grill" and we watched the chefs working furiously whilst we contemplated the menu.

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

California Grill Continued...

So our first dish we ordered was sushi. We were so looking forward to this because the only other sushi we have had was with my Japanese teacher who came to our house and made it for us and it was delicious, and then we had the shop-bought stuff which I only ever buy in vegetarian form as I just would not trust the freshness of the fish. So, we ordered and waited...

My face looks rather odd there at that angle and you can clearly see my unicorn horn. Anyway......Oh my! The food was melt-in-the-mouth delicious. Just fabulous. There were lots of tiny wasabi-infused caviar scattered over it and we literally devoured it. I had the biggest smile over my face the whole time ~ I was in the California Grill! I reflected so much because I could not believe we were finally here and I wanted to never forget a moment of it.

 

[29apr00]

I HATE Dress Code rule breakers!! I'm sure you saw lots more of it on the cruise ship!! It's so annoying! If you won't enforce the rules, DON'T MAKE THEM!!!

Glad you liked CG and I'm very glad you got your luggage in time!

 

[lurkyloo]

Great update! I love all the pictures! And I'm so glad it worked out for you to go to California Grill.

Although I must say about this one...

After we both showered, we noticed that the wall, which was a huge mirror, had some technology in it that prevented a section over the sink from steaming up!

...It's a good thing only part of the mirror was prevented from steaming up, or we'd all get an eyeful of Gavin with his kit off!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Great update! I love all the pictures! And I'm so glad it worked out for you to go to California Grill.

Although I must say about this one...


...It's a good thing only part of the mirror was prevented from steaming up, or we'd all get an eyeful of Gavin with his kit off!

Ah, ha haha ~ you know I was so concerned with checking nothing could be seen on ME, I never even looked at Gav ~ he could have been as naked as a jaybird!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

I HATE Dress Code rule breakers!! I'm sure you saw lots more of it on the cruise ship!! It's so annoying! If you won't enforce the rules, DON'T MAKE THEM!!!

Glad you liked CG and I'm very glad you got your luggage in time!

Hi again!

Me TOO! I was so cross! Surely they must know it infuriates people! Even in Victoria and Albert's later in the report, there were some! Not in shorts, I rush to add

 

[linzwylie]

What a fab TR !! totally and utterly subscribing to this one

Linz xxx

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Entree Time...

We ordered our entrees and still watching the chefs and holding hands nearly permanently we were in heaven. I think I had Mahi-Mahi and it was delicious fish.

Shortly after we couldn't really decipher the dessert menu and after watching the dessert chefs we decided to order what we imagined would be excellent desserts. I ordered one with a peach tea shot which sounded amazing...

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[Raspberry Bubbles]

What a fab TR !! totally and utterly subscribing to this one

Linz xxx

Aww, thank you! You are so sweet!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

After dinner was finished, we tried to use our camera timer to take a photo of us...

....and then our server comes and says that she only just realised we were getting married and gave us a little chocolate congratulations!

We thanked her, paid and then went to the terrace to watch the fireworks!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

So the fireworks were beautiful, however stood out on the terrace I suddenly got these awful chest pains. It was such a bad experience ~ I didn't want to alert Gavin for some reason, I just wanted to stand completely still and see what happened to me. I have no idea why because I'd like to think that if I really was about to have a heart attack I would want to let Gavin know! Heart attacks and strokes run in my family and I was so aware that Gavin knew that and I also knew he would panic if he found out so I made light of it, but I was really scared and walked cautiously back to the bus that night. Those pains had made me freeze completely, unable to breath in.

Anyway, on the bus on the way home I was holding that little chocolate sign in my paws and I was so sleepy I actually fell asleep, standing up, leaning on Gavin on the bus ~ when we arrived back at POFQ, the chocolate was melted all over me! I had muddy chocolate paws! Gavin laughed and we snook back through POFQ lobby like naughty children to our room...

 

[bridetobe789]

haha that pic in front of the mirror ... gotta love it! lol
Great tr so far...
Thanks for posting pics of the inside of pofq! I have never seen it it looks nice!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

I woke up very early, very happy because today we were moving to the Boardwalk! I had tried to stay there from the 31st July but would you believe they were all booked up for that day when I tried to book the year before? Crazy! Anyway.....

So, we got up, I put on my Victorias Secret BRIDE t-shirt (one of the many t-shirts of what Gavin calls my freaky wedding wardrobe) and we headed out with our cases to Sassagoula Floatworks again ~ I grabbed cinnamon and raisin bagels and apples for us both and this was the first time I had cream cheese ~ it was delicious!

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

haha that pic in front of the mirror ... gotta love it! lol
Great tr so far...
Thanks for posting pics of the inside of pofq! I have never seen it it looks nice!

Ha ha, my sister reads this board ~ she'll see Gav in a whole new way....

POFQ is pretty ~ so is POR, I love them both!