How the Other Half Lives ~ Updated 10/22: I Forgot Something!

[Dugette]

Hmm...If you get a chance can you ask him the exact name of the app? I keep searching and I just CANNOT find one that lets you find available ADRs within the app. Or did I just misunderstand that and he just uses the app to call the dining reservations number? Sorry!!!
I swear I'm usually more tech-y than this!!

Ok, I just checked with him and here's where the confusion is. Apparently, when he put in his notes that he used the dining app, he meant the WDW website. I guess when you are in the parks and go to the dining page, there is a mobile version, so you can look for ADRs. That's what he was using. The actual app he has is called "WDW Dining" and it's just a 99 cent thing with menus and such. Hope that helps!

 

[AprilRenee]

Ok, I just checked with him and here's where the confusion is. Apparently, when he put in his notes that he used the dining app, he meant the WDW website. I guess when you are in the parks and go to the dining page, there is a mobile version, so you can look for ADRs. That's what he was using. The actual app he has is called "WDW Dining" and it's just a 99 cent thing with menus and such. Hope that helps!

Ooooohhh!!! Yes, that helps a lot! Thank you!

 

[eecteacher82]

I'm joining in...better late than never I guess! I sat and read all of your chapters (THANK YOU for chapter links) this morning! We also took a December trip and froze our hiney's off! It sounds like you guys had a great time! I can't wait to read more!

 

[Dugette]

Great update! I learn so much from your TRs! Mr Toad is up there, too? I've even looked just about everytime we ride HM and never noticed that one!

Mr. Toad is really hard to see. He's way in the back corner and I think the light has to be hitting him just right to see him very well. We knew to look for him, but I can only spot him sometimes. We just hit it right this time, I guess!

Lucky Donald with that Buzz score! This is the one ride I spend wishing it would stop.. in the right spot, of course! Too bad that you never got it.. Next time, right?

Indeed! So much pressure for the next trip!

What a headache with changing your ADR time! That was nuts. The food looked great though!

The food was VERY good!

The monkey king looks pretty nifty, too. That was one we missed.

Funny how you saw so many storytellers we missed and we apparently saw some you missed. Monkey King was neat. I don't have the memory that you do to re-tell their stories in my TR, though!

Ooooohhh!!! Yes, that helps a lot! Thank you!

You're welcome!

I'm joining in...better late than never I guess! I sat and read all of your chapters (THANK YOU for chapter links) this morning! We also took a December trip and froze our hiney's off! It sounds like you guys had a great time! I can't wait to read more!

I've seen you around on other TRs! Great to have you here! And, hey, we've still got half the trip left! Lots more to cover. (Oh, and you're welcome for the chapter links...I love those when I'm trying to catch up on a TR, so had to have them in mine!) Wasn't it insanely cold in December?! We had a great time anyway, though...and hope you did too!

 

[Dugette]

After our lunch at Via Napoli, we took some time to wander through the shops in Italy. We found some of my favorite Baci chocolates and got a few bags as gifts (one for my dad and step-mom and one for my co-workers). As I was purchasing those, Dug was grabbing us some seats for the Italian holiday storyteller. The seats were a bit far away, so we couldn’t hear really well, but it was still enjoyable:

On our way over to the American pavilion, we ran across the fife and drum corps. They were playing some holiday tunes:

I thought this sign outside the American pavilion was cool, as the top was made to look like cookies:

We went inside the pavilion to listen to the Voices of Liberty perform some holiday songs. They put on a great show:

Next on our agenda was the Hanukkah storyteller. She was just off to the side in the American pavilion and we grabbed some front-row seats:

After the storyteller, we caught the boat back at Germany, walked by the Odyssey and then rode Test Track. Love Test Track! The wait was a bit long for the Fast Pass line, though. We think that the door to let us into the holding room was jammed. All of the other holding rooms were letting in groups, but ours was not. The door would make a noise and move slightly, like it was going to open, but then it didn’t. This happened a few times. A lot of people were in the holding area for quite a while, but we eventually got in.

After our ride, we headed back to the monorail station:

It was time to return to the Poly for our nap!

Up next: A delicious dinner at Kona, followed by a transporation disaster!

 

[Dugette]

We got up from our nap in time to go check out the Torch Lighting Ceremony that we’d been looking forward to. Headed over to the Great Ceremonial House, but didn’t see any indications as to where it would be. We asked the CM at the bell services desk and he informed us that it had been cancelled, due to the cold weather (the low was 28 degrees this night!!!) Bummer!

