Go with the flow DUDE.....*a few final thoughts 10/19

[pas130]

This was the day I was waiting for!!! Disney Day!!!!!!!! I was awake, dressed and packed by 9am. We left around 10am. I don't remember if I mentioned this or not, but we were booked at OKW from 8/22 to 8/28 (the 28th-29th it was planned to stop at Jekyll Island on the way home). Since Jekyll Island was just okay...I called my TA to see if I can add the day on the end. It was available, and I got the 35% off discounted rate to me!!!! So now I was going to get 7 glorious WDW nights

We had an uneventful drive to Orlando, and by noon we were passing this:

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Joining in for this one! You have a gorgeous family & I can't wait to hear all about your Disney adventures!

Old Key West is SUCH a nice resort! We stayed in a studio back in June '11 and we fell in love.

 

[hstrickland]

Hiya I found you!!! So glad y'all had a fabulous trip, and happy you enjoyed OKW! I bet the extra room was fantastic. Can't wait to see pics!! Your family photo at the beginning of the TR is precious! You look great!

Have a fab weekend!!!
Heather

 

[heaven2dc]

Fun start to your trip! Love the pics on the beach I have thought of staying at OKW esp in thinking of a big family vacation for 10 of us next year. We are so spoiled staying at BWV as we love being able to walk or take a boat to HS and Epcot (we rent points and the cost is less than getting discounted rack rates at moderate resorts but maybe I can convince the family to stay at OKW next time. The 2-bedroom looks huge -I peaked at Disney's website and love the layout of the villa.)

Can't wait to read more!

 

[pas130]

Joining in for this one! You have a gorgeous family & I can't wait to hear all about your Disney adventures!

Old Key West is SUCH a nice resort! We stayed in a studio back in June '11 and we fell in love.

So happy you're joining in! I enjoy "meeting" new DIS friends!!! Thank you for your kind words, I am very lucky to have a great family! I was a bit apprehensive about OKW primarily about it's size. But we scored a great location, and had great bus service...stay tuned

Hiya I found you!!! So glad y'all had a fabulous trip, and happy you enjoyed OKW! I bet the extra room was fantastic. Can't wait to see pics!! Your family photo at the beginning of the TR is precious! You look great!

Have a fab weekend!!!
Heather

YAY Heather! Nice to see you! I know your DIS time is limited So glad you found me

Fun start to your trip! Love the pics on the beach I have thought of staying at OKW esp in thinking of a big family vacation for 10 of us next year. We are so spoiled staying at BWV as we love being able to walk or take a boat to HS and Epcot (we rent points and the cost is less than getting discounted rack rates at moderate resorts but maybe I can convince the family to stay at OKW next time. The 2-bedroom looks huge -I peaked at Disney's website and love the layout of the villa.)

Can't wait to read more!

WOOHOO another new friend to join the party! The villa was HUGE! We owned at SSR when we were a family of 4. We sold our DVC as it was only every other year we could use it as our family grew. Way before my DIS days, or I would've bought more points maybe. We have stayed at SSR, BCV, and Kidani..Kidani was big, but this seemed much bigger with the layout and bright colors I was thinking BWV or VWL next trip. BCV will be refurbished soon too...I haven't rented points as I am a resort changer..being locked into a resort scares me OKW was fabulous!!!

 

[JoshMom5]

Subbing in. Our group is staying in a 2-bedroom at OKW for our next trip so I can't wait to read about it.

You have a beautiful family.

 

[azarine]

Subbing!

 

[pas130]

Subbing in. Our group is staying in a 2-bedroom at OKW for our next trip so I can't wait to read about it.

You have a beautiful family.

Thank you and You will LOVE OKW!!! If you are looking for some great OKW pics, check out KatMark's TR "A am a bad, bad baby" not onlt did she get some great pics, but those were the pics that my kids looked at all the time before our trip. Plus Kathy is one nice lady We didn't do any of the quiet pools, as my kids loved the pool slide. Make sure to schedule in some resort time, we missed out. They had a campfire and nightly movies. The DJ was at the pool early, and there were lots of games and activities either at the pool or community hall (right next to the pool). Did I mention you will love it??

Subbing!

More to come

 

[pas130]

Old Key West! We finally made it home!!!!!

I am not going to fib, I was hopeful doing online check-in would mean that our room was ready on arrival. Alas, it wasn't....that's okay.

