A Different Kind of Split Stay: from AKV to NYC!!!!

[lisaviolet]

So another spontaneous adventure. This was literally booked a week before. I saw some rental points - rental points because I've lovingly spent all of mine - expiring at an outstanding price and jumped on it. Beyond outstanding. We had just over a week - the rental was for three nights/four days at AKV. So we had to fill in the rest of the week. Later on that split stay ???? choice.

Flights - went to Pittsburgh although we live closer to Buffalo. You see Pittsburgh never seems to be off bargain basement prices - even days before.

I went with my regular DVC lounger - we are the hang out and do nada twins. No need to discuss park ticket options - BW porch lounging - bball games - napping - water slides - drinking - people watching - just catching the end of breakfast - resort hopping: all more our thing. But if anyone would like to buy me an AP - well I wouldn't argue.

So we head for the border but make a last minute decision to hit our annual end of summer fair first. (Mods - it's just a quick run around the fair - I swear we're off to AKV )

The Ex (Canadian National Exhibition) is glorious. It's 150 years old and has the all the tasty bad for you food - age guessers - weight guessers - farm animals - glorious midway.

So we are off to this place -

But first we stop off here before the border -

And see happy little duckies -

The next game - I rule this game. As in RULE. I win every single year. It's kind of humorous to me that I excel at aiming my gun at a target but I do.

Here's my favourite building . It would leave the QS dining plan in the dust.

Evenings at WDW - glorious. Evenings on a midway -

 

[lisaviolet]

So we left this place -

for


WDW!!!!!!


Via the beautiful Pittsburgh Airport. Really, it's lovely. Nice size. Pearson (Toronto) can be insane.

So head down the 79. In love with your interstates by the way. Adore them. And adore planes and flying so it's like a nutso breakdown trying to decide whether to fly or road trip it -every single time. You're blessed with your interstates by the way - just in case you didn't know.

And we're off.

And we arrive and room is not ready. But guess what? This next to nothing rental - it's a Value - but one third of Values face the Savanna and you guessed it we got it!!!!

That's Kidani there in the background - we were in Jambo. All Values are in Jambo.

But what to do while we wait for such a score. I'm so lucky.

What are these girls to do? Go swimming. Want to but sunscreen is like a FT job for me. So no. It's hot. HOT. So we decide on this -

I swear we've left the fair and have indeed entered Florida. Were not in Kansas anymore. Look at my hair. You know you're in Florida (or the Carolinas or Georgia) when:

Men are lost. But women - you get it, right? Florida hair - there's nothing quite like it.

So more of the AKV arcade and my losses were tallying up. Not good for a competitive girl.

Like I was going to beat that jumping ability. Not to mention I have about sixty pounds more to raise up.

So room - our glorious paid almost nada for one bedroom Value but Savanna - room!!!!!

It's ready!

 

[lisaviolet]

So we enter the room and run to the Savanna. This guy was here our entire stay. And Jean adored him. I think she thought he was her pet.

And some other of his friends -

Spent a lot of time out here -

Very relaxing - just my style. Porches, rocking chair, balconies - I'm an equal opportunity employer or my you know what is!!!!

I went a little nuts on the giraffes -

Had to lay off of them for awhile. It was becoming quite the addiction.

Okay - next day - it's such a blur. My guess is late start and workout - followed by lounging and pool slides. But I have to think. I'll be back. Without the terminator. He's much to busy with his fiscal issues.

 

[DenLo]

What a fun trip report! Isn't is relaxing just watching the animals on the savanna? So when are you going to tell us where you'll go for the split stay?

 

[lisaviolet]

What a fun trip report! Isn't is relaxing just watching the animals on the savanna? So when are you going to tell us where you'll go for the split stay?

Oh thank God - a response - I was beginning to think I was still carrying the smells of the savanna or something.

Thanks DenLo - it is relaxing. I never thought I would like AKV - I enjoy the brighter/lighter furnishings of other DVCs. But I love it. It's interesting to me what your eyes like and what your body loves - you can think you dislike an interior but it can be so naturally calming.

Be back tomorrow.

 

[MouseMomx2]

More! More!

 

[rentayenta]

My kind of report: lots of photos and to the point!!! Keep it coming. We stayed in Jambo this past May and we loved the view. I miss it.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Love all your savannah pics. I can never get enough of those.

 

[kristenrice]

So we enter the room and run to the Savanna. This guy was here our entire stay. And Jean adored him. I think she thought he was her pet.

I think you have the same room we had....5412? Or was it 5410? Now I can't remember...