We made our way upstairs to check in for our 6:40pm ADR at Kona. They told us that it would be a bit and gave us a pager. There was no place to sit, so we leaned on the rail, overlooking the lobby. The area was packed that night:

I suspect that a lot of those people were waiting for ‘Ohana, rather than Kona, though. While we waited, Dug got in touch with fellow DIS-er Gellybean, as we were planning to meet up with her family at the Wilderness Lodge later that night. Things were on track. They had checked in and were going to have dinner at Whispering Canyon Café at 7:45pm. Perfect, we figured, we’ll have dinner and head over and the timing should be decent.

After a bit, we were seated. Right away, we ordered something that I’d been looking forward to having again for a long time, the Island Sunset (Seven Tiki Spiced Rum, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Melon, and Peach combined with our Guava-Passion Fruit Juice):

So yummy! And what goes better with that than the delicious Kona bread and macadamia nut butter:

So ridiculously good! We love Kona! For our main course, we shared the Teriyaki-style New York Strip:

It was quite enjoyable!

The tables are pretty close at Kona and, at some point, the woman sitting next to us starting talking with us. Turns out that she was here with her daughter (also at the table) and her daughter was going to be doing the Disney College Program. They were super nice and fun to chat with.

We contemplated dessert, but decided that we should save some time and money and just swing through the Poly Club Lounge on the way out and grab some desserts there instead. So, we made our way out of Kona and into the Hawaii building. Grabbed a few goodies:

We ate quick and made our way out to the boat dock and waited for a bit. Taking a boat on this night, this very cold night, was not really a smart move. SOOOOOOOO cold, with freezing wind whipping as we crossed the lake in the little, open-air boat to the MK.

We could have taken another boat to get to the Wilderness Lodge, but even we weren’t that silly. Instead, we made our way over to the WL bus stop. And proceeded to wait in the cold, for a very, very, very long time. We were second in line, behind a couple that had been to WDW many times and said that the WL buses were unusually slow this trip. Eventually, one pulled up and we all got on. And proceeded to wait some more, as they loaded two wheelchairs that had just arrived. Now, I’m not one to complain about the wheelchair loading at WDW, but I have to say that this took WAY longer than it normally does. Not sure why, but we ended up sitting there for probably at least 20-30 minutes while that took place.

When we finally arrived at the Wilderness Lodge, we contacted Gellybean again. However, our time in transit had taken so long that they had already finished dinner and spent some time wandering around the lobby waiting for us. They were exhausted, as this was their arrival day, and the boys were getting cranky, so they had headed up to their room and gotten ready for bed. No DIS-meet for us! However, since our trip had gotten extended from the original plans (this was the original last day), we now had more overlapping days again. We made plans to try to meet up during our upcoming shared DHS day.

So, Dug and I wandered around the WL, taking in the decorations and snapping pictures:

Love the little ornaments on this tree:

There was also a Photopass photographer there, so we got some shots in front of the big tree:

I have to say, even though we were at WDW, this time we spent enjoying the decorations at the WL was pretty much the only enjoyable part of our evening after leaving the Poly. The rest of it was filled with cold and waiting, usually at the same time.

So, in order to get back to the Poly from the WL, we decided to go to Downtown Disney. We had a few things we wanted to get there anyway. So, we went out to the WL bus stop and waited for a Downtown Disney bus. Which, naturally, took forever and ever. Eventually, it showed up and took us to…the Grand Floridian! By this time, it was getting late and it was doubtful that we would even arrive at Downtown Disney very long before it closed. I told Dug that if this bus also happened to stop at the Poly, we would just get off and skip Downtown Disney. But, of course, it didn’t stop at the Poly. We were off to Downtown Disney!

We arrived with 30 minutes until closing. We went to Goofy’s Candy Company to have some treats made for us. Filled out our selections on the little slips and the treat-maker went to work on them. While I was waiting, Dug said he had to go to the bathroom, but actually went to go buy me a (surprise Christmas) present! He got me that same necklace that we’d gotten for his sister that I really liked:

Unfortunately, we somehow misplaced it shortly after Christmas, so I still haven’t actually worn it. Must find Mickey necklace….it’s gotta be around here somewhere!

