DH is a mailman...neither snow nor rain-Jan '11 TR (UPDATE 3/31)

[QuirkyButterfly]

Okay, everybody SSSHHHHH! I haven't seen the new Toy Story movie yet - I have no idea who Losto even is... sounds like it needs to be our next rent - maybe this weekend.

Whoops, sorry, I didn't even think about it when I wrote that post. No hard feelings .
You should definitely rent the movie, it is really really wonderful. I am sure you will love it. One of my favourite movies last year.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

looks like you all had fun in the animation building! I saw Lotso too in Oct! The drawings all look great!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

How sweet of you to wait so long for the perfect family to give your FPs to.

Chelsea had a meltdown once at the Animation Academy for the same reason.

All of your drawings look great!!! We have Winnie-the-Pooh ones somewhere that I have always wanted to frame. One day I will get around to it.

That Lotso. That's all I am saying.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Great drawings!! Wow, the girls did a great job...I'm even more embarrassed of my Tigger now

Lotso looks so cute that before I saw the movie I wondered why everyone was less than kind to him...now that I've seen the movie, I totally get it!!!

Thanks! (The one is rather talented though...) I did talk to the CM about his "prior" behavior. She said that with all of the love he gets now, he is reformed!

Your nephew is darling! I am hoping Lotso is still there this summer, we missed him last trip. We discovered the animation drawing studio 2 trips ago, and now it is a must do! So much fun - even if you are not artistic!

Thank you! I am sure that Lotso will still be around. I think we are adding it to our must do too!

Ooh...what a great way to spread the Disney magic by giving away those TS fast passes

All the drawings look great - you sure are a creative family. Am looking forward to hearing where you went to eat.

I love when you can add a little magic to someone's trip.

Nice job in the animation class, I think the whole familys creations came out great .

I can't help that imagine that all of the kids who got their pictures taken with Lotso before Toy Story 3 came out, felt very betrayed when they learnt that the big cuddly bear was the bad guy .

Very nice thing you did with the fastpasses. Can't wait to read more!

I thought the same thing about the strawberry smelling guy! Extra were given to us; it was the least we could do...

Okay, everybody SSSHHHHH! I haven't seen the new Toy Story movie yet - I have no idea who Losto even is... sounds like it needs to be our next rent - maybe this weekend.

What an incredibly productive morning you guys had at DHS! I had no such luck there. I'm totally impressed with your artwork! Tell DD that my Donald would probably make me cry too...

Way to go spreading the pixie dust! You guys are good people.

I hope you picked up TS3 - you will love it - some laughs, some tears, some hiding your eyes out of fear...I am NOT kidding! It might be scary for DD.

Really, we were given extra, so I would have felt bad not passing a set on.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Whoops, sorry, I didn't even think about it when I wrote that post. No hard feelings .
You should definitely rent the movie, it is really really wonderful. I am sure you will love it. One of my favourite movies last year.

Hahaha - She is very kind and doesn't have any hard feelings.

looks like you all had fun in the animation building! I saw Lotso too in Oct! The drawings all look great!!

Wasn't the waiting area super cool? Thanks!

How sweet of you to wait so long for the perfect family to give your FPs to.

Chelsea had a meltdown once at the Animation Academy for the same reason.

All of your drawings look great!!! We have Winnie-the-Pooh ones somewhere that I have always wanted to frame. One day I will get around to it.

That Lotso. That's all I am saying.

I think I blame it on my need for control haha....but I think I picked a good family.

I try to point out to both girls that we all have strengths and weaknesses...

I have that "I want to do ..." disease too! We watched TS3 again and Lotso still shocks me!

Not giving anything away...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

We ordered meals to share:

Buffalo Chix sandwich, Turkey Club, and Deli sandwich
The girls didn't like theirs--I don't remember who wanted what nor who ended up with which, but everyone was happy in the end. I thought the buffalo was the best.

We sat at a table in the sun to help warm us up!

Another ride on RnR and we headed to the bus stop...

The girls began doing "Hopswitch" a name they came up with. They would do quick footwork...they don't sit still well. Hannah decide to get a suntan...

I am only "that" mom until someone else walks up to the bus area. Then, I turn into "Get up, people are coming!"

We went back to the room, the girls changed and off to the OKW pool we went...

The girls went to Good's to get a pretzel and refill their mugs. I let them go together and waited a couple of minutes before I took the 30 second turn around the corner to check on them. They had a buzzer and were waiting for the pretzel.

After changing and resting in our room, we headed back to the Hospitality House area to catch the DTD boat for dinner.

It was a lovely ride...then a fun walk to Wolfgang Puck's Express

Mine:

Emma's

Hannah's

Dh's

After dinner, we did some shopping at Basin and looked around...(I'll post souvenir pics at end.

