I am back.....from the world

[PrincessInOz]

We should start a thread for things that we all wanted to buy but did NOT get.

Waiting for your next installment......and SHOPPING!

 

[kyl]

Yes PrincessInOz don't make our mistakes and JUST BUY IT! I'll try and get up to my shopping day today so I can let you know the goodies before you go. Not long at all for you now.......

 

[kyl]

Day 4.
Animal kingdom again today and thank you so much to Aussietravellers we got an ADR for 8am instead of 10am which meant we could go onto the kilimanjaro safari. That would have to be one of the best things we did whilst there. I loved it seeing the animals up close it was amazing a must do. It was really nice to run into Aussietravellers at tusker house that morning. Breakfast was yumo there and we really didn't need to eat until around 3pm after it as we really ate well in the morning. The donald duck photo was worth paying for so we got it. Everyone was looking at the camera for it so we thought yeah get it. With DS3 that doesn't always happen! Our friends met up with us as well as they had ADRs there for 8.30am so it worked out really well. After the safari we caught the train out to Rafikis planet watch, it was o.k. I mean the kids liked brushing the animals in the pen but you can do that stuff at home and I wouldn't go out of my way to do that again. The only way in and out is on the train so if you have time do it for sure but if you have limited time you aren't missing much if you don't go to Rafikis planet watch. Next stop I think was Nemo which was a really good show, Aussie travellers said she saw me there. Its funny because I was looking out for her as well but I am blind....so my hubby always says. I liked lion king better than Nemo but Nemo was good just the same. We then went to Asia with our friends and rode the Kali river rapids (finally) it was so funny. One of our friends got so wet while her hubby hardly got a drop on him we were all laughing so hard then she says "there is no god" with that everyone on the raft just burst out laughing. The funny thing is she nearly swapped seats with her husband just before we started going but didn't have time. DH then did expedition everest which he said "you wouldn't of liked that it was full on" but he loved it and if you like fast rollarcoasters then I guess this would be top of your list. But hey I am a chicken and just watching people on that thing nearly made me wet my pants!. While they were doing that it got very hot and disney had put on these fountains near the maharajah jungle trek, well DS3 went straight up to them looked at me as if to say "can I" and with that I stuck my head under it to wet the back of my neck and what ever else I could because I found the heat was really getting to me by that stage. Anyway with that my two youngest thought that was a green light to stand in it and get totally wet. I mean head to toe, oh no. So ended up getting DD7 a pretty dress at a store just meters away and I had clothes for DS3 in my bag so all was not lost. We then did the Jungle treck which was quite good. We ended up getting some take away from Yak and Yeti that afternoon, just from the cafe store not the restaurant. I had the mandarin chicken sald which was quite nice it had crispy noodles in and I love them. We watched the street parade in the afternoon while some of the others rode dinosaur again. All in all it was a great day and we got a lot more done. It was good to get our first full day at the parks in and the jetlag was starting to wear off.

 

[kyl]

Oh I nearly forgot that night hubby and I had reservations for Animal kingdom lodge. I love that resort, the service the view of the balcony of the animals. Oh it was just beautiful. We ate dinner at Jiko which was nice but I wouldn't think it was worth two dining points? Maybe thats just me. Anyway when we arrived they said they had upgraded us to club level. Very nice, very nice. We enjoyed a beautiful breakfast and took some drinks back to the room with us. In the morning we saw the DVC desk and we asked the lady there some questions about it. Next thing the DVC bus is picking us up and off we go...........I was the one all keen for it and Hubby was like I don't know. Well by the end of it he was lets do it and I was the one saying think about it! In the end we didn't but he still has the idea in his head since the Aussie dollar is doing so well. So we might look into it a bit further later on? I was looking into buying some points through timeshare. Has anyone used them? It works out so much cheaper than buying them through disney the only difference is disneys points last 50yrs and the timeshares are people selling their points so they can be anywhere form 20yrs -48yrs. Anyway food for thought and I kept thinking, well that means he is giving the green light to come back and not just once!!!!!!!!

 

[sarali]

Good Luck!!`

 

[PrincessInOz]

Kyl - .
Not to make any waves and I certainly don't want to pressure you....but I'm still waiting on your shopping tips and Saturday is approaching real fast .

 

[aussietravellers]

Loving the report!

So glad you were able to use that ADR, how lucky that our friends decided not to go last minute..... I hadn't cancelled her ADR's...... and by sheer coincidence it happens to be the meal, restaurant and time you were looking for Perfect!

