YES, touring Cinderella’s Dream Suite was Amazing!+14 Other Magical Days* Dismeet & Wrap

[KatMark]

What a great DisMeet! Both you and Kathy are celebs here on the boards! Love reading both your TR's and DR's.

Thank you, Chris. I have a long way to catch up to Brenda though.

 

[Self_resqing_princz]

First, congratulations on being the TR of the month! With all of your awesome pictures it's no wonder you were chosen!

Second, thanks for reading along with my TR. I've been trying to model my reports after yours, with all the pictures. However, I'm still working on my food reviews.

 

[MEK]

I love that picture of the window at the AKL. It looks pretty cool.

Not sure how you passed up all those yummies at the lounge. I don't think I have that much will power.

Cute dress - perfect for your destination.

Yay for your meet with Kathy and Mark! I've had the pleasure of meeting Kathy and I hope some day I get to meet Mark as well.

Great pictures of everyone!

 

[Ron from Michigan]

My wife Tina and I are loving your trip report. I can see how much you love Disney the same as us. We were there last. Month again also and had a wonderful trip. Please, please hurry up with the next post. We bought into the AKL several years ago and love our stays there. Take care.

 

[IheartDDuck]

That's awesome to see you guys together while your son is home from Afghanistan.

Congrats on being Top Thread. That's awesome! If only we could all reach that point.

Awwww, thanks so much Brenda for the shout-out there. That means so much. You're so incredibly sweet. And your TR is at the top for a reason.

Still awesome that you were able to meet Kathy and Mark. I'd be in DIS heaven too.

 

[dvc4life]

Thank you, Chris. I have a long way to catch up to Brenda though.

Your welcome. And nahhhhhhhh. You are there Kathy!

 

[emmysmommy]

Sorry guys, I will only be able to squeeze in a few replies tonight. We've spent most of the day with our son/DIL.

Brenda, you're famous!

LOL!!
I'm still happily reading along and getting excited for our trip in just 28 more days!!
I'm more excited than usual because this holiday themed trip with little DD is going to be soooo special! (and yes, I bought waaaay too many custom themed outfits for her as usual )
The only downer is that she is now starting a pretty intense round of orthodontia so she will have to skip a whole lot of the DisYummie!
Not even allowed to have this! >>
I'm planning to make up for that with lots of cupcakes!!!!
(well, and the MVMCP, staying at GF CL, and Pirates League Mermaid package, and getting picked up from the airport in a limo....naaahhh.....I'm not spoiling her at ALL! )

If I could ever actually keep up with writing a TR, I would...
Oh, and guess what?? I made it to Round 2 of the Disney Parks Moms Panel search!!

Silly Trisha! Famous is totally different than infamous! Sounds like you may be more well known than anyone here if you are chosen for the moms panel!!! Congratulations on making it to round 2. I wish you all the luck!!

What an incredible trip you have planned with your DD! I love all the details and definitely cupcakes make up for popcorn and other unfriendly ortho treats that she'll have to pass on. Definitely the limo is a great way to start the trip!

let me know if you choose to do a TR. You could also include your mom's panel experience. Just a thought.

I suppose if your staying at the Lodge, heading to Animal Kingdom just makes sense. Nice short drive there.

Haha, Em definitely doesn't look like she's into those early PP photos. But clearly much happier during your meet.

And Aww yet another great DisMeet for you. And with gifts... you just can't beat that!

Not to mention the characters in their safari gear!

Hi Rob! Seriously right? A 5 minute bus ride and we're there.

Indeed. Em didn't seem to crack a smile until she saw characters and other Disers.

It was awesome to meet Kathy and Mark!

What a great trip report.
Thanks

Thanks wigeboo! Thank you for joining and reading!!

Oh that lodge, so gorgeous! (23 sleeps until I see it myself!!)
Hehehe early morning photos can be hard to smile for, that's for sure, but you two always look fantastic any time of the day!
What a wonderful Dismeet! And adorable gifts too. I've never done Tusker house for breakfast, I'll have to some day. I love the dinner there!

