Disney Nomads ... 3 Resorts in 8 Nights! ALL NEW 9/2!

[Backstage_Gal]

Laura, another great update, I greatly enjoyed it.

I used to work at the Contemporary and can relate to everything you said, except for one thing:

No locks on bathroom doors!!!!!????
That better not be true anymore, they retrofitted all the bathrooms at great expense in 2010. If you got one without a lock, somebody needs to be, umm, spoken to stearnly. This was done at the same time as moving the sinks into the bathroom instead of the kitchen area.

Keep up the great work

Marita

 

[laura74]

Laura, another great update, I greatly enjoyed it.

Thanks Marita!

I used to work at the Contemporary and can relate to everything you said, except for one thing:

No locks on bathroom doors!!!!!????


That better not be true anymore, they retrofitted all the bathrooms at great expense in 2010. If you got one without a lock, somebody needs to be, umm, spoken to stearnly. This was done at the same time as moving the sinks into the bathroom instead of the kitchen area.

Hmmm...That is what's in my memory but I didn't really take copious notes so I could be wrong. I know they were sliding doors and for some reason I have it in my head that they didn't lock properly.

Keep up the great work

Marita

Thanks!

 

[appleorchard]

PS. if they were normal looking people.. they weren't US!!!

Darn! Then I'm sure they're still talking about the way this strange lady kept STARING at them all through lunch lol.

 

[laura74]

Laura, another great update, I greatly enjoyed it.

I used to work at the Contemporary.

Marita

Cool! What did you do there?

 

[appleorchard]

I know it's too late for you this trip, but MY DH had to show me where the locks were. BLT didn't make this easy. You can't see them until the door is SHUT. Then there's a little lever that comes down BEHIND the door so it can't slide back, if that makes sense. And the horrible gap in the door that necessitated scrunching sideways on the toilet so no part of your body was visible from the living room is fixed too.

 

[pkondz]

Even the folks next door at the Contemporary aren’t allowed in. Maybe I should go over there and taunt them.

Oh, you should. You so should.

...we let ourselves in. And there’s a towel on practically every chair.

D'oh!

I just hope these pool chair hogs can live with themselves.

I've heard that karma can sometimes play a role, too.

And it is in this back row that we find three empty, undesirable lounge chairs.

For less than a dollar a day, you can sponsor an undesirable lounge chair. These chairs, that nobody wants, just want to be loved. To know that somebody will park their derriere down. Please, won't you help?

We scatter our belongings over all three, and Monkston and Mr. Squid head to the pool for a swim.

On behalf of undesirable lounge chairs everywhere. Thank you.

I don’t feel like swimming so I just leave my coverup on because it’s really cute, and truth be told there is no elegant way to get out of it. You kind of have to do a dance to get it over your head and I don’t feel like I know my BLT neighbors well enough to expose them to that. I really should have thought of this when I bought it, but, it’s super cute!

Nope. If you say it's cute once, fine. But twice? Now you have to provide photographic proof to verify the cuteness.

And I realize I must look very silly, stretched out on my lounge chair, squinting at my little phone, trying to read in the sun. I wish I hadn’t lost my sunglasses. Maybe I should have bought the overpriced ones at the airport.

And it never occurred to you that buying the actual book would be cheaper? :

I glance to my left and see that my neighbor has brought her iPad down with her. I should have done that! She looks so comfortable and not at all ridiculous. She’s also wearing sunglasses.

At least now you have a plan. Wait 'til she goes in the pool and steal her sunglasses.

I like it.

Not very honest of you though... shame.

I think Mr. Squid will tell me that iPads and pools don’t mix. I’ll have to work up to to broaching that idea with him.

I gotta go with Mr. Squid on this one. I definitely wouldn't dive into a pool with an ipad... ever try to read under water? I bet it's not easy.

Minuses
No locks on bathroom doors

Find that out the hard... or embarrassing, way did you?

Monkston heads over to play games with the pool entertainers. (Yellow Jackets! Nodding to Nebo.) I don’t really find them annoying because she’s having fun with them but I can see how they would become tiresome if you didn’t have children you needed to amuse.

DD11 (DD8 at the time) had lots of fun with them. But if I'm trying to relax... go away.