Oh that is just sooo exciting that you were upgraded to Club Level, what a nice surprise! I love Jiko, we went twice for dinner, once it was included in the sunset safari and the other just because I am addicted to the mac and cheese there We didn't use dining credits though, I used TIW so paid and got the 20% discount.

Kyl - .
Not to make any waves and I certainly don't want to pressure you....but I'm still waiting on your shopping tips and Saturday is approaching real fast .

PrincessInOz, I did a lot of shopping! Need any tips, I'm happy to assist We went home each with an extra massive duffle bag each, one I had to purchase last minute at Florida Mall because I had run out of room, by a long way I even bought a telephone! and not a mobile phone, I'm talking a big silver, plug into the wall landline! Crazy woman that I am

 

[PrincessInOz]

PrincessInOz, I did a lot of shopping! Need any tips, I'm happy to assist We went home each with an extra massive duffle bag each, one I had to purchase last minute at Florida Mall because I had run out of room, by a long way I even bought a telephone! and not a mobile phone, I'm talking a big silver, plug into the wall landline! Crazy woman that I am

I'm curious to know what your "regrets" were....I'm not planning on shopping this trip as I don't think I'll have time in Orlando. I'm only there for 3 full days and want to maximise my F&W eating time .

What I didn't get the last time that I should have and will NOT be making the same mistake twice in the same year are:

• Cookbook (thanks for helping me choose which one I'm going to get)
• Dooney and Bourke handbag (Mickey silhouette pattern)
• WDW Park Music CD
• Mickey Mouse back scratcher (don't ask - I plan to use this to prod DH ...and if you're really curious about the story, it's somewhere on my NOT PTR)

I may shop when I get to Silicon Valley (I'll have 2 days there). I know where the outlets and shopping malls are there and I'll be able to drive myself there whilst DH is working...
I like Banana Republic, Anne Klein, Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Nine West, Jones New York, BeBe, J Crew, Victoria Secrets.
I might also head out to Costco whilst I'm in Silicon Valley...not sure where the closest one is...but our Australian Costco membership gets us into the American ones.

 

[kyl]

