Coffee on the Verandah -The Last Slide, Recap & Souvies 5/29 - Link to Aulani TR 5/31

[mickeystoontown]

What a lovely view from your verandah! If Old Key West had beaches, I'm betting I could talk John into staying there. It looks so nice and relaxing.

It took us years before we ever made it over to DTD but it's now one of the places we must go at least twice during every trip. I can definitely see how you'd have sensory overload in World of Disney. There's tons of stuff everywhere you turn and always a ton of people.

 

[glennbo123]

In fact it was so right, it became a huge conversation topic during our dinner at Olivia’s. Which I’d forgotten about until I looked at my notes. (notes are great…if you remember to look at them when writing the update!).

I've done that.

The first night was interesting. As Karin (dizneat, who is there now!) had warned, the door configuration is a bit confusing. Basically part of the bathroom is actually in the master bedroom, the part with the tub and one sink and tons of storage. There is no privacy door between that and the master, although it is relatively separate, the entry is right by the door to the master itself so anyone walking into the bedroom actually sees into that part of the bath first. Then, from that part, there is a door into the rest of the bathroom, which houses the toilet, shower and another vanity. This has another entry, which is through the laundry room. What is confusing about the whole thing is that the same hall that you take to get to the master, leads to the laundry room. As a result, when you exit the bathroom it’s easy to either end up in the master bedroom, or the laundry room, and often when you mean to do the opposite.

Is it kinda similar to the Vero layout?

At 8am, I was up and ready to go. Rested and content but couldn’t sleep any longer. So was Jeff. You know what that means don’t you?

Coffee on the verandah!

After your story from the night before, I actually guessed wrong on this question.

Or is that what we're calling it now?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Great pictures! I'm still trying to visualize the layout with all those doors!

A couple questions -
can you give the short lay-person's version of the strong vs. regular coffee brewing?

What IS that big pineapple building in DTD? (I never go over on that side!)

Where will I be getting that mug when I go in October?
(and I'm hoping AKV has one too!)


Glenn- YOU CRACK ME UP!!! "Is that what we're calling it now?"

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Or is that what we're calling it now?

Can't look at the TR title the same way anymore, can you?

 

[eandesmom]

I want to stay at OKW now.

Me too! Hop on a plane and go back!

Do me a favor... ask Eric if he thinks it's better staying in a villa than a regular hotel room? The funny part is that when I read those quotes, I could hear Alex's voice! Story of my life! The latest one has been about locks & lockers... Last week we went to his new middle school so he could walk through his schedule before school started. His case manager was explaining how things were going to work this week & every other sentence out of his mouth was about lockers & locks!

I could totally see that! They are very alike that way. He is SO single minded. Which can be a great, and a not so great, thing. I really could have used some of your cards for him on this trip. Funny about the lockers. We have them in middle school as well and Evan was SO excited about it. The reality of them though is that they don't have enough time between classes to really use them. So it's a before and after school thing, or maybe at lunch. And then they forget where their locker is, and the combo. When he finally got back in, before Christmas Break he found a water bottle of milk (empty but not rinsed out) that he'd brought to school and left in there.

EEEW!

It will be interesting to see if Eric uses his locker at all next year.

When we stayed at OKW for a week back in 2009, we really liked it, and I remember taking the boat from DTD to OKW. It was a pretty ride! I like how your first day was leisurely... this last trip just me and the guys, we had some time like that.

It is a really pretty ride! I was able to do it from POR on our girls trip but this time, I think because there wasn't the big wait to get on a boat, a smaller boat, relatively empty and not worrying about being late for dinner I could really enjoy the ride. Although on the POR ride we did see a bobcat near the THV area so that was pretty exciting!

And I was so glad we were at BCV to enjoy the resort for that reason. I bet you are getting excited for F & W!!!! By the time you almost finish this TR, it will be time to head back over to this coast!!!

SAB is such a great place for that, though it's easy to lose a kid it's so darn big. Something about the feel of OKW reminded me of SAB but at a manageable size. I am excited for F&W, though I have a feeling I won't be almost done with the TR by then I'm only on the first part of day 2 of 12. Mary Ellen might finish hers before we go but she's still got a lot of trip left to report on too! If we do a TR we may have to juggle 2 at once which will be interesting. Or entertaining, or both. We have a lot of meets lined up and I'm really excited for that, plus MNSSHP, ever been and a couple of F&W seminars!

