After 14 years.....!

After 14 years my friend, Janet, and I have finally met face to face! We "met" each other back in 1998 while we were on a decorating group together. I think the group was called "Interiors" and it was then an "E-Group" which later changed to Yahoo Groups. Even with an age difference we hit it off and started emailing each other privately as well as chatting on the decorating group. She was also instrumental in helping me start my own e-group of reviewing decorating magazines together (mostly Romantic Homes.) After this group ended we continued to communicate privately.

Janet lives in (middle) Canada and we live in central Florida - a long way from each other! We have always wanted to meet each other in person and always thought we would someday. It took 14 years, but it has finally happened when she and her family visited Disney World recently.

Here we are with our husbands shortly after we met. Our husbands also hit it off well and talked constantly!

We decided to dine at the Garden View tea room at the Grand Floridian Hotel.

Our husbands were so sweet to agree to this!

The menu:

Janet is such a lovely lady!

We all four ordered the Buckingham Palace Tea with tea sandwiches

and desserts and pots of teas. We had these flavors of tea - Russian Earl Grey, Eros, Garden View Blend:

I forgot to take pictures of the scones, jam and cream, they were yummy too!

We were a little disappointed that they no longer use the Old Country Roses china in the tea room, they said they are in transition with china. I'm thinking they may get their own monogrammed china, hope so!

The view from the tea room. But, wait! Take a closer look, do you see it?
It's Cinderella's carriage!! Bringing a young bride to their wedding reception!
How exciting is this!! Six tiny white horses are pulling the carriage!


After finishing our delicious desserts

We were happy campers!

We took a few pictures of the tea room, it is beautiful with the comfy sofas at the tables:

Tea accoutrements for sale:

As we were leaving the tea room, Janet noticed the inlaid tile on the floor:
It's Mrs. Potts tea pot, and Chip, the tea cup from Beauty and the Beast! How cute is that?!

Window in front of the tea room:

View of the hotel from the tea room:

With flash (above) and without flash below:

What a gorgeous place! I always have to take a picture of this!

We were delighted to find the carriage was still outside, it waits there until after the reception.

It was so fun to take pictures!

You couldn't go near the little horses, but they did allow photo shots in front of the carriage!!
Janet and I felt like young princesses standing there beside the carriage!!

And of course we have already met our princes!!
Oh, the magic of Disney! Our dreams of meeting each other really did come true, and now we feel the magic of being princesses (almost!)

While walking around the grounds I snapped a picture of the Disney Wedding Pavillion (I zoomed in on the camera, it isn't as close as it looks.)


We went back inside the Grand Floridian Hotel:

Janet and Norman on the grand staircase:

The carpet at the bottom of the stairs has Cinderella's carriage:

We started noticing all the floors and even took pictures of the inlaid tile:
Across from the staircase, Cinderella and her Prince (above)

Mickey:

Goofy:

Donald Duck:

Pluto:

Minnie Mouse:

Tinkerbell:

Peter Pan and Wendy:

Mickey at another entrance:

And another Goofy:

The Grand Floridian

I hope you enjoyed seeing a just a few "different" things at Disney! Next time "look down!" There's something unique in every direction!

Couldn't resist taking a picture of Janet playing tourist!

There's always beautiful music, either the orchestra, or the Pianist, to entertain you! That's the orchestra on the second floor (straight ahead.)


Happy memories of new friends who will now be forever friends!

We enjoyed our time with them so much!!
I wish we weren't so far apart!!

Thanks for a wonderful time! Much too short!

I'm linking to the Tablescaper's Seasonal Sunday, click on Alma's name for lots more fun!