O.k PrincessInOz,
I will do shopping day today and swap my other day around for it. So let pretend it is Day 5 Shopping (then on Day 6 I will do another Epcot day).
O.k so decided to take DD7 with us as thinking leaving hubby with all three in a hotel room was a little rich since DS3 had asthma quite badly the night prior needing prednose etc he was to spend the day resting no swiming etc. He was fine just needed a couple of days on prednose. So MIL came along as well and of we went armed with a travelex card a stroller and the three of us. We decided to do prime outlets as from all your advice on here it seemed the better of the two and it was! On our third last day we went to the other one closer to WDW I think it was preimum don't waste your time pay the extra cab money and go to prime! So it cost $50 each way.....but I knew that from you guys. So we arrive first stop guess services, were MIL bought us each a coupon book and we were ready. Guess was the first stop as it was close by, I had I think it was a coupon for 15% off any purchase over $100. But while I was paying the lady at the counter gave me another 5% off so 20% altogether she used a scratchy thing they were handing out for the discount. So I bought a beautiful handbag its a great size can fit nappy wipes etc in it. I also got two very nice wallets all for around $110 mark. O.k so happily off we went next stop Gap. I have a very soft spot for this shop.....I love it I find things wash better with there fabrics over there as they must allow for the use of dryers which we seem not to use as much over here. Anyway I did spend up big a little over $330 in there but I came out with five massive bags full of stuff and I do mean full! I got myself jeans for $20! and nice cut as well. Jumpers from $45 down to $13 got a couple of them as well and for hubby. Kids stuff I love beautiful jeans for the girls with flowers on the denim $29. T-shirts both long and short for DS3 and the boys jeans....I think they were around the $12 mark as well. I love there stuff they have the ajustable waist lines which is great because unlike me two of my kids are very slim so having the elastic to pull in is great! Wish I had that problem.......
Went into DNKY got a jumper each for hubby and me $60! I think I also bought a shirt in there as well it was $15. So DD11 says to me before I left this morning mum don't forget the healys. They are shoes made by sketches that have a little wheel at the bottom of them, they sell here over the $100 mark. I got them each a pair for $45! They love them, I also got DS3 some shoes half price as I paid "full price" for the healy shoes so his shoes were $7.50! They are so cute here I would of paid over $70 for them. Alright so we had our shoes from there then off to levis and got hubby a pair of 501s a going out shirt and two more casual t-shirts. Still did not reach the $100 mark for all of that so of I went and got him a 6pack of socks I was 50c short of the $100 mark I had a coupon out of my book for I think 20% if I spent over $100. So I ended up with another 6 pairs hubby does not need any socks for a while. But hey it worked out cheaper to get the socks with the coupon. It meant I got all 12 pairs pretty much for free so buy the coupon book well worth it!. I forgot to mention also I saved myself close to $50 in the Gap store as well with the coupon. O.k we started to get a bit tired and hungry so we stopped in the food court for lunch. They had subway there so that was alright. Sitting down we saw the disney outlet store so down that lunch went real quick and before I knew it we were inside. Now I had things in my head I wanted to get from there. Forget it you have to go with an open mind as they had a lot of things for DH but not much for DS3. I think it just depends on what stock they are trying to get rid of so it is pot luck as to what you will find. I brought myself a nice t-shirt it was navy blue and had the castle on it with a little glitter it was $10. High school musical hair elastics $1. They had christmas decorations and the like but I am not really into that I like the blue and sliver chirstmas theme so the reds and greens I just kept walking. I got DD11 a cute tinkerbell night singlet top. But the things I had in my head I wanted to get I ended up paying full price for in the disney store (like lightening mcqueen shorts etc). By this time MIL was getting tired as we all were and made the comment "I knew you were going to go shopping but I didn't think you meant shopping"! Alright so DD7 started to whine as well so I sat them both down and said "wait here I will be back in a few minutes". I had to run I was on limited time with those two ......he he he he. So into the surf shop I went up the back on the specials rack was four surf brand or skate brand t-shirts for DH $40! WHAT....so needless to say I left with four shirts for him one *********** the others some other brands he likes but he was happy when I showed him upon my return. Then oshkosh...I couldn't leave without going in there so off I ran t-shirts for DS3 $6 just got a handful of them and ran to the girls section DD7 dresses and nice ones $8 o.k got them then I saw a baseball long sleave shirt for DS3 had to get that as well. Also got him a couple of other long sleave shirts all a size 4 to fit him for next winter. All up I spent less than $50 and had a bag full of stuff. Alright picked the two up from the seat and the stroller is falling all over the place due to my purchases being pilled high in it and kicking DD7 out of it! Um I said I need to buy a bag so I did $35 it was a huge duffle bag and it had wheels so even if I never used it again for $35 to get all our goodies home I didn't care. But it survived the flight home and is in great shape. Alright I couldn't leave without doing tommy hilfiger. Two shirts I think were $30 maybe they were $20 but not more than $30 for the two. So stocked up on those for all the kids. Leggings two for I think $15. I got cute little socks in there for DS3 as well. The girls also got some long sleave shirts and they had back packs for $10 each. Some things in there were no cheap and others were. They had the most beautiful snow jackets in there but they were around $65 each! I didn't think they were worth that, however I did notice a lot of English people buying them as I guess they would get more use out of them than us here in Sydney. All in all I came home with a tonne of stuff from there. When we went to the other outlet we only went to the nike shop and got us all a pair of shoes. It wasn't that cheap for the adult shoes we still payed around $75 each but the kids shoes were around $30 and the little fella got some for $20. Even the cab drivers were telling us that prime is so much cheaper and its were all the americans shop. Anyway I hope that helps a little let me know if I can answer any questions princessinoz. If you are anything like me you will be in shopping heaven xx.

 

[kyl]

[
What I didn't get the last time that I should have and will NOT be making the same mistake twice in the same year are:

• Dooney and Bourke handbag (Mickey silhouette pattern)
• WDW Park Music CD
  
  That is what I wished I had bought also. Especially that Dooney and Bourke handbag they had it in the trendy disney womens shop in downtown.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks Kyl. I always enjoy reading about shopping expeditions. I'm really lucky that DH has about 3 - 4 trips to the US every year. When I can, I go with him...but that means travelling with DS10.
But when DH travels alone, we take shopping on-line to a whole new art form. I go on-line, pick out what I like and he goes to the shops. He then takes a picture on his phone, and sends it back to me complete with his comments.

I'm trying to convince him that he needs to take his laptop shopping with him so that we can skype . I'm thinking that we can save on MMS charges...
Can anyone picture this?
A man..walking around the Banana Republic shop....with laptop held in front of him.....and me YELLING .... go left....go left.....no....right.....that navy silk top...no, don't put the laptop down....I can't see anything.......

If I see the D&B bag, dark navy background with Mickey's black head, this bag is soooo going to be MINE!

 

[aussietravellers]

I'm curious to know what your "regrets" were....I'm not planning on shopping this trip as I don't think I'll have time in Orlando. I'm only there for 3 full days and want to maximise my F&W eating time .