Anyways, your buddy's name is CJ. He is the only eland on the sunset savanna. The keepers love him because they say he is the most dependable critter. He is brought off the savanna every day from 8:30-10:30am for his check up. The guide says that CJ will get up from his "nest" (I'm sure you've seen his favorite sleeping area!) about 8am and start his morning saunter over to the gate. They say he is there at 8:30 sharp every day!

Don't you just love the value rooms? That value 1BR was perfect for our family of 4. The savanna view was awesome. I know it is not a guarantee, but since we only own 100 points, I am willing to gamble on the view to get a 1BR vs. getting a guaranteed savanna view and having to go less often. Plus, the location can't be beat. It is a nice short walk to pretty much everything.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I always enjoy reading your trip reports lisaviolet! They remind me of trips a girlfriend and I used to make before she had 3 kids within 15 months! I don't know what the problem is but she seems to be too busy now to get away.

Congratulations on your last minute deal and I'm looking forward to more!

 

[lisaviolet]

More! More!

Well the lazy girl hasn't loaded the photobucket with the next day as yet. Will do tonight.

My kind of report: lots of photos and to the point!!! Keep it coming. We stayed in Jambo this past May and we loved the view. I miss it.

To the point. OMG! Now that's absolute first for me.

I miss it too. It was nice being in Jambo.

Love all your savannah pics. I can never get enough of those.

Good I do have more.

I think you have the same room we had....5412? Or was it 5410? Now I can't remember...

Anyways, your buddy's name is CJ. He is the only eland on the sunset savanna. The keepers love him because they say he is the most dependable critter. He is brought off the savanna every day from 8:30-10:30am for his check up. The guide says that CJ will get up from his "nest" (I'm sure you've seen his favorite sleeping area!) about 8am and start his morning saunter over to the gate. They say he is there at 8:30 sharp every day!

Don't you just love the value rooms? That value 1BR was perfect for our family of 4. The savanna view was awesome. I know it is not a guarantee, but since we only own 100 points, I am willing to gamble on the view to get a 1BR vs. getting a guaranteed savanna view and having to go less often. Plus, the location can't be beat. It is a nice short walk to pretty much everything.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Thank you so much for this. You made the Black girl happy beyond belief. Her friend has a name. I may never hear the end of it. One night we got back in - probably from sitting and eating and drinking no doubt - and it was pouring and very dark and she's like "oh no aminals" and I'm like "maybe you should take another look". And there he was standing there on his spot ("nest" - love it) like not a care in the world.

I couldn't believe it when I got Savanna - I didn't even request it. I'm sure I'm bringing joy to so many DVCers with that statement. No doubt.

I always enjoy reading your trip reports lisaviolet! They remind me of trips a girlfriend and I used to make before she had 3 kids within 15 months! I don't know what the problem is but she seems to be too busy now to get away.

Congratulations on your last minute deal and I'm looking forward to more!

I know. What is her problem?

Makes me smile though - I have not been so blessed and geez it's nice to know I could create a little family in record time. Well, it would have to be record time at my age.

Thanks Kat.

___________________________________________________________________________________

**** I will fill in the ??? / split stay - as soon as I get to that day.

 

[lisaviolet]

Kristen - we were in a "16" room - so very close.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

Wow you had a better view than my so called "savannah view" in April. My room was in the corner kind of across from where yours was, all we saw was the other side of Jambo and that large animal that laid under the tree all of the time.

 

[spiceycat]

WOW!!! you got lucky.

love your picture - more please.

thanks you - just what i need - going next Sunday - not a value room tried but they were gone - got a standard view. that say just love that pool so will be fine.

 

[DenLo]

Well the lazy girl hasn't loaded the photobucket with the next day as yet. Will do tonight.

I be tuning in again tomorrow!

 

[lisaviolet]

We interrrupt this trip report for incessant babbling. Are you ready?

How the heck do people do regular trip reports? It just took me over an hour to download the next set of photos - one by friggin' one - if someone knows how to get the bulk uploader on photobucket to actually load on my computer - big money - in Canadian funds of course.

Yes, that's my Saturday night - uploading pictures. I guess that's why I don't get three kids in fifteen months.

Okay Rentayenta - I hope my memory is good on that - do forgive me - I'm back on track. One would hope.

So the next day - first we worked out at Kidani

Why oh why when there's a lovely workout area at Jambo?

Well, I regular get kicked out of manned DVC gyms. I workout in open toed athletic sandals. A no no. And Kidani is not manned - yeah - and 24 hours!!!!!!!

