We Went to See Mic-key M-o-u-s-e ... Again! - Sept '12 TR [COMPLETE]

[lurkernj]

Hey Bearcatsfan! I'm back and just catching up on your TR. I'm glad you decided to still do one. I'm sorry your trip didn't turn out better for you.

Sounds like a great time with the family.

That really stinks that your foot was giving you so much trouble, and I"m sorry you didn't get to experience the parks much.

I stayed at POR last week and every time I passed by Boatwrights it was close to empty, so I'm curious why they would even put you on the second floor when you clearly had a mobility issue.

That is so sweet that your hubby had these surprises planned. He's a keeper. I probably would have been bawling like a baby after the second one, being an emotional mess that I can be.

I'm glad you got moved to Sarasota and hope that the rest of your trip was more pleasant.

 

[shalom]

My crutch went out from under me and, to keep from falling to the floor, I put my injured right foot down HARD to catch myself.

I winced just reading that -- catching yourself like that can hurt when you're not already injured! You needed some help and support and I'm so sorry that the employees at POFQ couldn't step up to the challenge.

This was our don't-really-know-what-we're-doing day, remember? What we ended up doing today was changing resorts.

Is it terrible that my first thought was that I admire your psychic scheduling skills? Seriously, considering your careful planning ahead of time, so far you've adjusted a lot of things -- from dinner reservations on down -- quite admirably.

Spent most of our breakfast at Kona crying like a big baby.

I suppose it's this sort of thing (the accident on the monorail, not the crying!) that your doctor was worried about when he(?) thought you should probably cancel. Once you're wounded, it ups the odds of falling and getting hurt again.

It was the "You and Me" bouquet with two roses in a vase with a sterling silver bracelet charm. It was truly lovely. It had a white rose with red edges and a deep red rose along with some stuff that looked like baby's breath, but wasn't. It also had leaves placed just so they made the shape of the outline of a heart outside the vase. Very pretty!

Aw. Bless your hubby's heart! Maybe it wasn't the vacation you'd dreamed of, but I have to say that, from where I sit, there were some pretty wonderful moments -- and most of them were due to your hubby.

Housekeeping showed up to clean the room (around us )

Sometimes Disney is sooo brilliant, but then there are those other times...

We were put into a 1 bedroom villa on the 4th floor. It was more like moving into a small apartment than a hotel room! My husband opened the door and said, "I don't think I can stay at POP again."

Heh. What a contrast in perspective. We'd totally be staying in SSR every chance we got, except by our standards the SSR units are too tiny!

But everyone in the family who has been there loves the resort itself, from the music to the decor to the views. Also, don't forget the Disney horse pictures in the kids' area in the lobby -- youngest daughter thinks that might be the best part.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I just stumbled upon your TR after wondering how your trip was. I joined in on the thread that you started for roll call for Sept. at POFQ..I'm so sorry to hear that your trip did not go as planned. I was wondering about you and others from the thread when we were at POFQ. I was looking for lime green mickeys but I didn't see any. We were only there for a few days..Thats terrible that you had a bad experience at POFQ. Saratoga Springs does look like a beautiful resort. I hope to stay there sometime. Im looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip and read your dining reviews.

HI! Welcome!! I looked everywhere for LGMH too, but since we didn't get to the parks, I didn't see any. How did your trip go? Did you make a TR? If so, give me the link and I'll come visit ya! I'd love to know how your trip went and what you thought of FQ! I'm hoping everyone from the thread had wonderful vacations!

Sorry to hear about all the bad luck you had on your trip I'm glad to hear things worked out in that you got upgraded to a deluxe - SSR is my home resort (I recently bought DVC)...we walked over on that very rainy Tuesday when we were done at Disney Quest to catch the bus to DTD - the resort is so beautiful! I can't wait to stay one day. Can't wait to see your pictures.

It definitely is a beautiful place. I finally have had some luck with Photobucket tonight, so I'm uploading photos as we speak. I'll be posting some soon!

