Kick'n It at Kidani (aka Am I Becoming a Resort Snob?)Final Update 8/20 p.54

[dawnbu40]

I the shots with the rainbow! And yes we're going to MNSSHP on the 29th. We've never been and I can't wait!

 

[MEK]

I the shots with the rainbow! And yes we're going to MNSSHP on the 29th. We've never been and I can't wait!

So you ARE going after me. Why did I think it was before. I think we are going to MNSSHP on the 22nd. Looking forward to it!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

More beautiful shots! Sounds like Dutch Wonderland turned out ok afterall! That's great! As for the 16 y.o....mine is 13 and I'm not looking foward to that! But, they just changed our driving age to 18!! He has a summer birthday so won't be able to get his license until after he graduates high school!!

 

[eandesmom]

After we rode the Maid of the Mist we walked on a path below the observation tower that took us close to the base of the American Falls. The weather was kind of weird. When the sun came out it was pretty warm, but as soon as the sun went behind the clouds it got chilly again.

Here are some folks out on the paths leading to the American Falls:

The view up to the observation deck:

A close up of the falls:

The boys still in their blue plastic bags:

Rainbow Bridge, which is used for pedestrian and automobile travel to and from Canada:

More Falls:

After the movie we walked over to goat island to get an upclose view of the Horseshoe falls.

Here's me and DH:

And me and Nick:

A cool distance pic of Rainbow bridge and the American falls:

OMG these pictures are amazing. I HAVE to go. I HAVE to take the kids. I don't know when, I don't know how, but we have to do this.

When Nicholas finally got up we had some continental breakfast and went back to Goat Island. There is where the Cave of the Winds tour was and DH announced that he was doing it, no matter what.

Here is a look down onto people actually taking the tour. they are in the lovely yellow raincoats:

Here's a few rainbow shots:

How cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to go to the cave! I can't wait to see if you did!

I don't do PTR's. I don't think I am witty enough to keep one going that long(even though my trip is only 6 weeks away). But I would like to tell you about my upcoming trip now, because we really booked it on a whim.
Sunday 9/20 The Grand Floridian Cafe 8:30pm -

Monday 9/21 Rose & Crown 7pm

Tuesday 9/22 Kona Cafe 5:10pm

Wednesday 9/23 Artist's Point 6pm I
I was fairly satisfied with my ADR's, but not completely. In my head I kept calculating my OOP costs. I hate worrying about spending $ on food. That's why I like the DP so much.

I the food at Kona. And AP...YUM! I'mm interested to see what you tweaked....

yes, yes you are witty enough for a PTR!

 

[MEK]

OMG these pictures are amazing. I HAVE to go. I HAVE to take the kids. I don't know when, I don't know how, but we have to do this.



How cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to go to the cave! I can't wait to see if you did!



I the food at Kona. And AP...YUM! I'mm interested to see what you tweaked....

yes, yes you are witty enough for a PTR!

It's not actually a cave, but it was pretty cool. You just have to fly to Buffalo.....see Niagara Falls for a few days and they fly to Orlando to see Disney world. Make it all one trip!

I've eaten at Kona once before and really enjoyed it, so I think it will be fun. Plus I love the Poly!

 

[MEK]

So how did DH get me to go down into the Cave of the Winds?

Well, I protested at first. I told him, "Look I can see down there at those people in the yellow raincoats. I see what they're doing. I don't need to go down there. Go ahead. I'll wait for you up here".

During my diatrobe my DH just turned his back on me, walked up to the ticket window, and said, "3 adults". Whhhaaaaatttttt???????? "I just said I didn't want to go".

Too late...ticket was non-refundable. I guess I could have sold my ticket for a discount, but I decided to bit the bullet and go on the tour. It was really the elevator I didn't want to go in. I kept thinking, "What if that elevator gets stuck in the middle of the 200 ft rock. We will never get out!"

