Will You Chill Out if I Sprinkle You With Pixie Dust? The End p136 *New TR Link* p138

[saintstickets]

I love this place (the world showcase that is)

Japan was so empty

Great pics MEK! I love to enter WS as soon as they open because no one is there. You can take all the pics you want without "Bubba", "Gertrude" & that fat guy scratching his backside getting in the pic (hope no DISers ever caught THIS fat guy in their pics! )! It seems strange at first with so few people there but you get over it quickly!

Where did you go next? Hmmmmm......

 

[MEK]

I am too far behind to comment on everything, but I DID read all of your updates. I never thought to take pictures without a flash in the France movie...I'll have to remember that next time. We, too, love that movie and that is the one we never miss on a trip (the only one we missed last week was Canada).

I am impressed that you are that caught up while still on vacation. Hope you are having a great time.

I actually watched all the movies during our last trip so hopefully I have a few pics from Canada to share.

I think Mark would like what you had for lunch in Morocco (me, not so much).

I actually didn't think I was going to like it, but I got brave and it actually turned out to be one of the better QS meals we had. So yeah! Tell Mark he can be my date there any time.

You took great pictures with your phone!

Thanks. Total luck and lots of editing.

Great pics MEK! I love to enter WS as soon as they open because no one is there. You can take all the pics you want without "Bubba", "Gertrude" & that fat guy scratching his backside getting in the pic (hope no DISers ever caught THIS fat guy in their pics! )! It seems strange at first with so few people there but you get over it quickly!.

I think I found a new strategy. Go to the World showcase at 11am and work my way to the front of the park.

Speaking of Bubba and Gertrude - I almost named this TR "I ain't going to no Gaitlinsburg". You'll have to stay tuned for that one.........

Where did you go next? Hmmmmm......

Think new, bright, and colorful!

 

[glennbo123]

Finally getting a chance to comment!

Look at this.....the Cast Members in France were welcoming everyone. Aren't they cute? That is all of them except for the girl with the "too tight" blue jeans in 90 degree weather that jumped in my picture.

Love that one!

Great recap of your visit to World Showcase. The food looked good, but for some reason I can never get past the name "slider". It just doesn't sound appetizing to me. They could call it just about anything else and I'd be fine with it.

 

[MEK]

Finally getting a chance to comment!


Love that one!

For some reason I found it really annoying that that girl jumped right in there like that. I know it shouldn't have bothered me, but I was still like....What?????? Just let me get my picture of the CMs.

Great recap of your visit to World Showcase. The food looked good, but for some reason I can never get past the name "slider". It just doesn't sound appetizing to me. They could call it just about anything else and I'd be fine with it.

Now that you mention, slider is a pretty strange name for any small wrap or small sandwich. Who the heck ever thought of that?

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I think the name slider started with White Castle hamburgers. A lot of grease & onions on tiny square burgers, tasty, but no longer on my plate!

I've never seen the movie in France, too busy doing other things.

Never eaten in Morocco, but drank there last year, horrible drink!

By day two we decided to split the QSMs, ordered one meal for breakfast & one for lunch. Just too much food for us to eat.

 

[MEK]

I think the name slider started with White Castle hamburgers. A lot of grease & onions on tiny square burgers, tasty, but no longer on my plate!

Interesting. I never knew where that term came frame since I have really only heard it used for the last 5 or 6 years. I figured it meant it was supposed to "slide" down your mouth.

I've never seen the movie in France, too busy doing other things.

You should stop and see it one of these trips. Its really got some wonderful pictures of the scenery.

Never eaten in Morocco, but drank there last year, horrible drink!

Alcoholic or non-alcoholic? I had the Moroccan rita once, but I had so many adult beverages prior to that I can't even tell you whether it was good or bad.

By day two we decided to split the QSMs, ordered one meal for breakfast & one for lunch. Just too much food for us to eat.

I think that's a smart way to use the plan. I actually didn't feel stuffed on the QSDP like I do with some of the table service meals. I thought the portion size was pretty reasonable. Especially at WPE - definately portioned to prevent over eating ( at least my meal was).

 

[Pinkocto]

And here's a spoiler alert - partially because of the AP voucher it looks like we will return before NEXT October. My brother is booking a condo through VRBO next June and he has invited us to stay free of charge. How can I pass that up? It's an extra trip that I hadn't planned on, but perhaps it will be an experience to put a different twist on a Disney trip. After all these resort and DVC stays it will actually be interesting to see how an off site trip stacks up. For DIS Research and all that!

Purely for research purposes! but seriously, that's wonderful. I can't wait to hear all about it. I hope you'll do a TR.

 

[MEK]

Purely for research purposes! but seriously, that's wonderful. I can't wait to hear all about it. I hope you'll do a TR.

You know we DISers will do anything for research purposes, even if it means making the sacrifice of going on an extra trip

I'm sure I will do some type of TR pertaining to it. As long as people read them, then I will write them.

