No cats to herd this time! It's just the two of us!UPDATED 11/17-An unplanned evening

[mom2mek]

Here I am again! :wave:

I think I subliminally take FOREVER to finish trip reports, so that I can jump straight into doing another one! :rolleyes1 If you have read the other reports, than I apologize in advance for all the time you usually have to invest in reading my ramblings! LOL! I’m hoping this one won’t be quite as lengthy or slow-going! (I made that promise before….don’t believe me)! :sad2:

Apparently, I have had a lot of Kool-Aid :drinking1 as I am heading back to Disney for the 3rd time in 8 months! And apparently, I have served up some of this yummy, delicious, fun-filled, magical, Disney Kool-Aid to my husband of 12 years, Shawn, as we are heading down to the World….

AND IT’S JUST GOING TO BE THE TWO OF US!!!

:banana:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001643-1.jpg

CHAPTERS:
Day 1 - Part 1 - Getting there! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31954053&postcount=155)

Day 1 - Part 2 - A Magical Journey! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31960513&postcount=164)

Day 1 - Part 3 - ALOHA!!! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32005488&postcount=181)
Day 1 - Part 4 - The ROOM! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32005888&postcount=182)
Day 1 - Part 5 - Taking it slow at the AK (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32106293&postcount=198)
Day 1 - Part 6 - JAMBO! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32191656&postcount=213)
Day 1 - Part 6 - JAMBO, Pt 2!! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32191798&postcount=214)
Day 1 - Part 7 - Close Encounters with Animals of the Wooden Kind (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32209555&postcount=227)
Day 1 - Part 8 - - Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32312209&postcount=248)
Day 1 - Part 9 - Chester, Hester, and Boma! End of Day 1!!! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32380157&postcount=266)
Day 2 - Part 1 - A Tale of Two Shoes (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32495054&postcount=293)
Day 2 - Part 1.A A Tale of Two Shoes (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32495100&postcount=294)
Day 2 - Part 2 - Flowers & Gardens & Beverly, oh My (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32652346&postcount=321)
Day 2 - Part 2.A - Flowers & Gardens & Beverly, Oh My (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32652525&postcount=323)
Day 2 - Part 3- Buenos Dias - We hobble off to Mexico (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32690860&postcount=336)
Day 2 - Part 3.A - Buenos Dias - Still in Mexico (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32691139&postcount=337)
Day 2 - Part 4 - Norway & China with no jet lag (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33432583&postcount=374)
Day 2 - Part 4A - China, China, China (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33432930&postcount=375)
Day 2 - Part 5 - Outpost and Germany (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33593028&postcount=390)
Day 2 - Part 5 A - Italy and America (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33593708&postcount=393)
Day 2 - Part 6 - Rainy Day & Sara Gets Twins (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33654217&postcount=408)
Day 2 - Part 7 - Tokyo Sunset and Tic Tac Toe (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33681367&postcount=428)
Day 2 - Part 8 - Finally finished with Epcot (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33757628&postcount=457)
Wishes from the Poly beach (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33763539&postcount=466)
Day 3 - A Magical Morning (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33856635&postcount=475)
Day 3 - The Magical Morning continues (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33928316&postcount=498)
Day 3 - Pirates, Thunder, and Spears! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33929276&postcount=499)
Day 3 - Lunch for two at the Plaza! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34006381&postcount=511)
Day 3 - Back to the Oasis! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34018553&postcount=520)
Day 3 - Drinks & the Poly Beach! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34033683&postcount=528)
Day 3 - Part 6 - Dinner at the Wave and a Big Dose of Karma... (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34045576&postcount=536)
Day 3 - Part 7 - We hobble through the Magic Kingdom (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34194994&postcount=555)
Day 3 - Part 7b - Continued from last post (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34195117&postcount=556)
Day 4 - Part 1 - A Walking Tour of the Poly (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34300609&postcount=572)
Day 4 - Part 2 - Lunch @ Kona and a Tour of the Lake (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34306551&postcount=577)
Day 4 - Part 3 - More lake time and a visit to the pool and bar! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34348121&postcount=589)
Day 4 - Part 4 - An unplanned evening (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34376135&postcount=601)


A little background on our recent trips…

Back in January 2006, my Mom and I decided to plan a little trip down to Disney with the whole family. At the time, there were 12 of us going. We stayed offsite in an amazing 7 bedroom house in Formosa Gardens, and had a fabulous time, except for one, teeny, tiny, little thing…..a stomach bug that ran through almost every single one of us over the course of the week. :sick:
It was....how shall I say....a tad bit “un-magical” to always have to carry plastic bags around with you, listen for the little pre-cough that comes right before your 2 year old decides to lose her lunch, you get the picture…. :scared:

HOWEVER, we had a great time when we weren’t sick. :thumbsup2 It was a trip of many firsts. It was a first time to Disney for many of the kids! We ate in the castle for the first time! The guys experienced Dive Quest for the first time! We had some really great moments. :goodvibes It was pre-DIS, pre-TGM, pre-EVERYTHING for me, so consequently, we did a lot of walking around, wishing we had time for "that" attraction, wishing we could ride that attraction again, but the FPs were gone, etc, etc…:rolleyes1 you get the drift.

Still…it set the groundwork for the object of my desires for the next year….

...A repeat trip with hopes of a “do-over” without sickness!! :scratchin

So we started planning a huge Thanksgiving trip for 2007, figuring that would put us at almost 2 years between trips. This time it would be with all 16 of us (my brother and his family weren’t able to come in 2006 and escaped the vomit-filled extravaganza – lucky them – but they decided to chance it this time and come along)! We found an 8 bedroom house this time (not quite as nice as the 2006 one, but still very nice), and we made that trip down in November of 2007 and completed it with no sickness this time! Yippee!!! :yay:

You can read all about it here:
Thanksgiving Trip - It was Like Herding Cats (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1583307)


The planning for the Thanksgiving trip is what did "it" for me.

And by "it" I mean, I found the DIS and TGM before we left, and consequently, I went from being just a “fan” of Disney into a TOTAL.DISNEY.NUT. :rolleyes1 Yeah, I admit it.

It turned me into one of those people (and I say this knowing that I am in good company), that have to make a mental note to try NOT to insert Disney references into my daily conversations with non-Disney people! And boy, is that a challenge! :laughing:

I drank the Kool-Aid, and I drank A LOT of it!!

The Thanksgiving trip was filled with lots of magical moments but was quite stressful at times for yours truly. See, I was the ONLY one who planned anything. I was very up front about wanting to have a plan, but the rest of my group fell into one of the following categories….the “we will do whatever you think is best” group (YAY!), or the “we don’t really HAVE to have a plan, do we?” group (ughhhhh).

Yep. Some in the group were very “anti-plan”. It caused a little bit of stress for me as I’m not one to rock the boat, but I also knew what was going to be required of us on certain days in order for the kids (there were 8 of them) to do and see what they really wanted to. It was a large group during one of the busiest times of the year, and I knew to get ANYTHING done, we would need a plan. It was hard at times, and although I think we all enjoyed ourselves, I had this overwhelming desire to go back and try it out with a slightly smaller herd. ;)

Continued in next post....

Sara

[mom2mek]

Pre-Trip - Part 2:

Late last spring, the kids’ school schedule came out for the following school year, and I noticed that they had 2 days off before Columbus Day weekend!

Well, shoot! Combine those 2 days with the weekend, plus Columbus Day, and whamo….my wheels were-a-turnin! :scratchin

Well, it only took me about 2 nano-seconds to decide that Disney is where I wanted to be!! I sooo wanted to see Disney decorated for Halloween, and I really wanted to try out the Halloween party, so I casually mentioned it to Shawn and was met with an eye-roll, :rolleyes: and a “geez, Sara…give it a rest” or something like that!. Grrr….so I dropped it.

HOWEVER…..

Not too long after that, he came to me and surprised me with a big old “YES” we could go!! :banana: I considered this a surprise trip for me, since after the initial eye-roll response, I figured I wasn’t going back anytime soon. So, I decided to keep that trip a surprise from the kids, and got to the planning.

You can read all about our October adventures here (I just finished a few weeks ago...oops)

Surprise Trip in October (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1965073)

We were able to bring my MIL with us this time and enjoyed doing that for her. She is so helpful to us and I don’t know what we would do without her. :love: It was a trip of a lifetime for her and I’m so happy to know that she enjoyed herself and had a blast. We were able to see the lovely autumn decorations, experience our first-ever “party” and celebrate my youngest daughter’s 4th birthday! :goodvibes

Two months later, I managed to drive down to Florida from VA, and meet up with some of my dearest friends (whom I met on the DIS, by the way), and experience an “adult” Disney trip in December! :goodvibes We were only there for 3 days, but boy oh boy was that a trip of a different color! We had a blast!! :woohoo:

There is something magical about sharing your Disney love with your children, but there is something equally magical about experiencing Disney with really good friends. :grouphug: We managed to go to the Christmas Party at the MK, and spend a day each at Animal Kingdom and Epcot. And of course, we were able to fit in plenty of shopping and adult beverages! You can read all about it here, (although it is still not done....ahem....Monica....hello?)

December Girls Trip (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2067039)

Apparently Monica is trying to beat my record for taking the longest to finish up a report! :rolleyes1

Anyway, it was a great trip, and it really set the stage for this trip in May with hubby, because when I got back and told him of how relaxing a trip it was, not herding around a bunch of kids and grandparents, bags and strollers, snacks and sippy cups, etc, etc….he jumped right on board. :rotfl2:

Plus, because I was doing the October family trip combined with the girls weekend, I had bought an AP, and now it was burning a hole in my pocket! :rolleyes:

And don’t forget….I’m a crazy, obsessed Disney fan, remember? :yay:

My first thoughts were “let’s do this on the cheap!” I was thinking of a value resort, very few ADRs, and watching the airfares for the best deal. Well, soon after I started researching the hotels, Shawn mentioned staying at the Polynesian or the Contemporary. :eek:



Whoa!



Wait a minute!



Back this bus up!



What did you just say?

:dance3::dance3::dance3::dance3::dance3:

Ha! Who is the Disney nut in this relationship again? Uh-huh. :rolleyes1


But how could I argue with the man? His very valid points included…

• it’s just the two of us, so right off the bat our costs will be much smaller (without our 3 biggest expenses along for the ride);

• I have my AP and Shawn has days left on his non-expiring ticket from the 2006 trip, so no tickets to purchase


Ok! Ok! Sold! Sold! He didn’t really have to twist my arm too much, truth be known…so I was off to find a good deal on the Contemporary or the Poly! :banana:

With my AP, I was able to get a rate at the Contemporary that was comparable to a rate I found through Tikiman’s website for the Polynesian. The only thing was that the Contemporary dates would be in March (since, at the time, that was all my AP discount could get the discounted rates through) and the Poly dates were in May. Personally, I preferred the March timeframe since the weather would be cooler, but Shawn pointed out that we had just had some time off in early January for New Year’s and going in March would almost seem like “too soon,” so we decided on the Poly in May!!

Up next, I’ll introduce the cast! That won’t take long! :laughing:

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Am I first???? :cool1:


It turned me into one of those people (and I say this knowing that I am in good company), that have to make a mental note to try NOT to insert Disney references into my daily conversations with non-Disney people! And boy, is that a challenge! :laughing:

I drank the Kool-Aid, and I drank A LOT of it!!


That is some good Kool-Aid isn't it? And I totally understand being turned into one of "those people"! At least we are among friends here! :grouphug:



Two months later, I managed to drive down to Florida from VA, and meet up with some of my dearest friends (whom I met on the DIS, by the way), and experience an “adult” Disney trip in December! :goodvibes We were only there for 3 days, but boy oh boy was that a trip of a different color! We had a blast!! :woohoo:

There is something magical about sharing your Disney love with your children, but there is something equally magical about experiencing Disney with really good friends. :grouphug: We managed to go to the Christmas Party at the MK, and spend a day each at Animal Kingdom and Epcot. And of course, we were able to fit in plenty of shopping and adult beverages! You can read all about it here, (although it is still not done....ahem....Monica....hello?)


That was one of the best trips ever! :banana:


I'm so excited for you and Shawn getting a couples trip to the World! And I'm also happy that we will be there for at least one of the same days. Can't wait to see where you fit me in on your plans! :rolleyes:

[mom2mek]

Okey dokey....a couple of pics:

Our family:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Columbus/ColumbusOhio6-083002.jpg
(the two going on this trip are the two big ones in the back....:rolleyes:)

On our trip in October:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%201%20-%20Epcot/image161.jpg

Supporting cast and trips from our previous trips....up next.....

Sara

[mom2mek]

Am I first???? :cool1:


First and only....:rotfl2: How'd you find me so soon?

I can't even link this in my old TR as it's already closed....:sad1:


That is some good Kool-Aid isn't it? And I totally understand being turned into one of "those people"! At least we are among friends here! :grouphug:


I love the kool-aid! It is delicious! :goodvibes


That was one of the best trips ever! :banana:


I'm so excited for you and Shawn getting a couples trip to the World! And I'm also happy that we will be there for at least one of the same days. Can't wait to see where you fit me in on your plans! :rolleyes:

:rotfl2: Michelle! You are definitely in my plans! :cheer2: I can't wait!

Sara

[Sleeping*Beauty]

WOW!! He brought up the Poly? You are very lucky. I can't wait to hear more.

[crgfsu1]

I'm in, I'm in! Who-hoo!! I love reading a trip report from the beginning where I dont have to catch up! (guess that is the point of PRE-trip reports :) )

Cant wait to hear all about your plans.

Cathy

[mom2mek]

WOW!! He brought up the Poly? You are very lucky. I can't wait to hear more.

Thanks for reading! I feel VERY lucky to be staying at the Poly! Probably never happen again! LOL! :lmao:

I'm in, I'm in! Who-hoo!! I love reading a trip report from the beginning where I dont have to catch up! (guess that is the point of PRE-trip reports :) )

Cant wait to hear all about your plans.

Cathy

Thanks Cathy! I'm glad you're here! I hope to have my plans up soon! I need advice from the disney nuts!!! :woohoo:

Sara

[shordiebecka]

I'm here! I too love PTR from the beginning. those are some really really grand gatherings that you've put together- i love to plan things so I would take on that task in a heartbeat, though I know how stressful it could be! Can't wait to hear more!

[mom2mek]

Pre- Trip - Part 3 - The cast of this grand adventure:

Me – Sara (34) – Wife to Shawn, Mother to Michael, Emily, and Katie (hence my mom2mek name) and lover of all things Disney, as well as all things about planning for Disney!

I'm not really a control freak about anything except planning for Disney. (See aforementioned disney nut comment). Overall, I think I am a fairly easy-going person when it comes to other things. I work full time in my family’s business in the accounting department, where my mom is my boss. It’s great in most ways and I can’t complain. :goodvibes

Other than the trips already mentioned, I have been to Disney a few times as a child, a couple of times during those oh-so-glamorous pre-teen, mid-80's years, and then my first "adult" trip was in 2002 when my son was 14 months old.

My favorite park is (and will probably always be) the Magic Kingdom!!! However, we are planning on spending 2 full days at Epcot over this short trip - go figure! :rolleyes1

DH - otherwise known as Shawn (35). Slightly rough exterior but on the inside is a sweetheart and makes up for his (at times) lack of patience with his kind heart. He also considers my obsession with Disney to be endearing…or, so he says anyway. :rolleyes: I have him to thank for jumping on board with my Disney obsession, and for pushing that we "upgrade" a bit on this trip! :love:

He is my high school sweetheart, so I have known him for 18 years (we met in August of 1990 – yikes!), went to prom together, then he joined the Army (82nd Airborne Division) and I went to college, but we continued to date throughout all those years, and got married after I graduated and he finished out his service in the Army.

It’s a good thing we love eachother, since we also work together. :eek: I work in the office, and he works in pretty much everything! Officially, he is an estimator, but he is also our resident IT guru, as well as a project manager when it is necessary. He is far more valuable to the company than I am, and works very long hours as a result.

He is a very creative person, loves photography, loves graphic design, loves animation. His Disney history consists of his first trip ever in 2002 (he was 28), then the sick trip in 2006, the Thanksgiving 2007 trip, and our recent October 2008 trip. He never went to Disney as a child, and in fact, the October 2008 trip was the 1st time he went to Disney with his mother! :love:

He loves all the parks, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Epcot is his favorite. He loves all the photographic possibility that lies in that park! I'm hoping to have a lot of beautiful photos from him to share in this report. :thumbsup2

THAT'S IT!!! Smallest cast I have ever written about in a trip report! :cool1:

The supporting cast (my nice way of saying they AREN'T COMING ON THIS TRIP! LOL!)

Michael - 8 years old. A very sweet boy. Loves everything Star Wars, Pirates, Narnia, and Bakugan (?) Basically anything with a weapon! ;) A loving, thoughtful, peace-keeper of a boy who doesn’t like for anyone to feel sad or upset. Just an overall good kid. Straight A second grader who loves playing soccer and video games, and reluctantly sings in the church choir but I don't think he is planning on making singing his career of choice.

Emily - 6 years old. A sweet soul but is very shy. She loves princesses, makeup, ballet, Webkinz (they have taken over our house), anything pink, loves animals – but especially our new puppy! She is so very shy but is getting better. Sings in the church choir and really loves it! Getting ready to finish up her first year of real school - kindergarten graduation is in a few more weeks! :eek:

Katie - 4 years old. My totally random little child. She is my comic relief! She is very imaginative and loves to sing. She is still at home during the day (with my MIL) but does ballet and sings in the children’s choir at church. She is my little Dory – forgets things almost instantly – but is almost always happy! Well except for the little fit she threw tonight! :rolleyes:

Without further adieu....the offspring:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/OBX%20July%2008/OBX-33.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/MotherDay2008OBX_129.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/OBX%20July%2008/OBX-24.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/OBX%20July%2008/OBX-10.jpg


Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Love the pics of the kids - they are so cute! :goodvibes
But aren't you forgetting one member of your family? :dog2:

[KathyRN137]

Ahhh...the romantic Disney getaway!!! :goodvibes Can't wait to hear all the details...

So happy for you!


Kathy

[mom2mek]

I'm here! I too love PTR from the beginning. those are some really really grand gatherings that you've put together- i love to plan things so I would take on that task in a heartbeat, though I know how stressful it could be! Can't wait to hear more!

Hi! Thanks for reading! I love to plan too! The planning of the big trips was tons of fun! :love: However, the execution of said planning was, at times, um....enormously frustrating? :headache: Overall though, the trips have always been fantastic! We have a great time all together as a family! :goodvibes

Love the pics of the kids - they are so cute! :goodvibes
But aren't you forgetting one member of your family? :dog2:

Thanks Michelle! Yes, yes, I know! I was writing that little part up last night but someone kept chewing on my laptop! I'll get to my newest family member in a moment! :rolleyes1

Ahhh...the romantic Disney getaway!!! :goodvibes Can't wait to hear all the details...

So happy for you!


Kathy

Thanks Kathy! :goodvibes I hope to get some good advice from people on some of those "romantic" ideas! :love:

Sara

[daisy2jae]

have a fun trip

[mom2mek]

have a fun trip

Thanks! And thanks for reading along! :goodvibes

Sara

[mom2mek]

Pre Trip - Part 4 - A Journey through photos....:cool1:

Just to bide my time since I haven't actually written up any more stuff, :rolleyes1I thought I would share a few pics of our last few trips....I promise to get to some tour plans and such for this trip…believe me, I could use some advice….but for now….a trip down memory lane!

First up (cue ominious music here).....

"SICK TRIP 2006" otherwise known as the "DISNEY DISASTER TRIP":scared1:

This was in January 2006 - 12 of us - 6 adults, 6 kids (ages 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10)

Breakfast in the castle:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/14.jpg


Group shot (this was our ONLY picture that EVERYONE is in…and literally 2 seconds after it was taken, my DD Emily (on the end in green) promptly threw up! Good times….good times….)

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/6.jpg

Katie at the Seas:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/113.jpg


My two nieces with my son, Michael outside Nemo (which wasn't open yet)
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/109.jpg

The cookie thing at Epcot (I don't think they do this anymore...:sad2:)
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/100.jpg

In front of Spaceship Earth:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/84.jpg

Emily and yours truly in Adventureland:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/48.jpg

Downtown Disney (the one day everyone was well...go figure...we went to DTD...grrr)
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/135.jpg

The kids watching Shawn, my step-dad (Pop Pop) and my BIL do Dive Quest:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/118.jpg

The obligatory kids-in-Bruce-the-shark's-mouth picture:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/110.jpg

Photo Booth at the RFC outside AK:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/184.jpg

My Mom with four of the 6 kids
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/161.jpg

Shawn and our youngest daughter, Katie
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/160.jpg

Michael and two of my nieces at AK:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/76.jpg

Outside the Rainforest Café:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/83.jpg

Sara

[mom2mek]

More pics from previous trips....

Next up...."The Herding Cats Trip" over Thanksgiving 2007

There were 16 of us on this trip - 8 Adults, 8 kids (2, 3, 4, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 12)

Group Shot – AK:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/ak.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001049.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001043.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001675.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001673.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001643-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001655.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001025.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001630-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/PB190117-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/PB190090.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001579-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001312.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001561.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney2007_001547.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/AK%20Epcot/1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/AK%20Epcot/Disney2007_001764.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/AK%20Epcot/Disney2007_001169.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Thanksgiving%20Day/Disney2007_001155.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Thanksgiving%20Day/Disney2007_001776-1.jpg

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http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Thanksgiving%20Day/Disney2007_001817.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Thanksgiving%20Day/Disney2007_001093-1.jpg

See how much time I'm saving you...no need to go back and read the old reports, right? :flower3:

Sara

[tinkerbells mum]

It turned me into one of those people (and I say this knowing that I am in good company), that have to make a mental note to try NOT to insert Disney references into my daily conversations with non-Disney people! And boy, is that a challenge! :laughing:



this is hysterical :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: i know exactly where you are coming from i'm sure i could talk Disney all day every day if i didn't think about what i'm saying!!!

subbing to your report as i can't wait to hear about the planning!

the photos of your children are beautiful xx

[mkluvsmickey]

I'm enjoying your "old" pictures! It is neat to see your children growing right before my very eyes! :upsidedow You guys always look like you are having fun - even if there are moments in between.

[crgfsu1]

Holy Smokes that is a lot of people!!!! I was stressed when we took a trip one year with 9 people, then our next trip with 8 people. It will definitly be a change for you going only with the 2 of you.

Loving your past pictures!

[mom2mek]

this is hysterical :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: i know exactly where you are coming from i'm sure i could talk Disney all day every day if i didn't think about what i'm saying!!!

subbing to your report as i can't wait to hear about the planning!

the photos of your children are beautiful xx

That's why places like the DIS are great - we can "talk" and "talk all we want here - we are in great company! :flower3:

I'm enjoying your "old" pictures! It is neat to see your children growing right before my very eyes! :upsidedow You guys always look like you are having fun - even if there are moments in between.
Are you tired of looking at those same old pictures every time I start one of these things Michelle? :laughing:

We do always have a lot of fun, overall! :thumbsup2

Holy Smokes that is a lot of people!!!! I was stressed when we took a trip one year with 9 people, then our next trip with 8 people. It will definitly be a change for you going only with the 2 of you.

Loving your past pictures!

LOL - Thanks! Yes it was a lot of people to herd around, especially being the only "planner"! I will post pics of our October trip next - it was just 8 of us! Piece of cake after the Thanksgiving trip! :goodvibes



Woo-hoo! 2 weeks from today I will be on my way to the Poly and to the most magical place in the world.....DISNEY WORLD!

:banana::yay::woohoo::cool1::dance3::cheer2::beach :pixiedust::dancer:party::jumping1::drinking1::Mic keyMo:dumbo:::MinnieMo:dogdance:

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Woo-hoo! 2 weeks from today I will be on my way to the Poly and to the most magical place in the world.....DISNEY WORLD!

:banana::yay::woohoo::cool1::dance3::cheer2::beach :pixiedust::dancer:party::jumping1::drinking1::Mic keyMo:dumbo:::MinnieMo:dogdance:



Woo Hoo! I can't believe how quick are trips are approaching! All of sudden we are two weeks away! :cool1::cool1::cool1:

[kaysmommie]

:yay: you started your pre TR. Love the pictures from your 2006 trip. I can't believe how much your kids have grown since then. Katie is just a baby. But I'm also shocked when I look at pics of my kids from that year too. They are growing up :sad2: way too fast! I try not to use talk about Disney to non disney people too :laughing:. I know lots of people who probably make fun of me behind my back :rolleyes1 for being a Disney freak. Just two more weeks until your at Poly with out kids :woohoo: :dance3: :banana:.

[mom2mek]

Woo Hoo! I can't believe how quick are trips are approaching! All of sudden we are two weeks away! :cool1::cool1::cool1:

I know! Woo-hoo! I have done so little to plan for this trip! What's wrong with me? Ahhhh!!!!! :scared1:

:yay: you started your pre TR. Love the pictures from your 2006 trip. I can't believe how much your kids have grown since then. Katie is just a baby. But I'm also shocked when I look at pics of my kids from that year too. They are growing up :sad2: way too fast! I try not to use talk about Disney to non disney people too :laughing:. I know lots of people who probably make fun of me behind my back :rolleyes1 for being a Disney freak. Just two more weeks until your at Poly with out kids :woohoo: :dance3: :banana:.

Yay - glad you found me Nichole! :cool1: Isn't it amazing how fast our kids are growing? I started re-reading your Poly trip from 2007 today, so I could gleam any "Poly-specific" trip stuff! I can't wait to stay there! I do hope we have a clean room though - I forgot about that litte tidbit of info from your trip! Ick.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who make fun of me behind my back too....:rolleyes1 Oh well! We are in good company here!

Can't wait to hopefully meet up while we are there! :woohoo:

Sara

[mom2mek]

Double post....sorry.

[kaysmommie]

I sent you a PM, check in your inbox :goodvibes. As far as Poly our stay in 2006 was great but 2007 the room was a little nasty. What building are you requesting? I think Tokelau and Samoa are good locations for garden views. Not sure where is best if your in a lagoon view. I would want to be in Hawaii building :cloud9:. If your is not clean when you check in just call the front desk.

[KathyRN137]

Love the pictures!! It's so much fun to see how the kids have grown! I never read your "Sick Trip" Report... do I want to?? :laughing: You can't make that stuff up if you tried, right??

It's going to feel so strange for you being at WDW with no gigantic herd to keep track of!


