Don't be a Drag, Just be a Queen June 3-18 (MORE PICS ADDED 6/25!)

[chrisw127]

Elizabeth, your son looks like a 15 year old boy version of you! Such a cute kid.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Finally! The pictures from dinner at Jiko!

Amuse bouche of quinoa salad

House breads

Tuna appetizer

Jiko salad with peaches

Salmon (from the kid's menu)

Maize crusted corvina

Spicy Gulf shrimp

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

So, yesterday was FABULOUS!

We got to Magic Kingdom around 7:35 AM. We had a party of 12 for breakfast at Crystal Palace.

From there we headed out to Adventureland - pretty much no waiting! We rode Jungle Cruise and Pirates. We got a fast Pass for Big Thunder, rode the raft to Tom Sawyer Island, checked out the new Haunted Mansion queue. Rode Small World, got FPs for Space Mtn. DH had said he REALLY wanted to go to the 1 PM Country Bears show. We were a little late, but we got into the show by 1:30. It was hilarious. SUCH a fun crowd!

We left the park after that to have a little lunch and a break. Of course we didn't make it back to MK in time for the Dole Whip DIS meet at 4 PM since we didn't leave the park until after 2 PM. We had Dole Whips anyway. Then we rode Tea Cups, the guys rode Space Mtn, we saw Philharmagic, then we went for a few cocktails before the Wishes cruise.

We went to the Contemporary marina at 9 PM, met our captain, Val, and boarded our boat. We had beautiful weather! I would absolutely recommend the cruise, and I would not hesitate to do it again! It was $350, but divided between 10 people it was $40 each, including a tip for the captain. We all had a terrific time, the fireworks were beautiful.

After the cruise a couple members of our group decided to run back to MK to try to catch the second showing of the pics on the castle. They didn't quite make it in time, but it turns out there was a MSEP at 11 PM so we were able to catch that. LOW crowds - we were on the curb in front of the Confectionery.

It was SUCH a fun day! Exhausting, but SO much fun!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We went to Epcot this morning.

Got FPs for Soarin' first, then we checked out Captain EO. We had never seen it before, so now we can cross that off the list.

DS and DH rode Sum of all Thrills, then we rode Livin' with the Land while we waited for our FPs to be valid. We rode Soarin', stopped by Club Cool, then met our friend in France for a Grey Goose slushie. From there we spontaneously decided to go for sushi. So we went to Tokyo Dining. The rainbow roll was REALLY good.

After that our friend had to go pick up an event ticket, so we just putzed around World Showcase. DH had some sake and I had some plum wine in Japan, then I had a caramel bar thing in Germany from the new shop. They have all sorts of amazing goodies. Need to go back there.

It was BRUTALLY hot today and DS was really dragging, so we rode Spaceship earth and came back for a break. Now DH and DS are sound asleep so I am not sure what we're doing tonight.

My friend who lives in Tampa is going to come to Blizzard Beach with us on Wednesday, so I am excited about that!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Here on the DIS we hear a lot of "Is Club Level worth it?"

I will be honest and say I think we are hitting the tipping point of "Not so much."

IPO was amazing in helping me secure our ADRs, so that was a nice perk. But as time for the trip got closer I started messing with things. I booked several things myself, including a Cali Grill ADR that they weren't able to get for me.

This morning I asked if I could get a bottle of water to take to the room. No, because the bottles are big glass ones that require a bottle opener. In the lounge they put a spout on them, but they don't have a lid that can be replaced. The CM suggested I go buy water in the gift shop or at the CS restaurant

This afternoon at 4 PM there were about 4 mini scones on a plate, and a plate of store bought, pre-packaged, tiny little cookies. Service ends at 4:30. To have virtually NOTHING out at 4 PM is really not acceptable. I had DH take a photo of the counter. In the past they have had big, fresh cookies, chips, nuts, Goldfish. Not anymore!

I will say I LOVE having daily Housekeeping, but we were in a regular villa last year and it was fine. The point differential is significant for Club Level villas, and I can say if the lounge offerings continue to be this sparse that we won't choose to use our points this way again. I might book a couple of nights so we can do the Sunrise Safari, but I won't book 15 nights in a pool view, studio villa with no other perks beyond the daily housekeeping and turn-down service. I would rather sacrifice the daily housekeeping and have an amazing savanna view 1 bedroom since the lounge offerings are so crummy.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Oops. DH was just reading the listing of lounge offerings. They switch from "snacks" to "tea" at 3 PM. So from 3 PM until 4:30 there are only supposed to be cookies and scones. I guess we'll have to come back before 3 PM and see what they have out before we blast them.

 

[princessallegra]

Hiiiiii!!!! I'm so glad you guys are having a blast! Those firework pics are awesome! We had a great day at SWW today. Best wishes!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hiiiiii!!!! I'm so glad you guys are having a blast! Those firework pics are awesome! We had a great day at SWW today. Best wishes!

