Joy in the World, A Christmastime TR of sorts. Lots of pics.

[morgtroy]

Hope everyone is doing well, we're starting to get really excited at our house for our upcoming trip in March. I have to say it again, I'm still pinching myself, this would not be happening if it wasn't for winning the DVC points. Still in shock over this...
So if any of you have been during March, please give me your tips. I'm hoping with Easter being in April, March will not be as crowded. I've been to MVMCP, so I have some experience with crowds, But I'm looking forward to the flower festival and hopefully some warm temps to get me fired up for spring and summer. I've never been to Disney in the spring.
We're also doing a split stay at AKL part of the week and OKW the other half of the week. So give me any tips about those resorts, never stayed at either of them. Thanks guys, you Rock!

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Hope everyone is doing well, we're starting to get really excited at our house for our upcoming trip in March. I have to say it again, I'm still pinching myself, this would not be happening if it wasn't for winning the DVC points. Still in shock over this...
So if any of you have been during March, please give me your tips. I'm hoping with Easter being in April, March will not be as crowded. I've been to MVMCP, so I have some experience with crowds, But I'm looking forward to the flower festival and hopefully some warm temps to get me fired up for spring and summer. I've never been to Disney in the spring.
We're also doing a split stay at AKL part of the week and OKW the other half of the week. So give me any tips about those resorts, never stayed at either of them. Thanks guys, you Rock!

When are you going? We're going in March too!

 

[morgtroy]

I checked your dates when you said you were going in March. We're a couple weeks after you. I thought if we were there, we'd have to do a dis meet, but we just missed each other. Happy March Bday to you. Mine is 22nd.
By the way, I second Rinky Tink, how do you keep your kids play room so neat? You have a gorgeous house, thanks for sharing.

 

[morgtroy]

I just recently did a photo book of my Dec trip with a web site called
picaboo

First time I've tried them and I was very, very impressed. They have some cool disney backgrounds you can use.
The program was very easy to use and I ordered on a Sunday night and got the book on Tues.

If you use it, you download their program then add your pics to the program and then it's pretty much drag and drop your pics into the layouts you choose.
There's also a tab to click to "get more backgrounds" it takes you online and you can search topics. Of course I searched Disney and they have several free backgrounds you can click then drag to your program and use.
It's so cool having a book and saying, those are my pics that I took.
You can also find some pretty good discount codes online. I found one for 50% off your first order.
I haven't used any of the photobook sites before, I know a lot of you may have, if you guys know of any other good ones, especially if they have discount codes. Let me know.

 

[morgtroy]

Just thought I'd post this to see if I get any tips, or recommendations. Our late March trip is coming fast. We're doing a split stay, half the week at AKL and half the week at OKW. We've never stayed at either resort.
Please give me any advice you can. I'm really curious what section of OKW you guys would recommend. I need to call back and put in my room requests in the next week or so.
Both stays are DVC studios.
Any tips for the flower festival, or the resorts

Thanks for any info I can get.

 

[joelp]

Well - if you're staying the first part of the week at AKL - you probably won't want to leave to go to OKW!!
In addition to the animals and pool, there's some kind of activity going on just about every hour of the day - so I would plan on spending some time at the AKL ... Also, just hang out and relax, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells (stand in the lobby above Boma ... )

The bus service from AKL to MK was ... OK at best (and I'm being generous there ...) - so give yourselves extra time to get to the MK. The buses were very good/excellent to the other parks.

Boma! Boma! Boma! (that says it all ...)

BTW - loved your TR!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi! Sorry I missed the end of your trip! You got some great pics! I'm excited for you going in March already! We'll be there Mar 22 - 29 at SSR. I started my PTR - come on over and we can compare notes when we get back! We stayed at AKL on points for a couple of days - your kids are going to love it!