Loved this update- great start to your trip.

The pictures of your mug on the verandah ledge are things of beaty!!!

I thought so! It was the perfect start to the day, really couldn't have been lovelier and more relaxing. I should have been working to be honest and knocked some of that out but just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I didn't know you had worked at Starbucks. I was a Dunkin Donuts gal myself (5 years).

Oh no! The enemy!! Yep, 13 years. I used to bleed green.

Who got stuck with the Sugar Pops? I'm guessing that is the dreaded leftover cereal box.

Well I had 3 packs of 10 and there were 5 kinds in each pack. You can actually see that one box of Corn Pops and Apple Jacks were gone already when I took the pic of the first 10 pack I opened. What was left/avoided was interesting.

We have taken the OKW DVC boat in the opposite direction. It is such a pretty and relaxing ride! This is my family's stategy for avoiding the horrid DTD bus back to the Beach Club. We take one of the resort boats, get a bus to EPCOT and then make our way back to BC. Not quick, but a pleasant trip.

No, not quick but that would be pleasant. I'll keep that in mind for the future!

Not sure where you went first. I want to say Margaritaville, since I got grief for missing that question in your PTR, but I'm going to go with something to do with Pin Trading.

Well since there is no margaritaville at DTD it would be safe to say that no, we didn't go there.

that's my reaction to the child coming in at the wrong time.. I think every parent has experienced that in some form.

Honestly, this was the first time ever. Then again, we lock our bedroom door at home and it is a kids free zone, they aren't allowed in ever anyway, any time of day.

The funny part is that the actual bedroom door, was locked. And we could have locked the bathroom door into our side, from the other side, but didn't think of it as then it would have locked us out without going back around.

I wish I was at OKW right now. Looks fantastic.

Jill in CO

It's a wonderful place, especially for a non park trip! I am so glad we stayed there, it lived up to everything I was hoping it would.

 

[eandesmom]

New reader! Going back to read but loving the first few pages!

Katie! Thrilled to have you here

Coffee sounded so good to me, I'm reading, drinking coffee. And I may or may not have a doughnut too.

- Katie

Mmn, doughnut! I wish I had one right now. or two. Krispy Kremes! I do have coffee though, but it's it's lonely for something to go with it. Better eat lunch soon or it could get ugly.

Ahhhh....love coffee on the verandah. And I love your OKW mug...might have to pick one of those up for myself in 18 days.

I love that mug, sometimes they are "just right" you know? I was one happy girl on that verandah that morning. All was right in my world.

Love the breakfast routine with the cereal.

So NOT the kind of cereal we have in the house, unless the kids buy with their own money. They love those snack packs! I can't eat that stuff, I had some fabulous Chiobani Greek Yogurt and was happy as a clam. But at their age? Get outta my way, those Apple Jacks would have been MINE!

Isn't that boat ride to DTD wonderful? I fell in love with it in January (Mark and I didn't do it in September, so I can't way to share it with him).

I can't wait to hear how the shopping went and if you took your time and enjoyed it this time around.

Oh it's a wonderful ride, he will love it! I think SSR and OKW get a bad rap, not being close to a park but the boat to DTD is just as special in it's own way.

Ah - I remember this spot well. Our treehouse villa was just to the left of that ferry.

I thought of you every time we rode by a treehouse and wondered if one of them was yours.

What a nice peaceful morning. Well, except for the bugs.

Yeah, they will find me no matter what. They got me at POR anytime I was near the water too.

You know what - I think that villa is WAY better than hotel room!

WAY. OMG he was funny, it went on and on and on and ON!

All the kids are going to be spoiled for life.

That they are. I've created monsters.

The 1BR at Vero is set up the same way (so is HHI, but I had that bathroom to myself) and I kept getting confused about what door to open and what door to shut.

Yeah for DTD and lunch. Such a pretty ride to get there. Love OKW.

Yeah, at least at Vero you have one less door as you aren't going in through the laundry room. The full size laundry was amazing but did add to the door confusion for sure.

Well you have just hit one of my favourite experiences from OKW...that awesome boat ride to DTD!

It was lovely! And much more relaxing than the one I did from POR to DTD. That was lovely but we had to wait for a boat for a while (long line) and then were stressed about being late for dinner. This time, with no real agenda I was able to enjoy it more.

And I must say I completely agree...staying in a villa at OWK really IS so much better than a regular hotel room. So cut the kid some slack...it really is something to sing from the rafters about!

