Chunkymonkey & Chunky Sisters B-day Celebration 2011!! Completed TR!

[chunkymonkey]

Hi everyone!! This is my THIRD TR!! I'm so happy to be starting this TR because I just finished my 2nd TR about 2 days before I left for this trip. I guess I will be happy always writing a TR or a PTR for Disney!!

Anyways, my 3 sisters and I went to WDW from March 26-31st to celebrate their birthdays! Mine had already passed so I wasn't celebrating anymore at this point...but nonetheless, I had a great time! :rotfl:

We are all from the NYC area!

The cast:

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205655_10150209102882754_598592753_8527644_7396901 _n.jpg

Left to Right:

Chunkeysis, who turns the big 30 this year. It was her idea to go to Disney for her birthday and I was totally on board! She's been to WDW before when we were younger, but was too young to remember much. From now on she will be known as CS

Chunkymonkey, ME! I am the oldest sister, the trip planner, the candid-shot photographer, and WDW addict! I have been to WDW numerous times, with the most recent time prior to this trip in Sept 2010 for free dining. I was there with Chubbyhubby, my DH.

Chunkytwin 1, she is the older of the twin by 20 minutes. She doesn't remember much about WDW because she was only a wee kid when we last went with our family. She came again with her fiance back before they were married but she thinks they only went to DHS and not to all the parks, and she doesn't remember it either! Fromn now on she will be known as CT1

Chunkytwin 2, she is the youngest and baby of the family. Like CT1, she came to WDW when we were younger, but doesn't remember it. However she did go to Disneyland and CA with me and DH a few years ago, and she had a great time, so Disney was a little more fresh in her mind than everyone else. From now on she will be known as CT2


Here's where we stayed:

POFQ!! Me and DH stayed her in Sept 2010 and loved it. This time, the rooms were nicer since they had been refurbished!

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/198480_10150208654542754_598592753_8522476_6634934 _n.jpg


Dining plan:

We all were on the regular dining plan for 5 nights. Here were our scheduled ADRs:

Coral Reef for dinner
Sci fi for lunch (OOP)
Ohana for dinner
Garden Grill for dinner
Tusker house for lunch
backup Ohana dinner (in case we didn't make it the first time if we were watching Fantasmic! that night)
The Wave for breakfast (OOP)
Akershus for dinner

Did we stick to all of them? Well you'll have to read on to find out!

[chunkymonkey]

Table of Contents

Background (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40585380&postcount=8)


Saturday Part 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40586030&postcount=13)
Saturday Part 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40602716&postcount=30)
Saturday Part 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40626963&postcount=48)
Saturday Part 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40695871&postcount=58)
Saturday Part 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40827018&postcount=89)
Photopass pics from Saturday (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40770958&postcount=77)
Sunday Part 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40876938&postcount=101)
Sunday Part 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40941935&postcount=112)
Additional Pics and Sunday Part 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41135136&postcount=134)
Side post: Disney Aulani and Renting DVC Points! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41240038&postcount=147)
Sunday Part 4 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41256003&postcount=157)
Side Post: Our Trip to San Francisco! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41405502&postcount=175)
Sunday Part 5 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41468158&postcount=185)
Monday (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41553037&postcount=198)
Tuesday Part 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41619386&postcount=205)
Tuesday Part 2 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41810375&postcount=213)
Tuesday Part 3 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42354761&postcount=221)
Side Post: Disney's Aulani in Hawaii! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43287114&postcount=223)
Side Post: WWoHP and an Impromptu DisMeet! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43911679&postcount=231)
Wednesday and Thursday: The End of our trip! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44764989&postcount=239)

[flamestarrdust]

Joining in! I can't wait to hear all about your trip! :goodvibes

[Missyrose]

Wuh-hoo! I just finally finished reading your last TR, now onto this one! :banana:

[tinacaplan]

So excited for this! You take some of the best pictures I"ve seen on the boards! :goodvibes

[mandibc11]

I'm joining in! I read your last one, and have to say that you inspired me to purchase a new camera last week! I read some of your photography guides, as well! Hopefully for our trip to Disney in May, I will have the hang of it!

[lovegrumpy]

Subbing

[chunkymonkey]

SO with this being my upteenth time at WDW, it was easy to sort of get into the theme park "mode" - meaning up at the crack of dawn, running to get FPs at all the major rides (TSM!!) and not leaving until well past the closing time. Mid-day breaks weren't really our thing with DH and I, and we rarely used the pools at the resorts (although we did use POFQ's pool twice and it was cute).

Here's me and DH on our previous trip:

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/34732_474907042753_598592753_6800373_8080544_n.jpg


However my sisters were in "vacation" mode. I dont' think they really grasped how it was spring break, and how the crowds would be overwhelming, and how TSM FPs really do run out! But overall, they work on a less "hectic" pace than me and DH and they really wanted to enjoy their time at WDW. I did promise them a few pool breaks in the afternoon, and I promised I woulnd't be the Disney Ride Nazi....all the time.

So finding the right balance would prove to be difficult at times. I really wanted this to be a trip that my sisters would enjoy. I know that DH and I, being WDW vetrans, have our own method of touring, and we know exactly what we want to do and where to go, whereas my sisters did not. I did all the planning and prep for this trip and I basically acted like a tour guide at the parks! It was fun for the first few days...but yes it did take it's toll towards the end when we were all tired...my sisters barely had to open a map, I did everything!

Here's me in my full Minnie glory, LOL.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200466_10150208704062754_598592753_8523015_2111674 _n.jpg


This TR is also going to be slightly different....I didn't take any notes. Being park guide, tour guide, transportation guru, and candid-shot photograper, I barely had enough time let alone energy to take many notes, but what I do have are plenty of pictures. So it will be more of a pictoral diary rather than fully blown TR. I just can't remember everything we did. But I think I will have plenty of pics to keep you happy. I am also somewhat of a professional photographer as you can see from my previous TR (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2552177). However on this trip, I couldn't fathom bringing my heavy DSLR, so I brought a few other toys with me:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Q2%2BaMAEQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

The Panasonic Lumix GF1 - it's like a DSLR but much smaller. I only have 2 lenses for this camera - but I kept my prime 20mm 1.7 lens on it most of the time because it's such a sweet lens. I had just gotten it so I was getting used to it at the same time. Most of the photos you see here, are from this camera, and have not really been post processed at all.


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31mXEQrxj7L._AA300_.jpg

This is my point and shoot which is waterproof (thank goodness) - I found this very useful on our trip. LOL

I also pre-ordered the photopass cd, which was great as now we have pictures with all of us! So I will post pics when they come in later in the TR...

Stay tuned...

[Heffielump]

Were you at DTD on the 26th? I think I may have seen you there!

Hope you didn't get caught in the crazy rain storms that Orlando got!

[Cat0727]

Woo hoo I'm here! :yay:

[Monknmom]

joining in!:surfweb:

[dtr_angel]

Yay! I'm on board again, I cannot wait to hear all about it!

I know what you mean about not remembering what happens... I try to take a lot of pictures at Disney, but when you do so much and you're at it all day, sometimes by the end of the night I can't remember things that happened that morning! Since I am doing my first TR, I'm taking a tiny notebook to jot down some notes so I can remember.

[chunkymonkey]

Our flight on Jetblue was scheduled to leave at 7am from Newark to Orlando. We all spent the night at my parent’s place where CS still lives so my dad can drive us to the airport in the morning. CS was not packed yet the night before and she gave us a fashion show before deciding what outfits to pack. She is definitely the fashionista of the family. I pretty much brought the same stuff I brought on my last trip…LOL

We got up bright and early and got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Here’s pics from our departure:

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197395_10150208649577754_598592753_8522427_7681917 _n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/198037_10150208649667754_598592753_8522430_1843231 _n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/205138_10150208649947754_598592753_8522434_494177_ n.jpg


I got this bag on our trip in May 2009

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/205524_10150208650032754_598592753_8522435_2391620 _n.jpg


Our traveling footwear

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200109_10150208650147754_598592753_8522436_682976_ n.jpg


http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206985_10150208650247754_598592753_8522438_7425358 _n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197989_10150208650317754_598592753_8522439_8118312 _n.jpg


After we landed:

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/207534_10150208650437754_598592753_8522441_7890856 _n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206638_10150208650487754_598592753_8522442_6108909 _n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/200178_10150208651032754_598592753_8522446_1552992 _n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/200042_10150208651427754_598592753_8522450_7567862 _n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198430_10150208651542754_598592753_8522451_5907211 _n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206622_10150208651637754_598592753_8522452_3265758 _n.jpg


I purchased this Disney Couture necklace for CS for her b-day. She wore it almost the whole time! I bought my other sisters Disney gift cards because they are pickier. It turns out they actually really liked the Disney Couture stuff but they aren’t sold at WDW!?!

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196272_10150208651777754_598592753_8522454_172362_ n.jpg


Yay! ME!

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207027_10150208651862754_598592753_8522455_3808559 _n.jpg


Looks like the early flight really got to CT1

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196669_10150208652122754_598592753_8522458_3265104 _n.jpg


I missed the shot of the WDW sign because the ME bus was moving too fast! It came out as a huge blur. Oh well.

I did however get the POFQ sign

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198921_10150208652872754_598592753_8522460_3242682 _n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196689_10150208653002754_598592753_8522461_4967612 _n.jpg


I did online check in but it wasn’t necessary. There wasn’t anyone on line!

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207939_10150208653422754_598592753_8522466_4385191 _n.jpg


Our room wasn’t ready so we checked out carry ons with the bellhop service and headed to DTD for some lunch!

Stay tuned…

[tinacaplan]

I have often wondered why the Disney couture stuff isn't sold at Disneyworld! :confused3 That seems beyond nonsensical. Great start! As always, I am marveling over the quality of your photographs.

In case you haven't noticed my ticker (ahem...sorry I don't mean to be so shameless, but I'm going for it...:rotfl2:), we're headed to AKL for a week in July and needless to say I am going to want to take a TON of pictures and I'm not thrilled with my current point and shoot piece of junk. Just curious what you would recommend in the under $150 category. I'm not talented enough to spend more than that! It would be a waste on me! :rotfl:

Can't wait for more! Especially looking forward to your pics of the newly rehabbed rooms at POFQ.

[natebenma]

I am so happy to see your new TR! Sorry to hear about the weather woes! :umbrella:

[annmarieda]

:banana: for the new TR!!!

[Disneyfreak616]

I'm here and I can't wait for more!!! :banana: You are all gorgeous! :cutie: Love (Ct1's I think???) shoes!! :thumbsup2 You take AWESOME pictures! :thumbsup2

[dtr_angel]

Yay, you started! I LOVE that necklace that you bought for your sister. I saw it on the Disney Store site a few days ago and almost ordered it.

[chunkymonkey]

Were you at DTD on the 26th? I think I may have seen you there!

Hope you didn't get caught in the crazy rain storms that Orlando got!

Yup and yes. We did get caught in them and although it did provide non-stop pouring rain for 2 of them, we still did not let it dampen our spirits.

Woo hoo I'm here! :yay:

Yay!! Glad to see you here too!

joining in!:surfweb:

Yay!! Welcome!


Yay! I'm on board again, I cannot wait to hear all about it!

I know what you mean about not remembering what happens... I try to take a lot of pictures at Disney, but when you do so much and you're at it all day, sometimes by the end of the night I can't remember things that happened that morning! Since I am doing my first TR, I'm taking a tiny notebook to jot down some notes so I can remember.

Thats a good idea. If I had the time and patience, I might have done that!


I have often wondered why the Disney couture stuff isn't sold at Disneyworld! :confused3 That seems beyond nonsensical. Great start! As always, I am marveling over the quality of your photographs.

In case you haven't noticed my ticker (ahem...sorry I don't mean to be so shameless, but I'm going for it...:rotfl2:), we're headed to AKL for a week in July and needless to say I am going to want to take a TON of pictures and I'm not thrilled with my current point and shoot piece of junk. Just curious what you would recommend in the under $150 category. I'm not talented enough to spend more than that! It would be a waste on me! :rotfl:

Can't wait for more! Especially looking forward to your pics of the newly rehabbed rooms at POFQ.

Yay!! Good seeing you here Tina! Wow AKL in July? Lucky duck!! Hmm, my sister has a a canon s90 which is amazing. It takes the best pictures out of all the point and shoots I've seen and used. If she will only upload some pictures, I could show them to you!


I am so happy to see your new TR! Sorry to hear about the weather woes! :umbrella:

Yay!! Welcome Dee! Yes we had some horrendous weather...


:banana: for the new TR!!!

Yay!! Good to see you here Ann!


I'm here and I can't wait for more!!! :banana: You are all gorgeous! :cutie: Love (Ct1's I think???) shoes!! :thumbsup2 You take AWESOME pictures! :thumbsup2

Awww thank you! If you're referring to the Tory Burch flats, yes they are CT1's. I think we all have a pair (or 2) but I find them not that comfy as you'd think.

[chunkymonkey]

Yay, you started! I LOVE that necklace that you bought for your sister. I saw it on the Disney Store site a few days ago and almost ordered it.

I got it at the physical store at Disney in Times Square. They sold Disney couture and that necklace was actually on sale. :thumbsup2

[YukiPhnx]

Count me in! I'm so excited to hear about your sisters' trip! I'll be taking a trip next year with just my sister too!

What a great start! I think it's pretty cool that this TR is like a photo-journal. Makes me feel like I'm traveling with you!

I love Disney Couture stuff. If only shipping to Canada wasn't so pricey.

[Mommy2BnB]

Joining in. :)

[Wonders10]

I'm in...can't wait to hear how your trip turned out compared to ours (crowd, weather wise, etc) since we were there the same dates. I can't see the pics at work from your last update so will have to wait til tonight to take a looksie!

[RachelNinja]

How exciting it must be to go with your sisters! Especially since they don't know the parks like you do. I had so much fun watching the reactions of Danielle, Ray, and Nik. I hope you had the same kind of fun!

[TanzUnited99]

Hi Chunkymonkey :wave2: I am looking forward to hearing all about your girly trip! I'm hoping to plan a trip with my sister in the future so am looking forward to gaining an insight/tips on how to keep everyone happy :goodvibes

I'm also going to catch up on your Sept TR as we are going for the first time this Sept and am hoping to read as many previous Sept TRs as possible :thumbsup2

[chunkymonkey]

These replies were supposed to be the first set of replies but they got lost but I haven't forgotten about you!

Joining in! I can't wait to hear all about your trip! :goodvibes

Yay! Good to see you here!!

Wuh-hoo! I just finally finished reading your last TR, now onto this one! :banana:

Yay! Thanks for reading!

So excited for this! You take some of the best pictures I"ve seen on the boards! :goodvibes

Aww thanks Tina. Looking forward to catching up on your TR too...

I'm joining in! I read your last one, and have to say that you inspired me to purchase a new camera last week! I read some of your photography guides, as well! Hopefully for our trip to Disney in May, I will have the hang of it!

Aww thank you! I hope you are having fun with your new DSLR!

Subbing

Thanks!!

[chunkymonkey]

Hi Chunkymonkey :wave2: I am looking forward to hearing all about your girly trip! I'm hoping to plan a trip with my sister in the future so am looking forward to gaining an insight/tips on how to keep everyone happy :goodvibes

I'm also going to catch up on your Sept TR as we are going for the first time this Sept and am hoping to read as many previous Sept TRs as possible :thumbsup2

Yay! Great to have you onboard! Girly trips are so much fun! September was really much hotter than March!

How exciting it must be to go with your sisters! Especially since they don't know the parks like you do. I had so much fun watching the reactions of Danielle, Ray, and Nik. I hope you had the same kind of fun!

Yup I loved seeing their reactions! And sometimes it would be the opposite of what I thought it would be. For example, I didnt' think they would be soooo into characters, but they loved them! They wanted pictures with everyone!

I'm in...can't wait to hear how your trip turned out compared to ours (crowd, weather wise, etc) since we were there the same dates. I can't see the pics at work from your last update so will have to wait til tonight to take a looksie!

Yay! Thanks for reading!

Joining in. :)

Yay! Welcome!

Count me in! I'm so excited to hear about your sisters' trip! I'll be taking a trip next year with just my sister too!

What a great start! I think it's pretty cool that this TR is like a photo-journal. Makes me feel like I'm traveling with you!

I love Disney Couture stuff. If only shipping to Canada wasn't so pricey.

Hey Yuki!! So glad to have you onboard!!

[tankgirl427]

YAY! You're back! Now to read your TR!

[MelMel11]

Count me in!!

[chunkymonkey]

At POFQ, we used the ladies room to quickly change into more “summer-y” clothes because the weather was vastly different from the 40 degrees back home. It was about 80 degrees, and partly sunny. A great day so far!

We walked on over to the ferry dock to wait our ride to DTD. We took a few pictures while we waited:

CT1
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196434_10150208654157754_598592753_8522473_7398143 _n.jpg


CT2
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196779_10150208654272754_598592753_8522475_3747701 _n.jpg


A ferry arriving, however this one wasn’t our ferry. It was going to Riverside and stopping there. It was still pretty on the water though!

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/208276_10150208655252754_598592753_8522477_915751_ n.jpg


Waiting

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/199478_10150208655972754_598592753_8522481_4124335 _n.jpg


Taken with CS’s camera

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197066_10150255972092222_771792221_9418433_1248571 _n.jpg


CS was trying her hardest to get a tan

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvOMWaXMdI/AAAAAAAAIT8/DwlQSThyni8/s800/Disney%202011-99.jpg


Everyone got their Birthday Buttons from the front desk too! CS’s name is clearly a reason why she’d want to go to the Princess dinner at Akershus. She was even thinking about getting her own tiara. LOL

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/199424_10150208656542754_598592753_8522490_6716654 _n.jpg


Finally on the ferry on a relaxing ride to DTD. Here’s some of the sights we saw when arriving.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207584_10150208656742754_598592753_8522492_5144032 _n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/208332_10150208656842754_598592753_8522494_5824496 _n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207916_10150208656907754_598592753_8522495_1244401 _n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/207579_10150208657017754_598592753_8522497_5997132 _n.jpg


From CS’s camera

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200738_10150255979747222_771792221_9418575_1309172 _n.jpg


We first headed to WPE for some grub! I had never been here before. I told my sisters we could eat at any CS restaurant in DTD, and they picked WPE. Good thing too as it was one of our favorite places!

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/208279_10150208657222754_598592753_8522500_2127748 _n.jpg


I loved how they had different iced teas to choose from. The sweet tea was great and so was the tropical iced tea, which is unsweetened.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200116_10150208657292754_598592753_8522502_6245682 _n.jpg


CT2’s yummy cobb salad.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200668_10150208657527754_598592753_8522506_5296330 _n.jpg


CT1’s pizza. I would have preferred it with a crisper crust as it got kind of soggy in the middle but CS really loved it and she ate a few slices.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/208612_10150208657657754_598592753_8522507_7242563 _n.jpg

CS’s pennette Bolognese. It was really good! I ate a lot of it too J

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196396_10150210582327754_598592753_8539131_2376581 _n.jpg


I got the Chinese chicken salad. It was pretty good.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/206963_10150210582107754_598592753_8539129_1787125 _n.jpg


Dessert

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196895_10150208657742754_598592753_8522508_1150187 _n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200124_10150208657832754_598592753_8522509_4976788 _n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198526_10150208657937754_598592753_8522510_5977524 _n.jpg


CS got the vanilla bean cheesecake and it was really good! The frozen yogurt though, not that great. The chocolate was icey and not creamy. I guess I just expected it to be like ice cream as most fro=yos are. But it wasn’t. CT1 and 2 got vanilla which was the same texture but tasted slightly better then the chocolate.


After lunch we got to doing some shopping. On the way, we stopped by this cute wall of tweedle dee and dum. I think this is one of my favorite pictures from the trip!!


http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196391_10150208658857754_598592753_8522524_6755985 _n.jpg


Stay tuned for pics from DTD…

[natebenma]

AWESOME food porn!!! Wow, WPE looks fantastic- we have never eaten there but all I hear are raves. It's fantastic that you got to share and taste a little of everything. I would love that!

That IS a great picture of the CTs with TDTD.

[RachelNinja]

I love how WPE has such a good quality food for being so quick! I'm so glad we were able to stop by during our last trip, but our food pics won't be as great as yours are!

[NancyLuvsMickey]

Finally made it here... popcorn::

[Cat0727]

WPE looks so good, as always! I still haven't eaten there yet. It's such a steal being just a CS credit on the DDP :thumbsup2

[chunkymonkey]

AWESOME food porn!!! Wow, WPE looks fantastic- we have never eaten there but all I hear are raves. It's fantastic that you got to share and taste a little of everything. I would love that!

That IS a great picture of the CTs with TDTD.

Thanks! We eat off each others plates all the time. That's the way we dine! LOL. We were all thoroughly impressed with WPE. Especially since it was a QS credit. But they have servers regularly come by the table and ask if we wanted refills of drinks, and they fetched our dessert for us! How nice. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to leave a tip or not though, since this wasn't a TS restaurant. I looked around and no one else gave a tip but maybe on our next trip I'll leave a little soemthing because they are so friendly.

I love how WPE has such a good quality food for being so quick! I'm so glad we were able to stop by during our last trip, but our food pics won't be as great as yours are!

Yay! I'm glad you got a chance to stop by. I was impressed. I have eaten at WPE before, but usually it was in some airport when transiting and it was nothing like this experience. Looking forward to seeing your pictures too!

Finally made it here... popcorn::

Yay!! Thanks for stopping by!!

[chunkymonkey]

WPE looks so good, as always! I still haven't eaten there yet. It's such a steal being just a CS credit on the DDP :thumbsup2

Definitely one of those best value uses for the CS credit!

[Heffielump]

WPE looks delish! Disney should hire you to do their promo shots! :goodvibes

[TanzUnited99]

Love all the pics of you guys :thumbsup2 Lol at the pic of CS getting a tan :laughing:

Also those are some great food porn pics - esp love the desserts! :)

[YukiPhnx]

Love your pictures of DTD!! I never noticed the Pooh Corner sign. That made me LOL.

Is your sister's name really Su-Queen??? That is SO COOL!!!

Mmm, I still haven't tried WPE, but I can't wait to! Love your food porn pictures!

[MsHershey]

Subbing. Thouroughly enjoying your TR. Great photos!

[boys938]

Awww. You and your sisters are so cute. Enjoying the pictures!!

[Wonders10]

Yum! Love WPE...I think we eat there every time we hit DTD. The Chinese Salad is one of my favorites there!

[princess aleya]

I'm here and all caught up popcorn::, great reviews so far :thumbsup2 Can't wait to hear more.

[mikera329]

YOU'RE BACK!! Woot-woot!! So excited to be subbing! You have the best TR's/pics ever!!! And your hair still looks amazing, lol!:laughing:

[tinacaplan]

Great photos! WPE looks great. I think I'll try it if Downtown Disney factors into any of my future plans.

[annmarieda]

I love WGPE... I had the salmon there last september... and I plan to in December.

The pic of your twin sisters and Tweedledee and Tweedledum... so cute :goodvibes

[chunkymonkey]

WPE looks delish! Disney should hire you to do their promo shots! :goodvibes

Aww thank you! That's sweet of you to say!

Love all the pics of you guys :thumbsup2 Lol at the pic of CS getting a tan :laughing:

Also those are some great food porn pics - esp love the desserts! :)

Yes my sisters are all pale, except for me. It's kind of odd. LOL

Thanks!!

Love your pictures of DTD!! I never noticed the Pooh Corner sign. That made me LOL.

Is your sister's name really Su-Queen??? That is SO COOL!!!

Mmm, I still haven't tried WPE, but I can't wait to! Love your food porn pictures!

Yup my sister's name is Su-Queen. Queeny is her nickname. She claims she's always been regal. LOL. She likes anything sparkly, pink and bling-y. So fitting. LOL

I can't remember where we saw Pooh Corner...definitely somewhere in DTD.

Thanks!


Subbing. Thouroughly enjoying your TR. Great photos!

Thank you!!

Awww. You and your sisters are so cute. Enjoying the pictures!!

Thank you!!

Yum! Love WPE...I think we eat there every time we hit DTD. The Chinese Salad is one of my favorites there!

It was good! I liked the cobb salad too. Actually most things on their menu sound good, especially for QS credits!

I'm here and all caught up popcorn::, great reviews so far :thumbsup2 Can't wait to hear more.

Thank you and welcome!

YOU'RE BACK!! Woot-woot!! So excited to be subbing! You have the best TR's/pics ever!!! And your hair still looks amazing, lol!:laughing:

LOL...thanks!! My hair looks straight in these pics because I got a Brazillian blowout - it temporarily straigtens it and gets rid of frizz. I dunno, it is a bit straight for me. But it is fairly easy to manage. I will be getting my curly hair back soon though. LOL.

Great photos! WPE looks great. I think I'll try it if Downtown Disney factors into any of my future plans.

Hi Tina! Definitely give WPE a try. It's well worth it for a QS credit!

I love WGPE... I had the salmon there last september... and I plan to in December.

The pic of your twin sisters and Tweedledee and Tweedledum... so cute :goodvibes

Yum, I have not tried the salmon yet, but I saw the pics from your TR and it looked delicious!

thanks! I'll let them know!

[chunkymonkey]

Saturday Part 3

After our fun and fulfilling lunch at WPE, we set about shopping around DTD. This is probably where my sisters had the most fun. We are all girls and we ALL love shopping! When I usually come with DH, I don’t spend as much time as I want to shopping, so we don’t spend that much time at DTD. I usually buy one or 2 things as souvenirs and then we leave. However it’s completely different shopping with your sisters/girlfriends. We couldn’t get enough! They were all taken with all the cute housewares over at Mickey’s Pantry. We loved Goofy’s Candy Co. too. And the World of Disney store? Forget it. We spent hours in there! Which was especially nice because our room was not ready. They were going to send me a text once it was, but they said it would take about 3-4 hours.

