The Scooter Strikes Back-A F&W 2017 TR- Bonus Features, Link to new TR 3/22

franandaj

I'm so happy, I could BOUNCE!
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Welcome to another franandaj trip report, and yet another F&W TR! If you haven’t followed along on one of my TRs, welcome to craziness with a side of too much food. If you have followed along before, I’m glad you decided to come back! Normally when I do a Trip Report, I like to start the report before I leave, get people interested in following along and then resume the report when I get home. For some reason this trip was different. Maybe I didn’t have enough time to get it started before I left, but also something made me want to title this trip report based on something that happened on said trip. Well boy let me tell you, there came a point in the trip where it became clear *what* the name of the report was going to be centered around; the only question, how exactly was it going to be phrased? As you can see I finally settled on the title, but here were some of the runners up.

Revenge of the Scooter

Rogue Scooter
The Scooter who didn’t love me
The Curse of the Red Scooter
That Darn Scooter
2017: A Scooter Odyssey
The Tale of Two Scooters


You’ll have to wait until the story unfolds to find out all the details, but it begins with an entertaining story to start off the entire trip. Consider that foreshadowing when we get there. I won’t say that this was a trip of a lifetime, but it was certainly a trip to remember. I had hoped that it would be a carefree week of fun and frolic where I came back relaxed and energized for real life, but sorry to say that did not happen.

For now, let me introduce ourselves, we are Alison and Fran, married almost a decade, been together over 20 years. Both of us are Disney loving musicians who also happen to have a bunch of cats. Oh yeah and we’re major foodies.

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If you’ve come here looking for thrills, riveting commentary, and exploding helicopters, you may want to look elsewhere. We do get our fair share of rides this trip, but for the most part, we came to enjoy Food & Wine, so the bulk of the report is going to be about food porn, with some other stories thrown in for good measure. Our last trip to WDW was in March during the Flower and Garden Festival where we spent a couple nights at the Boardwalk Villas following a cruise on the Fantasy.

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We weren’t supposed to be back at WDW, but due to unfortunate matters, we were unable to take the Eastbound Panama Canal Cruise that we had planned for this same time frame. Since we had to cancel that, I wanted to do at least something, and we decided that a trip to WDW was probably the most affordable thing to do. I mean the APs are paid for, the DVC room is paid for, we had a small flight credit left from some plans we had to change earlier in the year, so our only costs would be the remainder of the flights and our food. We have to pay for food at home anyways…

So it was only a little over four months out that I started planning this trip. The only resort available was SSR. One of my homes, and not a bad place to stay. Not ideal for F&W but I suppose I was lucky to find anything in DVC for eight nights at four months out! I made dining reservations and within a month, the F&W special events opened up, and I snagged a few of those. About a month later I booked our FP+ and then it was just time to sit back and wait two months for it to happen!

Those who have followed along before, know that we always face a huge challenge to get ready to go and then actually get out the door. This time was no different, except that we even started earlier, but still faced obstacles. I started actually packing suitcases on Saturday which would have been Day -3 in this timeline. All my clothes were hanging in the closet of Olga’s room (long story, just call it the guest room) and some of Fran’s clothes had been picked out as well. That day I packed one suitcase with some of our stuff and felt pretty good about it. I always spread each of our clothes out amongst the four suitcases just in case one gets lost, that way we don’t lose “the suitcase with all the underwear” or something equally important. Although if you’re @Steppesister, I guess underwear is not all that important! :lmao: So anyways, we had our Fall band concert on Sunday October 22nd and that’s kind of how we plan the timing of our trips. We don’t like to miss rehearsal so we try to leave after the concert when the band gets the first rehearsal off for good behavior. Since the second Tuesday after the concert was Halloween, we got two Tuesdays off and didn't have to miss any rehearsals.

Readers following along for a while will also know that we have recently become the proud grandparents of five little kittens.

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Just two weeks before we left, little Amelia (the fluffy gray one) was lethargic and not at all playful so we took her to the vet and it turns out she was severely anemic and almost died. So two transfusions later, she came home a happy camper and when she went back for her follow up the next week, we enrolled her in the “kitten plan” which includes all her shots and spaying. Since all the kittens turned eight weeks old on Monday, the other four got to go in the day after the concert and that took up the entire afternoon, like 1PM to 6PM! Not to mention that the entire morning was spent with our contractor putting a new scooter lift on the back of the car so that we could ride to the airport with two scooters and all our luggage. You may remember the story of the scooter lift from the bonus features on my last TR (If you didn't read about it I tried to post a link but it didn't work, here is the page)….then wait until I get to the story about the scooters! But I get ahead of myself. With Monday spent working on automotive and feline chores I was able to throw more stuff into two more suitcases that evening (while dinner cooked and I talked with my Mom on the phone) before collapsing into bed.