Kathy

[mom2mek]

Love the pictures!! It's so much fun to see how the kids have grown! I never read your "Sick Trip" Report... do I want to?? :laughing: You can't make that stuff up if you tried, right??

It's going to feel so strange for you being at WDW with no gigantic herd to keep track of!


Kathy

:lmao: Kathy! I don't know if you really want to read that! I didn't really do one though....that trip was pre-dis, pre-tgm, pre-everything!! However, when I started my pre-trip for the Thanksgiving one, I did a sort of Trip-Report-Within-A-Pre-Trip-Report "thing"! So, it's pretty much there! My daughter Emily (2 1/2 at the time) pretty much had it the worst, but it did go through almost all 12 of us. I think my sister and Shawn were the only two "spared"!

Sara

[mom2mek]

Pre-Trip - October Trip Review as told through a few photos....

6 1/2 months ago, we took our slightly-less-large group of 8 down to Disney for my daughter's 4th birthday! The cast was the 5 of us, plus my parents, and my MIL. We stayed in a 3 bedroom townhouse in Windsor Hills (which was fabulous - only/best way to go with a big group (offsite houses) and Windsor Hills was a really nice resort and only 1 1/2 miles to Disney)!

So, here are some of my favorite pics of this trip (to save you the time of having to read the whole dag-um thing!) :rolleyes1

First day - Epcot! First family in to the Characer Connection (while Shawn and step-dad went to get FPs for Soarin)

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%201%20-%20Epcot/image066.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%201%20-%20Epcot/image063.jpg

We had a great anniversary lunch at the Coral Reef, complete with personalized menus and a diver:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%201%20-%20Epcot/DSC_0072.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%201%20-%20Epcot/PA090060.jpg

Got completely drenched that night trying to stay for Illuminations:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%201%20-%20Epcot/DSC_0167-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%201%20-%20Epcot/PA090089.jpg



Second Day – Kona for lunch and then MNSSHP (This is the first time we had been to the Poly….Love at First Sight!!!) :cloud9:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%202%20-%20MNSSHP/DSC_0189.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%202%20-%20MNSSHP/PA100145.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%202%20-%20MNSSHP/DSC_0220.jpg


http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%202%20-%20MNSSHP/DSC_0233.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%202%20-%20MNSSHP/image030.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%202%20-%20MNSSHP/PA100197.jpg

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http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%202%20-%20MNSSHP/image048.jpg

Continued....

[mom2mek]

...Continued....

3rd Day – Katie’s Birthday – MK for the BBB for the girls, Archery at FW for Michael, then dinner at Park Fare, followed by Spectro:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/DSC_0713.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/image306.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/image227.jpg

(I call this one the Siamese twin shot – looks like they are joined in the middle, each with one arm, one leg):
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/image290.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/DSC_0800-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/DSC_0823.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/DSC_0858.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/DSC_0848-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/DSC_0890.jpg

Day 4 – DHS – TSM, parade, Sci-Fi for dinner (among other things):
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%204%20-%20DHS/DSC_0026.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%204%20-%20DHS/DHS1.jpg

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http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%204%20-%20DHS/DSC_0195.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%204%20-%20DHS/DSC_0229.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%204%20-%20DHS/image500-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%204%20-%20DHS/image508-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%204%20-%20DHS/image507-2.jpg


Day 5- MK – early CP breakfast, followed by a blissfully uncrowded Columbus Day!
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%205%20-%20MK/DSC_0296-1.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%205%20-%20MK/image327.jpg

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http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%205%20-%20MK/DSC_0310.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%205%20-%20MK/PA130487.jpg

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%205%20-%20MK/image354.jpg

Ok, enough about all those other trips….now I’m going to get going on some plans for this trip!!! LOL!

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

I love, love, love your October trip pictures! It was great to relive that with you again. The fall decorations are so pretty and you guys all looked great! One of these days I'm going to crash one of your family vacations - what's one more, right? You probably wouldn't even notice! :rotfl:

[ladybugmom]

Hey Sara!! I just found your PTR link in your siggy!! Whoo hoo for 2 weeks!! Maybe I missed it but what are the exact dates of your trip? I'm just wondering how our trips overlap with us staying at the Poly as well. princess:

[mom2mek]

I love, love, love your October trip pictures! It was great to relive that with you again. The fall decorations are so pretty and you guys all looked great! One of these days I'm going to crash one of your family vacations - what's one more, right? You probably wouldn't even notice! :rotfl:

Yes - you should, Michelle - you would blend right in! :goodvibes

Hey Sara!! I just found your PTR link in your siggy!! Whoo hoo for 2 weeks!! Maybe I missed it but what are the exact dates of your trip? I'm just wondering how our trips overlap with us staying at the Poly as well. princess:

Hey Becky! Glad you found me! We are arriving on the 13th, leaving on the 17th. It would be great is we ran into eachother! I'm getting so excited! :banana::banana:

Sara

[KathyRN137]

Now that last trip, I definitely remember reading about!! :goodvibes


Kathy

[mom2mek]

Now that last trip, I definitely remember reading about!! :goodvibes


Kathy


:lmao::rotfl2::lmao:

Could it be that I just finished it, oh....a couple of weeks ago? I am so bad. (But at least I know I'm in good company Kathy! ;))

Sara

[mom2mek]

Let me update with a little side-bar about our new family member.

About 6 weeks ago, Shawn and I decided we had gone too long without a dog (we put our beloved Boxer, Sam, to sleep last year) and we wanted to surprise the kids with a puppy for Easter!

We researched and found what we believed was a good and very reputable breeder and picked out our puppy. Here is her picture when she was just a month old:

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs014.snc1/2634_1120627621550_1402837193_30362741_1212957_n.j pg

Needless to say, Shawn and I immediately fell in love with her. We got some updated pics while we waited to be able to go pick her up, and she looked like she was doing very well!

The day before we were supposed to pick her up (which was the Saturday before Easter) the breeder called us and told us that she had a "bout" of worms. :eek: Ok, ok...it's common in puppies, I shouldn't be worried. I was glad the breeder seemed to want to take care of her through all of it before letting her go. I was thinking from his point of view, he loves the puppy and he doesn't "know" us, so he wanted to make sure she was totally taken care of before handing her over to some strangers.

That's what I thought anyway....

We called a few times during the week to see how she was doing, and all we got was that she was doing better, had lost a little weight, and he wanted her to get her strength back before letting her go. WOuld probably be ok to go that weekend (one week after we were supposed to get her). So on Friday afternoon, he called and said we could come get her on Saturday. We left that next morning around 6:30 am to drive up towards Washington DC and pick her up. We were both so excited about surprising the kids!

When we got her, she was very sleepy and pretty skinny. :sad1: But we both just figured that she was still regaining her strength, and that soon enough she would be normal. We paid the man and left with our puppy.


Here she is when we brought her home (those are 3 Boston terrier webkinz in the basket - she is all the way to the right in the basket - yes the Webkinz dwarfed her) The kids were very surprised!

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2793_1146374745212_1402837193_30396441_7744933_n.j pg

For that day, and the next (Sat and Sun) she did nothing but sleep. She occasionally used the potty, but she hardly ate and never really played. We had a vet appt for her scheduled for Tuesday, but re-scheduled for the 1st appt we could get on Monday morning.

Well, come to find out, we had a VERY sick little puppy. :sick:

Turns out she didn't just have roundworms (common in pups), she had two other parasites (giardia and toxcidia - I have no idea if I'm spelling those correctly). She had not been receiving treatment for either of those and consequently her proteins and red blood counts in her blood were SO LOW she was near death. The only thing that MIGHT save her the vet said, was a blood transfusion.

She spent the next few days in the vet hospital during the day, and with us at night. She was on four medications and had the blood transfusion and IV fluids constantly. But it worked. $1500 later, (not including the cost of the puppy) and we have our sweet little Jellybean home safe and sound and acting like a real puppy!

Come to find out, the breeder did not disclose a lot of information to us, including the fact that her tests that his vet did also showed giardia (but she wasn't being given treatment for it) and that one of her littermates DIED 2 days before we were supposed to originally pick her up!!! And guess what the State Lab concluded she died of? Yup - Giardia!

What a jerk! Plus, giardia and toxcidia are both transferable to people. So this jerk put my children at risk!!! :mad::mad::mad:

I came "this close" to cancelling our trip due to the unexpected $ outlay for her care, but Shawn piped up with "I'm not letting that jerk ruin our trip!" :hug:

End result - Jellybean is a crazy, normal, ankle-biting, sweet, cuddly, lovable, Boston Terrier puppy and breeder man has refunded the money we paid for the puppy. However, we will be pursuing reimbursement for the other charges as what he did actually is a Class 3 Misdemeanor under VA law. I plan on making some calls to have his facility inspected as well. From all accounts, he was a reputable breeder who was regularly inspected by the AKC, but he really fouled up here and should be held accountable for that baby. Had we not come to get her, she would have been dead in a week.

All he had to do was disclose to us all that we were entitled to know - if we had then made the decision to NOT take her (as hard as that would have been), he would have done nothing wrong in regards to the sale of the puppy. But he did not do that. He knowingly sold us a puppy that had a parasite that killed one of her littermates TWO days before we were supposed to get her. And he sold us that puppy knowing that we had children. Infuriating! :headache:

Anyway, here she is now...gaining weight, causing trouble, chewing up stuff, and loving us as much as we love her! I truly think she was meant for us! :love:

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2793_1146374905216_1402837193_30396445_4575097_n.j pg

Here is a before/after pic...not altered at all and you can see the difference in her face, her color, everything....:goodvibes

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2793_1146384385453_1402837193_30396467_5235115_n.j pg

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Aw! Even though I already knew the Jellybean story I still got a little misty eyed reading about it all again. I'm so happy she is doing so well! And that your trip is on! :banana::banana:

[KathyRN137]

Awww, poor little Jellybean! :sad1: I'm glad she found such a loving family; she's going to have a very happy life!

:mad: Grrr! I hope that breeder learned his lesson...


Kathy

[ladybugmom]

Oh my word!! I cannot believe the breeder kept that from you!! I'd be TICKED!! But so glad to hear that Jellybean is doing well, now!!

[mom2mek]

QUOTE=mkluvsmickey;31596604]Aw! Even though I already knew the Jellybean story I still got a little misty eyed reading about it all again. I'm so happy she is doing so well! And that your trip is on! :banana::banana:[/QUOTE]
Thanks Michelle! I hopoe you can meet her in June when you come to VA!!:banana::banana:

Awww, poor little Jellybean! :sad1: I'm glad she found such a loving family; she's going to have a very happy life!

:mad: Grrr! I hope that breeder learned his lesson...


Kathy
I hope he does too! :headache:

Oh my word!! I cannot believe the breeder kept that from you!! I'd be TICKED!! But so glad to hear that Jellybean is doing well, now!! She is a joy, Becky! Of course she is trying to eat the laptop right now!:lmao:

We are going to miss her when we go!:sad1:

Sara

[mom2mek]

Pre Trip - PART 5! SOME PLANS!!!

"The “firsts” of this trip"

Every trip has “firsts”, right? It could be your child’s FIRST time at Disney? It might be your FIRST time eating breakfast in the castle? Maybe you are getting the chance to take your FIRST tour? Maybe your child is tall enough to ride Splash Mountain for the FIRST time? I think no matter how many times you go back to Disney, you will always have a few FIRSTS! :thumbsup2


Well, for Shawn and I….this trip is going to have a few “FIRSTS” as well. :banana:


The first “FIRST” is the most obvious – the Poly! :love:Not only is it the first time staying there, it is our FIRST time staying onsite!!! Shocker, I know. :eek: Technically, I have stayed onsite before, but I was a child so I have no recollection of it. :sad2: Since then, we have stayed in offsite hotels (in the 80’s) and offsite houses (more recently). We will pretty much stick to the big houses for trips with the family, as they just make much more sense on so many levels…Space, Money, Kitchen, Private Pool, just much, much, more practical and fun than hotel rooms – yes, even Disney ones!! :snooty: That is, if you enjoy being with your extended family….which we do….

We might stay onsite with just OUR family of 5, but with 5 it limits you to either certain deluxe hotels, POR with a trundle, a FW cabin, or DVC….all pretty much out of our price range, except POR maybe (but it’s still more $ than a big offsite townhouse/condo/house…) Ahhhh.:scared1:....but I digress….I mean, we are after all…staying at the POLY this trip, and I never thought we would do that! LOL! Never say Never, right? :rolleyes1

So, the FIRST time at the Poly…..that’s a biggie! We will also NOT be renting a car, so this will be the FIRST time we use Magical Express, and the FIRST time we rely on Disney transportation to go to and from the parks. I’m a little nervous about this, I gotta say. :scared:

However, since we are at the Poly, and since we are spending 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at the MK, and 1 evening at the AK….our only actual bus experience will be getting to the AK, so I’m not AS concerned. And again, since it’s just Shawn and I, I don’t have to worry about hiking it to a hotel room a mile away from a bus stop with a sleeping child on my shoulder. (One of the other nice things about offsite houses – pull up in a driveway and you are steps away from your house – very nice when carrying a heavy infant, toddler, or child).

So without further adieu, here are our arrival day plans….

• Our flight leaves VA around 11:30, so my plan is to get the kids off to school and then home to pack up the car and leave for the airport around 9:15. It’s about 30 minutes to the airport, so give or take a few, we are aiming for an airport arrival around 10:00.

• Spend an hour and a half of sheer terror on the airplane :scared1:until we land in Orlando around 1:15 (yes, I hate to fly)! :laughing:

• I’m thinking we should grab some lunch at the airport to eat while we are on the ME bus. Can you bring food on the bus? :confused3

• Try to locate the ME check-in desk and get us checked in as quick as possible (anything I should know about this other than to bring my ME paperwork, find the place, get in line, check in, and follow directions to the bus?) We have never done this before so it will be a change in “procedure” for us!

• I’m hoping to make it to the Poly by 3:00 – do you think that is do-able with a 1:15 flight arrival? I have no idea of how fast/slow ME works – I have read different accounts of how long, but what has been your experience? I have no idea how the resorts are lumped together on ME, but I’m assuming the MK resorts are together – Poly, CR, GF – but what about WL or FW? Anyone know?

• I have not figured out if I want to try online check in (or, for that matter, if I am eligible, since I used an agent to book our room…guess I could ask her, huh? LOL) If I can, I don’t know if I want to as I am putting a longhouse request on our reservation and I don’t think you can add that kind of stuff when you do online check in. Maybe you can? Maybe it doesn’t matter anyway and I will just get what we get? I will be at the Poly – I will be happy with whatever I get! :cloud9:

• I’m assuming we will be able to get in our room, as it will be close to 3:00, so if we can, we will go check it out, freshen up, and then head over to the Animal Kingdom

Now, here is another FIRST. We will be going to an EMH at one of the parks. :confused: Now if it were a trip with my kids, I would say we would get settled in our resort, check everything out, go swimming, eat a nice meal, unpack, and then hit the sack so we could hit the parks early the next day. That’s what I would recommend to any one of my friends who were traveling down with their families (especially on a first trip)!

HOWEVER, since it’s just the two of us – we are headed to a park! :cool1:And since we have always wanted to see the AK at night, we are going to take advantage of the EMH that night at the AK, even though it is going against TGM’s advice. :guilty: I have heard good things about the evening EMH at AK, so if any of you have been, please do share!


• So, we will be using the bus system to get over to the AK. Ugh. I have used the bus system ONCE - on our trip over Thanksgiving- and knew right then and there, that we would always want a car when going to Disney. I just didn’t think Shawn could handle the waiting, and then the stop-and-go action of the busses. When he is going somewhere, he just wants to GET there! I’m hoping he will be in a more relaxed state of mind since it will just be us…no kids, no strollers! Fingers are definitely crossed! If nothing else, it will assure us that we will always have a car when traveling with the kids!

• Hoping to arrive at the AK around 4:00 – realistic? :confused3 The parade will be finishing up and hopefully the park will be starting to clear out of regular day guests. I’m thinking we will head back to the Safari as soon as we can and try to get on the Safari, as it closes earlier than the other attractions. I’m actually not even sure if it is open at all during EMHs. I have heard conflicting accounts. Maybe it is dependent on the time of year. I don’t think it will be dark until 6:30 or 7:00, so maybe they will keep it open. Anyone know?

• After that, the only things I really want to do are FOTLK and Everest. I believe there is a 6:00 showing of FOTLK during EMH, so that is the plan for now. After that, say 6:30, we will make our way around towards Asia for a ride (and maybe two) on Everest. Shawn wants to see the Tree of Life up close, so we will be attempting that as well. Anything else we can do (ITTBAB, Dinosaur, PW) will just be gravy...

• We have an ADR at Boma that night at 8:30, so we will be leaving the park right when it closes at 8:00 and heading over to AKL to eat.

• When leaving the AKL, should I try for a taxi to get back to the Poly, or should we get a bus to the MK and then get on the monorail back to the Poly? :confused: The MK closes at 9:00 that night, so I figure the busses should still be running people back and forth to there right? Or will they have stopped going TO the MK and will only be taking people back FROM the MK to AKL? I’m thinking we will be done with dinner and various shopping/looking around the resort/other stuff around 10:00. Again, I’m a newbie to all this bus stuff, so I was thinking that maybe a taxi would be easier. Oh, wait. What about the busses to DTD? Should we get a bus from AKL to DTD and then a bus from there to the Poly? Ugh. I don’t know. :headache:

So those are the plans for travel, and Day 1. Hopefully we will have our luggage when we arrive back that night and can sit out on the balcony and/or patio and enjoy the Orlando air. :love:

Thoughts/Ideas/Comments? Fire away please....

Sara
•

[mkluvsmickey]

Woo Hoo - plans!! :cool1::cool1::banana:

I've never rode Magical Express so I can't help you there.

I have been to AK at PM EMH though and it is GORGEOUS! Just walking around at night is so different than daytime. When we were there the last safari was around 5 but that was February so hopefully they'll have a few more this time of year. Everest at night is awesome!

What a way to start your trip - Boma! Yum! As for getting back to the Poly I'd say take the bus to MK if they are still running. If not, and if you don't mind spending the money, I'd opt for a taxi rather than the DTD then Poly route. That may get a bit long and Shawn will NOT be happy! :lmao:

I'm so excited for you guys!

[mrsksomeday]

Hello!!! I am so happy I found this! Ahhh the Poly, we are going to be there in December!!! :banana:

You said: We have an ADR at Boma that night at 8:30, so we will be leaving the park right when it closes at 8:00 and heading over to AKL to eat.


I would leave before park closing, if you want to make an 8:30pm ADR. Park closing bus situations can cause long waits sometimes, they say allow an hour with the bus system and Bill and I have found that to be accurate.

[KathyRN137]

We might stay onsite with just OUR family of 5, but with 5 it limits you to either certain deluxe hotels, POR with a trundle, a FW cabin, or DVC….all pretty much out of our price range, except POR maybe (but it’s still more $ than a big offsite townhouse/condo/house…)




...I just booked a night at ASMu...Family Suite...sleeps five....seemed reasonable....just sayin'. :rolleyes1

I've never done ME either, so I have no advice to give! :confused:

After hours, DTD pretty much becomes a transportation hub; I'd take a bus from AKL to DTD after dinner and then from DTD to the Poly. :thumbsup2

To make it on time for dinner at Boma and to maximize your time at AK, I would just spring for the $16 cab and be done with it.

Hakuna Matata! :goodvibes


Kathy

[jillyb]

Woohoo! Found your PTR!

[mom2mek]

Woo Hoo - plans!! :cool1::cool1::banana:

I've never rode Magical Express so I can't help you there.

I have been to AK at PM EMH though and it is GORGEOUS! Just walking around at night is so different than daytime. When we were there the last safari was around 5 but that was February so hopefully they'll have a few more this time of year. Everest at night is awesome!

What a way to start your trip - Boma! Yum! As for getting back to the Poly I'd say take the bus to MK if they are still running. If not, and if you don't mind spending the money, I'd opt for a taxi rather than the DTD then Poly route. That may get a bit long and Shawn will NOT be happy! :lmao:

I'm so excited for you guys!

Thanks Michelle! :flower3:[I'm getting real excited too! :banana: I'm looking forward to Everest at night! Still will probably close my eyes though! :laughing: The MK route was what I was originally thinking to...just wasn't sure if at that hour the busses leaving AKL would be making many runs that direction, you know?

Hello!!! I am so happy I found this! Ahhh the Poly, we are going to be there in December!!! :banana:

You said:

I would leave before park closing, if you want to make an 8:30pm ADR. Park closing bus situations can cause long waits sometimes, they say allow an hour with the bus system and Bill and I have found that to be accurate.

Glad you came over, Tracy! I could definitely use some advice with things from all my disney expert friends! It's funny how you think you know so much but then when you go to start planning, you're like "huh"? :laughing:

Hmmm....wonder how far it is to walk to AKL? LOL! I would hate to wait an hour for a bus - that for sure would seal the deal for Shawn for hating Disney busses!! LOL! :eek:

...I just booked a night at ASMu...Family Suite...sleeps five....seemed reasonable....just sayin'. :rolleyes1

I've never done ME either, so I have no advice to give! :confused:

After hours, DTD pretty much becomes a transportation hub; I'd take a bus from AKL to DTD after dinner and then from DTD to the Poly. :thumbsup2

To make it on time for dinner at Boma and to maximize your time at AK, I would just spring for the $16 cab and be done with it.

Hakuna Matata! :goodvibes


Kathy

I knew I forgot one of the options for a family of 5...the All Star Suite. Thanks Kathy! Definitely an alternative for $ savings (still more expensive than a nice roomy condo 1 mile offsite though...but good to know in case we wanted to try for free dining or something and had to stay onsite plus watch the wallet....:rolleyes1)

Good idea on the cab FROM AK to AKL....it's such a short trip, but I guess there is a minimum charge, huh? I have never paid attention to it, but ARE there taxis outside the parks? I have never seen any! :confused:

Woohoo! Found your PTR!

Yay Jill! Glad you found me!! Have you seen me in any NC Chick Fil-A's lately? :rotfl2: Glad to have you here!! :flower3:

Sara

[kaysmommie]

Hi Sara,
Thanks for sharing Jellybean's story :sad2: poor puppy. She is adorable! SO happy she is healthy now. What a jack a** of a breeder to not properly care for those puppies.

Your first day plans look great! I have never been to EMH at AK but it shouldn't be too busy like MK. Never been to Boma just read about it on the girls trip report. On the way back to Poly I would just take a cab. I have taken the Disney transportation from the airport but not since 2003 and before it was magical express. It took about an hour from the time we deplaned to get to our resort (WL). I think you will be there by 3 PM. Hopefully you will get some advice on that though. I need to know all about it since we drove the last 4 trips. I'm actually thinking of canceling our flights and driving :rolleyes1 because I'm paranoid. Not sure it will do much good since well be in the busy parks anyway. Looking forward to the rest of your trip plans.

[jillyb]

Yay Jill! Glad you found me!! Have you seen me in any NC Chick Fil-A's lately? :rotfl2: Glad to have you here!! :flower3:

Sara


:lmao::lmao::lmao: No...not lately...but I continue to search for the ever elusive Sara! Instead of "Where's Waldo" I'm playing "Where's Sara"! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: And my offer to let me know if you're ever in the Charlotte area still stands. :goodvibes

[mom2mek]

Hi Sara,
Thanks for sharing Jellybean's story :sad2: poor puppy. She is adorable! SO happy she is healthy now. What a jack a** of a breeder to not properly care for those puppies.

Your first day plans look great! I have never been to EMH at AK but it shouldn't be too busy like MK. Never been to Boma just read about it on the girls trip report. On the way back to Poly I would just take a cab. I have taken the Disney transportation from the airport but not since 2003 and before it was magical express. It took about an hour from the time we deplaned to get to our resort (WL). I think you will be there by 3 PM. Hopefully you will get some advice on that though. I need to know all about it since we drove the last 4 trips. I'm actually thinking of canceling our flights and driving :rolleyes1 because I'm paranoid. Not sure it will do much good since well be in the busy parks anyway. Looking forward to the rest of your trip plans. Thanks Nichole! I'm thinking about either the cab from the AKL back to the Poly, or attempting the bus to MK, then monorail back. It might depend on how tired we are, you know? And how patient. And if a bus comes quickly. LOL! I'm still not sure how long we should allow to get TO Boma from AK though. It's not that far from the park, but I know we certanly wouldn't walk it. I really want to stay at AK all the way until 8:00. ugh.


:lmao::lmao::lmao: No...not lately...but I continue to search for the ever elusive Sara! Instead of "Where's Waldo" I'm playing "Where's Sara"! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: And my offer to let me know if you're ever in the Charlotte area still stands. :goodvibes

LOL Jill! I will let you know! I've only driven THROUGH Charlotte! I will check out a Chick Fil-A though the next time we drive through - and let you know so you can catch me in action with my nuggets and sweet tea! :love:

Sara

[kaysmommie]

I think you will be fine as long as you are at the AKL bus stop around 8PM. It takes 5 minutes to get there. If your 10 minutes late for your ADR they will still seat you.

[friskykitten]

Ok, after two of your trip reports and this PTR I am coming out of hiding. Thanks for the info about TGM. But if you think you are cheap then you haven't met me! ;) I'll forgo the membership $ and stick to the advice of my Disney friends here. I can't wait to hear more about your Poly trip!popcorn::

[pixidustmom]

I am fairly new to things but I think I will love to read your report. I have only been to WDW 2x and with my family. I am trying to talk the whole family into making this a big trip but everyone is like well that will be a lot of money and so on. I keep telling them it's a year away lots of time to make payments and they could also use their tax refund next year.:thumbsup2 So I guess they will not get to know the magic this place has.
So I am thinking the ones who will come will be my husband 42, me 39, DD 19, her son 7m, her boyfriend 25, his DD 5, his DD 3, my youngest DD 17, her boyfriend 23. Of course this will be a year from now and you would add a year to all our ages:lmao:
I would like to go late Feb. but we are ok with March, April or May too. I haven't seen the dates released yet for next year so I need to see some off time and not go when it's going to be a holiday. Feb. would be my goal as I turn 40.
There are lots of things I don't know and some things I do. Both times we went we stayed on property in a Mod. and added the dinning plan. Each time it changes as it seems to have changed again. But for us it's a good deal, we eat lots and we for some strange reason never have lots of spending money. Strange things have happened just before both or our trips, which through us for a loop but never ruined our fun.
We have always used the buses and well yes it's a little annoying waiting when you just want to go to the next destination we still liked having it. So we shall do it again.
I also wanted to tell you your children are just adorable. Jellybean is a cutie, and you and your DH are a cute couple. I am really glad I found your pre trip and can't wait to hear how it goes for just the two of you. :love:

[mikayla73]

I just finished reading Oct's TR, it was great and sounds like you had a great time! So I thought I would jump on board for this one. :thumbsup2 I would love to get my family to WDW (or DL for that matter) for a family trip. I have been trying to figure out how to get it done. Our trips are usually just DH and I or with friends and their children. They are always great, but I want to show my family the magic of Disney too! :goodvibes

We almost always use Disney transportation, except getting from the airport. We usually get a one day rental becasue we like to stop at the store and pick up a few things for our room (snacks, drinks, etc ...) then we drop off the car some where on Disney property and it's all buses from then on. We have had both good and bad experiences with the buses. On the upside way more good than bad. And sometimes it's just about luck. :goodvibes

I don't think we have brought actual food on the ME bus, but we have brought drinks and no one said anything.