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Hi Wendy! I know! I'm excited for you because I know you will love it.

Thanks! I'm a morning person, Em not so much.

Kathy was very kind.

I can imagine the dinner options at TH. Huge I'm sure.

I am loving your pictures of AKL. I can't make up my mind if I should stay at WL again and be close to the MK or try something new. The AKL would be my something new.

The breakfast buffet looked wonderful. On our last trip we tried the lunch buffet and loved all the different offering. I fell in love with the soups, of course part of that may have been the rainy cold temp. outside. The character interaction was also fun at lunch. There was a wonderful laid back atmosphere.

The Dis meet pictures were fun. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to pictures of your next meet with KatMark. It is great when you get to meet friends from the Dis.

Congratulations for being #2 DisBoards thread for Sept. and thanks for the shout out. Your trip report adds a little Disney magic to my days until I go again. I love the reports on Disneyland also.

Hi there! I tried WL for something new this last trip and still prefer AKL. Just my preference. (But then again we usually include BLT in our resort line up so it gets us near MK.)

I am a soup lover so I would likely be a fan of the offerings at TH! It would be nice to see some of their lunch/dinner choices.

It was great to meet Kathy! You are in luck because I do have more meet ups and certainly more photos.

Awww thanks and you certainly deserve the shout out! I'm very glad that you are reading. Seriously. Thank you!

 

[emmysmommy]

A few more comments and I need to call it a night. I'll get caught up tomorrow.

Tusker House was one of our favorite breakfasts too!

Hi Megan! Now I know why this is a favorite! So many choices though.... how do you decide?

That is SUCH a nice view to wake up to in the morning.

The cinnamon rolls and muffins look pretty heavenly right now, not going to lie. One day I'll get to club level!

I love the Chicago Disney gifts! Such thoughtful gifts!

Hi Courtney! I couldn't agree with you more about that view! Ahhhh animals!

And to think that I completely passed on the muffins and didn't even sneak a bagel in my bag for later. That's self control!

Kathy was very generous and kind!

What a great update!

TH is one of our must dos - we just love breakfast there!

And so cool that you were able to meet KatMark too!!! I was lucky enough to get to meet both of them - and let me tell you - I was so excited! They are just as sweet as can be!

All of your character photos are great! And I love all of your new gifts!

D~

Thanks D~! I know you had visited TH so I can see why you love it.

So you are a member of the KatMark fan club too!! And no surprise since I believe you have had 1001 Dismeets about now.

I am caught up on all of your awesome posts!!!

Thanks for continuing to follow along!!

Once again, thank you to Chad for his service and to his entire family for your sacrifices. And thank you for sharing the heartwarming pictures with us!

Thank you so much Dee. That means a lot to us.

Congratulations on not your first but your SECOND thread of the month thread!!! So well deserved. And what a nice thank you and shoutouts to everyone. So obvious that you know and care about your readers.
Oh my, you remembered the other one. Thank you! It's people like you who made them happen. Honestly, this isn't even that great of a read compared to so many of the witty writers such as yourself sharing their experiences.



The food is the CL lounge looked good. I can't believe all of the selections available.

You have a frame of reference with the BC CL offerings too!

Your AK dress is so cute!!!
I'll let you in on a little secret. That dress was in the PJ section of Ross Dress for Less. No one seemed to notice that I wore a nightie to the park!

I'm glad you finally made it to Tusker House and that you had a nice meet-up with Kathy and Mark. It does not surprise me that you found them sweet and funny and thoughtful.

I was glad that we didn't cancel this breakfast and good thing too since it was the perfect opportunity to meet up with Kathy and Mark! I'm looking forward to seeing them in December too.

Great pictures of the food from the buffet. There are some really unusual and interesting selections. Lemon Basmatii Rice. Cardamom Sweet Potatoes. Coconut Sweet Potatoes. All those wonderful pastries. Yes, please!!!