Then again, I don't relax at Disney. Too much to see, too much to do.

He then suggests that we move down to the beach when Monkston gets out of the pool.

“We just sat down,” I say.

“There’s nothing going on here.”

“What’s going on down there?”

“I don’t know. There’s plenty of beach chairs,” he says.

Since you can't go in the water there, what did you guys think that Monkston would do? Or is she a kind of 'play in the sand' kinda girl?

...and Monkston tells me she’s hungry.

“So you want me to walk all the way back up there when we just walked down here?”

Nods head.

Parenting truism number 43.

I wish I had packed a pedometer. Oh wait. Never mind. That wouldn’t look cute.

Gotta look cute. Oh, wait. I've seen your picture. You don't have to worry.

This has got to be the ugliest, most depressing pool bar I’ve ever seen. It looks like the concession area at a bowling alley, a concession area that hasn’t been remodeled since the 70s at that. The only thing missing is a thick haze of smoke.

Maybe the imagineers can work on that.

She looks up behind her and sighs.

I'm really torn here. The Canadian in me says, "Tell her not to bother, pick something easier." The other part is saying, "Oh, quit the sighing routine... and while you're at it, fix me an irish coffee or something else that'll take 20 minutes to make... then I'll refuse it."

I pay my $167 snack bill, collect Monkston, and head back for our long walk to the beach.

Up next: Making friends with animals

Glad to see that Disney prices are finally starting to come down.
Why do I see a non-friendly animal in your future?
Thanks for the chapter!

 

[nowellsl]

I don’t feel like swimming so I just leave my coverup on because it’s really cute, and truth be told there is no elegant way to get out of it. You kind of have to do a dance to get it over your head and I don’t feel like I know my BLT neighbors well enough to expose them to that. I really should have thought of this when I bought it, but, it’s super cute!

any woman here would totally get that!

Great update!

 

[smidgy]

I couldn't agree more about BLT pool way too small. did you look over the fence at the little area of "private" beach? we ended up by the kiddie splash pool, the baby slide and the path everyone kept running to to get to the big slide. noisy kid area.

also, the slide was one of those where there were bumps every few feet where the "slats" connected, hurting your back.

we ended up liking that pool out by the water with the fence around it.. the one with the bulleyes in the middle. it was nice and quiet.

 

[smidgy]

I wondered if I'd get any tea drinkers riled up! All in good fun Smidgy, all in good fun...

What I remember about tea drinkers, besides the above mentioned pain in the butt metal contraption that usually drips boiling water on you as you're carrying it, is that tea drinkers (not you!) tend to be a bit like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. I don't know why but the tea drinker was always the one with the special orders, the excuse me's, the could I justs.

And there seems to be an infinite number of ways in which to prepare their tea the wrong way. Some don't want the water poured on the teabag, some do. Some want to reuse the teabag and get upset when you bring a new one. Some of them want the teabag in the metal pot before you pour the water in, but if you do that for someone else they are highly insulted. Some don't want a lemon even on the table. How dare could I think they would put lemon in their tea? The list goes on.

But from now on Smidgy I will think twice before disparaging tea drinkers.

!

well, at least we're not as bad as those "just water, with lemon, please" people!

 

[laura74]

I know it's too late for you this trip, but MY DH had to show me where the locks were. BLT didn't make this easy. You can't see them until the door is SHUT. Then there's a little lever that comes down BEHIND the door so it can't slide back, if that makes sense. And the horrible gap in the door that necessitated scrunching sideways on the toilet so no part of your body was visible from the living room is fixed too.

Secret locks? I'll have to remember that.

I've heard that karma can sometimes play a role, too.

I haven't noticed karma doing a very good job lately.

For less than a dollar a day, you can sponsor an undesirable lounge chair. These chairs, that nobody wants, just want to be loved. To know that somebody will park their derriere down. Please, won't you help?




And it never occurred to you that buying the actual book would be cheaper? :

But then I wouldn't have new sunglasses.


At least now you have a plan. Wait 'til she goes in the pool and steal her sunglasses.

I like it.

Not very honest of you though... shame.

I totally should have done that. Her sunglasses and her glass of wine.



