Jaclyn & Chris’ Engagement Trip Report ~ Updated 01/03

[Belle_373]

After our ride on the GRM we began to head out of the park.

One of my favorite things to do is stop and watch the streetmosphere characters.

I love wondering through this shop. They have such neat memorabilia. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford some of it.

We left around 2pm. I haven’t spent that much time at DHS since I was kid. Usually Chris and I get to the park around 9am and leave by 11-11:30pm so we can grab lunch at Epcot or at Beaches and Cream. It was just nice to just take our time exploring all DHS has to offer.

Continued in next post

 

[Belle_373]

On our way back to our room from Bus Stop # 2 I took some pictures of the resort.

The Casitas quite pool. It looks so serene, doesn’t it?

The courtyard by our room.

Our building

Hallway to our room

View from our room.

Once we were back to our room we decided to take a little nap. Around 4pm I woke up to someone talking outside of our door. All I heard was “They have the privacy sign on the door, should I knock—I have champagne.” Well all it took was the word champagne and I jumped out of bed. I was in a half sleep daze when I answered the door. Two CM’s entered and set up a bottle of champagne, two wine glasses, a plate of chocolate covered strawberries, and handed us a card. I was so confused. At first I thought it was just a gift from Corondo Springs as Chris had noted that we were celebrating our engagement on our room reservation. I asked one of the CM’s who it was from and he said he wasn’t sure but he was told to pass along the message, “Please take pictures.” I knew right away it was my best friend and Maid of Honor—Meg (TinkerBelle_325). I was so touched. It was just so sweet. I felt so grateful to have such an awesome friend.

Here are some of the pictures I took.

The chocolate covered strawberries were sooo delicious. I ate most of them by myself much to Chris’ dismay. What can I say I love my chocolate covered strawberries.

Up Next: Wandering AKL & Dinner at Jiko

 

[dawnbu40]

Great pictures of DHS and CSR. The CSR ones made me more anxious for our visit there next Sept! How thoughtful of your Maid of Honor to suprise you like that! Can't beat chocolate and champagne

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

What a wonderful gift!

Can't wait to read about dinner at Jiko. Yum!

 

[CW4DW]

Great update - and you do have a wonderful friend, that is amazing that she sent you the treat! It looks like the trip is awesome - can't wait for more updates!

 

[Stefy]

Lovely pictures and how sweet of Meg to send you a yummy gift, those strawberries look lush

 

[Belle_373]

Great pictures of DHS and CSR. The CSR ones made me more anxious for our visit there next Sept! How thoughtful of your Maid of Honor to suprise you like that! Can't beat chocolate and champagne

I CSR! I can't say enough great things about it!

It was very thoughtful of her. I'm very lucky to have such a great friend.

What a wonderful gift!

Can't wait to read about dinner at Jiko. Yum!

Dinner at Jiko was very yummy!

Great update - and you do have a wonderful friend, that is amazing that she sent you the treat! It looks like the trip is awesome - can't wait for more updates!

Thanks!

It was very amazing! It was such a wonderful surprise.

Lovely pictures and how sweet of Meg to send you a yummy gift, those strawberries look lush

It very sweet of her. The strawberries were so fresh and delicious.

 

[Disneychix]

Just catching up on your TR!

Great updates. You made me really really want ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries!!!

 

[sktibbe]

Loved reading your report. Congratulations on you engagement!

 

[praisehisname]

The grounds of CSR are so pretty and serene-looking. What a nice gift from your friend. Those strawberries look yummy!

 

[kbheap]

Loving your trip report! Your pics are great! Congrats on the engagement.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Oh Jaclyn:

I just love your report!! You two are so adorable together and I think it's wonderful that the two of you will be getting married in Disney! That would be my dream wedding, but unfortunately out of my price range!! I just got engaged, too!!! My upcoming trip to Disney in 2010 will be the last hurrah for my DD 11 and I before we become a family!!!

Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip!!

 

[Belle_373]

Just catching up on your TR!

Great updates. You made me really really want ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries!!!

Thanks!

mmm...that would be a nice combination, chocolate covered strawberries with vanilla ice cream.

Loved reading your report. Congratulations on you engagement!

Thank you! I'm glad your enjoying my report.

The grounds of CSR are so pretty and serene-looking. What a nice gift from your friend. Those strawberries look yummy!