Be sure to take lots of pics for AK EMH. That's one of my goals for our next trip to go to AK EMH!

I think if you are waiting for the AKL bus at 8p, then I think you'll probably make it. Of course if making it on time is going to cause a lot of worry for you and could ruin your time there, I'd say just grab a cab. I personally would rather give up 15 min of EMH and save the $16 cab ride (is it really that much! :eek: ) to AKL.

Have a great time and I look forward to reading more!

[ProudMommyof2]

Yay! Glad I found your PTR!
I know you will a great couple only trip- very jealous!
Crowd reports are great so far!
Good luck! Maybe we will bump into each other.

Pam

[Disneychix]

Hi! I just found your PTR. I hope you and your DH have a wonderful time at the Poly! I'm so jealous :)

Your little Jellybean is too cute. I also went through a rough time when I purchased a purebred (Pug). Our little guy was the last one left (they even sold the parents) and he was sickly and sitting in a stinky playpen. The breeder even wrote "No refunds" on the sales reciept. We did everything wrong when buying him but thank god we did! He had a rough year but after that thankfully he's been a pretty easygoing dog since. Good luck and good health for your little one!

[mom2mek]

I think you will be fine as long as you are at the AKL bus stop around 8PM. It takes 5 minutes to get there. If your 10 minutes late for your ADR they will still seat you.

Thanks Nichole! I think we will try to make it out there a little bit prior to 8 and hope for a short bus line! If it looks crazy, we will cough up the money for the cab ride over. Guess we will just play it by ear.

Ok, after two of your trip reports and this PTR I am coming out of hiding. Thanks for the info about TGM. But if you think you are cheap then you haven't met me! ;) I'll forgo the membership $ and stick to the advice of my Disney friends here. I can't wait to hear more about your Poly trip!popcorn::

Thanks for reading along! TGM is a lifesaver, but you can get a lot of info from here as well. For me, TGM is a kind of "one voice" thing. In the forums, you can get lots of differing opinions (just like here), but Mike's actual advice is coming from one single view point, that is based on tons and tons of in-park experiences.

I'm going to post Day 2's plans in a moment! :goodvibes

I am fairly new to things but I think I will love to read your report. I have only been to WDW 2x and with my family. I am trying to talk the whole family into making this a big trip but everyone is like well that will be a lot of money and so on. I keep telling them it's a year away lots of time to make payments and they could also use their tax refund next year.:thumbsup2 So I guess they will not get to know the magic this place has.
So I am thinking the ones who will come will be my husband 42, me 39, DD 19, her son 7m, her boyfriend 25, his DD 5, his DD 3, my youngest DD 17, her boyfriend 23. Of course this will be a year from now and you would add a year to all our ages:lmao:
I would like to go late Feb. but we are ok with March, April or May too. I haven't seen the dates released yet for next year so I need to see some off time and not go when it's going to be a holiday. Feb. would be my goal as I turn 40.
There are lots of things I don't know and some things I do. Both times we went we stayed on property in a Mod. and added the dinning plan. Each time it changes as it seems to have changed again. But for us it's a good deal, we eat lots and we for some strange reason never have lots of spending money. Strange things have happened just before both or our trips, which through us for a loop but never ruined our fun.
We have always used the buses and well yes it's a little annoying waiting when you just want to go to the next destination we still liked having it. So we shall do it again.
I also wanted to tell you your children are just adorable. Jellybean is a cutie, and you and your DH are a cute couple. I am really glad I found your pre trip and can't wait to hear how it goes for just the two of you. :love:

Thanks for the kind comments about the kiddos! That's very nice of you! :goodvibes

That would be great to go for your 40th birthday! Fun! :banana: February would be a really nice time of year to go to Disney (when is there ever a bad time, right? :laughing:) Even with the # of people you mentioned, that's still 9 - which is no small group by any means! I'm sure you would have a blast! Thanks for the bus info!

I just finished reading Oct's TR, it was great and sounds like you had a great time! So I thought I would jump on board for this one. :thumbsup2 I would love to get my family to WDW (or DL for that matter) for a family trip. I have been trying to figure out how to get it done. Our trips are usually just DH and I or with friends and their children. They are always great, but I want to show my family the magic of Disney too! :goodvibes

We almost always use Disney transportation, except getting from the airport. We usually get a one day rental becasue we like to stop at the store and pick up a few things for our room (snacks, drinks, etc ...) then we drop off the car some where on Disney property and it's all buses from then on. We have had both good and bad experiences with the buses. On the upside way more good than bad. And sometimes it's just about luck. :goodvibes

I don't think we have brought actual food on the ME bus, but we have brought drinks and no one said anything.

Be sure to take lots of pics for AK EMH. That's one of my goals for our next trip to go to AK EMH!

I think if you are waiting for the AKL bus at 8p, then I think you'll probably make it. Of course if making it on time is going to cause a lot of worry for you and could ruin your time there, I'd say just grab a cab. I personally would rather give up 15 min of EMH and save the $16 cab ride (is it really that much! :eek: ) to AKL.

Have a great time and I look forward to reading more!

Yikes! $16 for a 5 minute ride! Well, if we have to, we have to! I will probably try to get out to the buses slightly before the rest of the crowd, though. Just hoping that it gives us the time to at least get in some animal viewing (whether on the Safari, or on the trails) plus FOTLK, Everest, and some time to get some nice pics of the park at night. Hopefully we can get those few things accomplished and still be out to the buses by 7:45!

Yay! Glad I found your PTR!
I know you will a great couple only trip- very jealous!
Crowd reports are great so far!
Good luck! Maybe we will bump into each other.

Pam

Thanks Pam! I will try to put a lime green Mickey on my bag (plus you know what I look like), so don't hesitate to say "hi"! :goodvibes

Hi! I just found your PTR. I hope you and your DH have a wonderful time at the Poly! I'm so jealous :)

Your little Jellybean is too cute. I also went through a rough time when I purchased a purebred (Pug). Our little guy was the last one left (they even sold the parents) and he was sickly and sitting in a stinky playpen. The breeder even wrote "No refunds" on the sales reciept. We did everything wrong when buying him but thank god we did! He had a rough year but after that thankfully he's been a pretty easygoing dog since. Good luck and good health for your little one!

Aww...I'm glad he's better! You just never know with breeders. We even felt we had checked this guy out pretty well! I feel the same way about Jellybean - it might have been a rough start, but she was meant for us and we were meant for her! :goodvibes

Thanks for reading along!

Sara

[jeremysdisneymom]

I am soooo excited--another great trip report from Sara!! :cheer2:

I cannot wait to hear about your stay at the Poly. I would love to stay there sometime. I think Jeremy would love the volcano pool.

You will love AK at EMH. That was the only EMH we did during our Thanksgiving trip and was well worth it. The park is beautiful at night. We got there slightly before closing and went to the NEMO show. As soon as it was over, we went to Festival of the Lion King with no crowds!!!!:banana: Of course, Jeremy wanted to see all the characters dressed in their Christmas attire so we did that afterwards with little or no wait. We headed to Everest and at times, I thought we were the only ones in the park. I loved riding Everest at night (and I am not a big fan of coaster). The trek up is beautiful to look at the park at night.

When do you leave?

Erika

[mom2mek]

I am soooo excited--another great trip report from Sara!! :cheer2:

I cannot wait to hear about your stay at the Poly. I would love to stay there sometime. I think Jeremy would love the volcano pool.

You will love AK at EMH. That was the only EMH we did during our Thanksgiving trip and was well worth it. The park is beautiful at night. We got there slightly before closing and went to the NEMO show. As soon as it was over, we went to Festival of the Lion King with no crowds!!!!:banana: Of course, Jeremy wanted to see all the characters dressed in their Christmas attire so we did that afterwards with little or no wait. We headed to Everest and at times, I thought we were the only ones in the park. I loved riding Everest at night (and I am not a big fan of coaster). The trek up is beautiful to look at the park at night.

When do you leave?

Erika

Hi Erika! :flower3: Great to "see" you! I am very excited about our stay at the Poly! We just fell in love with it in October when we went over there to eat - it's just so "resort-y"! LOL! Very lush and tropical, and a real escape! :cloud9:

Thanks so much for the info on EMH at AK! So, was the EMH from 5 - 8 like this one will be? Or was it later than that? Cause it sounds like you got a lot done in the time you were there.

We leave in 9 days!
:banana::banana::banana::banana:
:woohoo::woohoo: :woohoo::woohoo:
:yay::yay::yay::yay:
:cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

Sara

[mom2mek]

Pre Trip - DAY 2 PLANS!!!

Day 2 – Thursday, May 14th

Having never stayed at the Poly before, I wasn’t sure of what longhouse to try and request. :confused3We decided on Tahiti and are really hoping we are placed there. :goodvibes Now if I were traveling to the Poly with my family, Tahiti would probably not be what we would request. It is not very close to the Grand Ceremonial House or the Volcano Pool, and with kids I think we would have preferred Samoa, Tokelau, or Niue; however, with it just being the two of us, we really don’t mind having to walk a little further to get to the GCH and Tahiti is the closest longhouse to the TTC, so getting to and from Epcot will be really nice. Which is handy, considering that we are planning 2 days at Epcot and 1 day at the MK!

Plus, it’s a little bit off the beaten path, so I’m hoping the noise level is less over there. Here is the map of the Poly and Tahiti longhouse is over to the far right. We’ll see! :thumbsup2

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/PolyMap.jpg?t=1241455183



So, the morning of Day 2, I’m figuring one of us will go get some breakfast at Capt Cooks and bring it back to the room (ahem...that would be Shawn). OR.... if we are BOTH ready, we will just head down there together and grab a quick bite before heading over to the TTC for our monorail ride over to Epcot for rope drop!

My other thought would be to eat something quick that we brought from home (granola bar, oatmeal, etc) and then have an early lunch at Epcot
I’m not sure yet. :confused3 I’m thinking it will probably be Capt. Cooks for this day, as it is our first morning of the trip and eating a granola bar in the room just doesn't sound like a great way to start off our first morning. IDK...

At Epcot, I hope to get 2 rides on the biggies – Soarin, Test Track, and Mission Space (wimp version of course), whether riding standby or grabbing fastpasses for, but I suppose one ride would suffice. :laughing: I’m there to soak it all in, right? :love: I also am looking forward to exploring more of the pavilions this time – we have never been inside the Innoventions buildings – and I would love to walk around for a while at the Seas, and of course ride the Nemo ride (say what you want…but I love those little clam-mobiles)! :fish: I hope to be able to experience some of the FLower and Garden festivities that will be going on as well. :butterfly:flower1:

I’d like to get over to the WS as close to 11 as possible. I haven’t quite figured out what/where we will try and eat for lunch.

Suggestions for your favorite counter-service places at Epcot? :scratchin

Or what about walking over to the Beach Club and grabbing a burger (and/or the Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream)….that place was delicious, and Shawn has never been over there. What do you think? :confused3

At some point we will probably head back to the Poly to freshen up, take a little break, walk on the beach, have a cocktail from the pool bar and then head back to Epcot for more World Showcase and our dinner ADR at Teppan Edo at 6:30. I’m hoping to have finished dinner in time to get a decent spot for Illuminations. The only time we have actually seen it together was in October and it was pouring, so a lot of the show was missing. :sad1: I saw it in December on the girls trip I went on and fell in love. Now I really want Shawn to experience it in that way.

That's it for Day 2 - suggestions/ideas/comments....


Oh, and today I booked my pedicure for the day before we leave....woo-hoo....bring on some pretty toes! (Well, as pretty as Fred Flintstone feet can be....:rolleyes1)

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Having never stayed at the Poly before, I wasn’t sure of what longhouse to try and request. :confused3We decided on Tahiti and are really hoping we are placed there. :goodvibes Now if I were traveling to the Poly with my family, Tahiti would probably not be what we would request. It is not very close to the Grand Ceremonial House or the Volcano Pool, and with kids I think we would have preferred Samoa, Tokelau, or Niue; however, with it just being the two of us, we really don’t mind having to walk a little further to get to the GCH and Tahiti is the closest longhouse to the TTC, so getting to and from Epcot will be really nice. Which is handy, considering that we are planning 2 days at Epcot and 1 day at the MK!

That sounds like a great place to request for you guys! Hopefully you won't have a problem getting your request as families will probably request something closer to the main area and pool. :thumbsup2



So, the morning of Day 2, I’m figuring one of us will go get some breakfast at Capt Cooks and bring it back to the room (ahem...that would be Shawn). OR.... if we are BOTH ready, we will just head down there together and grab a quick bite before heading over to the TTC for our monorail ride over to Epcot for rope drop!

My other thought would be to eat something quick that we brought from home (granola bar, oatmeal, etc) and then have an early lunch at Epcot
I’m not sure yet. :confused3 I’m thinking it will probably be Capt. Cooks for this day, as it is our first morning of the trip and eating a granola bar in the room just doesn't sound like a great way to start off our first morning. IDK...


Ha! Like you will be ready the same time as Shawn! :rotfl2: Does that ever happen with women and men?

I always like to eat in the room to save time but it might be nice to have something a little better your first morning. I'm sure Shawn can run to get something or maybe splurge and get room service that first day! :goodvibes



Suggestions for your favorite counter-service places at Epcot? :scratchin

Or what about walking over to the Beach Club and grabbing a burger (and/or the Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream)….that place was delicious, and Shawn has never been over there. What do you think? :confused3

That is a tough one Sara! I love Beaches & Cream but there are so many good things to eat in World Showcase that your kids probably wouldn't enjoy so maybe you should take advantage of that? :confused3


Oh, and today I booked my pedicure for the day before we leave....woo-hoo....bring on some pretty toes! (Well, as pretty as Fred Flintstone feet can be....:rolleyes1)


You do NOT have Fred Flintstone feet Sara! A pedicure sounds great - thanks for reminding me to book one for myself too! :banana:

[ladybugmom]

Pre Trip - DAY 2 PLANS!!!

Day 2 – Thursday, May 14th

Having never stayed at the Poly before, I wasn’t sure of what longhouse to try and request. :confused3We decided on Tahiti and are really hoping we are placed there. :goodvibes Now if I were traveling to the Poly with my family, Tahiti would probably not be what we would request. It is not very close to the Grand Ceremonial House or the Volcano Pool, and with kids I think we would have preferred Samoa, Tokelau, or Niue; however, with it just being the two of us, we really don’t mind having to walk a little further to get to the GCH and Tahiti is the closest longhouse to the TTC, so getting to and from Epcot will be really nice. Which is handy, considering that we are planning 2 days at Epcot and 1 day at the MK!

Plus, it’s a little bit off the beaten path, so I’m hoping the noise level is less over there. Here is the map of the Poly and Tahiti longhouse is over to the far right. We’ll see! :thumbsup2

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/PolyMap.jpg?t=1241455183



So, the morning of Day 2, I’m figuring one of us will go get some breakfast at Capt Cooks and bring it back to the room (ahem...that would be Shawn). OR.... if we are BOTH ready, we will just head down there together and grab a quick bite before heading over to the TTC for our monorail ride over to Epcot for rope drop!

My other thought would be to eat something quick that we brought from home (granola bar, oatmeal, etc) and then have an early lunch at Epcot
I’m not sure yet. :confused3 I’m thinking it will probably be Capt. Cooks for this day, as it is our first morning of the trip and eating a granola bar in the room just doesn't sound like a great way to start off our first morning. IDK...

At Epcot, I hope to get 2 rides on the biggies – Soarin, Test Track, and Mission Space (wimp version of course), whether riding standby or grabbing fastpasses for, but I suppose one ride would suffice. :laughing: I’m there to soak it all in, right? :love: I also am looking forward to exploring more of the pavilions this time – we have never been inside the Innoventions buildings – and I would love to walk around for a while at the Seas, and of course ride the Nemo ride (say what you want…but I love those little clam-mobiles)! :fish: I hope to be able to experience some of the FLower and Garden festivities that will be going on as well. :butterfly:flower1:

I’d like to get over to the WS as close to 11 as possible. I haven’t quite figured out what/where we will try and eat for lunch.

Suggestions for your favorite counter-service places at Epcot? :scratchin

Or what about walking over to the Beach Club and grabbing a burger (and/or the Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream)….that place was delicious, and Shawn has never been over there. What do you think? :confused3

At some point we will probably head back to the Poly to freshen up, take a little break, walk on the beach, have a cocktail from the pool bar and then head back to Epcot for more World Showcase and our dinner ADR at Teppan Edo at 6:30. I’m hoping to have finished dinner in time to get a decent spot for Illuminations. The only time we have actually seen it together was in October and it was pouring, so a lot of the show was missing. :sad1: I saw it in December on the girls trip I went on and fell in love. Now I really want Shawn to experience it in that way.

That's it for Day 2 - suggestions/ideas/comments....


Oh, and today I booked my pedicure for the day before we leave....woo-hoo....bring on some pretty toes! (Well, as pretty as Fred Flintstone feet can be....:rolleyes1)

Sara

So you can request where you want to stay at the Poly? How do you go about doing that? Remember--I'm a newbie!! ;)

[kaysmommie]

:rotfl: You have Flintstone feet too. Tahiti is great I'm sure. Also I'm pretty sure those rooms are larger and have 2 sinks in the bathroom. I do like being close to GCH with kids like you said. Captain Cooks is pretty good and you do know they have Tonga Toast there right? Your Epcot plans look great too. My family like America for CS since it's air conditioned. But I love Mexico and you can get a Margarita. not sure if the birds will be an issue there or not :confused3 they didn't bother us last time. If your still in future World how about Sunshine seasons.

[KathyRN137]

I think Tahiti would be perfect! It's so convenient to the TTC.

I'm always stumped by CS lunch at WS... if anything we've just done Fish & Chips in England because we know the kids will eat it!

I suppose if you want "romantic" atmosphere, you could go to France! Boulangerie Patisserie has a small selection of sandwiches and quiche. (And, or course, yummy desserts!) You could sit outside at one of the little bistro tables and enjoy the atmosphere...


Kathy

[pixidustmom]

So you can request where you want to stay at the Poly? How do you go about doing that? Remember--I'm a newbie!! ;)

Just wanted to help out with this. You can send a fax or call a week before and make a request. No guarantee you will get it but usually it happens.

Funny thing about the Flintstones feet. The one person I know has the squarest feet is my youngest. Toes almost have no curve at all and her toe nails are so small you can barely paint them. So I bet yours are better.:rotfl2:

[KathyRN137]

So you can request where you want to stay at the Poly? How do you go about doing that? Remember--I'm a newbie!! ;)

Hijacking your post!!

You can specify your room location requests at the time you make your reservation, although they will be absolutely certain to inform you that no request is guarenteed.


Kathy

[crgfsu1]

:lmao::lmao::lmao: No...not lately...but I continue to search for the ever elusive Sara! Instead of "Where's Waldo" I'm playing "Where's Sara"! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: And my offer to let me know if you're ever in the Charlotte area still stands. :goodvibes

Just wanted to say HI - I too am from NC (Winston Salem)!!!

[DanMedix]

Looks like good plans! Just remember the whole flexibility factor. Hopefully, without the "cat-herding" (or dog-licking, take your pick of analogies) that we've discussed before. ...and YAY for ladies with cute pedis! :rotfl:

[jillyb]

Just wanted to say HI - I too am from NC (Winston Salem)!!!


Hi! I'm in Concord! DH and I used to live in Salisbury. We love going to Old Salem!

[mom2mek]

So you can request where you want to stay at the Poly? How do you go about doing that? Remember--I'm a newbie!! ;)

LOL Becky! I'm a newbie too (to onsite stuff)! :laughing: I told my travel agent and she noted it on my reservation. There's no guarantee she said, but can't hurt.

What view did you reserve? If it's MK view or lagoon view, you obviously will be in one of a few longhouses that have those views. If it's garden view (which is what we have) than you can at least try for a longhouse that might work well for you and your family. I would think you would want to be near the GCH and the pools, since you have young children with you. Also, certain longhouses don't have balconies. I don't know with a baby if you want a balcony, or if you would prefer a patio. You might want to check out tikiman's website - he has details on the pros/cons for each longhouse. :thumbsup2
http://www.tikimanpages.com/tiki/

Whatever you end up with, I'm sure you will feel the same as I am sure I will feel - just so happy to be at the Poly! :cloud9:


:rotfl: You have Flintstone feet too. Tahiti is great I'm sure. Also I'm pretty sure those rooms are larger and have 2 sinks in the bathroom. I do like being close to GCH with kids like you said. Captain Cooks is pretty good and you do know they have Tonga Toast there right? Your Epcot plans look great too. My family like America for CS since it's air conditioned. But I love Mexico and you can get a Margarita. not sure if the birds will be an issue there or not :confused3 they didn't bother us last time. If your still in future World how about Sunshine seasons.

That's exactly what I thought about Tahiti, Nichole...beyond the location of being close to the TTC and the possibility of being quieter, was that the rooms were 470 sq ft and the bathroom has 2 sinks! We are eating breakfast on our last day at Kona, so I'm not sure if I want to wait and get Tonga Toast there or not. Maybe I should give it a try at Capt Cooks first, and that way if I don't like it, I can order something else at Kona!

Yum...margaritas in mexico are definitely on my list. Don't know about the CS there though, but definitely the margarita! I did like Sunshine Seasons the last time we ate there, but it's been a while. Good idea! :goodvibes

I think Tahiti would be perfect! It's so convenient to the TTC.

I'm always stumped by CS lunch at WS... if anything we've just done Fish & Chips in England because we know the kids will eat it!

I suppose if you want "romantic" atmosphere, you could go to France! Boulangerie Patisserie has a small selection of sandwiches and quiche. (And, or course, yummy desserts!) You could sit outside at one of the little bistro tables and enjoy the atmosphere...
Kathy
I love the French CS, Kathy! The ham and cheese croissant is like $3 and it is huge and delicious! That definitely is an option! Fish and Chips sounds good too! Maybe we can split things from both places - I just want to try as many places as we can!!! :goodvibes

Just wanted to help out with this. You can send a fax or call a week before and make a request. No guarantee you will get it but usually it happens.

Funny thing about the Flintstones feet. The one person I know has the squarest feet is my youngest. Toes almost have no curve at all and her toe nails are so small you can barely paint them. So I bet yours are better.:rotfl2:

Sound like my feet! Square, square, square...:sad2:

Just wanted to say HI - I too am from NC (Winston Salem)!!!

Hi! I'm in Concord! DH and I used to live in Salisbury. We love going to Old Salem!

Shawn and I lived in Winston-Salem when we first got married. Only for about 9 months, but we really enjoyed it! :)

Looks like good plans! Just remember the whole flexibility factor. Hopefully, without the "cat-herding" (or dog-licking, take your pick of analogies) that we've discussed before. ...and YAY for ladies with cute pedis! :rotfl:

Yes, it will be a challenge to not feel rushed or challenged for keeping a group together! I might start bossing other people around just for old time's sake! :laughing:

[ladybugmom]

LOL Becky! I'm a newbie too (to onsite stuff)! :laughing: I told my travel agent and she noted it on my reservation. There's no guarantee she said, but can't hurt.

What view did you reserve? If it's MK view or lagoon view, you obviously will be in one of a few longhouses that have those views. If it's garden view (which is what we have) than you can at least try for a longhouse that might work well for you and your family. I would think you would want to be near the GCH and the pools, since you have young children with you. Also, certain longhouses don't have balconies. I don't know with a baby if you want a balcony, or if you would prefer a patio. You might want to check out tikiman's website - he has details on the pros/cons for each longhouse. :thumbsup2
http://www.tikimanpages.com/tiki/

Whatever you end up with, I'm sure you will feel the same as I am sure I will feel - just so happy to be at the Poly! :cloud9:

We have a Garden View as well. Thank you for the link--that site is INCREDIBLE!! What a wealth of information!! Maybe I'll ask my TA and see what she says, too! Thanks again Sara! princess:

[mikayla73]

I thought I read some where that you can get dole whips at the Poly. Although for the life of me I can't find it now ... maybe I was dreaming. :confused3 If you see them when you are there, let me know! Trying the Tonga Toast prior to going to Kona might be a good idea, then if it's really good, you can have it twice! I'd guess the portion at Capt Cooks is smaller too, just in case. Kona is on DH's "must do every trip" list. We love it!

It sounds like a nice day in EPCOT for two :)

I think Tahiti would be perfect! It's so convenient to the TTC.

I'm always stumped by CS lunch at WS... if anything we've just done Fish & Chips in England because we know the kids will eat it!

I suppose if you want "romantic" atmosphere, you could go to France! Boulangerie Patisserie has a small selection of sandwiches and quiche. (And, or course, yummy desserts!) You could sit outside at one of the little bistro tables and enjoy the atmosphere...


Kathy

I agree with those two! I love the fish and chips! I have never eaten at the Rose and Crown, because we always just go to the Yorkshire Fishshop and get fish and chips there. I love Boulangerie Patisserie, the napoleons there are sooooo goood! I have never gotten anything but pasteries from there. I'll have to try a sandwich sometime. The other thing I like to have is school bread from the Norway bakery. That cream is yummy!

[mkluvsmickey]

:confused3 What? No response to me? :snooty: ;)

I've been meaning to ask you two things:

1. Do the kids know you are going to Disney?

2. Is someone coming to stay at the house with Jellybean and the kids or will JB go visit someones home?

[mom2mek]

Oops...sorry Michelle! How'd I miss that? Please accept one of these :mickeybar as an apology!


