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

[MomToPrincePhillip]

Thanks for the fabulous, update. Yippee, you got an amazing view, for the right price!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow! That verandah view is fantastic! I just love my giraffe budies - from the time I saw you could stay there and actually watch the giraffes from your balcony, I couldn't wait! I did do that for a couple of nights and I got much the same view as you - so grateful! Looks like your stay is off to a great start - except for Jeff not getting to relax much. Oh, and don't worry - never too many giraffe pics for me!

 

[afwdwfan]

Can you say reclassified Savanna View or what! Yeah, there was a people pen below us. SO WHAT? For the life of me we couldn't figure out how it got downgraded but then again, I haven't stayed in a "non" downgraded one either but either way, SCORE!

I'd definitely love to have a "standard" view like that one.

"Are you really sure? Its extra magic hours& I know youre tired and were looking forward to sleeping in."


No! Can we get there for park opening?

I'm not sure I could handle staying on Disney property myself and not going to a park. I can only imagine how they felt.

While Eric was getting clean (the sad truth is I think hed just been chlorinated, rinsed, in the ocean, chlorinated again and again and neither of us could recall when hed last washed his hair since the day we left Vero)

Eh... the chlorine would have cleaned him.

Holy carp, it's the jets for the tub!

Yikes. First Villa visit and the kids are breaking things. Almost. Not. Thank heavens!

Well, he clearly has forgotten how to bathe over the prior few days activities.

And then went in the pool. LOL!

Why smell like soap when you can smell like chlorine???

You aren't sick of giraffes yet are you?

Not at all. And I certainly hope you aren't.

We were down one robe, 2 bottles of sunscreen, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of shoes and with the exception of possibly one of the sunscreens...it was all either Jeff or I who had lost/misplaced or ruined things!

I have to be honest, I do not recall at this point if we had told the kids where we were going or not. We did have a couple more things up our sleeves.

I'm interested to see what else you have in store.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

And not just giraffes&

i like how the animal in the back his head is in a perfect spot for that picture...it disappears at the zebra

A cold beer on the Verandah was on his top 10 but unfortunately it was all warm from being in transit all day so his first order of business was to toss one in the freezer.

i thought this story was going to turn out different i figured after him being gone so long hte beer would have frozen.

 

[MEK]

That's an awesome view and considering you got it at a standard view point rate, even better.

So, let me get this straight - you rented the car solely to get to WDW and then returned it. Jeff is a trooper. I don't know if I could see Denny going to all that trouble.

Love the room. Love the view. Love the pool. Seriously considering switching half of my October reservation to AKL. I miss it.

Love the bottle of wine.

Love that no one knows what surprises still lurk in the future!

 

[Chilly]

Thanks Poolrat

No hubby thinks the cruise is too expensive and we should be doing something cheaper.

What a great view. DH loved it when we stayed at ALK and spent a lot of time on the Verandah when I had the flu and just stayed in bed for 2 days!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I'm still here and all caught up!! What a mess trying to get off of the ship. Those waits seem so long and departure days are never fun to begin with. I love AKL and you guys got really lucky with your view! Thanks for posting your verandah comparisons, it is really helpful to have some first hand accounts

 

[carissanboys]

Awesome view! And I love all of the surprises for the kids.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Jeff and I had both been really bummed to give up our original kidani 2b savannah view reservation and we'd moved to a 1b standard at jambo to save points and money and until check in, had fully expected a pool view. The location on the map though, seemed to indicate we wouldn't be looking at the pool. What would it be?

Creepy clown! Oh wait, wrong TR.

Our neighbors were out to say welcome home!

Best standard view ever!

Can you say reclassified Savanna View or what! Yeah, there was a people pen below us. SO WHAT? For the life of me we couldn't figure out how it got downgraded but then again, I haven't stayed in a "non" downgraded one either but either way, SCORE!

Definitely hit the jackpot!

But the animal experience&.priceless. Amazing. Beyond words.

That's the part that elevates AKL above just about anywhere for me.

Can we?

Please please please, pretty please?