DH dropped me off at the entrance to Hospitality House (I think some kids were still napping at that point). I was promptly greeted by a CM with an iPad who sat with me and went over my check-in. Our room was not ready, but our Magic Bands were activated....so my plan was swimming She was able to tell me on the map where our room would be so we could park over there, and she went over the map a little. We would be in Building 27-28-or 29. I was too excited to pay attention to her at all, but once I got back in the car with DH I realized we got the area I wanted PENINSULAR ROAD (Thanks Kathy for your advice in OCI requests).

My requests on my reservation were higher floor, canal view, keep this in mind for later.....

Once we parked, everyone was hungry so we figured let's hit Downtown Disney~ we had FP for DHS that evening, the first being 4:40pm for Tower of Terror.

The first bus to come was for EPCOT, and my DS5 wanted to go there.....food, there's food at Epcot...let's do it!!!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

We're checked-in! We're where we requested! We're hungry! Let's go to Epcot!

 

[Janet B]

Mornin' Pas!!

Yay for handsome being treated like royalty at Burger King…as his due.

And Spiders? yikes! ...'course snakes would of been worse for me... beach, pool and happy hour ....perfect especially after a long day.

Too funny on the “shark” story….(You’re right, Brandon will never ever be able to live this one down!) On but we all know what a sweetie he is!! (and he did warn ya!)

As always Pas, your pix are fabulous for the people in them!

yay for getting your requests! We loved that slide too!

Epcot, food and then TOT!! A perfect start! (Oh and I love how handsome is looking out the window in the pix .... he does just want to get the party started! )

 

[pas130]

We're checked-in! We're where we requested! We're hungry! Let's go to Epcot!

The plan was to grab our DAS, grab some food and head back to OKW. It was high 90s and the girls didn't have their sneaks on....stay tuned

Mornin' Pas!!

Yay for handsome being treated like royalty at Burger King…as his due.

And Spiders? yikes! ...'course snakes would of been worse for me... beach, pool and happy hour ....perfect especially after a long day.

Too funny on the “shark” story….(You’re right, Brandon will never ever be able to live this one down!) On but we all know what a sweetie he is!! (and he did warn ya!)

As always Pas, your pix are fabulous for the people in them!

yay for getting your requests! We loved that slide too!

Epcot, food and then TOT!! A perfect start! (Oh and I love how handsome is looking out the window in the pix .... he does just want to get the party started! )

Fortunately we still will keep Brandon, even though he left us to get eaten Survival of the fittest, right??? I made several trips down the slide as well (and everyone enjoyed laughing at Mommy doing it). Handsome LOVED the buses, maybe even as much as the parks

Spoiler: there's a snake in the future......

 

[KatMark]

Jeanette, I fell a bit behind, but I am caught up now.

I love the photos from Treasure Island. Your son and his shark. I love the Gulf for the same reason...manatees and dolphins.

I'm so glad that I was helpful to you with the room request for OKW.

The kids look so excited on the bus to being go to Epcot to eat.

I can't wait to read more.

 

[natebenma]

Just noticed the TR link in your signature!

I'm in!!!

 

[amandaw]

YAY! Y'all made it to WDW!

That's awesome that they had another night available....and especially with the discount. Woot Woot!!!

And I love how flexible you are in your plans....thinking y'all would go to DTD for lunch but then just switching to EPCOT for your little guy. I need to learn from you & be more flexible! I'm taking notes!

 

[pas130]

Jeanette, I fell a bit behind, but I am caught up now.

I love the photos from Treasure Island. Your son and his shark. I love the Gulf for the same reason...manatees and dolphins.

I'm so glad that I was helpful to you with the room request for OKW.

The kids look so excited on the bus to being go to Epcot to eat.

I can't wait to read more.

I keep looking at other beaches, I just can't....I think Siesta key or Anna Maria may be next..I think

I was going to text you when I got our location..but I got the dreaded "put that flipping phone away" look from DH LOL...he just can't share me can he You were a tremendous help Kathy!!!

Just noticed the TR link in your signature!

I'm in!!!

Hi Dee my friend!!!

YAY! Y'all made it to WDW!

That's awesome that they had another night available....and especially with the discount. Woot Woot!!!

And I love how flexible you are in your plans....thinking y'all would go to DTD for lunch but then just switching to EPCOT for your little guy. I need to learn from you & be more flexible! I'm taking notes!

Remember I am outnumbered LOL. So happy we got Park Hoppers, it was so much less stressful not having to stick to a plan. And I thought of you passing SSR each time. It's so pretty from the boat at night as is Okw

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Mornin' Pas!!

Yay for handsome being treated like royalty at Burger King…as his due.

And Spiders? yikes! ...'course snakes would of been worse for me... beach, pool and happy hour ....perfect especially after a long day.