That sounds like a great place to request for you guys! Hopefully you won't have a problem getting your request as families will probably request something closer to the main area and pool. :thumbsup2

I'm hoping so too Michelle! All the longhouses have pros/cons, but I think Tahiti would be nice - being further away from the hustle and bustle of the GCH might make it feel more like an "escape" too, you know? :confused3



Ha! Like you will be ready the same time as Shawn! :rotfl2: Does that ever happen with women and men?
I know, right? Even at my fastest, he will beat me by a mile....Of course, he has NO HAIR practically! :rolleyes1 I have enough hair for the both of us! (Reminds me....I need to get my hair cut this week and I keep forgetting to call...)


I always like to eat in the room to save time but it might be nice to have something a little better your first morning. I'm sure Shawn can run to get something or maybe splurge and get room service that first day! :goodvibes


You are too funny Michelle - I was soooo thinking that room service would be what we did on our last day! :laughing: I think we might try to go together to Capt Cooks the 1st day, then I will send Shawn to get stuff the next day! :confused3 That way I will know exactly what to tell him to order me! LOL!


That is a tough one Sara! I love Beaches & Cream but there are so many good things to eat in World Showcase that your kids probably wouldn't enjoy so maybe you should take advantage of that? :confused3
Very good point....I think we will stick with a sampling of foods around the World! Hopefully we won't be too full that we can't enjoy our dinner at Teppan Edo! :eek:


You do NOT have Fred Flintstone feet Sara! A pedicure sounds great - thanks for reminding me to book one for myself too! :banana:

Ummm...yes I do! They are very square my friend. That's why flip-flops have never really been that comfortable, I think. (I've always thought that since my big toe wasn't that much bigger/longer than my other toes that the thing that goes in between your toes on the flip flops was really uncomfortable!) That is, until I found myself some croc flip-flops! Woo-hoo! Only ones I can wear! :yay: My toes are grateful! :goodvibes

Sara

[mom2mek]

We have a Garden View as well. Thank you for the link--that site is INCREDIBLE!! What a wealth of information!! Maybe I'll ask my TA and see what she says, too! Thanks again Sara! princess:

No problem Becky! I know Nichole (kaysmommie) was in Samoa before and had good things to say about it. There's no guarantees, but hey...can't hurt, right?

I love that Tikiman site...I keep it up on my computer while I'm at work, just so I can listen to the music (you can go to the bottom of the first page, and click on Tikiman Jukebox and it will stay on when you go from page to page on the website...) :cloud9:

I thought I read some where that you can get dole whips at the Poly. Although for the life of me I can't find it now ... maybe I was dreaming. :confused3 If you see them when you are there, let me know! Trying the Tonga Toast prior to going to Kona might be a good idea, then if it's really good, you can have it twice! I'd guess the portion at Capt Cooks is smaller too, just in case. Kona is on DH's "must do every trip" list. We love it!

I believe the Dole Whip machine is at Capt Cooks. We love Kona too - only have been there for lunch, but loved it! I can't wait to have my 1st Tonga Toast (and probably my 2nd and 3rd as well....LOL)



It sounds like a nice day in EPCOT for two :)

I agree with those two! I love the fish and chips! I have never eaten at the Rose and Crown, because we always just go to the Yorkshire Fishshop and get fish and chips there. I love Boulangerie Patisserie, the napoleons there are sooooo goood! I have never gotten anything but pasteries from there. I'll have to try a sandwich sometime. The other thing I like to have is school bread from the Norway bakery. That cream is yummy!

Oooo...I've never had the school bread either....it's going on the list! :goodvibes


:confused3 What? No response to me? :snooty: ;)

I've been meaning to ask you two things:

1. Do the kids know you are going to Disney?

2. Is someone coming to stay at the house with Jellybean and the kids or will JB go visit someones home?

LOL Michelle - sorry about that! :hug:

In answer to your questions....
1. No :rolleyes1 I have told them we are going on a trip (and from the point I mentioned that they were staying with Grandmommy and Pop Pop I could have told them I was going anywhere....they were very excited to be going over there! I figure I will probably do something along the lines of what I did for our girls trip - tell them that we are going on a little mommy-and-daddy trip to Florida. Then maybe Michael will say what he did back in December..."Hey Mommy! Disney is in Florida...you should go over there while you're down there!" LOL! :laughing:
2. The Beaner will be going to stay with my Grandmommy and Pop Pop as well! My MIL will be going over to my mom's in the morning, instead of my house, to watch Katie and Jellybean. Should be interesting with Lexus, the Great Dane!!! :scared1:

Sara

[kaysmommie]

Your lucky your kids are looking forward to grandmommy and pop pop's house. At least Michael doesn't mind if you go to Disney, my kids would probably send me hate mail :guilty:. I hope the Great Dane is sweet and gentle :goodvibes

[Sleeping*Beauty]

I would suggest eating CS lunch in Mexico. I always stop there for lunch when I'm in Epcot. Plus they have all the funny looking birds!

[mom2mek]

Nichole - well, if I told Michael "hey, mommy and daddy are going to Disney World next week!" he probably wouldn't be so keen on that; however, I figure easing them into it by saying something like I did in December will work...Mommy and Daddy are taking a trip, just the two of us, down to Florida for a little vacation to relax....and then maybe he will say something similar to what he did in December....hey mommy, Disney is in Florida, you should try to hop over there one day! :thumbsup2

See...I'm sneaky like that! :goodvibes

Lexus is very much a gentle giant! But she is indeed GIANT! I hope she doesn't accidentally step on Jellybean! :eek:

Sleeping Becca (yes I forgot to multi quote - or quote at all for that matter....) I love Mexican food, but those birds really bothered me on our trip over Thanksgiving. Some of them jumped up on our table....Ick....maybe I could just pick up some mexican and keep walking to a different spot! :confused3




Ok, somehow I have to work this into my schedule.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CPUKIyT97E&feature=related

For any of you who have stayed there, do you know what time this happens? I'm assuming it's at dusk. I'm sure they will have it in a list of activities, but you know me....just trying to plan it all out! How cool is that?

[DanMedix]

LOL I'd have to be WAY sneaky too, and possibly consider only telling my younglings AFTER the fact. If not, I would also probably get hate mail....or DD and DS would change our flight info....to something like Oceanic 815!..

[mom2mek]

LOL I'd have to be WAY sneaky too, and possibly consider only telling my younglings AFTER the fact. If not, I would also probably get hate mail....or DD and DS would change our flight info....to something like Oceanic 815!..


Ahhhh! No! Well, wait a minute....if Sawyer was on there....then maybe....:love:

Sara

[mom2mek]

Pre Trip - ADVICE FOR WORLD SHOWCASE PERFORMERS, PLEASE!!!!


One of the things I'd really like to try to do while we are at Epcot is to see a lot of the performers around the World Showcase. We have not had the pleasure of sitting and watching too many of the performers on our other visits - we've seen Miyuki and the Chinese Acrobats - that's it!

So I ask....what/who are your favorite WS performers? What do you consider a not-to-be missed act? :confused3

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

I haven't seen many (or any?) of the World Showcase performers either. But, I've heard great things about so many of them. I have one friend who won't miss Off Kilter. Maybe you can find some clips of some of the groups on YouTube to see what you and Shawn like? Sounds like a great way to spend an adult vacation!

[mom2mek]

I haven't seen many (or any?) of the World Showcase performers either. But, I've heard great things about so many of them. I have one friend who won't miss Off Kilter. Maybe you can find some clips of some of the groups on YouTube to see what you and Shawn like? Sounds like a great way to spend an adult vacation!

I think Off Kilter is definitely on my list Michelle! :goodvibes


Sara

[mom_of_3_70737]

Great PTR as usual Sara :) I was worried that I had missed it somehow....your trip is getting so close, you ready? Haha!:goodvibes I can't wait to hear about everything and see your pics....you always have great pics :goodvibes Glad I found you so I can hop on this last leg of the PTR ride!!!

[mkluvsmickey]

Hey Sara - I have a question for you and need your expert opinion. :) I was able to book a lunch for Sam and I at Coral Reef today for Sunday while we are at WDW. I was thinking about ordering a small cake (for her birthday) but wasn't sure if that was really a good thing to do with all the great dessert choices there. The other thing is I'd want to make sure we get a small cake so we don't have to take it with us. On the other hand, it would be cool to order a cake. What would you do?

[mom2mek]

Great PTR as usual Sara :) I was worried that I had missed it somehow....your trip is getting so close, you ready? Haha!:goodvibes I can't wait to hear about everything and see your pics....you always have great pics :goodvibes Glad I found you so I can hop on this last leg of the PTR ride!!!

Thanks for joining in Katie! I am soooo not ready - for family trips I would be packed already but being just Shawn and I, I really have slacked off! I just can't get him on board with any cute custom Disney outfits! :rotfl: I'm hoping this weekend I can get to the store and buy things like sunscreen and chewing gum! Geez - I'm slipping, aren't I?

I'm really hoping Shawn can get some good pics on this trip, since he won't be pulled in a bazillion different directions as usual! :goodvibes

6 days!!!! :banana::banana:

Hey Sara - I have a question for you and need your expert opinion. :) I was able to book a lunch for Sam and I at Coral Reef today for Sunday while we are at WDW. I was thinking about ordering a small cake (for her birthday) but wasn't sure if that was really a good thing to do with all the great dessert choices there. The other thing is I'd want to make sure we get a small cake so we don't have to take it with us. On the other hand, it would be cool to order a cake. What would you do?

Hi Michelle! :) That's so awesome about the lunch at the Coral Reef - love that place and I'm kinda sad we aren't eating there this trip! :guilty:

Does Sam like the desserts at the Coral Reef? :confused3 The Chocolate Wave has alcohol, right? Is it noted on your reservation that you are celebrating a birthday? They brought Katie a make-your-own sundae which she liked. As far as the cake though, I think being that you aren't at a buffet, ordering a cake is nice. A special thing to do for her birthday. They do have those small cakes - for girls I think it is a princess jewelry box cake - I will look for a picture. They are fairly small, so you wouldn't have to waste a whole lot. Don't know if Sam would like it since it's princesses, but I think it's really cute.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/celebrations/customizations/

Check that link out because it looks like they have a thing called "A Sweet Ending to Your Celebration" - Description:
Enrich any special occasion with uniquely Celebrations-inspired desserts available at most Disney restaurants. From truly indulgent desserts to delicious no-sugar-added treats, make your celebration not just sweeter, but more magical. No advanced booking or reservations required.

Sounds promising.

(That link also has the picture of the jewelry box cake, and IDK but it looks kind of young for her...:confused3)

Hope I helped a little. :confused:

Sara

[mom2mek]

Michelle, in looking more at that site, there's always something like this you could do in the room for her: :confused3


http://www.disneyflorist.com/product/waltdisneyworldflorist-Disney-Hannah-Montana-Balloon-Bouquet-/display

They have a lot of options (and a lot of prices....:eek:)

Sara

[mom2mek]

PRE-TRIP PLANS - Day 3, May 15, 2009

Ok, on our 3rd day (2nd full day) we are headed to the Magic Kingdom!!! My favorite place! I just wonder how it will feel when I walk in without my kids with me!

I'm sure a little bit of this :sad1:

but also a little bit of this :yay:


I haven't really thought about a touring plan for the MK but I hope we are able to get on all of our favorites (minus Space....:sad2:) and soak up a lot of atmosphere. I'd like to take a ride on the Liberty Belle (it's something we would almost always skip with kids) and see some Main St Performers (the barbershop quartet and the band among others).

As far as meals, we only have a lunch ADR at the Plaza at 11:30, so I'm thinking we will either eat breakfast in the room again, or grab something at the Main St bakery in the morning (as this is also something I would NEVER stop to do with my kids if we only had one day in the MK!!! :eek: Mornings are for rides!!!)

We will leave the park mid-day to go back to the Poly for a break and then we have an early ADR at the Wave at the Contemporary! :cheer2: I'm excited to be trying out a new place!!! (Well, The Plaza is new too!):banana:

Then after dinner, we will head back over to the MK for more fun and excitement. Unfortunately there is no Spectro on this night, but we are ok with that. Wishes is at 9 and I'm hoping to see it in the park that night as we are planning on Wishes from the Poly beach the next night! :love:

So, ideas/comments/thoughts????

What little hidden gems should I try not to miss at the MK? I'm excited to not be herding a large group through the busiest theme park in the World this time and am hoping to be able to catch a lot of stuff I seem to miss!!

Sara

[mom2mek]

sorry...double post...ugh

[mkluvsmickey]

Hi Michelle! :) That's so awesome about the lunch at the Coral Reef - love that place and I'm kinda sad we aren't eating there this trip! :guilty:

Does Sam like the desserts at the Coral Reef? :confused3 The Chocolate Wave has alcohol, right? Is it noted on your reservation that you are celebrating a birthday? They brought Katie a make-your-own sundae which she liked. As far as the cake though, I think being that you aren't at a buffet, ordering a cake is nice. A special thing to do for her birthday. They do have those small cakes - for girls I think it is a princess jewelry box cake - I will look for a picture. They are fairly small, so you wouldn't have to waste a whole lot. Don't know if Sam would like it since it's princesses, but I think it's really cute.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/celebrations/customizations/

Check that link out because it looks like they have a thing called "A Sweet Ending to Your Celebration" - Description:
Enrich any special occasion with uniquely Celebrations-inspired desserts available at most Disney restaurants. From truly indulgent desserts to delicious no-sugar-added treats, make your celebration not just sweeter, but more magical. No advanced booking or reservations required.

Sounds promising.

(That link also has the picture of the jewelry box cake, and IDK but it looks kind of young for her...:confused3)

Hope I helped a little. :confused:


Michelle, in looking more at that site, there's always something like this you could do in the room for her: :confused3

http://www.disneyflorist.com/product/waltdisneyworldflorist-Disney-Hannah-Montana-Balloon-Bouquet-/display

They have a lot of options (and a lot of prices....:eek:)

Sara

Sara - you are the best! I knew you'd come through with some great ideas! :hug:

We've never been to Coral Reef so I really don't know about the desserts. I spent some time on the cake thread last night and saw some really nice ones but way too big for the two of us. I love the size and presentation of the princess one in the box but not sure if it is too "young" for Sam. I think it would be nice to get something as we aren't usually at WDW for celebrations like this. Ugh! I did see a picture somewhere of a small castle type of cake. Maybe I'll do some more research.

And I love the stuff from disney florist! I just ordered a gift basket for Sam from somewhere else the other day or else that would have been perfect. Thanks for all the input and your great opinions!


Now, on to your MK day! I'm so excited for you guys! We tried the Plaza last October for lunch and really enjoyed it. And I can't wait to see how you like The Wave. It looks really neat but not really somewhere I'd take Sam.

As for more "adult" MK things to do...... I can't really think of any that you wouldn't do with your kids other than maybe the Liberty Belle and Hall of Presidents (darn, don't think that is open yet :rolleyes:). I think it will be really cool to experience all the other attractions with just the two of you!

Just think, next week at this time you will be there!!!! :cool1::yay::cool1::yay:

[mom2mek]

Sara - you are the best! I knew you'd come through with some great ideas! :hug:

We've never been to Coral Reef so I really don't know about the desserts. I spent some time on the cake thread last night and saw some really nice ones but way too big for the two of us. I love the size and presentation of the princess one in the box but not sure if it is too "young" for Sam. I think it would be nice to get something as we aren't usually at WDW for celebrations like this. Ugh! I did see a picture somewhere of a small castle type of cake. Maybe I'll do some more research.

And I love the stuff from disney florist! I just ordered a gift basket for Sam from somewhere else the other day or else that would have been perfect. Thanks for all the input and your great opinions!


Now, on to your MK day! I'm so excited for you guys! We tried the Plaza last October for lunch and really enjoyed it. And I can't wait to see how you like The Wave. It looks really neat but not really somewhere I'd take Sam.

As for more "adult" MK things to do...... I can't really think of any that you wouldn't do with your kids other than maybe the Liberty Belle and Hall of Presidents (darn, don't think that is open yet :rolleyes:). I think it will be really cool to experience all the other attractions with just the two of you!

Just think, next week at this time you will be there!!!! :cool1::yay::cool1::yay:
No problem, although I don't know if I was all that much help! The castle cake (I thought) you could only get from the GF bakery, but IDK....

They do still have the regular cakes (Sara Lee) - I saw one from someone at the Coral Reef back when I was looking for one for Katie's birthday that looked beautiful - probably still too big for just the two of you though! Wish I as staying another day so I could crash your party and help you eat the cake! :laughing: The desserts at Coral Reef are really good, just don't know if Sam would like them - Chocolate Wave, Creme Brulee, something else, and then ice cream in the make-your-own-sundae thing. If you think she'd be ok with a "princess" type thing, I think that jewelry box cake is adorable and perfectly sized! :goodvibes

Do you think she would like the GF tea? Seems so girly and maybe they could bring out the castle cake there! :confused3

:woohoo:Woo-hoo! A week from now I will be at Epcot!!! Getting ready for dinner at Teppan Edo! Woo-hoo!!! :woohoo:

Sara

[Sleeping*Beauty]

Sleeping Becca (yes I forgot to multi quote - or quote at all for that matter....) I love Mexican food, but those birds really bothered me on our trip over Thanksgiving. Some of them jumped up on our table....Ick....maybe I could just pick up some mexican and keep walking to a different spot! :confused3


Oh, we only had one friendly bird. We even named him Henry, because that's such a Mexican name! LOL:rotfl:

[mom2mek]

Oh, we only had one friendly bird. We even named him Henry, because that's such a Mexican name! LOL:rotfl:


I think the spanish version of Henry is Enrique....;) I will look for him and send him your best! :goodvibes


Sara

[KathyRN137]

What little hidden gems should I try not to miss at the MK? I'm excited to not be herding a large group through the busiest theme park in the World this time and am hoping to be able to catch a lot of stuff I seem to miss!!



Did you guys ever see "PUSH" the talking trash can in TomorrowLand?

How about taking a ride on one of the Main Street vehicles?

We loved joking around with all the Streetmosphere people on Main Street.

Have you ever stopped in at the Town Square Exhibition Hall and posed with the character cutouts?

How about stopping in Liberty Square and getting a "couple's" shadow portrait done... or one of those cartoon caricature portraits?

Of course, simply walking around the park, hand in hand, and not doing much of anything except enjoying the atmosphere sounds wonderful, too!! :love:


Kathy

[mom2mek]

Did you guys ever see "PUSH" the talking trash can in TomorrowLand?

How about taking a ride on one of the Main Street vehicles?

We loved joking around with all the Streetmosphere people on Main Street.

Have you ever stopped in at the Town Square Exhibition Hall and posed with the character cutouts?

How about stopping in Liberty Square and getting a "couple's" shadow portrait done... or one of those cartoon caricature portraits?

Of course, simply walking around the park, hand in hand, and not doing much of anything except enjoying the atmosphere sounds wonderful, too!! :love:


Kathy

Those are all great, Kathy! Thank you! :goodvibes We have never seen PUSH, nor have we done the pictures in the cutouts! I think a caricature would be a hoot! Anything where they make my body look smaller (even if it is because my HEAD is ginormous) is good with me! :thumbsup2 Thanks for the ideas!

Sara

[mikayla73]

My only suggestion for MK would be to just enjoy your time there not running from ride to ride. Take in all the details and breathe deeply :) anything more than that can be icing :goodvibes

[mom2mek]

My only suggestion for MK would be to just enjoy your time there not running from ride to ride. Take in all the details and breathe deeply :) anything more than that can be icing :goodvibes

Ahhhh.....:love::cloud9::love:

(But I've got to get my faves in!!! I promise I won't run though!!! ;))

Sara

[mom2mek]

Just a quick update before running down to the beach for Mom's Day with, well...the Moms!! :goodvibes

I placed our Garden Grocer order today!! It actually JUST dawned on me today, that maybe I should think about doing one. :idea: Oops! We have always done one in the past because we are in a big house offsite, and it made sense to have it delivered instead of wasting a couple of vacation hours at the grocery store, but for this trip, I just didn't really think we needed it being at the Poly.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought I should do one. Don't want to pay $4 for a bottle of water, you know? Of course, we will probably have a ton of stuff left over, but oh well..I did it anyway!

I ordered:
Diet Pepsi (cans)
Water (bottled)
Apples
Bananas
Granola bars
Tostitos and con queso dip (for snacking in the room)
Nabs - Peanut butter crackers (taking to the park)
Donuts
Hand Sanitizer (in case I have a major brain malfunction and forget to bring some)
Clorox disinfecting wipes ( a little swine flu prevention never hurt anyone)
6 pack of Corona for Shawn

Woo-hoo! :woohoo: I had it delivered for between 1 and 3 (our flight arrives at 1:15) so hopefully it will be there when we arrive to check in! Yay! :yay:

Now, hopefully I can get some shopping done this weekend, even being out of town. They still have Target and Wal-mart at the beach! :rolleyes:

Have a great Mother's Day everyone!! :flower3:

Sara

(5 more days and counting....)

[mkluvsmickey]

I know where to go if I get the munchies! ;)

Have a great weekend at the beach Sara and a fabulous Mothers Day! :flower3:

[Sleeping*Beauty]

I think the spanish version of Henry is Enrique....;) I will look for him and send him your best! :goodvibes
Sara

Thanks tell him I'll see him in JUNE!! :rotfl:

Hope your having fun at the beach! Are you going to Virginia Beach?

[KathyRN137]

Well done! :thumbsup2

Kathy

[ladybugmom]

I need to place my Garden Grocer order as well. Still deciding what I want to get!! Happy Mother's Day to you, too!! :flower3:

[jillyb]

Have fun at the OBX this weekend! That's on our list of vacation places.

[lovegrumpy]

Joining in. I have read some of your other trip reports so I have to read this one.

[pixidustmom]

Just a quick update before running down to the beach for Mom's Day with, well...the Moms!! :goodvibes

I placed our Garden Grocer order today!! It actually JUST dawned on me today, that maybe I should think about doing one. :idea: Oops! We have always done one in the past because we are in a big house offsite, and it made sense to have it delivered instead of wasting a couple of vacation hours at the grocery store, but for this trip, I just didn't really think we needed it being at the Poly.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought I should do one. Don't want to pay $4 for a bottle of water, you know? Of course, we will probably have a ton of stuff left over, but oh well..I did it anyway!

I ordered:
Diet Pepsi (cans)
Water (bottled)
Apples
Bananas
Granola bars
Tostitos and con queso dip (for snacking in the room)
Nabs - Peanut butter crackers (taking to the park)
Donuts
Hand Sanitizer (in case I have a major brain malfunction and forget to bring some)
Clorox disinfecting wipes ( a little swine flu prevention never hurt anyone)
6 pack of Corona for Shawn

Woo-hoo! :woohoo: I had it delivered for between 1 and 3 (our flight arrives at 1:15) so hopefully it will be there when we arrive to check in! Yay! :yay:

Now, hopefully I can get some shopping done this weekend, even being out of town. They still have Target and Wal-mart at the beach! :rolleyes:

Have a great Mother's Day everyone!! :flower3:

Sara

(5 more days and counting....)

Ok so it's like 9 months until my trip but last night I was dreaming and got worked up as I had ordered my groceries and they never got delivered. :eek: At least it was just a dream but I really felt worried even after waking up.:sad2: So I have never done the grocer thing, but was trying to figure out how we could do something like that with out a car. Could I have the link please?
Happy Mother's Day!

[bbluvsdis]

Hi Sara, I just found your PTR and I'm so excited! We will be leaving for a stay at the Boardwalk on May 23rd! I will be reading your report and getting revved up for our trip, not that it takes much.

Where are you located in VA? We live in Charlottesville and I'm always looking for more Disney freaks like me.

My husband and I went on a solo trip to the F&W festival in October and had a fantastic time. It is a much more relaxed trip when it is just the 2 of us. I love to get ice cream and sit at the little tables at the end of Main Street after Wishes and watch all of the people and then shop through the stores on the way out.

I can't wait to hear of your adventures!

[cclovesdis]

Can't wait to hear about your trip!

[kaysmommie]

Hi Sara,
hope you are having fun at the beach! Happy Mother's day! Your plans look great for Epcot and MK. I agree add Off Kilter to your list. Have you seen Sergio the juggler in Italy? The one in France is on my list this trip, it's a waiter who balances the chairs. The good part about MK is you will be less rushed without having to ride all the kiddie rides.

[mikayla73]

Ok so it's like 9 months until my trip but last night I was dreaming and got worked up as I had ordered my groceries and they never got delivered. :eek: At least it was just a dream but I really felt worried even after waking up.:sad2: So I have never done the grocer thing, but was trying to figure out how we could do something like that with out a car. Could I have the link please?
Happy Mother's Day!

Here's the link for Garden Grocer. http://www.gardengrocer.com/ I know there's another one that is frequently used by people on here, but I can't remember what it is. Maybe someone else will chime in with that one.

mom2mek - have a great time at the beach!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

[mom2mek]

I know where to go if I get the munchies! ;)

Have a great weekend at the beach Sara and a fabulous Mothers Day! :flower3:

Sure thing, Michelle! Come on up to our room for some donuts and Tostitos!!! We know how to party, huh? :laughing:

Hope you had a fabulous Mother's Day as well! :flower3:

Thanks tell him I'll see him in JUNE!! :rotfl:

Hope your having fun at the beach! Are you going to Virginia Beach?

I will send Enrique your best! :thumbsup2 No, we live about 25 minutes from Va Beach, but prefer to drive an hour to the Outer Banks of NC - more laid-back kind of beach!! We had a great time! :goodvibes

Well done! :thumbsup2

Kathy
Thanks Kathy! I am really way behind on my trip planning stuff; I'm shocked I remembered the GG thing! :sad2: Happy Mom's Day!

I need to place my Garden Grocer order as well. Still deciding what I want to get!! Happy Mother's Day to you, too!!
Have you thought any more about your order? Being on the dining plan, you probably don't want to get too much, but with 2 little ones it might be nice to have some juice/milk and bottled water along with snacks for the parks! My kids got fanny packs on our Thanksgiving trip and loved carrying around a couple of bags of fruit snacks, their sunglasses, and some chapstick. They thought they were pretty cool! :lmao: Hope you had a nice Mother's Day!

Have fun at the OBX this weekend! That's on our list of vacation places.

We love the OBX, Jill! So relaxing (and yet the ocean/beach always tires me out for some reason....I think it's all the lugging of junk to the beach, washing off sandy kids, etc, etc...)! We had a great time though! Weather was beautiful!! :love:

Joining in. I have read some of your other trip reports so I have to read this one.