We had breakfast (and lunch on the same day) at Tusker House back in 2008. We enjoyed the meals, but we haven't been back.

I have to admit that I didn't know what many of these things were. Like the mealie pap. I'm still not sure what cardamom is. Other than a spice of some unknown origin.

Loved your story about the survey. Your answers were hilarious. Unfortunately, it appears no good deed goes unpunished as evidenced by the skies opening up on you.

Then boy were we punished!!

I'm glad you had a nice meet and meal at Captain's Grille. We had dinner and lunch here (different days) on our last trip and the meals were great. Teena dined with us for dinner and she got the roasted chicken.

I remember you were meeting up with Teena for dinner and I thought you had mentioned it was there. That's so great that you were able to dine with her. She's a BC legend.

That's a shame that the Illuminations cruise was cancelled, but great thinking on your feet and coming up with a Plan A&C (Ale & Compass)
Cute!! Cocktails always make a meet up better right?

And going back to a previous update- when you encountered Kathy and Mark at the Yachtsman, is that considered a DIS-"meat"?

Thanks so much Dee for your kind comments.

Wow, I've fallen so far behind... so let's get to this:

I believe you had a great reason to not be caught up...

First and foremost, so glad that your son made it home safely for his leave and that you got to spend some quality family time together!

Thank you so very much! Today was another day to spend with him and our DIL.

Second, bug congratulations for your recognition as thread of the month, non-Frump category. Defintey says something that trip reports hold the top two spots. As much as people love random tips and debating the merits/downfall-of-society that is magic bands, there is nothing Disney fans love more than sharing their Disney experiences

Thank you so much! And I'm glad that you have started your TR as well. Your clever custom Tees were perfect.

Next, very glad you got your room situation taken care of: AK rooms - now available in standard dry or Kali River wet!

Funny!! Very cute!

Great Photopass pictures throughout AK. Glad you enjoyed the Tusker House breakfast - we just ate there for the first time and lived it! Of the park character breakfasts we felt that one had the best food - not to mention the most chooses .... oh and having actual Crispy Cream donuts is not impacting my opinion at all. No, not one bit

Thank you Mr. MaxRebo (or I may use your real name now that I've seen the reveal! I'll save that for a special occasion!)

I'm looking forward to hearing about your TH experience. I believe you said that you had a park open breakfast at each park so assuming this was your AK one. The donut was the first thing I consumed. Gone in 60 seconds I tell ya!

more like the accidental ninja...the rare chance to actually post while on my laptop versus reading threads on the phone and not being able to truly post!


I did and it was so very very lovely!!!!

It all makes me nervous. I had so much more freedom at the same age that it's scary to think about! Jeff even more so!

three???? that's pretty funny

I could not agree more! The 90 minutes Kathy and I had together, FLEW by. I really hope we can meet again.

Cute photo and I love your AK dress too

Last but not least, CONGRATS on your thread...I am not at all surprised and it is very well deserved!

Hi Cynthia!! We can now say what our parents told us... this is a different world we live in now.

Yes, three ADRs at TH and bailed on all of them before this trip. We didn't know what we were missing.

Thanks! See my secret revealed to Dee above.

Thank you Cynthia.

Joining in. You have done some really fun things so far. We had the privledge of doing the Sunrise Safari last Oct. Loved seeing all your pics-what an amazing experience. I often travel to Disney with just my young DD's so your report gives me a look into the future Look forward to reading more. Loved the last update-those are some of my favorite people!!

Mary! I'm so very glad to see you here. I've followed your combined TR from earlier this year and am signed on for the December PTR. Your girls are adorable and have such talent - seriously, you should be a very proud mom!

Thank you again, and I'm so glad that you are here.

 

[natebenma]

Your AK dress is so cute!!!

I'll let you in on a little secret. That dress was in the PJ section of Ross Dress for Less. No one seemed to notice that I wore a nightie to the park!

In your defense, it was pretty early when you arrived at AK.

 

[MrsDrewsky]

Congratulations on your top thread status! Can't say I'm surprise, you and Em take some fabulous trips to the world. It is just a treat to living vicariously through you girls.

