Flowers, Segways & DIS Meets, Oh My! - Updated 10/26, Final Thoughts-FINALLY!

[brookelizabeth]

I think HDs advise really helped me make up some ground on the Disney cruise, we'll see! He did say that since the info came from my Disney friends that it was tainted, but agreed that it made sense I'll do some extra research on my own and get some more info

that made me laugh out loud! Don't tell him about Fuzzy Disney Math!

Ahhhh! The Segway Tour!!!! LOVE IT! Joe and I did that back on our Disneymoon and had the best time! We both would like to do it again sometime, when Henry is old enough for the Kids Clubs maybe. I'm happy to read you two also had a great time! I wish I could remember what CM we had...

Oh, Henry wants to add some smilies:

Through all the F&GF pictures in the TRs I've been reading I don't think I have seen the Daisy with the campfire and marshmallows - how cute!!

 

[KatMark]

Oh Michelle! So disappointed to hear about Don's about-face on the cruise, but thank goodness for Dissers providing you with ammunition! I hope the visions of college kids partying on the cruise decks is enough to turn this back around to Disney for you!

Great idea! I could send Michelle pics of my son's cruise last year with four of his college buddies...it might make Don definitely rethink and turn back to Disney. The pictures are very telling.

 

[goofy's_gurl]

I told my mom I want to do the Segway tour!!!! But then again I am not good with balance and I think that may be a accident waiting to happen.

 

[BippityBoo]

Oh my! The flowers are still so pretty Elton sounds like a gem!! I would LOVE to do that tour one day. Maybe in May with my DH. I love the pic of you and your Mom and really love your pin

 

[Spartangirl]

Elton sounds like such a wonderful person........glad he made your tour so enjoyable! I loved hearing about your Segway Tour...we have a tour booked this summer (not the Disney portion of our trip) and I'm a little worried about riding one. I'm pretty coordinated, but I still have that fear of "tipping" it over!

 

[Happydog]

Thanks for all the advise HD! This was just what I needed! I told him about the party atmosphere on the cheaper cruises because that is the price point that most younger people can afford - he said that made sense and that obviously that is not what we are looking for for a family vacation. You may have gotten me over the hump with that one little piece of advise!!!

Glad to help! Of course I am sure all the cruise lines can cater to families, DO, cater to families, and give nice packages. But it may depend on the cruise, and it may depend on the time, etc... I'm not being critical of other boats, just trying to help you find an "in"!!! But I am sincere about what I saw in February. Not our style -- even WITHOUT kids.

I think HDs advise really helped me make up some ground on the Disney cruise, we'll see! He did say that since the info came from my Disney friends that it was tainted, but agreed that it made sense I'll do some extra research on my own and get some more info

This SOOOOOOOOOOO makes me laugh. My DH says all the DIS is a big conspiracy Though he has been the one booking all the deals this past year, and is already prepared to stay at Vero Beach next summer!! So you can tell him my DH feels the same way, but did really like the Disney cruise line, and feels it is the best out there for what you are looking for in a family cruise, with adult time built in! I mean, childcare included? COME ON!

 

[disneydusted]

Your photos through Epcot are wonderful... you had a great time to be there early and get good pictures.
The Segway tour is a must once DS is 16! another reason to go back in 2 years, right? I'm always looking for some reason to go! Sounds like Elton was the super CM of the day. Don't you just love it when a CM loves their job so much that they make everyone around them have a better time?

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Elton sounds fabulous!!! I love meeting wonderful Disney CMs like that. That is what Disney should be like ALL THE TIME.

I could not stop laughing at the deathly picture request. Can you imagine? So, so funny!

 

[LilAnn]

As always, love your photos. Sounds like that Elton was a gem! I'm sure it made the whole Segway experience that much better. I am sure if I had seen you guys pass me on a Segway, I would have been one of them with a look of jealousy on my face.

 

[RachelNinja]

Wow, I've been away for a while! My church's summer retreat kept me away for 4 days, and then starting a summer job teaching a prep course for the NYC Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) this past Monday has just taken a lot of my time. But I'm back to catch up on what I've missed!

Yay for the possibility of a Disney cruise! Weird and I talked to 2 Disney dudes on our trip (don't want to reveal who just yet!) who encouraged us to do the cruises after we've stayed on property. They were telling us all the Disney "rites of passage," and staying on property would be next and then a cruise would also be a must! That should quench some of your WDW depression. Can you do a Disney fun night at home?

Your niece is adorable! Oh man, I love her cheeks! I'm so eager to hold a little baby again. It's been a while since we've had a baby in the family; Matt was the last one! I think everyone's waiting for the next generation, so that means my cousins and me!