Welcome! :welcome: Glad you posted! :yay: Don't be a stranger, ya here?

Ok so it's like 9 months until my trip but last night I was dreaming and got worked up as I had ordered my groceries and they never got delivered. :eek: At least it was just a dream but I really felt worried even after waking up.:sad2: So I have never done the grocer thing, but was trying to figure out how we could do something like that with out a car. Could I have the link please?
Happy Mother's Day!

Ahhh....I don't like crazy Disney-planner-gone-wrong dreams!!! They scare me! :scared1:

I think someone else provided it, but yes, it is www.gardengrocer.com The other one that some people use is www.wegoshop.com

I have never used that one - only garden grocer - but I can't say enough nice things about GG - they have always been on time, had everything we ordered, and is a great service to kickstart a vacation! :thumbsup2

Hi Sara, I just found your PTR and I'm so excited! We will be leaving for a stay at the Boardwalk on May 23rd! I will be reading your report and getting revved up for our trip, not that it takes much.

Where are you located in VA? We live in Charlottesville and I'm always looking for more Disney freaks like me.

My husband and I went on a solo trip to the F&W festival in October and had a fantastic time. It is a much more relaxed trip when it is just the 2 of us. I love to get ice cream and sit at the little tables at the end of Main Street after Wishes and watch all of the people and then shop through the stores on the way out.

I can't wait to hear of your adventures!

Hi! Glad you stopped in! We were there in October as well - Oct 8 - 13th! Didn't do a whole lot of F&W because of the storms that rolled through when we were at Epcot, but I would love to go back someday and really enjoy it! :love:

We are in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia - Norfolk/Va Beach/Chesapeake area - but we are up towards Charlottesville a lot because my parents own a house up at Wintergreen Resort! We love it up there and we love taking day trips down into Charlottesville for shopping! :cloud9: Beautiful area!

Have fun at the Boardwalk! I'd love to try that resort one day!

Can't wait to hear about your trip!

Thanks! :goodvibes

Hi Sara,
hope you are having fun at the beach! Happy Mother's day! Your plans look great for Epcot and MK. I agree add Off Kilter to your list. Have you seen Sergio the juggler in Italy? The one in France is on my list this trip, it's a waiter who balances the chairs. The good part about MK is you will be less rushed without having to ride all the kiddie rides.
Hi Nichole! Hope you had a nice Mother's Day!! I'm definitely putting Off Kilter, Sergio, and Serveur Amusant on my list!

Are you saying I can't ride Winnie the Pooh or Peter Pan when we are at the MK? :sad: I might have to borrow someone's kid to ride with me, huh? :lmao: Seriously though, I agree, it will be nice to not have to rush so that I can get my kids on the things they want to ride! :)

Here's the link for Garden Grocer. http://www.gardengrocer.com/ I know there's another one that is frequently used by people on here, but I can't remember what it is. Maybe someone else will chime in with that one.

mom2mek - have a great time at the beach!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Thanks!! We love GG! It has always worked well for us in the past, and I hope it works well this time!

We had a great couple of beach days!! :beach::beach:

Sara

[jillyb]

Woohoo!! 2 days!!!

[faerieprincess]

i'm here (a little late to the party, sorry!) and your plans sound great! i'm so excited for you and it's less than two days away! i can't wait to hear all about it :goodvibes

[ladybugmom]

Have you thought any more about your order? Being on the dining plan, you probably don't want to get too much, but with 2 little ones it might be nice to have some juice/milk and bottled water along with snacks for the parks! My kids got fanny packs on our Thanksgiving trip and loved carrying around a couple of bags of fruit snacks, their sunglasses, and some chapstick. They thought they were pretty cool! :lmao: Hope you had a nice Mother's Day!

Sara--yes I have--I need to go ahead and place my order but I've been so busy. It's on my to-do list for tomorrow. I'm thinking of ordering milk for Claire, bottled water, diapers, wipes, and a few snacks. Am I forgetting anything?

[mom2mek]

Woohoo!! 2 days!!!

Woo-hoo! :woohoo: Now it's only 1!!!
(and I am soooo not ready....)

i'm here (a little late to the party, sorry!) and your plans sound great! i'm so excited for you and it's less than two days away! i can't wait to hear all about it :goodvibes

Yay! Hi Sare! I'm glad you came over! I'm getting really excited about the trip. I only wish I were more ready to go! Seems that trips without kids are just as hard (if not a little bit more) to plan for! And it doesn't help that the kids have busy schedules this week! Gotta love grandparents!! :love:

Sara--yes I have--I need to go ahead and place my order but I've been so busy. It's on my to-do list for tomorrow. I'm thinking of ordering milk for Claire, bottled water, diapers, wipes, and a few snacks. Am I forgetting anything?

Sounds good to me Becky! Are you planning any meals in the room, like breakfast? You could get yogurt and cereal or other easy breakfast items if you were. You're getting so close. I will send you a PM about a possible meet on Saturday. :woohoo:


Sara

[mom2mek]

Ok, peeps...forgive my stupidity, but having never stayed onsite, I just want to clarify something. So please chime in if you know...

We both have tickets already - I have an AP, Shawn has an old non-expiring ticket with days left on it. When we check in and they give us our room keys, can we put a credit card or cash down and then use that room key to pay for our meals and stuff throughout the park? I know this is a silly question, but for some reason I am drawing a blank. I've never paid for a meal in a TS restaurant with anything other than a regular credit card, but it would be nice to not have to carry any of those around with us.

Help a stupid girl out....all foreign to me! :laughing:

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Ok, peeps...forgive my stupidity, but having never stayed onsite, I just want to clarify something. So please chime in if you know...

We both have tickets already - I have an AP, Shawn has an old non-expiring ticket with days left on it. When we check in and they give us our room keys, can we put a credit card or cash down and then use that room key to pay for our meals and stuff throughout the park? I know this is a silly question, but for some reason I am drawing a blank. I've never paid for a meal in a TS restaurant with anything other than a regular credit card, but it would be nice to not have to carry any of those around with us.

Help a stupid girl out....all foreign to me! :laughing:

Sara

Yes Sara. When you check in they will give you your Key to the World card which will be your room key. They will ask if you want to attach a credit card to it for charging purposes. It is very convenient.

I can't believe you are leaving tomorrow!!! Are you ready? :rotfl:

[mom2mek]

Yes Sara. When you check in they will give you your Key to the World card which will be your room key. They will ask if you want to attach a credit card to it for charging purposes. It is very convenient.

I can't believe you are leaving tomorrow!!! Are you ready? :rotfl:

Thanks Michelle! :goodvibes I thought so! Now to decide if I want to put a card down or cash? I feel like with cash we would be less likely to "over-do" you know? That's the budget person coming through.

Will they give us a detailed description of the charges when we check out? Can we use it anywhere? Can we use it at kiosks like the GGLCS stand? :laughing: Inquiring minds want to know!

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Thanks Michelle! :goodvibes I thought so! Now to decide if I want to put a card down or cash? I feel like with cash we would be less likely to "over-do" you know? That's the budget person coming through.
Will they give us a detailed description of the charges when we check out? Can we use it anywhere? Can we use it at kiosks like the GGLCS stand? :laughing: Inquiring minds want to know!
Sara

Yes - it is way too easy to whip out that card and spend when there is a cc attached. Just doesn't feel like you are spending money, you know? A few of my trips I've opted not to use the card for charging and just used cash but I really like the convenience of it. And yes, I'm pretty sure you can attach cash to the card instead of a credit card. You can get a detail printout anytime at the front desk and you will get a detailed listing in the dreaded envelope on your last day too. :)

[mom2mek]

Pre Trip Plans - Day 4 - Saturday, May 16th!

Oops! Almost forgot to put down the last day's plans! :eek: This day I thought it might be nice to just take our time (maybe even order room service as a splurge) and head over to Epcot at a leisurely (no rope drop needed) pace! :scared1:

You have no idea how hard that was to type! :laughing:

We have an ADR on this day for lunch at Le Cellier at 12:30. I couldn't get any dinner reservations here or any earlier lunch times, but oh well...what I want to order is on the lunch menu anyway!

The rest of the day I hope to just see more of the entertainment that we might have missed on Thursday and sample some foods for dinner....OR we might head back to the Poly in the evening (I really want to try and catch the torch lighting ceremony, and it's at 6:00, so IDK) grab something from Capt Cooks, enjoy the atmosphere and the Tambu Lounge or the Barefoot Pool Bar....OR we could leave Epcot in the evening and head over to DTD for a snack from Goofy's and for Shawn to check out the hot air balloon ride. I don't know if he will really want to do it now that he sees that it really doesn't go up that high and that you are mostly seeing DTD....but we'll see! Either way, I WILL NOT be up in that thing! :sad2:

We will end our night at the Poly beach for the EWP and Wishes!! What's even better is meeting up with some fellow DISers for the fireworks.


Day 5 - Sunday, May 17th! Departure.....cue the sad music.....:charac2:

We have a breakfast ADR at Kona Cafe this morning at 8:00 and I'm hoping to get to the marina at the Poly right at 10:00 (when it's supposed to open, I hope) and rent a pontoon boat or a Boston Whaler and cruise around the lagoon for 1/2 an hour. We have to meet the ME bus at 11:30, so if the marina opens at 10, we should be ok.

I have never done the Airline check-in from the resort, but from what I've read, we have to bring our bags and check-in 3 hours before our departure, so I thought I would just bring our stuff down after breakfast and before the boat ride....we'll see. Anyone have any helpful hints about the airline check-in procedures? Our flight leaves Orlando around 2:30 and we arrive back in VA around 4:00! :sad1:

Thoughts/Ideas/Comments.....


Sara

[mom2mek]

Yes - it is way too easy to whip out that card and spend when there is a cc attached. Just doesn't feel like you are spending money, you know? A few of my trips I've opted not to use the card for charging and just used cash but I really like the convenience of it. And yes, I'm pretty sure you can attach cash to the card instead of a credit card. You can get a detail printout anytime at the front desk and you will get a detailed listing in the dreaded envelope on your last day too. :)

Thanks again Michelle! You're the best! :hug:

So you have attached cash to your room key, then?

Hmmm....that might be what we do! Shawn will think that's silly, but I think it will help us stay on track budget-wise!! (Shawn's response would be "budge-smudget" - we're at Disney together - let's just have fun!")

I will have to reign him in a little bit!! :lmao:

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

We will end our night at the Poly beach for the EWP and Wishes!! What's even better is meeting up with some fellow DISers for the fireworks.


My favorite part of your trip! :cool1::banana::cool1::banana:


Thanks again Michelle! You're the best! :hug:
So you have attached cash to your room key, then?
Hmmm....that might be what we do! Shawn will think that's silly, but I think it will help us stay on track budget-wise!! (Shawn's response would be "budge-smudget" - we're at Disney together - let's just have fun!")
I will have to reign him in a little bit!! :lmao:
Sara

I haven't attached cash to the room key, we just used cash those times. But it would have been much easier to attach the cash and I'm certain I've heard of people who have done that. I usually have more of Shawn's thinking when at Disney but regret it when I get home! :scared1: It's just so easy to spend money there!

[jillyb]

Pre Trip Plans - Day 4 - Saturday, May 16th!

Oops! Almost forgot to put down the last day's plans! :eek: This day I thought it might be nice to just take our time (maybe even order room service as a splurge) and head over to Epcot at a leisurely (no rope drop needed) pace! :scared1:

You have no idea how hard that was to type! :laughing:


:lmao::lmao::lmao: I can imagine!

[KathyRN137]

You have no idea how hard that was to type! :laughing:


Oh YES, I do!!! :rotfl2:

But it's so much easier to do when you don't have kids pulling you in three different directions! Ed always says, "Remember how nice it was when it was just the two of us and we didn't have any plans....?" That's HIS kind of Disney Trip! (But I would be a wreck if we did that with the kids!)

I like the pontoon boat idea!

Kathy

[kaysmommie]

My favorite part of your trip! :cool1::banana::cool1::banana:




I haven't attached cash to the room key, we just used cash those times. But it would have been much easier to attach the cash and I'm certain I've heard of people who have done that. I usually have more of Shawn's thinking when at Disney but regret it when I get home! :scared1: It's just so easy to spend money there!

Hi Sara,
your Day 4 plans look great! Just wanted to say I felt just like Michelle when we get that long bill at check out :scared1:. Even when I think I'm staying on track it's usually still way more than I panned on spending. I have never used cash on the room card but that sounds like a good idea. Anyway i hope your packed and not too overwhelmed . See you Saturday :)

[jillyb]

Have a safe trip tomorrow Sara!

[mom2mek]

Well, not TOTALLY packed yet, but I'm getting there...I figure by 1:00 I should be in bed. We'll see!

On the bright side....I have pretty toes!! :cool1::yay::banana:

12 hours left! :cheer2: :cheer2:

Sara



Oh YES, I do!!! :rotfl2:

But it's so much easier to do when you don't have kids pulling you in three different directions! Ed always says, "Remember how nice it was when it was just the two of us and we didn't have any plans....?" That's HIS kind of Disney Trip! (But I would be a wreck if we did that with the kids!)

I like the pontoon boat idea!

Kathy

I agree, Kathy! Much easier to do when you don't have all the kids with you! I hope Shawn doesn't ask for me to push him in a stroller though! :rolleyes1

Hoping the boat thing works out!! :goodvibes

Hi Sara,
your Day 4 plans look great! Just wanted to say I felt just like Michelle when we get that long bill at check out :scared1:. Even when I think I'm staying on track it's usually still way more than I panned on spending. I have never used cash on the room card but that sounds like a good idea. Anyway i hope your packed and not too overwhelmed . See you Saturday :)

Thanks Nichole! I'm thinking we will go with the cash thing! I wonder if they tell you on your receipt what your "balance" is though? Probably not. Then I would actually have to keep track of it...ugh...IDK...

Looking forward to Saturday too! Funny how in October you were ending your trip as we were starting ours, and now we will be ending our trip as you are starting yours! :laughing: I might be drowning my sorrows in Lapu Lapus on Saturday night!! :sad1:

Have a safe trip tomorrow Sara!

Thanks Jill! Maybe I will have a chance to check in! :thumbsup2

[ladybugmom]

Sounds good to me Becky! Are you planning any meals in the room, like breakfast? You could get yogurt and cereal or other easy breakfast items if you were. You're getting so close. I will send you a PM about a possible meet on Saturday. :woohoo:

Yes, I forgot to add Pop Tarts for quick breakfasts in the room!! Thank you!! I can't wait to meet you Saturday night!! I'll be thinking about you tomorrow as you travel to WDW!! Have a fabulous time!! princess:

[mom2mek]

Yes, I forgot to add Pop Tarts for quick breakfasts in the room!! Thank you!! I can't wait to meet you Saturday night!! I'll be thinking about you tomorrow as you travel to WDW!! Have a fabulous time!! princess:

Thanks Becky! You guys travel safe as well! :goodvibes

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Hey Sara! I hope you got some sleep tonight. Just wanted to come on say once again that I hope you have a fantastic trip! Can't wait to see you Saturday night! :banana::banana::banana:

[mom2mek]

Just checking in one last time before heading to take the kids to school and then going to the airport. Pangs of guilt have started whenever I look at my kids. I just have to keep telling myself that they JUST went in October, and that Shawn and I need to take a little trip just the two of us. But it's hard. :guilty:

Flight leaves in 5 hours, so all there is left to say is....


ALOHA!!!

:yay::banana::cool1::yay::banana::cool1:


Sara

[KathyRN137]

Aloha, Sara & Shawn!! pixiedust:

Kathy

[ladybugmom]

Aloha Sara!! Can't wait to meet you Saturday night!! :banana:

[stinkerbell007]

Yay!!!:goodvibes

I can't wait to hear about your trip. I will be leaving in two weeks myself, for a trip with my sister and niece from Chicago. My niece is graduating high school and opted spend a week with her two favorite people.:love::love: In one of her favorite places!:wizard:

Anyway, we will NOT be staying at the Poly:sad1: (unless some kind of disfairy grants us a secret wishpixiedust:), but my sister and I have stayed there in the past, and it is our very favorite. We consider it 'home'.:cloud9:

So have a nice time. I'm only a little bit jealous.:rolleyes:

I don't get to stay at the Poly, but I do get a week at Disney. Yahoo!!!:cool1:

Linda

[DisneyJo]

Subbing so I don't miss the TR when you get back, hope you're having lots of fun :goodvibes

[mom2mek]

Hello! We are back! We had a fabulous time! The weather was great, the Poly was AMAZING, :love:the food was fantastic.....we ran into one teeny tiny problem that changed our last day plans, but I'll get to that when I start the report! :rolleyes1

Hope no one minds a report filled with pictures of architecture and flowers and not a lot of people! :rotfl2: It was quite different to not have our kids with us to take pictures of them....I don't like pictures of myself usually, so Shawn mostly took pics of scenery...HOWEVER, take pictures he certainly DID!!!! :eek: LOTS OF THEM!!! Over 530 JUST AT EPCOT!!! In one day! :rotfl: That boy is crazy! Anyways, I will get started soon....just have to wrap my head around a bunch of yucky work first! :scared:

Stay tuned....

Sara

[DisneyJo]

Welcome back Sara and 530 photos in one day :faint: wow :rotfl:

[mom2mek]

Welcome back Sara and 530 photos in one day :faint: wow :rotfl:


I know! Kinda crazy, huh? Well, he would take like 10 pictures of ONE flower! :laughing: I won't put that many in the report! LOL! With his camera, it is really easy to just click, click, click away....(I even got him taking pics of food because I've always felt weird doing that....he thought it was a great idea! LOL!) :rotfl2:

Sara

[jillyb]

I know! Kinda crazy, huh? Well, he would take like 10 pictures of ONE flower! :laughing: I won't put that many in the report! LOL! With his camera, it is really easy to just click, click, click away....(I even got him taking pics of food because I've always felt weird doing that....he thought it was a great idea! LOL!) :rotfl2:

Sara

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[MeMom]

I know! Kinda crazy, huh? Well, he would take like 10 pictures of ONE flower! :laughing: I won't put that many in the report! LOL! With his camera, it is really easy to just click, click, click away....(I even got him taking pics of food because I've always felt weird doing that....he thought it was a great idea! LOL!) :rotfl2:

Sara


That sounds just like me.

Bring 'em on - flowers, food, fun...we want to see them all!

[tinkerbells mum]

welcome back can't wait to hear all about it xx

[KathyRN137]

Welcome back, Sara!!

Can't wait for the report to begin!

popcorn::


Kathy

[Sleeping*Beauty]

I can't wait to see all your fabolous photos.

[mom2mek]

Thanks everyone! :goodvibes I will get started as soon as I can get organized! :lmao: Don't forget about me! :rolleyes1

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Welcome back Sara! It was so great to see you on Saturday night. :hug:

Can't wait for your report! :cool1::cool1::cool1:

[mom2mek]

Welcome back Sara! It was so great to see you on Saturday night. :hug:

Can't wait for your report! :cool1::cool1::cool1:

Hi Michelle! It was so nice to see you on Saturday. I'm glad you are home safe and sound but sorry about all the rain you guys had. :headache: I'm sure you made the best out of it though! :)

Sara

[pixidustmom]

Welcome back and I am so looking forward to hear how things went. No people pictures are fine as I love to see the Disney part.

[stinkerbell007]

popcorn::

I'm in.....

[mikayla73]

Welcome back, glad you had a great time! We're ready to read all about it! popcorn::

[Disneychix]

Welcome back! I don't think I've taken 530 pics in 5 years! Wow! Who has the job of going through all these pictures??

Good luck!

[VBsHustla]

Hi, I just came through from the Polynesian thread. We'll be staying at the Poly for the first time in September, so I'm happily planning away right now, and very much looking forward to seeing your pictures and reading about your stay there! :thumbsup2

-Jen

[mom2mek]

Welcome back and I am so looking forward to hear how things went. No people pictures are fine as I love to see the Disney part.

Thanks! WIsh I could say it was "good to be back" :sad1:

Glad you like "disney" pictures - we got a lot of 'em! :eek:

popcorn::

I'm in.....

Hey there! Nice to see you! (Congrats on your 82 posts...you are well on your way....:rolleyes1)

Welcome back, glad you had a great time! We're ready to read all about it! popcorn::

Thanks Mikayla! Can't wait to start writing! Gotta get all those dang pics from Shawn though - he does not understand the urgency of my trip-report writing self. :headache:

Welcome back! I don't think I've taken 530 pics in 5 years! Wow! Who has the job of going through all these pictures??

Good luck!

Ha! That would be me! :scared1:

Hi, I just came through from the Polynesian thread. We'll be staying at the Poly for the first time in September, so I'm happily planning away right now, and very much looking forward to seeing your pictures and reading about your stay there! :thumbsup2

-Jen

Hi Jen! Welcome! Glad you came on over - Shawn got lots of Poly pics - what an amazing resort! So peaceful and relaxing - you really do get two vacations when you stay at the Poly! A Disney one, and a tropical escape! Not too long to go for you! :yay:

Sara

[AlohaAnnie]

Sara,

I can't wait to hear about your anniversary trip, We are going on a solo trip also w/o the kids for our anniversary in Jan.


Tina :thumbsup2

[KathyRN137]

:hourglass popcorn::


Kathy

[kaysmommie]

Hi Sara,
We are back too :sad1: from a very soaking wet week. So glad you liked the Poly. Wow 530 pictures in just one day at Epcot! So fun meeting you all last week. At least my hubby doesn't think I'm crazy anymore meeting internet friends :laughing:. Since he got to see what great people I have met on Dis :flower3:. looking forward to your trip report and some great pics. We didn't use our camera as much with all the rain.

[mom2mek]

Hi Sara,
We are back too :sad1: from a very soaking wet week. So glad you liked the Poly. Wow 530 pictures in just one day at Epcot! So fun meeting you all last week. At least my hubby doesn't think I'm crazy anymore meeting internet friends :laughing:. Since he got to see what great people I have met on Dis :flower3:. looking forward to your trip report and some great pics. We didn't use our camera as much with all the rain.

Welcome home Nichole! :goodvibes It was so nice meeting you as well! I feel the same way about the husbands - I was glad Shawn was able to meet some of you too! :flower3: I'm so sorry you guys had all that rain - I was thinking of you guys the whole week and wondering how cold it must have felt. Were the parks pretty empty though? :confused3 Did you get to really experience a "resort" trip? I hope you managed to have fun, but I'm sure you want to throw your ponchos in the trash! :laughing:

Sara

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - Wednesday, May 13th

Part 1 - Getting there!

OUR “TRIP OF A DIFFERENT FLAVOR” BEGINS….


I woke up around 5:30 after getting to sleep a little bit after 1:00, but lack of sleep had no impact on me....I was fully excited that this was the day!!!! :banana:
Granted, I had my normal nerves about actually having to get on an airplane in order to get to my happy place, but I was trying to forget all about that right now. :eek:

I took the kids to school, gave them extra kisses for the time we would be gone, reviewed all the rules of staying with the grandparents, and said my good-byes! Then I went by the bank, and got home about 8:45. Shawn was gone. :confused3

Apparently, due to the crazy work happenings the night before that kept him at work until almost 9:00, he didn’t have time to go to the store and buy new socks. :laughing: Don’t ask me why, but every time before a trip, Shawn goes to the closest Wal-mart or Target and buys new socks, new underwear, and usually new t-shirts. It’s weird. I do the laundry, and I know for a fact, that the man has plenty of all 3 of those things! Ugh! But he is so predictable, so that is where I knew he went.

He came home about 9:00 and had a lovely little Starbucks latte for me to drink on the way to the airport! Thanks hon! :love2: (Oh, and by the way, I was right, he had gone to buy socks!) He also picked up a new camera case to carry his Nikon D80 with him since the case he carried with him in October was nice, but just a bit cumbersome and he wanted to find something smaller or he was not going to bring his camera. Ahhh…..that would not have been good!! :sad2:


We finished up the loose ends around the house, loaded the car, gave lots of extra kisses to Katie (who was at the house with my MIL as she isn’t in school yet) and Jellybean (the new puppy) and we hit the road about 9:20 (only 5 minutes behind schedule – seriously, that’s like a record for us!)

Here is Shawn...appearing relaxed....
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010384.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010386.jpg

Surprisingly, we hit NO traffic on the way to the Newport News/ Williamsburg airport. We arrived around 9:50 and Shawn pulled up to the front and dropped me off with the luggage and then left to go park the car in the long term lot.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010387.jpg
(I have to laugh every time I see this sign...INTERNATIONAL? Cracks me up - it's such a small little airport and you can get flights out of there to like New York, Atlanta, Boston, Orlando, and Charlotte! I guess since you can then fly from one of those places to places considered INTERNATIONAL, they can qualify to put that on their sign...LOL)


I got out the Magical Express tags to put them on the luggage (a first for us)! I didn’t want to put them on at home, because I didn’t want the kids to see them. The guilt was already settling in and we weren’t even on the plane yet. :guilty: But oh, how I loved seeing the word POLYNESIAN printed on those nice, bright, yellow tags! :yay:


Shawn hiked his way back up to where I was and we checked in at the Airtran counter. There was no one waiting and we were able to walk right up to check our bags. Bye bags! Hope you “magically” show up in our hotel room tonight! :scared:

Shawn asked about upgrading to business class, but the only 2 seats available were not together, so that was NOT happening. I just don’t think a stranger would appreciate me clutching the life out of their hand when we took off, landed, or had any bumps the entire flight. :confused3 We stuck with our regular seats instead. We were in and out of the baggage check-in in 5 minutes (why does it NEVER seem to happen that way when traveling with children….)? We made our way to the gate (it’s a really small airport, so it only takes about 50 steps and you are there….LOL) so I popped in the Hudson News stand to pick up a couple of spanking new magazines to read on the plane. We also picked up a Crosswords puzzle book, hoping that it might take the place of the coloring I usually am able to do on an airplane with my kids. (It helps me stay focused and not get too frightened….but I was concerned about what it might look like to be a grown woman with no children, coloring in a Mickey Mouse coloring book during our flight). :laughing:

We opted for the “easy” crosswords puzzle book as we didn’t want to strain our brains too bad before vacation! :thumbsup2


I guzzled down the rest of my latte before heading through security; after which we walked another whopping 50 steps to find some empty seats. Shawn whipped out his laptop and aircard and started doing…..guess……????

