1 crazy family+2 resorts+5 parks+1 snake+1 surprise=A Mickeystoontown report 4/3x2

[MissLiz]

Great pictures!

And good idea with trying to get through the buildings that way. I don't think I would have thought of that.

We've gotten stuck in rain so much at Disney. It usually happens as we are leaving one building and going to the next. We feel a couple raindrops and I say "It's fine. We'll make it." And then boom....

You'd think that I'd learn, but I don't. It's always my idea to try to get to the next place instead of just turning around and going back into the building.

Oh well.


By the way, we officially booked our May 2014 trip last weekend!!! Right now, we are at Animal Kingdom Villas from 5/22 - 5/31, but we may change that at the 7 month mark...I'm not sure. Hopefully the 2014 rates will come out soon so that you can book yours!

 

[cmaee]

Even with all the rain, I can see why CBR is so beloved by you all.

I really didn't read closely enough, because when I saw this photo, I thought "Wow. Lisa must have a lot of fancy dinners planned if she plans on wearing all those high heels." I had to reread it and then I realized the photo wasn't your photo, but just of the product. I love that idea. I am going to use that on our next trip. We, too, have to get settled in the room. I hate to "live" out of a suitcase. But the sink area is always cluttered with our toiletries and that would be a great way to organize everything.

In no time, we had it all unloaded and we got to unpacking. I had brought along two hanging shoe holders that I bought at Target and they worked perfectly for our toiletries and extra shoes. I hung them from the rod in the closet area so that they were within easy reach when standing at the sinks. They looked like this but different colors:

 

[shan23877]

Your pictures make me miss CBR so much! Especially since from the pink buildings I assume you were stuck in my beloved Aruba. I really think we'll be back there sooner rather than later.

Those men better be thankful for their cereal spoons since you had to work so hard to get them back to the room

 

[eandesmom]

I'll take Disney rain over no Disney ANY day!

But...you should always have your phone!!!! Bad Lisa.

Glad you got spoons though

 

[Kaykool101]

You are so patient! I would never have been able to sit still that long. I would have just made a run for it and ended up soaking.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Even with the rain that resort is gorgeous! I better be able to go in September, as your TR is making me anxious to relax on those hammocks too!

Isn't it though! I so hope that your September trip happens.

The pictures are absolutely gorgeous! I love this resort so much! Can't wait until September! So, so glad I switched resorts and surprise hubby! This place is just beautiful! Ahhhhh! Nothing like it! Can't wait to read more!!Enjoying it immensely!

Thank you! The CBR is such a pretty resort! I 'm betting that your husband is going to be so happy.

Great pictures!

And good idea with trying to get through the buildings that way. I don't think I would have thought of that.

We've gotten stuck in rain so much at Disney. It usually happens as we are leaving one building and going to the next. We feel a couple raindrops and I say "It's fine. We'll make it." And then boom....

You'd think that I'd learn, but I don't. It's always my idea to try to get to the next place instead of just turning around and going back into the building.

Oh well.


By the way, we officially booked our May 2014 trip last weekend!!! Right now, we are at Animal Kingdom Villas from 5/22 - 5/31, but we may change that at the 7 month mark...I'm not sure. Hopefully the 2014 rates will come out soon so that you can book yours!

I do the same thing and you see how that worked out for me. Stuck sitting on a sidewalk waiting it out.

Oh my gosh! I'm so happy that you booked your trip. And, guess what! Our dates overlap again. We should arrive on the 24th and we will leave on June 7th.

From what I've heard, we can book on July 10th.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Even with all the rain, I can see why CBR is so beloved by you all.

I really didn't read closely enough, because when I saw this photo, I thought "Wow. Lisa must have a lot of fancy dinners planned if she plans on wearing all those high heels." I had to reread it and then I realized the photo wasn't your photo, but just of the product. I love that idea. I am going to use that on our next trip. We, too, have to get settled in the room. I hate to "live" out of a suitcase. But the sink area is always cluttered with our toiletries and that would be a great way to organize everything.