Haha, Em looks so sleepy at AK and not amused to be up so early on vacation.

It looks like such a fun DISmeet with KatMark. How sweet they brought you Disney gifts from Chicago. Love the character pics, how precious are the characters in safari gear.

 

[foodrocksluver]

Okay I'm all caught up. Sorry I was MIA for a little while, I was in WDW all last week

And now I'm back...at work

 

[DWGal210]

Yum, Tusker House! We're making a stop there this upcoming trip. And a KatMark meeting to boot? Sweet! I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Kathy this past June and what a nice lady! Hopefully I'll get to meet Mark as well.

I do love Animal Kingdom...I really cannot decide what is my favorite park, it changes from day to day. But AK is always up there!

 

[emmysmommy]

Congrats on your thread's popularity!

How nice that you were able to meet Kathy and Mark. I'm originally from Chicago (now living in northwest Indiana), and I can tell you there's nothing like Midwesterners!

We love Tusker House. I generally make our reservations for 10:30-10:45, so we get the tail end of breakfast and the beginning of the lunch buffet. If you think breakfast has many choices, you should see the lunch options. I'm not a big fan of AK, but Tusker House is my favorite character meal in all of WDW.

Hi Annie! Awww thanks!

I would agree with you completely about those sweet Midwesterners! My family is from the Midwest. In fact, my DH is a Chicago burbs guy. So see, I do love me some Midwesterners!!

You are very smart with your ADR strategy. Start with some waffles and end with some soup! That' would be a great dining experience.

Oh wow! I had no idea such a list existed! Congratulations!!! And I wholeheartedly agree with this:

I hang out HERE because it's happy!!!!!

oh thank you khaleesi! You are very sweet!

I'm sure science has confirmed that Disers are happier than most people!

So I had a ton of catching up to do.... So here it goes!

I love the sunrise safari- so awesome! That is really interesting about how they do not feed the crocs in the winter frequently - I never knew that! The sunrise safari seems like a really awesome perk of staying CL - maybe one of these days there will be availability for us to do that with points We ended up skipping the entire Dino area this last trip, maybe next time- I don't think my daughter could handle dinosaur and well... Primeval whirl is not really on my list!!

Eeek! Those pesky Florida down pours! The rooms at AK are gorgeous - love the details in the furniture and decor Also, dry carpet? BONUS!!

Sounds like a fabulous dismeet (well dismeets! Considering breakfast and DL too!) And, I know I'm going to be that parent too - Zoey is 4 and still can't wrap my head around getting a babysitter that I haven't known for my entire life for her and Olive!

Also how wonderful your son is home! ANNNNNND your so sweet in your appreciation for your readers I can't wait for your next update or probably updates knowing me....

Sarah, thank you for catching up. No worries, I know life is busy and having two little ones, its a wonder you have any free time. I had read your last update in your PTR and I'm glad that you had a great trip and some pixie dust to boot!

Thanks for the kind comments Sarah.

Ak, Tusker House for breakfast AND a Dismeet....sounds like an perfect day to me!

We have only done TH once for breakfast and I can't wait to get back and do it again....loved it!

Hi Jacquie! It was a pretty good experience! The Dismeet only made it that much better.

Great pictures with all of the characters (including us ). Can't wait to see where you headed to next.

Kathy, I can email you the photo of us with Safari Donald out front. I can also send you the photo of you and Mark that I took inside the restaurant.

Glad to know Mark was a hugger, now I don't feel so creepy!

Trying to get an update up soon... I have gotten side-tracked with everyone's TRs and PTR including a special someone who just started theirs this weekend.

Great update! It's like deja vu. I kept thinking I'd already read this, but then knew I hadn't because of the date. Then I realized it was because I'd read about it on Kathy's TR.

I adore AKL. I could look at photos from that lodge all day long. I could sit in that lodge all day long! And I can't wait to move along with my TR as well since part of the girls' trip was spent at that lodge.

