1st Trip to WDW and AKL...w/a few pot holes in the road Day 4 Update

[BridetobeDisney]

Oh we bought too much! I found the bag but it was so tiny. It was for little girls. I kept looking for a bigger version but never found it. I fell in love with pin collecting though. Brad and I both are addicted.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Happy to hear about the second room...that is what I picture a room with a view to look like...love the pics of your family--ya'll all look great... and I love Jenny's tink face

 

[bertegirl]

Happy to hear about the second room...that is what I picture a room with a view to look like...love the pics of your family--ya'll all look great... and I love Jenny's tink face

My thoughts, too. Yeah...only problem she wanted to spend $15 every day to get it painted, again!

 

[MEK]

Nice update! Love the view from your second room. I had to wait to see your pics until I got home from work. Very nice!

 

[kgle]

Wow that view is amazing! I am so glad that it worked out I think the portrait session pictures are cute!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I agree...the room view was worth the wait. I would like to stay at the AKL but the only way I'd stay there is if I had a savannah view so I guess I'll just keep pinching my pennies.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Thank you for sharing your family's magical venture
I have enjoyed seeing it through your eyes
but, now it is our turn; we leave dark and early in the morning

can't wait to enjoy the through a child' eyes...

 

[bertegirl]

Sorry we went to Menards tonight...so I didn't get another day posted. We got carpet for the basement. Yeah! Plus Austin got his 1 year shots. Poor thing 3 shots and blood levels drawn. I'll try and get on tomorrow.

 

[hlrababy]

No problem. By the way I loved the drinks at Ohana!

AWww, I am so glad you liked them!!!!

 

[wlwilliams9]

More, more, more....I want more!!!

 

[momofoneplustwinz]

How is it going with the daycare?

 

[bertegirl]

More, more, more....I want more!!!

Me, too! I also want to nap, clean my house, finish unpacking. (Ha,ha) I will try and get on tomorrow.

How is it going with the daycare?

I have 2 fulltime, 1 pregnant mommy and an interview this week with 2 more. That would be plenty. I actually don't have any until Tue. My 1st boy got hand, foot, mouth. Ugh!

 

[chicagoshannon]

I'm not completely done unpacking yet either.

Hand foot mouth disease. YUCK!

 

[bertegirl]

Ok 1st off I am so mad! I had my entire Day 3 done and I closed the tab, ugh! So here we go again...

Day 3 is where our schedule took a major turn from our original plans. We had loved Epcot so much the night before we wanted to go back. So instead of staying at out hotel the entire day and relaxing we decided to do a park, again. I called bright and early and checked to see what ADR's were available for Epcot. We hadn't originally planned on eating anything other than CS today. To our amazement they had an early Biergarten. Yippie!

So we lazely got ready to go down and eat at Mara. I tried the Mickey Waffles and they were ok. Was it just us or was everything here cold? Anyway afterwards Jenny and I decided to do the Arts & Crafts which was pottery. We got to paint items and then they glazed them in the heat for you. I made a plate and Jenny a mug. I need to upload photos of them still. Bad mommy! Afterwards we all decided to hit the pool

We took the kids up to nap. I took this as my opportunity to head back to the pool and lay out and sip on a green magarita. It was very good. I tried the mojito there, too. Which is normally my favorite, but it wasn't very good. Then we got ready to head to Epcot. Jason took Jenny downstairs and let her do the afternoon activity which was making a bookmark. This is a great resort if you want to participate in all the activities.

By 4:00 we were on our way to Epcot. We had packed the ponchos just in case and boy were we glad we did. It was literally pouring by the time the bus pulled into the parking lot. Luckily the Maclaren Dbl stroller comes with a rain shield that attaches to the stroller and the kids never got a drop off rain on them.

Jenny wanted to do some rides...so we headed for Donalds boat ride and Malestrom.

In case you notice...Jenny does wear the polka dot dress a lot on this trip, even though I packed 8 outfits. I had to do laundry 3 times to keep it clean.

