Chunkymonkey & Chunky Sisters B-day Celebration 2011!! Completed TR!

[natebenma]

That's great that you all enjoyed 'Ohana so much! And even better that you will be able to go back again so soon. Good planning!

The photos, of course, are fantastic. I really love the shot of the whole table after the meal!

I have only been there once and it wasn't during the fireworks. You said you went to the windows to watch- were there tables in front of the windows or is there a dedicated viewing area? I know a lot of people covet those tables with a view during the fireworks but I'm wondering if it is like Coral Reef, where the tankside tables get cramped with people coming over.

Love the pictures of Aulani! It looks like the pool will be amazing! Great info about the DVC points. You done good!

 

[LilAnn]

Yummy update. The carrot cake cookie looks good, but since I am not a big fan of carrot cake, I would probably skip those in faavor of something else.

Ohana - YUM! DH has been known to order a second helping of dessert pretty much as soon as they place the first bread pudding on our table. It is so good!

 

[onescgirl]

I hope your back is better soon.
I love how the Mickey lollipop kept showing up in the pictures! Too cute.

 

[RachelNinja]

Catching up!

Lotus Blossom was good for what we wanted at the time. We knew it wasn't going to be super authentic, but I was CRAVING Chinese food even if it was Disneyfied Chinese food. I had the sesame chicken salad and Howard had the beef noodle bowl. It definitely satisfied us, and it was fun to be able to eat while watching IllumiNations!

I love the shots of people ON the rides!

What a surprise it must've been for your sisters to see the inside of Sci-Fi! I think even I would be surprised, and I've seen many pictures of it.

Bummer that you had such bad back pain! Hope you're 100% better now! But yay for Aulani! How exciting to experience a new Disney resort!

I'd feel terrible cutting into one of those pretty apples. During our last trip, my cousin just had a caramel apple dipped in chocolate. We all had some, and it was DELICIOUS!

How cute that CT2 went to tell you about the disappearing dessert! I was very surprised that I liked the dessert so much! I figured I'd be one of the only few NOT to like it, but it was indeed so yummy! I think 'Ohana is so much fun with a larger group. I don't think Howard and I will want to do that restaurant on her honeymoon because it might be too overwhelming. It's fun when there's a group devouring, and you can ask for more food because others want it too!

 

[princess aleya]

Great updates, love all the pics you took at Ohana. We will be there in a few days, I can't wait to have those yummy wings and pot stickers. Enjoy your trip, can't wait to hear about it when you return.

 

[Cat0727]

Yumm great update!

Oh man, I really need to make a reservation at Ohana next time I go to Disney! Their bread pudding looks to die for

 

[stacyinwonderland]

Enjoying your trip report so far. You all look so cute everyday in the park. I have the same minnie ears. I got them at a thrift store for 3 dollars. Excited to wear them on my next trip!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Yummo, what a fun night at Ohana!

You gals all have super cute clothes!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I'm sorry to hear you have not been feeling well. I hope your back gets better before your trip

on renting DVC points for Aulani! The pics look great!

Also thanks on sharing the pointers on renting with DVC points. I looked into this but decided to leave it for a first trip. Maybe one day...

Thank you! I do feel much better although my hip joints have been bothering me. I think I am just getting arthritic!

Yup super excited for Aulani. Too bad it will only be 2 days there, but I will make sure to explore every part of the resort and take plenty of pics!

Sure thing, I had so many questions about renting points but there wasn't 1 sort of FAQ or source I could go to so I put together my own...

You will have such an awesome time in Hawaii!! I think that resort looks amazing!

Sorry you hurt your back.. that isn't fun. Plus.. a long flight. I hope it doesn't aggravate it more.

Oh..and a trip to San Fran! I was just thinking I wanted to take a trip back there. It is a cool place cause you can make a short trip out of it.... which, I kinda need a short trip.

Thanks Ann! I am feeling better, but do still have a bit of pain. I think I need to strengthen my core muscles. We'll see how that goes

SF was great - it was cold though! But it's fun when the weather is nice. Napa Valley is always so nice to visit.

Augh! Sorry to hear about your back. I was starting to wonder what was going on with you. No updates in a LONG time! Figured it was a busy wedding time or something, but a sore back is not fun!

I now have two trips going, the Oct trip and a Jan Trip!

Ooooh 2 trips! So lucky! I will have to catch up on your PTRs soon.

for Aulani!!!

Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you!!!

I'm sorry to hear about your back, hope you feel better soon enough!

Wooow, Aulani. Can't wait to hear about that!

Thanks so much for all that info on renting DVC points. I've always been intrigued with the idea.

