July Trip Sprinkled Pixie Dust: Twins, Minivan & DVC 10/4 - The last day!

[mgsmom]

What fun! And what very cool pics of the animals on your rainy day! I heard they are a bit more "busy" on rainy days in the summer.
The seats at Tony's were a definite plus! Gotta make a note of that...

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Great seats at Tony's! I've been wanting to try Tony's....actually had an ADR for our last trip but it got bumped for something else MONTHS before we left. Maybe next time.....

Can't believe you didn't take sneaky backstage pictures! What were you thinking?!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Great seats at Tony's! I've been wanting to try Tony's....actually had an ADR for our last trip but it got bumped for something else MONTHS before we left. Maybe next time.....

Can't believe you didn't take sneaky backstage pictures! What were you thinking?!

Don't you just hate that there are so many places to eat??? It does help to give a reason for a new trip, though. Seriously, though, I won't run back to Tony's, so if it gets bumped off your next trip, you won't miss out. The food wasn't bad, but not the kind of place you try to make your 180 day ADRs.

I do feel bad that I didn't take pics to share- so that you could have had the experience I did , but then again I would have felt "dirty"(Oh Jackie (CharlestonPrincess), Connor's words just slipped into mind). Disney has worked so hard to keep things "behind the scenes"...

 

[Charleston Princess]

I do feel bad that I didn't take pics to share- so that you could have had the experience I did , but then again I would have felt "dirty"(Oh Jackie (CharlestonPrincess), Connor's words just slipped into mind). Disney has worked so hard to keep things "behind the scenes"...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

We packed up at Jambo, loaded the car, and drove over to BCV! Little did I know the amount of time a little phone call would cause.




Okay - so how creepy is the perfect photo of the guy in the rear view mirror!!!!



I did online check in, and I was quickly handed our KTTW cards with a smile and we have a room ready now.



The layout was a bit confusing to understand through description, but once we walked outside and saw the villas, it made more sense.





We arrived in our room overlooking the quiet pool. The carpet was wet...and when I looked outside, I saw cranes and workers galore.



DH called down to ask how long for the carpet to dry...Minutes later, I asked him to call down to see if the workers would be working all weekend...

The front desk told him they would be several days and to come down if we wanted to change rooms. UGH! I didn't know if I wanted to change rooms. So, I went down to find out where a different room would be. A wonderful girl helped me and I told her how bad I felt and I think our room might be the ideal room, but I wasn't sure. She gave me keys to the other room and told me to check it out. If I liked it better, we could move, if not, we could stay.

So, the girls and I trekked to the other room - out in the woods (not really )... first floor...and it was very closed up and dark feeling. We went back to get it squared away and I messed up. The other girl was helping someone else, so I went to a different person. (I didn't recall at the time that the wonderful girl said "come back to ME."

The other CM turns me over to a manager. Someone had moved me out of our room (316) where DH is with our stuff waiting on bell services, and moved us into the dark forest (139). Then, he says well, I have you for 51-? moved to 316 moved to 139. I explained that I knew nothing about the 5th floor (but I figured in my head they met my requests, but changed me into a ready room upon arrival...). So the wonderful girl came over and helped and said call the other family and tell them their room (139?) is ready.

UGH- I am tripping over myself apologizing...I felt terrible that I caused all this fuss... Now, I have unhappy hungry kids waiting on swimsuits which are STILL with bell services. So, I send DH and the kids to get some food and wait for our luggage in our bright room. (The workers weren't there the next day and the cranes we tucked hidden in bushes...)













I have no idea what the girls ate...but the luggage came soon and we headed down to Stormalong Bay





Sorry for the lack of pictures at this point. I took the point and shoot and simply didn't use it often. We found a spot --no idea where a good spot is at this pool!



At one point DH said this is just overkill. It was frustrating to have to get out of one pool to go to another when there was a couple of inches of pavement between them.


DH and I ate at Hurricane Hannah's. I had a veggie wrap that was big enough for two - but I was able to manage anyway - and DH had something equally as good, but I don't know what!!! They offered that we could pick up desserts later. I asked if our lunches could be in buckets and the CM happily gave me two.


Later I went back with dds and picked up the frozen lemonade treats for them.