Goodness! Your DH sure shined among the poop that was happening!! I imagine the flowers were among the most beautiful that you had seen and I would have shed buckets of tears of joy for the awesomeness! You are a blessed woman with your sweet DH!

I've never stayed at SSR but I do think it is beautiful. We did the DVC tour with their villas and wow! I love that SSR is so close to DTD too.

I hope your foot is on the road to recovery now.

Yes, DH and his many surprises were definitely the highlight of the trip. SSR is beautiful - can't wait to hopefully stay there again some day.

My foot is here and there, but thank you for asking. DH says I'm trying to do too much too soon and that I need to stay off of it!

Hello Darling,

Well, I just got caught up. I'm at a loss for words, and feel so bad for you. I know how badly it can suck when your expectations are so HIGH for a trip and EVERYTHING goes wrong. That happened to me last year when I went to California to visit my Dad. Long story short, it was the WORST vacation EVER... I cried night after night because it sucked so much. My Dad ended up in the emergency room and hospital for 10 of the 12 days we were there. Maybe one day I'll laugh about it and share with ya.

Anyway.... On a plus side... You have one amazing husband. Do you think he could talk to mine and convince him to be a little more romantic and spontanious?

I'm glad you were switched to a better hotel. That part sounds amazing. I've always wanted to stay there and can't wait to read more about your experience there. I sure hope we don't have the same problems you did at riverside? Now I'm worried.

I hope things are well for you right now my friend. PM me if ya wanna talk.

Ugh - sorry to hear about your California trip last year. I'm hoping, like you said, one day I can look back on all this and laugh ... loudly.

I would not be worried about your trip in the least. Our problems stemmed mostly from my fall(s) and they way the staff handled it/them. We truly loved FQ - the atmosphere, the room - and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others. You should go with confidence - PROMISE!

Hey Bearcatsfan! I'm back and just catching up on your TR. I'm glad you decided to still do one. I'm sorry your trip didn't turn out better for you.

Sounds like a great time with the family.

That really stinks that your foot was giving you so much trouble, and I"m sorry you didn't get to experience the parks much.

I stayed at POR last week and every time I passed by Boatwrights it was close to empty, so I'm curious why they would even put you on the second floor when you clearly had a mobility issue.

That is so sweet that your hubby had these surprises planned. He's a keeper. I probably would have been bawling like a baby after the second one, being an emotional mess that I can be.

I'm glad you got moved to Sarasota and hope that the rest of your trip was more pleasant.

Hey you! Thanks for stopping by. Glad to see you made it back from your trip safe and sound. Looking forward to reading all about it!

I kind of wondered why Boatwright's put us upstairs, also, but I think they were going for a table with a little atmosphere (we were seated next to a small, cozy fireplace).

Yeah, I think I'll keep my hubby! I'm just so surprised he managed to keep everything to himself ... I was truly impressed!

 

[BearcatsFan]

I winced just reading that -- catching yourself like that can hurt when you're not already injured! You needed some help and support and I'm so sorry that the employees at POFQ couldn't step up to the challenge.

Thank you.

Is it terrible that my first thought was that I admire your psychic scheduling skills? Seriously, considering your careful planning ahead of time, so far you've adjusted a lot of things -- from dinner reservations on down -- quite admirably.

I'm so glad we ended up leaving Wednesday open since it turned out we had to have the entire day to change resorts!



I suppose it's this sort of thing (the accident on the monorail, not the crying!) that your doctor was worried about when he(?) thought you should probably cancel. Once you're wounded, it ups the odds of falling and getting hurt again.

Oh yes, that's exactly what the doctor said. He said I'd likely have lots of mobility issues, but thought all my problems would be solved by renting the ECV. How I wish!


Aw. Bless your hubby's heart! Maybe it wasn't the vacation you'd dreamed of, but I have to say that, from where I sit, there were some pretty wonderful moments -- and most of them were due to your hubby.


My husband saved this vacation for me, to be sure. Without all his moments of surprises, I think I would have been ready to call it quits on Tuesday night!