Oh boo, I just saw the update about Don not wanting a Disney cruise! It could still be fun, right? Pick a cruise that has amazing food! It stuns me to see how much people get to eat on cruises; I'd definitely make my doctor say, "What did you do?!?"

Ooo, excited to read about your Segway Tour! Weird would probably LOVE that, but I don't know that I'd be comfortable enough on the segway to do it. Maybe more practice on the segways in Epcot first would give me more confidence! He did figure out the pressure in the feet thing, but I was told to learn forward, so leaning back was difficult because the natural tendency is to think that you're falling!

Hehe, your mom didn't tell you about the pouf in your hair because she's your mom and she thinks you're beautiful all the time!

I guess tours are really not that common. I think I take it for granted that I read TRs and know about DIS and AllEars and all that. Otherwise I probably wouldn't really search around the Disney website for info about extra things to do.

Aww, I wish you were able to capture a pic of Elton!

 

[mermaid764]

I'm finally all caught up and loving your TR!

The restaurants you guys ate at look awesome...i've never considered Kona or the Grand Floridian cafe but your posts have me rethinking it.

Your niece is absolutely precious! We just welcomed my nephew on the fourth of July and it's amazing how much he's changed even in those few days. The pics of your niece with the the pink headband are just adorable!

Can't wait to hear more

 

[Disneygrl36]

Loved the Segway update!!!!! I think Elton was our tour guide too....sounds just like the guy we had..happy, giggling & smiling. A little bit older gentleman? He gave Eric his bday button & bday gift card.

I know what you mean about driving back into Future World......scary with people around but fun too because of the envious looks you get.

I love my pin & I'm not a pin collector.

 

[Happydog]

Oh YAY for Elton! I love CMs like that. We had some amazing CMs at the Pirate's League during Christmas it was neat to see them so into it! That is great! How fun to take those segways! I am with CP on this though. I panic on a bicycle. I would flip out on a segway, trying to make it stop, etc. NOT a good thing for me!!!

Looks so much fun though! And I think the pic with you and your mom is just fine! Looks nice!

 

[photographymom517]

Loved the zoo pictures!!!

Your meal at Kona looked delicious! How do scallops taste? I am a HUGE seafood lover, but have never tried scallops. I used to work for a seafood company & after working there & cleaning scallops, I can’t bring myself to eat them. I really want to try them though, what do they taste like? (are they similar to any other seafood? please don't say clams, squid, or oysters! )

I love the Poly!!! Its definitely #1 on my list of resorts to try. I really wanted to stay there this past trip…until I saw the price for 9 nights/10 days!!! Lol It looks so pretty there. Maybe if we don’t stay there next trip, I will at least make ressies for Kona!

Dessert Party…yum, yum, yum!!!! I am soooo obsessed with desserts at Disney! Normally at home, I skip dessert & always say I just can’t eat the extra calories or I’m too full to even try to eat dessert. But whenever we went to Disney, I LOVED eating dessert at every single meal since we were on the dining plan!!! I hope they continue the dessert party for along time because I would love to try it. I think my favorites (from looking at your pictures!) were the chocolate-covered strawberries, key lime tart, tiramisu, and crème brulee!!! Everything looks so yummy, I’m not sure what I’d pick!

The lapu lapu looks like a really great drink! I’ll have to put it on my list of things to try at Disney! I love how you ordered it & then so many others in the restaurant decided to try it out as well!

I completely feel your pain about not having a ticker in your siggie! After our trip in June, I doubt we’ll be back until at least next October…maybe not even next year at all. Actually, I might be lucky if I get back there by the time the new Fantasyland refurb is finished in 2013...yikes!

Your niece is sooo cute! I loved her cute little matching outfit & hat in the last picture! So cute!!! I know what you mean about not having girls in the family…mine is the same way! Except its my side and my husbands side…we had no girls until my niece was born this past March!!! Now we have a little girl & I keep telling her that she is my little Princess. She will, of course, someday get the opportunity to travel with her aunt to Disney and go to BBB!!! I loooove buying pink stuff now! (although I agree with you…love having the newborn around, but not enough to have another of my own! Lol)

The Segway Tour sounds like so much fun!!! Glad that you had such a wonderful CM for your tour guide!!!

I couldn't remember where I last left off on your trip report, so I ended up re-reading a few updates. I LOVE all of the F&G pictures!!! The topiaries are sooo beautiful! I really need to talk DH into a F&G trip one year!

 

[ashleighbass06]

Driving a segway is so weird yet so fun! I haven't done one of the WDW tours, I did one in Raleigh, NC. It was so much fun! I'm glad you had such an awesome CM! I would love to do that someday and its good to know that you enjoyed it.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Those are gorgeous pics of your niece!!!

