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

[MEK]

I seriously can not even believe you guys took a paddle boat that far. What were you thinking???? Good try, though. I'm glad you switched paddlers and were able to get back in time. Oh My!

Ugh - and you couldn't even enjoy your drink.

I think you should just go out for dinner. You earned it.

Back later to see pics!

 

[Angies1274]

Beautiful pictures while on the paddle boat. I felt like I was riding right along with you!

Whew! Those paddle boats are work! I've only taken them once and it was much harder than I thought it would be. I can't believe how far you made it!!

 

[natebenma]

The sunset picture from the paddleboat is absolutely gorgeous!!! Love it.

Great pictures of your 3 hour tour- it probably felt like it. Love the pictures Jeff took of you guys and that you took of Jeff. And of the beautiful scenery all along the canal.

What a riot that you had gone where no paddlers had gone before. Totally don't blame you for switching places and I'm so glad that the story didn't end with "and then we all fell into the water!"

I can't believe the CM who helped you rent out the boat didn't know the restrictions.

Interesting dinner dilemma. Were your meals planned out so that if you skipped making one of the meals you had scheduled, you would end up with leftovers? And are you ok with that?

 

[rentayenta]

We did the paddle boats too while at OKW though just DH and I did them while the kids stayed at the pool with our friends. Paddle boating now means something different although our cruise was innocent. Lol!


Great photos. I want that THV on the water. I would be so happy.


Looks like such an amazing trip already. Some water patrol mixed with burning calories? It's like an episode of Charlie's Angels.

 

[englishrose47]

Oh what an adventure I think I'll settle for living it thru your eyes

 

[glennbo123]

Too bad you couldn't have latched onto the DVC ferry to get a tug!

Oh yeah, switching places was a no-brainer. Did everyone's legs (except Kendall's) feel like jelly when you finally got back on dry ground? I'd say that totally counts as a workout!

 

[vamassey1]

Wow, what an adventure! I was really nervous you weren't going to make it back in time. Love the pictures you got on the trip.

 

[KatMark]

Switched spots with Eric. (shhhhh...don't tell!)

I won't tell...and poor Eric...he looked pooped.

And the landscape got even prettier

These are beautiful pictures, Cynthia.

Finally, our destination awaited

Ok..can I tell you? That boat is WORK! I am in decent shape. Evan is in decent shape. We pedaled our patooties off to make it back in time. By the time we got back I figured I could totally count that as a workout for the day.

This is what Evan had to say about it

Too funny.

I have to say though, it was fun. Really fun. I’m glad we did it, drama and all. It was a neat, totally different adventure and we felt so away from Disney...yet in it, in a Tom Sawyer Island kind of way that was really magical. So beautiful out there. And, even better, it’s cheap!

I've always thought about doing this, but figured Mark and I wouldn't get very far in our age and shape and we'd probably be wasting our money.

I however figured I had earned a drink and stopped by the gurgling suitcase as I didn't have anything for myself at the villa, unlike Jeff who did. I also realized I hadn't actually checked the boat back in and figured I'd better as to not get overcharged. We'd been out just over an hour if you counted from when I rented it...but not from when we left the dock and she let it go at an hour, even though I'd not checked out on time. Eric finally came back after inhaling 2 marshmallows at the fire pit. Apparently it wasn't smores…just marshmallows. Which worked for him. Kendall and Evan refilled on soda and we headed to the bus.

Except there was one small problem.

I couldn’t take my drink on the bus!

Oops....I didn't think about that.

Why that didn't occur to me is beyond me. DOH! I could have put it into one of the mugs and didn't even think of it. Not exactly the drink savoring while I cooked dinner I'd had in mind. I tried to convince folks to walk but no one was up for it. As we waited for the next bus we discussed post dinner plans. We had some options and ideas and different folks in favor of different things. What would we actually end up doing?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Sounds like a great afternoon. I can't wait to hear what you are cooking for dinner.

 

[princess_momma]

He didn't want a sandwich. I think it was as simple, and odd, as that. The reaction was a bit over the top and actually kind of funny but he does love a good pie and I think just had his heart set on it. Someday we will make it there!

It always cracks me up when people are starving sooooo much and yet, they turn stuff down! But...that pie looked SO GOOD. So who am I to talk?

I love the OKW pool!! So fun. I love that slide. Although it gave me hell with my 3-year-old! (Who was 2 then.) Apparently, you can't go down 2 at a time and I TOTALLY get that rule for rambunctious older kids, but come on! Let the 2 year old go down with his Mommy! That's way safer then him going by himself. (Which he still enjoyed actually, but then we had to hang out and catch him at the end and it was just way more of a hassle.)