Heavens no! I don't even own that many pairs of high heel shoes. Now if you were to have seen sandals and flip flops, then I'd have both hanging organizers full.

The organizers worked really really well and I'd suggest them to anybody who liked to declutter a hotel room. I had two of them and would have been able to use another as we tend to overpack.

Your pictures make me miss CBR so much! Especially since from the pink buildings I assume you were stuck in my beloved Aruba. I really think we'll be back there sooner rather than later.

Those men better be thankful for their cereal spoons since you had to work so hard to get them back to the room

Aren't the colors at the CBR beautiful?! I love 'em. Oh so sooner rather than later huh?

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'll take Disney rain over no Disney ANY day!

But...you should always have your phone!!!! Bad Lisa.

Glad you got spoons though

Amen to that!

I usually stick my phone in my pocket whenever I go out but I totally forgot it that day.

Yup, we would now have spoons.

You are so patient! I would never have been able to sit still that long. I would have just made a run for it and ended up soaking.

Normally, I wouldn't have stuck it out that long but it really was raining hard and I saw a few lightning bolts too.

 

[francis6306]

Well, that's what you get for trying to not forget about the spoons!

And I am really shocked you didn't take pictures! What has happened to you?!?!?!!

 

[lovethattink]

You make a very pretty drowed rat.

You've stayed at CBR many times. Are you able to find your room right away or do you still find yourself going this way and that way in the buildings to find it? At Pop we can find the room right away, but at CSR it seems we rarely can. We find the building no problem, but the room is more of a search. I think Disney purposely makes their room number sign arrows point the wrong direction so you walk the long way to find a room.

 

[KatMark]

I'd that that Florida rain about now as I'm sitting in my office waiting for my husband to get Downtown to pick me up because ALL of the public trains have stopped due to switching problems (I should be getting off the train just about now near my house).

Great pictures you got along the way.

 

[maryj11]

Even though you were running from building to building to try to keep dry it still looks fun to me I know when I'm in Disney I always feel like I don't have time for rain , it slows me down

 

[maryj11]

Even with all the rain, I can see why CBR is so beloved by you all.

I really didn't read closely enough, because when I saw this photo, I thought "Wow. Lisa must have a lot of fancy dinners planned if she plans on wearing all those high heels." I had to reread it and then I realized the photo wasn't your photo, but just of the product. I love that idea. I am going to use that on our next trip. We, too, have to get settled in the room. I hate to "live" out of a suitcase. But the sink area is always cluttered with our toiletries and that would be a great way to organize everything.

I was thinking ..is she really going to wear high heels at Disney. Her feet are going to be hurting

 

[jane2073]

I sat in that very hammock mere hours after you!
We got to the resort after the rain. It was pretty heavy that day.

Can't wait to read more!

 

[racefanof88]

Why didnt you send out a freakin' search party?

While eating, I had received a text saying that our room was ready but Mama had not. We took our time eating and taking in the vibe of the resort and would, every once in a while, check her phone for the text. The music was playing in the background and the fans above us were whirling. It was so nice to be back at Caribbean Beach. As we were sitting there, we could see outside and saw that there were some clouds rolling in but they didnt look too bad. Maybe, wed be able to walk out to the beach later and rest our tootsies in the sand.

Because Mama hadnt gotten her text yet, we decided to walk around in the store a little while and look around. Someone on the CBR thread had questioned what snack items were available in the store and Hunter said that hed take some pictures:







I saw a keychain in the store that said Pop Pop and I thought about Macs (Johns brother) new grandson, Tripp, and how he wanted Tripp to call him Pop. My sis-in-law wants to be called Mia so we looked for one with Mia on it but they didnt have one. Mac and Janet were going by our house every other day to feed and water Oddball (our dog) and pick up the mail and keeping a general eye on things while we were gone. My sister was doing it the other days. We wanted to get them a little something to say thank you and I thought that the key chains would be cute. We made a mental note to keep searching for them during the trip.