It really is, it was just funny to hear the kids appreciate the differences so much.

1st morning and I am already getting your theme of coffee on the veranda (and completely subscribed and on board with the concept). Problem is, I don't think I did that even one of the 7 mornings we were there. We are early birds...always out the door for rope drop. And the way I roll, I always wait to get up until the very last possible minute possible in order to still get out the door on time. Never any time for lingering over coffee (or even making coffee) in the room in the mornings. Maybe I should re-think that...you are definitely convincing...

Well I can't say that is typical of a park trip for us, to be that leisurely. Jeff and I always get our coffee before heading out but more often than not if heading to the parks it is drunk while getting ready, getting kids up, etc. We did to it on our FW trip when I couldn't get the teens out of bed but that was almost a necessity. The E's were up, K&T were not so eating breakfast outside on the deck had to happen if we were to let them sleep in. And while I'm generally not a fan, when you don't get to the resort until midnight and are on west coast time, that's a hard adjustment to make at that point. I pick my battles!

In the past I've never really taken a resort day. The only ones we've had were de-facto because we were switching resorts and those days by their very nature are unsettled and not relaxing. I'm going to rethink that the next trip too. Though if the next trip really is in December (2013) it might not be the same...a bit cold for coffee on the Verandah! We will see though.

Just jumped on board and I am loving your TR so far - especially how detailed you are!

Hi and So happy to have you here. I've been known to go a little overboard on the detail in my PTR's but it works a little better when it's real life reporting, thanks!

And, I have to say, I've always brushed OKW off but you have me reconsidering

I think a lot of people do, based on it's location as much as anything. I would stay there again in a heartbeat.

 

[eandesmom]

Great update! I hate the bathroom layout of most of the DVC resorts! One of the first things I do when we check in to a villa is to make sure the door locks work! So many times they don't!!

It was really interesting to compare 3 different layouts. Vero and OKW are basically the same except at Vero you don't go through a laundry room so no extra door. That seemed to help with the confusion although we still got locked out a couple of times. The layout at Jambo in the 1B is weird though. Didn't care for that at all. Huge and nice bathroom but if someone is in the shower, the whole room is off limits. Didn't actually cause a problem but I could see where it easily could!

We have never stayed at OKW (well, once in a studio for a night), and it looks sooooo much like Vero! Are those hardwood floors in the living room??

Layout of the 1b is identical to Vero except for the full laundry room. Yep, kitchen and LR are hardwood, very pretty! I really loved the decor. I actually think the hardwood would be great at Vero, I can only imagine how much sand is in that carpet. Some folks have complained that the refurb, with the change to the hardwood, has increased noise but we didn't hear a thing. The new roman shades are noisy to roll up, they went cheap on the actual roller mechanism but I thought they were really pretty.

Oh man, I miss OKW! I stayed there in June of 2011 and LOVED IT!!! I could go for a Turtle Krawl right now! Or even a Sultry Seahorse, I'm not picky!! How can anyone not be relaxed there? Is it even possible? That was my most relaxed trip of all time, hands down, and I give credit to OKW.

I really don't know how you couldn't be relaxed there either! I will definitely be back at some point. You really feel away from all the craziness of the parks and very much "home".

The buses were confusing. I don't even remember where mine was but eventually I kinda figured it out. Key word: kinda. My only regret would not be trying Olivia's. It's so easy to be on the DDP and just book all sorts of popular ADR's and forget about the ones right at your resort. Guess I'll have to make a trip back!!

I'd do my homework next time for sure on the bus situation, that was a bonehead move. I think because it wasn't a park trip my mind just didn't even go there. Olivia's was wonderful, we'd make a special trip just to go there for sure.

What kind of coffee maker do you use at home? My boyfriend's mom gave us a fancy-ish one with a built-in grinder and I LOVE it more than words can say. (Sorry to my own mother who gave me a Keurig that very same Christmas. In the end, taste beat ease and the Keurig got evicted.) I don't feel like I'm a very good coffee maker though. I think I'm bad at coffee/creamer/sweetner ratios and I don't like it black. But I think I get scared of black and then add too much other crap. But I still love coffee!!

LOL! that's pretty funny. We have a very old Starbucks Barista 12 cup brewer that they haven't made or sold in years. It's got a gold cone filter and we will use it till it dies. We do grind our coffee daily. Used to have a nice burr grinder, but it died and so we just use a small touch one, which grinds exactly one pot and so it's fresh daily. I drink mine black but Jeff does sugar and non fat creamer. I don't think a Kuerig would work for us as we do go through a pot daily and that'd be a lot of K cups to use!