Day 0


Tuesday morning Fran had to go to the DMV and get the car registration sorted out so we didn’t get ticketed while the car was parked at the airport. You see even though we moved three and a half years ago we still have not changed the addresses on our vehicle registrations and this year we didn’t get the renewal in the mail and the car registration expired in October. So while she was at the DMV, I got out the fourth suitcase and began filing that.

Oh yeah, and this was the day that the Trader Sams at the Disneyland Hotel released their Haunted Mansion Tiki Mugs Part 2, so you know we had to go out there and get the “two per person maximum”. And since I know you all want to know what it looks like, I stole a picture from the Interwebs. Just like last year’s only the etching is in green. The ones from Florida have red etching.

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After that I insisted we concentrate on finishing packing! Well that and picking up last minute prescriptions that we needed. The temperature reached 106 that day and I was glad to stay inside. I even had to take a small nap as I practically got heatstroke being out at Disney and the pharmacy in that sort of weather.

We finally finished packing the suitcases somewhere around 10PM and by the time that I fed the cats and kittens, loaded my scooter inside the car as well as the suitcases, it was midnight. Have I mentioned that feeding the cats has become ridiculous now?

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Even though they are still nursing, most of them have learned to eat both wet and dry cat foods, and they eat quite a lot!

We both went to sleep, at least I think that she did. I’m sure that I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.


Be back soon with our travel day!
 
Table of Contents

Day 1 - Travel Day, Page 2, Post #28

 
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First!

Going back up to read.
(Think this is my first "first" though.)
 
If you have followed along before, I’m glad you decided to come back!

:wave:

Revenge of the Scooter
Rogue Scooter
The Scooter who didn’t love me
The Curse of the Red Scooter
That Darn Scooter
2017: A Scooter Odyssey
The Tale of Two Scooters

I'm sensing a theme here...
Not quite sure what it is....

Something... maybe.... to do with.... scooters?


I'm probably way off.

I won’t say that this was a trip of a lifetime, but it was certainly a trip to remember.

Uh, oh...

I had hoped that it would be a carefree week of fun and frolic where I came back relaxed and energized for real life, but sorry to say that did not happen.

Oh, man! Sorry, Alison. :hug:

If you’ve come here looking for thrills, riveting commentary, and exploding helicopters, you may want to look elsewhere.

True. Here you'll only get the first two.
There's a serious lack of exploding helicopters.

But I suspect we might see an exploding scooter or two.

All my clothes were hanging in the closet of Olga’s room (long story, just call it the guest room)

::yes::

that way we don’t lose “the suitcase with all the underwear” or something equally important. Although if you’re @Steppesister, I guess underwear is not all that important! :lmao:

:lmao:

Readers following along for a while will also know that we have recently become the proud grandparents of five little kittens.

::yes::

Just two weeks before we left, little Amelia (the fluffy gray one) was lethargic and not at all playful so we took her to the vet and it turns out she was severely anemic and almost died.

Oh, no! I didn't know that! Poor thing!

Since all the kittens turned eight weeks old on Monday, the other four got to go in the day after the concert and that took up the entire afternoon, like 1PM to 6PM! Not to mention that the entire morning was spent with our contractor putting a new scooter lift on the back of the car so that we could ride to the airport with two scooters and all our luggage.

:faint:
loooong day!

Tuesday morning Fran had to go to the DMV and get the car registration sorted out so we didn’t get ticketed while the car was parked at the airport. You see even though we moved three and a half years ago we still have not changed the addresses on our vehicle registrations and this year we didn’t get the renewal in the mail and the car registration expired in October.

:rolleyes1

That might explain it.


Cool! I like it! :thumbsup2

The temperature reached 106 that day

:eek: This is possible???

We finally finished packing the suitcases somewhere around 10PM and by the time that I fed the cats and kittens, loaded my scooter inside the car as well as the suitcases, it was midnight.

You must've been absolutely wiped out.

Have I mentioned that feeding the cats has become ridiculous now?

z17FW1025DP01.jpg

Holy crap!