Hi Linda! I know. Between Kathy's TR and my DR, I think this has been covered already!

I sure wish I spent more time enjoying the animals but we seemed to always have plans to be somewhere. One day I will learn the value of stopping to enjoy it all without rushing off somewhere.

What a great DisMeet! Both you and Kathy are celebs here on the boards! Love reading both your TR's and DR's.

Hi Chris! Oh my... Kathy is a major celeb... me I'm just lucky to run into great Disers. But thank you!

Joining! Better late than never, right?!

Hi Tracy! I'm so glad that you are joining. You are never late - always on time to be welcomed!! Thank you for letting me know you are here.

 

[emmysmommy]

Thank you, Chris. I have a long way to catch up to Brenda though.

Goodness lady!! Have you noticed that people fly to Chicago to meet you? Eandesmom just this week for example. Let's see the zoo meet up... the waiting list to meet up with you goes on and on.

First, congratulations on being the TR of the month! With all of your awesome pictures it's no wonder you were chosen!

Second, thanks for reading along with my TR. I've been trying to model my reports after yours, with all the pictures. However, I'm still working on my food reviews.

Hi Rebecca! Thank you. But I don't have an awesome photo of me with Cinderella and Prince Charming like you!

Chances are that if I take enough photos there should be a few good ones to include in the old trip report! Thus the annoyed look on my DD's face at times. I think you've done pretty good with the food. But even better was the completion of all 24 MK rides in ONE day! Oh my!

I love that picture of the window at the AKL. It looks pretty cool.

Not sure how you passed up all those yummies at the lounge. I don't think I have that much will power.

Cute dress - perfect for your destination.

Yay for your meet with Kathy and Mark! I've had the pleasure of meeting Kathy and I hope some day I get to meet Mark as well.

Great pictures of everyone!

Hi Mary Ellen! Definitely the humidity outside was apparent in the AKL window.

The only reason we could pass on the lounge offerings was we had a BIG breakfast ahead of us. Believe me, I usually don't have that much willpower!

Ha ha! Thanks! You'll have to see my little secret that I shared with Dee above that has now come back around with a follow up comment below. (Am I now going to be talked about for being the Diser who wore PJs to the park?)

At least you have met the Kat side of the KatMark. I've heard the Mark side of KatMark likes hats!!

My wife Tina and I are loving your trip report. I can see how much you love Disney the same as us. We were there last. Month again also and had a wonderful trip. Please, please hurry up with the next post. We bought into the AKL several years ago and love our stays there. Take care.

Hi there Ron and Tina! Welcome and THANK YOU for joining!! I'm so glad that you are here and reading along! We indeed love Disney. It's getting harder and harder to plan for other vacation destinations.

Oh my gosh! You now own DVC? That's awesome! I imagine a lot of Disney trips in your future with your little grandchild. (What an adorable photo in your avatar!)

Thank you again for joining and congratulations on your DVC ownership.

That's awesome to see you guys together while your son is home from Afghanistan.

Congrats on being Top Thread. That's awesome! If only we could all reach that point.

Awwww, thanks so much Brenda for the shout-out there. That means so much. You're so incredibly sweet. And your TR is at the top for a reason.

Still awesome that you were able to meet Kathy and Mark. I'd be in DIS heaven too.

Hi Dani! Thank you!! You my dear get the award for the MOST SIMULTANEOUS TRs! Not to mention the adorable images like NOOOOOOOOO squirrel! Soooo funny.

I was very excited to meet Kathy - she is a Dis legend. There are several Chicago area Diser's that I'd love to meet - you included! I have family in the Chicago burbs so you never know one day I may show up there.

Your welcome. And nahhhhhhhh. You are there Kathy!

Exactly Chris! Just look at her full dance card already for the next trip!

Your AK dress is so cute!!!

In your defense, it was pretty early when you arrived at AK.

Dee, you are HILARIOUS. Seriously, I'm almost laughing until tears roll down my leg!