What I didn't get the last time that I should have and will NOT be making the same mistake twice in the same year are:

• Cookbook (thanks for helping me choose which one I'm going to get)
• Dooney and Bourke handbag (Mickey silhouette pattern)
• WDW Park Music CD
• Mickey Mouse back scratcher (don't ask - I plan to use this to prod DH ...and if you're really curious about the story, it's somewhere on my NOT PTR)

I may shop when I get to Silicon Valley (I'll have 2 days there). I know where the outlets and shopping malls are there and I'll be able to drive myself there whilst DH is working...
I like Banana Republic, Anne Klein, Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Nine West, Jones New York, BeBe, J Crew, Victoria Secrets.
I might also head out to Costco whilst I'm in Silicon Valley...not sure where the closest one is...but our Australian Costco membership gets us into the American ones.

about the back scratcher. We got one of those included in our christmas stocking that I ordered to be in our room at Grand Californian at DL last December, its really cute.

I don't think I had any regrets. I pretty much got everything on my list. I didn't get too much from the outlets in the end, I found the specials at the real stores at Mall of Millenia were better. Like at Macy's I bought DS two pairs of Ed Hardy shoes and myself two pairs of coach shoes for a grand total of $177 4 pairs of designer shoes for that price I was wrapped.

I do think I have one regret though, I was just talking to my friend about it. I bought a pair of Tory Burch ballet flats at the premium outlets, I am an 8.5 (in tory burch) and I kept saying this to the sales lady and she just wouldn't listen, she said you have to go up a size. I was in a bit of a hurry and she bought out 9 and 9.5, tried on the 9.5 and way too big, tried the 9 and they were ok, but just ok, but my feet were swollen and covered in blisters and i bought the 9. The sales lady wouldn't even bring out the 8.5 cause she just wouldn't listen it was very annoying. Anyway I wore the 9's yesterday and they are too big I needed the 8.5. So that is my one regret, getting a gorgeous pair of shoes that are now too big and I can't take them back

I don't think I'd have room to list all of my purchases I could give it a go but I'd be taking over Kyl's thread. I could post on my TR if you like, but you may be shocked by my large quantity of purchases. At DL I got lots of kitchen stuff, place mats, teatowels (have bought them before and needed more, I love them), measuring cups, measuring spoons, cutting mats. I think that's it in the kitchen dept.

 

[aussietravellers]

I'm trying to convince him that he needs to take his laptop shopping with him so that we can skype . I'm thinking that we can save on MMS charges...
Can anyone picture this?
A man..walking around the Banana Republic shop....with laptop held in front of him.....and me YELLING .... go left....go left.....no....right.....that navy silk top...no, don't put the laptop down....I can't see anything.......

Yes I can picture this!

 

[kyl]

That is soooooo funny about the laptop. I think all the women in the store would be so envious of you have a hubby willing to do that ha ha ha ha. You are so lucky that your hubby travels over there so often. Aussietravellers go for it I don't care if you wish to write your shopping adventures on a thread I started I'm interested to and where is the mall you talk of? Please do tell.

 

[shushh]

Arghh!!! I don't have time to add another mall to my list...

I can't wait to get there. I think I'll be in shopping heaven. My one regret (can't believe I already have one before leaving) is that I won't be able to get to either Harriman's or Rehoboth Beach (Delaware has no sales tax!) PrincessInOz, if you do manage to convince DH to do the skype thing. I will be there to watch!

Did you know that Prime has not become Premium? This has only happened recently. I kept getting confused because the website kept redirecting me to a Premium outlet and when I looked carefully, there are 2 Premium outlets, one at vineyard and one at international. I think the one at International is the old Prime?

As for Dooney & Bourke, I can say that I'm a proud owner of one! I LOVE my bag! Some may say its a touch loud...but it is Disney! Will post a photo when I get home. It is a bit restrictive trying to post on the boards at work. But I can't seem to stop thinking about my trip and everyone else's trips!

 

[PrincessInOz]

PrincessInOz, if you do manage to convince DH to do the skype thing. I will be there to watch!

Did you know that Prime has not become Premium? This has only happened recently. I kept getting confused because the website kept redirecting me to a Premium outlet and when I looked carefully, there are 2 Premium outlets, one at vineyard and one at international. I think the one at International is the old Prime?

As for Dooney & Bourke, I can say that I'm a proud owner of one! I LOVE my bag! Some may say its a touch loud...but it is Disney! Will post a photo when I get home. It is a bit restrictive trying to post on the boards at work. But I can't seem to stop thinking about my trip and everyone else's trips!

I've been trying for about 3 years now. He's more comfortable with MMS and does not want to lug his laptop around....I wonder why?