I gotta go with Mr. Squid on this one. I definitely wouldn't dive into a pool with an ipad... ever try to read under water? I bet it's not easy.

I mostly go near the water.

Find that out the hard... or embarrassing, way did you?

Luckily, no. Although come to think of it, that would have been an interesting and traffic producing chapter for my trip report.

DD11 (DD8 at the time) had lots of fun with them. But if I'm trying to relax... go away.

Then again, I don't relax at Disney. Too much to see, too much to do.

I like a mixture.

Since you can't go in the water there, what did you guys think that Monkston would do? Or is she a kind of 'play in the sand' kinda girl?

I don't think he'd thought that far ahead. I was just thinking about the water there though. Why isn't Disney more concerned about us falling off their boats. Couldn't one of those brain-killing bacteria get up your nose? Or maybe an alligator could take you out?


Gotta look cute. Oh, wait. I've seen your picture. You don't have to worry.

You know how to turn a girl's head Ponzi.



I'm really torn here. The Canadian in me says, "Tell her not to bother, pick something easier." The other part is saying, "Oh, quit the sighing routine... and while you're at it, fix me an irish coffee or something else that'll take 20 minutes to make... then I'll refuse it."

Yes, something with lots of ingredients.


Glad to see that Disney prices are finally starting to come down.
Why do I see a non-friendly animal in your future?

We shall see...

Thanks for the chapter!

Thanks Ponzi!

any woman here would totally get that!

Great update!

Perfectly understandable, right?

I couldn't agree more about BLT pool way too small. did you look over the fence at the little area of "private" beach? we ended up by the kiddie splash pool, the baby slide and the path everyone kept running to to get to the big slide. noisy kid area.

also, the slide was one of those where there were bumps every few feet where the "slats" connected, hurting your back.

we ended up liking that pool out by the water with the fence around it.. the one with the bulleyes in the middle. it was nice and quiet.

I remember Nebo's description of the pool and that you were clearly not happy with it. I think that was the introduction of the yellow jackets too!

That pool by the water did look nice!

 

[nowellsl]

Perfectly understandable, right?

Us overweight, middle-aged women have the best reason to keep the cover-up on ..... to cover up! Now if I could find a bathing suit that covers up as much as the cover-up, I would be all set!

 

[nebo]

Whew!!! Seems like you made it out just in time. Good thing you didn't have to go to the restroom. Can you imagine all the things she could have told you that you were using wrong in there?

I still wonder about that brush that's always sitting next to the toilet in that little stand up holder, man, that thing hurts!

Good job getting a ride back in the van though - the bus from DTD to BLT seems to take FOREVER!!!!

Great update

Ltely, it seems that the busses from any Disney resort to DTD take forever, for some reason they all got through Saratoga Springs now on the way there, it's as if they are advertising it to those that don't know about it.

I love Nebo's reports but I go insane because he doesn't add chapter headings so I can find his writing amid all the ...conversation. That said, this report is extremely enjoyable--and thanks for the headings!

This TR has certainly taken a strange turn! First Fifty Shades, now this...

I left these two posts together:
Apple O, I understand your frustration, but as anybody that does a report will tell you, we live for the comments that a chapter we wrote generates, if anything, just to know that folks are out there reading.
And there are a lot of people that take time to post and comment on the chapters, by putting in a "chapters only" link page, it's like a slap in the face to those that take the time to post themselves.

And as Laura notes above, the conversatiions and callouts can take an often strange and fun turn, but I do see your point.

I know it's too late for you this trip, but MY DH had to show me where the locks were. BLT didn't make this easy. You can't see them until the door is SHUT. Then there's a little lever that comes down BEHIND the door so it can't slide back, if that makes sense. And the horrible gap in the door that necessitated scrunching sideways on the toilet so no part of your body was visible from the living room is fixed too.

I was about to agree with Laura n the no locks issue,,, until I read your reply,,,, hmmm,,, must be well hidden, cuz I didn't see a lock and that sliding door, either, although I didn't look too hard.
No point, locks don't stop Smidgy if she wants to get in.