What other than….WORK!!! Ugh!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010389.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010388.jpg

At some point, (I think when he ran to the restroom), I managed to get the computer away from him and logged on to FB real quick, so as payback we took my picture and posted it on his facebook. We’re so mature. :sad2:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/airport.jpg

We boarded the plane and left VA right on time. Breathe, Sara…only an hour and a half and we will be there….I took out my magazine and started looking through it, and then when the plane got a little bumpy we broke out the crossword puzzle book and started working a few of those REALLY TOUGH crosswords. (Read sarcasm there....they were so ridiculously easy)

It was hard for us to not laugh out loud and disturb everyone around us. :rotfl2: Here is a sampling of some of the clues….

“Half of Four” (3 letters)

“ A grown-up boy” (3 letters)

They were so easy it was comical. It turned into "how fast can we finish this thing" kind of puzzle!

Oh well though…it worked…it kept me occupied through a bumpy flight. We did happen to hear that a baby up in business class was having a tough time – not whimpering and crying, mind you…but screaming! :scared1: I turned to Shawn and asked if he was happy we hadn’t been able to upgrade! :rotfl:


We landed right on time in Orlando! As we exited the plane, we headed straight for the fake monorail and I snapped a picture of my first palm tree sighting! Woo-hoo! I’m on vacation!!!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010392-1.jpg

Then another....
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010393.jpg


We disembarked and headed out to find the food court. I had looked up online what restaurants they had in the Orlando airport and figured we could grab something quick to eat while riding the Magical Express bus (or if we were waiting a while for the bus, we could eat while standing in line). We quickly found the Chick Fil-A (delicious) and then backtracked a little bit to go down to Level I so we could find out just how “magical” the Magical Express bus service really was!

Sorry it was a short little update, but it was killing me to at least not get started....

Up next...how long do we wait for the Magical Express? Does Shawn find it to be as "magical" as I thought he would....plus arrival at the POLY!!!:love:

Sara

[jillyb]

Yay for your first installment! Can't wait to hear about your Magical Express experience. And I had to laugh when I read about stopping at Chik-Fil-A! :rotfl:

[KathyRN137]

:laughing: Don’t ask me why, but every time before a trip, Shawn goes to the closest Wal-mart or Target and buys new socks, new underwear, and usually new t-shirts. It’s weird. I do the laundry, and I know for a fact, that the man has plenty of all 3 of those things! Ugh! But he is so predictable, so that is where I knew he went.


LOL! Ed always runs off at the last minute to pick things up for himself... no matter how many times I ask him ahead of time if he needs anything!



We were in and out of the baggage check-in in 5 minutes (why does it NEVER seem to happen that way when traveling with children….)?


I know what you mean! :rolleyes:


We made our way to the gate (it’s a really small airport, so it only takes about 50 steps and you are there….LOL) so I popped in the Hudson News stand to pick up a couple of spanking new magazines to read on the plane.


I do the same thing! It's the only time I buy magazines, really, so its a treat!



….but I was concerned about what it might look like to be a grown woman with no children, coloring in a Mickey Mouse coloring book during our flight).



:rotfl2:



It was hard for us to not laugh out loud and disturb everyone around us. :rotfl2: Here is a sampling of some of the clues….

“Half of Four” (3 letters)

“ A grown-up boy” (3 letters)


Hmmm. Perhaps you should have gone for "medium" difficulty!!



We landed right on time in Orlando! As we exited the plane, we headed straight for the fake monorail and I snapped a picture of my first palm tree sighting! Woo-hoo! I’m on vacation!!!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010392-1.jpg



Yay for the vacation palms! :banana:




Can't wait to hear all about the Poly....


Kathy

[mkluvsmickey]

Woo Hoo - you started! Shawn does look relaxed in that first picture! And I was cracking up at the pictures you two took of each other "working"! Can't wait to see how you liked Magical Express! :goodvibes

[MeMom]

You know you've arrived when you see your first palm tree.
Can't wait to see that beautiful Polynesian Resort coming up!

I will confess, we always buy new socks and undies, too, even if we have plenty at home. It's just a habit we've gotten into, so it just feels like what we're supposed to do now after so many times.

[AlohaAnnie]

Enjoying the trip so far, glad to hear you two are silly too! We (myself & my husband Shawn) are a bit silly too! It is great - it keeps our life together fun.

My Husband always buys new socks & undies too! I always buy new shirts, guess we are like that but I usually need the shirts.

I also get scared on airplanes and I get motion sickness.

Can't wait to hear more! Tina

[kaysmommie]

Welcome home Nichole! :goodvibes It was so nice meeting you as well! I feel the same way about the husbands - I was glad Shawn was able to meet some of you too! :flower3: I'm so sorry you guys had all that rain - I was thinking of you guys the whole week and wondering how cold it must have felt. Were the parks pretty empty though? :confused3 Did you get to really experience a "resort" trip? I hope you managed to have fun, but I'm sure you want to throw your ponchos in the trash! :laughing:

Sara


Yes it was cold rain :headache: and we were inside way more than I would have liked. We did manage to have fun still, how can you not have fun at Disney. The parks were still busy and if the rain let up then it seemed like they were mobbed. The good part is maybe well get back sooner :rolleyes1.

So glad you started your TR. I don't like flying either :sad2: it will be driving for us from now on. Nothing wrong with coloring on the plane :laughing:. Wondering how you liked ME and looking forward to your Poly pics.

[Sleeping*Beauty]

Sounds like your off to a good start. We fly out of Newport News too. Where are you guys from?

[mom2mek]

Yay for your first installment! Can't wait to hear about your Magical Express experience. And I had to laugh when I read about stopping at Chik-Fil-A! :rotfl:

OMG Jill! :rotfl2: I totally forgot about that when I was writing this up! How funny!!

Can't wait to hear all about the Poly....Kathy

Seriously Kathy, what is with men and not letting us know of the stuff they need before a trip? I mean this was the MORNING of departure....sigh :sad2: Hoping to get to the Poly - have to see how far I can get with only my pics as Shawn hasn't taken his pics off his laptop yet for me to upload. :headache:




Woo Hoo - you started! Shawn does look relaxed in that first picture! And I was cracking up at the pictures you two took of each other "working"! Can't wait to see how you liked Magical Express! :goodvibes

LOL Michelle! I couldn't believe he got his laptop out and started working at the airport.

Magical Express coming right up....popcorn::

You know you've arrived when you see your first palm tree.
Can't wait to see that beautiful Polynesian Resort coming up!

I will confess, we always buy new socks and undies, too, even if we have plenty at home. It's just a habit we've gotten into, so it just feels like what we're supposed to do now after so many times.
Well, I'm the same way about small size toiletries! Always feels like vacation when you have those little bottles going across the checkout conveyor belt! :laughing:

Enjoying the trip so far, glad to hear you two are silly too! We (myself & my husband Shawn) are a bit silly too! It is great - it keeps our life together fun.

My Husband always buys new socks & undies too! I always buy new shirts, guess we are like that but I usually need the shirts.

I also get scared on airplanes and I get motion sickness.

Can't wait to hear more! Tina

Well, I admit...I did go shopping for some new shirts before the trip. Had capris and jeans, but all my shirts looked too blah for a vacation at the Poly!

We definitely do try to have fun together! :hug:

Yes it was cold rain :headache: and we were inside way more than I would have liked. We did manage to have fun still, how can you not have fun at Disney. The parks were still busy and if the rain let up then it seemed like they were mobbed. The good part is maybe well get back sooner :rolleyes1.

So glad you started your TR. I don't like flying either :sad2: it will be driving for us from now on. Nothing wrong with coloring on the plane :laughing:. Wondering how you liked ME and looking forward to your Poly pics.

Ooo...Oooo...SOONER? Cool! :thumbsup2
Can't wait to read about your trip!

ME up next....

Sounds like your off to a good start. We fly out of Newport News too. Where are you guys from?

We love flying out of Newport News - the place is so convenient and small, you never have to go far and it never takes long to get off the plane, in your car, and on the way back home! They could use a decent spot to eat/drink...for a while they just had that one giftshop that also doubled as a Burger King! :laughing: Now at least they have that separate gift shop and food stand, but still...it's pretty lacking in offerings!

We live right on the southside of the Monitor Merrimac Tunnel. So it's about the same distance for us to go to Newport News as it is to go to Norfolk, but we flew out of Norfolk for our October trip since we flew Southwest. :goodvibes

You don't have long until your trip!! :woohoo::woohoo:

Sara

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - Wednesday, May 13th

Part 1 - A Magical Journey!

We found the way to Magical Express fairly easy waaayyyy at the end of the terminal and saw virtually NO ONE around other than about 10 different CMs.

There was one party that had just come in from the bus and they were asking questions about getting TO the plane gate, but other than that, no one else was there. We walked right up to the first person standing there, she told us where to go next, so off we went to the next person, who scribbled something on our little vouchers, told us "line 4, please....and have a magical day!" Okey dokey...we will!

We walked up to our line and we were first in line! Woo-hoo! Did we get a fastpass for the magical express without my knowledge? :rotfl: LOL! Of course, it dawned on me at that point that having NO line probably meant that we had JUST missed a bus for our set of resorts. Drat. Wonder how long that will take? :rolleyes1

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010396.jpg

No worries, we were feeling pretty happy! :love:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010399.jpg

Shawn was really digging this whole "not worrying about our luggage" thing....it was truly making this a vacation for him. :goodvibes I have heard many things about the ME, both good and bad, but so far, it was all good for Sara and Shawn! I snapped this quick picture of the "line" behind us!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010394.jpg

Shawn apparently wanted to remind me where we were staying....

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010397.jpg


I have to mention how freakin' excited I was that everything was going so smoothly! :banana: I mean, Disney is MY happy place, don't get me wrong....Shawn likes it too, but well...you know how it is....:rolleyes: I just wanted everything to work well so that someday, possibly, he might love it just as much as me. I really wanted this first onsite trip to work seamlessly, without any problems so that going back sooner rather than later wouldn't be a problem.


So we stood and waited.


And stood.



And waited.




Uh-oh. :headache:


They let the line to the right of us get on their bus. Then the line to the left of us got on their bus. :headache: Slowly but surely I started getting worried that maybe the Magic Kingdom resorts were just not that well booked and that maybe we would be standing there a while. :confused:

Well, I was wrong. We waited in total about 15 minutes. Not too shabby. Shawn seemed pleased. I don't know why I was worried. Trip planner pressure, I suppose!

My first Magical Express....:cool1: The bus is so cute!
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010400.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010401.jpg

We got on the bus, and picked a second row of seats behind the driver. I had the Chick-Fil-A in my carry-on bag and I didn't want to be munching down right behind the driver. But I wanted to be as close to the front as possible, so that we could be one of the first ones off! We sat back in our lovely seats and broke out the grub. I had some nuggets and a Diet Coke, and Shawn got a sandwich combo. I realized after eating the first nugget, that I had forgotten to put the Purell on my hands. Ahhh!!! Shawn said I should put some on my tongue! :rotfl:

After we were properly sanitized, we basically scarfed down our food before the bus driver got back on the bus! So I'm thinking another 10 minutes or so must have gone by before we actually left the airport. We were eating very fast!

I made a call home to let my Mom know we had made it to Orlando safe and sound and were on the bus ready to go. I was so happy to be there!! A sense of relaxation actually hit me....something I have never felt upon arrival at the airport with our usual "herd". Hmmm....there's something to these couples trips! Might have to make this a more regular thing! :rolleyes1

A family of four got on and the mother sat in front of us, the dad next to us, and the two kids sat in front of him. Don't ask me why the parents didn't sit together....IDK....but they kind of made me a little sad, because they didn't look like they were just getting ready to START a vacation...they looked a little tired and frazzled already. I hope that improved. The kids of course, were raring to go and were talking REALLY LOUDLY about when the movie was going to start, when they were going to be there, where the bus driver was, blah blah blah....

Eventually our driver, Joe, climbed aboard, listed the resorts we were headed to, and asked if there were any newlyweds on board. No one responded, so Shawn yelled out that we were a couple of "oldieweds"! LOL! Then we started off on our journey! The driver had a cute little Winnie the Pooh hanging in the corner right above him, just looking over all of us - he was cute. The driver attempted some humor and Shawn and I found it very endearing!

So far, this Magical Express thing was proving to be very magical indeed!

But why, oh why, does it feel that the bus is going about 3 miles per hour for the first 15 minutes of the trip? I know we weren't....but those big machines feel like they are going SO SLOW!!!

Eventually, about 5 minutes after leaving the airport, the movie started. http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010402.jpg

I loved it! I thought it was adorable. Of course it didn't dawn on me to videotape some of it until it was almost over....so here is all I got:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/th_P1010405.jpg (http://s703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/?action=view&current=P1010405.flv)
(yes, that would be us laughing at our stupid selves, for not realizing that it was almost over when it dawned on us to take a little video...)

The other thing that got me laughing was just as we were getting to the "sign" shot....the driver pulled the blind! I'm all about the safety when driving and of course I want him to not be blinded by the sunlight...but come on, man!! A few more seconds wouldn't have killed you, would it?

I still managed to get this:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010403-1.jpg

Woo-hoo! We're here! We're here!

Shawn enjoyed our first "ride" of the trip, his only question was "will there be a giftshop when we get off the ride"? I mean, that's what Disney does, right? Exit right into the very appropriately placed giftshop? :laughing:

Not too long after that, we were seeing the Magic Kingdom sign!
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010406-1.jpg

And then the resort sign:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010408.jpg

So, who will be first? We were headed to the Poly, the Contemporary, and the Grand Floridian....(no WL folks on the bus)....so which resort would be lucky number 1? :confused3

Sara

[KathyRN137]

..."Oldieweds"... :lmao:

So glad your hubby's feelin' the magic already!

(I would've completely forgotton about taping the movie, too!") :rolleyes:


Kathy

[mkluvsmickey]

Sounds like you "oldieweds" are off to a great start! :lmao:

I'm so glad Magical Express worked fro you guys! Can't wait for your Polynesian arrival!

[kaysmommie]

You sure lucked out with ME! Sounds like you had a magical experience. I wish I had taken a picture of our line and wait :headache:. Leanne will be able to tell you since we arrived on the same flight. The airport and ME is totally different on a Saturday morning I guess. Sad about the family with the DW and DH sitting in different seats. Looking forward to your arrival at the Poly :banana:.

[DisneyJo]

So pleased you arrived safely and didn't upgrade yourself :rotfl:

It must feel so good to be on that ME bus headed to the Poly, I hope you're number 1 :yay:

[mom2mek]

..."Oldieweds"... :lmao:

So glad your hubby's feelin' the magic already!

(I would've completely forgotton about taping the movie, too!") :rolleyes:


Kathy

Yeah Kathy, in that picture of Shawn he sure does look like he is indeed "feeling" the magic...LOL! I forgot to mention that he had a bloody mary on the plane! :rotfl2:

I couldn't believe that I forgot to tape at least SOME of that dang movie - I was really looking forward to it and I guess I just plum forgot! :sad2:

Sounds like you "oldieweds" are off to a great start! :lmao:

I'm so glad Magical Express worked fro you guys! Can't wait for your Polynesian arrival!

It was a big success for us this trip! :yay:

You sure lucked out with ME! Sounds like you had a magical experience. I wish I had taken a picture of our line and wait :headache:. Leanne will be able to tell you since we arrived on the same flight. The airport and ME is totally different on a Saturday morning I guess. Sad about the family with the DW and DH sitting in different seats. Looking forward to your arrival at the Poly :banana:.

Yes, I think that arriving on a Wednesday afternoon probably did have something to do with the low crowds! I can imagine that a Saturday afternoon is pretty busy!

Yeah, I kinda felt bad for them that they didn't seem to be having that good a time - I mean it was the START of their vacation - they couldn't have been THAT annoyed with the kids or eachother yet, right? :lmao:

So pleased you arrived safely and didn't upgrade yourself :rotfl:

It must feel so good to be on that ME bus headed to the Poly, I hope you're number 1 :yay:

Woo-hoo! It did feel good to be on that bus, Jo! It was a big selling point to Shawn for staying onsite! :thumbsup2

Sara

[mrsksomeday]

I am loving this TR!! We love ME, it always gets us excited for the adventures that lay ahead. I have been in a funk about life lately, but you are helping me with all this Poly talk. I can't wait to see what pictures you got when you got to the resort!

[MeMom]

One of my former students and his family left for WDW this morning. One of the things I have pictured today is them on the Magical Express watching the movie and getting all excited. Your ride helped me envision them even more, so I'm glad I checked in to read and see this.

So far, it looks like the mom and dad only trip is worthy of one of these - :thumbsup2!

[mom2mek]

I am loving this TR!! We love ME, it always gets us excited for the adventures that lay ahead. I have been in a funk about life lately, but you are helping me with all this Poly talk. I can't wait to see what pictures you got when you got to the resort!

Thanks Tracy! Magical Express could not have gone more smoothly for us! I was so happy!

I hope you can get out of your funk.....I think you will love the Poly! It truly did feel like 2 vacations - one at Disney, and one in a Hawaiian getaway!! :goodvibes

One of my former students and his family left for WDW this morning. One of the things I have pictured today is them on the Magical Express watching the movie and getting all excited. Your ride helped me envision them even more, so I'm glad I checked in to read and see this.

So far, it looks like the mom and dad only trip is worthy of one of these - :thumbsup2!

SO, it must have been my REALLY GOOD video that made you envision all of that, huh? :lmao: I hope your friend's experience was as nice as ours!

Mom and Dad trip = happy :love:

Sara

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Sara!

I decided to head over and read your report....but I need to start at the beginning so I'll be back later to comment!

Off to catch up! :surfweb:

[mommytothreeboys]

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/mom2mek/Disney%20-%20October%202008/Day%203%20-%20Katie%20Bday/DSC_0800-1.jpg

I'm still only on page 2, but I wanted to comment about a couple of things.

First...your children are entirely too cute! What a blessed mommy you are!

Second....the picture above is absolutely priceless! It looks like they are sharing a private joke. I love it! (I so needed a girl so I could have a princess! Oh well!)

Third....I too drank the Kool-Aid and drank it long and good! I understand the feeling of having to censor Disney-speak in front of non-believers. This board is a total gift to those of us who "get it"!

Last...I think I am going to try to convince DH (Jeff) that we should go back to Disney for our 20th anniversary in 2012. It's a long way off, but I think we are going to try to do a major remodel/addition on the house, so that may put a damper on Disney funds for a few years. 2012 should be perfect and I am looking forward to hearing about your romantic trip! Are your kids upset that you are going without them? Mine will be 17, 15, and 12 by then so I'm sure they'll get over it!


Great report...awesome pics...glad I came over! Back to page 3! :surfweb:

[mom2mek]

Hi Sara!

I decided to head over and read your report....but I need to start at the beginning so I'll be back later to comment!

Off to catch up! :surfweb:

Hi Missy! :wave2: Great to have you over! :goodvibes

I'm still only on page 2, but I wanted to comment about a couple of things.

First...your children are entirely too cute! What a blessed mommy you are!

Second....the picture above is absolutely priceless! It looks like they are sharing a private joke. I love it! (I so needed a girl so I could have a princess! Oh well!)

Third....I too drank the Kool-Aid and drank it long and good! I understand the feeling of having to censor Disney-speak in front of non-believers. This board is a total gift to those of us who "get it"!

Last...I think I am going to try to convince DH (Jeff) that we should go back to Disney for our 20th anniversary in 2012. It's a long way off, but I think we are going to try to do a major remodel/addition on the house, so that may put a damper on Disney funds for a few years. 2012 should be perfect and I am looking forward to hearing about your romantic trip! Are your kids upset that you are going without them? Mine will be 17, 15, and 12 by then so I'm sure they'll get over it!

Great report...awesome pics...glad I came over! Back to page 3! :surfweb:


Thanks Missy! I do feel very blessed...each and every day (even these last few days dealing with this dang stomach bug that is running through each of them...:headache:)

That is one of my favorite pics too! I can't remember what she said to him, but he really started laughing, and then she got all shy! So cute!

Yes, the DIS is certainly a gift for those of us who love it and need to talk about it....people just look at me funny when I notice hidden mickeys in chicken nuggets at Wendy's...silly non-disney people! :rolleyes1

Couples trips are great - I highly recommend it if you can do it! My kids only know I went to Florida, not necessarily that it was a DISNEY trip....however, they all asked me if I rode any rides...:confused3 so maybe they just relate Florida to Disney, and made that assumption all on their own. They seemed fine as they got to stay at Grandmommy and Pop Pop's house - that was like a vacation for them! :laughing:

Thanks for reading....I hope to have the next part up soon! popcorn::

Sara

[kaysmommie]

That is and adorable picture of Emily :goodvibes. Are the kids feeling better? it's just awful when they are sick and we can't take it away. Kaylee started having some tummy trouble :sick: yesterday too. I think from the pool party she went to on Saturday. No throwing up though so far. Thomas now has a bit of a cold, no fever. Well they were healthy :confused3 when we got back. I'm patiently awaiting your Poly update and pics :).

[lovebuzzandwoody]

I'm here! I'm here! :yay:
Fashionably late? :confused3

Can't wait to see your Poly pics!

[mom2mek]

That is and adorable picture of Emily :goodvibes. Are the kids feeling better? it's just awful when they are sick and we can't take it away. Kaylee started having some tummy trouble :sick: yesterday too. I think from the pool party she went to on Saturday. No throwing up though so far. Thomas now has a bit of a cold, no fever. Well they were healthy :confused3 when we got back. I'm patiently awaiting your Poly update and pics :).

Hi Nichole! Well, I thought they were better, but Emily got sick this morning around 2 AM! Walked in the bathroom and the sweet little thing is holding her own hair back! :sad2: :sick: I hope Kaylee's isn't anything serious and yucky like this. I'm certainly glad they didn't get sick when we were out of town, I was already feeling really guilty by the end of the trip! :guilty: That would have made it even worse.

I'm here! I'm here! :yay:
Fashionably late? :confused3

Can't wait to see your Poly pics!


Yay! Hi Nicole! SO glad you popped over!! :yay: :yay:

I hope to get Shawn to give me his Poly pics, because the ones I took with my camera aren't that great. I hate to continue on without his pics, but I might just have to....:mad: He just doesn't understand the urgency of my trip-reporter self! (yes, I'll blame my tardiness on him....that's how I roll...:rolleyes1)

Sara

[mommytothreeboys]

I'm all caught up and ready to go!

We have used ME for both of our trips and we LOVE it. It has always been magical! :goodvibes Glad it was for you too!

I am so excited to hear about your stay at the Poly. We ate at 'Ohana and it looks like an absolutely gorgeous resort. Perfect for a romantic trip!

Keep the installments coming! Tell Shawn we are not patient people! LOL! :rotfl:

[mom2mek]

I'm all caught up and ready to go!

We have used ME for both of our trips and we LOVE it. It has always been magical! :goodvibes Glad it was for you too!

I am so excited to hear about your stay at the Poly. We ate at 'Ohana and it looks like an absolutely gorgeous resort. Perfect for a romantic trip!

Keep the installments coming! Tell Shawn we are not patient people! LOL! :rotfl:

Yes, we were very pleased with Magical Express - I don't think it could have gone any more smoothly...bad thing about that is we have very high expectations for next time....:snooty:

The Poly was fabulous! :love:

Eating at Ohana and Kona on our trip in October is what "sold" us on the idea of wanting to stay there! :thumbsup2

Update coming up shortly...

Sara

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - *Still* Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Part 3 - ALOHA!!!


As we pulled into the Magic Kingdom resorts, we were biting our nails as to who would get the privilege of being the first resort stop!!! (ok, well we weren’t biting our nails, but I was hoping…..) Well, the closer we got, the more confident I felt that it was indeed going to be us!! :woohoo:

“Score,” said Shawn! Again, Magical Express could not have been more magical! Joe pulled us up to the front, pointing out the Poly bus stop that we would need to go to get to the AK, DHS, and DTD, and soon after that we were getting off our chariot and passing under this sign:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010409.jpg

Now you will have to excuse the next group of pictures, as I was walking as I took them. I don’t know why I was hurrying, but looking back, I think I was kind of rushing us inside so we could get checked in as soon as possible for fear that a whole bunch of the people sitting behind us on the bus were also getting off here (I wasn’t able to see how many people raised their hands for the Poly, since we were sitting up front).

I think, in hindsight, I should have just slowed down and MADE Shawn get out his camera to capture our arrival pics! But no worries, he more than made up for it later with pics around the resort. And at some point during this report, I hope to be able to actually SHARE some of the 1,000 pics he took over the short trip! :rolleyes1

So without further adieu, here are my pics of the walkway into the lovely Polynesian resort - some are really blurry - sorry!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010410.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010051.jpg
(slightly better)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010411.jpg


We walked in, turned to the right, and saw a whole bunch of CMs just standing around waiting to help people. :yay: We went to the first lady who smiled at us, and she so cheerfully checked us in after a great big ALOHA!!!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010412.jpg

I went ahead and decided to try and put a cash deposit down on our room, instead of a credit card, in hopes that it would keep us on a budget, so to speak. :rolleyes: I will let you know at the end of the trip, how doing that worked (or didn’t work out) for us. :rolleyes1 The CM gave us kind of a strange look at first, but come to find out, she had never actually done that before. She had been there for 3 years, but it was new to her.

She actually complimented us on it, because she said she just got back from a trip (a cruise, I think) and wished she would have done cash down instead of a credit card, because she would have been more conscious of what she was spending….instead she got the insanely long printout at checkout time that made her stomach hurt! LOL! :laughing: After a short consultation with someone about how to process the cash, she gave us our handy-dandy little packet of info, our Keys to the World, a map of the resort, and a quick overlay of how to get to our longhouse…..TAHITI!!! :woohoo: Woo-hoo!

After we got lei’d – yes, Shawn thought that was hilarious when I said it –apparently we both find the humor equivalent to a junior high-school age boy to be hilarious when traveling alone at Disney World - we were on our way!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010013.jpg
Not-so-hidden Mickey!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010010.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010069.jpg


We exited out the doors to the right of the DVC stand right there and leisurely strolled through the amazing grounds of the Poly until we found Tahiti (we only got lost once….LOL).