Anyway, there is one worker (he's in that cave like beauty that might or might not be in my siggie ) who has had the pleasure of kicking me out twice. I've actually responded to him that "I'm Canadian for crying outloud - I'm not going to sue!!! Never works.

Oh God - I'm not finished with my incessant rambling afterall. The walk to Kidani. Do people walk at all? I'm sorry nothing makes me laugh more than the warnings at WDW about walking distances. I have had so many insane "you can't walk there" memories over the years. Some people reminisce about the princesses and rides - I daydream about the hilarity of "walking warnings"

I wanted to make sure I was walking the correct direction (since it felt about 110 and I'm a tad white) a CM says - with a straight face - in a serious tone - "it's a HALF A MILE" Priceless!

So of course we walked. And if you get hot - go inside Kidani - you'll see the long off secret DVC in about ten milliseconds from take off.

Should have went swimming here after - I wouldn't have had to deal with cute little Charlie - more on that later -

So we walked over to Sanaa in our workout gear to check out if we missed lunch. No so we showered - thank God, eh? - and went back over on that never - ending Oympic size walk.

And what a lovely suprise. Food was okay. And I adore Indian food. Stuck on an island with Korean, Indian and West Indian - please don't save me. I'm more than fine.

But the seats we snagged. Wow - pictures don't give it justice. It looks like nothing was out there in these pics but there were so many animals right there. It was incredible. Look at this -

Anyone who has read me before knows I LOVE windows -

And the loveliness of the small touches -

Really a lovely lunch.

 

[lisaviolet]

Wow you had a better view than my so called "savannah view" in April. My room was in the corner kind of across from where yours was, all we saw was the other side of Jambo and that large animal that laid under the tree all of the time.

Uh oh - I'm sensing I've annoyed you.

The elan?

Hopefully next one will be better - I've been on the Giraffe Trail - someone will chirp in with the Savannah name. Request that area next time.

WOW!!! you got lucky.

love your picture - more please.

thanks you - just what i need - going next Sunday - not a value room tried but they were gone - got a standard view. that say just love that pool so will be fine.

Have fun spiceycat. Thanks for stopping in. Great pool, eh? I have funny - well I think it was funny - slide stories later.

I be tuning in again tomorrow!

Oh the pressure.

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay - probably went back to our room to check if Ridge and Brooke were going to act like they're broken up again until the end of time for the hundredth time. Ridge - nothing makes me laugh more than his acting or his name for that matter. Forget it - don't even try to follow. Futile.

And took a few more of these -

And a funny thing started to happen. Word started to spread - "white woman - fifth floor - rum and coke in hand - is stalking the giraffes". And this started to happen -

So I gave up - sensing the conspiracy and headed here -

And it just hit me that any regular reader of my reports must think I do nothing but jump between BWV and AKV.

So untrue - how the heck would I get a free Ghiradelli chocolate every day?

Okay it will probably be Monday. I've got family over tomorrow and loads to eat. Dumplings - ackee and saltfish - jerk chicken - plantains. Yummmmmmm.

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay - where was I? Must be something to do with food, no doubt.

Yes, yes it was. Boardwalk Bakery. Brownie. Fruit Plate. Jean actually gets a brownie at BB - tells them ten seconds in the microwave please - and then runs over to Seashore Sweets for her ice cream on top. I mean really - why let limited menu options limit us?

I've given you a last trip pic.

How would you know?

Spoodles lives in this pic!

No cryin' here. One I rarely have enought dough for TS. And two - was never a Spoodles fan. to all the "Sad for Spoodles" though.

But we do visit the new Cat Cora establishment. Why? To eat? No. To smell the food? No. To check the menu? No. To check out the new interior?

Nope.

To check if there are any pictures of Cat. I needed to show Jean - she had no idea. You see I have this friend who adores (wink wink) her. It's a tad stronger than adores but I am on the disboards. Welll he thinks about her a lot.

And last week I informed him that her female partner might be/and have an issue regarding his very confident plans.

Okay back to sugar and happiness and us.

See how happy Boardwalk Bakery Brownies - the better BBB -can make you!!!! Double the happiness if you eat them on the BW front porch in a rocking chair.

Much better than that other - annoyingly princess infused -BBB.

Then we were off on this -

To where?

Has to be tomorrow because I'm back to the Ex today (fair pics on page one) - so have to run.

I will reveal the split stay soon - I promise.

Thanks to anyone who is still reading.

 

[Kdisney]

ok, this is one of the better TR I've read, and I've read many. Loving all the pics, what about the split stay???