CSR is so beautiful, even more so at night.

It was an amazing surprise from Meg. I will always remember her thoughtful gesture.

Loving your trip report! Your pics are great! Congrats on the engagement.

Thank You!

Oh Jaclyn:

I just love your report!! You two are so adorable together and I think it's wonderful that the two of you will be getting married in Disney! That would be my dream wedding, but unfortunately out of my price range!! I just got engaged, too!!! My upcoming trip to Disney in 2010 will be the last hurrah for my DD 11 and I before we become a family!!!

Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip!!

Thank you! I'm glad your enjoying my TR.

Congratulations on your recent engagement! I hope you and your DD have an amazing trip next year!

I feel very blessed that I have such supportive friends and family that allow me the opportunity to have my dream wedding in Disney.

 

[Belle_373]

We decided to take a taxi to AKL to save so time. It was so convenient. It was only $11 with tip from CSR to AKL, and it only took us about 5 minutes. I’m pretty sure will be renting a car next time we go to Disney. It’s just such a time saver, especially when you’re going from a resort to a resort for a meal.

We got the AKL around 6:30 and we had some time before our 7:15pm ADR at Jiko. So we took our time exploring the resort. I love this resort and would love to stay here when we go back. It’s not even the animals. I’m not really a huge fan of the animals. I think it has something to do with me spending a lot time at the zoo as a child and then going to the zoo a lot when I used to work at a summer program. Call me crazy but the Animals around the savannah do not relax me, they remind me of stress. Yes, I’m very aware of how weird I am.

However, I love the décor of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The colors are just so a warm and appealing.

It was getting close to 7pm so we decided to check in at Jiko. We told there would be a few minutes wait so we sat down at the bar area. Within a few minutes are name was called and we were taken to our table.

When I walked into the main restaurant I was in awe. The décor was just so beautiful. I wish I had taken pictures.

Our waiter came to the table a few minutes after we were seated and took our orders and then came back with a basket of bread.

Chris and I shared the Barbeque Chicken Flatbread

I ordered the Oak-Grilled Filet Mignon

Chris ordered the Barbeque Beef Short Ribs

We shared the Tanzanian Chocolate Cheesecake

The waiter brought out a complementary Pistachio Creme Brulee - With a chocolate-layered bottom, to congratulate us on our recent engagement.

After a great meal at Jiko we browsed the gift shop at AKL and then took a taxi back to CSR. We got back to the room around 9:30pm and watched That 70’s Show before bed . It was funny this trip we ended up watching That 70s Show almost every night. It was a real theme of our trip. During previous trips we watched a lot of the Golden Girls. We even bought the box sets of seasons of the show to remind of us of Disney when we got home. Funny enough we never saw any Golden Girls this trip. It was a bit of a letdown. However, now that I’m home whenever I watch That 70’s Show I think of our past trip.

We were in bed by 11:30pm. We knew we had to get some rest because we had to wake up extra early tomorrow for the Key’s to the Kingdom Tour.

Up Next: Keys to the Kingdom Tour

 

[redlight]

I'm loving your pictures! I think I could eat plate after plate of that bread. How was the Tanzanian Chocolate Cheesecake?

 

[dawnbu40]

Beautiful pictures of the AKL I'm really looking forward to hearing how you enjoyed the tour!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Oh yum! I dream of eating at Jiko and having that meal but replace the BBQ flatbread with the Kalamata olive flatbread.

 

[Stefy]

Ooh Jiko looks yummy, loving both of your entrees, they look so good!

 

[Belle_373]

I'm loving your pictures! I think I could eat plate after plate of that bread. How was the Tanzanian Chocolate Cheesecake?

It's was very good. The lavender ice cream was a little different but it blended well with the chocolate cheesecake.

Beautiful pictures of the AKL I'm really looking forward to hearing how you enjoyed the tour!

Thank you!

Oh yum! I dream of eating at Jiko and having that meal but replace the BBQ flatbread with the Kalamata olive flatbread.

mmm...the kalamata olive flatbread sounds really good.

Ooh Jiko looks yummy, loving both of your entrees, they look so good!

Jiko was very good! I can't wait to go back!

 

[Cinderella Girl]

Loving your trip report, can't wait to hear about the "Key's to the Kingdom" tour!
Molly