Your post was cracking me up between "pretending to keep an eye on the kids in the pool" to confusing floor plans leading to kids sleepily intruding at inopportune times. At least he forgets!

yeah, total slacker parents. He was so disoriented it was funny, but not atypical at all, he is always out of it in the middle of the night.

Sometimes he will come downstairs, he's having a nightmare or soemthing, walk into the family room, stare at us, we will ask what's wrong or what's up, he won't answer and then leaves and goes back to bed. Never remembers a thing. Used to cause a real problem though when he'd head into our laundry room at home, instead of the bathroom in the middle of the night. We spent a couple of years redirecting him to the right room!

OKW looks so relaxing. I will have to add it to my list of DVC places to stay (the list is getting big).

Mine too. I'll have 2 new stays in Oct but it's hard to compare a studio stay to a 1B, the feel is so different.

I hope they have a AKV mug next June.

Supposedly they are going to do them for all the DVC resorts but so far I think it's only the 4 they showed artwork for last spring (HH, Vero, SSR and OKW). AKV didn't have anything when we were there, which made me sad. I'll be looking at VWL and BWV in Oct though!

Wow! I love SSR for the relaxation factor, only we never seem to take much time to relax. OKW looks even more relaxing! I love your mug! It looks so comfortable to hold, and the shiny glaze is a must for me. I want to get a set of those next visit - hope they still have them.

When are you going? I bet they will have them for a while, hopefully a long while since it's a new release. It is perfect to hold!

What's a vacation with kids if you don't have the "oopsy" visitor?

A first for us but it was humorous. Not that said child is aware... which is good, he'd be traumatized.

There's an awful lot of sugar in those mini boxes of cereal. Just saying..... Hmm.....maybe I'll switch to those but then I swear, someone is always left with crappy box.

Another person's crap is someone else's treasure. Or then again, maybe not. I tried to pick a party pack that pleased most as there are a few options. Do note that I didn't have any and yes, it's a lot of sugar. It was vacation! The only way they get it at home is if they use their own $$. My big compromise at home for cereal is frosted mini wheats (figure the fiber balances out the frosting) and honey nut cherrios.

Living on the edge I know.

Love your pics. The boat ride to DTD sounds amazing. I would have been an anxious mess watching my family putter. I may need a little anti anxiety is that's what mine plan on doing.

Well, if you visit DTD from SSR, you will have a similar ride! Ours didn't stop at SSR on the way to DTD but it did on the way back. I expected the slow morning. Typically the TV would not have been on, but it was the Olympics. Kendall is OBSESSED with Michael Phelps. And he may have had a qualifying race if memory serves and that didn't help matters. Adding the Phelps factor in put us about an hour behind what I'd expected or hoped for. I should have just gone for a walk or something. I know better and still didn't learn. Actually I should have done the work project that was hanging over my head but was boycotting it since it was the weekend, and the first day of the trip.

Is that the mug in the villa or your own mug? Did you buy it in the gift shop?

I want to see your groceries!

Yes, bought it in the gift shop after dinner at Olivia's. The villa had regular mugs. Not too bad size wise, Vero had better ones though but still, nothing is better than your own mug. Jeff was jealous. SSR has a similar one I think with this design, I hope they still have it if I ever make it there to stay. I haven't actually seen a picture of that mug though. What is interesting is that Vero actually had 2 new designs of stuff, this is just one of them.

 

[glennbo123]

Glenn- YOU CRACK ME UP!!! "Is that what we're calling it now?"

Can't look at the TR title the same way anymore, can you?

No! I can't!

Sorry Cynthia!

 

[eandesmom]

I remember the bugs when waiting for the boat at POFQ.

Yep, I got bitten at POR as well, both morning and evening. It was worth it though. And nothing compared to Vero.

I always make time for DTD, love it there, esp WOD, I go crazy in there, throwing tons of stuff in my basket.

Usually I know I can find things other places, like Mousegears, if I'm not up for WOD. This trip it was in some respects a one shot deal other than what might be at AK or at the resorts so that gave me a very different shopping perspective.

OK, cracking up over your middle of the night uninvited guest When I was reading your description of the doors and layout, that was exactly what I was thinking could happen!