Anyway, the treats we selected were:

Dugette: Peanut Butter Fudge Cookie, dipped in Dark Chocolate, topped with Dark and White Chocolate Chips, and drizzled with Dark Chocolate.

Dug: Marshmallow, dipped in White Chocolate, topped with Coconut, and drizzled with Dark Chocolate.

We didn’t eat them that night, just took them back to the Poly with us. Pictures will be once we consume them!

After Dug had returned from “the bathroom”, he decided to head over to World of Disney before closing (probably to get something in particular, but I no longer remember…oh, maybe he went there because I had heard that they don’t kick people out when they close…that’s probably it!). I stayed to wait for our candy.

The candy took awhile (of course, that’s the rule for this night), so by the time I had paid for it, Downtown Disney was closing! I rushed over to World of Disney and found that, sure enough, they had locked the doors. Although there were a ton of people still milling about inside. I got a CM's attention and he opened the door to see why I was knocking. I told him my husband was still inside, so he let me in to find him. I tracked Dug down, so crisis averted.

After we finished up whatever we were doing at World of Disney, we made our way back to the bus stop. In the cold. And proceeded to wait. Of course. Naturally, the bus for the Poly decided to wait for multiple buses to all the other resorts to arrive before it made its appearance. I guess buses for the Deluxe resorts like to be fashionably late? So, finally, we were on a bus headed “home”.

Thank goodness. Boy, were we ever happy to hit the warm, cozy bed that night!

Up next: Our Club Level Wildlife Safari at Animal Kingdom!

 

[AprilRenee]

Oh my goodness!! What a crazy night!! Its true. Maybe you should have just stayed at the poly!! You know, sometimes that Disney transportation is wonderful. But other times it seems like it would have been faster to just walk! Especially when DTD is concerned! Glad you guys finally made it back "home."

 

[MeMom]

So ridiculously good! We love Kona! For our main course, we shared the Teriyaki-style New York Strip:


Thank goodness. Boy, were we ever happy to hit the warm, cozy bed that night!

Kona steak is sooo good!!!

I know it felt great to finally be in for the night. Since we were just there in the heat of July, it looks funny to see coats, hats, and gloves.

My oldest granddaughter covered her face during the whole Monkey King show. She wanted nothing to do with his tale/tail!

Your holiday decorations pictures make me really anxious for our Christmas Day trip. But first, there are jack-o-lanterns waiting for us in October.

 

[disneybarbie]

looks like a nice evening despite the lengthy bus times! I sometimes find the DTD buses feel like the longest journeys.

We also had dinner at Kona Cafe that night! Our reservation was about 5pm though as we went to MVMCP that night - DH had the steak and said it was one of the best he'd ever tasted!



Emma x

 

[jc040404]

What a wild night! Stories like this make me extra glad that we always drive everywhere. You did get some fun moments mixed in the madness anyway.

Hope you find your necklace. That was so sweet of him to sneak away and get it for you!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Ugh, transportation problems. I hate them. I seem to have found in recent years that the bus transportation at deluxes has really started to get horrible. So bad, that when we stay, we normally have a car just to avoid having to take it.

I'm sorry that you missed your meet.

 

[Dugette]

Oh my goodness!! What a crazy night!! Its true. Maybe you should have just stayed at the poly!!

I found myself saying that over and over that evening!

You know, sometimes that Disney transportation is wonderful. But other times it seems like it would have been faster to just walk! Especially when DTD is concerned! Glad you guys finally made it back "home."

I agree - Downtown Disney can be a real pain sometimes.

Kona steak is sooo good!!!

It was quite tasty!

I know it felt great to finally be in for the night. Since we were just there in the heat of July, it looks funny to see coats, hats, and gloves.

I was just thinking how funny the winter stuff looks now too! We're now going back in October and I'm looking forward to touring w/o my scarf!

My oldest granddaughter covered her face during the whole Monkey King show. She wanted nothing to do with his tale/tail!

Funny! I can see how he would be kinda scary, though.

Your holiday decorations pictures make me really anxious for our Christmas Day trip. But first, there are jack-o-lanterns waiting for us in October.

Wow, Christmas Day, huh? That's gonna be crazy (but cool, I'm sure)! When in October are you going?

looks like a nice evening despite the lengthy bus times! I sometimes find the DTD buses feel like the longest journeys.

We also had dinner at Kona Cafe that night! Our reservation was about 5pm though as we went to MVMCP that night - DH had the steak and said it was one of the best he'd ever tasted!