Thanks Yuki! Def feel better now. I'm glad the point thing helped. I had no resource so I had to end up creating one for my own. LOL

Yeah! Anothe Chunky Monkey trip report! So far sounds like you are having a great trip and I love all the pictures. I did ot realize you had finished your last trip report. I am going to have to finish the ending that I missed.

Hope your back feels better for your trip to San Fran. I have back issues so I know how miserable that can be.

Also, congrats on Aulani. We hope to visit there someday, but I think we might have to buy a few more points or resnt some. Let us know what you think.

Aww thanks. The back is a lot better thanks. I can see how people get addicted to pain medication now...yikes. I was only given a small dosage of pain meds but now I miss them...hahaha

Thanks! We're super excited. It will be more of a "sampling" for us to see if it's something we think is worth it and if we'll be going back to.

I'm sorry about your back. I have a friend who has had back problems all her life and it sounds like just awful, constant pain

Aulani looks beautiful! Their pool looks insane

Thank you! I do feel much better and am more mobile now. I'm just so scared it may happen again. I may talk to some sort of personal trainer or therapist of what I should or shouldn't be doing.

Yes doesn't it?? I am totally on cloud 9 just thinking about it!

Welcome back!!!!! Feel better I'm jealous about Hawaii. I had a chance to go there for my high school graduation in 2003 and chose WDW. What can I say even as an 18 year old I was hooked and never lost my love for it..now..I'm sort of regretting it!!!

I figured with Hawaii, by the time I'm ready to go, I'll hopefully have DVC and it won't be as bad..maybe..lol

LOL, my 2 favorite destinations are Hawaii and WDW. And now the WDW has come to Hawaii, well at least a resort did, it makes it all the more incentive to go to both! I wish I could do a trip to WDW then a trip to Hawaii all at once. That would be my dream trip and would probably cost too much money and take up a lot of vacation days, but hey, a girl could dream right?

I hope you make it to Hawaii at least once! Maui is one of our favorites, and Hawaii is wonderful for exploring, Oahu which is where Waikiki and Honolulu and of course, the Aulani, are, is more crowded, plenty of restarants, shopping, nightlife, etc. Kauai is definitely the most untouched. It's beautiful and lots of hiking trails and drives.

Sorry about your back...but yay for Aulani! That's super exciting. And I can't wait to hear about your experience renting points. If Disney actually scales back on its discounts, that may be the way to for more and more people. And thanks for the camera advice.

I totally agree. I feel like renting poiints is the way to go esp if you want to stay deluxe. it literally saved me like 1000 bucks! nuts! I really coudlnt believe staying at the aulani was 399 a night retail.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Awesome update of Ohana's!!! I can't wait to eat here on my 2013 trip. I'm already dreaming of the shrimp, steak, and bread pudding, mmmm.
Those lollipops are so cute! I can't believe I didn't see them on my last trip. I bet they would've made awesome souvenirs for my kid cousins.

Yum, ‘Ohana is so good, I am still thinking about it. I hope they have something like that at Aulani. It would be such a wise move for them to do so, since the restaurant already has an island/Polynesian theme and in Hawaii would fit perfectly. Plus, everyone I know already likes it!
The lollies are sold at all the places they sold candy. Goofy’s Candy co had a bunch of them as well as at most gift shops.

OMG, what an awesome review of Ohana! I love that you ordered the second dessert!!!

LOL. I think we had too much dessert as we all literally rolled out of there.

I love the sugar rush you guys were getting!
Wow, what a great review of O'hana! Love the pics and mmm at that dessert! I wish I had booked an ADR here but am stalking the boards and site to see if I can get a cancellation. After reading your review, I really hope so.
I'm glad to read that you are feeling better

Hopefully you can get a ressie there as it one of the most fun experiences at WDW. However much I dislike theme restaurants in real life, at Disney, I just love them. LOL. It’s like I have to do the extreme opposite of what I do regularly when I am at Disney.
Thanks, I do feel better!

That's great that you all enjoyed 'Ohana so much! And even better that you will be able to go back again so soon. Good planning!
The photos, of course, are fantastic. I really love the shot of the whole table after the meal!
I have only been there once and it wasn't during the fireworks. You said you went to the windows to watch- were there tables in front of the windows or is there a dedicated viewing area? I know a lot of people covet those tables with a view during the fireworks but I'm wondering if it is like Coral Reef, where the tankside tables get cramped with people coming over.
Love the pictures of Aulani! It looks like the pool will be amazing! Great info about the DVC points. You done good!