CT2 with an ornament she liked at the Christmas store

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvOxI_S7jI/AAAAAAAAIVc/9qE2GDFchQ4/s720/Disney%202011-136.jpg


3 of us got married within a year of each other, me in 2008, CT1 in 2009, and CT2 in 2010. Since they are newlyweds, they were very excited to see the wedding stuff at Mickey’s Pantry. They were saying they should have registered here, LOL.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvOyEMTCgI/AAAAAAAAIVg/rF-dGP60kBE/s720/Disney%202011-135.jpg


I really wanted a pen with poofy feathers sticking out of it. It reminds me of Cher in the movie, Clueless. But I couldn’t’ justify the steep price tag of a pen when I get them free at work (not poofy feathered ones though)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvO1F6ESvI/AAAAAAAAIVo/8DkK8mUwvXo/s720/Disney%202011-138.jpg


CS checking out the Make Your Own T-shirt kiosk.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvO3xbTQGI/AAAAAAAAIVs/kRHZ2O_WxtA/s720/Disney%202011-139.jpg


She didn’t make a t-shirt but really liked this hat.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvO406qjgI/AAAAAAAAIV0/X5Adh2FOQ1s/s512/Disney%202011-142.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvO7tUB56I/AAAAAAAAIV8/9XmktmbIW3w/s512/Disney%202011-140.jpg


I myself wanted a pair of Minnie ears – these didn’t really do the trick though

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvO7fBkHLI/AAAAAAAAIV4/FWa02QT87I8/s512/Disney%202011-144.jpg


Walking into the main entrance at WoD, you’re greeted by these scary individuals. Wouldn’t little kids find that a bit too much? Well didn’t stop them from shopping as the store was pretty crowded.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPBkveUzI/AAAAAAAAIWI/p1ammzXOkPQ/s720/Disney%202011-149.jpg


My favorite round things! Round Buzz!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPGplj4dI/AAAAAAAAIWM/jZ6UHQYtKbI/s720/Disney%202011-150.jpg


CT1 and 2 were looking for t-shirts for their DHs. I don’t think they ended up buying these in the end but we all thought they were cute.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPGs1CF4I/AAAAAAAAIWQ/L9kmmAd_st8/s720/Disney%202011-151.jpg


This really nice CM saw CS’s b-day button and sang happy birthday to her in the store.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPG7_JbOI/AAAAAAAAIWU/Uc8izQtoOgU/s720/Disney%202011-152.jpg


Don’t worry I will do a full shopping post later on all the things I got at WDW. We didn’t’ buy too much on that day as we wanted to save our money for the days to come. I knew we’d make it back to DTD again because everyone wanted to eat at WPE again before we left. I figured we had a lot of time before our flight back on Thursday, so we’d make a stop here for a late lunch before heading to the airport.

I did however, find the perfect Minnie ears. Sequined with a big red bow.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPKvPOtcI/AAAAAAAAIWc/dz5ev_Ww2G8/s720/Disney%202011-155.jpg


CT2 also liked it

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPKu3HbfI/AAAAAAAAIWY/-Y4O_6EXnyY/s512/Disney%202011-158.jpg


By then our room was ready and they texted me to say we can head right to the room! The room number was 1134. Last time I stayed in building 4 and it was a great location right next to the food court and bus stop. This time I had requested a refurbished room close to the buses and food court again. However, we got a room which is as far as possible from the main building. At least it was refurbished! It’s a good thing POFQ is so small so the walk isn’t too far, but I was hoping for something closer. We were, however, very close to the water taxi to and from DTD.

Our room is WHERE?

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPSRK8j-I/AAAAAAAAIWo/vJ-4Cg9oB4Y/s720/Disney%202011-176.jpg


Here’s our room. Thank goodness for the new queen beds. I don’t think all 4 of us would fit on 2 fulls.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPZNuc2WI/AAAAAAAAIW4/K0wP70HIR08/s720/Disney%202011-179.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPesbEBJI/AAAAAAAAIXE/5Kdof76UWCw/s720/Disney%202011-184.jpg

Shower curtain and new curved curtain rod. Makes such a difference!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPdHPFJhI/AAAAAAAAIXA/y8AnRkVjmrY/s512/Disney%202011-182.jpg


Our luggage magically made it there too! We called bell services and had our carryons delivered to the room. We got ready to head to the pool since we had some time before our ADRs at Coral Reef. However, CT1 and CT2 came back from the pool saying that it was really crowded and that there were no more pool chairs. Bummer. We decided to hang out in the room and chill until we were to head to Epcot.

Coming up…Coral Reef dinner!

[RachelNinja]

I loved the Mr. and Mrs. cups when I saw them, but I didn't want to spend to get them or worry about bringing them home during my trip in 2010. Then my cousin's girlfriend (she's one of the family at this point) went to WDW last August and bought it for Howard and me! I love all Disney mugs, but those are going to be extra special. We can't use them until we're married!

Haha, my kids should be wearing those shirts that say "Just because I have ears does not mean I am listening!"

Excellent choice! I love the headband on you more than the hat. The hat makes you look younger. Haha, and we Asians don't need any help looking younger.

I'm definitely a fan of curved shower rods too! It makes it that much roomier inside, and the curtain doesn't have to keep touching me as I shower!

[mandibc11]

The minnie ears looks absolutely precious on you all! I guess they were definitely worth the cost...I might have to get some on my next trip!

[Cat0727]

Aww the Mr./Mrs. mugs are so cute! I've never noticed those in Mickey's Pantry before. They'd make such a cute part of a wedding present for a bride and groom.

I love your sequined Minnie ears!

[tinacaplan]

Love the Minnie Ears...where else but Disney, right? POFQ looks so beautiful. I'd love to stay there someday.

[TanzUnited99]

Yay at being able to shop for soo long with your sisters - that is cool! :cool1:

Those hats you tried on look great and them shirts are funny lol! Love the minnie ears you chose and thanks for sharing pics of a refurbished room at POFQ - have not seen them before but the room looks spacious :thumbsup2

[chunkymonkey]

I loved the Mr. and Mrs. cups when I saw them, but I didn't want to spend to get them or worry about bringing them home during my trip in 2010. Then my cousin's girlfriend (she's one of the family at this point) went to WDW last August and bought it for Howard and me! I love all Disney mugs, but those are going to be extra special. We can't use them until we're married!

Haha, my kids should be wearing those shirts that say "Just because I have ears does not mean I am listening!"

Excellent choice! I love the headband on you more than the hat. The hat makes you look younger. Haha, and we Asians don't need any help looking younger.

I'm definitely a fan of curved shower rods too! It makes it that much roomier inside, and the curtain doesn't have to keep touching me as I shower!

Aww that's cute that you have the cups ready for you to use when you become husband and wife! I think hats in general are more for kids and the headbands are better on adults. The hat was a bit small on my head too!

The minnie ears looks absolutely precious on you all! I guess they were definitely worth the cost...I might have to get some on my next trip!

They were pricey (think it was 18.95?) but I used a gift card I accumulated with points from my Disney Visa. Yay, nothing like shopping with gift cards as you can buy more frivolous things! Hehehe.

Aww the Mr./Mrs. mugs are so cute! I've never noticed those in Mickey's Pantry before. They'd make such a cute part of a wedding present for a bride and groom.

I love your sequined Minnie ears!

Thanks! I do love them too. They will be useful on our next trip (whenever that is!)

Love the Minnie Ears...where else but Disney, right? POFQ looks so beautiful. I'd love to stay there someday.

Thanks! I am usually not one for accessories and headbands. But I made an exception for this. It took me a few days to get used to it though!

Yay at being able to shop for soo long with your sisters - that is cool! :cool1:

Those hats you tried on look great and them shirts are funny lol! Love the minnie ears you chose and thanks for sharing pics of a refurbished room at POFQ - have not seen them before but the room looks spacious :thumbsup2

Thanks! The new rooms look much nicer, and they have new carpeting and furniture. The tile in the bathroom has been changed as well.

[annmarieda]

POFQ looks so nice! I mean... it always did... but the refurbed room is amazing. Were the beds comfy?

I love the minnie ear headband. Personally, I always like the headbands more. Not sure why... I just do. I have quite the collection. :rolleyes1 I don't have the one you got... I think I may have to get that one. Just call me a big ole copy cat. :goodvibes Seriously though, I did get one for my next trip... and it is the first one that I am not in the least bit fond of. I bought it online... it is a bit too silly. :upsidedow

[Tracy161]

Joining in! Sounds like a great start to your sister vacation!!! :goodvibes I just got back from a sister trip too (but to London, not WDW) - it's great to be so close with your siblings!

[tankgirl427]

WPE was so good! I can't wait to go again, even if its OOP!

Are you still going to do a camera teaching this spring? I really really really hope so!

[chunkymonkey]

Sunday Part 4


We relaxed in our room for a bit and some of us fell asleep. I took my time to watch the Disney vacation channels. Even though they repeat all the time, I dunno, it just helps me get into the Disney vacation mode!

We got ready to go out for our first park, Epcot! Our dinner ADRs at Coral Reef were at 7pm. We could probably fit in a few rides before dinner.

Here’s us as we were heading out

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPe38OE4I/AAAAAAAAIXI/quAV4YyVtFE/s576/Disney%202011-187.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPhk1G04I/AAAAAAAAIXM/9SzdZAn3WEI/s576/Disney%202011-190.jpg


CT1 found some neat spots for her b-day button. They ended up just pinning it to their bags because it was easier than remembering to take it off your clothes all the time.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPkbXVl6I/AAAAAAAAIXQ/YQsJw44cwmM/s800/Disney%202011-193.jpg


At the bus stop

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPrrc6hpI/AAAAAAAAIXk/N5zZw7pgYK0/s800/Disney%202011-201.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPo04UYAI/AAAAAAAAIXc/Mv0KsBeUyqY/s800/Disney%202011-200.jpg


We took the bus to Epcot. We stopped to take a few photo pass pictures, and then entered our first park of the trip! Epcot!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPupqTygI/AAAAAAAAIXo/YzgXk1gzupo/s512/Disney%202011-204.jpg


I will post the photo pass pics when I get them on the CD. Some of them are funny!
The flower and garden festival was going on and they had some really cool characters…like Lotso!!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPv4I9jKI/AAAAAAAAIXw/4gddQ25ATLU/s800/Disney%202011-205.jpg


We used our snack credits on…frozen bananas! My sisters and I love them! My sisters ate them more than me on this trip!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvP5sJSz0I/AAAAAAAAIYI/UsRUru8fP_g/s512/Disney%202011-218.jpg


We didn’t have much to do once inside the park because we only had about and hour and a half until our ressies. So we decided to do Spaceship Earth. I didn’t give my sisters away that this was an interactive ride at all, so they had a good laugh at the end.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvPv3OAllI/AAAAAAAAIXs/IVJR51WBlmE/s800/Disney%202011-207.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvP1e95ByI/AAAAAAAAIYA/PIPjLn28lfk/s800/Disney%202011-213.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvP5H5uwfI/AAAAAAAAIYE/nWl4qPnTrLQ/s800/Disney%202011-214.jpg


They all thought the scenarios were pretty funny and also how you can email it back to friends and yourself too. Here’s us up on the billboard!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvP6Z-sqgI/AAAAAAAAIYM/6-fgzgENqWk/s800/Disney%202011-217.jpg


CT2 posing with Pooh

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQDc0YFJI/AAAAAAAAIYU/pH20Bo-OjE4/s800/Disney%202011-220.jpg


We did a few things in Innoventions, begfore heading to the Seas for dinner.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQJGPKAHI/AAAAAAAAIYo/4ZOa459LxmY/s800/Disney%202011-224.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQJT4hpeI/AAAAAAAAIYk/hbWsCeZOyrs/s800/Disney%202011-226.jpg


I hadn’t been back to Coral Reef for years, I forget how the seating is sort of theatre style, so everyone gets a great view of the fish. We sat in the bottom tier in a booth and had a fantastic view.


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQRu9AWuI/AAAAAAAAIY8/c2BfELwwsPs/s800/Disney%202011-237.jpg


Oh, hello there! It looked like one of those scooba tours was happening during our dinner. It was funny as some of them were better swimmers than others, and it all made for an entertaining "show"

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQh5u9c1I/AAAAAAAAIZo/RNbPcB3fwSU/s800/Disney%202011-253.jpg


A smattering of the food we ate. We all agreed it was really good and tasty, with the only exception being the butterscotch crème brulee which was kinda overly sweet and a bit grainy, which in crème brulee is just weird.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQS0fQOKI/AAAAAAAAIZA/pBNMU5QPVcU/s800/Disney%202011-238.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQUd2h96I/AAAAAAAAIZE/FPMkSPDA_yw/s800/Disney%202011-243.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQWS4r5qI/AAAAAAAAIZI/aFlLtGwM6PU/s800/Disney%202011-244.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQXkAmSNI/AAAAAAAAIZM/zXIIznQpbMk/s800/Disney%202011-245.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQa7veOOI/AAAAAAAAIZU/YR0rZ1oXkp4/s800/Disney%202011-248.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQbgYLZ0I/AAAAAAAAIZY/5UGgW1sVXuc/s800/Disney%202011-249.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvQfa1cKfI/AAAAAAAAIZk/QOXSITlrRlM/s512/Disney%202011-252.jpg


A great first TS meal at WDW! All my sisters were really impressed with the quality of the food so I was glad I made Coral Reef our first TS meal!


Coming up…Illuminations

[tinacaplan]

Beautiful pictures of EPCOT...and all of you, of course! Your pictures of the Flower and Garden festival are particularly fantastic. Looking forward to seeing your pictures of Illuminations.

[LMO429]

great trip report...looking forward to more subscribing! :goodvibes

[onejellyshelly]

Love, Love, Love your pictures. Cant wait to see more.

[jenbear123]

Hey I'm joining in (again) Reason I say that is I followed along on your last TR but got so far behind I just couldn't keep up. This time I think I've come in early enough to keep up this time! I love your pictures. Even the ones in Coral Reef in low light turned out great! Sounds like a great trip and I'm excited to follow along on the fun.

I'm actually in the market for a new point and shoot. Since you are a photographer, I'd love your input! Not to put you on the spot or anything :laughing: I'm a stickler for getting good photos in low light situations and close ups but also being able to take quick photos. I've already found a couple cameras that sound like they'd be good for what I'm looking for at the right price (max $300). I don't know how well you know cameras and the specs but any suggestions would be great! Here are the ones I'm deciding between:

Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS

http://www.canonpowershotelph300.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Canon-PowerShot-ELPH-300-HS.jpg

Canon Powershot ELPH 500 HS

http://www.theslrcamera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Canon-PowerShot-ELPH-500-HS-12-MP.jpg

I've had a Canon SD1000 for the last 3 years but it's finally starting to die. I would prefer to stick with Canon because it's what I'm used to. I'd love any suggestions based on personal experiences with a point and shoot that you've had. Thanks! And sorry to kinda jump you with questions :rolleyes1

[chunkymonkey]

POFQ looks so nice! I mean... it always did... but the refurbed room is amazing. Were the beds comfy?

I love the minnie ear headband. Personally, I always like the headbands more. Not sure why... I just do. I have quite the collection. :rolleyes1 I don't have the one you got... I think I may have to get that one. Just call me a big ole copy cat. :goodvibes Seriously though, I did get one for my next trip... and it is the first one that I am not in the least bit fond of. I bought it online... it is a bit too silly. :upsidedow

The beds were comfy, not the best, but definitely an upgrade from before!

OOOH I would love to see your headband! I am curious why you aren't fond of it! I am usually not a hair accessory kind of girl, but the Minnie ears did speak to me...it seems to me that the older I get, the younger I want to dress. I did NOT dress up when I was younger and visited WDW. LOL


Joining in! Sounds like a great start to your sister vacation!!! :goodvibes I just got back from a sister trip too (but to London, not WDW) - it's great to be so close with your siblings!

ooh London, I love London! How was your trip?

WPE was so good! I can't wait to go again, even if its OOP!

Are you still going to do a camera teaching this spring? I really really really hope so!

I am going to try! It's been so busy for me, but I'll let you know as it gets warmer, then it's more likely it will happen. Why don't you send me a PM with your email addy and I can send you the info when I have it?

Beautiful pictures of EPCOT...and all of you, of course! Your pictures of the Flower and Garden festival are particularly fantastic. Looking forward to seeing your pictures of Illuminations.

Thanks Tina! We got some cute photopass pictures. I can't wait until they come in and I can share them. I was happy I ended up pre-ordering the CD. My sisters weren't too receptive about it in the beginning, but in the end they wanted to take TONS of pictures, which was great!

great trip report...looking forward to more subscribing! :goodvibes

Thanks and welcome!

Love, Love, Love your pictures. Cant wait to see more.

Thank you so much!!

[YukiPhnx]

Love those Minnie Mouse ears!!! I have my own pair that I just adored.

It's great to hear that you enjoyed your meal at Coral Reef. It's been getting a lot of mixed reviews lately but hopefully this is a sign of their improvement!!

Wow, it must've been so cool to see those divers swimming by! You guys got great seats.

Can't wait to hear how the rest of your night went!

[chunkymonkey]

Hey I'm joining in (again) Reason I say that is I followed along on your last TR but got so far behind I just couldn't keep up. This time I think I've come in early enough to keep up this time! I love your pictures. Even the ones in Coral Reef in low light turned out great! Sounds like a great trip and I'm excited to follow along on the fun.

I'm actually in the market for a new point and shoot. Since you are a photographer, I'd love your input! Not to put you on the spot or anything :laughing: I'm a stickler for getting good photos in low light situations and close ups but also being able to take quick photos. I've already found a couple cameras that sound like they'd be good for what I'm looking for at the right price (max $300). I don't know how well you know cameras and the specs but any suggestions would be great! Here are the ones I'm deciding between:

Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS

http://www.canonpowershotelph300.co.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Canon-PowerShot-ELPH-300-HS.jpg

Canon Powershot ELPH 500 HS

http://www.theslrcamera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Canon-PowerShot-ELPH-500-HS-12-MP.jpg

I've had a Canon SD1000 for the last 3 years but it's finally starting to die. I would prefer to stick with Canon because it's what I'm used to. I'd love any suggestions based on personal experiences with a point and shoot that you've had. Thanks! And sorry to kinda jump you with questions :rolleyes1

Hi jenbear, thanks for visiting again and welcome back! Your camera selections look great, but if you really really want a lot of control over your camera settings, and hands down they take the best point and shoot pictures ever, is the Canon S90 or S95. It allows you to shoot using manual controls like a dslr, but I found you didn't really need to. It took pictures in low light exceptionally well, and on Auto setting. They are pricey, yeah, but they have consistently taken the best pictures I have ever seen with a p and s. The contrast is excellent and the colors vivid. No post processing is necessary either. My sister (CT2) brought the S90 on her trip. I don't have her pictures since she didn't upload them yet, but I was surprised. If I ever get her pictures I will post them. It makes me want yet another camera! If I ever buy a point and shoot it will have to be one of them (one is just a newer version of the other but they are both fantastic)

Love those Minnie Mouse ears!!! I have my own pair that I just adored.

It's great to hear that you enjoyed your meal at Coral Reef. It's been getting a lot of mixed reviews lately but hopefully this is a sign of their improvement!!

Wow, it must've been so cool to see those divers swimming by! You guys got great seats.

Can't wait to hear how the rest of your night went!

Thanks! The sequins really did it for me :)

Coral reef was a lot better than I remembered. I remember having a not so good experience there when I was young. Then I ate there with DH maybe in 2003, and it was good, but I could barely remember it. But during this trip, I was surprised. Our fish was cooked very well, and the twins whom are total fish eaters really liked their dishes, so we're either really lucky or the restaurant has really improved their game!

[jenbear123]

Hi jenbear, thanks for visiting again and welcome back! Your camera selections look great, but if you really really want a lot of control over your camera settings, and hands down they take the best point and shoot pictures ever, is the Canon S90 or S95. It allows you to shoot using manual controls like a dslr, but I found you didn't really need to. It took pictures in low light exceptionally well, and on Auto setting. They are pricey, yeah, but they have consistently taken the best pictures I have ever seen with a p and s. The contrast is excellent and the colors vivid. No post processing is necessary either. My sister (CT2) brought the S90 on her trip. I don't have her pictures since she didn't upload them yet, but I was surprised. If I ever get her pictures I will post them. It makes me want yet another camera! If I ever buy a point and shoot it will have to be one of them (one is just a newer version of the other but they are both fantastic)

I had a feeling that was the S90 your sister had! It looks like a great camera (especially for the manual focus) but I'm not sure if I need all those manual features. I have never used a DSLR so all the tweaking might be a bit overwhelming for me. It's slightly more than I want to spend but then again, the picture quality might be much better. I'll have to get my hands on these models in stores. Sadly all models aren't out yet up here in Canada so I'll have to be patient. Hopefully I can make a decision soon before I leave for my next adventure to Italy in June. Thanks for your input! Hopefully you can get your hands on those pictures from your sister :thumbsup2

[TanzUnited99]

A great start to your day/evening at Epcot! :thumbsup2

Love the F&G pics esp Pooh as well as the food porn! :)

[Cat0727]

Aww the Lotso and Pooh topiaries are so adorable! :cutie:

Glad to hear you liked Coral Reef. I'm not a fish person so I'd probably have to settle for a chicken dish but to be sitting near the tank must be so cool :thumbsup2 How was your chocolate dessert? I remember reading on allears or somewhere there's liqueur in it, did you taste any in there?

[Tracy161]

The trip was awesome, thanks! We even skipped over to Paris for a day. My only complaint (and this is true of all trips): it went back WAY too fast!!!

[jecskc]

Oh eM Gee !! :banana: You started another trip report !! :cheer2: I love, love, love your trip reports !! :love: Love the photos, food porn and cute clothes !! You and your sisters are BEAUTIFUL and I can't wait to read more. How special it is that you all got to take this trip together. We go back in 65 more days and I can't wait to do my first dining review and another trip report. I didn't know the POFQ added queen beds. THAT is exciting news !! I will check into us staying there maybe next year before our cruise. Can't wait to read more !! :cool1:

[natebenma]

Great update! Sounds like a nice start at EPCOT for all of you. Beautiful pictures as always, especially with your adorable sisters as subjects! Can't wait to see the photopass pictures- I'm glad you did that too.

Cute blue dress! Love the color!

Spaceship Earth is so much fun!

We love the Coral Reef- the food is decent and the atmosphere is outstanding. Our only complaint is that it tends to be really slow service which does not work for my impatient boys. Thanks for sharing the pictures from your meal! Drool!

[PoohGal05]

I am enjoy reading what I have read so far. I just love living vicariously throught other people's trip to Disney!

[QuirkyButterfly]

Just catching up now, It looks like you have had a very good start to the holiday. I love your minnie ears, I have to find some for myself when we go. I am glad that you liked Coral Reef, I have booked it because DBF wants to go but I am not sure if I am going to like it or not. I have heard some pretty dodgy reviews of it before. I also don't eat seafood so that cuts down my options a bit :lmao:. It does look very pretty though with the aquarium.

[RachelNinja]

Yum, Coral Reef food looks good! I imagine that the fish dishes would be better in that atmosphere, haha.

[annmarieda]

I love Coral Reef. I think the atmosphere is the best!

[princess aleya]

Great update. My Dh doesn't like shopping either so I usually go to DTD with DD, we have a blast. By the way the food pics at CR look amazing!!

[chunkymonkey]

Here are the pics we took on our first day at Epcot. I will post more photo pass pics as part of the different things we did on other day.

Here’s us at Epcot, right before we had our ADRs at Coral Reef.

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The photographer made us do silly poses. It came out better than we thought it would look. Hahaha.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TaoPa1jsFWI/AAAAAAAAI-Y/TqpKxqnDU_M/s576/Photopass2011-33.jpg


Hope everyone had a great weekend!

[chunkymonkey]

I had a feeling that was the S90 your sister had! It looks like a great camera (especially for the manual focus) but I'm not sure if I need all those manual features. I have never used a DSLR so all the tweaking might be a bit overwhelming for me. It's slightly more than I want to spend but then again, the picture quality might be much better. I'll have to get my hands on these models in stores. Sadly all models aren't out yet up here in Canada so I'll have to be patient. Hopefully I can make a decision soon before I leave for my next adventure to Italy in June. Thanks for your input! Hopefully you can get your hands on those pictures from your sister :thumbsup2

The S90 or 95 is amazing! It's takes wonderful pictures. You don't even have to know what you are doing, and your pictures will come out great! I think it's a camera you will have for a long time. I am kind of coveting one too...hehehe.

A great start to your day/evening at Epcot! :thumbsup2

Love the F&G pics esp Pooh as well as the food porn! :)

Thanks! We were glad it wasn't raining yet...we heard it was going to pour at some point...

Aww the Lotso and Pooh topiaries are so adorable! :cutie:

Glad to hear you liked Coral Reef. I'm not a fish person so I'd probably have to settle for a chicken dish but to be sitting near the tank must be so cool :thumbsup2 How was your chocolate dessert? I remember reading on allears or somewhere there's liqueur in it, did you taste any in there?

The topiaries were awesome! I am so impressed everytime I see them.

Coral reef was great. I think they do have chicken and a steak dish as well. The chocolate wave dessert was pretty good. It was your typical molten chocolate lava cake type dessert, but the center wasn't as "molten" as it could have been. The taste of alcohol wasn't that strong, but you can definitely taste the flavor.

The trip was awesome, thanks! We even skipped over to Paris for a day. My only complaint (and this is true of all trips): it went back WAY too fast!!!

Ooooh Paris! Soo lucky! I have been to Paris when I was a kid but I have not been recently. All vacations go waaay too fast IMO!