Great stuff Laura, I agree with everything you said about the pools there,,, and that bar/snack stand at Contemporary is like from an inner city public pool.
And there is a strange feeling sitting in the bright sunshine and reading the Wonderful World of Katniss by the pool.
Oh, and yes, that Ponzi sure knows how to turn your head with his compliments, no?

My doctor tells me to turn my head too.
geesh!

 

[laura74]

well, at least we're not as bad as those "just water, with lemon, please" people!

OMG yes! Forgot about those. And they are the ones that steal the jelly and sweet and lows.

Us overweight, middle-aged women have the best reason to keep the cover-up on ..... to cover up! Now if I could find a bathing suit that covers up as much as the cover-up, I would be all set!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

OMG yes! Forgot about those. And they are the ones that steal the jelly and sweet and lows.

Whew, glad that's not me . I just go for plain water, no lemon, and I don't like anything sweet, so no stealing of sweet and lows from me. Not because I'm cheap, I just don't like soda.

Well, this is if I go out for lunch at work. For dinner, I order adult beverages.

But this did remind me of a guy at work who would order water with lots of lemon on the side and then make his own lemonade.

 

[Kgroo]

I agree with your pros and cons with CR/BLT. I did hear that they were fixing the bathroom door locks. Last year, we reserved a lake view and ended up with a lake view to the right and a MK view to the left !!!! It was also a HC room which I usually don't like, but the bathroom was awesome!!! It had a stand alone shower, a tub and a real door.

The poolbar at CR is pretty bad, but I thought the one at the BLT pool was pretty good.

I just rented a cabana at CR for the day that we are doing MNSSHP!!! So excited!!!!

Great update!!!!

 

[laura74]

Ltely, it seems that the busses from any Disney resort to DTD take forever, for some reason they all got through Saratoga Springs now on the way there, it's as if they are advertising it to those that don't know about it.

Lately it seems that you pay a premium for a deluxe resort experience and get the absolute worst bus experience. I look it as fodder for the trip report.

Hey Nebo, do you think now that I'm writing trip reports that I'll subconsciously seek out horrible situations to make my story better than the actual vacation?



I left these two posts together:
Apple O, I understand your frustration, but as anybody that does a report will tell you, we live for the comments that a chapter we wrote generates, if anything, just to know that folks are out there reading.
And there are a lot of people that take time to post and comment on the chapters, by putting in a "chapters only" link page, it's like a slap in the face to those that take the time to post themselves.

And as Laura notes above, the conversatiions and callouts can take an often strange and fun turn, but I do see your point.

I'm conflicted here. As a new trip report writer I do want all the feedback and comments I can get (especially snarky...nah....flattering is better)

But as a reader it can be difficult to pick up where you left off if there are no links. I sometimes click right out of a TR if I don't have time to search through it.

So, that being said, I added chapter links to attract new readers. I hope maybe they'll add a comment and join the fun. I know I was intimidated because every one is so clever but I just finally said "eff" it. I want to join in too.

I was about to agree with Laura n the no locks issue,,, until I read your reply,,,, hmmm,,, must be well hidden, cuz I didn't see a lock and that sliding door, either, although I didn't look too hard.
No point, locks don't stop Smidgy if she wants to get in.

Hmmm....


Great stuff Laura, I agree with everything you said about the pools there,,, and that bar/snack stand at Contemporary is like from an inner city public pool.

Yes!!

And there is a strange feeling sitting in the bright sunshine and reading the Wonderful World of Katniss by the pool.

Yes, but there is a dark side to Disney.

Oh, and yes, that Ponzi sure knows how to turn your head with his compliments, no?

He is very charming.

My doctor tells me to turn my head too.
geesh!

Whew, glad that's not me . I just go for plain water, no lemon, and I don't like anything sweet, so no stealing of sweet and lows from me. Not because I'm cheap, I just don't like soda.

Well, this is if I go out for lunch at work. For dinner, I order adult beverages.

Yes! Adult beverages!

But this did remind me of a guy at work who would order water with lots of lemon on the side and then make his own lemonade.

I think every office has one.