"If we did, it would just be one park and you wouldn't get to pick it."

Really, please, any park. ANY park!

Why yes, yes I think we can!

YAY!

"Are you guys sure you still want to sleep in tomorrow?"

The fun continues!

Walking into the room I hear an awful noise. A sad whirring sound. For the life of me I cant place it.

It is coming from the bathroom.

It is loud

Holy carp, it's the jets for the tub!

I'm gonna guess that's not good for the long-term maintenance of the tub.

Are you sick of giraffes yet?

Why would I be?

I have to be honest, I do not recall at this point if we had told the kids where we were going or not. We did have a couple more things up our sleeves.

 

[englishrose47]

Awesome update Cynthia !!! Carole and I are so looking forward to our verandas on the Dream as we have4 connecting rooms I understand we can have the divider removed so will have a much larger one !!! Your view from your veranda is wonderful!!! Some day I will stay there !!!

 

[KatMark]

FIRST and MOST important...you can NEVER EVER have TOO MANY PICTURES OF GIRAFFES!

What a terrific view you ended up with...absolutely spectacular.

I've never thought to compare the "verandahs" but since it is only Mark and I traveling, we don't need to worry about space. I guess my favorite would be the AKL because of the YOU CAN NEVER EVER HAVE TOO MANY PICTURES OF GIRAFFES!

I'm glad there was no damage from E leaving on the jets.

And how sad the boys were about not going to a park but wanting to and then there super mom tells them they are but they can't pick the park. I love how they perked up with the news.

Can't wait to hear where dinner is at.

 

[eandesmom]

It's funny... I'm watching the Les Miz movie... and the soundtrack is providing a nice background to your story...

Hmm, which song? that could get very interesting

I had just gotten back where you were coming off CC and back to the ship...

Those Es are quite the characters... but to be a parent is to have been there... (a little bit of child torture is always good... keeps them guessing...)

Yep, I'm the meanest mom in the world. I only wish the torture was more effective.

Your dinner at Palo sounds wonderful... I'm sorry that your photos weren't what you'd hoped

The Animal Kingdom is also lovely... and what a great surprise The Mara is great CS and the boys look simultaneously hungry and tired... I've seen that look before...

Looking forward to the surprises coming up...

It's a silly think I know about the Palo photos but I was bummed. When you have a special outfit or dress that you know you won't wear again for 6 months, a year, who knows

Loved all of your AKV pics. We are staying there for the first time in June. I can't wait.

I think you guys will LOVE it! We absolutely did. I think June will be spectacular. Jeff loved it so much it was (or technically still is) a contender for an add on but I just don't see issues ever booking there so I am hard pressed to pick it over other options. I don't see us really wanting the standard rooms as I don't want to chance view and concierge, while fun, isn't enough of a draw to own there just for that.

Yay for a free savanna view! I love me some giraffes!

Jill in CO

Free savanna view ROCKS! I would have been ok with pool view, we always enjoy that but this was so much better. I oved the 5th floor for where we were as then the "people pen" wasn't remotely an issue but it sounds like at Kidani, lower floor is better?

CONGRATS !!!!

What Pat said, again!

I guess that is recent or I tricked POP a few years ago or just didnt ask.

I did the "bookend trip" and left a suitcase at luggage services while I went to Houston maybe. A couple of looks when I put down a date about 5 days out to pick up but they didn't stop me.

From what I read somewhere I think it is a more recent restriction, they basically are saying they just don't have room to store stuff for that long, which I get. Might depend on year and how busy they are?

Great View!!!! BAM for surprise #2. Well done!!! A bit of a bummer for pool time getting sort of cut short and the jets on the jacuzzi

CAn't wait to see where you go to eat.

Oh the jacuzzi thing stressed me out. I think the boys got enough pool time but overall I do feel like we lost a lot more of the day than I'd expected to between weather and travel delays. We hadn't planned for more than we did but I'd say we lost a good 2 hours of just chill by the pool and check out resort/animal time, especially Jeff. He really took it for the team that day. Kendall too.

Thanks for the fabulous, update. Yippee, you got an amazing view, for the right price!