Oh eM Gee !! :banana: You started another trip report !! :cheer2: I love, love, love your trip reports !! :love: Love the photos, food porn and cute clothes !! You and your sisters are BEAUTIFUL and I can't wait to read more. How special it is that you all got to take this trip together. We go back in 65 more days and I can't wait to do my first dining review and another trip report. I didn't know the POFQ added queen beds. THAT is exciting news !! I will check into us staying there maybe next year before our cruise. Can't wait to read more !! :cool1:

Aww thank you! I love love love writing them! I just hope others like them as much as I enjoy posting. Or I could just be amusing myself!

Thank you! We loved spending time together as sisters as we don't get to do it very often. Yup queen beds at POFQ!! Woohoo! I really am just staying there for the beignets. Seriously. hahaha.

Great update! Sounds like a nice start at EPCOT for all of you. Beautiful pictures as always, especially with your adorable sisters as subjects! Can't wait to see the photopass pictures- I'm glad you did that too.

Cute blue dress! Love the color!

Spaceship Earth is so much fun!

We love the Coral Reef- the food is decent and the atmosphere is outstanding. Our only complaint is that it tends to be really slow service which does not work for my impatient boys. Thanks for sharing the pictures from your meal! Drool!

Thank you Dee! We got the photopass right before our trip. I'm glad I made that decision. When I first told my sisters they weren't too keen on it, but I purchased as a gift from me to commemorate their trip and it's a good thing because we became photopass photog stalkers! LOL

Coral Reef was great. The service wasn't slow that night we went, but it was slightly rushed if anything.

I am enjoy reading what I have read so far. I just love living vicariously throught other people's trip to Disney!

Thank you!! Welcome!

Just catching up now, It looks like you have had a very good start to the holiday. I love your minnie ears, I have to find some for myself when we go. I am glad that you liked Coral Reef, I have booked it because DBF wants to go but I am not sure if I am going to like it or not. I have heard some pretty dodgy reviews of it before. I also don't eat seafood so that cuts down my options a bit :lmao:. It does look very pretty though with the aquarium.

Thanks! I love my Minnie ears too! The food is good at Coral Reef but I have not tried any of the non-seafood entrees. I think I heard the steak was pretty good though. So I think that would be a safe choice. Either way you'll definitely enjoy the view!

Yum, Coral Reef food looks good! I imagine that the fish dishes would be better in that atmosphere, haha.

I almost felt I was being mean to the fish, I thought, what if I am eating a distant relative of that seabass swimming around there...oh well.
:rotfl:

I love Coral Reef. I think the atmosphere is the best!

Yup it sure is!! Everyone agreed it was good.

Great update. My Dh doesn't like shopping either so I usually go to DTD with DD, we have a blast. By the way the food pics at CR look amazing!!

Thanks! Shopping with girls is always more fun anyways!

[natebenma]

Aww the Lotso and Pooh topiaries are so adorable! :cutie:

Glad to hear you liked Coral Reef. I'm not a fish person so I'd probably have to settle for a chicken dish but to be sitting near the tank must be so cool :thumbsup2 How was your chocolate dessert? I remember reading on allears or somewhere there's liqueur in it, did you taste any in there?

My son is not a big seafood fan- he has ordered the steak at the Coral Reef and it was quite good.

Here are the pics we took on our first day at Epcot. I will post more photo pass pics as part of the different things we did on other day.




Love the photopass pictures of you and your sisters!

[tinacaplan]

Love the Photopass pics. They are very cute. The Toy Story topiaries look great and I love that first border you chose. I swear, we had the worst luck finding Photopass photographers on our trip, so I didn't even bother with it after awhile. :goodvibes Maybe I'll get luckier with it this time!

[TanzUnited99]

Love the photopass pics! :thumbsup2

You all look great and I love the way that silly pose turned it out - doesn't look silly at all! :)

[dtr_angel]

I LOVE the photopass pictures, they turned out really good. I think the last one is my favorite though!

[annmarieda]

Love the pics! You are so lucky to go on a sister trip! :goodvibes

[bluejasmine]

What a beautiful family! Yall seem very close to which is so nice! Im a bit jealous, I was an only child..LOL

Loving the TR and the food pics! The photopass pics look great!

[Cat0727]

All your photopass pictures came out so good! I love the Toy Story topiary behind you all :)

[Tracy161]

Beautiful pictures of you and your sisters!!! :goodvibes

[onescgirl]

I'm here & now I need to go catch up! :goodvibes

[chunkymonkey]

My son is not a big seafood fan- he has ordered the steak at the Coral Reef and it was quite good.

Love the photopass pictures of you and your sisters!

I was actually tempted to order the steak too, hehe but I guess I felt like fish was more their specialty...:lmao:

Thanks!

Love the Photopass pics. They are very cute. The Toy Story topiaries look great and I love that first border you chose. I swear, we had the worst luck finding Photopass photographers on our trip, so I didn't even bother with it after awhile. :goodvibes Maybe I'll get luckier with it this time!

Oh really? I am not sure if it's because they staffed more photopass photographers on site because of spring break, but we never had an issue with finding photographers. We got a TON of pictures! Hopefully on your next trip they will be more plentiful!

Love the photopass pics! :thumbsup2

You all look great and I love the way that silly pose turned it out - doesn't look silly at all! :)

Thanks! We were all like, er, this is not goingto be good, when the photographer told us to turn to the side pull our shades down and look fierce. LOL. Luckily they came out pretty cute.

I LOVE the photopass pictures, they turned out really good. I think the last one is my favorite though!

LOL Thanks!

Love the pics! You are so lucky to go on a sister trip! :goodvibes

Thanks Ann!

What a beautiful family! Yall seem very close to which is so nice! Im a bit jealous, I was an only child..LOL

Loving the TR and the food pics! The photopass pics look great!

Thank you! Yes we are quite close. It's hard to stay connected now that we're all grown up but we try to!

All your photopass pictures came out so good! I love the Toy Story topiary behind you all :)

Thanks! We loved the Toy story topiaries. They were our favorite!

Beautiful pictures of you and your sisters!!! :goodvibes

Thank you!!

I'm here & now I need to go catch up! :goodvibes

Yay! Good to see you here Amy!

[chunkymonkey]

Saturday Part 5


After our yummy dinner at Coral Reef, we hung around the Seas for a bit, going on Nemo and checking out the marine life

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Future world actually closed at 9pm tonight, so we had some time to walk around. However, all the FP for rides like Soarin’ and TT were no longer available (as I expected). So I guess my sisters were kinda bored with the rides that we DID go on, but I assured them that not all of Epcot was that tame. LOL

We made our way to WS to grab a spot for Illuminations. I remembered our secret spot behind the gift shops when you first enter WS from FW right in the middle of the park. It’s not really secret as there were plenty of people there, but since we had just discovered it on our last visit, it was still fairly new to me!

We had fun shopping around in the gift store. I think we went to the one on the right this time. I know both stores sell different stuff. Pretty soon, Illuminations began! I really love this show. We were so close to the fireworks, we felt the heat of the sparklers and almost thought they were going to hit us! Pretty darn cool spot if you ask me.


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The next 2 shots are out of focus, but I really love the effect the fireworks and the blur, don’t you?

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Finally the finale!

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We headed back to the buses but we stopped in Mousegears for a bit to avoid the crowds. Mousegears was one of our favorite stores because they seem to have everything there! It also stays open later after the park closes, which is smart as they can make tons of $$$

Kinda like this motion blurred shot of CT 1 and 2 walking

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Finally after we could not longer shop anymore, we took the bus back to POFQ….we had an early day the next day, to race for TSM!!

[natebenma]

Love the photos from The Living Seas and the Illuminations shots are just breathtaking!!!

Were your sisters blown away by the show?

Now for obvious reasons- since you are behind the camera- there are few pictures of you. Hope one of your sisters took a few pictures of you that night.

[TanzUnited99]

Love the pics of the Seas and Illuminations! :thumbsup2

I think the two out of focus shots look great! They add a different dimension to the fireworks and the effect works well!

Yay on doing some more shopping! Did you purchase anything?

[RachelNinja]

I'm going to have to remember your spot for watching IllumiNations! Although Howard and I did enjoy our random spot on the wall between the bridge and China where no one else was. Haha, we picked up food from the Lotus Blossom Cafe and ate in peace. Of course, we didn't see EVERYTHING because we weren't even standing, haha, but we still really enjoyed it. When we want to be able to see everything, I'll go to your new spot and then think of all your great pics too!

[annmarieda]

Love the illuminations pics!!!:thumbsup2

[Cat0727]

Your pictures of Illuminations are breathtaking. I definitely have to see it next time I go to Disney, ahh what have I been missing all of these years! :eek:

[tinacaplan]

Beautiful shots of Illuminations! :thumbsup2

[tankgirl427]

Love all your photos. It looks like you were having a great time!

[therussells08]

Hi! I'm sorry it took me so long to make it over, but I'm here! :) I am loving your TR so far! Your pictures are gorgeous as always, and you and your sisters are so beautiful! I can't wait to read more! :goodvibes

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Hi, I'm Megan and I'm following over from Joni's (therussells08) PTR! I love all the updates so far! I stayed at FQ March 17-21 but we were in building 6! We also ate at CR in March too! I loved the Mahi and chocolate wave which are two of the pics you showed!!

I can't wait to read more!!

[chunkymonkey]

Love the photos from The Living Seas and the Illuminations shots are just breathtaking!!!

Were your sisters blown away by the show?

Now for obvious reasons- since you are behind the camera- there are few pictures of you. Hope one of your sisters took a few pictures of you that night.

Thanks Dee! Yes my sisters loved the show and especially how close we were to the fireworks! I think it made it all the more enthralling to feel the heat on your skin.

LOL, yes you will see pics of me in my next update! Good thing for all the PP pics too. LOL

Love the pics of the Seas and Illuminations! :thumbsup2

I think the two out of focus shots look great! They add a different dimension to the fireworks and the effect works well!

Yay on doing some more shopping! Did you purchase anything?

Thanks! Yeah I really like those blurry shots. They are kinda artsy, even for me, :)

We all did a lot of shopping on the trip! I don't remember if I purchased anything that particular night, but I will do a post about everything that I bought on this trip in a later post. :thumbsup2

I'm going to have to remember your spot for watching IllumiNations! Although Howard and I did enjoy our random spot on the wall between the bridge and China where no one else was. Haha, we picked up food from the Lotus Blossom Cafe and ate in peace. Of course, we didn't see EVERYTHING because we weren't even standing, haha, but we still really enjoyed it. When we want to be able to see everything, I'll go to your new spot and then think of all your great pics too!

That's a great idea to get some grub and sit and enjoy the show! Nothing like something to snack on. How was Lotus Blommson? I can't say I have ever eaten there but I have heard good things.

Love the illuminations pics!!!:thumbsup2

Thanks Ann!!

Your pictures of Illuminations are breathtaking. I definitely have to see it next time I go to Disney, ahh what have I been missing all of these years! :eek:

Oooh definitely! It's a must-see for me!

Beautiful shots of Illuminations! :thumbsup2

Thanks Tina!!

Love all your photos. It looks like you were having a great time!

Thank you!! Oh I owe you a PM! I will respond to you tonight!

Hi! I'm sorry it took me so long to make it over, but I'm here! :) I am loving your TR so far! Your pictures are gorgeous as always, and you and your sisters are so beautiful! I can't wait to read more! :goodvibes

Hey Joni, yay! Great to have you on board! Thank you so much! I am sooo jealous about your trip in June!!


Hi, I'm Megan and I'm following over from Joni's (therussells08) PTR! I love all the updates so far! I stayed at FQ March 17-21 but we were in building 6! We also ate at CR in March too! I loved the Mahi and chocolate wave which are two of the pics you showed!!

I can't wait to read more!!

Hi Megan, thanks for stopping by!! Welcome and Thank you!
Yay for us POFQ gals! I just read the begining of your TR and it's funny because when I asked about whether our building was refurbished, the CM coudln't tell me if it was refurbished or not but finally he called someone and found out that it was. Whew!

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

haha. When I saw the room number started with a 3 I thought to myself "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!" Out of 7 buildings, #3 wasn't done and building #2 was being done at the time, you put us in the ONLY BUILDING THAT ISN'T DONE. And then they end up putting us in 6 which is what I had requested..go figure! They make things so hard sometimes!!! I'm glad you got a finished building because I'm with you when you say you have no idea how 4 adults in double beds for a week would work!

[chunkymonkey]

Sunday Part 1

I had set the alarm for really early…around 7am, because with a room full of girls, it definitely took time to get us all ready. Today was our DHS day, and I knew that we had to get there before RD so we could get to ride TSM at least twice before leaving.

It was a misty morning - we hoped there would be no rain but the forecast said 40% chance. Argh. Well, it wasn’t raining yet so we didn’t have to buy any ponchos.

Here’s CS posing

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And here’s me with my Minnie ears!

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Breakfast was, of course, beignets for me. I was going to use a snack credit for them, but it’s actually a better deal to get the 6 - you can’t use SC for the 6 but it cost less than 2 orders of 3 each. Since there was 4 of us, it made sense to just get the 6. I wanted everyone to try these fantastic pillows of dough!

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CS got the bounty platter, and CT1 and 2 both got the yogurt parfaits. They were actually worth the snack credits they used for it as they were about 4.50 each. (not pictured)

While waiting for the buses we decided to do a little photoshoot with the Minnie ears.

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At DHS, we went through bag check pretty easily. It was starting to get a little warmer now. The sun looked like it was going to make an appearance after all! We were there in time for RD but it was still plenty busy

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The Master Plan

Now, we had a plan to get the FP for TSM. Me and CT2 will run to TSM the minute RD happens. Me because I know exactly where it is, and CT2 because she is a fast runner. CS is, well, not known to be that fast. She also has a reputation for falling down, and we didn’t want any injuries! So we agreed that CT1 would walk at a slow pace with CS and we would meet at TSM and go on the standby line after we got our FPs. So I took their KTTW cards and me and CT2 geared up for the brisk run.

Funny how things work out with my master plan. As CT2 and I inch up towards the front of the line, as soon as the park opens, we are stuck behind a throng of people doing the exact same thing. OMG we could barely move for about 5 whole minutes! So we’re inching our way past the PP photographers, past the hat, and slowly we break into a run towards Pixar Place. I knew we weren’t going to be first, but we couldn’t be that far behind…were we?

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We dodge a bunch of kids running the wrong way, and past some lost first timers, and finally we made it to TSM! We head over to the FP line, and there is a huge line for FP!!

But lo and behold…CS and CT1 were at the front of the line for FP!!! OMG! How hilarious is that!?!?!? They beat us!!

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CT1 said she had never seen CS run so fast, that she had to double over and laugh out loud. We couldn’t believe she actually ran. After we finished having a good laugh, we handed them our KTTW cards so they could get FP for all of us, then we went to stand on line at standby. The wait was roughly 30 minutes at this point.


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Yay I ended up with the high score. I was best in vehicle!

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I spotted this t-shirt at the kiosk opposite TSM. It was adorable and I just had to have it. I bought it and had it delivered to the resort. It was a good thing I picked this up then as I didn’t see it anyplace else! They only had a few left, and luckily one was in my size.

Taken with my blackberry:
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We went over to RnRC and did that. My sisters looooved it! I think they were all a little scared after they see the start of the ride, when you go really really fast, but in the end they thought it was awesome!

We were all chicken of ToT…especially me. I do not like free-falling! We settled on something just slightly more tame…Beauty and the Beast.

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Can’t miss out on our favorite snack, the frozen banana!

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We wanted to wait for the characters in the middle near the hat, but we kept missing them! They would always be leaving when we got on line, and they kept telling us to come back. Finally we just went to do the GMR

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I didn’t get the cool shot of the Alien like I did last time, but I did get a cool shot of my sister enjoying the ride. It’s always nice to see everyone’s first reaction, like you wish it was you who could be experiencing the ride for the first time!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TbYZGknQ13I/AAAAAAAAJS4/cwyWGR_Y8sc/s800/Disney%202011-456.jpg


Wow it was lunch time already?? Where did all the time go? Stay tuned for….Sci Fi Dine-in Theater!

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Nice update again!! Is CS wearing Nike Flip Flops?!! I have MANY pairs of Nike flip flops and LOVE THEM!!!! It's funny how Disney inspires you to become a runner because I'm the same way!!!!!

Can't wait to see what you thought of Sci Fi!

[dtr_angel]

Great update! I cannot believe they beat you to the FP line, that is hilarious!

[chunkymonkey]

Nice update again!! Is CS wearing Nike Flip Flops?!! I have MANY pairs of Nike flip flops and LOVE THEM!!!! It's funny how Disney inspires you to become a runner because I'm the same way!!!!!

Can't wait to see what you thought of Sci Fi!

Yup CS is wearing Nike flip flops. She loves them too! She is really NOT a runner, but I think she was in the "zone" where she knew she wanted to ride TSM, and she didn't want to hold anyone else up. If anything, me and CT2 held THEM up! LOL

Great update! I cannot believe they beat you to the FP line, that is hilarious!

Thanks! It totally is! We still laugh about it all the time and we tell the story to all our friends and family who ask about our trip.

[onescgirl]

Thanks to your chapter links I was able to catch up with your TR quickly. I'm glad you're just on day #2 & I wasn't too far behind!
You and your sisters are all just beautiful!
And, you look so adorable in your Minnie ears!
The Port Oreleans refurbed rooms look really nice. I would like to stay there the next time we stay at a Mod resort.
Your photopass pics are really good & I can't wait to see more!

[TanzUnited99]

A great update! Thanks for posting the pic of the beignets - we have just decided to use a snack credit on them during our trip and after your description am looking forward to trying the fantastic pillows of dough even more! :laughing:

I love the little photoshoot with the minnie ears.

Lol at the master plan and how it worked out!! How funny that CS and CT1 ended up in front of you guys! Yay on getting best in vehicle!

Love the shirt and all the photos! ;)

[annmarieda]

I agree, your Minnie ears are adorable on you!

Too funny that your sister who doesn't run made it to the fp line. I guess that is how it works, eh? I mean.. all it takes is getting behind the wrong crowd and your timing gets screwed up.


Thanks for sharing the great pics. As always they are awesome :goodvibes

[Cat0727]

You are so cute in your Minnie ears :cutie:

Glad your sisters survived the TSM stampede. I think it's the worst one in WDW. I feel like when DHS opens the entire crowd runs to that one ride lol. That's so funny your sis actually made it to the front of the line :rotfl:

[Disneyfreak616]

OMG, did you guys get the cowboy at GMR?!?!?! We ALWAYS get the gangster.

Your pics are gorgeous, as always, and I love that Hamm and Eggs shirt! Too funny! :lmao:

[chunkymonkey]

Thanks to your chapter links I was able to catch up with your TR quickly. I'm glad you're just on day #2 & I wasn't too far behind!
You and your sisters are all just beautiful!
And, you look so adorable in your Minnie ears!
The Port Oreleans refurbed rooms look really nice. I would like to stay there the next time we stay at a Mod resort.
Your photopass pics are really good & I can't wait to see more!

Thanks Amy! I'm glad you made through the TR so far! I will hopefully be posting more Photopass pics tonight.

A great update! Thanks for posting the pic of the beignets - we have just decided to use a snack credit on them during our trip and after your description am looking forward to trying the fantastic pillows of dough even more! :laughing:

I love the little photoshoot with the minnie ears.

Lol at the master plan and how it worked out!! How funny that CS and CT1 ended up in front of you guys! Yay on getting best in vehicle!

Love the shirt and all the photos! ;)

Yay! I am a huge beignet pusher. I made all my sisters try one and now they all love it too. I was surprised that they are all hollow inside when I first ate them last year, but I thnk that makes me like them even more, otherwise it would have felt too heavy for me - more like a donut, and I wouldn't have been able to eat 6 of those! :rotfl:

Thanks!

I agree, your Minnie ears are adorable on you!

Too funny that your sister who doesn't run made it to the fp line. I guess that is how it works, eh? I mean.. all it takes is getting behind the wrong crowd and your timing gets screwed up.


Thanks for sharing the great pics. As always they are awesome :goodvibes

Thanks Ann. It was just too funny. I really couldn't believe they were at the front of the FP line, my sister who HATES working out and especially running. I guess when given the right motivation...LOL

You are so cute in your Minnie ears :cutie:

Glad your sisters survived the TSM stampede. I think it's the worst one in WDW. I feel like when DHS opens the entire crowd runs to that one ride lol. That's so funny your sis actually made it to the front of the line :rotfl:

Thanks!! I agree it is the worst crowd at WDW! That and running for Soarin', but even that is not as bad as the TSM stampede. But you do what you gotta do to ride it. :)

OMG, did you guys get the cowboy at GMR?!?!?! We ALWAYS get the gangster.

Your pics are gorgeous, as always, and I love that Hamm and Eggs shirt! Too funny! :lmao:

Yup we got the cowboy! I used to always get the gangster too, so I guess it was somewhat new for me too. Thanks!!

[sbprincess]

Hi! Just wanted to say that I'm following along. I know I've read part of your past TR but I don't think I ever posted.

So I'm jealous of you for a few reasons :laughing:

1. You take such great pictures. I wish I had your skill (and a kick-butt camera wouldn't hurt either, I suppose! :) )

2. You got to take your sisters on a trip. I would LOVE to take mine! There are three of us and I'm in the middle. Unfortunately (for the trip), they both have young kids so I know they couldn't do it. So I'll live vicariously through you, okay?!

3. And finally, you live in NYC! I adore NY and would die if my DH ever agreed to move there. He likes it but not enough to live there. Also, our jobs don't make the most money so I'm not sure how we would afford it.

So, not to sound creepy, but for those reasons, I'm a little jealous!

Oh, and btw, I think you forgot to put a link to your last entry for Saturday (the Illuminations post) in the Table of Contents. Just FYI :goodvibes

[chunkymonkey]

Sunday Part 2

As we exited RnRC, CS saw this headband with the mickey heads which was too cute to pass up. At under 8 bucks, it was a lot cheaper than all the other Minnie headbands, plus this one matched CS’s outfit!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TZvWWiIcadI/AAAAAAAAIdY/QkYY3TVujvs/s512/Disney%202011-477.jpg


I was super excited about our lunch at Sci Fi. I didn’t tell my sisters about the cool concept or the interior. Even though they plugged me with questions on the trip, I basically said, oh, it’s just your typical burger-a and fries-type joint. I guess they weren’t expecting much, but I was super excited to see their faces light up when they first glimpsed the interior of Sci fi

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We sat in one of the cars, which was pretty cool. I sat with CT2. She ordered the burger and fries, and I got the tofu, which was actually really tasty.

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The tofu was served grilled on a bed of jasmine rice and sautéed vegetable medley, think it was mostly zucchini and carrots. It had a slight kick because of lots of pepper, and also a sweet spicy mango glaze.

I can’t remember what CT1 and CS ordered, but I am pretty sure one of them got a burger, and they also got some spinach dip for an appetizer which they graciously shared with us.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TbYaPXFUP7I/AAAAAAAAJVc/Csy5gHghglg/s800/Disney%202011-499.jpg

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My pictures of Sci Fi didn’t come out as nice as it did last time with my DSLR, however, I was pretty happy with these. The trick is to turn off your flash and hold your camera VERY steady in order to get a good shot. I try and set my camera on a ledge or balance my hand on a wall when taking shots in very low lighting.

After lunch we got to taking some pictures

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We went on the Studio Backlot Tour. CS thought the first part where they had the volunteer who got drenched, was really funny. She also cracked up when the other 2 volunteers, who were supposed to be manning the submarine got pummeled with machine gun spray. She thought the reaction of one of the volunteers was really funny. I kept saying we should ask if CS could volunteer for one of the shows. We never did ask though, but I wonder if someone knew how you could volunteer to be in the show?

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We all had a good laugh laughing at CS. I dunno, when she laughs, we all find it funny. LOL

Here’s CS and CT1 on the tram ride

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Think CS was worried we were going to get wet towards the end!


As we walked out, look who we spot!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TbYcNBMRcxI/AAAAAAAAJaI/qbT5mlqLAG8/s800/Disney%202011-576.jpg


We got on line and this is our photo pass pic:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TaoSmDij5-I/AAAAAAAAI_U/0vSWnPBxaOc/s800/Photopass2011-48.jpg


Coming up…we get to meet the characters, and make use of our photo pass card!!

[chunkymonkey]

Hi! Just wanted to say that I'm following along. I know I've read part of your past TR but I don't think I ever posted.

So I'm jealous of you for a few reasons :laughing:

1. You take such great pictures. I wish I had your skill (and a kick-butt camera wouldn't hurt either, I suppose! :) )

2. You got to take your sisters on a trip. I would LOVE to take mine! There are three of us and I'm in the middle. Unfortunately (for the trip), they both have young kids so I know they couldn't do it. So I'll live vicariously through you, okay?!

3. And finally, you live in NYC! I adore NY and would die if my DH ever agreed to move there. He likes it but not enough to live there. Also, our jobs don't make the most money so I'm not sure how we would afford it.

So, not to sound creepy, but for those reasons, I'm a little jealous!

Oh, and btw, I think you forgot to put a link to your last entry for Saturday (the Illuminations post) in the Table of Contents. Just FYI :goodvibes

Aww thank you and welcome! I am happy you are here! I am sure one day you will get to go with your sisters on a fantastic family trip to WDW! They can probably take their kids one day and you guys can go too!

NYC is great but yes it's very expensive. DH and I give up a lot just to live here (i.e. living space, LOL).

Thanks for letting me know I forgot to add my link! I just updated my ToC. Thanks again!

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Nice Update of Sci Fi!!! You didn't get a pic of you all sitting in the car??!!!!!

[TanzUnited99]

I love CS's headband and how it matches with her outfit!

Great review of Sci Fi - every time I read a review of that place I regret not booking an ADR. Oh well, there's always next time!