I agree with your pros and cons with CR/BLT. I did hear that they were fixing the bathroom door locks. Last year, we reserved a lake view and ended up with a lake view to the right and a MK view to the left !!!! It was also a HC room which I usually don't like, but the bathroom was awesome!!! It had a stand alone shower, a tub and a real door.

The poolbar at CR is pretty bad, but I thought the one at the BLT pool was pretty good.

I just rented a cabana at CR for the day that we are doing MNSSHP!!! So excited!!!!

Great update!!!!

Wow! Lucky you! I forgot about the cabanas. I watched the waiters walking briskly back and forth from the cabanas to the seedy pool bar. I see it so clearly now. I feel the envy I felt then. Um, I mean I enjoyed watching the interaction between the slaves, er I mean cast members, and the lucky cabana occupants.

No really. It sounds like an awesome experience and I hope you tell us all about it. Please?

 

[buzz1121]

Great chapters Laura!

Your trip with Monkston to the pool bar reminds me of the fun of eating out with kids. DH and I have two, a DS age 7, and a DD age 4. Seriously, and this is no exaggeration, every time we go out, as soon as our food arrives, nice and hot, one of the two of them will insist they need to go to the rest room now!

I will literally check with the other child first to which I will get a "Nope, I'm good" before taking, usually DD, to the rest room. We are never back more than five minutes, before DS is pleading to go as well.

We haven't stayed at the Contemporary or BLT before, but you, Nebo, and Smidgy are doing a good job of convincing me to skip it. I don't like the thought of a lot of concrete scenery.

 

[pkondz]

You know how to turn a girl's head Ponzi.

Where do you think Linda Blair learned her trick from?

And there are a lot of people that take time to post and comment on the chapters, by putting in a "chapters only" link page, it's like a slap in the face to those that take the time to post themselves.

Read the comments!

I'm conflicted here. As a new trip report writer I do want all the feedback and comments I can get (especially snarky...nah....flattering is better)

But as a reader it can be difficult to pick up where you left off if there are no links. I sometimes click right out of a TR if I don't have time to search through it.

So, that being said, I added chapter links to attract new readers. I hope maybe they'll add a comment and join the fun. I know I was intimidated because every one is so clever but I just finally said "eff" it. I want to join in too.

That was my thought process too. If I come across a TR, that's got 1000 posts, I want to be able to read a few chapters just to see what's going on. If I join in, then I'll read everything.

Laura, you do know you can click the little arrow at the thread title to go to the first post that you've not read, right?

He is very charming.

Whoops! Typo there. You accidentally added a 'c'.

 

[laura74]

Great chapters Laura!

Your trip with Monkston to the pool bar reminds me of the fun of eating out with kids. DH and I have two, a DS age 7, and a DD age 4. Seriously, and this is no exaggeration, every time we go out, as soon as our food arrives, nice and hot, one of the two of them will insist they need to go to the rest room now!

Oh, she used to do that to us too!

I will literally check with the other child first to which I will get a "Nope, I'm good" before taking, usually DD, to the rest room. We are never back more than five minutes, before DS is pleading to go as well.

At least DH gets to take DS, right?

We haven't stayed at the Contemporary or BLT before, but you, Nebo, and Smidgy are doing a good job of convincing me to skip it. I don't like the thought of a lot of concrete scenery.

I would stay again but not for the whole week. It's a really great location for MK days.

Ponzi, I had no idea about that arrow! Nebo just showed me how to do multiple quotes a little while ago. I'm sure there is much more I don't know. Hmmm. I think I'm setting myself up with that one.

 

[laura74]

Time to bump this report back to page one and what better way to do that than with a recipe!

Here's one from my childhood. Super easy and delicious.

FOUR LAYER CHOCOLATE PUDDING DESSERT
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup melted butter
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 cup Cool Whip
1 small pkg. instant chocolate pudding
1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding
4 cups milk, divided

Combine flour, nuts and butter. Mix well. Press into bottom only of 13x9 in. baking dish.

Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Cool completely.

Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended. Fold in the Cool Whip. Spread over the crust and chill.

Prepare chocolate pudding as directed on pkg. Spread over cream cheese layer. Chill completely.

Prepare vanilla pudding as directed on pkg. Pour over chocolate pudding. Chill completely.

Spread additional Cool Whip over top.