Sometimes Disney is sooo brilliant, but then there are those other times...


This was the one single situation that really threw me for a loop ... like, couldn't they wait until we were finished vacating the room?

Heh. What a contrast in perspective. We'd totally be staying in SSR every chance we got, except by our standards the SSR units are too tiny!

But everyone in the family who has been there loves the resort itself, from the music to the decor to the views. Also, don't forget the Disney horse pictures in the kids' area in the lobby -- youngest daughter thinks that might be the best part.

Can't wait to finally share our photos of SSR! Our view wasn't that great (a big old tree was right outside our balcony) but hey I'll take it!

My responses in bold.

 

[BearcatsFan]

For some reason, Photobucket isn't allowing me to adjust size ... Have I mentioned how much I HATE Photobucket?

It was an absolutely gorgeous day when we headed out to POFQ!

Left turn ahead ...

We're Here!

Please remember ... I never quite got used to our new camera, so photo quality ain't the greatest!

 

[BearcatsFan]

Yep, it's a corner unit!

The view out our windows ...

Overview of room

Anddddd Photobucket decided I was finished uploading, so more later.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Wednesday, September 19th (continued)

After arriving and getting settled in to SSR, my husband spoke with the concierge about getting us an ADR for T-Rex. We never figured we'd be able to get in for that evening, but we were much closer to DTD than we were GF, so we thought it was worth a shot.

Much to our surprise, we were able to get an ADR, so off we went to enjoy another dinner at T-Rex (click for review).

After dinner, we decided to go out and explore DTD. I was completely unprepared for how busy it was! There were people everywhere, and the atmosphere was just electric! You'd think the stores were giving something away.

I needed to use the ladies room, so we wound around all the people and found one of the bathrooms near Ghiradelli (sp?). I parked the ECV and went in on my crutches.

The floor was wet-wet from people washing their hands and (I guess) flicking their fingers towards the floor before drying them. Little droplets of water EVERYWHERE! I picked my way to a stall, closed the door ...

... and fell backwards onto the toilet after my crutch hit a wet spot on the floor inside the stall.

I was so lucky I didn't whack my head on the back of the toilet or on the wall. I fell onto the toilet so hard the backs of both my legs were black and blue the next day.

We left immediately. At this point, I was just mentally done. Honestly, I didn't feel like there was anywhere I was safe to go on the crutches, and you gotta get off the ECV occasionally, KWIM?

Thursday, September 20th

Today was a zero day.

We woke up early. DH was determined to go to the park today for our tour. I looked at him and said, "You go. Everywhere I try to go, I fall and hurt myself. I'm staying here, where I'm safe. I'm not going anywhere. I'm done."

Of course, he refused to go without me, which made me sad. I tried insisting he go ... even yelled ... but he wasn't going anywhere without me, and I wasn't going anywhere.

By this point in time, I think I had asked to go home 6 or 7 times throughout the trip. Think what you like, but I was tired and in pain and had cried every day but Monday. My heart just wasn't in it anymore.

We stayed in and watched TV - all day and all evening. My husband went and got breakfast for us at Artist's Palatte (click for review), then later we had dinner delivered by Sassagoula's Pizza Express (click for review).

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Up next ... my venture back to DTD, and my third and final surprise!

 

[emmysmommy]

Oh no, sorry about fall #3. I'm sure you came back from vacation looking like you got in a scuffle with a big mouse! Sounds like you may have needed a day to just stay off your feet and relax. The idea of pizza delivery to the room sounds very nice.

Thanks for sharing the photos of your room. I love the carpet. Sure is a lovely room.

 

[lurkernj]

OMG, you poor thing!!!! Three falls, I probably wouldn't have left the room either. I agree, you're husband was definitley the shining star in this vacation after all the nasty stuff you went through. I hope you're planning a re-do so you get to experience all the stuff you missed this time around.

 

[CatNipRules]

First I just want to say that I'm still furious over the falls. It just makes me want to beat some sense into someone.