Seriously. I would really really really like to be in a 2B or THV next time. Then no worries on that front. Although I guess, as odd as the layout of the bathroom was at Jambo, we wouldn't have had this particular issue.

I know the kids needed the sleep, but I think I would have been stir crazy sitting in the room for 4 hours

I hope you have a better DTD experience this trip! I've always found it to be very nice and much less crowded during the day

Prior to this trip I had only ever been at night so was curious what it would be like in comparison.

I have to be careful in those moments, because I tend to tune the kids out when they start repeating themselves, and then before I know it I've agreed to something that costs large sums of money.

That is SO true! I do the same thing all the time. Although they are on to me and have been known to call me out on it. The worst is in the car. I'm driving, thinking of a million things, listening to the radio and one of the E's is going "don't you agree mom?"

Uh yeah. To what exactly?

Sounds like you need a map for this place.

ask and you shall recieve. Just picture another door next to the D in the picutre (dryer lol). I found it wierd that you open the master bedroom door and really look into the tub as much as you see the actual bedroom. Seemed strange that there wsn't another door to close that part off and it was just open to the master. Very unusual layout. Though as I think about it, my old house had a super funky master as well, with a double vanity in the bedroom, across from a closet and then the shower/toilet in it's own room. Wierd. Probably built about the same time.

thankfully he's not scarred for life. Yet.

Say...that's a nice mug.

I likey.

Yeah, but it's already afternoon in Great Britain.

NO kidding. And literally, that's what got her up. The Phelps factor.

Not the Corn Flakes!

No corn flakes. Your choices for this sugar filled adventure are:

AppleJacks
Sugar Corn Pops
Cocoa Krispies
Fruit Loops

and

Frosted Flakes

In my day I'd have been knocking out my siblings for the AppleJacks or Sugar Corn Pops.

Nice. I loved the boat ride from POR to DTD. It's a nice added benefit.

Similar but seemed smaller, lazier and as a result, more relaxing!

I say hunger interferes. To the Earl of Sandwich!

That sounds like a rally cry before a duel. Or a toast. I'm not sure which.

DH & I are going, sans kids & grand-kids, in May! Last time we were there was for a short 4 night trip in March trip in 2010!!

Oh it would be a perfect couples spot, you really feel away from it all.

Aww....what a relaxing morning you had!! Love your OKW mug!

It was a lovely morning! Very fond of my new mug, it's getting plenty of use.

Cute blackmail picture of the boys!

Evan would be MORTIFIED!

We've had the same luck with DTD. We are either too rushed or it's too crowded for us to fully enjoy it. (well...except for our last trip) I hope that despite getting a late start that you were still able to take it slow and have a great time!!

Can't wait to hear where you go first!

I'd assumed a late start but it was a good hour later than I'd thought it would be. I was SO glad though that we'd decided to have that extra day at OKW instead of getting up and taking off for Vero. It made it so much more relaxing.

 

[eandesmom]

Love the Turtle Krawl!

Delish!

i thought when you started on your relaxing morning you were going to have another oppsy moment.

I thought about writing...

"you know what's next right?"

No, not THAT"

But instead left it a little more PG.

awesome looking coffee mug, i dont drink coffee but i still enjoy collecting different mugs from trips...they make good hot chocolate/peppermint schnopps mugs.

That they do! Not sure how it would hold up in the microwave though and not going to test it out. But if the water was already heated, it'd be great for that!

What a lovely view from your verandah! If Old Key West had beaches, I'm betting I could talk John into staying there. It looks so nice and relaxing.

I could totally see you guys there. Except there aren't any beaches. LOL! Jeff and I actually get a little frustrated with the Disney beaches. If there is a beach, we want, dare I say need, to go in the water. But you can't at a Disney beach. It's a cruel cruel tease.

It took us years before we ever made it over to DTD but it's now one of the places we must go at least twice during every trip. I can definitely see how you'd have sensory overload in World of Disney. There's tons of stuff everywhere you turn and always a ton of people.

Well I can't see us going there twice a trip and it is hard to consider it during the day compared to a park but...daytime was a bazillion times better. Except for the heat. WOD was a bit more bearable too, simply b/c the crowds were less. It does amaze me sometimes that as huge as that place is, I don't seem to find a ton of stuff I "need" to have.

I've done that.

Yeah, I really need to remember to look at the notes when actually writing the update.