Too funny on the “shark” story….(You’re right, Brandon will never ever be able to live this one down!) On but we all know what a sweetie he is!! (and he did warn ya!)

As always Pas, your pix are fabulous for the people in them!

yay for getting your requests! We loved that slide too!

Epcot, food and then TOT!! A perfect start! (Oh and I love how handsome is looking out the window in the pix .... he does just want to get the party started! )

Did you mention snake?!?! I will never forget my middle of the night visitor ... also no more staying on the first floor!!!

 

[pas130]

Did you mention snake?!?! I will never forget my middle of the night visitor ... also no more staying on the first floor!!!

Not quite as close to our room as your slithery guest Mama but I will say my girls are brave

 

[pas130]

My apologies to my readers/friends that it is taking me so long to update, I thought back-to-school would mean more downtime....alas I was wrong

OKW was a short ride to EPCOT, it took longer getting through the resort than to the park I think. Peninsular Road is the first bus-stop at OKW. We reached the park, and we were ready to eat. First we stopped at Guest Services to pick up our DAS (Disability Access Service Card). I had never done this before, but I welcomed any extra help with the kids at Disney. The CM was very thorough explaining how to use the cards, and it's all done on an iPad so we were done in a few minutes and off to eat!

We walk up, I attempt to get a photo NOPE...keep walking Mom, no one is interested We reach Spaceship Earth, I LOVE Spaceship Earth. 5 minute wait?? Can we Daddy, please, please (yes that was me) ? We go on. DH and DD9, DS13, DD8, and DD7, DS5 and I. My DS5 likes the Spanish language, we've watched Frozen in Spanish, listen to Spanish talk radio...and so I got my first experience of Spaceship Earth in Español

Next up, I asked my DS13 for the map to figure out the best CS...he didn't get a map. This kid ALWAYS gets a map...okay we reached the Electric Umbrella...DS5 places his order.."I would like a cheeseburger only pickles". The CM replies "I am so sorry we have no pickles".... zero to meltdown in 8 seconds flat. DH grabbed him and carried him upstairs, and DS13 and I ordered the food. We all ate, and everyone settled down. DS5 had a chocolate milk a yogurt, and grapes. DS13 and I had the Sausage sandwich, DH had a bacon burger (plain no cheese-see where Jr. gets it from?), and the girls had various kids' meals. It was decent, no complaints at all.

We then went to Innoventions for quite some time, then headed to get a return time for Test Track. DS5 agreed to do Mission Space

WHAT? I did Mission Space once.....ONCE
WHY are we doing Mission Space so close to me finishing lunch, really??? REALLY?? 5 minute wait, you wanted Disney BLAH BLAH BLAH...

Fine....let's go (said in my ohsobratty voice)..
More intense or less intense?
No contest..DS5 and I less intense, the rest all did Orange

Mission Space-Green side. Easy Peasy. Thank you Disney!!!

Test Track time!!!!!


DD9, me, DS5 were in the back. Everyone else was in the other car.
Lesson learned to do a ponytail on future rides...Test Track was a HIT!

Now I get the text that our room is ready, and the flip-flops are killing our feet. But we have FP for DHS..what about ToT????

Nope, time to go back to the resort and rest...swim...no DHS

Best laid plans...let's go to the bus back to EPCOT

Was I bummed? Yes, BUT everyone was very excited to get back to the room and see it.

Room 2812.

Keep in mind my requests...highest floor, canal view....

First floor, golf course view I really didn't care once we walked in. The villa was HUGE, bright, beachy....LOVELY I went onto the patio and walked right back in TOO HOT The girls made Daddy hop the railing to get Mickey Golf balls. I didn't have to carry luggage, or children, or anything upstairs. It was the perfect villa! We unpacked, and headed out to Wal-Mart. The shopping trip took two hours, but the good news is that we didn't touch our car for the rest of the week.

I think we ate and went to bed...or did we swim...

I do remember that Saturday morning I had plans with a DISfriend so I had to be up bright and early..no way my kids wouldn't wake me up early.....

Or so I thought

 

[letthewookiewin]

I learned that lesson about Test Track on our last trip. My hair goes down to my rear and just as we got into the ride car, I put my hair in a knotted bun. It kept feeling like I had several hairs that were being pulled really hard and was annoying, so I took it down just as we got to the outside part of the ride. I was sitting next to my youngest, and my hair was so every where that he asked me if I took my hair down on purpose to try and suffocate him on the ride.
I'm sorry you didn't make it to DHS that night. I hope you were able to get on ToT.