Thanks! The windows where you can watch Wishes are all at the front of the restaurant facing the castle. If you are lucky, you might get a seat near the window where you can watch it, but if you don’t, you can always walk towards the front and watch them. There are usually a few people doing this (like us!) The tables near the window are usually placed right up to the window so there isn’t much room for people to stand, so if you have to stand you can stand at the pillars which are in the middle of the restaurant. That way you won’t really be blocking anybody since they have a pillar blocking their view anyways.

Yummy update. The carrot cake cookie looks good, but since I am not a big fan of carrot cake, I would probably skip those in faavor of something else.
Ohana - YUM! DH has been known to order a second helping of dessert pretty much as soon as they place the first bread pudding on our table. It is so good!

Yes the carrot cake cookie was really for carrot cake lovers only. It really was huge!
We totally did that the next time. We were like, yeah can you just bring us another dessert right now because this one will be obliterated in 30 seconds. LOL

I hope your back is better soon.
I love how the Mickey lollipop kept showing up in the pictures! Too cute.

Thanks Amy! I do feel better!

Catching up!
Lotus Blossom was good for what we wanted at the time. We knew it wasn't going to be super authentic, but I was CRAVING Chinese food even if it was Disneyfied Chinese food. I had the sesame chicken salad and Howard had the beef noodle bowl. It definitely satisfied us, and it was fun to be able to eat while watching IllumiNations!
I love the shots of people ON the rides!
What a surprise it must've been for your sisters to see the inside of Sci-Fi! I think even I would be surprised, and I've seen many pictures of it.

Bummer that you had such bad back pain! Hope you're 100% better now! But yay for Aulani! How exciting to experience a new Disney resort!
I'd feel terrible cutting into one of those pretty apples. During our last trip, my cousin just had a caramel apple dipped in chocolate. We all had some, and it was DELICIOUS!
How cute that CT2 went to tell you about the disappearing dessert! I was very surprised that I liked the dessert so much! I figured I'd be one of the only few NOT to like it, but it was indeed so yummy! I think 'Ohana is so much fun with a larger group. I don't think Howard and I will want to do that restaurant on her honeymoon because it might be too overwhelming. It's fun when there's a group devouring, and you can ask for more food because others want it too!

Hey Rachel! I’m glad to hear Lotus Blossom was good. Sometimes I do have a craving for chinese food, even bad chinese food, but I have never tried LB before, or Nine Dragons for that matter. But now you have opened me up to having those options at WDW!

Was your caramel apple from the new caramel place at Epcot near Germany? We loved it too.

DH likes OHANA too that he’ll probably agree to go if it’s just us again, but I don’t think we’ll be getting seconds of dessert. LOL.

Great updates, love all the pics you took at Ohana. We will be there in a few days, I can't wait to have those yummy wings and pot stickers. Enjoy your trip, can't wait to hear about it when you return.

Oooh you are so lucky! Enjoy Ohana!!

Yumm great update!
Oh man, I really need to make a reservation at Ohana next time I go to Disney! Their bread pudding looks to die for

I think it’s a must-do for us now!

Enjoying your trip report so far. You all look so cute everyday in the park. I have the same minnie ears. I got them at a thrift store for 3 dollars. Excited to wear them on my next trip!

Oh wow 3 bucks! Such a bargain! I can’t believe those ears are so expensive. And My sequins are even falling out now. Yikes. Guess I’ll be gluing my ears before our next trip.

Yummo, what a fun night at Ohana!

You gals all have super cute clothes!

Aww thanks, it’s funny because the Photopass Photographer said the same thing, he was like, wow I have never seen anyone dress so nice for MK. Too funny.

 

[sbprincess]

Yea! Glad everyone loved Ohana! We're going for the first time in October and I'm soooooo looking forward to it. It was a last minute (well, last minute before the 180 day mark ) decision and I'm glad I decided to give it a try. Hope you had a great holiday weekend!

 

[tinacaplan]

Glad that everyone loved 'Ohana. But then....what's not to love? You took beautiful pictures of the meal, too, btw.

 

[floridascgirl]

Hi! I'm so happy that I stumbled upon your TR before it was over. You girls are all so cute. I sure wish that I had a sister to travel with because trying to do a gift shop with my DH and DS13 is next to impossible!

 

[rndmr2]

Just found this TR and read the whole thing, looks like you and your sisters are having a great trip together! Beautiful pictures, too.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial day weekend. I was in San Francisco with my DH. I sure have a lot to catch up on the DIS!

The reason we were out there was mainly this: Our new niece, Madeleine!! (Maddie for short)

Isn’t she the cutest? She was only 10 weeks old when these pics were taken.