I was also on a mission to find a flipper. A flipper? Yeah, a flipper otherwise known as a pancake turner. There were no flippers at the CBR. Okay, so Ill keep looking. (Remember this as it comes into play as the vacation progresses.)

After roaming around in the store, we made a pit stop at the bathroom and Mama still didnt have her text. Lucky for us, theres a concierge desk in Old Port Royale and we hopped in line and soon found out that Mamas room was ready. They gave us her room number and we were off. Lets go find our rooms!

We drove back over to the circle drive near Martinique 22 and parked. Everybody took at least one piece of luggage and we went off to see where wed be laying our heads at night. This little guy was startled by us (Id probably be startled too if I saw a bunch of crazy folks who were 500 times larger than me and pulling suitcases behind em.):



Ahhh, our view:



Annnnnnnnnd, this is where I am a bad Diser. I didnt take one single solitary picture of our room. Can you believe that? I cant! I usually take pictures of anything and everything. Not this time. I guess that we were too anxious to get our things in the room and settle in. We arent ones to live out of our suitcases and like to unpack everything and, like I said, get settled in. John, Hunter and I went to the SCAR to get the rest of the luggage and all of our other junk like backpacks, DVD player, etc.

In no time, we had it all unloaded and we got to unpacking. I had brought along two hanging shoe holders that I bought at Target and they worked perfectly for our toiletries and extra shoes. I hung them from the rod in the closet area so that they were within easy reach when standing at the sinks. They looked like this but different colors:

We couldnt get everything organized quick enough in my opinion. I wanted to get out to those white sand Caribbean Beach beaches! The first thing I did, though, was find the pathway to the promenade. One of the tips that I gave Mama when she first stayed at the CBR with us was if you can find the promenade, youll find your way to Old Port Royale and she remembered that tip. When opening our door, I took a left and continued left and saw the walkway that I was looking for:




Just look at it! Look at that lovely view! I went back around and asked Mama if she wanted to take a short walk and she said that she would come with me so that I could show her the walkway but that she was going back to the room and rest a while. We walked down to the beach and then back to the room. I found John sound asleep on the bed and Hunter watching television. I asked Hunter if he wanted to go with me to the beach and he said yes. Mama said that she was going to lie down a while too.

I nudged John awake and told him that Hunter and I were walking down to the beach and would be gone for a little while. He mumbled okay and off we went. Ahhh, relaxing in the hammock:



Uh-oh, those clouds are looking ugly:







I had ordered some groceries from Garden Grocer (Forgot to mention up above that Bell Services delivered them to our room.) and one of the items that we ordered was cereal and bowls. I hadnt ordered spoons because I knew that I could get some from the food court. I told Hunter that I was going to walk over and get them right then else Id forget about them later. He gave me a thumbs up and kept lazing around in the hammock and texting his friends.



Just as I got to Old Port Royale, I felt a drop or two of rain. I figured if it started raining, Id look around a bit more and then make my way back. Spoons in hand, I looked out and didnt see any more rain so I decided now would be a good time to start my annual photographic tour around the resort. I started out in the courtyard of OPR and then took a right to go through the island. Thats when I felt more raindrops.





But there was only a few so I continued on and walked over the bridge towards Jamaica and Aruba:



Just as I got to the other side of the bridge, I felt more and more raindrops and I could see the rain coming across the lake. I, along with the gentleman and two girls in front of me, sprinted over to the closest Aruba building. They continued on to their room but I had no room to go to. Well, I did, but it was on the other side of the lake. Usually, Florida rain showers do not last long so I decided to stay put and wait it out.









After 15 minutes or so, I started getting antsy and was ready to get moving. However, it was still raining and I was a long way from home. Actually, not a long long way from home but it did look far when looking through the falling rain.