Next we headed to Germany. I took some photos the day before when it was nice and sunny:

We got to our reservation a little early, but they got us right in. We had the nicest little waitress who loved that we were Berte and Ziesman. Both of our families are from Germany. Jason ordered the beer sampler and I had a glass of Reisling. I didn't take food photos, because there was too much going on, but if you love German food than go and try it out. Jenny loved this ressie because she got to do the chicken dance

and Polka with her daddy

Afterwards we decided to walk the rest of the way around Epcot even though it was raining. I wanted to see it all! I could spend a few more days here next time and still not see everything. This is the park that made me decide to do park hoppers next time and eat more meals here!!!

When we go back to AKL they were doing a parade in the lobby with the kids. Of course Jenny had to join in...she loves being the center of attention.

We decided to hit the bed early tonight since we had our big dis meet the next day...Would anyone show up? Would it rain? Stayed tuned for Day 4

 

[bertegirl]

So we just got amazing news that my BIL will be retiring from The Army in Nov. He has 21 years in and has spent most of the last 10 years in Germany, Iraq, Afghan, and Korea. He will remain in Iraq until this fall, but we are so excited to know he will soon be home for good. This has put a little wrench in our plans and we will most likely be taking our next vacation to Clarksville Tennessee where he lives. Thats ok I always wanted to go to Dollywood and Jenny will go anywhere to see Uncle Peter. The bads news is my niece no longer lives there as her and her mom moved to Florida. Hopefully she can come up while we are there, too! I was just so excited I had to share the news.

 

[chicagoshannon]

Great update. AKL sounds like so much fun for the kids. Sorry it rained on you. I think we were at our condo during that storm.

Can't wait to hear about the dis meet. I was sad that we couldn't go.

 

[wlwilliams9]

We were at Epcot that evening too! I'm surprised we didn't run into you or maybe we did and just didn't realize it! We've eaten at the Biergarten before and loved it! We were at Totto for dinner that night! Epcot is one of our favorite parks too, especially the World Showcase at night when all of the torches are lit!

 

[Kae]

I agree AKL has so much to do for the kids. And every trip we come back from I wish we would have spent more time at Epcot.

Kae

 

[robinb]

I wanted POFQ, too. But they were sold out. Our 1st choice has been WL. So wish we could have gotten in there. The staff at AKL did leave something to be desired...the house keepers were nice, but we never got any towel animals.

Hi there! I started reading your trip report and I was wondering exactly what you didn't like about the AKL CMs? Was it the original room mix-up? It seemed like they were out of their way to make things better and gave you a room with a great view. Perhaps something else happens in the "furture" FWIW, I have stayed at WDW many, many times at all levels of resorts and I have only had towel animals 2-3 times times.

Carry on! Your kids are adorable!

 

[bertegirl]

Hi there! I started reading your trip report and I was wondering exactly what you didn't like about the AKL CMs? Was it the original room mix-up? It seemed like they were out of their way to make things better and gave you a room with a great view. Perhaps something else happens in the "furture" FWIW, I have stayed at WDW many, many times at all levels of resorts and I have only had towel animals 2-3 times times.

Carry on! Your kids are adorable!

We never had anyone say hi, offer us any advice and I even said we were 1st timers. If anything they seemed upset when you interupted their conversations with each other at the front desk. That was our 3rd room...3 moves in 1 week is a lot with 2 little ones. We also had to call a second time to get our room cleaned up many days and this was a pain since we wanted to put Austin down for a nap. The people at Mara are far far from friendly. They didn't want to explain the meal plan. Like I said this was a learning experience for us since we had never been. We really didn't care about towel animals, either. We just made a personal decision not to stay there again.

We were at GF and Poly and not even staying there we had more interaction with CM's. One gave Jenny a pin, another a coloring book and crayons, 2 offered us dining advice and advice on getting around the parks. They seemed to like their jobs at those hotels which made us want to come again!