Pinch me, did it REALLY happen????? - All wrapped up, and yes, it DID happen!

[TruBlu]

That's a good thing to consider! I will definitely pack it up good in an insulated bag with ice packs that are falling apart so that I can jetison them at the resort.

I make my own! It keeps me from yelling at my kids when they accidentally throw them away!

You just need rubbing alcohol and water. I double bag it in case it leaks. I think I use 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water... Guess they haven't been throwing them away lately! You just want enough alcohol to keep the water soft after it freezes. They get super cold & work great! :

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

I'm joining in too! I followed your Wonder TR and really enjoyed it and getting to know you and Fran.
My Auntie came to visit us for Christmas and she packed a prime rib in her luggage too, and I thought she was crazy, so maybe I owe her an apology, seems like she's not the only one to do this! It worked out fine for my aunt so I can't wait to here how your meat makes the trip

 

[usnuzuloose]

I made it! Can't wait to hear if the meats make it

 

[dgbg100106]

Better late than never! We haven't even broken out the germ killer yet!

I am so ready for some germ killer...

 

[franandaj]

I make my own! It keeps me from yelling at my kids when they accidentally throw them away!

You just need rubbing alcohol and water. I double bag it in case it leaks. I think I use 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water... Guess they haven't been throwing them away lately! You just want enough alcohol to keep the water soft after it freezes. They get super cold & work great! :

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

That's good to know. I found so many of them on the counter yesterday that I'm not going to worry about it for this time. Now that we don't get refrigerated meds in the mail we don't have as many, but we used to get two new ones every month for about two years.

I'm joining in too! I followed your Wonder TR and really enjoyed it and getting to know you and Fran.
My Auntie came to visit us for Christmas and she packed a prime rib in her luggage too, and I thought she was crazy, so maybe I owe her an apology, seems like she's not the only one to do this! It worked out fine for my aunt so I can't wait to here how your meat makes the trip

Glad to have you over here! Good for your Auntie! We always bring one with us up to my parents house at Christmas, but we drive there and have a cooler. I've read about other people packing meat in their luggage for the trip to WDW and decided "why not?"

I made it! Can't wait to hear if the meats make it

Glad to have you over here Usnuz!

I am so ready for some germ killer...

And it's still early in the morning!

 

[franandaj]

So none of these resorts are new to us. We have stayed at all three of these places before at one time or another. In an effort to generate my own excitement I'm going to post some pictures from my previous visits. When we originally booked at the RPH in 2010 we had booked a standard room. In 2011 when I rebooked the room, standard was not available. A year earlier I had already paid the tariff for one night. Upgrading to a pool view was only $40 OOP, so what the heck! Then in 2012 when rebooking, only CL rooms were available. Again it was a mere $40 to upgrade the first night. We will have to pay for the second night (and the outrageous parking fees) when we check in, but since so much of it was paid for years ago it doesn't hurt as bad.

This was our room when we stayed last time. I can't really tell from the website if CL rooms are located in a specific area or just a certain number of rooms have lounge access. It was considered a standard or garden view room.

This is the view off the lobby. I remember thinking how beautiful this fountain display was. However this was before ever setting foot in a DVC resort. It IS beautiful, but I wonder if I’m not a little jaded now after having stayed at six different DVC resorts.

As you approach the hotel from the valets there are these cute little frog guys playing percussion instruments. I have a ton of pictures of them, but I’ll save posting any for the real TR when perhaps I will get some more “interesting” poses than last time.

I’ve found that since becoming a DVC snob, I don’t enjoy regular hotel rooms nearly as much as my DVC Villas, so it will be interesting to see how this goes. At least it’s only two nights before we move on to our luxurious villa at Kidani. I can’t wait to revisit my pictures from there again!

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm here for the new adventure! Fingers are crossed everything goes perfectly to plan.

 

[dolphingirl47]

The RPH looks lovely. I know what you mean though about becoming a DVC snob. It feels strange now to stay in an ordinary hotel.

Corinna

 

[rentayenta]

So none of these resorts are new to us. We have stayed at all three of these places before at one time or another. In an effort to generate my own excitement I'm going to post some pictures from my previous visits. When we originally booked at the RPH in 2010 we had booked a standard room. In 2011 when I rebooked the room, standard was not available. A year earlier I had already paid the tariff for one night. Upgrading to a pool view was only $40 OOP, so what the heck! Then in 2012 when rebooking, only CL rooms were available. Again it was a mere $40 to upgrade the first night. We will have to pay for the second night (and the outrageous parking fees) when we check in, but since so much of it was paid for years ago it doesn't hurt as bad.

This was our room when we stayed last time. I can't really tell from the website if CL rooms are located in a specific area or just a certain number of rooms have lounge access. It was considered a standard or garden view room.