 

[MEK]

AOA Pit Stop

Before I get on with my next update, I do have a some new vacation news. As you know, my brother and his family really want to go to Disney next summer. The pixie dust really worked its magic. They are serious enough about this trip that they are putting a deposit down on a condo. I actually found it through VRBO. Here's the link.

My brother invited Denny and I to stay with them. With the new premium AP deal and the offer for a free stay, you how can I say no? So, it looks like it won't be a year between my Disney trips after all. Looks like I will be going again in June. I am sure you are all shocked beyond belief!

My real motivation for this trip remains the kids. I think it helps to have other adults around to help at the parks and LJ needs a ride buddy. Denny and I are good at that!

Because this really is an unplanned trip, I am not even going to price out airfare. We are just going to make it a road trip. This will be a totally different type of trip for us, but it should be interesting. As I told Pam, I am doing this for Research Purposes....road trip, off site stay. I'm curious to see how it all stacks up.

So....On with the update.......

In my last update we had just left the World Showcase and had plugged our friend's address into the GPS. But I wasn't quite ready to leave the bubble. I needed a little bit more time. There was a new resort I wanted to visit. When I asked Denny if he would mind a quick stop at AoA, he said "OK".


Here we are pulling up to the guard gate. No need to use the Beaches N Cream excuse here.

Oh My. there's a dark cloud overhead

Talk about a sudden rain shower

My picture of the main entrance is blurry (probably because it was still drizzling), so I'm not going to post it. But this was on the outside of the building

This is the wall right behind the registration desk

Even their vest looks pretty cool

This overhead lighting is certainly a focal point in the lobby

The wall across from the registration desk is filled with many unique drawings and pictures

There is another wall covered with unique paintings with characters from a myriad of animation classics.

Next we ducked into the gift shop

From the gift shop we walked into the QS restaurant. I think this picture is of one of the lights on the ceiling. Teeka (Wendy) can correct me if I'm wrong, since she just got back from AoA.

Was this the floor? Help. So confused?

I know this was a cool picture on the way

Continued in Next Post.........

 

[MEK]

Continued from previous post.......

Stacy was on

Funny story - my brother confided that he really developed a crush on Stacy while he was staying back at the treehouse villa in the evenings watching Stacy TV. He is more than a little bummed that he won't be able to see her next summer.

I took a few pictures of the amazing menu

I wonder if the veggie burger is any good?

There were many more choices, but you get the idea.

More cool lights

Another picture?

Denny was very impressed with AoA. On several occasions he said, "they really did a great job with this".

I mention Denny's comments because he is not one to gush over anything Disney.

Now for a tour of the main pool area

Continued in the Next Post.....

 

[MEK]

Continued From Previous Post........

A Map of the resort we found down near the bridge over to POP.

Good Old Pop right across the bridge

Remember how many times you looked across the lake from Pop and saw those drab, empty buildings? This resort is such a welcomed change.

I would have liked to walk over to some of the other areas, but I was starting to feel the time crunch, so we headed back to the lobby.

Hmmm....An entrance.....

You know we had to go in and look around

I have to be honest, just from this quick view, the inside corridors just didn't do it for me. It looked kind of, hmmmmm, not sure what the word is that I am looking for....blah, maybe?

Picture on the inside wall

Back outside

Pool bar menu, anyone?

Back inside we noted the arcade

Ladies Room

Park hours sign

Public Internet

You can print your own boarding passes

And even check your flight status....Nice......

 

[MHTeacher]

Enjoyed the mini-tour of AoA. I think I would love to stay there!

 

[MEK]

Continued from previous post......

But I had to go back to the wall with all the cool paintings because I wasn't done taking pictures of them yet

You're not getting tired of them yet, are you?

It was hard to tear myself away from AoA. But after a quick pit stop and a mug refill, we left the bubble.

Bye AoA

Hello downtown Orlando

Oh crap. Too much time in the bubble made me completely forget that it was Friday afternoon and approaching rush hour.

But I had this little beauty from Karamel Kuche to ease the pain of sitting in traffic

And this little baby (yeah, yeah, I know....I took a bite)

Another traffic shot (probably for FB)


Untitled by dvcmek1, on Flickr

The traffic was finally moving by the time we reached Sanford

I texted Nick to ask him if they had left yet. Nope. Still waiting for the train to depart.

I asked him to text my some pictures, but this is all I got. This is where you sleep if you have a coach seat on the auto train


Untitled by dvcmek1, on Flickr

Getting closer (33 miles)

Even closer

Woo Hoo!

We stopped at a liquor store so we could pick up some adult beverages to bring our friends.

I couldn't help it. I had to take this picture......


Untitled by dvcmek1, on Flickr

Although she doesn't look all that mad, does she?????

Entering our friend's development (after we drove past it once...oops)

And here we are.......

Up Next.....24 hours in Daytona and a wicked hangover.......