 

[morgtroy]

Well - if you're staying the first part of the week at AKL - you probably won't want to leave to go to OKW!!
In addition to the animals and pool, there's some kind of activity going on just about every hour of the day - so I would plan on spending some time at the AKL ... Also, just hang out and relax, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells (stand in the lobby above Boma ... )

The bus service from AKL to MK was ... OK at best (and I'm being generous there ...) - so give yourselves extra time to get to the MK. The buses were very good/excellent to the other parks.

Boma! Boma! Boma! (that says it all ...)

BTW - loved your TR!!

Thanks so much! We'll be at AKL 4 nights then OKW 3 nights. I've heard great things about both resorts, can't wait to try them out. We originally were only staying half the week, that's how the split stay happened. We have a savannah view room at AKL, I can't wait. I think we're going to try to relax more this trip. We've been very blessed and know the things we love and the things that are ok. I think we'll just hit our favorites in the mornings and then relax more in the afternoons. Boma is on the list this trip. I need to start a PTR and post the dining reservations to get everyone's input.

Hi! Sorry I missed the end of your trip! You got some great pics! I'm excited for you going in March already! We'll be there Mar 22 - 29 at SSR. I started my PTR - come on over and we can compare notes when we get back! We stayed at AKL on points for a couple of days - your kids are going to love it!

It's funny, we'd never be going again this soon. The prize is the only way. It's kind of sneaked up on us. But we're starting to get really excited now. We're going to be there some the same days, I'll have to check your PTR and see if we'll be in the same parks on the same days. I just did a quick peak to see where you're staying. SSR, That is such a relaxing resort. Maybe all DVC's feel that way, I don't know, since we had only stayed value until then. I'll start a PTR soon to just lay out some of our plans. Thanks for posting, and saying we'll love AKL, can't wait to try it.

 

[morgtroy]

Hi guys, I don't think I have time for a "true" pre trip report. But I wanted to post our dining plans so you guys could give me any recommendations.

We've never been in the spring, can't wait to see the flowers. This is my big four O birthday bash...can't be depressed in disney, right? This is the age we women learn to love ourselves right?

Hubby is along this trip so we are doing the dining plan. He truly loves the dining plan. It's even too much food for him and that's saying a lot. We're trying a few new places and also taking in some of our old favorites.

First night

Garden Grill (Never ate here, but have heard great things. I'm excited to see Mickey in the farmer overalls.)

Day 2 MY BIRTHDAY
Chef Mickey's for Breakfast (have only had dinner here)
Ohanas for dinner (have only had breakfast here)

Day 3
CS Hollywood Studios
Boma for dinner (Can't wait to try this one, I've heard so many good things and since we're staying at AKL, I love the idea of just going down for dinnner)

Day 4
Tusker House Breakfast (we haven't been since they moved the restaurant)
CS at AK for dinner

Day 5
Crystal Palace Breakfast
1900 Park Fare for Dinner (never tried this)

Day 6
CS Epcot
Le Cellier for dinner (never tried this)

Day 7
CS for lunch
Whispering Canyon for dinner

Day 8
Breakfast at OKW
Drive home.


Sounds yummy doesn't it. Also sounds like a derail to spin classes my husband and I have been sweating through

 

[joelp]

On Day 3 at DHS, you may want to check out Catalina Eddie's and Rosie's on Sunset Blvd ... we were pleasantly surprised with the food - and there are nice, covered, outdoor tables if the weather is nice ...

Try not to eat tooooo much at Boma!!

 

[morgtroy]

Thanks for the suggestions for our HS counter service. We haven't tried either of those. I love that potato salad is an option over fries, and the Italian sub sounds good.

We are soooo looking forward to Boma.

 

[morgtroy]

I just thought I'd share with you guys... we got a snow day today..
The kids and our dog loved it. But my thoughts are to warmer days. I told the kids, "just think in a few weeks we'll be in our bathing suits at Disney World." Then I added "we'll be what's white as snow." Meaning our normally tan summer bodies will be getting their first dose of sunshine.
Here's some pics of our fun morning.

Here's my son and our dog Katie, see how much she's grown. She loves the snow.