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010414-1.jpg
(he looks stressed, but he was just trying to figure out which direction we should be going in....apparently we are directionally challenged....but by the end of the trip, we felt like we knew our way around fairly well!)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010413-1.jpg

Just as we were getting to the doors, we saw these two little guys.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010415-1.jpg

(We actually saw MANY of them, but just took a picture of these two….has anyone ever had one of those come into their ground level room? Ahhh – I would freak out! :scared1:)

Here we are!!!
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010416.jpg

We paid for garden view, but there was that little glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, we got upgraded….but then again, she would have TOTALLY told us that at check-in, right? :laughing: We got on the elevator to the 3rd floor (which was what I had requested – YAY) and made our way down the hallway. After we were past the first few rooms, and could decipher the sequence of room numbers, we knew we would be on the left side of the hallway, so no upgrade for us. :sad1: Oh well – we were at the POLY!!!! :yay: I was so freakin’ excited!!! So now my hopes shifted to at least not a parking lot view!! :rotfl:

We arrived at Room 3011….hmmm……would we like our room? Would it have a nice view?

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010421.jpg

(Continued in next post....told you I was slow....)

Sara

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - *Still* Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Part 4 - Room arrival

Shawn slipped his “Keys to the World” card in and slowly turned the really heavy door…..(seriously, those doors are heavy….):eek:

I loved this room! :banana:

I had read reviews of people saying that the Poly was dark, and I’m not gonna lie…it is….but I loved it! The lighting was more than ample so once we turned on some lights, I didn’t mind all the dark colors. I can see how if you had a ground level room and didn't get a lot of sunlight, it might be a little too dark, but we were on the 3rd floor and the sun was coming into the room in a nice, steady, palm-tree filtered, lovely stream of light! :sunny:

The room was HUGE! I had read on Tikiman’s website that Tahiti had some of the largest rooms at 476 square feet and boy that space felt gigantic! Probably had something to do with the fact that we were there as a couple, and not a family of five, huh?) ;) But I immediately started to picture my family there to see how we would manage in that size room (conclusion – very do-able….just have to get used to the 1 bathroom thing). :thumbsup2

We had a Towel Mickey on the bed, our free “frameable” Mickey print on the dresser, and when I pulled the curtains open, the view was very nice. A very nice balcony with a lovely view of gorgeous flowers and palm trees! I was very happy. :love:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010417.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P-10100095.jpg
(loved having two sinks)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010200.jpg
(this pulls out to a twin size bed - it was much bigger than I thought it would be - and I loved all the carvings in all the furniture and light fixtures)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010189.jpg
(loved these closets and the way the light flickered on and reflected on the "grass" windows....very cute)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010072-1.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010181.jpg
(Hidden Mickeys in there)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010418.jpg
(Loved having a balcony...I spent many moments out there!)

The VIEW:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010419.jpg
(so it's not the castle, but I was very pleased...we always had lots of birds and bunnies to look at, and of course the palm trees swaying in the wind....:cloud9:)

Shawn took some pics of the room (that I don't have yet - those were from my camera) while I called Bell Services to see if my Garden Grocer order was there. After a sort of confused stay on hold for what seemed like a long time, I hung up and dialed again. :confused3 This time, the person who answered told me the order was on the way up to the room! Bonus! I sat down and started packing up my bag for the park. I attached my cute TGM May Vacation Club button and loaded up the bag with my park necessities.

Here's the button - it was a whopping $1.00 and I got a lot of compliments on it from CMs and other people in the park:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/0999643.jpg

After about 15 minutes, the bell services guy was at the door with our 3 bags of groceries (didn’t seem like that much when I ordered….oops), :rolleyes1 we tipped him, and he was on his way. I put the beer, water, and Diet Coke in the fridge (which didn’t really feel all that cold, so we had to leave one of the doors open on the cabinet that houses the fridge) and grabbed a water to take with us to the park.

Shortly after that, we made our way out of Tahiti, to find our way to the bus stop for our trip to Animal Kingdom. My goal had been to be at AK by 4:00 and it was now about 3:15 I believe! Woo-hoo!

“Obsessive Trip Planner” Sara was a happy camper! :cool1:

As we approached the bus stop, we saw a bus just pulling away. Drat. Oh well…probably not for AK anyway. Oh, wait…I could see the scrolling marquee and it said…..ANIMAL KINGDOM. Whaaaa!!!!

“Obsessive Trip Planner” Sara was NOT a happy camper! :sad1:

View from the bus stop:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010422.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010423.jpg

So we plopped ourselves down on the benches and started determining a plan….First we would go to the Safari, then the trails (hopefully the one with the dang tigers as we seem to miss that one EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.) :headache:, then explore the Tree of Life up close, then head to the 6:00 FOTLK.

After that, it was whatever we could get in before heading back out to the buses by 7:45. Of course, Everest, had to be included in that timeframe. :woohoo:

So, how long did we end up waiting for another AK bus to arrive? Would the magic come to an abrupt end? :eek:

Sara

[kaysmommie]

:yay:For the bus going to Poly first. Reading your post has made me miss the Poly even more :guilty:. Too funny about the CM never having anyone put cash on the room card. I think lots of people just don't care how much they spend since they are on vacation. Glad it owrked for you. Your room is really nice and I love the view :goodvibes as well. As for the lizards, you know we had one in our bathroom on the 3rd floor right :rolleyes1? He was green though. Sorry you missed the AK bus but I don't think we ever waited more than 15 minutes for a Poly bus.

[mkluvsmickey]

Love the Poly pictures - gorgeous!

And we have those lizards in our house often - freaks me out every time. :scared:

I can't wait to see how Shawn likes the bus transportation. :goodvibes

[pixidustmom]

Your on a great start to your TR. I would love to go and stay at the Polly but that most likely will not be happening in any future trips.:confused3 But really I am ok with staying anywhere as long as I am in my happy place right?:thumbsup2

[crocko]

Just caught up with your TR. Love your reporting style...

AND that room in Poly is very nice! Would love to stay there if I ever decide to not be a Scrooge on hotels.

[mom2mek]

:yay:For the bus going to Poly first. Reading your post has made me miss the Poly even more :guilty:. Too funny about the CM never having anyone put cash on the room card. I think lots of people just don't care how much they spend since they are on vacation. Glad it owrked for you. Your room is really nice and I love the view :goodvibes as well. As for the lizards, you know we had one in our bathroom on the 3rd floor right :rolleyes1? He was green though. Sorry you missed the AK bus but I don't think we ever waited more than 15 minutes for a Poly bus.

3rd floor? Ahhhh!!! :scared1: Well, I guess they can climb, huh? DUH! Oh well....can't be AS common as ground level though, right? :confused3 Ground level would be so nice for the kids though! :rolleyes: I was very pleased with our room! Bus and AK update coming up soon!

Love the Poly pictures - gorgeous!

And we have those lizards in our house often - freaks me out every time. :scared:

I can't wait to see how Shawn likes the bus transportation. :goodvibes

I've never had a lizard, but I have had a snake in my house! And a bird flew in once. Oh yeah, and there was that little mouse that time...ick....:scared:
:scared:


Your on a great start to your TR. I would love to go and stay at the Polly but that most likely will not be happening in any future trips.:confused3 But really I am ok with staying anywhere as long as I am in my happy place right?:thumbsup2

Exactly! This was our first time staying onsite at all, so I completely understand about having to stay where you can, so that you can get to Disney!! We really still like the large houses you can rent that are only a mile or two from Disney! So much space and many of them are really themed so you don't feel like you are missing out on any of the "magic". Onsite and offsite are both nice - I wouldn't begrudge anyone for any choice they made if it got them to Disney!! :goodvibes

Just caught up with your TR. Love your reporting style...

AND that room in Poly is very nice! Would love to stay there if I ever decide to not be a Scrooge on hotels.

LOL! :rotfl2: I am the one who wanted to go "on the cheap," so I was shocked when Shawn suggested the Poly!

VERY pleasantly shocked though....it was great for our couples trip! :love:

Sara

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Dangit Sara... now I feel I MUST have a trip with just Tom. :rolleyes:
You know when I break it to him you will take all the blame, right? :rolleyes1

I would scream if one of those lizards came into my room! We have them here but I've never had one in my house! I wouldn't sleep.... ever. *shudder*

[disneyfanx3]

Hey Sara - I finally made it over here Sounds like everything is going great so far. I can't wait to read more.

[mom2mek]

Dangit Sara... now I feel I MUST have a trip with just Tom. :rolleyes:
You know when I break it to him you will take all the blame, right? :rolleyes1

I would scream if one of those lizards came into my room! We have them here but I've never had one in my house! I wouldn't sleep.... ever. *shudder*

Sure! I'll take the blame.....because I'm sure Tom would love to have you all to himself for a romantic trip....:love:...it really wasn't too hard of a sell to Shawn after I came back from our girls trip and told him how relaxed it was without a herd of people to try and coral through the parks! :rolleyes1

My mom has some of those lizards at her house too....ick....

Hey Sara - I finally made it over here Sounds like everything is going great so far. I can't wait to read more.


Yay! Hi Charlene! Glad you are here! :goodvibes

Sara

[KathyRN137]

Sara!

I'm so happy you've been having lots of magic on this trip so far!

Oh, the Poly grounds look breathtaking... so lush and tropical! I've visited Tikiman's site... boy, that'll make anyone want to stay at the Poly at least once!



The VIEW:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010419.jpg
(so it's not the castle, but I was very pleased...we always had lots of birds and bunnies to look at, and of course the palm trees swaying in the wind....:cloud9:)


I think its a lovely view! I always choose location over view, anyway!

I love how you're already picturing where the kids would sleep on a return trip!! :rotfl:

Oh well, so you missed the bus! At least it gave you a chance to plot your strategy!! Looking forward to the rest...


Kathy

[ladybugmom]

Hi Sara!! Just wanted to say "hi" and that I'm enjoying your TR!! It was great getting to meet you Saturday night!! I'm so glad we were able to meetup!!

[mom2mek]

Sara!

I'm so happy you've been having lots of magic on this trip so far!

Oh, the Poly grounds look breathtaking... so lush and tropical! I've visited Tikiman's site... boy, that'll make anyone want to stay at the Poly at least once!

I think its a lovely view! I always choose location over view, anyway!

I love how you're already picturing where the kids would sleep on a return trip!! :rotfl:

Oh well, so you missed the bus! At least it gave you a chance to plot your strategy!! Looking forward to the rest...


Kathy
Thanks Kathy! :goodvibes I love that Tikiman site! I open up the music (he has a jukebox at the bottom of the screen) and it opens in a new window and that way I can listen to the music as I peruse around the site! :love:

It's funny - I was supposed to be there on a nice, romantic trip with hubby but all the time I kept thinking things like how much the kids would love this or that, what longhouse would I request if I had the kids here....ooo that's a cool pool game the kids would love, etc, etc....:rolleyes1


Hi Sara!! Just wanted to say "hi" and that I'm enjoying your TR!! It was great getting to meet you Saturday night!! I'm so glad we were able to meetup!!


Yay! Hi Becky! I hope you had a fabulous time on your trip! I'm sure you took lots of pics of your beautiful girls, but probably wanted to throw away some ponchos when you got back, huh? :eek: I hope it was still very magical! It was great meeting up with you, Michelle, and Nichole that night at the beach!! :grouphug:

Sara

[luvngoofy]

Whew! I thought I lost you!~ I have been a lurker and almost lost you so I thought I'd better come out!
We will be at the Poly in August...love your pics and TR. Can't wait to be there.

[mommytothreeboys]

Gorgeous Poly pics!


Those closet doors are way cool! Clever! :thumbsup2


It stinks to "just miss" the bus...I hope another comes quickly! :goodvibes

[mom2mek]

Whew! I thought I lost you!~ I have been a lurker and almost lost you so I thought I'd better come out!
We will be at the Poly in August...love your pics and TR. Can't wait to be there.

Hi! I'm glad you didn't lose me either! If I don't get Shawn's pics up soon, I'm afraid I will lose EVERYONE!!!

Oooo....you will love the Poly! It is truly wonderful! Beautiful resort, amazing grounds, great service, wonderful transportation! Loved, loved, loved it!!! Thanks for reading, and I hope you stay out of lurkdum and post more often!!

Gorgeous Poly pics!


Those closet doors are way cool! Clever! :thumbsup2


It stinks to "just miss" the bus...I hope another comes quickly! :goodvibes


Thanks! The resort was really pretty and I just LOVED those closet doors! Shawn liked them too, but thought I was a little wacky when I was oooing and ahhhing over closet doors! :laughing:



Ok folks, I seriously threatened Shawn with bodily harm if he didn't upload his pics, so he finally has and now I am getting them all onto photobucket and should hopefully have the next part up soon! Phew - I was beginning to get worried....:headache: that I would never be able to go on!

Sara

[luvngoofy]

The pics are great but I'm just enjoying your TR. I long for the day I go w/o kids! I love my kids but your trip just sounds wonderful!
It sounds like Shwan should have some great pics though, so I am looking forward to those! But I would still read w/o them.:thumbsup2

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - May 13th (still)

Part 5 - Taking it slow....(this was hard for me....)

Ok, sorry about that delay. On with the show.

When I last left off, we had traveled to Florida, had a very Magical Express trip to the Poly, checked out our room, and were headed to the bus stop to go to the AK! Here are a few of Shawn’s pictures that he took as we were getting to the Poly.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/004_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

He loved these flowers....firecrackers, I believe they were called....
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/006_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Me on the balcony (mid sentence, I'm sure)
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/009_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

(I would post more but they are pretty much the same as the ones I already posted - room, artwork on the room wall, lizards outside the longhouse, etc, etc...)


As we approached the bus stop, we missed an AK bus by mere seconds. No worries though, we sat down on one of the benches and got a game plan for what to do when we got to the AK. (Ok, let me rephrase that….I had a game plan, and I basically just TOLD Shawn what we were going to try and do, and he nodded in agreement while sipping away at his water.…LOL…full disclosure, right? I'm in good company with my fellow trip-planners here, I'm sure!! :laughing:


About 5 minutes passed when another bus started to pull up. Yippee!! :banana:


It said Hollywood Studios.

Bummer.


So, back to the planning and talking. I kept mentioning to Shawn how I couldn’t believe we were really there, it all seemed so surreal. He agreed. :hug:

I figured since the MK and Epcot are both accessible via monorail, that the next bus I would see SHOULD be for the AK!

Well, another 5 minutes or so passed and another bus rolled on up to the Poly! Yay!

Oops – forgot about Downtown Disney! Drat! :headache: Back to talking.


Ok, so yet another 5 minutes or so passed and another bus was pulling up. Please say AK! Please say AK!!!

It DID!!! Woo-hoo! :woohoo: I didn’t think 15 minutes was too bad considering we got there JUST as a bus was pulling away, so we knew it was a TOTAL of 15 minutes! Cool!

We boarded the bus with one group of young 20-somethings, and found the bus to be totally uncrowded (only one family of 4 on board) and left the Poly en route to the Kingdom of the Animals!!

No stops between us and the Animal Kingdom, so when we got there we walked the country mile from the bus stops to the entrance! (Seriously, having never had to rely on bus transportation, I was surprised as to how far away the bus stops were from the entrance. When we drive, we are either close enough in the parking lot to walk a short distance to the entrance, or the parking lot tram has pulled us right up to the gates practically. We didn’t mind. Just an observation).

We're here!!!!
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010424.jpg

My goal was to try and be to the AK by 4:00 and the time stamp on this picture that Shawn took, says 3:58! Cool!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/012_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg


We leisurely entered the park, and knowing that the parade would be finishing up and people would be exiting in great masses, we took our time taking in the sights. It was a little strange to be going at such a slow pace, but it was nice. Animal Kingdom has never been one of my favorite parks in the past, but on a December “girls” trip I gained new-found affection for this park and all its beauty and theming. :love: If they could just move TSMM over here from the Studios (yeah, yeah, I know it doesn’t “fit” the theme, I’m just sayin’)…I would be one happy girl!


The temperature this day was really very tolerable. It wasn’t very humid, so the heavy foliage that envelops the Animal Kingdom wasn’t trapping a lot of heat and permeating it on us like we were walking through a sauna. The nice breezes were kind of cool and that helped A LOT as well. I love how the sunshine filters through the trees in that first section of the park, The Oasis....it's truly beautiful!

We stopped to look at some of the African Spoonbills and the Macaws.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/014_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010427.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/015_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

We made our way around to Discovery Island and ran into the masses that I had a feeling might be exiting. Yikes!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/016_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Buh-bye! See ya! Please be leavin’ now! Thankyouverymuch!

A few more pictures on our way to our first destination...AFRICA!!!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010430.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/018_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09-1.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/021_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/022_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/024_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/023_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg


We took some more pictures on the bridge and we stopped to have a few photopass pictures taken (don’t have the CD yet but I will post later), and then made our way around the Tree of Life and into Africa!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/026_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/025_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Our thoughts were IF the Safari had a 20 minute or less wait, we would go ahead and wait for it, but if it was longer, we would just walk the animal trails and not worry about missing the safari this time. Here is what Africa looked like as we approached the Safari....

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/028_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

I'm sure someone out there must know....did they make this area to always appear to be congested to be authentic to how Africa must feel in places? Because I don't care what time of year or what time of day we have been there, this area always seems crazy-crowded!


So, what do you think? Do we ride the Safari? Do we finally see the tigers?

Hope to update a little sooner than last time....

Sara

[KathyRN137]

Hi Sara!!

Taking it slow must've seemed like a strange dream after all the cat-herding you usually do!!

AK is such a great park to do that, though. So much to look at and savor.

I agree that Harambe always looks jam-packed, no matter when. :confused3

Safari, so good...


Kathy

[mrsksomeday]

I am loving your updates!! You are getting me in the mood to check in at the Poly in December, it looked lovely.

Great picture of you and your hubby at AK. It always does seem really crowded there, I hope you got to see the tigers.

[mkluvsmickey]

Way to leave us hanging Sara! :lmao: I hope you got on the safari too.

:scared1: Those were some crowds leaving the park as you came in!

Love the pictures of you two in front of the tree of life! :love: You both look very happy and relaxed - aah!

[mommytothreeboys]

I love the picture of you on your arrival at the Poly! Beautiful job Shawn!

Woo-Hoo for the bus! We have always had really good experiences with Disney transportation. Even when we do have to wait a few minutes....we're at Disney for goodness' sake! I'm glad it seems to be working out for you so far!

I really love AK! Looking at your pics I realize how many pictures I missed! The giraffe with the Africa sign....the Tree of Life Garden sign...ugh! Oh well...gotta go back! :rolleyes1

The pictures of you and Shawn are great! Totally frame-worthy!

Can't wait to hear about the safari...or not! :confused:

[kaysmommie]

Cliffhanger :rolleyes:! I want to know how long the wait was the Safari. I'm hoping the wait was short. Also looking froward to hearing how EMK at AK is. Your AK pics are great so far. :cool1: on the next bus pulling up for AK in 15 minutes. That is why I like deluxe, seems you never wait longer than 20. SSR was nightmare with buses. Waiting for more popcorn::

[mom2mek]

Hi Sara!!

Taking it slow must've seemed like a strange dream after all the cat-herding you usually do!!

AK is such a great park to do that, though. So much to look at and savor.

I agree that Harambe always looks jam-packed, no matter when. :confused3

Safari, so good...

Kathy
The whole trip was like a dream, Kathy. :goodvibes It felt great but also very foreign to me to only have the 2 of us to worry about. I did have a warm-up to the "slowing down" process on our girls trip and AK is a GREAT park to do that in. So much there - it's really so amazing how much detail they have put into that park! :love:

I am loving your updates!! You are getting me in the mood to check in at the Poly in December, it looked lovely.

Great picture of you and your hubby at AK. It always does seem really crowded there, I hope you got to see the tigers.

Thanks Tracy! :hug: I will try to update a little more regularly....but I am notoriously slow....I was really hoping I would knock this report out much quicker since there isn't as much STUFF to remember (like who went where with whom, what they rode, which kid had a meltdown, which grownup had to stop a bazillion times...yada yada yada....) but alas, I'm just as slow to update when I have way fewer details to report. :guilty: Many more pics of the Poly to come! :thumbsup2

Way to leave us hanging Sara! :lmao: I hope you got on the safari too.

:scared1: Those were some crowds leaving the park as you came in!

Love the pictures of you two in front of the tree of life! :love: You both look very happy and relaxed - aah!

Thanks Michelle! I was fine to see those crowds though, because I knew they were leaving! YAY!!! Thanks about the pic - as you can probably guess, I'm not a fan of the pics I am in, but I figured I needed to have some people in the report from time to time! :laughing:

I love the picture of you on your arrival at the Poly! Beautiful job Shawn!

Woo-Hoo for the bus! We have always had really good experiences with Disney transportation. Even when we do have to wait a few minutes....we're at Disney for goodness' sake! I'm glad it seems to be working out for you so far!

I really love AK! Looking at your pics I realize how many pictures I missed! The giraffe with the Africa sign....the Tree of Life Garden sign...ugh! Oh well...gotta go back! :rolleyes1

The pictures of you and Shawn are great! Totally frame-worthy!

Can't wait to hear about the safari...or not! :confused:
Thanks (see aforementioned comment about pics of myself...ick...but thanks anyway!)

I love that Tree of LIfe Garden sign that Shawn took - I never think to get down low and take it from that angle! In fact, I took a pic of that sign myself, so you can see the difference.

Sara's:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010431-1.jpg
(I mean, it's not bad....I got the words and the toad and all...but the angle on his is so cool).
Shawn's:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/024_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg


Stay tuned for the Safari....:rolleyes1

Cliffhanger :rolleyes:! I want to know how long the wait was the Safari. I'm hoping the wait was short. Also looking froward to hearing how EMK at AK is. Your AK pics are great so far. :cool1: on the next bus pulling up for AK in 15 minutes. That is why I like deluxe, seems you never wait longer than 20. SSR was nightmare with buses. Waiting for more popcorn::

LOL Nichole - I am SO bad at cliffhangers! Really, I should take some lessons from KathyRN - she is cliffhanger queen, but when I get to a stopping place, I just don't think of how to really keep everyone guessing! :rolleyes: I'm usually so glad to have typed up an update I just "end" it and go to bed! :laughing:

Sara

[DisneyJo]

Your room at the Poly looked lovely and woooohooo for being the first stop on the ME!

Wow that was a lot of people at AK, thank goodness lots were leaving, great photos BTW :)

[lovebuzzandwoody]

Really great update Sara! Your pictures are always so pretty!

I love how the sunshine filters through the trees in that first section of the park, The Oasis....it's truly beautiful!

^^^^^This sentence would not appear in a TR that included children.^^^^^

:rotfl2:

[ladybugmom]

WOW!! I love all of your AK pictures!! We hardly got any outside pics at AK due to the heavy rain the day we were there. Makes me want to go back even more!!

[mom2mek]

Your room at the Poly looked lovely and woooohooo for being the first stop on the ME!

Wow that was a lot of people at AK, thank goodness lots were leaving, great photos BTW :)

Thanks Jo! Yes, I was glad they were mostly all leaving too! :thumbsup2 It always looks bad when you are going in the opposite direction - salmon swimming upstream!

Really great update Sara! Your pictures are always so pretty!


^^^^^This sentence would not appear in a TR that included children.^^^^^

:rotfl2:
Thanks Nicole! That is very true about noticing things that you normally don't when you are herding a group the size of a small country around with you! Details....hmmm....yep, they kind of escape you! :rolleyes:

WOW!! I love all of your AK pictures!! We hardly got any outside pics at AK due to the heavy rain the day we were there. Makes me want to go back even more!!

Thanks Becky! Yes, you must go back soon, soon, soon! During a really DRY season! LOL! Pick December or something!! :rotfl2: Seriously though, I still can't believe how much rain you guys got! I just noticed you started your report - I'm on my way over! :yay:

Sara

[luvngoofy]

Loving the updates and the pictures are great!
BTW, where is that blue dock with the lilly pads floating around it?:confused3

[mom2mek]

Loving the updates and the pictures are great!
BTW, where is that blue dock with the lilly pads floating around it?:confused3


Thanks for sticking with me! I believe that dock is in between The Oasis and Discovery Island. Right after you come out of the Oasis and you are standing in front of the tree, it would be to your right. Someone correct me if I am wrong, please? :confused3

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Hey girl! I thought you were updating last night. Got up extra early just to read. :rolleyes: I'll check back later. :surfweb:

[mom2mek]

Hey girl! I thought you were updating last night. Got up extra early just to read. :rolleyes: I'll check back later. :surfweb:

Whoops! :rolleyes1 Maybe later I will have a chance to post it. Please accept this as my sincerest apology: :mickeybar

Sara

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - May 13, 2009

Part 6 - Jambo!

When I last left off we were headed towards the Safari with the hopes of getting on without too long of a wait. We weren't worried about it too much because we figured if we needed to skip it we would have more time to walk the trails and see the animals (mainly the tigers). I got a little concerned when I saw the amount of people that were flooded towards the Safari entrance, and even more concerned when I saw the sign that said the last safari would be leaving at 4:30. Ahhh...

However, as we got closer to the entrance I could see that the standby time was listed for 20 minutes! Fantastic! We hopped in line and, even after stopping to help a gentleman get his ECV un-stuck from around a pole in the Safari queue (I was amazed at how many people DIDN'T stop, but I digress), we still made it to the front of the queue in 15 minutes! Shawn took special notice of the architecture and, having come from a construction background, he was fascinated with the actual detail that was put into the authenticity of the buildings and overall queue area.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/029_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/030_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/032_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010436.jpg

As we got up to the front we were guided to the first row of seats, right behind the driver. We were actually hoping for the back row though. Even though the back row is incredibly bumpy, you can usually get better pictures because you can take the ones off the back of the Jeep. It ended up being a good thing that we were sitting up front, but I'll get to that in a moment.

We took off on our 2 week safari with a fabulous driver. He was very easy to understand, thank goodness! (For some reason, I find the female safari drivers to be much harder to understand when they are talking over the speaker - something about the higher register voice that doesn't resonate well over the speaker) - and he also had a great repore with all of us!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010438.jpg

As we took off, Shawn took this picture of me through the driver's side view mirror:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/033_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(Would have been slightly better had it not been so blurry....LOL)

Jambo Everyone! We were off down the bumpy dirt road and into Africa!!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/034_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010450.jpg

Pictures at first were not coming too easy for either Shawn nor I. As usual, we got a lot of rear-ends! So without further adieu....

Yellow-billed Stork:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/036_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Hippo butt:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/041_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Blurry Nile Crocodile:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/042_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

As we emerged from the thick vegetation of the Forest, and into the Savannah grasslands, we saw a lot of gazelle:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/044_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/043_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/046_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

I always laugh at the giant termite mounds in this area....ewww.....