Congratulations on your top thread status! Can't say I'm surprise, you and Em take some fabulous trips to the world. It is just a treat to living vicariously through you girls.

Haha, Em looks so sleepy at AK and not amused to be up so early on vacation.

It looks like such a fun DISmeet with KatMark. How sweet they brought you Disney gifts from Chicago. Love the character pics, how precious are the characters in safari gear.

Thank you Ashley! I appreciate your kind words.

Em definitely had a late night with the solo EMH the night before. Teens up before 9am are a rare sighting anyway when they don't have to be.

Definitely a highlight of our trip was the Dismeets and certainly Kathy and Mark were amazing!

Okay I'm all caught up. Sorry I was MIA for a little while, I was in WDW all last week

And now I'm back...at work

Welcome back! No worries, I think you have a great excuse for being MIA! I hope you had a great trip. Did you see a certain handsome waiter??

Yum, Tusker House! We're making a stop there this upcoming trip. And a KatMark meeting to boot? Sweet! I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Kathy this past June and what a nice lady! Hopefully I'll get to meet Mark as well.

I do love Animal Kingdom...I really cannot decide what is my favorite park, it changes from day to day. But AK is always up there!

Hi DWgal! Ahhh you've had the pleasure as well of meeting Kathy! That is awesome!

Ha ha! I know what you mean. Let's just say that there is NOT a BAD park! They all are special in some way.

 

[emmysmommy]

Dismeet Intermission Time Again....

This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with Diser Vettegirl (Lori) at Disneyland/California Adventure. I was excited to see that she had booked a last minute trip and contacted me to see if we were available to meet up. YES, we were!

This worked out well since our APs expired last week so we had to renew anyway. I can now justify at least one or two more Dis trips next year since the urge to book another Disney trip immediately set in once we had those in our hands.

Once we had our new APs we were off to DCA.

Refreshments were in order so we headed to the Cove Bar at Paradise Pier:

A Skinny Mojito for Lori, Em got a lemonade with wild berry foam, and I ordered a Pina Colava!

And a little something to share.... Lobster nachos

And Tri tip sliders:

Group photo:

We watched the Pixar Play Parade

And we finally got on a ride... of course it was a kiddie ride in BugsLand:

Then we park hopped over to DL

Part of the parade or just posing in the middle of Main Street?

Guess the ride??

Snack Break for a lemon cupcake:

Haunted Mansion transformed .... Where Halloween collides with Christmas

Thank you to Lori for sharing a fun day with us!

Back to my regularly scheduled TR next.

 

[Sundancer UK]

I simply must go to Disneyland some day! Your photos look so lovely, kind of retro but very cool. That honey bee cupcake is simply adorable!

 

[faylynn24]

Hi! My name is Fay. I've finally got through all the pages lol....Love your view! Helping a lot! I'm currently have two trips I'm planning. One beginning of dec with whole family (dh, 2kids ds age 5 , dd age 2, and mother in law. The other will be sometime in the summer. A "romantic" trip with my husband and I only lol.

We are planning on staying akl cl and I was hoping you knew a answer to a question I had. I don't want to call disney again lol but will if I need to. Okay, for the sunrise safari do you know if you can book it for the day you check out? Or must it be before then. It's okay if you don't know I just was hoping since you have done it before you may know. I'm new to staying at akl all together lol I am going to be lost this trip. Tia

 

[DMGeurts]

What an adorable update and a super fun Dismeet!

I might get the award for the most random Dismeets - but you, I think, would get the award for the most Dismeets in general. LOL And it looks like you had a really fun one!

Congrats on another year of APs... Some day - I hope to have one myself...

Those lobster nachos look ahhhh-mazing! And the lemon cupcake looks pretty good too!

Great update!

D~

 

[pattiken]

great updates as usual Brenda. Love the animal kingdom dress and funny about getting wild for free
love love those Disney land bonuses..so pretty there!! Nice to see the pina colava made another appearance

 

[teekathepony]

I saw some of your Dismeet pictures on Facebook, looks like you guys had a great time!

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