Been There, Done That and ThenSome:Timandlesley Do Disneyfor18days!11/2 TR IS UP!pg79

[ladybugmom]

GREAT update!! O'hana is one of my favorite places to eat at WDW!! YUM!! How fun that you were able to stay at the same resort as your friends AND that you're already planning to go back with them!! Fun times!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Another great update!

We had a similar experience to yours about moving hotels and being a little disappointed. We spent 10 days at WDW and then went to Sea World on the last day of vacation. I couldn't help but feel a little dissapointed in the park b/c it just wasn't Disney. We decided then that we should have gone to Sea World first. I think we would have had a totally different experience if we had. That made me realize that if we ever switch hotels during a stay, we will do the least favorite (or cheaper) one first. I bet you would have liked SSR a lot better if you had gone there first. I think that is just human nature. It still looked nice though. They have some awesome grass!! Wish I had that in my yard!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hurray another update!!! I know what you mean about Animal Kingdom Lodge -- just seeing your pictures made me so anxious to get back there just as soon as possible!!!

SSR looks very nice, but I am taking your comments about space to heart -- as the kids get older having that space becomes more and more important!

Even though you didn't go to a park that day it sure looks like you had a great time at DtD, Ohana's, and the pool!

 

[disneyfan61]

Well I guess I got a little behind on the TR's. Welcome back & I really enjoyed your last 2 updates. Sounds like you had an awesome day with HDDR & wishes & then Spectro!! We just loved Hoop Dee Doo!! And Luke getting up there. Very brave!! Such a fun time. I love Luke's shirt!! Very creative. I have NO creativity in me what so ever! Lauren looked sooo pretty in her yellow dress. Very good color on her. Boy they do not give you much room at SSR do they??? Sounds like you had a great time with Diane & planning to go next year together-how great is that?? Cannot wait for the next update!!

 

[IluvXU]

Thanks Lesley for the honest input on the SSR. I found at CSR we struggled with where to put stuff clothes, luggage way more than any other Moderate we have stayed at. And the open balcony way of SSR is different.

Love all the AKL pics--- did you make it down to visit the new Kidani building at all?

Glad you had so much fun with Diane and crew.... and worried about how bad Tim's knee gets at WDW.

 

[Lil'DisneyMom]

I LOVE Ohana's!!! Now I am craving those potstickers!! YUM

Luke's shirt is so cute!! Totally reminds me of something my son would say!! LOL

 

[SunnieRN]

Lukes shirt is so cute!! Please tell him that my grandson was reading the report with me, (he is 3), and said, "Who is that boy?" When I told himit was Luke, he said, "Tell him I LOVE his shirt!!" He then went on to say, "Remember when I wanted to make my own shirt and you said NO?"

It was our last day there and they said it would be a two hour wait, so we didn't order it. I told him that next time we would do it at the beginning of the trip.

Great update!!

 

[morgtroy]

Your were gone, then I've been gone, just catching up.
Love the review of Askerhus, we are hoping to try that in Dec. A late breakfast.
Love Luke's tee.
I agree on the storage at SSR. I've only stayed at SSR, OKW, and AKL with DVC, and AKL is my favorite. It's more modern and the resort is just beautiful. SSR grounds are really pretty and we had a nice view of DTD. Funny, one of the things I really liked at SSR was the hook shelf by the door. Hung up our backpack and lanyards.
Thanks for the warning on the missions, we will have to save that for later in the trip, or they will not want to do anything else.
So sorry for Tim's knee. A terrible place to have a bad knee at.
Hoop Dee do, looks like tons of fun, we'll have to try that one sometime. I've always wondered if it was worth the extra credits.

 

[caz1712]

What a lovely relaxing day! There are a few new shops in DTD since we were there in Nov/Dec so that will be nice! The design a t-shirt is a great idea and I think the boys will love doing this - me too!LOL

Carreen
xxx

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Thanks for your comparisons.
For most people, either you like the outside corridor style or you don't. The closet is good for hanging up a lot of your stuff, but the studios don't typically have enough room for your stuff. I think the designers saw this with the prior DVC studios and probably improved that with DVCs after that.

