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

[natebenma]

Loved this update- great start to your trip.

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

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

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

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.

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.

 

[winkers]

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

 

[jedijill]

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

Jill in CO

 

[DWGal210]

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

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

- Katie

 

[KatMark]

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.

Love the breakfast routine with the cereal.

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.

 

[MEK]

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

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

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

All the kids are going to be spoiled for life.

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.

 

[cdotla]

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

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!

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...

 

[ariel1025]

Just jumped on board and I am loving your TR so far - especially how detailed you are! And, I have to say, I've always brushed OKW off but you have me reconsidering

 

[CarolynK]

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!!
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??

 

[princess_momma]

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. 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!!

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!!

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!

 

[KristiMc]

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

I hope they have a AKV mug next June.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

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.

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

 

[rentayenta]

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.

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.

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!

 

[Chilly]

I remember the bugs when waiting for the boat at POFQ. I always make time for DTD, love it there, esp WOD, I go crazy in there, throwing tons of stuff in my basket.

 

[SoonerGirl]

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!

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

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

To the point of, enough already! I’m glad you are happy, enjoy your dinner!!!

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.

As Karin (dizneat, who is there now!) had warned, the door configuration is a bit confusing.

Sounds like you need a map for this place.

There may or may not have been an incident the first night where a child started to walk into our bedroom at an inopportune time let’s just say I was thankful that the “window” between the tub area and the bedroom (shutters that you can open) was closed and we were able to redirect said child (who never remembers his middle of the night adventures anyway) back into the right room and exit.

There’s a blackmail picture for you!

Say...that's a nice mug.

It did inspire Kendall to get out of bed, though not until it was almost 10! I kept hearing “it’s 7am at home”.

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

And the race was on. The race to see who gets their favorite kind before it’s down to the kind no one wants.

Not the Corn Flakes!

Our desitnation? The DVC Ferry!

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

The idea for this trip was to really take our time, go in anywhere anyone wanted and not feel rushed. Of course, due to our late arrival, hunger might interfere with that grand plan.

It was 12:40. We’d been in the World for 24 hours and were about to take our first step outside our resort. Where to first?

I say hunger interferes. To the Earl of Sandwich!

 

[Deemarch]

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!!

 

[Angies1274]

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

Cute blackmail picture of the boys!

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!

 

[MEK]

Oh man, I miss OKW! I stayed there in June of 2011 and LOVED IT!!! I could go for a Turtle Krawl right now! :

Love the Turtle Krawl!

The Turtle Crawl

Isn't that just heaven in a solo cup?


Turtle Crawl

1/2 oz Castillo rum
1/2 oz Bacardi Silver rum
1/2 oz Malibu rum
1/2 oz Myers dark rum
Splash Grenadine
Splash key lime juice
Equal parts orange juice and pineapple juice

- Shake to mix in an ice filled 12 oz cup

So if you are adventurous and need a little taste of Disney, I say - go for it!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

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

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.