So down we went.... and believe me....it was sooooooo worth it. If you ever go to niagara falls and you only have time to do one thing, make it the Cave of the Winds. It was awesome.

So....Cave of the winds from the top.....

Cave of the winds from the bottom...... Looking towards the falls from a distance:

Before we got wet:

Bottom of the falls behind us:

At one with the falls:

DH and Nick getting ready to enter the really wet area:

The bottom of the steps to go to the hurricane deck:

At this point the camera had to be put away because it got really wet. DH and Nick went up to the hurricane deck. This actually gets the full force winds created by the falls. They backed all the way to the back of the deck so they could touch the rock wall behind the falls. When they came off that deck they were drenched. Everyone who came off the deck was on an adrenaline high....whooping and hollering, "That was great...That was amazing!".

As for me.....I went up on the deck, but I came right back down again. Seriously, I was afraid I was going to trip and fall or blow over. They do give you special sandles that grip the decking, but still.....I'm old. I could break a bone....or two!

Notice....I did not smile in any of my pictures because I was nervous the whole time, but I really did have a blast and I am glad that I went down. My DH was right and I thanked him for buying the ticket.


Here we are, raincoats in the trash, looking wet and pleased:

And here's a few more NF pics for your viewing pleasure:

So you probably guessed by now that we were not able to go over to Canada. As of June 2009 it became necessary to have a passport. Since we were busy planning the Florida trip, we never got around to getting passports. Nick was pretty disappointed because he really wanted to go over. If I ever go back I will make sure I have a passport.

After cave of the winds we walked around Goat Island a bit more and then headed back to our hotel. We visited a few gift shops and then started home. On the way home we got off in the fingerlake region to visit a winery. As it turns our we ended up following the Seneca wine trail and passed about 50 wineries. We stopped at this one....the Bellhurst Castle Winery:

We bought a bunch of wine. No taste tasting. It was already about 3pm and we still had quite a bit of a drive so we just picked out one of every bottle.

We got back to Delaware about 9pm or so.

Next up....the official PTR mini report and our updated ADRs.

 

[Charleston Princess]

My guess is you kept the GFC and Artist's Point!

 

[Minnie]

So flash back to June 22nd, Hampton Inn, Niagara Falls.......7am and time to call for ADR's. I wanted to try the online booking system but I could not get my computer to connect to the internet. So I got my coffee and sat in the lobby and called. Here were my original ADR's.........

Sunday 9/20 The Grand Floridian Cafe 8:30pm - remember I still didn't have flights, so I wasn't sure what time we would arrive. I wasn't even sure about this ADR. All I knew was I wanted to be close to MK and I wanted to eat at the GF, since I have never been there. I wasn't too impressed with this reviews of this place and I didn't have complete confidence that this was a decent ADR.

Monday 9/21 Rose & Crown 7pm My plan was to eat there and "hopefully" see Illuminations from the deck. I wanted a later ADR, but that was all I could get. I was pretty happy with this ADR because I have never eaten here before.

Tuesday 9/22 Kona Cafe 5:10pm My DH has never eaten at the Kona Cafe, so I thought this would be fun. Please its close to MK and this is the night we may go to the Halloween party. I knew we would be able to park at the Poly and then go to the party.

Wednesday 9/23 Artist's Point 6pm I had to have one signature ADR, even though we were on the regular dining plan (at the time ). I figured we could pay for one ADR OOP. The other possibility was that we cancel the GF Cafe ADR.

I was fairly satisfied with my ADR's, but not completely. In my head I kept calculating my OOP costs. I hate worrying about spending $ on food. That's why I like the DP so much.

So....up next.....The CAve of the Winds tour at Niagara Falls and changing ADR's.

GF Cafe is one of our faves It is normally not crazy busy even at prime dining hours and the food is very good considering the price is soooo much less than the other GF options

Kona is another fave The coconut chicken is wonderful

We leave Saturday and I still need to finish making ADRs I'm soooo behind on being ready for this trip

 

[eandesmom]

So how did DH get me to go down into the Cave of the Winds?