After showering, we went to the back entrance - the super secret one- because hardly anyone was there whenever we were!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

And it is our first time in Epcot of the trip!!!



We picked up a Kim Possible FP for a mission in Norway. As we headed towards Norway, kids were hungry again and hot to boot. We stopped at the American Adventure kiosk and got Hannah an American Dream - icee with ice cream and Emma a pretzel. We sat with this guy:



The people next to us had kids and the lady was showing them how to feed the bird. DH was wishing for the bird to bite the kid to teach them not to feed the animals - just like the sign said! I was trying not to say anything, but so wanted to when finally, one of the people in the group read the sign to the woman.






See that look - it is the thinking bad thoughts look (bite the kid...)


I decided that we wouldn't have time for KP mission due to ADR at Cape May. So, we headed back...



We did have some time, though, so we picked pearls (well DDs picked them)!





The poor CM; my daughters' expressions didn't change no matter how hard she tried...





We ate a good buffet dinner at Cape May - Not sure how I didn't take any pictures...

On our way back to the villa to nap, we saw



Up next I keep my 8 year olds out until 4am!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ugh, what a mix-up about the rooms! I am glad you were able to keep your bright, airy room!

Stormalong Bay looks like a lot of fun although it does seem weird that you have to get out of one pool to get in another. For some reason, I thought it was all connected.

I had never heard of the American Dream before -- that sounds really good and is going on the Next Time list!

Too funny about your DH thinking bad thoughts about the kid and the bird.

 

[Queenofallthings]

So happy that you got to keep the original room!

I love EPCOT, World Showcase is my favorite part, I love just wandering around, in no rush to get anywhere.

 

[mgsmom]

Glad the room thing worked out! I'm sure that frustrated you!
How was Cape May? We did not make it over to the Boardwalk area - we had planned to leave Epcot and walk over to check things out but never made it.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Glad you got to keep your nice room! Hope it ended up working out for you!

I've always wanted to do that pick a pearl. It looks like the girls got nice ones! Did you have them set in anything or just took the pearls as they were?

Can't believe the International Gateway was so empty! It really was like your own private entrance!!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Ugh, what a mix-up about the rooms! I am glad you were able to keep your bright, airy room!

Stormalong Bay looks like a lot of fun although it does seem weird that you have to get out of one pool to get in another. For some reason, I thought it was all connected.

I had never heard of the American Dream before -- that sounds really good and is going on the Next Time list!

Too funny about your DH thinking bad thoughts about the kid and the bird.

Some of the pools are connected. It is weird; you can swim under one bridge and then at the opposite end of the pool where there is another bridge, you can't??!!

A proper description of the American Dream is red (strawberry) and blue (raspberry) slurpee/icee/ slush (depending on your location) with vanilla ice cream in the middle. (You should probably stick with the Gray Goose Slushie...maybe the American Dream for Connor and Chelsea. )Emma who insisted on the pretzel instead must have asked for two days to get an American Dream...finally, when we were in the area for her to get one, she ended up getting a blue slush!

DH is quite an animal lover. He might steer the car into a person instead of an animal.

So happy that you got to keep the original room!

I love EPCOT, World Showcase is my favorite part, I love just wandering around, in no rush to get anywhere.

I think that in order to enjoy World Showcase you must have that attitude. Otherwise, it isn't fun. I would say that was something we really couldn't do; it was too hot each time we entered WS. I am looking forward to doing more wandering in this winter.

Glad the room thing worked out! I'm sure that frustrated you!
How was Cape May? We did not make it over to the Boardwalk area - we had planned to leave Epcot and walk over to check things out but never made it.

I felt very bratty and so terrible for the mess I'd made! I've read stories about people who feel entitled to this and that, and I just kept apologizing so they wouldn't think I was trying to be a pain.

Cape May's dinner was good, but I won't rush back. The breakfast was very good, however, and I would make it a point to go to it. I'll have pics from that coming up soon.

Glad you got to keep your nice room! Hope it ended up working out for you!

I've always wanted to do that pick a pearl. It looks like the girls got nice ones! Did you have them set in anything or just took the pearls as they were?

Can't believe the International Gateway was so empty! It really was like your own private entrance!!