We can'’t get enough of her! She'’s so adorable!

We also got a chance to eat a lot. Here’s some of the food we ate in and around SF and Napa Valley.

Delicious spicy seafood – done in a Cajun style from The Boiling Crab in San Jose:

Some delicious Chinese egg tarts my mother-in-law picked up. You may have seen these in Chinatowns and at dim sum across the US, but this version is a little different. They are huge, and there is more custard. One piece can easily serve 2-3 people.

Don’t think it can be the start of official summer without a BBQ! Courtesy of my brother-in-law:

Some deliciously yummy dim sum in Cupertino:

On our day in Napa, we got some yummy lunch from Bouchon. Some of you may recognize the dish I got was the same in my previous TR in Las Vegas. Yup, I got the same thing I got in the Las Vegas Bouchon. The Croque Madame!

DH got some lamb dish

We stayed at the Best Western Premier Ivy Napa. This is not like the old dinge-y Best Western chain you picture in your head. It’s actually really nicely renovated and very modern. I was surprised! I got a great deal on Hotwire. It was hard to find a good hotel at a deal during the crowded holiday weekend but I was really happy with our selection.

Free breakfast including make your own waffles are always A-OK in my book!

For dinner, we went to a Tyler Florence restaurant. It’s called Rotisserie and Wine, and it’s located near the Napa River (which isn’t really a pretty river by any means, but I think they are trying to draw people to this area so they built new condos, restaurants, hotels, and shops along the waterfront.

To start, we got some cheese puffs, also known as gougeres. They are a French type of pastry puff, stuffed with cheese. These had cheese, bacon and chives. They were delicious!

We got complimentary corn bread. It was literally the best corn bread I have ever had! It’s served with honey butter. OMG it was soooo good.

For an entrée, I got the duck confit, served with a choice of 3 sides. I got collard greens, roasted potatoes, and mac n cheese. Delish!

Here is DH’s dish. His was really really good. I practically ate half of it. It was roasted shrimp and baby octopus. If you haven’t had baby octopus, imagine it like really tender calamari. I love calamari and octopus and anything of that nature.

His sides were an avocado and beet salad, biscuit and gravy (which was missing the biscuit but he didn’t really mind as he was full), and mashed potatoes.

Overall, we ate really well on vacay! Time to hit the gym!​

 

[rndmr2]

I just had to say that your new little neice is Too cute!!

 

[tinacaplan]

All of those photos are delicious! Adorable baby, great food...and what a great looking Best Western. Who knew? The Tyler Florence place looks fantastic, and I would have gone for the duck, too!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Your niece is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE and tiny!!!!!!!!!!!

Great to know you had a wonderful time and that your back feels better!

Love your pictures, as always. That Cajun food looks really good....I'm really hungry...

And that cornbread.....I love cornbread.

Those big orange chairs in Best Western look so cool! It's awesome that you got a great deal on hotwire. I didn't even consider it for my Aug trip to NYC!

 

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

aw, your niece is too cute! checked out a little of your TR. Love all your pictures! Makes me wish I had some sisters to go to Disney with!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Glad that everyone loved 'Ohana. But then....what's not to love? You took beautiful pictures of the meal, too, btw.

Thanks Tina!!

Hi! I'm so happy that I stumbled upon your TR before it was over. You girls are all so cute. I sure wish that I had a sister to travel with because trying to do a gift shop with my DH and DS13 is next to impossible!

Aww thank you and welcome! Growing up in a house of sisters is a little nutty but we had a great time looking back

Just found this TR and read the whole thing, looks like you and your sisters are having a great trip together! Beautiful pictures, too.

Thank you and welcome!!

I just had to say that your new little neice is Too cute!!

All of those photos are delicious! Adorable baby, great food...and what a great looking Best Western. Who knew? The Tyler Florence place looks fantastic, and I would have gone for the duck, too!

Thanks Tina! I don't know what looks yummier...the food or my niece. LOL.
oooh another duck person! I know some people who either love it or hate it!

Your niece is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE and tiny!!!!!!!!!!!

Great to know you had a wonderful time and that your back feels better!

Love your pictures, as always. That Cajun food looks really good....I'm really hungry...

And that cornbread.....I love cornbread.

Those big orange chairs in Best Western look so cool! It's awesome that you got a great deal on hotwire. I didn't even consider it for my Aug trip to NYC!

Thanks Yuki! I love my new neice!! So exciting to be in NYC! I look on priceline and hotwire a lot for deals. I use www.biddingfortravel.com to get an idea of what hotels are going for which prices to help me gauge what I should bid and what to expect. Hope that helps!