Hey there!!
We are going to brave SWW next Friday!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We are headed to AK in the morning for EMH. Brunch at Tusker House. We haven't been there for a couple of years, so I figured we'd give it a go.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

AKL has a significant problem with people who are not staying club level coming into the lounge and helping themselves to LARGE quantities of food and drinks. (Like half a platter of chocolate covered strawberries.) If anyone is wondering why club level is so expensive and the offerings keep shrinking, there's your answer.

DH and I sat and observed this last night, then we went downstairs and reported it to the manager on duty. I am REALLY uphappy about this, and I will be pursuing it with both DVC and WDW. It is a BIG problem, not just a couple of people here and there. They are going to have to start requiring a room key for lounge access.

 

[DrGaellon]

My friend suggested I change the name of my trip report to "Limpin' & Squintin' Around the World". But I am going to leave it because DS's toe appears to be healing just fine.

I gots a big blister on my heel; I am going to be limpin' around the World today. I think I'm wearing Tevas today, fashion be damned.

 

[Tammi67]

This is a great picture!

Hmmm...I'll have to do an observation when we are there in August and see how the lounge is then. Hopefully they will address your complaints.

 

[Candy30]

Trip report and pictures are awesome as usual!!! Your eye looks great! The fireworks pictures were really good. I really have to try a grey goose slushie when I get back to the World. We were going to do the Cruise but opted for something else. I can't even remember what is was now. Can't wait for what is next!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I gots a big blister on my heel; I am going to be limpin' around the World today. I think I'm wearing Tevas today, fashion be damned.

I wore my Tevas today! I think I have 4 pairs of shoes with me, and none of them are proving to be all that comfortable.

This is a great picture!

Hmmm...I'll have to do an observation when we are there in August and see how the lounge is then. Hopefully they will address your complaints.

DH took that picture when we came back to change clothes the other day. I think it came out really nice.
We think they already KNOW the lounge is a problem, but they are trying to weigh out if they want to bother to put a stop to it. If they put a video camera at the gate and did a live feed up to the desk so the CMs could WATCH who is going through the gate and HOW they are getting through it, the problem would stop. If they replaced the gate with another design the problem would stop. If they put a CM at the top of the stairs to check room keys the problem would stop. There are PLENTY of solutions. But club level guests are going to have to complain in large numbers before they get serious about stopping the freeloaders. And the complaints need to be to people OTHER than the front line lounge staff.

Trip report and pictures are awesome as usual!!! Your eye looks great! The fireworks pictures were really good. I really have to try a grey goose slushie when I get back to the World. We were going to do the Cruise but opted for something else. I can't even remember what is was now. Can't wait for what is next!

Hi, Candy! I finish my antibiotic tonight, so I hope the eye doesn't do anything scary. The slushies are SO good. DH likes the orange one better, but I prefer the lemon. The cruise was SO much fun!

It was a lovely morning at AK. It wasn't brutally hot until about 1 PM, and by then we were leaving. We arrived a little past 8 AM (some sort of ugly bus problem - had to wait for a second one because the line was so backed up). Rode Everest, DH and DS rode Dinosaur, saw Tough to be a Bug, met a friend from the DIS boards briefly, walked the Pangani trail, then checked in for our 10:20 ADR at Tusker House. They seated us at 10:55 or so. The food was REALLY good, but they delay was a bit much.

We missed Mickey when he came to our table, and lunch is not a character meal. BUT the manager was so nice! She gave us a "pass" to go to the front of the line at Camp Minnie Mickey to get a photo. That pass was awesome. Wish I had one for everything!

Rode the safari after lunch - I think DH and DS got some good pics!

I stopped in Rainforest Cafe on the way out and bought a jacket on clearance. I am always cold, so I had been looking for a jacket.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Looks like you are all having a great time Elizabeth.

I would be upset by the club level situation too. I think you have alot of good solutions to the Disney problem.

Your small world pictures brought back the bad memories of last month. I hope Laurie doesnt see those and remind me our our litttle incident with me, dh and her getting stuck on the boat because of me.

Thanks for the Jiko pictures. I dont know if I would like that kind of cuisine, but it looks like it is presented very well.

Hope the weather is not too hot today

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Looks like you are all having a great time Elizabeth.

I would be upset by the club level situation too. I think you have alot of good solutions to the Disney problem.

Your small world pictures brought back the bad memories of last month. I hope Laurie doesnt see those and remind me our our litttle incident with me, dh and her getting stuck on the boat because of me.

Thanks for the Jiko pictures. I dont know if I would like that kind of cuisine, but it looks like it is presented very well.

Hope the weather is not too hot today

Hi, Maryann!
I got a call from DVC today in regards to my complaint. They said they have spoken to the resort about the issues. I am thinking this is going to be a "Yes, yes, we'll fix it. Run along now." sort of thing.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Dinner at Flying Fish tonight (my favorite). We may go to MK after that.