The buildings in each village are in a circle type layout and are connected to each other by sidewalks. I wondered if I could make my way back to Martinique by going through the buildings. Why not try? I walked around to the left and continued walking until I came upon a pathway leading to the next building. I ducked my head and sprinted over. I did the same at the next building. Looking back from where I came:



Doesnt look like its raining too hard now does it? It was though and, because there are trees everywhere at the resort, the rain was blocked a bit in the village courtyards. Just as I got to the next building, it started raining harder. And harder. And harder. There was a swimming pool between me and the next building which made for a larger area that Id have to cover. I decided to pop a squat and wait for the rain to lighten. Wanna see what a wet rat looks like? Here you go:



You can see the puddles of water that had formed in front of me:



Swimming pool in front of me:



The view to my left:



By this time, about forty-five had elapsed from the time that I had left the Martinique building. I had left my phone in the room and had only a handful of plastic spools, a few napkins, a pair of flip flops and a camera. I dont think even Survivorman would have been able to send a signal to the family that I was stuck over on the other side of the resort. About ten minutes later, the rain lightened up enough that I figured why not go for it. I jogged a bit for the first minute or two because the rain was cold but then it was just a few drops here and there so I slowed to my normal fast walk.

When I got to the room, I knocked on the door....and knocked again....and knocked again and finally Hunter answered. He looked at how wet I was and asked what happened and where I had been. I said I was gone for a whole hour. Why didnt you send out a freakin search party?. He just giggled, got a towel and threw it over my head and said "Oh Mom! Drama! Drama! Drama!" Good thing I knew that he was just kidding!

**Up next: Up! Up! And Away! Maybe?!?

I am all caught up again!!! What is up with photobucket? The pictures were not showing on the AoA report(I was able to click each link though). Seeing your pictures of CBR makes me miss it so much!! We really liked it when we stayed there. I loved our corner room. I think we were in Jamaica? Can't remember, sad huh?...lol. Anyway, Girl I love this picture of you !!!!!



AND OMG, John's Father's Day card is the coolest, and sweetest, thing I have ever seen!!!

 

[teekathepony]

Oh yeah, that hammock looks incredibly inviting! The whole resort looks really beautiful.

That's an awful lot of rain. I can't believe how much gathered on the ground so fast! Florida rain always surprises me. Glad you got back to your room eventually!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[GrammyJudy]

Oh Lisa only you can make getting caught in a rainstorm sound like a fun adventure! BTW it is poring here today and it was 92 yesterday....crazy summer so far.

So how far was your room to OPR? Is it worth getting a preferred room at CBR? I will have a scooter but Andy will walk and he is slowing down plus my daughter will have the 5 yr old who may or may not have a stroller. Just thinking about after a park day how tired you can be. Another question...will the concieege at OPR call a cab if we want one for a dinner res or do we have to go to the custom house? Still deciiding on a resort...keep going back and forth.

 

[wiigirl]

Awesome pics!

 

[ddstratton]

Ahh.... to be sitting in a hammock at CBR.... Sounds divine!!! And I must agree -- a rainy day at Disney is still a good day. Especially at CBR!

We recently spent a day in Gatlinburg, TN, while on vacation visiting family. It POURED while we were there. We didn't let it bother us. We just walked in the rain. It wasn't a cold rain, so it wasn't too bad at all. Just wet.

 

[Woth2982]

I have been reading along and this is my first comment! I have been a bad diser, but a decent lurker so I guess it balances. Stinks that you didn't enjoy POFQ, but I can totally understand. It is kinda how I feel about WL. I live in the woods as is, spending my vacation there didn't feel like I got away. I am staying at POR in November for the Wine and Dine half marathon. Stayed there in 2000 when it was still Dixie Landings, so I am looking forward to seeing the updates!

Nothing like getting stuck in the Florida rain. At least it is warm rain. When I went in 2010 we got stuck in a downpour at the MK, everyone made a mad rush to the exit, my friends and I put on ponchos and went on Splash Mountain.....hey we were already wet! I think we went on about 6 times in a row since there was no line.