(Aug '11 TR) Park Commando Status in Jeopardy! 10/9 final thoughts and title

[disneydreamingdebby]

Hello! Welcome to my August trip report!

We had a great trip (okay, it's Disney; the bad memories fade quickly!) We are DVC members and did a split stay between Jambo (AKV) and Bay Lake Towers (Contemporary) from Aug 8 to Aug 14.

I am going to do this report a bit differently than past ones. Instead of a day by day account, I am going to do topics. (With the exception of arrival and departure days- which are topics though, aren't they?)

So, quickly, before I get started, let me introduce us:

This is my lovely family at a dinner in OC, MD. My twin nine year old daughters, my wonderful dh, and me, your guide through our August trip.

Coming up:
Stacey has Disney's Must-Do's. I have My Disney Must-Have's!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

 

[sstewart]

Can't wait to hear about it!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I'm in! Your DD's are both lovely. (You too)

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Put your thumb up if you turn on the television in your resort room just to hear Stacey's Must-Do's play in the background.


Keep it up if your family questions why you have Stacey on again...

Hearing the Must-Do's is one more reminder that I am in Disney World!

A couple of items really stood out on this trip as Must-Have's for me:

(1) A Brita Bottle: I bought a pack at BJs wholesale club for $24.99 (It came with three bottles and six filters.) Target also had them for sale.

I asked for ice water at counter service restaurants and used water from fountains to fill the two we carried. Much lighter and earth friendly than water bottles.

(2) An identification badge holder: I bought this last year at Staples for $5. This is a picture from last year. My Mickey head was scratched, so I cleaned it off for this trip.

It has three pockets/ pouches. The clear one in front was ideal to hold our AP's and our room keys (for room entry and dining credits). I attached velcro to keep it closed. The pouch behind the clear was where I tucked receipts, and the zipper pouch held my necklace when I forgot to take it off one morning, and cash on other days.

(3) Coleman Ponchos: The rain is wonderfully unpredictable in the summer, and I had dollar store and Coleman ponchos. The dollar store arm length and overall length is short. The Coleman ones were much better. They were $1.47 at Walmart.

Anyone else have some Must-Have's to share?

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Can't wait to hear about it!

Welcome! Thank you for joining me!

I'm in! Your DD's are both lovely. (You too)

Aww; thank you! Welcome!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'm here!!!

 

[MeMom]

Put your thumb up if you turn on the television in your resort room just to hear Stacey's Must-Do's play in the background.


Hearing the Must-Do's is one more reminder that I am in Disney World!

And should I stand on my head if I youtube it at home sometimes just to hear it?

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I just came over from the PTR board, and I am joining in for your TR. I love your idea about reporting on topics instead of days - a new and interesting way to do a TR! Looking forward to follow along!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

But wait--we departed Phila on the same day-- oh well.

We headed out bright and early to my mom's for her to taxi us to the airport. I originally typed a noneventful ride, but it wasn't, we hit a bit of traffic on I-95 which caused a bit of panic. We still made it with plenty of time to check bags, pass security, and eat breakfast. (Oh and dh will certainly want me to add that he got frisked...poor guy, I must not pay him enough attention since he thought that exciting enough to make a status update.)

My girls "attempted" to take a nap on the plane

We landed safely and quickly and headed off to the practice monorail. We headed down to the 1st floor to find that the magical express counter had moved.....

I asked an wonderful employee and he informed me that we were on side A and we needed to go back to side B...duh...how many times have we done this?

So, once we arrived at ME, we promptly got into line for AKL. I was about to head to the restroom when we began boarding and quickly took off for Carribean Beach, POP, and AKL.

I love Disney; my dh smiles so much more, and my kids are so much more loving to each other!

Tink helped us find the way

I hated that I couldn't get in the very front...

Although the ride didn't seem terribly long, I think it was...

We made it to AKL and checked in to find our room ready and a storm brewing. The original plan was to swim, but I wasn't sure if the weather would hold. We decided to get some lunch at Mara

(I am sure I ordered flatbread too)

and then head to Hollywood Studio (which was open until 1 am).

We had some fun at the Studios (more on that when I do an update on Studios...) and we ate dinner (more on that later too). Wow, this might be a bit more complicated than I thought...

Disclaimer: I travelled with my point and shoot and my iphone for the first three days or so. The weather was iffy and I just wasn't committed enough to lug around the Canon. (I went to the park without a bag and felt amazing!!) I did use it the second half of the trip in the parks and I certainly used it at the resorts...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I'm here!!!

WooHoo! I didn't get a chance to contact you. We left Sunday. Terrible storms on Sunday night; I hope your flight Saturday was uneventful.

And should I stand on my head if I youtube it at home sometimes just to hear it?