Lol at the volunteers getting soaked at Studio Backlot Tour and yay on meeting Mike - love the photo :goodvibes

[annmarieda]

I had that tofu once at Sci Fi... I forgot that I didn't like it. Your review made me remember. I love the tip on getting good photo. My goal is to have an ap there on our next trip. (and to take better pics than I have in the past)

Too cool that CS got a headband to match her outfit. Very cute!

I think it is funny how there are some pics that can be so standard...and some that really aren't. I have a picture of the girls and I in front of the road block too. However, the subway... I don't even know where that is! :confused:

[Tracy161]

Great update! I too love, love, LOVE the Sci-Fi! Good call on keeping your sisters in the dark (no pun intended, haha!) about what to expect - the surprise must have been excellent!!! :thumbsup2

[tinacaplan]

First of all, you guys look so cute and fashionable in the parks, even with the ears! The pictures of you in your Minnie ears are adorable. Where else in the world, right? :rotfl: I love your sister's dress, too! The picture of her taking in the GMR is great, too.

Thanks for the tip on taking point and shoot shots in low lighting. My camera was really bad with it. So, you turn the flash off? Interesting.

[BerrysGirl]

tinacaplan took the words right out of my mouth! you and your sisters have the greatest style.
and I had the tofu too the last time I was at sci-fi. *yum-yum*

[Cat0727]

I love looking at pics of Sci-Fi, especially yours :) I think they always come out so good!

Cute picture with Scully! The person in that costume must be so short, lol.

[pinkxray]

I can't believe you are almost a month into a trip report and this is the first time I have come across it. I love your trip reports and pictures.

I would have never thought to turn the flash off in Sci-fi. I love the inside of that place and can never get any good pictutes. I'll have to use your tips next time.

POFQ looks so much better with the new beds and comforters. I love the purple bedding.:lovestruc

You and your sisters look adorable in all of your pictures. Looking foward to morepopcorn::

[dtr_angel]

Your pictures are all so good!

My DH & I got picked for the beginning of the backlot tour on our honeymoon... we were waiting for the next show to start, and a guy came out and asked us if we could swim, lol. I think it's because we had on the bride & groom ears and just married buttons. I hadn't been to Disney since they changed the backlot tour (I miss the old one!) so I had NO idea what was going to happen, I was so scared. It was fun though. I just wish we had pictures or a video of us out there.

[onescgirl]

Great update! You've got some great pics of Sci-Fi. I bet they were really surprised when they walked in!
Cute pic of you & the sisters with Monster, inc

[SheStang94]

Subbing in. I can't wait to see the refurbed rooms, as POFQ is our home away from home!

- all up to date! your pictures are gorgeous and I can't wait to see the rooms at POFQ first hand in December! Great job! Keep the updates and the photo tips coming!!

[chunkymonkey]

Nice Update of Sci Fi!!! You didn't get a pic of you all sitting in the car??!!!!!

Thanks! LOL, I think CT2 has a pic of it in her camera but I have yet to get the pictures from her. Her camera is easier to use than mine, so whenever we get group pictures we usually just hand the CM her camera.

I love CS's headband and how it matches with her outfit!

Great review of Sci Fi - every time I read a review of that place I regret not booking an ADR. Oh well, there's always next time!

Lol at the volunteers getting soaked at Studio Backlot Tour and yay on meeting Mike - love the photo :goodvibes

Thanks! You should definitely try Sci-Fi!! The atmosphere is just so cool. The food I think is alright, it's definitely about the surroundings more.

Great update! I too love, love, LOVE the Sci-Fi! Good call on keeping your sisters in the dark (no pun intended, haha!) about what to expect - the surprise must have been excellent!!! :thumbsup2

LOL! Yes, I was pretty excited to see their reaction. It was probably akin to mine last year!

I had that tofu once at Sci Fi... I forgot that I didn't like it. Your review made me remember. I love the tip on getting good photo. My goal is to have an ap there on our next trip. (and to take better pics than I have in the past)

Too cool that CS got a headband to match her outfit. Very cute!

I think it is funny how there are some pics that can be so standard...and some that really aren't. I have a picture of the girls and I in front of the road block too. However, the subway... I don't even know where that is! :confused:

Hi Ann! The tofu was pretty good, but the thing that made it good was the mango glaze. Tofu itself is pretty tasteless. However, I think they put too much pepper in the veggies so that's what that pretty much tasted like. CT2 seemed to like it though.

The subway is on that same street as the roadblock, think it is near to where the robot trashcan is...LOL sometimes I do get lost in DHS myself around that area. I always seem to forget where Toy Story Pizza Planet is too...:rotfl:

First of all, you guys look so cute and fashionable in the parks, even with the ears! The pictures of you in your Minnie ears are adorable. Where else in the world, right? :rotfl: I love your sister's dress, too! The picture of her taking in the GMR is great, too.

Thanks for the tip on taking point and shoot shots in low lighting. My camera was really bad with it. So, you turn the flash off? Interesting.

Thanks Tina! Yup I turn the flash off, and make sure my camera is balanced well on a ledge, or if I'm holding it, I try to lean my hand that is taking the picture on a wall so that it doesn't shake too much. The pictures will come out better that way!

tinacaplan took the words right out of my mouth! you and your sisters have the greatest style.
and I had the tofu too the last time I was at sci-fi. *yum-yum*

Aww thank you!! :goodvibes

I love looking at pics of Sci-Fi, especially yours :) I think they always come out so good!

Cute picture with Scully! The person in that costume must be so short, lol.

Thanks Christina! We thought the person in the costume must have been a girl, I mean, those legs look pretty shapely, LOL :rotfl:

[chunkymonkey]

I can't believe you are almost a month into a trip report and this is the first time I have come across it. I love your trip reports and pictures.

I would have never thought to turn the flash off in Sci-fi. I love the inside of that place and can never get any good pictutes. I'll have to use your tips next time.

POFQ looks so much better with the new beds and comforters. I love the purple bedding.:lovestruc

You and your sisters look adorable in all of your pictures. Looking foward to morepopcorn::

Thanks and welcome!! POFQ looks really great with the refurbishments. We were happy we stayed there!

Your pictures are all so good!

My DH & I got picked for the beginning of the backlot tour on our honeymoon... we were waiting for the next show to start, and a guy came out and asked us if we could swim, lol. I think it's because we had on the bride & groom ears and just married buttons. I hadn't been to Disney since they changed the backlot tour (I miss the old one!) so I had NO idea what was going to happen, I was so scared. It was fun though. I just wish we had pictures or a video of us out there.

Thank you!! That is cool that you got picked to volunteer! Did you actually get wet? Next time if I go with CS i'll have to convince a CM to pick her! LOL!

Great update! You've got some great pics of Sci-Fi. I bet they were really surprised when they walked in!
Cute pic of you & the sisters with Monster, inc

Thanks! Yup they were pretty surprised! They thought it was super cool!

Subbing in. I can't wait to see the refurbed rooms, as POFQ is our home away from home!

How exciting! When you go POFQ will be completely refurbished, so it'll be nice knowing you are guaranteed a refurbished room!

[sbprincess]

So, not to hi-jack your TR, but I have a question. We're going in early October for F&W. We have booked at the Dolphin right now, but had been thinking about POFQ until I realized we could do the Dolphin for about the same price. But, with free dining just having been released through September, it has me thinking. I know you've stayed at the Swan before. So, if free dining is eventually released for our dates, would you switch to POFQ to take advantage of that? It would probably save us about $600 overall to switch to POFQ (IF they do free dining, which I know may not even happen). Just curious since you've done both. Thanks! :goodvibes

[chunkymonkey]

So, not to hi-jack your TR, but I have a question. We're going in early October for F&W. We have booked at the Dolphin right now, but had been thinking about POFQ until I realized we could do the Dolphin for about the same price. But, with free dining just having been released through September, it has me thinking. I know you've stayed at the Swan before. So, if free dining is eventually released for our dates, would you switch to POFQ to take advantage of that? It would probably save us about $600 overall to switch to POFQ (IF they do free dining, which I know may not even happen). Just curious since you've done both. Thanks! :goodvibes

If free dining is offered, I would definitely go for POFQ! You can't beat all the free snacks you can get at F&W! Even if it wasn't free dining, I would still probably purchase the dining plan anyways, and I would choose POFQ in a heartbeat. The Swan and Dolphin though have a really great location. I loved walking to DHS and Epcot. I didn't think the rooms at the Swan were that nice. In fact, I likied POFQ's refurbished rooms better, even though they were a little smaller. But no matter what you choose...you are so lucky to be going for F and W!!!

[YukiPhnx]

I'm all caught up!

I love that your sister got mickey headbands that match her dress! They look like so much fun.

I definitely liked your Sci-fi pics from a previous trip, but these ones looked nice too.

I had no idea they served tofu. It seems like a pretty out-of-character food item for the Sci-fi, or maybe they were popular back then?

Mmm, the burger looks so good.

I'll definitely have to try to stake out that view for Illuminations.

I just LOVE Mouse Gears. I could spend a lot of time just looking around at everything.

[natebenma]

Way behind but all caught up now!!!

Love your updates! Too Too funny about your sisters getting to the FP line before you!

We got the Cowboy scene on the GMR for the first time this summer. The cowboy kicks the gangsters butt!

Great Sci Fi photos- thanks for the review.

Great picture with Mike W. Can't wait to see more cute pictures of your sisters with the characters.

[annmarieda]

The subway is on that same street as the roadblock, think it is near to where the robot trashcan is...LOL sometimes I do get lost in DHS myself around that area. I always seem to forget where Toy Story Pizza Planet is too...:rotfl:


Thanks, I will have to find it next trip. And... you are not the only one who seems to forget where Toy Story Pizza Planet is. It is kinda confusing back that way...

[therussells08]

I am all caught up on your DHS day so far! :thumbsup2 The race for TSM is always so stressful! I always leave the running up to DH because he's got long legs. I usually just wait for him in a gift shop or something because I only slow him down! :rotfl: That is so cool that CS and CT1 got there first!

That is so cool that your surprised your sisters with Sci Fi! I remember the first time I ate there I was so shocked when we went inside. That was actually the first restaurant experience I ever had at Disney! :goodvibes

I can't wait to read more and see more of your amazing pictures!

[chunkymonkey]

I'm all caught up!

I love that your sister got mickey headbands that match her dress! They look like so much fun.

I definitely liked your Sci-fi pics from a previous trip, but these ones looked nice too.

I had no idea they served tofu. It seems like a pretty out-of-character food item for the Sci-fi, or maybe they were popular back then?

Mmm, the burger looks so good.

I'll definitely have to try to stake out that view for Illuminations.

I just LOVE Mouse Gears. I could spend a lot of time just looking around at everything.

I think they serve tofu as an option for vegetarians, but people seem to like it as it's been on their menu for a while. I just wanted something that was healthy because I knew I wouldn't be later on at 'Ohana!

Mouse Gears is our favorite store. We go in there each time we were in Epcot and we always manage to find new things.

Way behind but all caught up now!!!

Love your updates! Too Too funny about your sisters getting to the FP line before you!

We got the Cowboy scene on the GMR for the first time this summer. The cowboy kicks the gangsters butt!

Great Sci Fi photos- thanks for the review.

Great picture with Mike W. Can't wait to see more cute pictures of your sisters with the characters.

Thanks!

Yeah it was my first time getting the cowboy scene too. I wonder why they seem to do the Gangster more. Either way, I can never hear what the CMs are saying. Their microphones need to be replaced!

Thanks, I will have to find it next trip. And... you are not the only one who seems to forget where Toy Story Pizza Planet is. It is kinda confusing back that way...

Too funny! I always get lost in that area!

I am all caught up on your DHS day so far! :thumbsup2 The race for TSM is always so stressful! I always leave the running up to DH because he's got long legs. I usually just wait for him in a gift shop or something because I only slow him down! :rotfl: That is so cool that CS and CT1 got there first!

That is so cool that your surprised your sisters with Sci Fi! I remember the first time I ate there I was so shocked when we went inside. That was actually the first restaurant experience I ever had at Disney! :goodvibes

I can't wait to read more and see more of your amazing pictures!

I always leave the running to DH too! Much easier on me :rotfl: plus that way we are guaranteed an FP for later :lmao:

Yay! I loved seeing Scifi for the first time last year. It's one of those places that never fails to impress in terms of ambiance!

[chunkymonkey]

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posting recently, have been very busy at work! I also just shot a bridal shower over the weekend so my evenings have been consumed with processing those pictures.

I have also booked our vacation for this fall…we’re going to Taiwan and to Honolulu! So excited! We are going to Taiwan to visit DH’s extended family. It will be my first time in Taiwan. Looking forward to immersing myself in a new culture. And you all know my obsession with Hawaii from my previous TR. We’ve been going there once a year for the past 3 years. This time I am super excited because Disney’s new resort, Aulani, will be open by the time we are there. So we are planning to stay there for 2 nights. I don’t think we can afford to stay any longer than that, that baby is super expensive! So we’ll be staying elsewhere for a week then moving on to the Aulani for 2 nights for total relaxation and Disney hospitality! I am even going to try and see if we can rent DVC points for those 2 nights. I am not sure if there is a minimum nightly rental for Aulani for DVC…anyone know? I will ask on the DVC boards. I’ve never rented points before so I’m a newbie!

This post will be 2 parts…the first part is some additional pictures from CT2’s camera of our trip so far. She definitely has more pictures of me! And then the 2nd part will be Sunday part 3.

CT2 has a Canon S90 point and shoot…probably the sweeeetest point and shoot camera that I’ve ever seen and used. None of these pictures have been retouched or processed in any way and it was all shot using the auto setting.

Here’s us on our arrival day getting grub from POFQ

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBpcbLUqMI/AAAAAAAAJfk/PxLNd5htpsg/s720/IMG_0609.JPG


Going to DTD

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBpzLlMpAI/AAAAAAAAJfw/7PXq-tskXj0/s720/IMG_0612.JPG


Me holding the Chinese chicken salad from WPE

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBqR4R9ltI/AAAAAAAAJgk/P5IG3W0UOeA/s576/IMG_0622.JPG


CT1 and Me with our “ears”

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBqj0JHT0I/AAAAAAAAJg0/Xv1Oz3A-VFo/s720/IMG_0626.JPG


A cool mug we saw

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBqws0puqI/AAAAAAAAJhI/JvaD3cXqSHk/s720/IMG_0629.JPG


CT2’s husband loves goofy so she was deciding on T-shirts to buy. This one is pretty funny, but I think a little too silly for him.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBq0lPDkSI/AAAAAAAAJhM/nSBlFS8rmS0/s576/IMG_0630.JPG


CT2 wearing the Goofy hat

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBrPiEJq1I/AAAAAAAAJho/8vLQ56hitus/s720/IMG_0636.JPG


Us on the way to Epcot for our dinner at Coral Reef. I really liked my hair this evening. For every picture after this set, I kept trying to get my hair to look nice and perfectly windblown but unfortunately I looked more like drowned rat or disheveled old lady.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBsPn8toII/AAAAAAAAJic/si--GLVl2GQ/s720/IMG_0649.JPG


Another one of my “perfect” windblown hair

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBsbgCPHXI/AAAAAAAAJik/f7eFrZIeh7Q/s720/IMG_0650.JPG


Us at dinner!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdBvb0bPAJI/AAAAAAAAJls/nziwGg3dJZA/s720/IMG_0696.JPG


The twins on line at TSM

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdByJZcaemI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/DRM9RcTUH3c/s720/IMG_0758.JPG


Lotso!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdB1BYWoJOI/AAAAAAAAJsg/qz4MC_RnvSk/s576/IMG_0814.JPG


Us with the giant Coke

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdB1O2sb9cI/AAAAAAAAJsw/3upPYHOsSWc/s576/IMG_0818.JPG


Waiting on line for pictures with Mike form Monsters Inc.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdB2TgwGXSI/AAAAAAAAJuA/OfmqDUAFNGs/s720/IMG_0836.JPG


Immediately following…Sunday Part 3!



Sunday Part 3 –


After lunch we wanted to get some pictures with the characters. Twice we were turned away that day from posing with the characters by the big hat because we got on line too late, and the characters had to leave. But we finally make it at their last appearance at the hat, but we only have time to get pictures with Minnie, as well as Pluto and Goofy. Here are some of our photopass pictures:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TaoP26E3EvI/AAAAAAAAI-c/s90ktMO56R4/s576/Photopass2011-34.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TaoQPgjTu4I/AAAAAAAAI-k/zVQJCEbmL7I/s800/Photopass2011-36.jpg


We decided to go to the Animation gallery for more character pictures, and boy were we in luck! So many pictures to choose from!

Here are our Photopass pics with Lotso and Sorcerer Mickey

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TaoUhsovLXI/AAAAAAAAI_4/XiXHpI4JAVE/s800/Photopass2011-57.jpg

Lotso really does smell like strawberries!


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TaoVxNA14jI/AAAAAAAAJAU/HPZwRLN6mbw/s800/Photopass2011-64.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TaoV-8CSkDI/AAAAAAAAJAc/oWjl9GTFoLc/s800/Photopass2011-66.jpg


Here are pics from CT2’s camera. These characters didn’t have PP photographers.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdB3TYGc9rI/AAAAAAAAJvM/0i4vvkwayjc/s720/IMG_0855.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdB3UHQGUPI/AAAAAAAAJvQ/oPElKYq0KAU/s720/IMG_0856.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdB3dtMFQdI/AAAAAAAAJvY/q9T8oCXxnIU/s720/IMG_0858.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_EL0yG-Jtjps/TdB3e-ETI-I/AAAAAAAAJvc/IFaNIcAp0fE/s720/IMG_0859.JPG


I can’t remember what we did after that but I know we went on RnRC again. We all skipped ToT because no one likes free-falling!


Later that evening…my sisters all proclaim they have eaten the best dessert of the lives!! Stay tuned….

[tinacaplan]

Another update, another round of great pictures. I have to say that my favorite digital camera ever was a Canon, and it definitely was not the top of the line model. I think they just make good cameras.

So jealous that you all met Rafiki. I would so love to run into him on this trip.

[annmarieda]

Wow, look at all those characters!! I love the pictures. You and your sisters look like you had so much fun!

[natebenma]

Great pictures! What a fantastic time you are having doing Disney with your sisters!

Congrats on your newly booked trip! Can't wait to hear all about Aulani. I don't know anything about DVC and renting points. It's great that there is a such a great resource here to get info.

[onescgirl]

You were able to get a lot of cute character pics!
And, when has your hair ever looked bad???????
It looks beautiful in every picture! I would love to have your bad hair day! :worship:

[dtr_angel]

great updates! Now I am super excited for our trip. I don't think I have ever seen that many characters where Sorcerer Mickey is. I want to smell Lotso but I'm torn - he was such a bad guy in TS3 so I don't know if I want my picture with him LOL.

[TanzUnited99]

:woohoo: on visiting Aulani!! I can't wait to hear all about your stay.

I love all the pics from CT2's camera - they look amazing! Great cup and Goofy t shirt. I think your hair looks great in the 'windblown' photos. I would be happy with hair like that in September!!

How cool that you got to meet with so many characters! :thumbsup2 Where did you find Pinocchio and Geppetto?

Ooh the best dessert of your lives?? Looking forward to drooling at your pics!! :laughing:

[Disneyfreak616]

Love all the pics! What a fun trip you girls had! :)

Can't wait for more!

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Nice update!!! I can't believe all of the character pics wow!!!!!!

Wonder what dessert it could be??!!

[LilAnn]

Hi! :wave2: I am new to your TRs but have seen you on other TRs that I follow. So far, I am loving it! You really do have amazing photos and I am loving all the food pics. I will try to remember everything I wanted to comment on.

Love seeing the pics of the refurb room at POFQ. We stayed at POR in Feb and it was our first time there. Cute, but they hadn't redone the rooms yet.

Love WPE - so yummy.

Love the sequined minnie ears. I remember seeing those and soooo wanted a pair for myself. Also tried to rationalize the purchase by trying to get my 3yo DD to fall in love with them so we could share(no go). Maybe next trip.

Your pics make me want to try Sci-Fi. I think it looks so cool in there, but am a bit worried that my DD will get spooked by the movies.

Love the PP pics. Such cute sister pics! Looks like you can do some great family photo gifts for the holidays this year!

So excited to follow on the rest of your TR.

[tankgirl427]

Yay! New Post! I love hearing about your trip with your sisters and its giving me really good ideas of what to do with my cousin in January since she's never been.:thumbsup2

[therussells08]

I love your characters pictures! That is so cool that Lotso really smells like strawberries! :lmao:

I love the pic with Gepetto! I don't think I've ever seen anyone else meet him!

Oooh, I can't wait to hear more about this dessert! :goodvibes

[Cat0727]

Love all your character pictures! That's neat they had so many in the Animation Academy that day. the last time I saw Geppetto was a while ago...but of course I made sure to get a pic with him :thumbsup2 I love the Pinocchio characters. Ahh I'm jealous you got to meet Rafiki, I have yet to see him in a Disney park.

[chunkymonkey]

Sorry for the lack of updates! I had an injury on my back and spent the past few days mostly in bedrest. I just returned to work, but I still am on medication and not feeling 100%. I hope to get better because I leave in a few days to go to San Francisco to visit family. I will definitely not enjoy the 5 hour plane ride with my back all messed up but I am hoping I will feel better by the time our flight Friday morning rolls around. I’ll definitely post some pictures of our trip.

Good news is that while lying in bed with my ipad, I managed to rent points for our stay at the Aulani! Just 2 nights in a 1-bedroom suite. I wanted a studio but they were all out for my dates! Boo. I still saved a bundle though so I guess that is a good thing. I guess it’s getting popular even if it’s not even open yet. I am hoping they iron out all the kinks that comes with opening a new resort come October. That will give them a good 2.5 months to get everything settled. I am spending a lot of money on this room (even with DVC points!!) and want it to be worth it! (which I am positive it will, considering it’s Disney!!). So Yay for the Disboards for providing me with the great resource to connect DVC owners with people who want to rent points. I would have never thought to do that before, but now it seems like for our next trip to WDW (whenever that is) I may be able to stay at some of the Deluxe resorts for a great price by renting points.

Here are some pics during construction and renderings of the Aulani I found on the web. I’m so excited! There’s also supposed to be a character brunch on weekends and other restaurants which sound so good too!

http://www.disunplugged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_5471-400x533.jpg

http://www.disunplugged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_5408-600x450.jpg

http://dizfanatic.com/Documents/Aulani-Model-Overview.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee26/DVC_Mike/Aulani/Aulani1.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee26/DVC_Mike/Aulani/Aulani2.jpg

http://0.tqn.com/d/travelwithkids/1/5/J/w/1/Aulani-Lobby.jpg

http://0.tqn.com/d/travelwithkids/1/0/O/w/1/Makahik-restaurant-day.jpg


Renting DVC Points

For those who have questions on how to rent points, here is what I did. It was my first time doing so, so I thought it would help someone else out as I had no clue what to do either:

Calculate the points you need (you can google DVC point calculators and you’re bound to find a few). Points needed are based on your resort, room type and dates of stay. It’s always good to calculate a few back-up resorts or room types.

Then basically troll the Rent/Trade DVC points board for someone who has enough points for your stay and at a price you’re willing to pay. They usually range from 9-12 dollars a point depending on the flexibility. Some owners need to unload points before a certain date, say June 2011 so they will sell them much more cheaply than someone who has points that expire in 2012. You just email the owner, or PM them, or respond to their thread. You’ll have to tell the owner what resort and the dates and type of room, and they will check availability for you. U may have to also tell them your back-up options in case your first choice is not available.

There are also some websites that basically do the work for you, like this one: http://www.dvcrequest.com But they charge pretty high, like 13 dollars a point. Which can be ok if you really really want a particular resort and room and no one else seems to have it, there may be an owner who has an existing reservation willing to sell on that site. But I think 13 a point is kind of pricey and I don’t mind doing the work myself to save a few bucks. I rented for 9 bucks a point because I monitored the boards for a while to check out the best price.

From what I understand, popular DVC resort rooms book up quickly for peak dates. Depending on what the owner’s home resort is, they have a better chance of booking at their home resort than others, but they are able to access all the DVC resorts regardless.

Renting points from an owner is basically a private agreement between you and the owner so payment plans are up to them. You usually have to pay 30% deposit (as was my case) and then the remainder like a month before your trip. The owner should send you the confirmation email from DVC and you should make sure it has YOUR name on it, and NOT the owners! You can also probably call DVC to check that the reservation does exist under your name. Only the DVC owner can make your ressie for you. Obviously with all private agreements like this, refunds and cancellations can be tricky or non-existent so it’s probably best to firm up your travel plans first. But the process is pretty easy depending on the owner, and I have only had a pleasant experience so far!

Anyone else have any helpful tips for renting points? I'd love to hear them!


Anyways, on to my much-delayed replies….

Another update, another round of great pictures. I have to say that my favorite digital camera ever was a Canon, and it definitely was not the top of the line model. I think they just make good cameras.
So jealous that you all met Rafiki. I would so love to run into him on this trip.
Canon makes great cameras! Love them! Not to say that the other brands aren’t good too but I am just more familiar with canon models.
Yeah it was so funny we saw Rafiki. I had never seen him before on my previous trips either!

Wow, look at all those characters!! I love the pictures. You and your sisters look like you had so much fun!
Yup we sure did! The Animation Academy was filled with characters this time. It was delightful! Unfortunately we missed Jasmine and Aladdin.
Great pictures! What a fantastic time you are having doing Disney with your sisters!
Congrats on your newly booked trip! Can't wait to hear all about Aulani. I don't know anything about DVC and renting points. It's great that there is a such a great resource here to get info.
Luckily for us we have the DIS! I managed to rent points for 2 nights which was great as I saved a ton of money. Unfortunately they ran out of studios which are the cheapest rooms so I had to get a 1 bedroom suite. Not that I am complaining too much, it was more than I wanted to spend, but definitely a huge chunk off the retail price. For a 1 bedroom suite, complete with spa tub and full kitchen, living room and all that fun stuff, I am paying less than the retail price of the hotel-style room at the Aulani. And the regular hotel rooms don’t even have kitchenettes like the DVC rooms have!