I’m sure that I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I believe you!
 


Wohoo! Made page one! Now going back to read. Just had to save my spot first. party:

And I finished reading the intro which I love - great photos btw. You are WAY more organized when it comes to packing than we are - I kind of throw everything in the night before we leave and then pray we haven't forgotten something essential. :rotfl2:

Can't wait to read about it all. I sense the scooter enjoyed a life of its own the way you picked the title. ;)

Love to see the kitties and we both had a laugh seeing all the plates with catfood. :thumbsup2

Thank goodness the little kitty is okay again. They are too cute - all of them. You are both so lucky.
 
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Checking in.

I had hoped that it would be a carefree week of fun and frolic where I came back relaxed and energized for real life, but sorry to say that did not happen.

I am sorry that his did not pan out how you had hoped.

Just two weeks before we left, little Amelia (the fluffy gray one) was lethargic and not at all playful so we took her to the vet and it turns out she was severely anemic and almost died.

Oh, that must have been scary. I am glad that she is better.

Corinna
 


Joining in. I know how your anemic kitty felt. I almost died after I had my dd because I lost so much blood. They didn't really pay attention to me in the hospital and sent me home then 2 hours after they sent me home my dh had to rush me to the hospital because I was literally bleeding out (sorry if tmi). Then I was put on bedrest and was not even allowed to take care of my newborn dd. DH was a trooper and had to get up and feed dd and take care of me too. I am sorry you didn't have the trip you wanted and I m looking forward to following along.
 
Here and ready. Kinda. Alison, I'll be here as I can this week then of course will be gone.

Back to read and comment soon, but wanted to sub in asap. :hug:
 
I’m here! Haha excellent title! Just checked in into the Swan and the WiFi is a little better here. Tomorrow is our French Family lunch, can’t wait!
 
So excited to follow along on another of your trip reports! They are my favorite
 
Welcome home! Looking forward to reading about your trip!

The kitties are so cute!:love:
 
! Normally when I do a Trip Report, I like to start the report before I leave, get people interested in following along and then resume the report when I get home.

SEE?! I"m not the only one!

Revenge of the Scooter
Rogue Scooter
The Scooter who didn’t love me
The Curse of the Red Scooter
That Darn Scooter
2017: A Scooter Odyssey
The Tale of Two Scooters

Hmmm, I'm gonna guess you had some issues with scooters. Could just be me though. ;)

I won’t say that this was a trip of a lifetime, but it was certainly a trip to remember.

Aww, Alison. :hug:

Since we had to cancel that, I wanted to do at least something, and we decided that a trip to WDW was probably the most affordable thing to do. I mean the APs are paid for, the DVC room is paid for, we had a small flight credit left from some plans we had to change earlier in the year, so our only costs would be the remainder of the flights and our food. We have to pay for food at home anyways…

Seems legit to me! :yes

I always spread each of our clothes out amongst the four suitcases just in case one gets lost, that way we don’t lose “the suitcase with all the underwear” or something equally important.

Sigh... that's so... conservative. I mean what could possibly go wrong?!

Although if you’re @Steppesister, I guess underwear is not all that important! :lmao:

Hey!! I resemble that remark!

:rotfl2:

Tuesday morning Fran had to go to the DMV and get the car registration sorted out so we didn’t get ticketed while the car was parked at the airport.

You mean they'd do that to you?!

Oh right. Yes. They probably would.

Oh yeah, and this was the day that the Trader Sams at the Disneyland Hotel released their Haunted Mansion Tiki Mugs Part 2,

Okay, yeah, same one, just different color. I like my blue one from FL last year.


That is some serious smorgasbord goin' on there. :scared:
 
Yay! You have a new trip report and I have a new dining report (which has more than just food but still). Link is in my signature under Nov 2017
 
:wave: Holy cat food. Glad grey kitten is on the mend; so scary. :(

Excited to read your report. Please cont with the bat signals and lets get together when I get back. I leave this Tuesday morning. :hug:
 
Present and reporting for duty! Would have been here earlier but seeing Chris Hemsworth shirtless in Thor won out. Sorry Alison!

Jill in CO
 
Getting my WDW fix through you.

This. Not knocking my new proximity to DLR, but anyone who's been to both knows they are NOT the same. :sad2:

Anyway, I'm in! popcorn::

And I hereby concede defeat in the cat realm: you have me beat in the "all things cat that make this a crazy house" department!! :rotfl: But that's awesome.

.
 

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