I think I forgot to mention that as we boarded Magical Express, my daughter asked if we brought her pins...oops...this would have been a great time for them to have them with the giant pin store, but oh well.

We took a bus back to the resort and this was the only time we really waited...always DTD bus problems for us... when we made a stop at West Side, it was a shift change...I'd say we sat there about 10 -15 min. before departing towards Old Key West again.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Thoughts on Old Key West...

It was very nice. I loved the room size and layout. The bus transportation wasn't bad. Even with the four/ five different stops, it didn't bother us at all. The pool area was nice; they had games going on like other pools. The boat to DTD was cool.

Downside- the counter service was limited. You had to get a bus to the pool/ food/ store. Near our room were few if any people (I know sounds like a plus...)

It didn't feel like Disney...it felt like the beach. I texted my SIL to tell her that I will be talking her and my brother into DVC for stays there.

Every year, my family travels to the beach together. (one of these years dh will be there too) OKW pool had a family there "hanging out" as it they were at the beach - older siblings and their spouses, the matriarch, grandkids...no talk of parks - just dinner places..going back and showering for dinner. JUST like at the beach.

So, although OKW was really nice, I don't think we will choose to stay there in the future unless we interested in a vacation that doesn't feel like Disney.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Hey there!

Loving the TR! You don't read too many OKW ones so this is great. It's beautiful there.

I was reading your TR from July 2010 and I realized that we were both at AKL at the exact same time! Don't you just love it there? It's gorgeous. :could9: We are not DVC so we were just in a regular room with a pool view (that was actually of the pool ) But we were on the 4th floor. Our dates were July 11th-17th.

 

[mgsmom]

Fun update! Love the pic of DD on the sidewalk - I can just see you going "Get up! People are coming!"

Good to know about OKW - it seems to be the black sheep of Disney resorts for some reason. Probably just for the reasons why you said - it doesn't "feel" as much like Disney.

FW has kind of an "off" feel like that too - but it probably helps that we can see the castle and space mountain from our beach - and fireworks. And Chip and Dale live there... It's like you said - the lack of people everywhere is kind of a plus there.

Sounds like a great place for people who can't decide between the beach and Disney, though. And it does look really pretty!

How long was the boat ride to DTD?

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Hey there!

Loving the TR! You don't read too many OKW ones so this is great. It's beautiful there.

I was reading your TR from July 2010 and I realized that we were both at AKL at the exact same time! Don't you just love it there? It's gorgeous. :could9: We are not DVC so we were just in a regular room with a pool view (that was actually of the pool ) But we were on the 4th floor. Our dates were July 11th-17th.

I love that your pool view was actually the pool! I do love AKL! Looking at all of your trips, your family should be DVC!

I checked out your Jan. report to see the dates; I look forward to reading it! I teach 11th grade English, so it will be neat to see Disney through your eyes! I play Disney music for the start of class on Fridays (although I haven't in a couple of weeks...) I call it Disney Friday. A kid popped in yesterday (one I don't teach) and said he'd be back for Disney Friday. I guess I better remember tomorrow!

 

[TanzUnited99]

The OKW pool looks like fun! Great WPE food pics...am looking forward to eating there on our trip.

Thanks for your thoughts on OKW...have read that it is not very Disney like but I suppose some people would prefer it that way!

 

[schriverl]

Awe! Clearly you make a wonderful impression on your students when others you haven't taught yet wanna come to your class!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

great update!!!!

I was interested to hear your thoughts of OKW!! We thought the same thing. It was nice but if we were prepared to stock a mini kitchen (just like going to the beach) and planned on not going to parks and just hanging out (just like going to the beach), it would be a great place for us. We also disliked the lack of counter service, mousekeeping, and check-in process (we even got some attitude!)

The food looks good!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Awe! Clearly you make a woderful impression on your students when others you haven't taught yet wanna come to your class!

Kids in the hall think it is all fun and games. AND THEN



and




and





just kidding...I am tough, and as they told me the other day, I push them. Yet, they know that I don't give up on them.

And then, there are my AP kids...they don't even know what Disney Friday is...poor things!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

I love that your pool view was actually the pool! I do love AKL! Looking at all of your trips, your family should be DVC!

I checked out your Jan. report to see the dates; I look forward to reading it! I teach 11th grade English, so it will be neat to see Disney through your eyes! I play Disney music for the start of class on Fridays (although I haven't in a couple of weeks...) I call it Disney Friday. A kid popped in yesterday (one I don't teach) and said he'd be back for Disney Friday. I guess I better remember tomorrow!