You were able to get a lot of cute character pics!
And, when has your hair ever looked bad???????
It looks beautiful in every picture! I would love to have your bad hair day! :worship:
Ooh, looks who’s talking! You and Lexi have the most beautiful hair!! I looove your hair! It looks so good both up and down! And Lexi’s hair is just gorgeous. Loved those big curls she had on Easter. My hair on this trip was a bit funny. I had it temporarily straightened, but I didn’t like it. So now I’m back to curls, I guess I have to post some pictures of it now. Maybe after our trip to SF!

great updates! Now I am super excited for our trip. I don't think I have ever seen that many characters where Sorcerer Mickey is. I want to smell Lotso but I'm torn - he was such a bad guy in TS3 so I don't know if I want my picture with him LOL.
LOL yes most people think Lotso is a mean one, but he is furry, pink and smells so sweet how could anyone be mad at him? LOL. He was quite popular and had a line!

:woohoo: on visiting Aulani!! I can't wait to hear all about your stay.
I love all the pics from CT2's camera - they look amazing! Great cup and Goofy t shirt. I think your hair looks great in the 'windblown' photos. I would be happy with hair like that in September!!
How cool that you got to meet with so many characters! :thumbsup2 Where did you find Pinocchio and Geppetto?
Ooh the best dessert of your lives?? Looking forward to drooling at your pics!! :laughing:
Hehehe thanks! I spent a lot of time trying to get that windblown hair with a blow-dryer and a brush. Too much work though to do every day! I am more of a wash n go with my hair. I guess that’s why it’s all frizzy now as I type this. LOL. Pinocchio and Geppetto were also at Animation Academy, and they had no line! There were so many characters!

Love all the pics! What a fun trip you girls had! :)

Can't wait for more!
Thank you!!! Will post more soon!

Nice update!!! I can't believe all of the character pics wow!!!!!!

Wonder what dessert it could be??!!
Hehehe, the place begins with an O….as a hint.

Hi! :wave2: I am new to your TRs but have seen you on other TRs that I follow. So far, I am loving it! You really do have amazing photos and I am loving all the food pics. I will try to remember everything I wanted to comment on.
Love seeing the pics of the refurb room at POFQ. We stayed at POR in Feb and it was our first time there. Cute, but they hadn't redone the rooms yet.
Love WPE - so yummy.

Love the sequined minnie ears. I remember seeing those and soooo wanted a pair for myself. Also tried to rationalize the purchase by trying to get my 3yo DD to fall in love with them so we could share(no go). Maybe next trip.
Your pics make me want to try Sci-Fi. I think it looks so cool in there, but am a bit worried that my DD will get spooked by the movies.
Love the PP pics. Such cute sister pics! Looks like you can do some great family photo gifts for the holidays this year!
So excited to follow on the rest of your TR.
Aww thanks for visiting!! Welcome! I think Sci Fi will be fun! Honestly we barely paid attention to the movie playing, there’s so many other things to look at, all the cars, the servers, the food…I don’t’ think your DD will be scared! Maybe you can get the ears and she will be distracted by them!
Yay! New Post! I love hearing about your trip with your sisters and its giving me really good ideas of what to do with my cousin in January since she's never been.:thumbsup2
Yay! So excited about your trip. Is your Oct. trip happening too?

I love your characters pictures! That is so cool that Lotso really smells like strawberries! :lmao:
I love the pic with Gepetto! I don't think I've ever seen anyone else meet him!
Oooh, I can't wait to hear more about this dessert! :goodvibes
Thanks! It was my first time meeting Gepetto! It was pretty neat to see all those characters in one space. We basically jumped from line to line. Actually, Pinocchio and Gepetto didn’t have a line which made it all the more better!

Love all your character pictures! That's neat they had so many in the Animation Academy that day. the last time I saw Geppetto was a while ago...but of course I made sure to get a pic with him :thumbsup2 I love the Pinocchio characters. Ahh I'm jealous you got to meet Rafiki, I have yet to see him in a Disney park.
Thank you! We were pretty excited to meet Rafiki. The characters without the PP Photographers didn’t have much of a line whereas Mickey and Lotso had long lines. Maybe on your next visit you will be able to meet him!!

[TanzUnited99]

I'm sorry to hear you have not been feeling well. I hope your back gets better before your trip :wizard:

:woohoo: on renting DVC points for Aulani! The pics look great!

Also thanks on sharing the pointers on renting with DVC points. I looked into this but decided to leave it for a first trip. Maybe one day...

[annmarieda]

You will have such an awesome time in Hawaii!! I think that resort looks amazing!

Sorry you hurt your back.. that isn't fun. Plus.. a long flight. I hope it doesn't aggravate it more. :hug:

Oh..and a trip to San Fran! I was just thinking I wanted to take a trip back there. It is a cool place cause you can make a short trip out of it.... which, I kinda need a short trip. :upsidedow

[tankgirl427]

Augh! Sorry to hear about your back. I was starting to wonder what was going on with you. No updates in a LONG time! Figured it was a busy wedding time or something, but a sore back is not fun!

I now have two trips going, the Oct trip and a Jan Trip!:banana:

[Disneyfreak616]

:woohoo: for Aulani!!!

Hope you feel better soon! :(

[YukiPhnx]

I'm sorry to hear about your back, hope you feel better soon enough!

Wooow, Aulani. Can't wait to hear about that!

Thanks so much for all that info on renting DVC points. I've always been intrigued with the idea.

[Disneybuckeye]

Yeah! Anothe Chunky Monkey trip report! So far sounds like you are having a great trip and I love all the pictures. I did ot realize you had finished your last trip report. I am going to have to finish the ending that I missed.

Hope your back feels better for your trip to San Fran. I have back issues so I know how miserable that can be.

Also, congrats on Aulani. We hope to visit there someday, but I think we might have to buy a few more points or resnt some. Let us know what you think.

[Cat0727]

I'm sorry about your back. I have a friend who has had back problems all her life and it sounds like just awful, constant pain :headache:

Aulani looks beautiful! Their pool looks insane :eek:

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Welcome back!!!!! Feel better :) I'm jealous about Hawaii. I had a chance to go there for my high school graduation in 2003 and chose WDW. What can I say even as an 18 year old I was hooked and never lost my love for it..now..I'm sort of regretting it!!!

I figured with Hawaii, by the time I'm ready to go, I'll hopefully have DVC and it won't be as bad..maybe..lol

[tinacaplan]

Sorry about your back...but yay for Aulani! That's super exciting. And I can't wait to hear about your experience renting points. If Disney actually scales back on its discounts, that may be the way to for more and more people. :goodvibes And thanks for the camera advice.

[chunkymonkey]

Thanks everyone for the get well wishes…I am slowly getting better. Getting a massage today so hopefully it well help some…before we leave on my trip here’s more of my TR!

Sunday Part 4


We shopped along Hollywood BLVD. CT1 bought a whole bag of mickey head lollipops. She loved them. She’d eat a bag a day! Don’t know how she stays so skinny.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4lgggTyGjyM/TZvXqG0aHxI/AAAAAAAAIgk/sCrO5uR0WPA/s912/Disney%2525202011-593.jpg


Some Easter goodies

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IufokYxZWc8/TZvXvdW5OHI/AAAAAAAAIg4/Nu-0BoZm4yY/s912/Disney%2525202011-589.jpg


Don’t these deluxe candy apples look good? Too bad most of them cannot be used with the snack credit, but they are too pretty to eat anyways, especially the Minnie one. It would have matched my ears though!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lmtmje8lD2g/TZvXkys04UI/AAAAAAAAIgQ/pn3Qk61E8Yk/s912/Disney%2525202011-588.jpg


I saw one of these on the Disney Food Blog and knew I had to try it! It’s a giant carrot cake cookie!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x7t4o9-2YHM/TZvXl_kKKxI/AAAAAAAAIgU/aGykXpFurLg/s912/Disney%2525202011-590.jpg


Look at how big they are! Me and CT2 shared one.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ka16JMMxO4g/TZvXplPJWiI/AAAAAAAAIgg/66zGH_BXzn0/s912/Disney%2525202011-592.jpg

Taste-wise, they were yummy! You have to like carrot cake. The texture was more like a firm carrot cake rather than cookie. The cream cheese frosting inside was good too. However, they are very sweet and very large so sharing is a good idea!

While waiting for the bus back to POFQ, CT1 kindly shared her lollipops with us. OMG sugar overload for me!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OarPHh3dPSY/TZvXt8JTYLI/AAAAAAAAIgs/8Yq02Zi3fBY/s912/Disney%2525202011-597.jpg


Back at POFQ, we rested a bit. The pool was still crowded so we never got to use it on our trip, oh well. We took naps and got ready for dinner. We were going to….drumroll….’OHANA!! I had raved about ‘Ohana before to my sisters so they were looking forward to some good eats…

Here’s us at the bus stop

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7IcpDZgktt8/TZvYGcH-pII/AAAAAAAAIhw/wujknariw1c/s720/Disney%2525202011-607.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SrxE4UwfO_4/TZvXykjXIII/AAAAAAAAIhA/bPgN4JWiz18/s640/Disney%2525202011-604.jpg


We took the bus to MK and hopped on the monorail to the Poly. Look at space mountain in the dark. So pretty! Unfortunately I didn’t get a good shot of the castle

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bUJvdHTtWic/TZvXzwPtL_I/AAAAAAAAIhE/OGrrbMQ4Pmw/s912/Disney%2525202011-609.jpg


I remember we had to wait for a bit for our table so we got a pager and went to check out the gift shops. Even at 9pm the place was happening. CS was looking at the swim coverups at the boutique on the first floor of the Poly. Lots of cute stuff there. She ended up getting a white short-sleeved terrycloth one with a hood. It was really cute. She refused to let us take pictures of her in it so I’ll see if I can find a pic of it online. It’s white with a mickey head for a zipper, pockets, and I think the hood is lined with a mickey print. It was all very simple with black mickey accents to definitely channeled an adult rather than a kids look.

Soon we were paged and went upstairs to eat! Here are pics of our delicious meal. Sorry, we were so into our food that I didn’t snap pictures of each dish as they came out, but sort of like halfway while we were eating did I realize oh shoot, I forgot to take pictures!

I did get pics of the bread though. We all agreed the bread wasn’t the best part of the meal.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sy6VzvTy2ik/TZvX1xi0OTI/AAAAAAAAIhI/pKimT2bkdNw/s720/Disney%2525202011-610.jpg


Wings n potstickers, with some remnants of the salad on my plate. We all LOVED the salad dressing and had seconds of that. The wings and potstickers were also good but I don’t think we got seconds of that.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OwAP4KCIg7M/TZvX5sNMm6I/AAAAAAAAIhQ/rNRhxgierIc/s720/Disney%2525202011-612.jpg


The noodles and broccoli came on the same plate. I remember it came on separate plates before. No biggie. We all loved the noodles and got seconds of that too.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FNTyxnf9w50/TZvX77GfMHI/AAAAAAAAIhU/vwL1bqSVmGM/s720/Disney%2525202011-614.jpg


They came around with the skewers of beef, chicken n shrimp. Me and CT1 liked the steak. CS loved the shrimp, she had many of them.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CtAadQV6fLI/TZvX9FBYhqI/AAAAAAAAIhY/y9uC7vJfgBA/s720/Disney%2525202011-615.jpg


Getting stuffed….

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0tTUHTXYGCY/TZvX_pUP-lI/AAAAAAAAIhc/NhwBclsQvwA/s720/Disney%2525202011-617.jpg

After our meal was almost over, they dimmed the lights and I knew it was time for Wishes! I asked if anyone wanted to go see it and walk over to the windows with me, but the twins were busy texting and said they will come in a bit. So CS and I walked over and saw wishes from the window. It was sooo cool!
Halfway through Wishes, CT2 comes over and whispers to us “Um, dessert is here, and it’s um, really REALLY good, and if you don’t come back now, there might not be any left.” LOL! I told her we’ll just get another one. So she hurried back to finish dessert.

True enough, dessert was almost completely depleted by the time me and CS went back to our seats so we ordered another one! CT1 and 2 have both proclaimed ‘Ohana’s bananas foster bread pudding to be the BEST dessert they have ever had!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V6wnuh_5Vdg/TZvYIz552tI/AAAAAAAAIh4/KQWsPj7PWXQ/s512/Disney%2525202011-625.jpg


CS also agreed that it was one of the best she’s ever had too. I had to concur, but only with the sauce on the side. I don’t like my desserts to be overpowered by the banana flavor so I like to sparingly pour the sauce on. Sometimes I don’t even need the sauce!

You’d think we hadn’t eaten for days when you saw our plates by the end of the night

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F2a05cRofo8/TZvYLomTTGI/AAAAAAAAIh8/osCaOjieRQo/s720/Disney%2525202011-627.jpg


Even after our double dessert, they brought out cupcakes for everyone’s birthdays! Sadly they sat in our room fridge before being tossed out as no one could eat another bite! But they were so cute nonetheless

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RfC-dUDwvp0/TbYdKoLObMI/AAAAAAAAJc4/HntZG4IT0Q0/s512/Disney%2525202011-623.jpg


Pics from CT2’s camera:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W286F0gb0bo/TdB4JhHWAeI/AAAAAAAAJwc/Ad76Vo-JQeE/s640/IMG_0876.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iZpGZkMa6ZI/TdB4YldYQPI/AAAAAAAAJww/aTHk1romUqE/s640/IMG_0881.JPG


Overall, a highly successful meal at ‘Ohana!! So successful in fact, that I mentioned that we actually had another reservation here for Wed night and was met with overwhelming enthusiasm to return. Since I didn’t know when we were watching Fantasmic, I thought to make a back up ADR. Only CT2 has seen Fantasmic before, and although she really enjoyed it, she said she’d much rather come back to ‘Ohana if just for the bread pudding alone! So there you go…we will be returning to ‘Ohana for another pig out session on this trip!

Coming up…we brave EMH at MK!!

Hope everyone has a fantastic Memorial Day weekend! 2 years ago I was in WDW over Mem day weekend! Boy was that fun. Crowded but fun! This weekend we’ll be heading to San Francisco. I’ll share more details of my trip when we return!

[YukiPhnx]

Awesome update of Ohana's!!! I can't wait to eat here on my 2013 trip. I'm already dreaming of the shrimp, steak, and bread pudding, mmmm.

Those lollipops are so cute! I can't believe I didn't see them on my last trip. I bet they would've made awesome souvenirs for my kid cousins.

[annmarieda]

OMG, what an awesome review of Ohana! :rotfl: I love that you ordered the second dessert!!!

[TanzUnited99]

I love the sugar rush you guys were getting! :laughing:

Wow, what a great review of O'hana! Love the pics and mmm at that dessert! :cloud9: I wish I had booked an ADR here but am stalking the boards and site to see if I can get a cancellation. After reading your review, I really hope so.

I'm glad to read that you are feeling better :)

[natebenma]

That's great that you all enjoyed 'Ohana so much! And even better that you will be able to go back again so soon. Good planning!

The photos, of course, are fantastic. I really love the shot of the whole table after the meal!

I have only been there once and it wasn't during the fireworks. You said you went to the windows to watch- were there tables in front of the windows or is there a dedicated viewing area? I know a lot of people covet those tables with a view during the fireworks but I'm wondering if it is like Coral Reef, where the tankside tables get cramped with people coming over.

Love the pictures of Aulani! It looks like the pool will be amazing! Great info about the DVC points. You done good!

[LilAnn]

Yummy update. The carrot cake cookie looks good, but since I am not a big fan of carrot cake, I would probably skip those in faavor of something else.

Ohana - YUM! DH has been known to order a second helping of dessert pretty much as soon as they place the first bread pudding on our table. It is so good!

[onescgirl]

I hope your back is better soon.
I love how the Mickey lollipop kept showing up in the pictures! Too cute.

[RachelNinja]

Catching up!

Lotus Blossom was good for what we wanted at the time. We knew it wasn't going to be super authentic, but I was CRAVING Chinese food even if it was Disneyfied Chinese food. I had the sesame chicken salad and Howard had the beef noodle bowl. It definitely satisfied us, and it was fun to be able to eat while watching IllumiNations!

I love the shots of people ON the rides!

What a surprise it must've been for your sisters to see the inside of Sci-Fi! I think even I would be surprised, and I've seen many pictures of it.

Bummer that you had such bad back pain! Hope you're 100% better now! But yay for Aulani! How exciting to experience a new Disney resort!

I'd feel terrible cutting into one of those pretty apples. During our last trip, my cousin just had a caramel apple dipped in chocolate. We all had some, and it was DELICIOUS!

How cute that CT2 went to tell you about the disappearing dessert! I was very surprised that I liked the dessert so much! I figured I'd be one of the only few NOT to like it, but it was indeed so yummy! I think 'Ohana is so much fun with a larger group. I don't think Howard and I will want to do that restaurant on her honeymoon because it might be too overwhelming. It's fun when there's a group devouring, and you can ask for more food because others want it too!

[princess aleya]

Great updates, love all the pics you took at Ohana. We will be there in a few days, I can't wait to have those yummy wings and pot stickers. Enjoy your trip, can't wait to hear about it when you return.

[Cat0727]

Yumm great update!

Oh man, I really need to make a reservation at Ohana next time I go to Disney! Their bread pudding looks to die for :faint:

[stacyinwonderland]

Enjoying your trip report so far. You all look so cute everyday in the park. I have the same minnie ears. I got them at a thrift store for 3 dollars. Excited to wear them on my next trip!

[Disneyfreak616]

Yummo, what a fun night at Ohana! :thumbsup2

You gals all have super cute clothes! :)

[chunkymonkey]

I'm sorry to hear you have not been feeling well. I hope your back gets better before your trip :wizard:

:woohoo: on renting DVC points for Aulani! The pics look great!

Also thanks on sharing the pointers on renting with DVC points. I looked into this but decided to leave it for a first trip. Maybe one day...

Thank you! I do feel much better although my hip joints have been bothering me. I think I am just getting arthritic!

Yup super excited for Aulani. Too bad it will only be 2 days there, but I will make sure to explore every part of the resort and take plenty of pics!

Sure thing, I had so many questions about renting points but there wasn't 1 sort of FAQ or source I could go to so I put together my own...

You will have such an awesome time in Hawaii!! I think that resort looks amazing!

Sorry you hurt your back.. that isn't fun. Plus.. a long flight. I hope it doesn't aggravate it more. :hug:

Oh..and a trip to San Fran! I was just thinking I wanted to take a trip back there. It is a cool place cause you can make a short trip out of it.... which, I kinda need a short trip. :upsidedow

Thanks Ann! I am feeling better, but do still have a bit of pain. I think I need to strengthen my core muscles. We'll see how that goes :rolleyes1

SF was great - it was cold though! But it's fun when the weather is nice. Napa Valley is always so nice to visit.

Augh! Sorry to hear about your back. I was starting to wonder what was going on with you. No updates in a LONG time! Figured it was a busy wedding time or something, but a sore back is not fun!

I now have two trips going, the Oct trip and a Jan Trip!:banana:

Ooooh 2 trips! So lucky! I will have to catch up on your PTRs soon.

:woohoo: for Aulani!!!

Hope you feel better soon! :(

Thank you!!!

I'm sorry to hear about your back, hope you feel better soon enough!

Wooow, Aulani. Can't wait to hear about that!

Thanks so much for all that info on renting DVC points. I've always been intrigued with the idea.

Thanks Yuki! Def feel better now. I'm glad the point thing helped. I had no resource so I had to end up creating one for my own. LOL


Yeah! Anothe Chunky Monkey trip report! So far sounds like you are having a great trip and I love all the pictures. I did ot realize you had finished your last trip report. I am going to have to finish the ending that I missed.

Hope your back feels better for your trip to San Fran. I have back issues so I know how miserable that can be.

Also, congrats on Aulani. We hope to visit there someday, but I think we might have to buy a few more points or resnt some. Let us know what you think.

Aww thanks. The back is a lot better thanks. I can see how people get addicted to pain medication now...yikes. I was only given a small dosage of pain meds but now I miss them...hahaha

Thanks! We're super excited. It will be more of a "sampling" for us to see if it's something we think is worth it and if we'll be going back to.


I'm sorry about your back. I have a friend who has had back problems all her life and it sounds like just awful, constant pain :headache:

Aulani looks beautiful! Their pool looks insane :eek:

Thank you! I do feel much better and am more mobile now. I'm just so scared it may happen again. I may talk to some sort of personal trainer or therapist of what I should or shouldn't be doing.

Yes doesn't it?? I am totally on cloud 9 just thinking about it! :cloud9:

Welcome back!!!!! Feel better :) I'm jealous about Hawaii. I had a chance to go there for my high school graduation in 2003 and chose WDW. What can I say even as an 18 year old I was hooked and never lost my love for it..now..I'm sort of regretting it!!!

I figured with Hawaii, by the time I'm ready to go, I'll hopefully have DVC and it won't be as bad..maybe..lol

LOL, my 2 favorite destinations are Hawaii and WDW. And now the WDW has come to Hawaii, well at least a resort did, it makes it all the more incentive to go to both! I wish I could do a trip to WDW then a trip to Hawaii all at once. That would be my dream trip and would probably cost too much money and take up a lot of vacation days, but hey, a girl could dream right? :cloud9:

I hope you make it to Hawaii at least once! Maui is one of our favorites, and Hawaii is wonderful for exploring, Oahu which is where Waikiki and Honolulu and of course, the Aulani, are, is more crowded, plenty of restarants, shopping, nightlife, etc. Kauai is definitely the most untouched. It's beautiful and lots of hiking trails and drives.


Sorry about your back...but yay for Aulani! That's super exciting. And I can't wait to hear about your experience renting points. If Disney actually scales back on its discounts, that may be the way to for more and more people. :goodvibes And thanks for the camera advice.

I totally agree. I feel like renting poiints is the way to go esp if you want to stay deluxe. it literally saved me like 1000 bucks! nuts! :sad2: I really coudlnt believe staying at the aulani was 399 a night retail. :eek:

[chunkymonkey]

Awesome update of Ohana's!!! I can't wait to eat here on my 2013 trip. I'm already dreaming of the shrimp, steak, and bread pudding, mmmm.
Those lollipops are so cute! I can't believe I didn't see them on my last trip. I bet they would've made awesome souvenirs for my kid cousins.

Yum, ‘Ohana is so good, I am still thinking about it. I hope they have something like that at Aulani. It would be such a wise move for them to do so, since the restaurant already has an island/Polynesian theme and in Hawaii would fit perfectly. Plus, everyone I know already likes it!
The lollies are sold at all the places they sold candy. Goofy’s Candy co had a bunch of them as well as at most gift shops.

OMG, what an awesome review of Ohana! :rotfl: I love that you ordered the second dessert!!!

LOL. I think we had too much dessert as we all literally rolled out of there.

I love the sugar rush you guys were getting! :laughing:
Wow, what a great review of O'hana! Love the pics and mmm at that dessert! :cloud9: I wish I had booked an ADR here but am stalking the boards and site to see if I can get a cancellation. After reading your review, I really hope so.
I'm glad to read that you are feeling better :)

Hopefully you can get a ressie there as it one of the most fun experiences at WDW. However much I dislike theme restaurants in real life, at Disney, I just love them. LOL. It’s like I have to do the extreme opposite of what I do regularly when I am at Disney.
Thanks, I do feel better!

That's great that you all enjoyed 'Ohana so much! And even better that you will be able to go back again so soon. Good planning!
The photos, of course, are fantastic. I really love the shot of the whole table after the meal!
I have only been there once and it wasn't during the fireworks. You said you went to the windows to watch- were there tables in front of the windows or is there a dedicated viewing area? I know a lot of people covet those tables with a view during the fireworks but I'm wondering if it is like Coral Reef, where the tankside tables get cramped with people coming over.
Love the pictures of Aulani! It looks like the pool will be amazing! Great info about the DVC points. You done good!

Thanks! The windows where you can watch Wishes are all at the front of the restaurant facing the castle. If you are lucky, you might get a seat near the window where you can watch it, but if you don’t, you can always walk towards the front and watch them. There are usually a few people doing this (like us!) The tables near the window are usually placed right up to the window so there isn’t much room for people to stand, so if you have to stand you can stand at the pillars which are in the middle of the restaurant. That way you won’t really be blocking anybody since they have a pillar blocking their view anyways.

Yummy update. The carrot cake cookie looks good, but since I am not a big fan of carrot cake, I would probably skip those in faavor of something else.
Ohana - YUM! DH has been known to order a second helping of dessert pretty much as soon as they place the first bread pudding on our table. It is so good!

Yes the carrot cake cookie was really for carrot cake lovers only. It really was huge!
We totally did that the next time. We were like, yeah can you just bring us another dessert right now because this one will be obliterated in 30 seconds. LOL

I hope your back is better soon.
I love how the Mickey lollipop kept showing up in the pictures! Too cute.

Thanks Amy! I do feel better!

Catching up!
Lotus Blossom was good for what we wanted at the time. We knew it wasn't going to be super authentic, but I was CRAVING Chinese food even if it was Disneyfied Chinese food. I had the sesame chicken salad and Howard had the beef noodle bowl. It definitely satisfied us, and it was fun to be able to eat while watching IllumiNations!
I love the shots of people ON the rides!
What a surprise it must've been for your sisters to see the inside of Sci-Fi! I think even I would be surprised, and I've seen many pictures of it.