Pity about the cruise...but I'm sure you'll find a way to make it happen.

That segway looks great...you've convinced me that I need to give it a go. I had always thought it would be too tricky to learn how to use one.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Sounds like a fun time on the tour! Glad Elton was such a great CM. I love it when the CMs really seem to have fun and enjoy what they are doing.

Staging a way to die in the park?! YIKES!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Michelle, what a great update. I love the F&G pictures -- you got some really good ones. The tour sounds like a lot of fun, and Elton sounds like a real winner...a keeper in my book!

Thanks Kathy. Having a great CM as a guide for the tour made it so enjoyable!

Oh Michelle! So disappointed to hear about Don's about-face on the cruise, but thank goodness for Dissers providing you with ammunition! I hope the visions of college kids partying on the cruise decks is enough to turn this back around to Disney for you!

I'm not giving up hope yet, I have lots of time to convince him so I'm just letting the party atmosphere info sink in a bit before I bring it up again

Reading your report about the segway tour has me SO regretting my decision to nix this. You will remember, I had thought about doing this the same day as you guys as it was my birthday, and my MIL would have been more than game to watch the kids so Chris & I could have done this.

Darn! Now I really, really wish I had signed up!

How many people were on the tour with you? And did you bring your own camera or did they have one that they used to take the pics?

Sounded like an awesome experience! I am definitely going to do this on a future trip!

I do remember that you had thought about doing the tour as well. I so wish you would have, we would have had so much fun! I'm sure Chris would have enjoyed it as well - no standing around in crowds waiting for anything

I don't remember exactly, but I think there were about 10-12 people on our tour. I did bring my camera, I just put it in the compartment on the front of the Segway. The tour is really not good for taking pictures, you can't drive your Segway and take pics at the same time. They told us at the beginning of the tour that if we wanted to take a picture of anything we had to get off of our Segway take the photo, then get back on. This would totally hold up the tour however and is not recommended. They stop once, in Italy, which is where we got our one picture.

I enjoyed reading about the segway tour. My dh tried the segway tour at Ft Wilderness on our last trip and loved it.

Now that I've tried it, I'd like to do the one at Ft. Wilderness too. The Segways are really fun to drive around on.

The Segway tour sounds like tons of fun!!! I am so uncoordinated, though, that I might actually manage to hurt myself or someone else! How wonderful that you were able to get a CM as cool and entertaining as Elton! The stories he told probably made the tour that much more fun! I am seriously envious of the pin you earned for your morning adventure! Oh, and I laughed out loud over your comment about the poof on the side of your head, and your mom not mentioning it! It isn't bad at all and the picture is very cute!

I bet you would do fine Jackie! They really aren't that hard to drive once you get the feel for them, and there is plenty of training time before you head out into the park.

I love the pin we got! The little Segway guy even moves back and forth across the pin - it's a great keepsake!

Ugggg, my poof - it's awful, but it's the only pic I have from our experience so I'm keeping it.

that made me laugh out loud! Don't tell him about Fuzzy Disney Math!

Yeah, he wouldn't understand it. I got another AP room discount offer email yesterday and tried to use Disney Math to show him why we needed to take advantage of it - he wasn't falling for it

Ahhhh! The Segway Tour!!!! LOVE IT! Joe and I did that back on our Disneymoon and had the best time! We both would like to do it again sometime, when Henry is old enough for the Kids Clubs maybe. I'm happy to read you two also had a great time! I wish I could remember what CM we had...

I'm glad you liked it too, I don't think I've come across anyone that has done the tour that didn't enjoy it! Justin is dying to try it, I told him as soon as he is old enough we will.

Oh, Henry wants to add some smilies:

Thanks Henry, this made me smile

Through all the F&GF pictures in the TRs I've been reading I don't think I have seen the Daisy with the campfire and marshmallows - how cute!!

The theme was the great outdoors, isn't that display too cute?!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Great idea! I could send Michelle pics of my son's cruise last year with four of his college buddies...it might make Don definitely rethink and turn back to Disney. The pictures are very telling.

I love this idea Kathy! A party cruise would be great fun if that is what you are going for - not really the ideal situation for a family vacation though

I told my mom I want to do the Segway tour!!!! But then again I am not good with balance and I think that may be a accident waiting to happen.

They really aren't as hard to drive as you might think, it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. You should give it a try!

Oh my! The flowers are still so pretty Elton sounds like a gem!! I would LOVE to do that tour one day. Maybe in May with my DH. I love the pic of you and your Mom and really love your pin

Elton was the perfect CM for this tour - he was FANTASTIC, I just can't say enough good things about him.