Secondly, thanks for sharing the pictures of you room! The view looks absolutely beautiful. It's making me even more excited for when we get there tomorrow!!

 

[Marnm02]

So sorry your trip didn't go as planned! I hope you're planning a re-do soon, and that you're feeling better.

 

[shalom]

By this point in time, I think I had asked to go home 6 or 7 times throughout the trip. Think what you like, but I was tired and in pain and had cried every day but Monday. My heart just wasn't in it anymore.

No ugly thoughts here. Constant pain just grinds you down. I would have spent the day quietly in the unit as well. Although I also think I would have given the whirlpool tub a shot if I were there all day, and had hubby steady me as I got in and out. Wouldn't share the tub with him if my ankle was hurting, though! Plus IIRR, there are doors to the bedroom over the tub in the SSR 1BRs, so people can soak and watch TV at the same time.

That POFQ room was lovely. Now I'm trying to remember if the other corner rooms I've seen were King rooms; maybe ordering a king bed ups your odds of getting one.

Hope your ankle is doing better, and that your falls didn't delay your healing much.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Oh no, sorry about fall #3. I'm sure you came back from vacation looking like you got in a scuffle with a big mouse! Sounds like you may have needed a day to just stay off your feet and relax. The idea of pizza delivery to the room sounds very nice.

Thanks for sharing the photos of your room. I love the carpet. Sure is a lovely room.

The pizza delivery was nice. Not the best use of TS credits, but at the time we didn't care LOL

I have more photos coming ... darn Photobucket!

OMG, you poor thing!!!! Three falls, I probably wouldn't have left the room either. I agree, you're husband was definitley the shining star in this vacation after all the nasty stuff you went through. I hope you're planning a re-do so you get to experience all the stuff you missed this time around.

We are planning a re-do, but it won't be until 2014, unfortunately.

First I just want to say that I'm still furious over the falls. It just makes me want to beat some sense into someone.

Secondly, thanks for sharing the pictures of you room! The view looks absolutely beautiful. It's making me even more excited for when we get there tomorrow!!

I can't wait until you arrive tomorrow at FQ! I hope you and your family have an absolutely magical trip! Can't wait for all the details when you return.

So sorry your trip didn't go as planned! I hope you're planning a re-do soon, and that you're feeling better.

Thank you. Our re-do won't be until 2014 (for our 15th anniversary), but that just gives me that much more time to plan and dream, right?

 

[BearcatsFan]

No ugly thoughts here. Constant pain just grinds you down. I would have spent the day quietly in the unit as well. Although I also think I would have given the whirlpool tub a shot if I were there all day, and had hubby steady me as I got in and out. Wouldn't share the tub with him if my ankle was hurting, though! Plus IIRR, there are doors to the bedroom over the tub in the SSR 1BRs, so people can soak and watch TV at the same time.

That POFQ room was lovely. Now I'm trying to remember if the other corner rooms I've seen were King rooms; maybe ordering a king bed ups your odds of getting one.

Hope your ankle is doing better, and that your falls didn't delay your healing much.

I did use the whirlpool tub, just once. It was so hard to get in and out that I didn't bother again. And yes, there are doors over the tub, and I did watch TV while I soaked!

Not sure if ordering a king room ups the changes of getting a corner, but we did see two other corner units in our building that were kings, so ...

As far as my ankle, it's here and there, day to day. Thank you for asking.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Spent forever this morning loading photos ... HYG:

Towel "animal" on bed

Double vanity - this was a lifesaver in the morning!

Towel "animal" on vanity

Wish I had known we would have two windows ... I'd have brought more stuff!

My flowers!

More to come .....

 

[Marnm02]

Thank you. Our re-do won't be until 2014 (for our 15th anniversary), but that just gives me that much more time to plan and dream, right?

We are planning on going back in 2014 too, but it probably will be a shorter visit to the parks combined with a cruise. I already can't wait, but kind of wish we could swing it for next year too. Post-Disney depression is extra strong for me after this trip. Maybe I'll win the lottery...