I didn't have the pearls set. The girls said they didn't want to and I probably would have discouraged it. They want to have earrings made, and I explained that they will need two of the same size. So each trip we will pick more pearls. One of them was 6-3/4 and the other was 7-1/4. I think it will be a cool souvenier for each trip as they get older. I was really hoping one of them would get twins.

The IG was empty every time we went to it-park opening, emh, afternoon, evening- it was crazy, crazy good, of course.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Finally catching up!!

What did you think of 1900 Park Fare? We tried it for the first time too this summer. I thought it was a very good breakfast, and the Mad Hatter was awesome.

You take wonderful pictures!!!


We would have felt the same way about the family teaching the child to feed the bird as your DH. I call DD the "park policeman" - she is forever pointing out rule breakers!!

We did a "no park" day - they are so relaxing and great for re-charging.

 

[onescgirl]

That ice-ee looks sooooo good!!!
I can't wait to do the pick-a-pearl in Japan! And, I hate you didn't have time for the KP mission, that's another thing I'm looking forward to trying.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Finally catching up!!

What did you think of 1900 Park Fare? We tried it for the first time too this summer. I thought it was a very good breakfast, and the Mad Hatter was awesome.

You take wonderful pictures!!!


We would have felt the same way about the family teaching the child to feed the bird as your DH. I call DD the "park policeman" - she is forever pointing out rule breakers!!

We did a "no park" day - they are so relaxing and great for re-charging.

Park Fare is DH's favorite. We enjoyed it as before! The Mad Hatter told my girls they were his favorite because they don't talk.

I can't take credit for the pictures - my camera is awesome, but thanks!

How are you feeling? I hope your back is better!!

That ice-ee looks sooooo good!!!
I can't wait to do the pick-a-pearl in Japan! And, I hate you didn't have time for the KP mission, that's another thing I'm looking forward to trying.

Not to worry, we did make time for KP later! I am not an icee kind of girl, but the grand marnier slushie that you will see later was a nice treat.

 

[MagicShell]

I enjoyed your updates. Which resort did you like better? They both look so nice.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I enjoyed your updates. Which resort did you like better? They both look so nice.

Thank you! Both resorts were very nice. Of course, in the next couple of days I will update including Boardwalk. I liked all three resorts for different reasons. I decided that I would do pros and cons of each at the very end. I have to really think about it to decide which I like the best...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Hello!!!! I am back from a mini week at the beach with my folks, brothers, sil, and daughters--dh had to stay home and work.

We had a great time even though it wasn't Disney! (I actually did think that at one point while on the boardwalk.)

So, where'd I leave off? Late night MK 12am to 3am

After Cape May's dinner and seeing the rainbow, we took a nap until 11pm. I was exhausted myself and wasn't sure if the girls would really rouse. When the alarm went off, I told DH if he could get them up, I'd get up. He was successful and we were off to MK!

In looking at this photo, I wonder why I didn't give my kids time to put on their shoes??


This drive was the longest of the trip and it was because we sat outside of MK for like 25 minutes waiting to turn in. I guess all the other busses were leaving and there wasn't room for all of the busses. Anyway, when it is 11:30 and you're still half asleep; you don't really care.

We, of course rode,



and



Had some of these:





Took advantage of an empty set to take this:



With some prompting, got waves,





We hit, Pirates, HM, and Mickey's Philharmagic before heading to Space Mountain where I departed from my family to play photographer. I will say that 2:30 to 3:00am is a good time to take pics!!











When I was setting up the tripod to take the above castle shot, the Photopass guy offered to take it for me. Okay, really, dude, are you serious? First, I have to laugh because from what I've read the Photopass folks aren't photography geeks, and second, why would I have my own tripod?? It was amusing.

More pics next post...

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I had the tripod all set up for when my family returned...





I have to ask on the photography forum about the above two pics. The second is with a flash. I don't know how to make my daughters and the castle equally important...

And a family shot--with the timer--to end the evening!

 

[mgsmom]

Awesome pics! The one of Donald is cool - almost looks like he's holding a ball of light!

 

[disney<333]

Those tomorrow land pictures are AMAZING! You have talent!!!