I can't keep up with Prime and Premium. All I know is I prefer the outlet mall at International (Universal end) and I like shopping at Festival Bay Mall. But I'm going to have to try Millenia....next trip.

And Shushh...I think you already know this but NYC has no sales tax for purchases under $150.

Which D&B did you get? The cruiseline or the mickey silhouette? Can't wait for pictures...

 

[kyl]

The one I went to was further away from WDW if that helps but the taxi drivers also knew it as prime? So maybe it wasn't so long ago it changed hands? It was cheaper there were alot of locals there and English people. You could tell who was local by the fact that they only had a couple of bags in their hand with a yanky accent. But the English had bags on wheels (well I ended up like that to!). I guess we think oh shopping heaven but for them even better as the euro to the US dollar is even better again!

 

[kyl]

Day 6.
Today was really my shopping day but I have swapped it around with Day 5 as I knew PrincessInOz was itching to see my shopping efforts as I would of been in her shoes! So another Epcot day today, we had reservations for Biergarten Restaurant for and early dinner at 4.30pm. During the day we had done some more exploring around at the different countries of epcot. It was nice to take a little bit of a slower pace and wander around. We loved the circle-vision films from china and canada. Although I think Hubby was right when he said those films were made in the 80's. Loved the atmosphere of each country had lunch at china in the take away lotus blossom cafe. It was really nice counter service food there. We went on spaceship earth which was pretty cool and has a funny bit at the end of the ride (I don't want to spoil it for those you have not been on it). We ended up meeting with our friends around dinner time but they seperated us on different tables. The food at Biergarten was just alright, I am not a huge fan of German food and the show only went for a short time. It was good don't get me wrong but not as good as I had hoped. DH stuck to the ice water after his efforts with the beer at the begining of the trip! I had diet coke so maybe those who wanted to drink it might of been better but don't go for the food its the whole atmosphere thing even then it wasn't as good as others. I guess to because the couple we were seated near didn't want to sit as a group and did not look very happy when the waiter showed them to the table. The lady kept getting anoyed by my son gettting up and down of his chair. But hey his 3yrs old thats what he does! Our friends on the other hand got seated near a really nice american family and they all seemed to talk non stop. It would of been nice if we were near a talkative family but hey wasn't to be. After that we went back to the resort and DH and MIL went to downtown disney while the kids and I had an early night. I couldn't walk anymore that day I was more than happy to stay behind.

 

[kyl]

Day 7
Magic Kingdom day today. We arrived around 10am in the morning and it was hot hot hot. Stood in line for dumo for 45mins. I could of done with out dumbo but the kids love it and I couldn't say no to them. We did pooh ride after that, then peter-pan I love that ride. We saw the Mickeys philharmagic 3D show. Kids did the carrousel with Hubby. We then ended up in toontown and rode the train round trip got some ice lemonde. Went through minnies house. We went to go and watch the stage show outside the castle when DS3 went all white in his stroller and said "mummy I hot". The poor boy he was on fire so we went back to the room and cooled of after having lunch at pinocchio village. It was a shame because its a small world was not open or the tea cups. Which I would of loved MIL to of seen as they are highlights of disney and she wasn't coming to disneyland with us after. Never mind.
We had dinner reservations for 8.50pm at chef mickeys so we returned later in the night to watch the fireworks. We stood right near the castle and it was beautiful, we couldn't stay for the electrical parade due to our dinner reservations. I would of loved to seen that. Anyway trying to get out of Magic Kingdom with the crowds was a night-mear. I kept thinking we won't make our dinner reservations but we did and they were running late. My kids were nearly asleep in their dinner plates by the time we ate! The food was nice and the potato salad is the best I have ever had. We had plenty of time with the characters as well. But skipped the photo I agree with Ms.Shuttergirl what is with a statu of Mickey I want a photo with the real thing! Which we did get for a lot less on our own camera inside. When we got back off the monorail station there were electrical things in the water. Like a big octopus and sea dragaon etc it was lovely. We all went home very full and tired. Like a day at disney should be!

 

[shushh]

OK, I think this is a photo of my bag but I'm not really sure because work has blocked flickr so I can't see the photo. I will check when I get home...

Kyl sorry for hijacking your thread! You're on a roll! What a lovely day at MK. I obvoiusly haven't done my dining research properly. What show did you get to watch at biergarten? I'm reading your TR with interest as our children are similar in age. My eldest will turn 8 on the trip, my middle one turning 6 next March and the little one has just turned 2 and can't sit still.

Oh and I will make sure I tell the taxi driver that we want to go the outlet that's furthest away! Was the $50 from Coronado Springs or from DTD?