 

[Wicket's Mom]

We saw the front entrance because ME stopped here first to drop people off. AoA looked pretty nice, but we didn't get to see the pool, wow that is very cool!

The drink I had in Morocco was some sort of Pina Colada, had alcohol, but was a very bad drink.

 

[MEK]

Enjoyed the mini-tour of AoA. I think I would love to stay there!

It looks so cool, doesn't it? I would definitely love to stay there and I hope a get a chance some day. It would be really fun.

We saw the front entrance because ME stopped here first to drop people off. AoA looked pretty nice, but we didn't get to see the pool, wow that is very cool!

It really was a beautiful pool area. I am so glad we took the time to explore. I wish we had more time to see the entire resort, but as it was we probably spent 45 minutes there.

The drink I had in Morocco was some sort of Pina Colada, had alcohol, but was a very bad drink.

A pina colada in Morocco just SOUNDS like a bad idea all together, so I give you props for trying it. You are braver than me.

 

[teekathepony]

I'm so glad you guys liked aoa, I really loved it there!
You are correct about your pictures, the first one is the light I. The lion king section of Landscape of Flavors and the second is the floor!
You got some really great detail shots!! I especially love the ones of the Big Blue pool, you should have jumped in the pool to listen to the sound system!

 

[MEK]

I'm so glad you guys liked aoa, I really loved it there!

I bet it was so much fun staying there. I would love to spend a few nights there. I just have to figure out how. I guess running out of DVC points would give me an excuse, don't you think?

You are correct about your pictures, the first one is the light I. The lion king section of Landscape of Flavors and the second is the floor!

After three months I was really having trouble remembering what was what!
Landscape of Flavors - I like that name.

You got some really great detail shots!! I especially love the ones of the Big Blue pool, you should have jumped in the pool to listen to the sound system!

Thanks.

Wow - the pool has an underwater sound system - that's pretty cool. I bet you loved that. Can't wait to see all your pictures.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Yay for going in June! But boo that we're going over the 4th of July, so we won't be able to meet you.

Even with the DVC membership, I'm so tempted to stay at AoA sometime. It's so cute!

I just love that what they did with this resort is so Disney. It was such a great idea. I think my Mom and I will visit in November just to check it out. Probably to eat.

I love all of the pictures that you took! I can't wait to see it in person.

That's weird that they put Ariel in the ladies room. Is that to give us a complex?

I wish I had something from Karamel Kuche for every time I got stuck in traffic.....but then I would get really fat.....

 

[mickeystoontown]

It certainly sounds like your brother and his family have acquired a taste for the Disney Kool-Aid. I'm so excited that you and Denny were invited to tag along on the June trip.

On to the pictures of Art of Animation, the pictures are fantastic! Hunter and I both said that the resort looks super cool. John's reaction to pictures (not your's)? "It looks like a cartoon." Duh, that's what they were going for.

 

[MEK]

Yay for going in June! But boo that we're going over the 4th of July, so we won't be able to meet you.

I'm not a super huge fan of June, but hey - its free and its probably good timing this year because once we get back all the grad parties will start and we need to plan one for Nick.

Even with the DVC membership, I'm so tempted to stay at AoA sometime. It's so cute!

I think I might have too. Now that I've looked at my pictures again I realize how much I want to stay in one of those Little Mermaid rooms.

I just love that what they did with this resort is so Disney. It was such a great idea. I think my Mom and I will visit in November just to check it out. Probably to eat.

I was actually sorry I didn't eat there because the menu looked great. It is really worth checking out. Much cuter in real life and so modern in all the details and amenities.

I love all of the pictures that you took! I can't wait to see it in person.

Thanks. I'm so glad Denny was up for stopping there.

That's weird that they put Ariel in the ladies room. Is that to give us a complex?

Probably! Funny thing it, I can't remember exactly WHERE in the bathroom she was, but she is surrounded by the same pink tile. Hmmmm.....Wendy???????

I wish I had something from Karamel Kuche for every time I got stuck in traffic.....but then I would get really fat.....

Yeah - me too because I get stuck in traffic like 5 or 6 times a day!

It certainly sounds like your brother and his family have acquired a taste for the Disney Kool-Aid. I'm so excited that you and Denny were invited to tag along on the June trip.

Yeah - they really loved it and they immediately started realizing that they only scratched the surface of what Disney has to offer.

AT first I was a little skeptical about committing, but now I think it will be fun. I'd actually like to try some restaurants outside of the bubble for a change. I really want to get over to Celebration and maybe City Walk. Then we will probably stop in Daytona again on the way home.

On to the pictures of Art of Animation, the pictures are fantastic! Hunter and I both said that the resort looks super cool. John's reaction to pictures (not your's)? "It looks like a cartoon." Duh, that's what they were going for.

It really does look cool. I agree with Denny that they did a great job. And I know if Denny comments, then they really DID do a great job. He's still a bit of a skeptic.