We did! I couldn't get enough of that verandah.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Never can have too many giraffe pictures!

Great job on the surprises and the wine (how was it?) I don't remember, were there wine glasses in the villa?

I have to agree - the savanna view at AKL is what made us buy points there and we've stayed 3 times now. Love it! I spent so many mornings out there with my camera and coffee.

Where to for dinner? I'm sure you said on your PTR, but now I can't remember!

 

[eandesmom]

Wow! That verandah view is fantastic! I just love my giraffe budies - from the time I saw you could stay there and actually watch the giraffes from your balcony, I couldn't wait! I did do that for a couple of nights and I got much the same view as you - so grateful! Looks like your stay is off to a great start - except for Jeff not getting to relax much. Oh, and don't worry - never too many giraffe pics for me!

Poor Jeff, he took one for the team with that one. His night did improve thank heavens.

The view was incredible. Just magical and arguably more so as it was unexpected.

I'd definitely love to have a "standard" view like that one.

I know! I wouldn't trade that view for the extra bathroom, nice as that would have been to have.

I'm not sure I could handle staying on Disney property myself and not going to a park. I can only imagine how they felt.

They had done pretty well at OKW but that was arguably due to a fairly full afternoon at DTD, lots of pool time, paddleboats and knowing the cruise was around the corner. They were too busy to dwell. Towards the end, pooped out, the brain starts to think too hard. And being at AKV really does make you feel to a degree like you are at the park in and of itself so I can see where it might have almost felt like a tease, versus OKW which doesn't have that park feel at all. Park of why we picked OKW versus say BWV as we wouldn't "feel" the pain of not being at a park nearly as much.

Eh... the chlorine would have cleaned him.

Oh he was disinfected for sure but the hair needed shampoo in a big way. Those sleeping in the car pictures really bring home why the kid was made to take a shower even if the pool did open back up.

Well, he clearly has forgotten how to bathe over the prior few days activities.


Why smell like soap when you can smell like chlorine???

The jets thing scared me to death. I hope it was really full and drained really slow to minimize damage. UGH.

Not at all. And I certainly hope you aren't.





I'm interested to see what else you have in store.

More giraffe pictures? Well not in the next update anyway.

i like how the animal in the back his head is in a perfect spot for that picture...it disappears at the zebra

i thought this story was going to turn out different i figured after him being gone so long hte beer would have frozen.

I think it was, so it went into the fridge and he got a cold one out of the fridge as he'd been gone long enough for those to cool down just fine.

That's an awesome view and considering you got it at a standard view point rate, even better.

So, let me get this straight - you rented the car solely to get to WDW and then returned it. Jeff is a trooper. I don't know if I could see Denny going to all that trouble.

$53 versus $175. Ultimately Jeff is cheap about stuff like that, especially when it's all of us. Now, was that $125 worth the 3, maybe 4 hours lost that day for it? Maybe, maybe not. It did help with the surprise and I did really like the flexibility of being able to hit Starbucks for the drive as well as exchanging my mug. It would have been nicer to just keep it for the rest of the trip and we considered it, but that negated all the savings and to spend the same just so we could drive ourselves to the airport, didn't seem worth it either.

Of course then we took a cab to dinner which did clear out some of that savings but I'd also say it wiped out some of the time lost as it could have taken up to an hour to get to dinner depending on how transportation played out.

Love the room. Love the view. Love the pool. Seriously considering switching half of my October reservation to AKL. I miss it.

We absolutely loved everything about AKV. Well, almost everything. The one bathroom was a drag for the first time on the trip but the view more than made up for it. For a standard view, I'd request Jambo every time I think but I do want to try Kidani at some point. They are so close though that the walk isn't a big deal to enjoy both.

Love the bottle of wine.

Love that no one knows what surprises still lurk in the future!

It was ok wine, not earth shattering but definitely drinkable.

I love surprises!

Thanks Poolrat

No hubby thinks the cruise is too expensive and we should be doing something cheaper.