We rounded the corner with the flamingos up ahead and noticed a whole bunch of reticulated giraffe. YAY! I don't think I saw the giraffes the last time we went (except from a good distance) so I was excited that they were so close.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/058_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

As we rounded the corner though, we came to an abrupt stop!

The safari jeep just a little bit ahead of us was stopped and we were following suit right behind him. Problem? Reticulated Giraffes hogging the road! I was very excited that we were getting stopped on the Safari, and at that point, I was especially excited that we didn't get stopped on the Nile Crocodile Bridge and that we were sitting in the front row, as the back row didn't have nearly as nice a view of the giraffes.

They were very pretty and apparently, very hungry...as they were NOT budging from the road, chowing down on some of the lush vegetation right there by the flamingo island. Shawn was snapping away at the giraffes....

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/069_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

This one was running down the hill after the other one:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/084_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/087_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

After a while, Shawn turned his attention to the elephants that were starting to gather to our left:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/079_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(Elephant butt)

And the flamingos in the middle of some kind of spat:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/094_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

After the first 5 minutes of sitting there, the giraffes looked like they might start to walk back up the hill.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/092_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

(The first jeep and some of the giraffes)
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/098_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Nope....still coming on down....more of them:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/099_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Back to the elephants:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/111_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

(Seriously, we have so many pictures of giraffes and elephants - it'll last me a long time....)


These giraffes just did not seem to understand how long we had been sitting there and were taking their sweet time (good thing I like giraffes and elephants...I don't think I would have enjoyed myself if I had been sitting by the 20 ft tall termite mounds for 15 minutes)!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/114_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

How much longer would we sit there? Would the giraffes ever walk away?

Sara

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - May 13, 2009

Part 6 (still on the Safari)

According to the time stamps on the pictures, this was 15 minutes into this giraffe stop and we were all beginning to wonder if this was indeed a 2 week tour (plus visions of the movie Jurassic Park were starting to enter my head...when the kids are riding along in the jeep vehicles heading out to try and see some dinosaurs when their jeep stops working and they are surrounded by man-eating pre-historic creatures....):scared1: It was eerily quiet!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/121_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(The baby was really cute though)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/123_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg



It was kind of amusing to listen to the driver of the other jeep talk to the head hancho people (we could hear the conversation through our driver's radio....THEY JUST AREN'T MOVING....I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THROUGH AND HAVE ONE OF THEM NOT BE COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD....ho-hum...we will wait....

Then driving over the side of the hill, came this guy:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/127_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Here I thought he was going to get out and work some kind of "giraffe whisperer" action on these creatures, but alas...nope....he just drove past them, and then backed up until they moved all the way back up the hill....very high-tech, I tell ya! :confused3

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/128_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

You can see his reverse lights on here....
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/131_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Before we knew it, they had all walked back up the hill, and we were able to carry on...
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/138_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Bye giraffes! (You can see almost all of them in this picture that I took before we finally took off!)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010462.jpg

As we rounded the bend, we actually got to see the cheetah! :banana: Another animal we have always missed! It was out there posing on a rock, but I think our driver was trying to make up for lost time and sped on past it at a good clip, so all of our pictures all came out blurry.

Nevertheless, here it is:
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/140_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/141_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(I think it was interested in what all the commotion was about too and came out to see! LOL):laughing:

As we came around the next bend and saw the high rock formation in front of us, I was really hoping we would have the same luck with the lions that we had had with the cheetah.

Woo-hoo! Finally! Usually all we see is the fur of a sleeping lion! This day, the lion was awake and looking around! Fabulous! :cool1:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/145_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

We finished up our 2 week adventure with a little Pumba-action,
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/149_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

and before you know it....we were back at the Park Ranger Station after successfully defeating the poachers and rescuing the fake baby elephant! Yay us!! :yay:

A few more shots as we left our longest Safari ever, and and then a change in our "un-plans!"

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/150_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Sara

[jillyb]

Awesome safari pictures!

[KathyRN137]

Wow! You guys really lucked out with a super-long-extended safari!

I'm glad the driver was so cautious, though.

"Giraffe Whisperer"... :rotfl2:


Kathy

[ladybugmom]

Oh wow!! How funny! But ya'll got some GREAT pictures of the giraffes nevertheless! As I read through your post I had our VBS song running through my head (our VBS theme is a Prayer Safari). "Jambo, means hello! Say Jambo to Jesus everyday, He listens when you pray. . ." :rotfl:

[mkluvsmickey]

What an awesome safari Sara! I love all the giraffe pictures (my favorite) and man, were they close! Pretty cool how the guy came in the truck to shoo them off the road. The Cheetah was cool too. :)

[mommytothreeboys]

WOW.....now THAT'S a Safari!! ::yes::

You really got some beautiful pictures of the giraffes. I've never seen so MANY!! Awesome!

I was :lmao: at the Jurassic Park reference! Can you imagine?? That would be so NOT magical!

And then the "giraffe whisperer" comment sent me :rotfl2:.

Great updates! Can't wait to hear more!! :goodvibes

[mom2mek]

Awesome safari pictures!

Thanks Jill! :goodvibes I have like 75 pictures of giraffes and elephants and really I don't know if I actually posted the best ones....I just got tired of looking at them all in photobucket and trying to remember which one was slightly better than the other one, you know? (Guess I could have written down the #s as I went through them...but hey, I was trying to update....:rotfl:)

Wow! You guys really lucked out with a super-long-extended safari!

I'm glad the driver was so cautious, though.

"Giraffe Whisperer"... :rotfl2:


Kathy

Yep - we got the XXL Safari! :goodvibes I would have been very nervous had the other Jeep driver gone on ahead and tried to avoid hitting them....then again the pick -up truck driving ranger was in a much smaller vehicle and those giraffes "listened" to him! :confused3 (He wasn't carrying 30 people in his truck though!)

Oh wow!! How funny! But ya'll got some GREAT pictures of the giraffes nevertheless! As I read through your post I had our VBS song running through my head (our VBS theme is a Prayer Safari). "Jambo, means hello! Say Jambo to Jesus everyday, He listens when you pray. . ." :rotfl:

How funny, Becky! I bet it reminds you of Disney each time you sing it! (Did you pick it for that reason....hmmmm....:rolleyes1) We were pleased ith where we got stuck - at least it was interesting. It got quiet, but it was definitely interesting! :goodvibes

What an awesome safari Sara! I love all the giraffe pictures (my favorite) and man, were they close! Pretty cool how the guy came in the truck to shoo them off the road. The Cheetah was cool too. :)

Thanks Michelle! You know I thought of you when we were stuck there because I know how much you love the giraffes! I thought it was interesting to see how they handle situations like that - I just wonder what they bring out when they are trying to "shoo" a rhino!! Don't know if I would trust a pick-up truck! Maybe a Hummer! :confused3

WOW.....now THAT'S a Safari!! ::yes::

You really got some beautiful pictures of the giraffes. I've never seen so MANY!! Awesome!

I was :lmao: at the Jurassic Park reference! Can you imagine?? That would be so NOT magical!

And then the "giraffe whisperer" comment sent me :rotfl2:.

Great updates! Can't wait to hear more!! :goodvibes

When they just kept coming down the hill was when I first thought of Jurassic Park....There were just so many of them all at once and all around the area...then when it got quiet, and everyone was just watching, and the Jeep drivers stopped talking for the most part...creepy! :scared:

Thanks for reading everyone! Hope to have more up soon! :goodvibes

Sara

[crocko]

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/069_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

This picture of the giraffes and flamingos is awesome!

[mom2mek]

This picture of the giraffes and flamingos is awesome!

Thank you! :goodvibes

Sara

[kaysmommie]

Awesome Safari and pictures! Wish we saw that many giraffes and they stopped on the road. Waiting for more popcorn::.

[mom2mek]

Awesome Safari and pictures! Wish we saw that many giraffes and they stopped on the road. Waiting for more popcorn::.


Thanks Nichole! I was happy that if we were going to be stopped on the Safari at least it was watching something pretty (and non-violent)! :eek:

Sara

[MeMom]

Excellent pictures! :thumbsup2

We love an early morning or an end of the day safari!

[mom2mek]

Excellent pictures! :thumbsup2

We love an early morning or an end of the day safari!


This was the most we have ever seen on a Safari! I'm thinking that the quietness of the Savannah must have brought some of the animals out....they must have had 15 minutes of "No Jeeps" going through and they all wanted to come out and see what was going on! :confused3 Of course, we didn't see the rhinos up close this time, and those are some of the ones we usually do see! Go figure! I would love to do a Sunrise or Sunset Safari through the AKL or Grand Gathering thing! :goodvibes

Sara

[mom2mek]

Day 1 - May 13, 2009 (yes, still....:rolleyes1)

Part 7 - Some Close Encounters With Some MORE Animals....these ones are wood though....

After our extra-long safari, we decided to just make our way over to Camp Minnie Mickey to catch the 6:00 Festival of the Lion King. We would just have to save the tigers for another trip! :rolleyes: EMH had now started, and you could definitely tell a difference in the crowd levels at this point.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/151_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Love the cactus:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/152_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Another shot of Everest and the Tree of Life:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/154_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

On our way over to the show, we passed the pathway that brings you super close to the tree and decided to take a little detour and go down the path. We still had enough time to get over to FOTLK and I definitely wanted Shawn to see the amazing hand-carved animals in the base of the tree. There are over 300 animals carved into the base of the tree and it is truly a work of art.

Well, Shawn was mesmorized. At one point, I totally lost him, as I kept walking through with my head up staring at all the amazing carvings, and I turned around, and he was gone! The man was like a kid in there…wandering off without telling anyone! I thought this was a kid-less trip! LOL! :laughing: At one point I had to get my cell phone out and call him to figure out where in the heck he had gone. And just like a kid, he was right there near me….just not where I could actually “see” him! Gonna have to put him on a leash! :sad2:

It’s funny because we actually went down a different trail than the one I had told him about from when I went on the girls trip in December. Both are very nice and you can see so many different animals on each trail. It is so peaceful up in there by the tree – what a gorgeous park!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/161_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/167_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/171_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/178_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

(The owl I think was one of the most impressive carvings....truly spectacular!)


http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/179_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/180_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/181_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/183_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/186_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

(I have to say, the bat was a little bit creepy...)


http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/188_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Another one of the owl...it was just amazing...


A final pic as we were leaving the area, with one of the waterfalls...

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/198_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg


We finally left the trail and headed out and back around to the front of Discovery Island on our way over to Camp Minnie Mickey. On the way, we saw this bird on top of one of the stores....Shawn went to take a picture while I went to the drink stand across the walkway from the store and got us some soft drinks as we were parched at this point. :crazy2:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/199_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Seriously, could this bird's neck be any longer?

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/201_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/202_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/210_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg


Even the water fountains are properly themed...this one is in the well:

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/212_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/213_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

Shawn was even pointing out the hidden mickeys in the little bird house type lamps...didn't get a picture of those for some reason...weird....

Before long we were arriving at the theater....

Coming up...we arrive at Festival of the Lion King!!

Sara

[mkluvsmickey]

Yay - another update! :cool1: Love the Tree of Life pictures. It is great you guys had time to stroll through there. Not something that is too easy to do with kids. And I agree, that owl is incredible!

Looking forward to Festival of the Li on King. :goodvibes

[mommytothreeboys]

Your pictures of the Tree of Life are amazing! :worship:

We have never strolled through that garden...we've only seen the parts of the tree you see in the It's Tough to be a Bug queue. I can see we've really been missing out! It's on the must-do list for our next trip. (whenever that may be! :confused3)

That bird's neck is creepy long. Yikes!

I love the water fountains at AK too...I mentioned that in my TR as well. It's a great little touch! :thumbsup2

FOTLK is AWESOME! Can't wait! :surfweb:

[jillyb]

Another great update!

[mom2mek]

Yay - another update! :cool1: Love the Tree of Life pictures. It is great you guys had time to stroll through there. Not something that is too easy to do with kids. And I agree, that owl is incredible!

Looking forward to Festival of the Li on King. :goodvibes

Thanks Michelle! The owl was stunning! I find the tree totally fascinating, considering when you are far enough away from it, you only notice patterns but the more you stare at it, the more you see....so pretty!

Your pictures of the Tree of Life are amazing! :worship:

We have never strolled through that garden...we've only seen the parts of the tree you see in the It's Tough to be a Bug queue. I can see we've really been missing out! It's on the must-do list for our next trip. (whenever that may be! :confused3)

That bird's neck is creepy long. Yikes!

I love the water fountains at AK too...I mentioned that in my TR as well. It's a great little touch! :thumbsup2

FOTLK is AWESOME! Can't wait! :surfweb:
Thanks Missy! Yes, definitely try and take the time to get up close to the tree. We went a different way this time (I don't even remember where we turned onto the path) but in December, when I went on a girls trip, we turned on the path right outside Pizzafari and were able to get up nice and close to the base of the tree.

Another great update!


Thanks Jill! :goodvibes

Sara

[crocko]

Some great pics....Tree of Life really is mesmerizing.

I'm excited to see how my kiddos react to it.

[kaysmommie]

Great update,
I love those pictures of the animal carvings on the tree :cool1:. I took a picture of the owl too ;).

[DisneyJo]

The safari sounds great what a fantastic place to stop, don't suppose it would have been as good further back :rotfl:

Beautiful photos of the tree, I'm hoping to spend more time exploring when we go in December as it won't be hot like when we visit in August and all we want to do is get out of the heat quick!

[tinkerbells mum]

really enjoying your trip report, the photos are lovely, can't wait to hear more xx

[ladybugmom]

Oh wow!! What AMAZING pics you got of the Tree of Life! Incredible!! Yay for the Lion King show! We just LOVED that show--one of our favorites!! Can't wait to read more!

[luvngoofy]

WOW, I'm behind, great to read 2 at once!

I would love to be "stuck" on the Safari with the giraffes. They are always hiding at the tree line. I love giraffes, they are so amazing to me.

The pictures of the Tree are really beautiful. I am going to hunt for that path. Is it the same as TGM talks about?

(I have to say, the bat was a little bit creepy...) He looks like a flasher!:rotfl2:

[mom2mek]

Some great pics....Tree of Life really is mesmerizing.

I'm excited to see how my kiddos react to it.

Thanks Chris! It really is such an amazing work of craftsmanship! :goodvibes

Great update,
I love those pictures of the animal carvings on the tree :cool1:. I took a picture of the owl too ;).

Hehe! I had never seen the owl before.....one of the best I think!

The safari sounds great what a fantastic place to stop, don't suppose it would have been as good further back :rotfl:

Beautiful photos of the tree, I'm hoping to spend more time exploring when we go in December as it won't be hot like when we visit in August and all we want to do is get out of the heat quick!

Oooo yes, do it Jo! December was glorious at the AK! That park always seems hotter than the others - guess it's due to the heavy foliage! December was the first time I had ever made it up that close!

really enjoying your trip report, the photos are lovely, can't wait to hear more xx

Thanks. It looks weird to me when I glance back over the report and not see pictures of many people, LOL! It's all plants,animals, and buildings! OH well....cute kids weren't with us this time, and neither one of us jumps at the opportunity to pose solo! :laughing:

Oh wow!! What AMAZING pics you got of the Tree of Life! Incredible!! Yay for the Lion King show! We just LOVED that show--one of our favorites!! Can't wait to read more!

Thanks Becky! FOTLK coming up next! :thumbsup2

WOW, I'm behind, great to read 2 at once!

I would love to be "stuck" on the Safari with the giraffes. They are always hiding at the tree line. I love giraffes, they are so amazing to me.

The pictures of the Tree are really beautiful. I am going to hunt for that path. Is it the same as TGM talks about?

(I have to say, the bat was a little bit creepy...) He looks like a flasher!:rotfl2:

LOL! Flasher Bat! :rotfl2: Yes he does....very creepy! :eek:

I actually think the path I took in December (right outside Pizzafari) is the path you are thinking about - but this one was great too! I wish I could remember where we actually entered it, but it was definitely before Pizzafari when coming from Africa, if that helps! Really nice.

Sara

[luvngoofy]

Hello! Where did you go?:confused3

[mom2mek]

Hello! Where did you go?:confused3

Hi! I was away this weekend on a girls trip to the mountains with some really good friends....:woohoo: But I'm back and I've got an update....coming right up!

Sara

[mom2mek]

Never mind....just lost my whole post (yes, I wasn't saving as I was going....the first time I have done that....grrrr) and now I'm too mad to go back and try to rewrite, so it'll have to wait. Sorry. :mad::headache::mad::headache:

Sara

[mrsksomeday]

Your safari pictures are just amazing!! I am in awe of your Tree of Life pictures, I never tire of looking at those carvings, it is truly mesmerizing. Great TR!!

[KathyRN137]

Never mind....just lost my whole post (yes, I wasn't saving as I was going....the first time I have done that....grrrr) and now I'm too mad to go back and try to rewrite, so it'll have to wait. Sorry. :mad::headache::mad::headache:

Sara


Awww, so sorry! :flower3:

Of course I understand.... you must be in the right mood in order to write... I'll check back tomorrow!


Kathy

[mom2mek]

Your safari pictures are just amazing!! I am in awe of your Tree of Life pictures, I never tire of looking at those carvings, it is truly mesmerizing. Great TR!!

Thanks Tracy! :hug: Hey, I have been reading along on your PTR, but every time I do, it's just a single post and I can't reply....I need to go try and find it without going through your siggie, then I can reply! But I wanted to let you know I am reading along (and how exciting it is that you are taking the little ones.....Bill's post made me cry...what a wonderful man you have there Tracy!) :love:

Awww, so sorry! :flower3:

Of course I understand.... you must be in the right mood in order to write... I'll check back tomorrow!


Kathy

Thanks Kathy! I seriously couldn't believe it happened. In all the trip reports I have ever written, last night was the first time I actually tried to write it IN the message box (and not in Word).....grrr.....Hoping I can post it later on today!

Sara

[jeremysdisneymom]

Sara:

It has been a while since I posted. It was a real bummer about your update last night! That really aggravates me when that happens. It never fails that when I am at work, the electric bumps on the one project I have spent the most time on and I lose it. Go figure since I work for the electric company! :rotfl2:

I went back this morning and read some of your October trip report again because we are going back to Disney World:banana::banana::banana:!!!!

I didn't think I would be back until Jeremy was 10. At least that is what he and Tom told me. They needed a break.:sad2: Well, back in May I was in a car accident and it totaled my car. Luckily, I walked out without a scratch and the other guy's insurance gave me what I wanted for my vehicle. Since we had already bought a new car right after the accident, I had some extra cash in hand and the wheels starting turning.

So, we are going back Oct 29-November 3 staying at Coronado Springs. We are taking my mom this time so Jeremy is super excited. We are doing MNSHP on November 1. So, give me any great pointers you learned. I was curious, did you like the halloween or christmas party better? We did Christmas last year in Nov but it poured the rain.

I can't wait for your next udpate. The Poly looks beautiful.

Erika

[mom2mek]

Sara:

It has been a while since I posted. It was a real bummer about your update last night! That really aggravates me when that happens. It never fails that when I am at work, the electric bumps on the one project I have spent the most time on and I lose it. Go figure since I work for the electric company! :rotfl2:

I went back this morning and read some of your October trip report again because we are going back to Disney World:banana::banana::banana:!!!!

I didn't think I would be back until Jeremy was 10. At least that is what he and Tom told me. They needed a break.:sad2: Well, back in May I was in a car accident and it totaled my car. Luckily, I walked out without a scratch and the other guy's insurance gave me what I wanted for my vehicle. Since we had already bought a new car right after the accident, I had some extra cash in hand and the wheels starting turning.

So, we are going back Oct 29-November 3 staying at Coronado Springs. We are taking my mom this time so Jeremy is super excited. We are doing MNSHP on November 1. So, give me any great pointers you learned. I was curious, did you like the halloween or christmas party better? We did Christmas last year in Nov but it poured the rain.

I can't wait for your next udpate. The Poly looks beautiful.

Erika


Thank goodness you were ok in the car accident - how scary! :eek:

That's great that you get to go back to Disney soon though! Woo-hoo! :woohoo: And bringing a grandparent is always nice! Some wonderful memories are made!!! :grouphug:

As far as the parties, I truly loved both of them very much! (I know that isn't much help, huh?) The Halloween has such a great "vibe" with all the spooky-but-not-scary things that they do - you will love it! The trick-or-treating was a lot of fun and the parade is beyond fabulous!!! I absolutely loved the music to the Hallowishes too! It's really a great time! :)

The only thing I could mention as something to keep in mind (and this is totally dependent on what kind of child Jeremy is), but the night we went to the party was our first time at the MK for that trip. Because of that, my kids were very focused on rides. I knew we had another full day at the MK and wanted to focus more on the "party" stuff that you don't get during regular MK hours. We did a nice combination of both but I think if you have already gone to the MK during your trip it might be easier to get kids to focus on the "party exclusive" stuff. Looking back, I would have loved to have seen the villains show and to have met more characters, but my kids were very focused on getting on things since it was the first day there. Understandable, but still...I knew we would be back and could get on pretty much everything we wanted if we had a good touring plan....they just saw Space Mountan and Barnstormer and Buzz and Thunder and well, you know....

Having said that, I will also say that getting some of those typically-always-long-line rides done the night of the party, really took the pressure off of the other MK day. (Dumbo especially! :rolleyes:) We still waited about 15 minutes to get on Dumbo, but it was nice not to have the "rope drop" pressure of getting to it, you know?

Can't wait to hear more of your plans....will you be doing a report?

Sara

[mrsksomeday]

Thanks Tracy! :hug: Hey, I have been reading along on your PTR, but every time I do, it's just a single post and I can't reply....I need to go try and find it without going through your siggie, then I can reply! But I wanted to let you know I am reading along (and how exciting it is that you are taking the little ones.....Bill's post made me cry...what a wonderful man you have there Tracy!) :love:



I didn't realize the link in the siggie was a single post one, I am so used to using those for my links, duh, I can't believe I did that :sad2:. Thanks for telling me. Bill makes me cry a lot :) in a good way.

[mom2mek]

Day 1 – May 13, 2009
Part 8 - Sing it with me....Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba [Here comes a lion, Father]

We arrived at the entrance to the Festival of the Lion King theater around 5:45 for the 6:00 show and were let inside about 5 minutes later. I had the pleasure of seeing this show back in December on a girls trip and was very excited for Shawn to see it! We sat in the lion section, down on the row of benches right behind the handicapped section and got ready for the show to begin.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/214_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(Ghost CMs…)

I love this picture because it brings me right back to the moments right before the show starts…I can almost hear the music starting and the anticipation building.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/218_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

After a few minutes into the show, Shawn put his camera down and mentioned that he just wanted to enjoy the show, so you will have to endure this section with my slightly-less-than-perfect pics!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/220_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/223_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(This guy was so talented...I thought this was kind of a cool pic of him)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/226_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010463-2.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010467-2.jpg
(It’s dark, but I love how you can see the outline of the performer)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010468-2.jpg
(Hot heels!! Yikes! )

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010469-2.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010472.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010473.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010475.jpg
(I really liked the crocodile outfit…)


Each number in this show is so colorful and full of energy….it’s really just so well-done and I smile from ear to ear throughout the whole thing. When we went to the Animal Kingdom in November of 2007, we saw Nemo, but never got around to seeing FOTLK. I love Nemo (they do really amazing work in that show and it always makes me cry), but the thing that makes me really enjoy FOTLK is the fact that they use the performers in a way that really shows off their individual creativity. The pageantry and the costumes are so creative, the performers fly, dance, sing, flip, and make each portion of the show unique from the others and it keeps you wondering what is coming next.

The four main singers are so amazingly talented, the tumble monkeys are fabulously entertaining and funny, the flame thrower is fascinating, and the dancing and acrobatics are flawless….really the show is so outstanding and the time just flies by while you are in there. I can’t imagine ever going to the AK and NOT seeing this show.

As the show ended, we headed out of Camp Minnie-Mickey and back towards Asia and on towards a small Tibetan village that was calling our name.

On our way over to Asia, we stopped again for a few photopass pics which I will post later when I get the CD.

The heavy theming in this area was right up Shawn’s alley and he was really in tune to it on this trip.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/235_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/237_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/238_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/241_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

As we arrived at Everest, the wait said 15 minutes so we flashed our resort keys and headed on in to the queue. Such amazing details – Disney really outdid themselves with this ride and all of it’s amazing theming.

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/244_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/249_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(Is it just me, or is that Yeti in need of a certain undergarment???? LOL)

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/254_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg

After winding our way through the museum and feeling very equipped to take on Mt. Everest, we boarded our ride vehicle. Shawn put away his big camera and I kept mine out thinking I would actually try and take some pics (ha!). :lmao:

As we reached the gnarled mass of twisted metal, Shawn took the camera and grabbed this quick picture of me (thanks honey)!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010481.jpg

Right before our 80 foot plummet, we held on to eachother for a quick kiss for the camera!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010483.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010485.jpg

I’m guessing the guys in front of us probably didn’t buy their picture seeing as how an old, married couple was sitting behind them smooching! Oops! On the other hand, maybe they did….who knows! I’ve bought some with some strangers making weird faces behind or in front of us. You never know where you might end up…..hanging in someone’s living room, I suppose, is a reality, huh?

As we exited the strategically placed gift shop, we headed around towards Dino-land and saw this little guy….interesting neck he had!

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/P1010487.jpg

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww35/sca74/Disney%20May%202009/255_Day_01_Animal_Kingdom_09.jpg
(by the time Shawn got around to getting a picture of him, his neck went back to normal)

Shawn was actually feeling a little woozy (go figure – the man can jump out of perfectly good airplanes for years and years, but now, in his old age, the roller coasters are starting to get to him…doesn’t bode well for my future with 3 kids who seem to love them….hmmm….).

I asked him if he felt up for some Dinosaur action and he said yes, so that is where we were headed to next!

Up next….Dino Institute here we come....plus dinner at BOMA!!!

Sara

[queenof3]

I just love reading your reports! I am happy to know that there are shows of FOTLK on PM EMH. I was wondering about that and Nemo as well. Do you know? It's so hard to get everything in and the shows during a day at AK! I can't wait to hear about Boma. We are eating there for the first time in August! Thanks for your great reports!

[mkluvsmickey]

Love the FOTLK pictures! I can't believe the first time I saw that show was in December with you. I can't imagine not seeing it every time we are in AK from now on.

I love the kissing picture on Everest - too cute! And you didn't buy it?

I have a lizard just like that sitting on my gutter outside the screen door. :scared: