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

[tigger2on]

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 -







I LOVE THIS PIC!!! Looks like the griaffe is looking up one of the Spirit of Aloha's grass skirts! LOL

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.

I LOVE THIS PIC!!! Looks like the griaffe is looking up one of the Spirit of Aloha's grass skirts! LOL
I love your report fellow Torontonian!

 

[lisaviolet]

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???

So sweet. As for the ??? - I'll do my best to finish up tomorrow.

I LOVE THIS PIC!!! Looks like the griaffe is looking up one of the Spirit of Aloha's grass skirts! LOL
I love your report fellow Torontonian!

So funny

Well I just moved in July to Collingwood and haven't changed my TO tag - sad. Collingwood is beautiful but my first choice was to stay downtown - I lived in the St. Lawrence Market area for ten years and really miss it - but it didn't work out to buy another property downtown. Long long story.

Oh boy I should get off the Disboards late at night. The emotional rambling rears its head.

Thanks for reading.

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay I just can't move on until I say more about this boat -

It is no longer the Friendship Boat to me - is that the name or did I just make that up?



Anyway I hearby christen it the Boat of Trickery.

Why you ask?

Because it fools the crap out of you in so many ways.

One - it is slow as molasses in January (that is my grandmother speaking through me - thanks Granny )

I never ever get off at the BW coming from MGM/HS. Ever. I get off at the Swan/Dolphin and play "who is faster me or the boat?". And you know I always win that game.

But it gets its trickery badge for more important reasons. I never learn this year after year. Maybe I sweat more than the average bird but really if you don't get the outside seating in the hot months you're so screwed. Hey can I say screwed - we shall see if it gets bleeped.

Am I alone? It is not relaxing to feel like you're going to beat the Wicked Witch of the West/Alphaba : in a melting competition. It is not pleasamt. And year after year I get on and never ever learn.

Bad bad boat.

Where did we go? I can't remember.

No doubt some other resort. Oh yes some other resort.

This one!!!!

Sorry folks - but this picture pretty much says it all. For those who don't know it's the new and exciting DVC.

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay BLT lovers. Listen - I didn't stay there. And I will. And maybe because I lived in a downtown condo for ten years it just didn't turn my crank. Ie. You don't want to go home on vacation.

And really it was such a top secret mission to break in. Find the secret locked walkway - look ahead for REAL BLT guests - walk like you own the place and break in.

And then we go outside and you can just walk on over without any top secret mission from the CR. I mean really. Seems a tad strange. Yes, yes - you do have to repeat the top secret mission to get inside the building again.

I'm just not a fan of gates/key entry etc anyway.

And the slide - oh the slide. We watched a boy from the top and then he disappeared. He didn't disappear - it's that slow. Slow ain't my kind of slide.

Okay I'll stop now.

The irony is that I bought DVC in 2005 and I was on the fence about waiting for the BLT - which at that point was coming any second. Now that's funny.

So just a few pics around and about -

 

[lisaviolet]

So great stay. Went down the slide at AKV about a million times. Well about thirty but you get the picture.

Parents - if you send your children up the slide and there's a big line and yet your children come down in ten seconds flat. Well after the twentieth time it must kick in that they are budding, right? It has to right?

My little Charlie. I'm surprised I didn't have the CPS at the DVC because I picked little Charlie up and physically moved him to his spot. He wanted immediate gratification every time. Charlie the world just doesn't work that way. You see little Charlie was only two and a half and didn't know any better. But his older sister did and still thoroughly enjoyed budding and thoroughly craved my discipline by the end of our slide day.

Women - want to go faster? Don't do the luge style of the men. Pike yourself. It works. Fast. Great VB advice I got.

We did go to DD many times. But I must have been so busy stuffing my face with free chocolates that I only took one pic!!!!

 

[lisaviolet]

Well,

We had just over a week and the rental at AKV was just for three nights. What to do? What to do?

We considered Coronado Springs on free dining. For a couple of seconds. I had a PIN code.

I mean I love CS (I mean I ADORE any resort that provides me with an assortment of hammocks - who wouldn't? Maybe those strange people who go to park rope droppings )- and you know how I feel about free and food being combined.

But I didn't know how we would feel going from a one bedroom at AKV to a regular hotel room. My God listen to me - don't I sound like a spolied little brat?

And I am out of DVC points for a good little time. Laughing. Read borrowed.

DVC - how you spoil thee.

Really it's the kitchen or kitchenette - I adore both.

So I had to think and think and think. And think beyond WDW. I know how could I?

Where could we stay? Could I do it on the cheap? Of course I can - I can do anything on the cheap.

So we decided - I had been there before - Jean had not - all the more exciting. And I was off to change our plane (love you Southwest - haters need not apply) - play Priceline's "name your own price" (Thanks Captain Kirk) - and figure it all out. Days before.

It's still in this wonderful country -

It was once rumoured (our more beautiful spelling ) to be a DVC location. And I hope to God that one day it will be.

It will take me eons to download the pics - so anyone who is still here - be patient. And pray for me - because I can sense that I'm going to be very very close to a nervous breakdown choosing which pictures to include and which can't have their moment. Dancing smiling faces = crazy to me.

So while I tool over one by one downloading - I welcome any guesses. Or any sign of lfe on this trip report for that matter....

 

[lisaviolet]

Okay.

So we flew back into Pittsburgh and drove all night.

And ended up here -

How we got all our turns coming into the area from New Jersey was a true miracle. Yes we're city girls but no sleep - I was using a fading flashlight to guide me along the paper route. But we did it!

So really breathtaking - exhilirating - nothing like it - want to live there - kind of place.

Here's a small hint -

Or maybe for the very hungry and me!!!!

Although I'm not a pizza girl so much.

Well yes the much talked about DVC location a few years back - oh how I wish -

NYC can speak for itself:
'

The UN

 

[lisaviolet]

How did we see so much in such a short time? Well I purchased all loops - 72 hour tour bus tickets online for about the same price as a on the street one loop ticket.

One day after the Brooklyn tour - we walked it back with a myriad of other tourists.

And saw everything under the sun:

This was a highlight. From AKV to the NBA store on Fifth Avenue in a week!

Okay, must take a break. Uploading almost killed me.

Enjoy!

And you KNOW we played on this

 

[gk90]

Great pictures, that's quite a split stay, AKV to NYC! Did you stay at the Waldorf-Astoria?

 

[lisaviolet]

This is my favourite picture of the entire trip. Interesting what one likes.

And this one is quite sad. We usually have people begging with animals but never seen cats here - (I was never asked for money in NYC - here regularly)

A different kind of Soarin' -

I was obsessed with getting this picture. I have no idea why But it drew me in and I sit here knowing that it was at 49th and Lexington. Strange.

Remember that Cat Cora fan from WDW? Well he also loves the one below so I snapped her. He has good taste I must say.

Central Park - how do I love thee? :Here are five ways - but I could have snapped hundreds there.

'

The last day I went to a NYC area beach and had an incredible time.

 

[lisaviolet]

Great pictures, that's quite a split stay, AKV to NYC! Did you stay at the Waldorf-Astoria?

Thank you and thanks for reading.

No I didn't. Wouldn't have that have been something. I got a great price at a business hotel called Club Quarters.

 

[lisaviolet]

Also, I met up with one of my thread friends from the DIS. It was absolutely lovely to see her. We had dinner on restaurant row - after visiting MOMA and walking through Central Park. Wonderful time. Wonderful friend.

So one never knows what happens on the Disboards. Such beautiful things can occur. Absolute magic.

 

[Sammie]

your photos are really good, what type of camera do you have?

 

[TreesyB]

Great trip report. You have a great eye for composition. And how the heck do you go from the Ex to Pittsburgh! Woah that's quite the drive!

 

[lisaviolet]

your photos are really good, what type of camera do you have?

Thank you. It's a Kodak - but that's about all I know.

I'll check in a minute for you Sammie.

 

[lisaviolet]

Great trip report. You have a great eye for composition. And how the heck do you go from the Ex to Pittsburgh! Woah that's quite the drive!

Not bad - can do it just under five.

Thanks so much Treesy. Thanks for reading.

 

[lisaviolet]

So last stop.

From AKV to NYC and like I said our last day - NYC area beach - Jones Beach (Long Island).

Beautiful day. Wonderful weather. Gorgeous beach.

So there it is a very different kind of split stay. A lot in just over a week. But a truly wonderful spontaneous trip.

Thank you to everyone who followed me. Appreciate it.

 

[lisaviolet]

Sammie - it's a Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS.

 

[gk90]

Great shots of Jones beach! They really make me want to be there--I'm embarrassed to admit that I live 25 minutes away but didn't get there at all this summer.

 

[WelcomeHome]

From one New Yorker to a New Yorker at Heart:
Stunningly beautiful photographs!

Thank you,
David