Well, Let's see how far I get with my final thoughts........
But first, I forgot to tell you about a couple of things that happened in the airport on the way home. Remember how Denny lost his license right before we left for Orlando. Remember how he had no trouble at all getting through security at BWI. Well, things were not quite so easy in Orlando.
Now one would think that if someone didn't have a license and they were getting ready to fly, they would have all their paperwork ready to go. Well, not Denny. He just goes to security as usual and says, " I don't have my license". Ok - that did not go over well. So then he decides to look for his car registration and insurance and work ID. All this time he is holding up the line, so they pull us out of line and Chuck and Cathy kept going. The first security guard called another security guard who went to find a supervisor. By now Denny is starting to get nervous and I am thinking we may be in Orlando another night.
Fortunately the supervisor cleared him and we proceeded through. Then my ADD went into full force because once we went through security/xray detectors and we regained all our belongings I could not find my phone. It was liked the key cards all over again. I had to start dumping out bags and backpacks and still couldn't find it. I went back to the closest security guard and asked her if she found a phone in one of the bins. Nope, nada, nothing. So I went back through all my things again. Still no phone. So I go back to the X-ray machine one more time and ask again "Has anyone seen a phone?" and wah-lah.....another passenger found it in one of the bins. Crisis averted. Phew!
So on with my final thoughts........
Souvenirs ......
My palm flower from the F&G booth
A coffee mug.....I have the coffee mugs with minnie and mickey. There are actually two more mugs that match....one with Donald and one with Goofy. Minnie is on green/black, Mickey on blue/black, and Donald on yellow/black. I don't remember what Goofy's mug look likes. Well, I bought Donald. Only problem is my son broke it about 2 weeks later. No one told me until I realized it had disappeared. I love those mugs, so this trip I plan to buy the remaining two mugs.
A WL shot glass
A WL key chain
A minnie key chain
That's it - that's all I bought. We'll see what happens this trip.
So what did I think of this trip. Well, if I had to give it a rating on a scale of 1 to 10, I think I would give it a 6.5. Last September's trip was a 10. 6.5 sounds a bit low, but that's how I feel. The trip started out great, but I think the whole diarrhea thing put a damper on it. That and the lack of Epcot time coupled with playing tour guide. It wasn't my favorite trip. Maybe I was disappointed because I wanted Chuck and Cathy to become true converts. I don't know. But I am happy to report that I have had no recurrences of the EVIL D. I still take a probiotic everyday and I really believe its done the trick.
The WL..... A resort does not a trip make. I think its ironic that I had a better time on the trip where I stayed at Pop then on my WL trip. It just goes to show that the resort is just part of the trip and certainly doesn't make the trip.
So what did I really think of the WL? Well, honestly, I think I built it up in my mind to be better than it really was. I expected bells and whistles and fireworks and once I got there the WL didn't wow me quite as much as I thought it would. I've given this a lot of thought as to why. I remembered what C said when she stayed there in December. She said it was dark. It IS dark, but its not just that and I think I finally figured out what bothered me.
The WL is the only resort that really, truly tries to deviate away from the beach/tropical theme. Think about it - every other resort really segways into a tropical/Florida/beach theme. Even AKL gives off a tropical vibe. But the WL is modeled after a pacific NW national park lodge and that to me felt "forced". There, I said it. The theming just wasn't totally believable for me and I think that's where the WL fell short. Believe me, taking the tour really helped because everything felt less forced after i started to appreciate all the small and large details that went into the lodge. But if I has to pick a fav - WL vs AKL, I think I would have to go with AKL. And that even surprises me because I always thought it would be the opposite. Go figure. Still, the architecture of the WL is truly spectacular and I would really love to go back during Christmas. I know this won't be my last stay there.
I also found on this trip that I missed SSR. I started longing for its soothing pastel pallet and its lovely winding paths. I really need to visit again soon.
One thing about SSR and the mods - there sure are a lot less strollers. Not that I have a thing against small kids because I don't. But both the WL and AKL were a little heavy with stroller activity and I am in a different place in my life from that.
The Food - I enjoyed all my meals, but I started getting a little tired of the dining plan by the end of 5 days.