My two sun bunnies

And yes, I like the snow, but I am ready for spring...so were my daffodils..

The countdown is running...Disney World here we come...

 

[joelp]

We got about a foot, plus drifts up to two feet!

... but the daffodils are still "sleeping" up here ...

 

[morgtroy]

I don't know how you guys do it..survive the rough winters. My home office is in CT. Way too cold for me, I'm too whimpy. I'm a southern gal for sure.
Hope you guys get a break from the snow/cold soon. Think nice warm thoughts. Even better, think nice, warm, Disney thoughts.

 

[morgtroy]

Man, I guess I'm too lazy to start a new PTR.. just adding on to this one. Never in a million years would I have ever thought I'd be going back this close. Would have never happened withouth the prize. I guess that's why it's sneaking up on me so fast. But with this trip and my son's travel baseball, we haven't made our usual July 4th beach plans so this is our main vacation this year.

But in the planning dept, I have....
Restocked my disney backpack along the way. More disposable ponchos, hand sanitizer.
Got the kids some new pins to trade.
Have my lanyards all packed in.
Have registered my Bday so I can get the gift card.
Double checked all my dining res.
Preordered Photopass
Set up half day fishing trip for Hubby and DS (This is also for me and my DD ) I think they'll love a break from the parks and do their "man" stuff.

DD said last night, "Mama, we're going to have so much fun while Daddy and DS are on their fishing trip, we can ride RNRRC again and TSM, do the animation class again, and shop some without being in a hurry." That's my Disney girl! She even has a countdown going on in her school planner...27 days til Disney World 26 days..

We will have a blast as a family, don't take that wrong, but some "girl time" is always good.
The fishing trip was sort of my Valentine's surprise for hubby. He's excited about it, I'll let you guys know how that goes after our trip. The guide is super nice and will pick them up at the resort. So hopefully they will catch alot of fish

Now, what to pack for clothes?

Ok, I am really starting to get excited, turning that calendar to March was SUPER.

 

[joelp]

Looks like I'm the first to respond to your "PTR"!!

I had fun with my DD at the Animation Academy, too - although all we did was meet Characters and play a few of the games ... I plan to spend more time there next trip ...

 

[morgtroy]

We've had fun at the Animation on past trips meeting the characters too. But this last trip we did the drawing class and maybe it's my kids' ages, but they loved it and had to go back and have talked about that several times for our upcoming trip. Us grown-ups liked it too. This last time I was so excited to try to get a pic with Sorcerer Mickey, my Fav!

You will probably be disappointed with my quote, unquote PTR... I'll try to do better with an actual TR.
Thanks again for your tips. You sure have a disney

 

[morgtroy]

My disney buddy emails me late yesterday and said Disney emailed and upgraded our tix to included water parks and disney quest.
We've never done either. I had to go online and research Disney Quest, since I had a false impression of what it is. We've wanted to try Typhoon Lagoon.
Now the only problem, trying to find room to fit in all this fun. Ha! Ha! Afternoon at a waterpark after AK day sounds nice.
Can you guys tell I'm on The kids have the countdown really going, I have a countdown widget on my Mac, that's down to the seconds. Sure don't have my mind on work.

 

[luckylady]

DQ is so much fun. It's loud, but tons of fun. Haven't been to TL yet. DH took the kids one year while I soaked in the tub. It's great that they added this for free.

 

[morgtroy]

Glad to hear you liked Disney Quest. Looks like a ton of fun. I may need to save it towards the end, or my son will want to stay there.
My friend is saying we have to do the Pirates of the Carribean, and Buzz rides there. I read the Carpet rides is fun there too. She warned me not to do the design your own roller coaster unless I design it. Her kids designed one and got her to do it and it made her very sick.
The upgrade they called a "magical offer" wasn't free, but just $20.00. Which is practically free for 4 days water park / disney quest. At least we could spend a few hours at those and not feel like we have to spend the whole day to get our money's worth.