I love that you always make me laugh out loud.

I just came over from the PTR board, and I am joining in for your TR. I love your idea about reporting on topics instead of days - a new and interesting way to do a TR! Looking forward to follow along!

Thanks for hopping over. I am not sure on this idea, but I figured I'd give it a go...it will let me reflect on more and offer opinions in a more organized way.

 

[mgsmom]

Hey girl! I'm here! Can't wait to hear ALL about it!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Oh my friend ... you know me too well....I was completely stressing when I saw your link....and now I feel better....here's my thumbs up

Great start....great pics....the girls get cuter everytime I see a new picture of them!! I'm excited about your new format for your TR!!!

Glad you all made it home safe and sound Can't wait to follow along on another adventure with you all!!

 

[DWGal210]

Hi! Great start! Your kids are just darling! Sounds like an awesome trip, can't wait to hear all about it!!

 

[precious pixie]

joining in i love the disney effect (how it makes everyone happier)

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Hey girl! I'm here! Can't wait to hear ALL about it!

Glad you're here! I am reading your tr too, but need to take a step in between to be able to post.

Oh my friend ... you know me too well....I was completely stressing when I saw your link....and now I feel better....here's my thumbs up

Great start....great pics....the girls get cuter everytime I see a new picture of them!! I'm excited about your new format for your TR!!!

Glad you all made it home safe and sound Can't wait to follow along on another adventure with you all!!

Thanks you...you're such a sweetheart! Glad I can give you something to do while you pass the very short days until your trip!!!

Hi! Great start! Your kids are just darling! Sounds like an awesome trip, can't wait to hear all about it!!

Thank you. I wonder if there can be a bad trip to Disney for us Disers?? Can't imagine. Welcome!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Two days before leaving I called Member Services and requested a room near the lobby and a pool view. She said that she really didn't have an option to do near the lobby, but she would type it in the notes.

We checked into our room (5654) which was down the Zebra trail, near the elevator with a pool view. I wouldn't say it was close to the lobby, but it wasn't too far either.

When we went in, we discovered that the room was a disabled accessible room. The girls thought the bathroom was the coolest...

I guess you can see we are in the leave the lid up camp...I will remember this if we ever sell our house and need marketing pics...

I failed to take and couldn't locate a picture of the sliding bathroom door, but the bathroom had a sliding door.

The bathroom was incredibly large and lacked artwork so it was quite sparse. The sink didn't have much room to put out our toiletries, so I had dh bring in one of the coffee tables that we always have to move to the side for the girls pull out bed. We put it in between the sink and toilet with plenty of room to spare.

When we took a shower, the water ran out of the shower into the bathroom and even out to the hallway. Dh and I kept adding towels to the floor to try to contain the water.

Neither of these situations bothered us. Just wanted to comment on them. I do think they should have a slight slope to the shower to keep water in. It wouldn't impact the ability of a disabled person, but might make it safer.

This is to show the door to the patio. This wasn't something I could get used to. I prefer the slider since I have two little ones who enjoy going in and out. However, it was something new to see.


Had to borrow some pictures from last year for the room (I don't know why I didn't take any ) The bed was closer to the slider last year and the pull out was near the wall as you entered the room. I liked the couch closer to the patio better. (visually more appealing to see the neat bed before seeing the nine year olds "stuff" all over the pull out bed.)

I took some early morning pictures of our view...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I am mixed about the Uzima Pool area.

First it is nice if you want shade. It seems to be that you have to seek out the sun, and sit in the middle of others to be in the sun. (Why are the chairs squeezed together?)

The pool bar area is very nice. Plenty of tables and chairs around the bar area make it family friendly. (Since I have a family with little ones, this appeals to me. For those without children or with grown children--this might not be the refuge you are seeking.)

Again borrowing a picture (from disneyfoodblog- which it appears they borrowed too)--

The CMs at this pool were awesome. The 3:00 pool party makes for yet another resort experience --and yet another activity option at Disney.

Hannah came over and told me that she and Emma were going to Hula Hoop but not to come watch. Love my daughter...

So, after a little bit of time, I not only went over to watch, but I video-taped the new game they were playing. It was musical rings with a bit of twister thrown in... Hannah was a finalist...


Click for video - and please let me know if it works...



After Hannah won an inflatable pink snake sword, the girls joined the water balloon "dunk" game.

 

[idoeyes1]

Glad you had an amazing trip, can't wait to read all about it. I just bought one of the brita water bottles to test it out before our trip. Glad to see Emma wearing her new glasses

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

joining in i love the disney effect (how it makes everyone happier)

Welcome! It is a bit crazy how that works... I think that the smells have a lot to do with it... Hehe