 

[emmysmommy]

You did a great job with the window decorations and I love the DisBoards sign! I would definitely have stopped by and introduced myself!!

Love the bejeweled towel "animal" from mousekeeping - so adorable!

 

[lurkernj]

That room is really pretty, I love the corner rooms, we had one during our POR stay last week. It just makes the room look and feel bigger. I love your decorations and those flowers are just beautiful!

We got off the bus at FQ one day last week since I've never been over there, and I have to agree that the food court is much smaller than I thought it'd be, and those faces looming over you are just creepy. They did have some good choices on their menu, but we didn't stay for a meal.

 

[BearcatsFan]

We are planning on going back in 2014 too, but it probably will be a shorter visit to the parks combined with a cruise. I already can't wait, but kind of wish we could swing it for next year too. Post-Disney depression is extra strong for me after this trip. Maybe I'll win the lottery...

From what I understand the Disney cruises are great! We have family that is going on one this coming Winter. I wish we could go back next year, too, but who knows? Maybe we will. This trip resulted in a larger-than-average tax return, so who knows what next year will bring.

You did a great job with the window decorations and I love the DisBoards sign! I would definitely have stopped by and introduced myself!!

Love the bejeweled towel "animal" from mousekeeping - so adorable!

Thanks! Can't take any credit whatsoever for the window signs, though. Those are the works of RustManFan here on the Creative DISigns boards.

That room is really pretty, I love the corner rooms, we had one during our POR stay last week. It just makes the room look and feel bigger. I love your decorations and those flowers are just beautiful!

We got off the bus at FQ one day last week since I've never been over there, and I have to agree that the food court is much smaller than I thought it'd be, and those faces looming over you are just creepy. They did have some good choices on their menu, but we didn't stay for a meal.

Having the corner room does make it feel much bigger, we thought. And yes, the food court at FQ was kind of a disappointment. I'd hoped it would be a little bigger. I was prepared for the giant heads, but they still made me feel a little uncomfortable.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Friday, September 21st

Okay, now where was I ...

We woke up early as usual on Friday. I told my husband I'd like to try and go back to DTD during the day and see if it was less crowded. Plus, I wanted to try breakfast at WPE (click for review) that everyone over on the Restaurants boards raves about.

DTD was definitely less crowded. After breakfast, we decided to finally hit some of the shops we didn't get to see when we were here before. We bought a Christmas ornament from the Christmas store, then he headed into Team Mickey to watch a baseball bat being made. I rolled right into Tren-D.

I'd been hoping to get my hands on a Disney D&B bag for quite some time. I don't like to order things like that online - I'd rather touch and see for myself what the quality is, etc.

While I was looking at the bags, my husband came up behind me. I happened to be holding the Disney Sketch Letter Carrier bag at the time - it was the one I'd been looking at online before we left home. I was undecided, though - I thought it was a lot of money for such a small bag, D&B or not.

My husband told the CM behind the counter, "You can go ahead and wrap that up - we'll take it."

What? You're freakin' kidding me, right? He then told me this was the last and final surprise, don't be expecting *anything* else! I should hope not!

The CM laid a few of them out for me to look over. I found one that was cut really well with M&M right on the front, almost centered!

I know this is a horrible shot angle/clarity wise, but I did the best I could from here on the couch LOL

My Final Surprise

Now, see that smudge on the D&B name plate? Oh yeah, I did that the first day I had it. The handle of the ECV rubbed it and got it dirty. Been trying to figure out how to get that smudge off of there since we've been home. Stupid ECV!

Anyhow ...

After leaving Tren-D, we went over to World of Disney. That place was a madhouse! Seriously, you'd have thought every person visiting DTD was crammed in there all at once. I grabbed an antenna topper and a window cling of Mickey for the back of our car and we were outta there! I was hoping to look for a Mickey waffle iron, but I couldn't get near the Kitchen section for anything.

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Next up ... more photos and our last minute decision ...