Another vote for DTD buses taking forever! I think I remember reading that in your TR, that you were at Kona before us! Funny how we kept crossing paths!

What a wild night! Stories like this make me extra glad that we always drive everywhere. You did get some fun moments mixed in the madness anyway.

Hope you find your necklace. That was so sweet of him to sneak away and get it for you!

Yeah, there were some fun moments. But I think hanging out in the Poly Lounge may just have been more fun! Oh, well. Yes, that was sweet of him to get the necklace...if only we could find it now!

Ugh, transportation problems. I hate them. I seem to have found in recent years that the bus transportation at deluxes has really started to get horrible. So bad, that when we stay, we normally have a car just to avoid having to take it.

I'm sorry that you missed your meet.

We've never had a car at Disney and usually have pretty good luck with the buses, etc. But, when it's not good, it's really not good! There will be some good bus stuff coming up in this next day, though!

 

[Dugette]

This upcoming trailer for Day 5 may not be our best work, but don't worry, there will be more animal video forthcoming! Unless you are familiar with the SNL skit of the same name, the title doesn't make much sense. We're silly! Anyway, click to watch:



Also, big news! The possible-October-2011 trip I've mentioned a few times is now official! We got our flights and paid off our balance! I've started a pre-trip report and the link is below in my signature. Please stop by and check out our additional silliness!

And, don't worry, I will still finish this TR! I've never left one unfinished and I'm not about to start now! I can't guarantee that it will be done before our next trip, but having that deadline now is sure going to motivate me to try! There's still a lot of fun stuff coming up in this trip!

 

[jc040404]

Okay, having not watched SNL since high school and not much even then, I haven't a clue what the joke is. Love the animals anyway!


And a super big hooray for this official trip in October!! I knew you wouldn't be able to resist. Jumping over to check your plans now!

 

[TheThomsLuvDisney]

Great Update! I love the pictures of WL!

And congrats on your upcoming trip!!

 

[Dugette]

Okay, having not watched SNL since high school and not much even then, I haven't a clue what the joke is. Love the animals anyway!

In short, there was a skit where some kids had supposedly made a documentary about giraffes. The video was crazy, though, and made giraffes into very scary creatures, and it kept going "Giraffes!" It's stupid, but makes us laugh. Actually, I just found the link to it on NBC's site (warning...not particularly kid-friendly!):

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/giraffes/810987/

And a super big hooray for this official trip in October!! I knew you wouldn't be able to resist. Jumping over to check your plans now!

Yes, I just added an update to the PTR about how Mickey demanded our return!

Great Update! I love the pictures of WL!

And congrats on your upcoming trip!!

Thanks, WL is so pretty all decorated for the holidays! And thanks on the trip!

 

[MeMom]

Wow, Christmas Day, huh? That's gonna be crazy (but cool, I'm sure)! When in October are you going?

We've gone on Christmas Day before. It's very cool to have Christmas morning at home and then fly into Disney World for the evening!

We'll be there October 15th through 19th.

 

[Dugette]

We've gone on Christmas Day before. It's very cool to have Christmas morning at home and then fly into Disney World for the evening!

That would be a pretty awesome feeling!

We'll be there October 15th through 19th.

Wow, we'll just miss each other by a few days! Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[Dugette]

We got up this morning excited for our Wildlife Excursion. We got ready and headed over to the lounge to grab some breakfast:

After enjoying our complimentary breakfast, we made our way out to the bus stop. While we waited, Dug checked his iPhone and saw that the forecast for 10am (when the tour started) was mid-40’s. Toasty warm, huh?

We arrived at AK with a little time to spare, so decided to see It’s Tough to Be a Bug. Dug took plenty of pictures of the Tree of Life as we walked through the queue:

Heading in:

Naturally, I had to pose with the star of this show :

And even more tree pics:

After the bugs were done with us, we made our way over to the tour meeting point. Scenery:

We had been told to meet by Tusker House, so we asked where to go at the podium. They didn’t know, but checked and found it was across the street that we were supposed to meet, in front of this building:

We headed over there to meet our guide. More scenery:

We just had a small little group. Two other families and us. One was an older couple, celebrating their 40th anniversary. The other was two women and a boy in a wheelchair (not sure of the relationships). Our guide chatted with us for a few minutes, then led us…backstage:

Up next: Lots and lots of animals!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm excited to hear about the safari! I've been thinking about doing it myself.