This is the view off the lobby. I remember thinking how beautiful this fountain display was. However this was before ever setting foot in a DVC resort. It IS beautiful, but I wonder if I’m not a little jaded now after having stayed at six different DVC resorts.

As you approach the hotel from the valets there are these cute little frog guys playing percussion instruments. I have a ton of pictures of them, but I’ll save posting any for the real TR when perhaps I will get some more “interesting” poses than last time.

I’ve found that since becoming a DVC snob, I don’t enjoy regular hotel rooms nearly as much as my DVC Villas, so it will be interesting to see how this goes. At least it’s only two nights before we move on to our luxurious villa at Kidani. I can’t wait to revisit my pictures from there again!

I third the DVC snobiness.

I think the room and lobby look nice from your last trip. It'll be fun to try something new though and you can't go wrong with concierge level.

I enjoy the familiarity of staying at the same resort. We've only stayed in 4 DVC resorts so far; OKW, GCV, AKV (both Kidani and Jambo), and the THV. I'm excited to try them all at some point.

Are you using Garden Grocer?

 

[franandaj]

I'm here for the new adventure! Fingers are crossed everything goes perfectly to plan.

Glad you made it over here!

The RPH looks lovely. I know what you mean though about becoming a DVC snob. It feels strange now to stay in an ordinary hotel.

Corinna

I know isn't it funny? The last extended hotel stay that I did was at the Anaheim Hilton for the D23 Expo in 2010. I found it very difficult working out meals and stuff without the benefit of the kitchen or the kitchenette! I was making salads in the bathroom and the plug in cooler we brought was perched on the dresser and the food I had stuffed in there kept falling out all over the place!

I third the DVC snobiness.

I think the room and lobby look nice from your last trip. It'll be fun to try something new though and you can't go wrong with concierge level.

I enjoy the familiarity of staying at the same resort. We've only stayed in 4 DVC resorts so far; OKW, GCV, AKV (both Kidani and Jambo), and the THV. I'm excited to try them all at some point.

Are you using Garden Grocer?

Hopefully by the end of the year, I will have stayed at all the Theme Park DVCs. If you count THV and SSR as two different places that would make seven resorts. I have not been to Hilton Head, or Vero Beach and don't really intend to. Aulani on the other hand is a different story!

We are shopping ourselves instead of using Garden Grocer.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Looks like you'll be comfortable at RPH.

 

[rentayenta]

Hopefully by the end of the year, I will have stayed at all the Theme Park DVCs. If you count THV and SSR as two different places that would make seven resorts. I have not been to Hilton Head, or Vero Beach and don't really intend to. Aulani on the other hand is a different story!

We are shopping ourselves instead of using Garden Grocer.

Aulani looks amazing! I have yet to read a bad thing about it except for prices but I think the whole island is expensive from what I've read. Ellen's trip report is sealing the deal for me.

I'd love to try out Hilton Head one day, maybe in a few summers when DH is totally Disney'd out.

Have you packed?

And the view from your previous room looks very nice for a standard room.

 

[ACDSNY]

Aulani looks amazing! I have yet to read a bad thing about it except for prices but I think the whole island is expensive from what I've read. Ellen's trip report is sealing the deal for me.

Aulani is amazing, the other DVC resorts don't even come close.

I'll join you in the DVC snobiness.

 

[rentayenta]

Aulani is amazing, the other DVC resorts don't even come close.

I'll join you in the DVC snobiness.

Really? Better than AKV and GCV? I can't even imagine.

 

[ACDSNY]

Really? Better than AKV and GCV? I can't even imagine.

I love it! So relaxing!!!

 

[rentayenta]

I love it! So relaxing!!!

Do you have a report? I love Disney and I love relaxing.

 

[ACDSNY]

Do you have a report? I love Disney and I love relaxing.

No TR from me I'm more of a beancounter then writer.

 

[dgbg100106]

!



And it's still early in the morning!

It is 5 o'clock somewhere....

 

[dgbg100106]

I think I can be a DVC snob too but I must say I have never stayed in a non DVC room....

 

[franandaj]

Looks like you'll be comfortable at RPH.

It'll work!

Aulani looks amazing! I have yet to read a bad thing about it except for prices but I think the whole island is expensive from what I've read. Ellen's trip report is sealing the deal for me.

I'd love to try out Hilton Head one day, maybe in a few summers when DH is totally Disney'd out.

Have you packed?

And the view from your previous room looks very nice for a standard room.

I know I'm really enjoying Ellen's TR!

Aulani is amazing, the other DVC resorts don't even come close.

I'll join you in the DVC snobiness.

I can't wait to try it!

I think I can be a DVC snob too but I must say I have never stayed in a non DVC room....

You must have, with all the business travel you do, they don't have DVCs in all the places you go....