I, too, don't like not having the double sinks...there are a few other DVCs who do not have that in the 1BRs either. The studios, forget it.

As far as SSR location is concerned...yes, it's quite awesome being that close to DTD. I cannot tell you how many nights my husband hopped over there for something for us to eat after we got the kids to bed. It is a great perk!

about the pool monster!!! Kids!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

What a day! Not even a park and it was still packed full of fun! Ohana's sounds great and the chocolate covered pretzels sound super yummy!!!!

 

[DWGal210]

That shirt was priceless - I love it! So creative!

I hear ya on the space in the SSR studios; more clothes storage space would be nice!

I do love that Grandstand area - we request that area each time we've been there. You can't beat the bus stop AND the pool right there!

 

[mylag1rl]

Sounds like another great Disney day. I can't wait to try AKL ... our last trip we tried the WL after reading your reports and loved it.

Luke's shirt was great !

So sad that Tim's knee was bothering him on vacation. That is great that your family and Diane's family are planning to vacation together next year. Sounds like fun

 

[cherbear]

Lesley, I forgot about something I wanted to mention before....

The pretzels, I had read in someone else's TR that you can no longer get 3 pretzels as a snack credit, just ONE pretzel. They were on basic dining though, I wonder if you can get 3 with the deluxe dining snack credits but only 1 with the basic dining snack credit?

 

[Nicole786]

Thanks for your honest SSR review, it kind of reminds me of Grand Floridian, which makes it very pretty but the size is what keeps me away (I also don't have DVC) glad Diane was there because that probably made it 10x better!

 

[alice325]

LOVE Luke's shirt! That is so cute that he designed it himself.

Lauren looks beautiful in her little sun dress at the Poly that night. Their dinner is so good. We went last year, but our reservation was not until 8:30 and everyone was kind of tired and not hungry enough to enjoy all that yummy food. We'll have to go again sometime. I love the Poly atmosphere.

Sounds like fun going with Dis friends next year. What's Diane's screen name? I'll have to check out her TR.

Swimming till 11:00 - Awesome!

Alice

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

Loved the updates!!!

Luke's shirt was awesome, I can't wait to go there and let my kids design their own t-shirts!

Sorry about Tim's knee, it is no fun walking through Disney with continuous pain!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Leslie:

I thought I had seen an UP shirt on one of Diane's children and she thinks it was your son. If so, where did you get it? I am looking for other merchandise. Jeremy is going to be Russell for MNSSHP. I bought the tshirt at Disney.com that looks like his scout shirt but I am trying to find the hat (if they even make it). If it was not your son, I guess I will have to go back through the reports I have been reading!

Erika

 

[kaysmommie]

Great update! Looks like you had a nice rleaxing day on resort change day. Great 'Ohana pics too. I agree with you about the drawer/closet space at SSR. We couldn't fit all clothes in the drawers and had to hang up a lot of them. We were in the same building as you but our room faced the Grandstand pool. It's a pretty resort but I liked the theme of many others better. I didn't like Artist Palette at all.

 

[Sooze]

This was on our floor by the elevators looking down, they have these little kiosks with African artifacts by the elevators, such a nice touch

Yay for Disney.. always trying to incorporate education with their theming.

View of the savannah:

Thank you so much for posting so many pictures of AKL and for all of your comments about it. When Matt and I visited, we thought it was stunning, but we were worried about how much we would like it there, since it had SUCH a different feel from other DVC resorts. Your report, pictures, and opinions have me aching to stay there now!

Oh my goodness.. you look SO depressed in this picture!!

I put on my best Disney smile and basically begged the lady

When we were there this past month, I watched a really b*#@hy lady giving the CM at the counter crap because their room was too far away from everything. I swear, it's all about HOW you ask them for a switch. Why people find it necessary to be poopy is beyond me!