Well I hope you figure out something budget friendly and fabulous

What a great view. DH loved it when we stayed at ALK and spent a lot of time on the Verandah when I had the flu and just stayed in bed for 2 days!

That is the beauty of a verandah in general. Things do happen and sometimes you have to be at the room for whatever reason, how wonderful to have a space like that to go to.

 

[eandesmom]

I'm still here and all caught up!! What a mess trying to get off of the ship. Those waits seem so long and departure days are never fun to begin with. I love AKL and you guys got really lucky with your view! Thanks for posting your verandah comparisons, it is really helpful to have some first hand accounts

It was a mess, definitely my least favorite morning of the trip by a landslide. Not that anything truly bad happened but ugh, it drug on and on and on!

We got so lucky with the view I could not believe it. I would stay there again in a heartbeat, I think Jeff would move in!

Awesome view! And I love all of the surprises for the kids.

It was amazing to watch the animals, just amazing. Surprises are so much fun! I have to think about what to do for the next trip.

Creepy clown! Oh wait, wrong TR.

He's NOT that creepy!

Best standard view ever!

Evah!

Definitely hit the jackpot!

Seriously, the verandah view gods were looking out for me on this trip, amazing!

That's the part that elevates AKL above just about anywhere for me.

Just magical. I could have stayed out there for hours.

Oh wait, I did!

Do wish the chairs had cushions....not comfy!

The fun continues!

I'm gonna guess that's not good for the long-term maintenance of the tub.

Most likely not. I hope it was really full and drained REALLY slow and mitigated our boneheadedness.

Why would I be?

A recurring theme! YAY!

Awesome update Cynthia !!! Carole and I are so looking forward to our verandas on the Dream as we have4 connecting rooms I understand we can have the divider removed so will have a much larger one !!! Your view from your veranda is wonderful!!! Some day I will stay there !!!

Thanks Rosie!

Really? I cannot wait to see what that looks like, I didn't know you could remove a divider, on the Wonder it was just a door but not sure on the Dream. That would be sweet. I mean SUITE!

I need to get over and get caught up.

FIRST and MOST important...you can NEVER EVER have TOO MANY PICTURES OF GIRAFFES!

What a terrific view you ended up with...absolutely spectacular.

It was magical, just magical!

I've never thought to compare the "verandahs" but since it is only Mark and I traveling, we don't need to worry about space. I guess my favorite would be the AKL because of the YOU CAN NEVER EVER HAVE TOO MANY PICTURES OF GIRAFFES!

We are verandah junkies, we compare them all the time lol. Kind of funny actually. It will make or break a place for us.

I'm glad there was no damage from E leaving on the jets.

Me too!

And how sad the boys were about not going to a park but wanting to and then there super mom tells them they are but they can't pick the park. I love how they perked up with the news.

Can't wait to hear where dinner is at.

And how lucky that AK was at the top of their list, nothing like immersion in animals to make that the most desirable and top of mind huh!

Never can have too many giraffe pictures!

Great job on the surprises and the wine (how was it?) I don't remember, were there wine glasses in the villa?

Never to many giraffes is right! Yes, there are wine glasses in the 1B. I am not sure about the studios though.

I have to agree - the savanna view at AKL is what made us buy points there and we've stayed 3 times now. Love it! I spent so many mornings out there with my camera and coffee.

Where to for dinner? I'm sure you said on your PTR, but now I can't remember!

We thought about buying there but it's seemed pretty easy to get in unless you want value or concierge and nether of those were a big deal to me. Mornings on that verandah is priceless.

Dinner is a new one for us and is coming up next I can't remember if we told the kids ahead of time or made it a surprise.

 

[dizneeat]

Cynthia, wishing you and your family a very happy Easter!

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[eandesmom]

Cynthia, wishing you and your family a very happy Easter!

That is adorable! Happy Easter to you and Tom

 

[Poolrat]

Happy Easter Cynthia to you and your family !!!!!

 

[MeMom]

Trying to get caught up. Nice pictures of the giraffes. We are looking forward to staying at AKL (Kidani) for two nights in June.

Hope your family has a nice Easter weekend!

 

[mickeystoontown]