Bummer that you had such bad back pain! Hope you're 100% better now! But yay for Aulani! How exciting to experience a new Disney resort!
I'd feel terrible cutting into one of those pretty apples. During our last trip, my cousin just had a caramel apple dipped in chocolate. We all had some, and it was DELICIOUS!
How cute that CT2 went to tell you about the disappearing dessert! I was very surprised that I liked the dessert so much! I figured I'd be one of the only few NOT to like it, but it was indeed so yummy! I think 'Ohana is so much fun with a larger group. I don't think Howard and I will want to do that restaurant on her honeymoon because it might be too overwhelming. It's fun when there's a group devouring, and you can ask for more food because others want it too!

Hey Rachel! I’m glad to hear Lotus Blossom was good. Sometimes I do have a craving for chinese food, even bad chinese food, but I have never tried LB before, or Nine Dragons for that matter. But now you have opened me up to having those options at WDW!

Was your caramel apple from the new caramel place at Epcot near Germany? We loved it too.

DH likes OHANA too that he’ll probably agree to go if it’s just us again, but I don’t think we’ll be getting seconds of dessert. LOL.

Great updates, love all the pics you took at Ohana. We will be there in a few days, I can't wait to have those yummy wings and pot stickers. Enjoy your trip, can't wait to hear about it when you return.

Oooh you are so lucky! Enjoy Ohana!!

Yumm great update!
Oh man, I really need to make a reservation at Ohana next time I go to Disney! Their bread pudding looks to die for :faint:

I think it’s a must-do for us now!

Enjoying your trip report so far. You all look so cute everyday in the park. I have the same minnie ears. I got them at a thrift store for 3 dollars. Excited to wear them on my next trip!
Oh wow 3 bucks! Such a bargain! I can’t believe those ears are so expensive. And My sequins are even falling out now. Yikes. Guess I’ll be gluing my ears before our next trip.

Yummo, what a fun night at Ohana! :thumbsup2

You gals all have super cute clothes! :)

Aww thanks, it’s funny because the Photopass Photographer said the same thing, he was like, wow I have never seen anyone dress so nice for MK. Too funny.

[sbprincess]

Yea! Glad everyone loved Ohana! We're going for the first time in October and I'm soooooo looking forward to it. It was a last minute (well, last minute before the 180 day mark :laughing:) decision and I'm glad I decided to give it a try. Hope you had a great holiday weekend!

[tinacaplan]

Glad that everyone loved 'Ohana. But then....what's not to love? You took beautiful pictures of the meal, too, btw.

[floridascgirl]

Hi! :wave2: I'm so happy that I stumbled upon your TR before it was over. You girls are all so cute. I sure wish that I had a sister to travel with because trying to do a gift shop with my DH and DS13 is next to impossible! :rolleyes1

[rndmr2]

Just found this TR and read the whole thing, looks like you and your sisters are having a great trip together! Beautiful pictures, too.

[chunkymonkey]

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial day weekend. I was in San Francisco with my DH. I sure have a lot to catch up on the DIS!

The reason we were out there was mainly this…our new niece, Madeleine!! (Maddie for short)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dAZhVN0tQ5w/Teozc1lqkxI/AAAAAAAAKFc/vbuzGy9IKvA/s720/SF-8.jpg


Isn’t she the cutest? She was only 10 weeks old when these pics were taken.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hYrmFJipXX8/Teozj5ezkWI/AAAAAAAAKFs/4wy2H0rCwKg/s640/SF-11.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fzyNYyw1I5A/Teoz_N1YXFI/AAAAAAAAKGc/cGs-M-LnR6c/s720/SF-23.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CKdIEzfhdYg/Teo0x2776nI/AAAAAAAAKHo/v0iWyk1JOqs/SF-42.jpg


We can’t get enough of her! She’s so adorable!

We also got a chance to eat a lot. Here’s some of the food we ate in and around SF and Napa Valley.

Delicious spicy seafood – done in a Cajun style from The Boiling Crab in San Jose

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4Szb1ZpAmA/Teo0Ya6vPwI/AAAAAAAAKG8/kteOqbNEAz0/s640/SF-30.jpg


Some delicious Chinese egg tarts my mother-in-law picked up. You may have seen these in Chinatowns and at dim sum across the US, but this version is a little different. They are huge, and there is more custard. One piece can easily serve 2-3 people.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2ATRUpDbWYE/Teo1Uomz0gI/AAAAAAAAKIs/qho16arhV4g/s720/SF-58.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jmKz1mKurfE/Teo1cAAQxeI/AAAAAAAAKI4/z01K4qG1aBg/s720/SF-60.jpg


Don’t think it can be the start of official summer without a BBQ! Courtesy of my brother-in-law.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eGuLRHcORzE/Teo1ewl9q6I/AAAAAAAAKJA/Dv-9qqQzw3E/s512/SF-62.jpg


Some deliciously yummy dim sum in Cupertino

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6asBa3ZSQnA/Teo2V2h3pyI/AAAAAAAAKKo/CJ6IV6iH2vg/s720/SF-85.jpg


On our day in Napa, we got some yummy lunch from Bouchon. Some of you may recognize the dish I got was the same in my previous TR in Las Vegas. Yup, I got the same thing I got in the Las Vegas Bouchon. The Croque Madame!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4nQceem38Zo/Teo3ROsQx-I/AAAAAAAAKMI/YkhtliYKYj8/s720/SF-108.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dN1F6X9MrWw/Teo3WF8yE-I/AAAAAAAAKMM/5-lGedPQgvA/s720/SF-110.jpg


DH got some lamb dish

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uNeoaC8ZG7g/Teo3XELE1II/AAAAAAAAKMU/0H45AlMy8kE/s720/SF-111.jpg


We stayed at the Best Western Premier Ivy Napa. This is not like the old dingey Best Western chain you picture in your head. It’s actually really nicely renovated and very modern. I was surprised! I got a great deal on Hotwire. It was hard to find a good hotel at a deal during the crowded holiday weekend but I was really happy with our selection.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S2n25zMrFH8/Teo25f30_VI/AAAAAAAAKLo/aGHZUUK_LMY/s720/SF-100.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xxSHmwC_7oM/Teo4c3twpII/AAAAAAAAKOE/KxTcSmhwgvw/s720/SF-138.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TVQhf4xXJDM/Teo4kdXv44I/AAAAAAAAKOQ/vGt7EExjwe0/s720/SF-141.jpg


Free breakfast including make your own waffles are always A-OK in my book!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u0dXbvercvU/Teo4bcGotLI/AAAAAAAAKN8/Qymx9UZW7dE/s720/SF-137.jpg


For dinner, we went to a Tyler Florence restaurant. It’s called Rotisserie and Wine, and it’s located near the Napa River (which isn’t really a pretty river by any means, but I think they are trying to draw people to this area so they built new condos, restaurants, hotels, and shops along the waterfront.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tzAI383MEU0/Teo4JeG50kI/AAAAAAAAKNk/O2sxx5SprQc/s512/SF-130.jpg


To start, we got some cheese puffs, also known as gougeres. They are a French type of pastry puff, stuffed with cheese. These had cheese, bacon and chives. They were delicious!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qscOMGqEYpY/Teo35Q48YwI/AAAAAAAAKNI/QyLyVOD7D0k/s720/SF-123.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--VEGDyWy5XQ/Teo3365j0KI/AAAAAAAAKNE/Gkpfa2z0cn0/s720/SF-124.jpg


We got complimentary corn bread. It was literally the best corn bread I have ever had! It’s served with honey butter. OMG it was soooo good.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Dj2mO6TkAHQ/Teo38PijOZI/AAAAAAAAKNQ/RlEaNe6oNug/s512/SF-125.jpg


For an entrée, I got the duck confit, served with a choice of 3 sides. I got collard greens, roasted potatoes, and mac n cheese. Delish!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qoJwwnONrr0/Teo4DSk4VaI/AAAAAAAAKNc/pc7LxNYvzc8/s720/SF-128.jpg


Here is DH’s dish. His was really really good. I practically ate half of it. It was roasted shrimp and baby octopus. If you haven’t had baby octopus, imagine it like really tender calamari. I love calamari and octopus and anything of that nature.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xEv7zXk1nRI/Teo4ExZu_iI/AAAAAAAAKNg/t6O528liA-w/s720/SF-129.jpg

His sides were an avocado and beet salad, biscuit and gravy (which was missing the biscuit but he didn’t really mind as he was full), and mashed potatoes.

Overall, we ate really well on vacay! Time to hit the gym!

[rndmr2]

I just had to say that your new little neice is Too cute!! :goodvibes

[tinacaplan]

All of those photos are delicious! Adorable baby, great food...and what a great looking Best Western. Who knew? The Tyler Florence place looks fantastic, and I would have gone for the duck, too!

[YukiPhnx]

Your niece is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE and tiny!!!!!!!!!!!

Great to know you had a wonderful time and that your back feels better!

Love your pictures, as always. That Cajun food looks really good....I'm really hungry...

And that cornbread.....I love cornbread.

Those big orange chairs in Best Western look so cool! It's awesome that you got a great deal on hotwire. I didn't even consider it for my Aug trip to NYC!

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

aw, your niece is too cute! :cutie: checked out a little of your TR. Love all your pictures! Makes me wish I had some sisters to go to Disney with! :upsidedow

[chunkymonkey]

Glad that everyone loved 'Ohana. But then....what's not to love? You took beautiful pictures of the meal, too, btw.

Thanks Tina!!

Hi! :wave2: I'm so happy that I stumbled upon your TR before it was over. You girls are all so cute. I sure wish that I had a sister to travel with because trying to do a gift shop with my DH and DS13 is next to impossible! :rolleyes1

Aww thank you and welcome! Growing up in a house of sisters is a little nutty but we had a great time looking back


Just found this TR and read the whole thing, looks like you and your sisters are having a great trip together! Beautiful pictures, too.

Thank you and welcome!!

I just had to say that your new little neice is Too cute!! :goodvibes

All of those photos are delicious! Adorable baby, great food...and what a great looking Best Western. Who knew? The Tyler Florence place looks fantastic, and I would have gone for the duck, too!

Thanks Tina! I don't know what looks yummier...the food or my niece. LOL.
oooh another duck person! I know some people who either love it or hate it!

Your niece is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE and tiny!!!!!!!!!!!

Great to know you had a wonderful time and that your back feels better!

Love your pictures, as always. That Cajun food looks really good....I'm really hungry...

And that cornbread.....I love cornbread.

Those big orange chairs in Best Western look so cool! It's awesome that you got a great deal on hotwire. I didn't even consider it for my Aug trip to NYC!

Thanks Yuki! I love my new neice!! So exciting to be in NYC! I look on priceline and hotwire a lot for deals. I use www.biddingfortravel.com to get an idea of what hotels are going for which prices to help me gauge what I should bid and what to expect. Hope that helps!

[LilAnn]

Oh my goodness, your niece is adorable! Love the cheeks! I want to just snuggle up and cuddle with her. :goodvibes Cute name too.

Droolling over all of the food pics you posted. That Tyler Florence restaurant looks gorgeous and yummy. I love that you have a nice variety on the plates.

And I totally thought that when you said Bouchon.....I read it as Bonchon. (Which I love, so I got all excited). I am now so hungry and it's only 10am.

[TanzUnited99]

Aaw your DN looks gorgeous! :cutie:

The food looks yummy as well!

[Cat0727]

Your niece is soooooo cute! I want to pinch her cheeks through my computer screen! :cutie:

I love San Fransisco. Glad you had a good time there! Rotisserie and Wine's food looks amazing. I'll definitely have to remember that place for my next trip to SF. Those cream puffs and cornbread are right up my alley, yum!

[annmarieda]

:cutie: Your niece is so darn cute!!!!

[chunkymonkey]

Sunday Part 5


After rolling out of Ohana stuffed as can be, we decided to be brave and hit EMH at MK. MK was open until 3am! It was almost 11 at this point and we were still planning to do at least a few rides. We managed to catch the end of the electrical parade too.

I didn’t get much pictures from my personal camera at this point but we have a ton of Photopass Pictures from the night, soooo, without much further ado, here they are!


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Uj8kzZUXDFo/TaoXH06E8SI/AAAAAAAAJAs/-A7rc6QgIsw/s576/Photopass2011-70.jpg


This set is really cute as after we shot the first pic, a bunch of CMs ram over to get into the next pic!! They were so fun!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rgfkFo17YsA/TaoXuZqDXNI/AAAAAAAAJA8/SG7Aahk5bCQ/s576/Photopass2011-74.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U-tVhilkbSg/TaoYYBSGNII/AAAAAAAAJBI/cy8--wHcrzM/s576/Photopass2011-77.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iE4O21WgQs4/TaoY99yrGmI/AAAAAAAAJBY/rVebsdwqORQ/s576/Photopass2011-80.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dCwoR1ezmow/TaoZl0yFufI/AAAAAAAAJBk/x6-ZlDWbMgk/s576/Photopass2011-83.jpg


Think we got about every angle we could of the castle!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BOtPIL4yYrk/TaoaHUAxOKI/AAAAAAAAJBs/uae_lnhe5mc/s576/Photopass2011-86.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iXzQ0SqSDA4/Taoao5FFqpI/AAAAAAAAJB4/DmsSNrlWJ-o/s576/Photopass2011-89.jpg


As for rides, well for the first time in MK I did not visit Tomorrowland first! We headed towards the left, and did pirates, the magic carpets which I NEVER get to do because the line is usually too long, haunted mansion, peter pan, IASW, and numerous rounds of BTMRR!! We all agreed that BTMRR was our favorite ride of the night.

We left the park close to 1:30am! Yawn. But we couldn’t leave without 1 last picture

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Uuf-6wYWoFA/TaobNcFNwKI/AAAAAAAAJCI/w4RKZaoXPi4/s576/Photopass2011-93.jpg


I still had a big day planned for tomorrow…so hopefully we could actually wake up…!

Do we wake up? Stay tuned to find out!

[annmarieda]

great castle shots!!! :thumbsup2

[tankgirl427]

Your niece is so cute! I love that the CMs were so fun and jumped in the photo. I love BTMRR at night!

[Cat0727]

Super cute castle shots with your sisters! Disney CMs are just the best :goodvibes

[tinacaplan]

Nice castle pictures! I love MK at night, especially really late. We rode BTMRR a million times that night, too. So much fun! And I'm guessing you got up,...I know I did and I had only gotten a few hours sleep as I had scheduled an eight a.m. ADR the next morning. What was I thinking? :confused3

[TanzUnited99]

Love all the night time castle shots! :thumbsup2

Yay on riding BTMRR so many times!

[natebenma]

Love your photopass pictures- especially the ones with all of the CMs. How cool!

[chunkymonkey]

Oh my goodness, your niece is adorable! Love the cheeks! I want to just snuggle up and cuddle with her. :goodvibes Cute name too.

Droolling over all of the food pics you posted. That Tyler Florence restaurant looks gorgeous and yummy. I love that you have a nice variety on the plates.

And I totally thought that when you said Bouchon.....I read it as Bonchon. (Which I love, so I got all excited). I am now so hungry and it's only 10am.

Thanks! Maddie will be so happy with all the compliments she's been getting! LOL, so funny you thought I said Bonchon! But I love Bonchon chicken too so that wouldn't have been so bad in my book! :lmao:

Aaw your DN looks gorgeous! :cutie:

The food looks yummy as well!

Thank you!

Your niece is soooooo cute! I want to pinch her cheeks through my computer screen! :cutie:

I love San Fransisco. Glad you had a good time there! Rotisserie and Wine's food looks amazing. I'll definitely have to remember that place for my next trip to SF. Those cream puffs and cornbread are right up my alley, yum!

Thanks! Definitely check out Rotisserie and Wine. It's pretty casual too, which is nice. It's next to Morimoto Napa, but since we already have Morimoto in NYC, I try to not eat at places we can get here.


:cutie: Your niece is so darn cute!!!!

great castle shots!!! :thumbsup2

Thanks Ann! I can only imagine how great your pictures will turn out during the Holidays!

Your niece is so cute! I love that the CMs were so fun and jumped in the photo. I love BTMRR at night!

Thanks!

Super cute castle shots with your sisters! Disney CMs are just the best :goodvibes

Aren't they? They were too funny. Thanks!

Nice castle pictures! I love MK at night, especially really late. We rode BTMRR a million times that night, too. So much fun! And I'm guessing you got up,...I know I did and I had only gotten a few hours sleep as I had scheduled an eight a.m. ADR the next morning. What was I thinking? :confused3

I know...early ADRs were not easy to stick to, so I avoided making them during this trip. 4 girls with one bathroom = not so early starts as I would like. LOL

Love all the night time castle shots! :thumbsup2

Yay on riding BTMRR so many times!

Thanks! It was so much fun!

Love your photopass pictures- especially the ones with all of the CMs. How cool!

Thanks Dee! They were so cute!

[RachelNinja]

The caramel apple that we tried on the trip was actually from Goofy's Candy Co. It was a caramel apple with chocolate drizzle. It was SO good, so I can't even imagine how yummy the apple would be from the caramel shop!

Oh my gosh, Maddie's cheeks! How adorable!

Haha, how funny that the CMs ran to get into the picture! That's definitely the kind of picture that has to be scrapbooked! I think those fun pictures are more interesting!

[YukiPhnx]

Wow, those are great shots with the castle, getting so many colours! Was it your idea or the CM's?

Love that shot with the CM in them! So much fun! It almost looks like you pasted them into your photo, haha.

Yeah, I got to go on Magic Carpets cause there was NO LINE too. So many rides on BTMRR!!

[princess aleya]

Aww, your niece is so adorable!!! Looks like you guys had some delicious food in San Fransico, yummy. Love the pictures you took of everything.

[onescgirl]

Your niece is so adorable! You can tell she already takes after her aunt! ;)

I love all of the castle pictures. That is cute where the CM's jumped in one of the pictures. I have not seen that before.

[chunkymonkey]

The caramel apple that we tried on the trip was actually from Goofy's Candy Co. It was a caramel apple with chocolate drizzle. It was SO good, so I can't even imagine how yummy the apple would be from the caramel shop!

Oh my gosh, Maddie's cheeks! How adorable!

Haha, how funny that the CMs ran to get into the picture! That's definitely the kind of picture that has to be scrapbooked! I think those fun pictures are more interesting!

mmm, the Karamel Kuche apple was soooo good. We got the regular caramel with nuts and we ate it each time we passed by because it was so good!

Thanks! Maddie will be so happy to know everyone loves her cheeks!

The CMs were so funny! It's totally a picture that will remind us of our fun vacay! Speaking of scrapbooks, my sister put together an awesome scrapbook of our trip. I toook pictures of it and will be posting them in a separate post. Probably towards the end of my PTR since I dont' want to give away too many pictures of our other days in WDW!



Wow, those are great shots with the castle, getting so many colours! Was it your idea or the CM's?

Love that shot with the CM in them! So much fun! It almost looks like you pasted them into your photo, haha.

Yeah, I got to go on Magic Carpets cause there was NO LINE too. So many rides on BTMRR!!

Hey Yuki! We basically stopped at every PP photographer we could find, and there is one every few feet on main street leading up to the castle. It was pretty cool!


Aww, your niece is so adorable!!! Looks like you guys had some delicious food in San Fransico, yummy. Love the pictures you took of everything.

Thank you! We had a great time!

Your niece is so adorable! You can tell she already takes after her aunt! ;)

I love all of the castle pictures. That is cute where the CM's jumped in one of the pictures. I have not seen that before.

Aww thanks! Yup the CMs just jumped right in. It seems like they have done this before as they all knew where to pose and when to jump in. Too funny!

[chunkymonkey]

Monday

Rain Rain go away!!! That was the theme of the day. Needless to say, when we woke up, fairly early-ish at around 8am, despite a late late night at EMH at MK, the skies had already opened up and it was just rain rain and more rain in the forcast. Sigh, we were NOT in for an easy day. We purchased ponchos at the gift shop and headed to our destination for the day: Epcot!

I was pretty sure TT wasn't going to be running...not with this amount of rain. So I hoped to at least get to ride Soarin a couple of times.

Since there was so much rain that day, we didn' take too many pictures. Our ponchos were on pretty much at all times except for the brief periods we were indoors. It was cold, wet and miserable that day! I wish we could have looked more excited, but lemme tell you, this day was a SOAKER. It poured so much, I actually contemplated going back to the resort mid-day. Fortunately my sisters were brave troopers and wanted to explore more of Epcot so we stayed fairly late, around 7pm. Here's some pics of the day, as well as our meal at The Garden Grill!

Getting ready with our ponchos

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AkhLOhHjQbM/TZvYbiCxmaI/AAAAAAAAIic/0udDxDUBUgo/s640/Disney%2525202011-635.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Vst4LzbRxrk/TZvYcVJHGuI/AAAAAAAAIig/0XOdP_VQqxQ/s640/Disney%2525202011-636.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JhSlD9Unzqc/TZvYhR7RDtI/AAAAAAAAIis/A5VKt3zfi7o/s512/Disney%2525202011-639.jpg


We had breakfast at SS. Look at the line for LWTL!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zswyqId-iuo/TZvYlV91u3I/AAAAAAAAIi0/91ffEOG6ORg/s512/Disney%2525202011-643.jpg


Playing the make your own greeting thing at Mission:Space. We had a lot of fun doing this and sending it to our parents and our DHs. Definitely a fun thing to do when it's pouring outside!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r6VYOMoqKrk/TZvYy54_TDI/AAAAAAAAIjY/ZrrQMcO4Hxc/s640/Disney%2525202011-659.jpg


CS doing the make your own paper activity in Innoventions East

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8lnptq4D-IY/TZvY0_7KVbI/AAAAAAAAIjc/9D3VC-3xn8w/s640/Disney%2525202011-662.jpg


Here's hers and mine. They didn't have any crayons this time, just the stamp.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3xSdtow_LEA/TZvY5Rks2TI/AAAAAAAAIjk/31eT7YZqOwI/s640/Disney%2525202011-668.jpg


While we were in Club Cool, a CM spotted CT2's b-day button, and she picked up the phone and said, excuse me, there is a phone call for you! CT2 was sooo confused. She's like, who in the world knows I'm here at this minute??!? Turns out, it was goofy wishing her a happy birthday! Sooo cute!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mL0NMSt2LNg/TZvY75IgdRI/AAAAAAAAIjo/kAemRdLNo3g/s640/Disney%2525202011-669.jpg


Here's a picture of my sisters and a CM who was from Singapore. We are all from Singapore so it was cool meeting other people from there.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b3q1w7AbtI8/TZvY97jK7GI/AAAAAAAAIjs/N--2pyash7g/s640/Disney%2525202011-670.jpg


While in Innoventions, I dragged my sisters through Run Time, the kiosk where you get to star in your own video game!! We did individual ones and then we all did a joint one which we then sent to our parents. You can see me in the reflection here, playing our game.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tLKFubhGotc/TdB74ShzxJI/AAAAAAAAJ08/gxL__b1U49c/s640/IMG_0948.JPG


We had an early dinner at Garden Grill, around 5pm. Here's the only pic we have of all of us!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rqck3oa_U7Y/TdB9MeGYHTI/AAAAAAAAJ2o/lmLU-xJ1Qo0/s640/IMG_0975.JPG


Foodwise, we thought the food was pretty good, better than I expected. We loved the rolls too. Sorry for the bad pics today, I only had my point and shoot, and the light in Garden Grill is an ugly green tint.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VV-4ROF0qxY/TZvZFsIiJBI/AAAAAAAAIkA/l1grWJr1Pto/s640/Disney%2525202011-677.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X7PMOhyk95E/TZvZHcEFL6I/AAAAAAAAIkE/UGAnlIvQt4U/s640/Disney%2525202011-678.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W7IE5-L9XSU/TZvZKEJmJBI/AAAAAAAAIkI/CtE5qoAiZVE/s640/Disney%2525202011-679.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCVs70zqNqI/TZvZR548CrI/AAAAAAAAIkc/xQpL7ouBDIs/s640/Disney%2525202011-685.jpg


Hopefully the swiss chard we ate at dinner was from here:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qfct2G09iGs/TZvYv4HSftI/AAAAAAAAIjM/3WmcMCpNXk8/s640/Disney%2525202011-653.jpg


Oh and here is CS giving Pluto the HAND!!!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gm11ELRiQFU/TZvZPLA6eRI/AAAAAAAAIkY/9deKQmChbOs/s640/Disney%2525202011-683.jpg


Guess it's time to head home

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VbyNE675Eyo/TZvZT3RPZ9I/AAAAAAAAIkk/wrat55MUkOY/s640/Disney%2525202011-686.jpg


But not before a ride through Mexico with the three Amigos!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l7U_MINyYDY/TZvZXphOtII/AAAAAAAAIkw/b02AvLSrj20/s640/Disney%2525202011-689.jpg


Sorry for the very very short recap of this day. It was just so much rain, we didn't really feel like taking many pictures at all, our hair was straggly and wet from the ponchos, and needless to say, we weren't very picture perfect. In fact, we just stopped taking pictures after a while. We did get to ride all the rides we wanted to (aside from TT which was closed all day). Since the rain discouraged most people from coming out to the parks, the rides were relatively uncrowded, except for all rides in The Land. I dunno, it seems people like to gravitate towards that pavillion when it's rainy! Despite that, we did get to ride Soarin' twice. I even saw Captain EO which I had missed on my last trip with DH. It wasn't bad at all although the twins, who are much younger, didn't quite appreciate the 80's vibe. Also, the Character Spot was packed as well. We didn't want to wait on line so we hoped to return the next day.

We only did part of WS, we made it up to Mexico and then called it quits. We'd be returning to Epcot the next day anyways, because the forcast called for no rain and I wanted us to ride TT so badly!

Hopefully the next day would be better...we still had so much to do!

[annmarieda]

You are so funny. Your "bad" picture day still beats my "good" picture days! :rotfl:

I love the paper making suvenier. Thanks for reminding me of that. I have to HAVE to remember about that the next time I go.