Is it kinda similar to the Vero layout?

identical, just add a laundry room

the door isn't shown on the floor plan as only half of the buildings got the extra special secret door.

After your story from the night before, I actually guessed wrong on this question.

I almost said something like that as I was writing it, like "No, not THAT" but decided to keep it a little more clean. Didn't work huh.
'

Or is that what we're calling it now?

You'll never know will you. I mean the kids weren't up for quite some time.

Great pictures! I'm still trying to visualize the layout with all those doors!

See above.

A couple questions -
can you give the short lay-person's version of the strong vs. regular coffee brewing?

Lay person yes. Short. Hmmn.

Ok. 2 ways to make strong versus regular coffee in that kind of brewer. If it doesn't have the "strong" setting the obvious is to use less coffee.

To me, what is funny about the strong versus regular is you have no idea if they assume the same dosage of coffee or not and that really makes the whole thing into a total wild card. If you assume dosage is equal, which I would, then what it means is that the water is filtering through that coffee faster or slower to change how much coffee is extracted. This can have some pretty interesting results. Coffee has a bitter outer layer of oil, as well as an inner one. Water sits on the coffee not long enough, all you get is some of htat oil, a little color and not a lot of flavor. Underextracted. Too long and it's overextracted and bitter (and dark). There is a subjective happy medium in there somewhere. it's also complicated by how dark the coffee was roasted in the first place. Dunkin Donus for example is a lighter roast than the traditional Starbucks roast. (Do not get me started on the newer Starbucks "BLONDE" lol.). How long/dark the roast is changes the oil level as well. Grind size is another factor. Coffee should be ground to a certain size for the kidn of brewer you are using. A french press, percolator, flat bottom brewer and cone filter brewer all have a different grind that will get the "ideal" extraction for that method.

So...if you ask me, the whole idea of strong versus regular, in the brewer itself just really confuses the issue even more and folks would be a lot better off changing their dosage or the roast of the coffee they are using to keep more things equal and less variables.

Ok not short and probably not remotely helpful!

What IS that big pineapple building in DTD? (I never go over on that side!)

I believe it's the back side of Bongo's, the Gloria Estefan Restaurant. I've never been in there and it gets rather horrible reviews. Which is kind of a bummer as conceptually that style of food sounds awfully yummy to me!

Where will I be getting that mug when I go in October?
(and I'm hoping AKV has one too!)

Conch Flats general store. Huge DVC and OKW specific section right as you walk in. Right across from the lobby and next door to Olivia's.

AKV did have their own mugs but they weren't the vintage pie eye style, at least not in August. I can't recall what they looked like though, and don't think I took any pictures in the store. I didn't look at the store at Kidani though, it may have had more DVC stuff. You'll have to let me know!

Glenn- YOU CRACK ME UP!!! "Is that what we're calling it now?"

Oh the comments I could make! However, as the verandah doors do not lock from the outside, and there was visibility to our verandah from the canal and passing watercraft, and I suppose a little bit from the pool... I'll let you all decide what kind of risk takers we are.....

At Disney.

 

[Poolrat]

Typically the TV would not have been on, but it was the Olympics. Kendall is OBSESSED with Michael Phelps. And he may have had a qualifying race if memory serves and that didn't help matters. Adding the Phelps factor in put us about an hour behind what I'd expected or hoped for.

I believe Phelps and Lochte had the 400 IM qualifier.

Oh the comments I could make! However, as the verandah doors do not lock from the outside, and there was visibility to our verandah from the canal and passing watercraft, and I suppose a little bit from the pool... I'll let you all decide what kind of risk takers we are.....

At Disney.

Someday I may need that knowledge.....

 

[eandesmom]

I believe Phelps and Lochte had the 400 IM qualifier.

I believe you are entirely correct! Major drama with K over that one. Actually during the whole trip. It was pretty funny. Her "friend" Phillip, can't stand Phelps. I suspect b/c of how K feels about him. It was a non stop text fest between those 2 about how Phillip predicted Phelps wouldn't get a single medal (and didn't want him to) and K ardently defending Phelps. In fact it's possible that was the delay getting out the door, waiting for the qualifier to show. I think we already knew the results as it was an early morning heat but K wanted to see it, she didn't/couldn't believe it. However, I don't think we saw it, pretty sure the bitter pill was gleefully delivered by Phillip and it may well have been the ongoing rubbing it in texting going on in the picture I took of her at the bus stop. We had some frustrations with the coverage while on our trip to be sure.