I know we definitely should be!! I am currently trying to talk my mom into it, but the initial price is just a bit of "sticker shock" for her. We are hoping to join within the next 2-3 years. I definitely want to be a DVC member!

Oh yes and I believe we were there in January at around the same time! Feel free to follow along with our TR, we had a blast!

Wow I wish my teachers would have Disney Friday!!! That would be such a blast! I wouldn't ever miss one of those! I was quizzed by my Biology teacher the other day to see if I knew what EPCOT stood for, and I said "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow," and my entire class turned around and looked at me like I was nuts. A few of my close friends just laughed because they already knew how Disney crazy I am. My Biology teacher was very impressed.

 

[Marshay]

Aaaah! I can't believe I didn't see the new link to your TR. Subbing now and will go back and read from the beginning!! Can't wait!

 

[Marshay]

All caught up! Comments from the beginning

- I had to smile at the "preachy mom" comment. Being DVC member too, we frequent Disney as well and I keep reminding my oldest that "some people never get to go or only go once in their entire life" so we are definitely blessed and need to remember that ... so NO Complaining!

- I also like the Salmon, mashed potato and green beans at the Seasons counter service. I feel like I'm eating healthier than the burger/fries but paying the same amount.

- I love the photo of your adorable girls on BTMR. They just look so happy!

- so you made a comment that CS credits are not separated out for kids and adults? Is this just on the quick service meal plan or the regular meal plan (1 TS and 1 CS). We are going to do the regular DDP for 3 of the 7 days we are in WDW (just linked 2 DVC ressies together). If this is true, I'll just get an adult CS meal for my 5yo and she can then share it with the 2yo.

- We stayed at Jambo House 2x -- once in the Lodge section and once in the DVC 1Br. I agree ... seeing the animals is totally hit or miss and you really have to spend a large portion of time in your room/balcony to enjoy it.

We saw a Wildebeest stampede all around the savannah -- that was sooooo cool! They even chased one of the gazelle-like animals over the wires and then it was afraid to go anywhere else. (We did report it to the front desk and keepers came to help it back over shortly afterwards!)

But our view from the DVC section was "eh". We saw a few giraffe but mostly birds.

Thanks for the review of Mexico CS...we are debating between there and Morocco, which we also really love.

Your pictures from the Animation building were wonderful!

 

[Marshay]

Forgot to add that I love the photos from MK showing no one around!!

I'm trying to decide when to go in Jan 2012...we have MLK Monday off of school and the Monday after that, so can go w/o missing too much school.

I read some other TR where they also said the BTG were horrible and it was terribly crowded...but it looks like you guys didn't experience that.

What were the dates of your trip again?

 

[schriverl]

Forgot to add that I love the photos from MK showing no one around!!

I'm trying to decide when to go in Jan 2012...we have MLK Monday off of school and the Monday after that, so can go w/o missing too much school.

I read some other TR where they also said the BTG were horrible and it was terribly crowded...but it looks like you guys didn't experience that.

What were the dates of your trip again?

I think the last week of January is the best! We went that week this year. It was perfect. Its a little more crowded for MLK cause all schools have that day off.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

So you made a comment that CS credits are not separated out for kids and adults? Is this just on the quick service meal plan or the regular meal plan (1 TS and 1 CS). We are going to do the regular DDP for 3 of the 7 days we are in WDW (just linked 2 DVC ressies together). If this is true, I'll just get an adult CS meal for my 5yo and she can then share it with the 2yo.

We ordered very few if any children's meals. We shared two adult meals almost every time we ordered. I don't think any counter service credits are divided regardless of the type of plan. I think it would be good to check the receipt the first time you order to see. Do you know that you can segment your days and do the dining plan whichever days you want? We are going to do deluxe one day, one day off, quick service one day, one day off, etc.

Also, we are staying part of the week at BLT, so I can't wait to read your TR for BLT - sandwich or resort....

Forgot to add that I love the photos from MK showing no one around!!

I'm trying to decide when to go in Jan 2012...we have MLK Monday off of school and the Monday after that, so can go w/o missing too much school.

I read some other TR where they also said the BTG were horrible and it was terribly crowded...but it looks like you guys didn't experience that.

What were the dates of your trip again?

We only saw a tour group one day at AK...maybe we picked the right parks? We usually pick EMH parks and use them for EMH and then hop...

MLK weekend has larger crowds. That Sunday had a 9...Monday back to 4. Dh is unable to get off holiday weekends/ breaks- stinks for his teacher wife.

I think the last week of January is the best! We went that week this year. It was perfect. Its a little more crowded for MLK cause all schools have that day off.

Since we travel in the summer, anytime in Jan should be lower crowds for us!