Those paddle boats I think look fun...but definitely a work out! I think I might like to do that one day!! Right now in Denver, they have this crazy thing called the Pedal Hopper that is like...a 16-seats pedal bar that people ride around town! I think I'll stick to the more fun ones at WDW. I want to relax!!

You definitely earned another Turtle Krawl! (Assuming that is what you ordered.) That does make sense that you couldn't take it on the bus. Although last June 2011 when I went, I went and picked up drinks for me and another person and brought them back to the room. I can't imagine having walked that far to bring them back! But maybe I did. Who knows now?

 

[Poolrat]

Whewwww I am tired just thinking about paddling all that way.

Last time I was out in a paddleboat it was at a park for summer camp. Trying to direct 7-12 yesr olds and have then not get up or whine about being tired was a feat.


But a 2-fer. You got quality time with the kids and a great workout.

Sorry about canal patrol spoiling the fun but going further and then possibly being in the dark and trying to get back may have been worse. Guiding by cell phone or camera flash.

 

[MEK]

I love the:

Picture of the bridge
sunset picture
the arrival back to OKW
The mashmellow man

The treehouse dock is to the left when right before you get to the bridge. You have to turn left at the merge in the two water ways.

You could see our treehouse from where you were, but it was not the one in your picture.

Anyway - that whole paddle boat thing looks like fun and I guess that's why you can't rent them from SSR. Still impressed that the boys made it that far. Shouldn't Kendall have been doing the work - pre season training and all that?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow! That was quite a trip. When you said the boys wanted to pedal to the treehouses, I was thinking that was really ambitious! Good thing the pedal police didn't catch you trading places!

You did take some beautiful pics - the camfire scene almost looked staged like animatronics figures on a Disney ride!

 

[englishrose47]

Morning Cynthia !!I hope your weather is better than here it is awful , rain tress blowing a little to hard for my liking, Judy and the girls are supposed to go to a concert later onKyle is mad cuz the weather is putting a DAMPERon our plans , Oh how I enjoy a day off

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Oh, what an adventure! You did get some cool pictures on your ride!
I am not in good shape, so I can imagine my legs would feel like jelly!!

Dave wants to rent a wave runner or something. We'll see.

No drink on the bus? Dang. I'll have to remember that. I wonder if you got a lid for it could you take it?

Dinner - Hmmm... will she cook? will they go out?? What would she do with the food? Can't wait to hear!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Thanks! It was actually Eric's bday and Evan in wind ensemble but either way, both celebrated! Eric had a great night and day.

I am always doing that. I used to do that with Happydog's two boys as well until we met in person. There's nothing for it -- we are going to have to plan a trip together.

Love, love, love the paddle boat post! What a fun and different experience! The pictures are great! I can totally relate to the drama between Eric and Evan -- I am sure the same thing would happen with my two -- but I would be willing to risk it.

I am very curious to see what you whip up for dinner in the villa.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

ah paddleboats...they look so innocent...but...looks can be deceiving...

That CM waving from the shore looked really happy with her marshmallow roasting...I'm thinking she was happy not to be in the paddleboat...

The Dock loves so pretty there...I'm definitely gonna have to put OKW on my list...we're planning on buying 25 more points by the end of the year...so we'll be up to 105 too...and I'm sure we'll wind up adding more than that...

I want to know what happens with dinner too and you most definitely deserve a drink...

 

[englishrose47]

Today is getting worse I had 2 tires slashed on my car last night !!!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

That story was giving me flashbacks of our surrey bike disaster from April! I'd say you made out pretty well though. Bummer about the drink!

 

[CarolynK]

I remember the first time we tried the surreys at BWV. We were on our way to dinner, freshly showered and dressed kinda nice (for WDW, anyway). The kids were little, they sat in the front basket, so no pedaling help there. What a workout--we didn't rent another one for years!! Half an hour was plenty!

I can't believe you weren't allowed to bring the drink on the bus...it's not like YOU were driving it! My SIL has what she calls a "mommy cup," an insulated tumbler with a lid and a straw - then no one knows what you're drinking My DH and I now bring 2 insulated cups on vacation, for when we want to mix a drink in the room and take it along to the pool, or sometimes even to Epcot in the evening
Did you chug it before getting on the bus?

 

[Poolrat]

I never wished happiness for the kids.


party Eric

Congrats to Evan for wind ensemble
ad Congrats to Kendall for the soccer win.