I know, crazy, but true. I think I would actually like to try the quick service plan for a change and maybe scheduled one OOP signature restaurant. I would like a little freedom for daily ADRs. I think it would be a nice change. There are so many cool snacks and drinks that I want to try in September that I think it might be fun to focus on them and less on the ADRs.
The parks, ect. - I didn't find any park particularly overcrowded. I thought the crowd level was fine and even the heat didn't kill me like it did last June. I hate to say this though, but I think because I have visited so many times in the last 3 years that I might need a little break. I had an AP that expired in June '10 and I actually used that same AP for my June 09, Sept 09, and May 10 trip. I really got my money's worth, but perhaps 3 trips in one calendar year IS a bit too much.
A highlight of the trip for me was meeting other Dis'ers. It was so fun to see Ellen and the moms, and of course Tracy and Katie. I wished I could have spent more time with each one of them,but you know how that goes.
I have a few more thoughts, but I need to break.......see ya soon!
Edited for the Remainder of My final thoughts.......
I really wanted to finish this last night, but I found myself falling asleep with my computer in my lap. I decided I really couldn't continue and I think I really did hit most of my final thoughts.
So my highlights of the trip were......
* Meeting some wonderful Disers in real life
* Seeing the baby gorilla at AK - this was so special and unexpected that I could not help by being wowed by this adorable little creature!
* Going to the Roof of the WL - I would have to say that this will always remain one of my greatest memories. Again - so freakin cool and totally unexpected!
Favorite meals:
Love, loved Sanaa. I had basically the same meal that Podsnel (Ellen) just posted on her TR and it was really wonderful. That coupled with the great service and the wonderful ambiance made this my favorite meal of the trip! I will definitely be a repeat customer!
R&C was my second favorite meal for great food, great service and the wonderful view of Illuminations!
And finally I want to say a word about DVC!!!! I love, love, love being a DVC member. If anyone is on the fence about it, don't be. It really is great to own a little piece of the magic. In case you are curious, my stay was 195 points. I only have 200pts total so I am always borrowing from the next use year. This doesn't bother me at all because that way I will never have to worry about banking in time! LOL!
So you can see why I need more points, but I have made a decision to defer the purchase of more points for another year. I saw an outstanding March use year contract (120 points /fully loaded/low price) on DVC by resale. I called and the phone went over to an answering machine and suddenly the light bulb went on. I realized that right now I have to focus my funds into a kitchen remodel. Either sh$$ or get off the pot, so to speak.
I have been frozen in my attempts to decide what to do about my kitchen. I was really seriously considering the low cost remodel option of transforming my counter top (like Wigd did) and refinishing my own kitchen cabinets. Denny basically talked me out of it, so I have started to get estimates on refinishing/refacing (new doors), new counter top, new cooktop (we have a Jennair range in an island), new stove, and new sink. I will also need new lighting and a paint job as well as a new tiled backsplash. My first estimate came from someone local - a father/son team who do all the cabintry work themselves and they are hands-on as far as supervising the counter top installation. Denny has an electrician friend for new lighting and he has a friend who paints. One of my good friends also offered to tile the backsplash.
I have already called for recommendations of this team and they come highly recommended. I am going to visit a nearby home to look at their work. They even build their own cabinets, but they basically told me they can do everything with refinishing that a new cabinet will do. That includes installing pull outs and other modern updates.
This weekend I hope to price out the Jennair and the oven. It is going to be a little sad to get rid of our oven because it is the exact same model they use in the last scene of CoP. I'm not kidding. Only ours is not voice activated and does not go to 999 degrees! LOL!
So, more DVC points will have to wait until this project is behind us. But I am excited to finally have a plan and be moving forward.
So that's it - my final thoughts! I may have more, but you get the idea.
I do have a few more OBX pictures to post and I am going to do a quick PTR!!!!!!
Sorry to get your hopes up to see me again so soon 
Are you going to try to squeeze yourself into the hub?
But thank you for the heads up.
I thought it would be weird that anyone would be traveling to Delaware - on purpose! lol.
Amazing! 
The stomach issues must have put a damper on things and I totally get what you mean about wanting your party to love it as much as you do. It gets frustrating when they don't. And I've already exhausted you with my thoughts on WL. I hadn't considered the tropical angle... interesting. I will say WL has a different, perhaps "more appropriate" feel at Christmas. At least to a New Englander.
I so enjoyed meeting you and Denny (he was fun to try and locate 