I love that pin too

Elton sounds like such a wonderful person........glad he made your tour so enjoyable! I loved hearing about your Segway Tour...we have a tour booked this summer (not the Disney portion of our trip) and I'm a little worried about riding one. I'm pretty coordinated, but I still have that fear of "tipping" it over!

You'll do great on your tour Lynne! We had a very timid and somewhat uncoordinated lady in our group and even she didn't tip it over and was a pro by the time we were done

Glad to help! Of course I am sure all the cruise lines can cater to families, DO, cater to families, and give nice packages. But it may depend on the cruise, and it may depend on the time, etc... I'm not being critical of other boats, just trying to help you find an "in"!!! But I am sincere about what I saw in February. Not our style -- even WITHOUT kids.

I like to have a few drinks and enjoying the company of my friends as much as the next person, but I'm way too old to want to be around drunk 20 somethings for days on end........

This SOOOOOOOOOOO makes me laugh. My DH says all the DIS is a big conspiracy Though he has been the one booking all the deals this past year, and is already prepared to stay at Vero Beach next summer!! So you can tell him my DH feels the same way, but did really like the Disney cruise line, and feels it is the best out there for what you are looking for in a family cruise, with adult time built in! I mean, childcare included? COME ON!

Oh Don would totally agree with your DHs assessment of the DIS

Don has even said before that Disney is top notch when it comes to customer service and treating their guests well - I don't know why he is so resistant, probably just doesn't want to feed my addiction.......

 

[SoonerGirl]

Your photos through Epcot are wonderful... you had a great time to be there early and get good pictures.
The Segway tour is a must once DS is 16! another reason to go back in 2 years, right? I'm always looking for some reason to go! Sounds like Elton was the super CM of the day. Don't you just love it when a CM loves their job so much that they make everyone around them have a better time?

It was nice to be able to get in early and get a few no crowd pics before we had to check in for the tour!

Justin is dying to do the Segway tour as well, and we will as soon as he turns 16 too.

I honestly don't think you could have a bad day hanging out with Elton, it would be impossible, he was just one of those rare people that give off so much positive energy that it would be very hard to be grumpy around him!

Elton sounds fabulous!!! I love meeting wonderful Disney CMs like that. That is what Disney should be like ALL THE TIME.

I could not stop laughing at the deathly picture request. Can you imagine? So, so funny!

Disney is very fortunate to be loaded with wonderful CMs. And this guy is obviously one of the best. Our other guide, Amber, told us that out of all of their CMs, Elton had received the highest number of positive letters written about him by guests

I couldn't believe that group asked us to do that - I can just see someone accidently running over one of them!

As always, love your photos. Sounds like that Elton was a gem! I'm sure it made the whole Segway experience that much better. I am sure if I had seen you guys pass me on a Segway, I would have been one of them with a look of jealousy on my face.

Having a great CM did make the tour better I'm sure. We had lots of people yelling out to us asking how they could do it too, it was kind of cool to be the center of so much envy

Yay for the possibility of a Disney cruise! Weird and I talked to 2 Disney dudes on our trip (don't want to reveal who just yet!) who encouraged us to do the cruises after we've stayed on property. They were telling us all the Disney "rites of passage," and staying on property would be next and then a cruise would also be a must! That should quench some of your WDW depression. Can you do a Disney fun night at home?

I think if I can just get Don on the cruise he'll love it - I just need to get him to agree to it!

Your niece is adorable! Oh man, I love her cheeks! I'm so eager to hold a little baby again. It's been a while since we've had a baby in the family; Matt was the last one! I think everyone's waiting for the next generation, so that means my cousins and me!

Any of your cousins married yet? It's so fun having a little baby to cuddle

Ooo, excited to read about your Segway Tour! Weird would probably LOVE that, but I don't know that I'd be comfortable enough on the segway to do it. Maybe more practice on the segways in Epcot first would give me more confidence! He did figure out the pressure in the feet thing, but I was told to learn forward, so leaning back was difficult because the natural tendency is to think that you're falling!

Driving the Segway is lots of fun, but I'm not sure if you could do it - not because of ability, but because you are basically standing in the same position for about 2 hours, I'm not sure if your condition would allow you do it.

I guess tours are really not that common. I think I take it for granted that I read TRs and know about DIS and AllEars and all that. Otherwise I probably wouldn't really search around the Disney website for info about extra things to do.

I've learned so much about all the different things Disney has to offer from reading the DIS and AllEars.

Aww, I wish you were able to capture a pic of Elton!

I know! I was very disappointed in myself for not getting one. During the tour there really isn't much of an opportunity to take pics, but I wish I would have asked him for a picture afterwards