Very cool regarding your sister and the birthday call. :thumbsup2 I can imagine that she was confused. I know I would be.

thanks for sharing a great update :thumbsup2

[natebenma]

Boo! For all the rain!

At least it sounds like you had a lot of fun at Innoventions- was it really crowded?

The picture of your sisters in the video game with your reflection is very cool!

Thanks for sharing the GG pictures. I haven't dined here, but the food looked yummy.

[chunkymonkey]

Boo! For all the rain!

At least it sounds like you had a lot of fun at Innoventions- was it really crowded?

The picture of your sisters in the video game with your reflection is very cool!

Thanks for sharing the GG pictures. I haven't dined here, but the food looked yummy.

All the indoor locations were fairly crowded but not that bad. I think the parks were rather empty that day because of the rain, with the exception of The Land, it seems that EVERYONE was in that building. So Soarin' and LWTL were crowded. But all the other rides, we got on with barely any wait at all. Of course, TT was NOT running all day, so we did not get to try my favorite ride at Epcot!

GG food-wise was better than I expected, which was nice. The Character interaction was actually not the best. I mean, we got pics with all the characters, but for some reason Chip and Dale would NOT pose together! We had them about 5 feet apart but they did not want to pose in a group pic with us together. It was soooo odd. I wonder why that is. Also, we saw Goofy about 5 times, and Mickey only once. Strange.


You are so funny. Your "bad" picture day still beats my "good" picture days! :rotfl:

I love the paper making suvenier. Thanks for reminding me of that. I have to HAVE to remember about that the next time I go.

Very cool regarding your sister and the birthday call. :thumbsup2 I can imagine that she was confused. I know I would be.

thanks for sharing a great update :thumbsup2

Haha, thanks. I don't think I've seen you in a bad picture ever!

Yeah despite the rain, my sisters were real troopers. We were all pretty miserable in the rain, it was just heavy heavy rain, and our feet were all wet and soggy all day. Luckily we all wore flip flops so they dried quickly, but I saw plenty of people wearing sneakers and socks which got SOAKED. That would totally not be fun walking around in all day. Overall, we got to go on most of the rides (aside from TT which was closed) and had a good time when we WEREN'T outside. At least now I have experienced what I consider to be the Worst Weather at WDW!

[TanzUnited99]

You all look good in your ponchos! Sounds like you had fun in Innoventions - love your video game! :thumbsup2

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'm getting caught up! Your meal looked really good and you girls were super busy that day! I'll have to go to Innoventions some day and try all the fun things that they have there!

[tinacaplan]

You are so funny. Your "bad" picture day still beats my "good" picture days! :rotfl:

:rotfl: Sorry about the rain.... BOO! Its interesting to me that Living with the Land can still attract such large crowds. Its a boat ride past some plants! :lmao: I'm kidding...I actually love that ride.

[chunkymonkey]

Tuesday Part 1

After our not so complete washout weather on Monday, we awoke Tuesday with our fingers crossed that the weather would hold up today. We looked outside, and let out a sigh of relief, it was SUNNY!!
We were so excited! We still packed the ponchos just in case, but today was a great day for pictures so we definitely have a ton today to make up for the lack of pics yesterday.

Here's CS enjoying the sunshine!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gw-xYiwSWao/TZvZeoIINZI/AAAAAAAAIk8/aCRx5Nuztqc/Disney%2525202011-692.jpg


Ready for a day at the parks! Woohoo!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nnC21_wlnt4/TZvZpHZFofI/AAAAAAAAIlQ/gZyhH14Wrws/Disney%2525202011-699.jpg


So today I decided to go back to Epcot because we missed TT and most of World Showcase. We'd then decide what park to go to later, if any.

Here's me with my Minnie Ears! Hooray for the sun! My outfits get more and more Minnie-like over the next 2 days. You'll see!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NdvUAFI_rQs/TZvZsVm7BvI/AAAAAAAAIlU/wGj6rXQK-GE/s720/Disney%2525202011-700.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sqZY4b5s7sA/TdB-2hAVWtI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/LmZgJ08V5HI/s720/IMG_1003.JPG


We ate breakfast at POFQ before the parks. I got my usual order of 6 beignets to share with everyone. The twins got yogurt parfaits every morning we ate at POFQ, and CS seemed to like the bounty platter so she got that every day too.

Over at Epcot we were all smiles!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o0uwvtgFB3w/TZvZuqhj0BI/AAAAAAAAIlY/PZZtdoHOdwk/Disney%2525202011-703.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vNbLbGur2eE/TZvZ0eHFnaI/AAAAAAAAIlc/hejPJMgMb1I/Disney%2525202011-704.jpg


I remember running to The Land to get FPs for Soarin, and then met my sisters over at TT where we got on standby with a 30 min wait.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7U0UDxJlOYQ/TdB_ypnMjOI/AAAAAAAAJ5I/VgDJAyr1aqA/s912/IMG_1017.JPG


Here's a few funny pics from the ride itself. My, talk about windblown hair...!!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xPU24aaz1l8/TZvZ8VjvqNI/AAAAAAAAIls/Ss9FWlYLoMA/Disney%2525202011-717.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pg4icUtiSXY/TZvZ_7TKY-I/AAAAAAAAIl4/c79hNTH9Zpw/Disney%2525202011-714.jpg


When they took the picture, I didn't tell my sisters when it was, so I pretended to be sleeping. I got this idea from OnesGirl!! Too funny, thanks Amy!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--Umuzv67hqE/TZvaDApMifI/AAAAAAAAImA/JvO_pf9sw98/Disney%2525202011-722.jpg


I don't have a pic of CS and CT1...I dunno how they ended up on a different car than us! They all agreed, TT was a great ride! We totally got an FP for later.

Woohoo!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iD6ocbg6QHU/TdCAViAqiLI/AAAAAAAAJ5w/P2AvgD6lz-c/s912/IMG_1026.JPG


What a beautiful day!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ujOvNDLeAnY/TZvaKtsRNEI/AAAAAAAAImU/SPdrYckJ69A/Disney%2525202011-730.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8R7ZE8SnJH0/TdCAbLoI6SI/AAAAAAAAJ50/fMffutpC5I4/s912/IMG_1028.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m5IGN3Vo4pM/TdCAlgEQYpI/AAAAAAAAJ6A/qcZdOaD_N2c/s720/IMG_1030.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U_svWyvqowg/TdB_mxzVCqI/AAAAAAAAJ44/x0sSbKeKZog/s720/IMG_1014.JPG https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iA4LGrpLB2g/TdB_mz5_FVI/AAAAAAAAJ48/qpFTe7zoEpk/s720/IMG_1015.JPG


Here's all of us as we're walking towards the WS. I definitely wanted to check out Karamel Kusche!!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3GUVos64388/TZvaOOiDoMI/AAAAAAAAImY/ZU8UKHzRbwE/Disney%2525202011-735.jpg


Checkin out the Maelstrom.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XmxGF1mSP6c/TZvaQq_t3EI/AAAAAAAAImc/5Sc8GubehNU/s720/Disney%2525202011-737.jpg


Getting a mango tea smoothie from China. It was good! Definitely worth a snack credit.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_ro-HsRT-KE/TZvaUbVmbgI/AAAAAAAAImg/XBd-guPdamY/s720/Disney%2525202011-739.jpg


Posing in China

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iDj0e2RSjZI/TZvaZLzFN7I/AAAAAAAAImk/1Mu0cn9WBc4/Disney%2525202011-740.jpg


Yum!! Finally we are at Karamel Kuche! An apple is totally calling my name. It smells soooo good inside.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eL2WxJGZppE/TZvagOUfdvI/AAAAAAAAImw/cAzjui_lyno/Disney%2525202011-743.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FAmiN_102us/TZvaqK1X6DI/AAAAAAAAInA/l1z8kPE8VSM/Disney%2525202011-748.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M3iwvAjPcjc/TZvavMqWYBI/AAAAAAAAInM/IJ9bnhnuvjA/s720/Disney%2525202011-752.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Wjkn12BUY70/TZva29-Z__I/AAAAAAAAInc/JObeAzSOdEs/s720/Disney%2525202011-754.jpg

Here's a very blurred pic of the caramel apple with nuts we got and had sliced. We all shared one because we wanted to save room for lunch and more snacks from WS!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0jBtSs6QqX0/TZvaxMJXp9I/AAAAAAAAInY/KLWo9q2JRbY/Disney%2525202011-753.jpg


The verdict: DELICIOUS!! Everyone loved it! A really great tasting caramel apple. Good texture on the caramel and the apple was nice and firm and tart.


Stay tuned for the rest of our jaunt around the world and a ton more pictures!!!

[annmarieda]

What a beautiful day!

I love your outfit! Too darn cute!

And the caramel shop!!!! I LOVE caramel so I can't wait to go there. Back in September it wasn't open yet. That is so cool they cut it for you. I always stay away from the apples since I figure they would be too problematic to eat. Now I know we can get it sliced!!!

And.. the person sitting next to you on TT.. she looks thrilled. :rotfl:

[TanzUnited99]

Yay for sunshine! :thumbsup2

Love the TT photos and your Minnie-like outfit! Mmm your pics of Karamelle Kuche are making me hungry - can't wait to have some snacks at that place!

[Disneyfreak616]

Yayy for a beautiful day! :goodvibes

Test Track is so much fun! LOL to the sleeping pic! What a great idea! I might borrow that for my next trip! :thumbsup2

Karamell Kuche looks so delicious, I need to go there and get one of those cupcakes. :love:

Can't wait to hear about the rest of WS!

[YukiPhnx]

The sky is that PERFECT blue in your pictures! Such a gorgeous day.

I LOVE your outfit. I have the same ears and now I'm considering Minnie-Mouse outfits for my trip too.... I'll be bringing my sibs and 2 cousins, so I wonder if I can convince them to get some Disney head ornament too!

Love your TT pictures! My hair gets SOO tangly after that ride. I love your ride photo too, haha! Where is it taken? I don't think I figured it out.

Do they use real fruit at the China Tea stand?

Mmmm, you're making me want to pick up a caramel apple now...they're so yummy.

[natebenma]

Yeah for sunshine at EPCOT!

Karamell Kuche looks amazing! Your pictures of the display case and cupcake are making me drool.

Just when I was thinking- what a pain it is to eat a caramel apple...

Slice and Share! Brilliant!

That looked like a redneck Test Track photo. Did you add the Test Track pictures to your photopass card?

[chunkymonkey]

You all look good in your ponchos! Sounds like you had fun in Innoventions - love your video game! :thumbsup2

Thanks!

I'm getting caught up! Your meal looked really good and you girls were super busy that day! I'll have to go to Innoventions some day and try all the fun things that they have there!

Innoventions is good fun, you just need to patients to stop at the kiosks to find out what they have to offer. Sometimes it's a ride, and sometimes it's an interactive game. Occassionally there will be stuff that you can make and keep!

:rotfl: Sorry about the rain.... BOO! Its interesting to me that Living with the Land can still attract such large crowds. Its a boat ride past some plants! :lmao: I'm kidding...I actually love that ride.

Haha yeah, I love that ride too, even though it really is just a ride through a garden...

What a beautiful day!

I love your outfit! Too darn cute!

And the caramel shop!!!! I LOVE caramel so I can't wait to go there. Back in September it wasn't open yet. That is so cool they cut it for you. I always stay away from the apples since I figure they would be too problematic to eat. Now I know we can get it sliced!!!

And.. the person sitting next to you on TT.. she looks thrilled. :rotfl:

Thanks! The caramel shop was delightful. We loved the way it smelled in there. And the apples are tasty! Definitely worth a stop or two...or three...:rotfl:

Yeah it's funny how some people are expressionless, like they it's their millionth time on the ride. But honestly I ride every ride like it's my first time! Woohoo!

Yay for sunshine! :thumbsup2

Love the TT photos and your Minnie-like outfit! Mmm your pics of Karamelle Kuche are making me hungry - can't wait to have some snacks at that place!

Thanks! Yes we were so happy there was no rain today! KK is delicous!

Yayy for a beautiful day! :goodvibes

Test Track is so much fun! LOL to the sleeping pic! What a great idea! I might borrow that for my next trip! :thumbsup2

Karamell Kuche looks so delicious, I need to go there and get one of those cupcakes. :love:

Can't wait to hear about the rest of WS!

LOL sure, you can borrow it! I borrowed it from OnesGirl!

The sky is that PERFECT blue in your pictures! Such a gorgeous day.

I LOVE your outfit. I have the same ears and now I'm considering Minnie-Mouse outfits for my trip too.... I'll be bringing my sibs and 2 cousins, so I wonder if I can convince them to get some Disney head ornament too!

Love your TT pictures! My hair gets SOO tangly after that ride. I love your ride photo too, haha! Where is it taken? I don't think I figured it out.

Do they use real fruit at the China Tea stand?

Mmmm, you're making me want to pick up a caramel apple now...they're so yummy.

Thanks! I didn't realize my outfit today matched the headband so well. My outfit for tomorrow is even better!

The take the picture on TT right before the doors open to go outside. It's the part where they are doing the crash impact test and the lights go off right before the doors swing open and u are outside.

No, I don't think the tea had fresh fruit, as it came from a dispenser, but I think there is some real mango in it somewhere, probably frozen or some sort of puree, as you did get a nice mango flavor.


Yeah for sunshine at EPCOT!

Karamell Kuche looks amazing! Your pictures of the display case and cupcake are making me drool.

Just when I was thinking- what a pain it is to eat a caramel apple...

Slice and Share! Brilliant!

That looked like a redneck Test Track photo. Did you add the Test Track pictures to your photopass card?

Sharing is caring!

I didn't add this pic to my pp card because my other sister had the pp card! so we got hers on it, and I got mine on a separate card, which i promptly lost and didn't add it to our picture cd. Oh well. I could do without pictures of random strangers anyways! :rotfl:

[Koda Bear]

Just found your trip report this morning - spent my Saturaday morning reading it in between laundry :laundy: & vacuuming! I am also one of four girls - and have been to DW with them all at various times but never just the four of us - thank goodness because I think we would kill each other if it was just us:rotfl:.
Love your pictures and you all look so amazing all the time!!! Can't wait to see the scrapbook pictures as I am a scrapper!!

[chunkymonkey]

Tuesday Part 2


After our delicous caramel apple at Karamel Kuche, it didn't stop us from eating more! Here's the giant pretzel from Germany. It is soooo good!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MCLvtOXr5Iw/TZva5ILi5kI/AAAAAAAAInk/SfAj0amY3oI/s800/Disney%2525202011-757.jpg


Here's CS with a pink tiara she found in Norway. She didn't end up getting it but we wanted to surprise her with it before the princess dinner at Akershus later in the week, but unfortunately they were out of the pink then. Oh well, at least she has a picture of her with the crown!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5b6j7jIk954/TZva77GAQKI/AAAAAAAAIns/OnFeB260Ino/s640/Disney%2525202011-759.jpg


Posing around the WS!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CH45Q9vSM7E/TZvbFDWaqEI/AAAAAAAAIn0/KxMaKRe43QU/s640/Disney%2525202011-765.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QgU9Dw_s2PM/TdCCqaRdg1I/AAAAAAAAJ8E/udWbxUHL0ko/s640/IMG_1061.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VFQs_434m-0/TZvbflpDPgI/AAAAAAAAIoY/tDoGe2hWHt8/s800/Disney%2525202011-783.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oB0pqy43-R8/TdCEKP4cEYI/AAAAAAAAJ9Q/CuMZoaAPo7g/s800/IMG_1077.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pAKRapFxDuA/TdCB23KlJAI/AAAAAAAAJ7k/bOT5JLpTw4A/s800/IMG_1052.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rZbRHOmIYkY/TZvbk09zjHI/AAAAAAAAIoc/6zisbxAnoTs/s800/Disney%2525202011-784.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-353k123IOcI/TdCDVdkJtrI/AAAAAAAAJ8w/OGgDAGovZjs/s640/IMG_1070.JPG https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QmSSPiPzmpk/TdCDeo99lsI/AAAAAAAAJ84/Tow9TbZlQKI/s640/IMG_1072.JPG


We stopped for lunch over at Yakitori house in Japan. I don't know why I always eat here, because it's not the best food, but I guess somehow I miss Japanese style comfort food when I travel, lol. Since we weren't hungry from all the snacking, we opted to share 2 QS meals

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f06CeFt_mGA/TZvbU8ENknI/AAAAAAAAIoI/--a68Ilz4PU/s800/Disney%2525202011-773.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nTTL1LUNXE/TZvbVNufHXI/AAAAAAAAIoM/ph9JUqH4ZDI/s800/Disney%2525202011-774.jpg


I do love the iced green tea here. It's nice and refreshing and isn't sweetened, and it makes me feel healthy. LOL

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X36f-RzWggY/TZvbYSzhO0I/AAAAAAAAIoQ/PeCicO5RtFY/s640/Disney%2525202011-775.jpg


I tried to get my sisters into Kim Possible. But I think they were bored. We quit after only 2 missions because it was too hot and we got tired.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_Yrr2wsDKQc/TZvbw0E6KzI/AAAAAAAAIo0/FImUV8SB9E4/s800/Disney%2525202011-796.jpg


Here's some photopass pics from WS:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EZLsg667x-8/Taolrx8K0aI/AAAAAAAAJDk/qP5oTh8vf1o/s912/Photopass2011-110.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EVMU7ZacZEk/TaomgZy_cfI/AAAAAAAAJDs/3mNFoB1GFv8/s912/Photopass2011-114.jpg


Meeting Tigger and Pooh in England!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-briCbGIVXJY/TaonRiMPFmI/AAAAAAAAJD8/LLdUu_HUB0U/s912/Photopass2011-117.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9T-8kQrcjWE/Taoos6IT6HI/AAAAAAAAJEY/8C17UDuPWKw/s912/Photopass2011-124.jpg


Coming up...we meet lots and lots more characters!!

[tinacaplan]

Adorable pictures all around, but I especially love the pictures of you sporting your Minnie ears. You really pull them off beautifully!

[TanzUnited99]

Great WS pics and yay on meeting Pooh and Tigger! :thumbsup2

[chunkymonkey]

Just found your trip report this morning - spent my Saturaday morning reading it in between laundry :laundy: & vacuuming! I am also one of four girls - and have been to DW with them all at various times but never just the four of us - thank goodness because I think we would kill each other if it was just us:rotfl:.
Love your pictures and you all look so amazing all the time!!! Can't wait to see the scrapbook pictures as I am a scrapper!!

Aww thanks! You made my day! Yay another 4 girl family! Didn't you guys have so much fun growing up? I'm 3excited to show the scrapbook pics so i'm going to post them a little later in my TR as I don't want to give any of our upcoming pictures away just yet! Thanks for reading!!

Adorable pictures all around, but I especially love the pictures of you sporting your Minnie ears. You really pull them off beautifully!

Aww thanks Tina! And you must be so excited, now that you are going back so soon...this month even! Are you there yet? LOL

Great WS pics and yay on meeting Pooh and Tigger! :thumbsup2

Thanks!! We had a good time meeting them.

[tinacaplan]

Aww thanks Tina! And you must be so excited, now that you are going back so soon...this month even! Are you there yet? LOL



SOON! We leave Thursday morning, super early...which might explain why I'm up, still on the Dis, at this insane hour! :rotfl:

[chunkymonkey]

unfortunately we won't be making it to Disney this time...but we'll still be in Orlando...we're going to WWOHP!!! It's been 6 years I think since I had last been to Univeral and IoA. We stayed at the Doubletree right outside the park. This time, we're going over a long weekend and since I want to maximize my time there, we've decided to stay at the Loews Royal Pacific resort. I can't wait! I intially was against staying at such an expensive property when we're more park people, but the fact that you get to skip the lines on a number of attractions really made it worth it for us, because I would have totally bought the express pass for us every day anyways.

We'll have 3-day park hopper passes, which we got using our amex points (hooray points!) so that saves us a ton of money too. The only thing we'll be missing out is on the Three Broomsticks breakfast which was included in a lot of ticket packages from Universal, but it is not a biggie to me. I can always grab a meal there later.

Trying to figure out the process for getting into WWOHP too. It seems they have a sort of Return Ticket system which kind of works like FP but it doesn't get you on any ride, it just allows you to enter the WWOHP area of the park, and apparently there are numerous lines and kiosks and machines which you have to pay attention to. ARGH so confusing! I'm hoping I can get to WWOHP early enough in the day (we get early admission 1 hour before park opens) and then I won't have the need to deal with the return ticket process.

Does anyone know of the crowd level at Universal during labor day weekend? I know it's generally a low season, like it was at Disney last year at the same time, but I am wondering if that is all changed by WWOHP.

[tankgirl427]

You should ask Joyce! She and Ben were there before heading over to Disney. Or relive that part of her TR!

[annmarieda]

Yay on going on another trip. Labor Day weekend? I can't believe that it will be here before we know it. Seems like I was just planning a trip to WDW for my trip over Labor Day. Very cool to go to WWOHP!

[chunkymonkey]

Hi everyone, sorry I have been MIA! Work has been crazy and in between trying to plan 2 trips (WWOHP and Taiwan/Hawaii) I have just been exhausted. However, hopefully it's back to the TR now!

Tuesday Part 3

After a quick spin again on TT, we went to Innoventions to get our Disney Visa picture. Think this is the best one so far!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eEdkjHAl6v8/Taopg_CtFzI/AAAAAAAAJEk/8b5U_7S7KWw/s912/Photopass2011-127.jpg


After that we ended up at the the Character Spot finally, and we decided to wait the 45 or so minutes it took. It wasn’t too bad because we were pretty tired from walking and it was a nice respite from the heat. Thank goodness it wasn’t raining that day! Here are our pictures!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gxS-VUps5_8/TaorR6JY0yI/AAAAAAAAJE8/BiucNbghLlA/Photopass2011-133.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BjGTIrXufzM/TaosE1pEPiI/AAAAAAAAJFI/xkM4qSx1pQw/Photopass2011-137.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QYFAvVno3TE/TaosnQ_wBXI/AAAAAAAAJFQ/PlwCVokFiw0/s640/Photopass2011-138.jpg


Like the little border on this one? Thought it was appropriate :)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s8WJ6abgQTE/TaotNsXcURI/AAAAAAAAJFc/7MUmfuzGJMI/Photopass2011-141.jpg


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vme6oCW7few/Taow60eP8eI/AAAAAAAAJGw/9xKpRAzEDRA/Photopass2011-162.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4D7x76jj31I/TaoxPdX-lyI/AAAAAAAAJG0/nw8yxXxZN14/s640/Photopass2011-163.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zRKG9CztRo4/TaoyQql3Q6I/AAAAAAAAJHE/cWxARm41Or4/Photopass2011-167.jpg


From CT2’s camera:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7GqM-AcAMU8/TdCFOmnhs8I/AAAAAAAAJ-c/YRPEh7AH4r0/s800/IMG_1094.JPG


Here’s more Photopass when we were outside

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-65qWh0QWoZE/TaoyojYR_fI/AAAAAAAAJHM/LQ3ytW8ocpI/s640/Photopass2011-169.jpg


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QULCdus2zdQ/Tao0K4geP-I/AAAAAAAAJHk/z8qoVaDg9zw/s640/Photopass2011-174.jpg


Here’s us on Test Track!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2KZE43wYFJQ/TZvcHIq7W6I/AAAAAAAAIpc/86z2myL3BAw/s800/Disney%2525202011-823.jpg


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZtBSYSkSQVI/TZvcDN1epsI/AAAAAAAAIpU/V1BqH2zodbE/s800/Disney%2525202011-821.jpg


Here’s one of us on the ride. We were all in the same car this time! My sisters did what I did last time which was to fall asleep. Tooo predictable...I had to take a call. CT2 who was next to me, didn’t get the memo though.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--SnDbz8Yuto/Taozcit5dnI/AAAAAAAAJHY/-IUhY7C-7XE/Photopass2011-172.jpg


One last Photopass!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lFiqkRYJyls/Tao0bpSFkDI/AAAAAAAAJHo/YVFGGmUoprw/s640/Photopass2011-176.jpg


We headed to DTD to do some shopping (shopping post to come)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bmeyEEtHkG4/TdCFTXo6loI/AAAAAAAAJ-g/Kd793oHUR14/s800/IMG_1095.JPG


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mSKXg_jiXaY/TdCFaqu1HRI/AAAAAAAAJ-k/J9icROEb51I/s800/IMG_1097.JPG


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HY5-m04QBqc/TdCFegaOEtI/AAAAAAAAJ-s/M92D9zCnzgA/s640/IMG_1098.JPG


That night, we had our 2nd Ohana dinner! IT was just as good as the first if not better. Sorry no pics of it as we were just tired and hungry, however my sister did manage to get the recipe from a book from Epcot before we left. So here it is!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zK2MfvqfIcU/TdCEPUbgLeI/AAAAAAAAJ9Y/AR90DMXBWQc/s800/IMG_1079.JPG


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-13IvRo6doGk/TdCETEBKvJI/AAAAAAAAJ9c/5C-1-lZPENc/s800/IMG_1080.JPG


Does it taste as good as it looks? You betcha!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-owcqzdDl4kU/TdCEYJ_YaEI/AAAAAAAAJ9k/jgiHm3GGcxk/s640/IMG_1081.JPG


Coming up...our last full day at the park and we head to MK!!

[natebenma]

Thanks for the update! Great pictures as always. The character spot pictures are adorable. I love the one with you and Minnie- don't tell her, but your shoes are way cuter.

I'm so excited to hear you are going to WWoHP and the Universal parks. We were there in mid July and it was a nice change of pace for us. Can't wait to see your photos from there!!!

Staying on site was so worth it. The early access to Harry Potterland and the Front of the Line access were great. We had to deal with the timed access entry tickets once during our trip.

I am working on a Top Ten Tips list for the Universal parks, but I don't think I will get to it in my TR before you go, so I will PM it to you.