Someday I may need that knowledge.....

well, you never know!

 

[CarolynK]

Layout of the 1b is identical to Vero except for the full laundry room. Yep, kitchen and LR are hardwood, very pretty! I really loved the decor. I actually think the hardwood would be great at Vero, I can only imagine how much sand is in that carpet.

The presence of sand at Vero is the reason why the carpet is necessary! How else will you get the sand off your feet if you can't wipe them on the carpet?

 

[eandesmom]

The presence of sand at Vero is the reason why the carpet is necessary! How else will you get the sand off your feet if you can't wipe them on the carpet?

Oh man, can you imagine the volume of vacuum cleaners they kill each year? Lol!!! I just remember sweeping that entry constantly. Which of course was the non-carpeted part. We don't wear shoes in the house ever so I'm sure that didn't help.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Thanks for the coffee lesson! I think I get it for the most part. I'm what I would call a casual coffee drinker - I like it sweetened and creamed! I don't like the stronger, bitter flavor of some coffees. I actually like Dunkin or Starbucks blond. But I can drink almost any kind if I have my "candy" to put in it! Flavored coffee, flavored creamer, sugar, chocolate, whip on top! It's barely coffee anymore! HA!

Thanks also for the room map! I think I'll be very happy in my 1BR!! We have a studio at AKV Jambo for the first part of our trip, so this OKW will be a big treat for us!

I guess Kendall (and Phelps!) showed Phillip what's what in the end, eh?

 

[rentayenta]

I was teasing about the sugar after you razzed me about our jars of marshmallow fluff. . We love those little boxes of cereal. It means less wasted too.

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks for the coffee lesson! I think I get it for the most part. I'm what I would call a casual coffee drinker - I like it sweetened and creamed! I don't like the stronger, bitter flavor of some coffees. I actually like Dunkin or Starbucks blond. But I can drink almost any kind if I have my "candy" to put in it! Flavored coffee, flavored creamer, sugar, chocolate, whip on top! It's barely coffee anymore! HA!

Oh don't get me wrong. A ton of people love Dunkin Donuts and I have zero issues with it. They are very clear on what their flavor profile is. It's kind of like wine. Some folks want a Chardonnay, others a sweet Reisling. Both are good, just different tastes for different folks. My issue with Blonde is very different than that, it just really goes against years of company mantra and philosophy and bothers me to no end. Like really really bothers me. Via, and especially the flavored Via as well. Not that it keeps me from buying Via for travel. It's my issue though. Jeff is a cream and sugar guy, nothing wrong with any of it!

Thanks also for the room map! I think I'll be very happy in my 1BR!! We have a studio at AKV Jambo for the first part of our trip, so this OKW will be a big treat for us!

It will seem HUGE after a studio I'm sure. They are lovely lovely rooms. You are HH area, right?

I guess Kendall (and Phelps!) showed Phillip what's what in the end, eh?

I think K probably thinks it was a draw. Phillip wanted him to not medal at all, K expected him to get gold in everything. At the end of the day he's probably more dissapointed than she is.

I was teasing about the sugar after you razzed me about our jars of marshmallow fluff. . We love those little boxes of cereal. It means less wasted too.

That's a lot of what I love about those boxes. Except of course for the kind no one wants. There's always one, no matter which party pack you get! Picking one or 2 big boxes that made everybody happy, was a little harder and meant more other kind of breakfast items like bagels or yogurts so the party pack made life easier for the days we needed breakfast.

 

[Misskitty3]

Great update! Love how you planned a relaxing, slower paced day into your itinerary! Even with the bugs, your coffee on the verandah with that amazing view looked heavenly!!

 

[eandesmom]

Great update! Love how you planned a relaxing, slower paced day into your itinerary! Even with the bugs, your coffee on the verandah with that amazing view looked heavenly!!

It wouldn't have been relaxed if we hadn't made the change to have an extra night at OKW. I am SO glad we did that, really changed the whole feel and start of the trip I think. It really was a lovely morning, even with the late lazy start. The nice thing about not having park tickets is I didn't feel like we were missing out on park time and that the extra rest really was part of the purpose of the trip and so it was ok. It was meant to be a far lazier than usual vacation, and definitely started out that way! Not our norm but it was darn nice!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Love these logos. Good thing I don't go to DVC resorts often, because I'd be spending a fortune at the gift shops.