[chunkymonkey]

I'm not sure I have anyone still reading this TR - I have been completely bad about updating, in between our 2 vacations in the fall, work, and also I had spent 3 weeks off the computer because I developed radial tunnel (like carpel tunnel but more painful.) But now that I am getting better, I'd still like to share some pics from our trip to Aulani in Hawaii. We spent 2 nights there at the end of our trip. I rented points via a DVC member and got a great deal although our 1 bedroom suite was l pretty pricey, hence the only 2 night stay. ;)

As you will see the resort is fantastic. It is amazingly beautiful and no detailed was spared in the decor, grounds, and features. The inifinity jacuzzi had 2 levels! There were a bunch of hidden Mickeys, mostly in the rooms. My only gripe with this resort was the food. It just wasn't up to par with the rest of Disney resorts, and especially in Hawaii, where there is so much great food for cheap, there isn't any excuse for the overpriced food we had. I mean it was all ok to good, but nothing great and nothing to write home about. I did like a few things in the buffets they served and I was also happy to see Mickey waffles!

So here are some pics of the grounds:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ay_cuexLHjU/Tr1Q2p9MhCI/AAAAAAAANYU/tCHG7b8KYF8/s912/Oahu-123.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-169ZXbQqBKw/Tr1REE_BB8I/AAAAAAAANYw/ucglrpgFwAA/s640/Oahu-128.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1T81PPbYFCY/Tr1Q5VUPT6I/AAAAAAAANYc/QAW_khJmO5A/s640/Oahu-125.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iUVhLH6jkuU/Tr1UMORmfHI/AAAAAAAANeI/**_8Zjhe9uA/s912/Oahu-166.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fx-qlB5Nizg/Tr1R5Qrk2DI/AAAAAAAANaE/7gr9iXFotYw/s912/Oahu-136.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jfUjk0NWgk4/Tr1R_I1rsPI/AAAAAAAANaM/kuhuQoWVtu0/s912/Oahu-137.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8d1wsPLdSj0/Tr1SImDD7SI/AAAAAAAANac/j9iIMcWGMMk/s912/Oahu-140.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Qj7fZj-3t1U/Tr1TPVX9FpI/AAAAAAAANcc/tqQutqNv2vM/s912/Oahu-153.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3ahS2R2gfbg/Tr1WagA9Z4I/AAAAAAAANic/kavAMeQB8wQ/s800/Oahu-202.jpg


Here are some pics of the suite:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XqLJrF-8GZM/Tr1SeZFisfI/AAAAAAAANbI/kBdgAHciHrw/s912/Oahu-145.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-klmf5035oHk/Tr1SW1gGZOI/AAAAAAAANbA/yrnH_gU4AR0/s912/Oahu-143.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DzQkc-kC_vI/Tr1SkzOy6mI/AAAAAAAANbY/CCw_5EOJX0U/s912/Oahu-146.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lZFQSDIUSXY/Tr1SwxmVTTI/AAAAAAAANbo/C0w6ExgR9OE/s912/Oahu-148.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-25h918cEQyQ/Tr1UX_6wIuI/AAAAAAAANeg/qBjWEoK9kJ4/s912/Oahu-170.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sY_0DQ1ZI4A/Tr1VwcT-j0I/AAAAAAAANhQ/HWXNEwiIA2A/s640/Oahu-192.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ahr0W7-UCqI/Tr1VoSJ4gOI/AAAAAAAANhA/QPtWuSXraC0/s640/Oahu-191.jpg


And here's us at the character breakfast!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EhG1_pO2to8/Tr1Ucgl083I/AAAAAAAANeo/TfGAZw9-uw8/s640/Oahu-171.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zKsLosGeER8/Tr1Ujikrd_I/AAAAAAAANe0/R_ty8byKKFo/s640/Oahu-173.jpg


Oh and at the gift store, they had special Aulani Dooney and Bourke bags. So cute!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8p99gYm02Qs/Tr1T61VVfnI/AAAAAAAANds/zTk5Evx1plU/s912/Oahu-165.jpg


coming up...I'd like to share some pics from our trip to WWOHP back in Sept. including an inpromtu Dismeet!!

[annmarieda]

It is funny because I just wondered if you finished this report and I missed it. I am glad you posted!!!

I love the pictures of Aulani. I wish it were more affordable. :sad2: I have kinda promised dh our next trip will be to Hawaii (if we actually go on another trip together) and while I have agreed no "Disney" I secretly wish we could stay at Aulani

[tankgirl427]

I'm here too! Too funny Ann and I were wondering where you disappeared to this week. I'm glad you had a great time in Hawaii!

[wdwgirl03]

Hi there! I noticed the "Aulani pics" in your title and had to stop in. All I can say is WOW! What a gorgeous resort! I am so jealous that you got to go there, even if it was for just a couple of nights. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[chunkymonkey]

It is funny because I just wondered if you finished this report and I missed it. I am glad you posted!!!

I love the pictures of Aulani. I wish it were more affordable. :sad2: I have kinda promised dh our next trip will be to Hawaii (if we actually go on another trip together) and while I have agreed no "Disney" I secretly wish we could stay at Aulani

Hi Ann! I am so happy you are still following! You trip is coming up so soon. It's literally right around the corner! You all must be so excited.

Yup Hawaii can be super pricey. For us it's mainly the airfare. From the east coast it gets really expensive. We try and budget ourselves when we are there though, so we can make it there more often than not. For me, I'd rather be in Hawaii multiple times and stay in a shack, rather than do one trip and stay in a luxe hotel. The Aulani though, was definitely worth it!

I'm here too! Too funny Ann and I were wondering where you disappeared to this week. I'm glad you had a great time in Hawaii!

Yay!! I'm so glad you're still following. I promise t update more and finish my TR. LOL. I notice you have another trip coming up!! So lucky!! Plus you just did an October trip! Boy this is a good year!

Hi there! I noticed the "Aulani pics" in your title and had to stop in. All I can say is WOW! What a gorgeous resort! I am so jealous that you got to go there, even if it was for just a couple of nights. Thanks for sharing the pictures!

Hi!! Thanks for visiting my TR! Yup we had a great time at Aulani, despite the short time there. Hopefully I can make it back one day!

[mbvisitor]

I'm here reading your TR! Just found it this morning! My family and I were there the same week for our very first visit to WDW. It's great to read someone else's perspective of the same days we were there. In fact we were at EP on that same rainy Monday...unfortunately since it was our first visit, I didn't quite realize most or all of the rides were inside, so we wasted most of the morning at Mouse Gears and Innoventions:laughing::laughing:

Your Aulani pics look incredible! Maybe one day for us....

Hope you keep writing about your trip!
Btw you and your sisters are gorgeous!

Hazel

[AMVmom]

Hello, I was lurking through trip reports to get my Disney fix and found yours; just wanted to say that you have a beautiful family and I absolutely love all of your pictures! Hawaii looks gorgeous, I wish I can go soon, just have to convince my husband. Will you be posting pics of Taiwan? My DH is from there and we've always talked about going one day. I would love to see what it's like there, he always talks about what it was like when he was a little boy, etc. I hope to read more, thanks! :thumbsup2

[chunkymonkey]

I'm here reading your TR! Just found it this morning! My family and I were there the same week for our very first visit to WDW. It's great to read someone else's perspective of the same days we were there. In fact we were at EP on that same rainy Monday...unfortunately since it was our first visit, I didn't quite realize most or all of the rides were inside, so we wasted most of the morning at Mouse Gears and Innoventions:laughing::laughing:

Your Aulani pics look incredible! Maybe one day for us....

Hope you keep writing about your trip!
Btw you and your sisters are gorgeous!

Hazel

Hi Hazel. thanks for visiting! Wow that's really cool you and your family were there over the same days! Yeah the weather was pretty brutal that day, wasn't it?

Thank you and Thank you! You are too kind!

Hello, I was lurking through trip reports to get my Disney fix and found yours; just wanted to say that you have a beautiful family and I absolutely love all of your pictures! Hawaii looks gorgeous, I wish I can go soon, just have to convince my husband. Will you be posting pics of Taiwan? My DH is from there and we've always talked about going one day. I would love to see what it's like there, he always talks about what it was like when he was a little boy, etc. I hope to read more, thanks! :thumbsup2

Hi!! Thanks for visiting! Thank you! Hawaii is pretty amazing. I will share a few Taiwan pics on the TR...I don't really speak chinese so getting around was pretty hard. Had to rely a lot on my in-laws and family so half the time I had no idea what we were doing or seeing. It was really cool though, and the food was wonderful. I hope to finish my TR shortly!

[chunkymonkey]

Just before I continue on my TR for Disney, I just wanted to post a bit about a special trip I took last year. We went to WWOHP over labor day weekend. It was a lot of fun, and although we didn’t go to Disney, we did end up dining at Kona Café and watching the fireworks from the beach at the Poly. It really made me want to go purchase a 1 day park hopper the next day, but unfortunately since we already prepaid for our Universal tickets, we couldn’t’ really do both parks at once.

We stayed at the Royal Pacific resort at Universal Orlando. It was a beautiful resort, and the service was wonderful. They always had some sort of freebie each day, like Italian ice, or popsicles which they handed out poolside. We purchased a package over expedia for airfare and room and I used amex points to get 3 day hopper tickets to Universal and IoA. However, when we arrived at the resort, I completely forgot that I had left them at home…back in NYC. OMG. So needless to say I was panicky that first night. Tried to call Amex to see if they can do anything but they really could not. So we ended up purchasing a new set of park tickets for $$$, sigh. Fortunately we were able to sell the first pair on ebay for close to what we paid for the second pair, so it worked out in the end. But I really wanted to hit myself in the head because it was such an important part of our trip and of course I had to forget them…

The parks themselves were great. They weren’t Disney, of course, but they had their own charm. WWOHP was definitely my favorite area but it was pretty packed even in September, although from what I heard, less crowded than peak times. Although the main ride, The Forbidden Journey, still had hefty wait times. The early admission into the park for staying at the resort did come in handy, as well as the express pass. They alone made the cost of staying on site well worth it IMO.

Some pics of our trip:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GI9PhKJRmcc/TsfYRnnU0NI/AAAAAAAANjw/EH-pHsOP0cc/s512/Universal-2.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oxQQyLHsQYA/TsfYYfHXdWI/AAAAAAAANj4/AcNlfknj22w/s640/Universal-4.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--5dhmQLJkT8/TsfYmbM3x2I/AAAAAAAANkY/EvZluP6s8sE/s512/Universal-8.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5wjpv7kq0fo/Tsfc2gbCdtI/AAAAAAAANtM/XVwFQ4trJJE/s512/Universal-78.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K-Es7efeOp8/TsfZ07P-IvI/AAAAAAAANms/UbGNgCnizwg/s720/Universal-27.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-06XG1WFubXE/TsfaMqcmrQI/AAAAAAAANnQ/R-8CVyADtgM/s512/Universal-32.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9VWcI1I2h9U/TsfY3xy7_**/AAAAAAAANk4/YpXZanQQdE8/s720/Universal-11.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-clFEAQs5PYA/TsfaOraKvcI/AAAAAAAANnc/D05rhnkqBFA/s640/Universal-34.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eqg0AOAXBJM/TsfaZrllPHI/AAAAAAAANnw/boo7hkUA5ZE/s640/Universal-36.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--h9yXf4IEuM/TsfZLeu7w4I/AAAAAAAANlY/bSkFc64s59U/s640/Universal-14.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hnTkEQmokz8/TsfZLoLc9jI/AAAAAAAANlc/vNWkyD4gUpY/s720/Universal-15.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7KqiWsnfO-I/TsfaVyV7fsI/AAAAAAAANno/TL1XRZHOr8Q/s512/Universal-35.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SnEgrJSlN5k/TsfayWOUoqI/AAAAAAAANog/x5VIgc1eT5s/s512/Universal-42.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1KQVLu2Z9l4/TsfbJI59MGI/AAAAAAAANpc/1y0EPKX2ZbM/s512/Universal-48.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s5CnBPundwk/Tsfbp7y_OhI/AAAAAAAANqo/VWWWsu1KOHA/s720/Universal-58.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kqzDre51MHk/Tsfd10rk-FI/AAAAAAAANvI/LC2jPBW2wDQ/s512/Universal-93.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J8AkRc0C9AI/Tsfa7nLtDzI/AAAAAAAANo0/HRDt10-9SR8/s512/Universal-44.jpg


Our night at the Poly:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u0iGTmn-dfk/TsfcSaM23OI/AAAAAAAANrw/txuhzMQWJcY/s720/Universal-68.jpg


Even though we were full from Kona Café, we couldn’t resist a Dole Whip before the fireworks.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Rzl3kiFMNAc/TsfcYflMQGI/AAAAAAAANsA/c4bH3t77sYw/s512/Universal-69.jpg


Wishes!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CTpZPG5Ehfk/TsfcrSmIyxI/AAAAAAAANs0/cnwsSOeTT0k/s720/Universal-75.jpg


And here’s a very special Dis Meet that happened by coincidence. On our very last day there, me and DH were checked out of the Royal Pacific, and were wheeling our suitcases out of the lobby….I was stopped by a very lovely girl, who asked me hesitantly…”Are you Chunkymonkey…on the Dis Boards?” My whole face lit up. “Yes!” I replied! Turns out, the lovely lady is none other than QuirkyButterfly who was visiting all the way from Australia with her BF. They were sooo sweet and nice. We chatted for a bit before we had to run out to catch our flight back to New York. I was so stunned to be recognized by someone else on the Dis!! It was such a priceless and awesome moment! We HAD to take a picture together…

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mGz0acB232c/TsfeFmvJLQI/AAAAAAAANv0/HZ_Xdh3BoKY/s720/Universal-98.jpg

QuirkyButterfly, it was so wonderful meeting you and your BF! I hope you had a fabulous time at Universal and Disney, and hope we cross paths again!

[annmarieda]

Oh.. that so sucks that you forgot the tickets... but it looks like you had a wonderful time (once you got new tickets). I love the pictures! Although :scared1: That roller coaster looks very scary!!! How cool on the dismeet!

[natebenma]

OK, I was WAAAYYYYYY behind on your report! You posted the Aulani stuff the week Ben was in a a production of Robin Hood and I was helping to chair a mother-son dance. And I guess I never got back to see your fabulous pictures.

Aulani looks AMAZING!!! The suite is beautiful. I wanna go!

Now, off to read about WWoHP and get blown away by your pictures.

[natebenma]

Fantastic pictures from your Universal/WWoHP trip!

I can't believe you left the tickets behind! :scared1: I'm glad you were able to get around it, though.

We found the parks to be a nice change- my teenager prefers the Dark Side, but the rest of us still rate Disney as #1.

Too funny- we ate at Kona too, on the day we surprised the boys with a day at the Magic Kingdom.

That is so cool that another DISer recognized you.

Looking forward to reading about the rest of your trip with your sisters!

Dee

[tinacaplan]

Hello! How cool that you snuck in a trip to the other side. I haven't even considered it yet. Seems like Max is too young to enjoy most of it. WWoHP looks incredible, for sure.

You took some amazing pictures, as usual. And how cool that you had a random Dismeet??? I saw some folks on my first adult trip back in February 2010, but I was too shy to introduce myself. :sad2:

Love the Poly pictures, especially. We're staying there in about two weeks and I cannot wait.

Hope you're well. :goodvibes

[chunkymonkey]

Oh.. that so sucks that you forgot the tickets... but it looks like you had a wonderful time (once you got new tickets). I love the pictures! Although :scared1: That roller coaster looks very scary!!! How cool on the dismeet!

Hi Ann! The roller coaster was probably the scariest and coolest ride ever. It took me until the last day to work up the courage to do it, and I only did it *** DH wanted to do it. It's called Rip Ride Rockit, and the cool part is that you can customize the music you want playing when you ride. every rider gets to do it. I think I played "Hella Good" by No Doubt. Funniest thing, is that they take video of you while you ride, not pictures, so after the ride, we watched our video, and basically you pretty much see me cursing up a storm and yelling "What am I doing!!?!" all throughout the ride. The first 30 seconds are the worse though. I'm glad I did it once but may possibly not do it again.

OK, I was WAAAYYYYYY behind on your report! You posted the Aulani stuff the week Ben was in a a production of Robin Hood and I was helping to chair a mother-son dance. And I guess I never got back to see your fabulous pictures.

Aulani looks AMAZING!!! The suite is beautiful. I wanna go!

Now, off to read about WWoHP and get blown away by your pictures

Fantastic pictures from your Universal/WWoHP trip!

I can't believe you left the tickets behind! :scared1: I'm glad you were able to get around it, though.

We found the parks to be a nice change- my teenager prefers the Dark Side, but the rest of us still rate Disney as #1.

Too funny- we ate at Kona too, on the day we surprised the boys with a day at the Magic Kingdom.

That is so cool that another DISer recognized you.

Looking forward to reading about the rest of your trip with your sisters!

Dee

Aww hi Dee! Great to see you here. I have a ton of TR and PTRs to catch up on and yours are some of them!! Hope Robin Hood was great!

Aulani was pretty amazing. I wish they had better food though.

That's pretty cool you guys went to Kona Cafe too! I really wanted Ohana but there was absolutely no availability so we went with the next best thing :)


Hello! How cool that you snuck in a trip to the other side. I haven't even considered it yet. Seems like Max is too young to enjoy most of it. WWoHP looks incredible, for sure.

You took some amazing pictures, as usual. And how cool that you had a random Dismeet??? I saw some folks on my first adult trip back in February 2010, but I was too shy to introduce myself. :sad2:

Love the Poly pictures, especially. We're staying there in about two weeks and I cannot wait.

Hope you're well. :goodvibes

Hi Tina! I'm sure when Max is old enough and has read all the books he'll be dying to go! It definitely is more for teens and adults because a lot of the rides have height restrictions. But the overall ambiance of Hogwarts/Hogsmeade was right on! We loved the frozen butterbeer and would get it like twice a day LOL.

I would totally be too shy to introduce myself as well, unless they were people I "knew" from my TR and the TRs I read...LOL. If I saw you or you saw me I'd hope we'd say hi!!

Jealous of your upcoming stay at the Poly. Wow you have taken so many trips, it sounds amazing! I'm off to read your PTR now... :cutie:

[natebenma]

Hi Ann! The roller coaster was probably the scariest and coolest ride ever. It took me until the last day to work up the courage to do it, and I only did it *** DH wanted to do it. It's called Rip Ride Rockit, and the cool part is that you can customize the music you want playing when you ride. every rider gets to do it. I think I played "Hella Good" by No Doubt. Funniest thing, is that they take video of you while you ride, not pictures, so after the ride, we watched our video, and basically you pretty much see me cursing up a storm and yelling "What am I doing!!?!" all throughout the ride. The first 30 seconds are the worse though. I'm glad I did it once but may possibly not do it again.



Thanks for sharing that about Rip Ride Rocket. We did not ride it on our summer trip. There was no way Ben was getting on that thing. Mark had no interest. I would have gone with Nate, but he didn't work up a nerve until the last day. Since there is no express line for this, we didn't dare get in line before leaving.

I read that the "secret track" or "mystery song" is Rainbow Connection. How cool is that?

[chunkymonkey]

Thanks for sharing that about Rip Ride Rocket. We did not ride it on our summer trip. There was no way Ben was getting on that thing. Mark had no interest. I would have gone with Nate, but he didn't work up a nerve until the last day. Since there is no express line for this, we didn't dare get in line before leaving.

I read that the "secret track" or "mystery song" is Rainbow Connection. How cool is that?

That's pretty cool about Rainbow Connection! lol. I don't even know how you get there. There are a lot of song choices divided into categories like Country, Hip Hop, Rock, Pop etc. I think I only checked out pop before we started moving...definitely a scary ride to the top!!

[chunkymonkey]

The end of our trip
Sorry but this conclusion was a long time coming…I’ve pretty much been out of commission but slowly catching up on everyone’s TR and PTR. The reason was, I recently got surgery on my left arm for radial tunnel (like carpel tunnel but on the upper elbow area), so typing was out of the question. Here was my arm about 4 weeks ago:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/559476_10150779795937754_598592753_11737511_309191 806_n.jpg

Yes it was quite painful, and recovery is pretty grueling, but I’m happy to say that after 3 weeks of therapy, I’m beginning to feel better and am able to type with one finger on my left hand. Still have some work to do though, I can’t lift my middle finger up (which could be a good or bad thing) and bending my wrist is painful, but it’s a vast improvement since the surgery. I also have a pretty big scar on my left forearm.

Anyways, on with the end of the TR!!

These pictures are from our last full park day. We headed to MK to finish everything we didn’t do on our EMH night, and to also take a load of PP pics. The skies opened up in the afternoon but luckily we took most of our pictures earlier in the day before we boarded the monorail to Epcot.

We had a special evening planned too, we celebrated CS’s bday at Akershus with the princesses! We all had an awesome time. I didn’t think the food was the best of the trip, but it was fine. We had more fun taking pictures and celebrating our last night.

After our dinner, we caught Illuminations again in our semi-secret spot behind one of the shop kiosks when you first enter WS. The rain held up enough for us to watch enough fireworks and then it was back to POFQ! But first, we stopped at Mousegears for shopping!

The next day was a complete washout! Pouring pouring rain ALL DAY. We had planned to go to AK but no one wanted to go. We decided to just grab lunch at WPE using one of our last CS credits, and then later on we still had a few CS credits left so we got sandwiches at POFQ before boarding ME back to the airport. So sad our last day was the wettest of the week, but it didn’t dampen our spirits overall. CS still talks about going back to Disney every chance we get!

Here are pics from the remainder of the trip:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qoC5qL4G2Ec/Tao16i5q5AI/AAAAAAAAJIA/_EEw3wLqhks/s512/Photopass2011-182.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NCpOE37grSc/Tao37umeNcI/AAAAAAAAJIg/5KMBdUmB9MM/s720/Photopass2011-190.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xu8LAnmKl_s/Tao4aA-SOaI/AAAAAAAAJIk/xbfSABSIgXI/s720/Photopass2011-192.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V7CP8aUdR9Q/Tao4mXukS1I/AAAAAAAAJIs/j_XU1fipI0g/s720/Photopass2011-193.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KxRXA_co4p0/Tao50zMm1nI/AAAAAAAAJJA/BfLIHQPm66A/s512/Photopass2011-198.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t-3SFvNxg2Q/Tao-ejC6OiI/AAAAAAAAJKU/xmFw6BE008Q/s512/Photopass2011-219.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b0puFYWTDOY/TdCHaBuTOVI/AAAAAAAAKA4/rM8LHXzaEzc/s640/IMG_1131.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BWRhxCMUkHw/TapDgK4s8SI/AAAAAAAAJLo/lSNzvLK5p0c/s720/Photopass2011-241.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dXNfQaB9C-I/TaqCNrwijwI/AAAAAAAAJMc/lSOIsr56wRg/s512/Photopass2011-261.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mlM42Uo7CMY/TdCJZp070cI/AAAAAAAAKDE/EPVWjsqa6ow/s640/IMG_1162.JPG


Here’s some pics of CS’s scrapbook which she made after we got home. She got the book from WoD but added her own artistic embellishments and other pictures which made it even nicer!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r9YvNwWSMCc/TeozN6ecW5I/AAAAAAAAKFA/zFK4ooR1bF8/s720/SF-1.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xJCkXoS6FIg/TeozOBjEq_I/AAAAAAAAKFI/s8OaahfY-rM/s720/SF-2.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q0jpGqTKPMI/TeozViisWeI/AAAAAAAAKFM/h83ydG8sQaM/s720/SF-6.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-teQvmVSzzpk/TeozVgX9aiI/AAAAAAAAKFQ/kRtjsN5ArtU/s720/SF-4.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_6TFCHKJuRs/TeozaWMdHLI/AAAAAAAAKFU/k6Hs386QcMw/s720/SF-5.jpg


Sooo, that’s the end of the Chunkysisters Birthday trip to WDW!! My next trip with DH is for free dining and F&W in Sept/Oct and we’re staying at AoA!! Soo excited! I may or may not do a PTR due to my arm condition (radial tunnel, which is in both arms. The right arm is supposed to undergo surgery too but not until the left has fully recovered and been evaluated for progress. Unfortunately surgery for this condition is not 100% proven to work and only time will tell).

Hope to do some DIS meets with some familiar faces (Hi Ann, Hi Amy!) whom I know are planning trips during the same time!

Until next time...

THE END

[natebenma]

i loved your awesome report! Spectacular pictures. The pp pix of you and your sisters on the final full day are incredible. What a great bunch of memories for your family. Great photo album too.

Sorry to hear about your arm(s). I hope the surgery improves the situation.

Look forward to reading more after your next trip.

Dee

[chunkymonkey]

i loved your awesome report! Spectacular pictures. The pp pix of you and your sisters on the final full day are incredible. What a great bunch of memories for your family. Great photo album too.

Sorry to hear about your arm(s). I hope the surgery improves the situation.

Look forward to reading more after your next trip.

Dee

Thanks Dee! I hope to do a PTR. I think I'll have to start it soon because I am excited about getting into planning mode. which is almost as much fun as the trip itself! :woohoo:

[annmarieda]

The last day is always a bummer, but with the rain... :(

I do love all your pics though, and the scrapbook is amazing!

I am so sorry about your arms!!! I knew that something was keeping you from being able to type... thought it was your hand. I really hope you start feeling better and can do a PTR.

I am looking forward to a dismeet. I am super excited that we are going the same time. I arrive 9/25 (assuming airfare cooperates) and leave 10/4. 9/29 is the day of the run and 10/2 will be filled with stuff for dd's birthday. Those days might be more difficult to do a meet... but not out of the question. I know we plan to do MNSSHP on 9/30.... also the ToT run has an after party that we plan to do.

Let me know how your plans shape up if you don't do a PTR!!!