Well, I protested at first. I told him, "Look I can see down there at those people in the yellow raincoats. I see what they're doing. I don't need to go down there. Go ahead. I'll wait for you up here".

During my diatrobe my DH just turned his back on me, walked up to the ticket window, and said, "3 adults". Whhhaaaaatttttt???????? "I just said I didn't want to go".

Here we are, raincoats in the trash, looking wet and pleased:

So you probably guessed by now that we were not able to go over to Canada. As of June 2009 it became necessary to have a passport. Since we were busy planning the Florida trip, we never got around to getting passports. Nick was pretty disappointed because he really wanted to go over. If I ever go back I will make sure I have a passport.

After cave of the winds we walked around Goat Island a bit more and then headed back to our hotel. We visited a few gift shops and then started home. On the way home we got off in the fingerlake region to visit a winery. As it turns our we ended up following the Seneca wine trail and passed about 50 wineries. We stopped at this one....the Bellhurst Castle Winery:

We bought a bunch of wine. No taste tasting. It was already about 3pm and we still had quite a bit of a drive so we just picked out one of every bottle.

We got back to Delaware about 9pm or so.

Next up....the official PTR mini report and our updated ADRs.

oh WOW! I wanna go! I wanna go! Aren't you glad he "made" you go down?

wow wow wow!

Pretty winery!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The passport thing annoys us beyond belief. It should be, and used to be, an easy day trip, overnight or weekend. We haven't been since all of this. DH and I have them but the idea of having to get them for the kids....arrgh!

It was bad enough that we get grilled at the border b/c all 4 kids don't have the same last name!

 

[MeMom]

That water looks so powerful just in the pictures! I can only imagine what it felt like to stand right beside it and really feel the power and the wind. It would be a cool experience. I'm glad you did it, but I, too, would be spooked by the elevator part!

 

[BigEeyore]

Wonderful Niagara Falls pics! Thanks for sharing with us. I can't help but think of that movie "Bruce Almighty" with Jim Carrey - he went into a really funny rant while on the Maid of the Mist tour!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Those are just beautiful pictures! Marc has been talking about going to Niagra and I have never been that interested but now I may have to look into it!

 

[MEK]

My guess is you kept the GFC and Artist's Point!

You are 50% right!

GF Cafe is one of our faves It is normally not crazy busy even at prime dining hours and the food is very good considering the price is soooo much less than the other GF options

Kona is another fave The coconut chicken is wonderful

We leave Saturday and I still need to finish making ADRs I'm soooo behind on being ready for this trip

Good to know you like GF Cafe because I really want to read some good things about it. I love Kona and that coconut chicken sounds great.

Leaving tomorrow!!!!!!.........HAVE A GREAT TRIP!

oh WOW! I wanna go! I wanna go! Aren't you glad he "made" you go down?

wow wow wow!

Pretty winery!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The passport thing annoys us beyond belief. It should be, and used to be, an easy day trip, overnight or weekend. We haven't been since all of this. DH and I have them but the idea of having to get them for the kids....arrgh!

It was bad enough that we get grilled at the border b/c all 4 kids don't have the same last name!

You must go. It really is pretty cool! I am glad I got shamed into doing it and really don't know what my apprehension was. The winery was gorgeous and right on Lake Seneca. There was a hotel there as well. It looked like such a great place to stay for a romantic weekend.

It is pretty ridiculous re: the passports. We basically found out that the problem isn't getting into Canada. The problem is getting back to the US. They will treat you as foreigners as soon as you leave. It's posted right there "If you do not think you have the proper documentation to leave the country, don't even try it".

That water looks so powerful just in the pictures! I can only imagine what it felt like to stand right beside it and really feel the power and the wind. It would be a cool experience. I'm glad you did it, but I, too, would be spooked by the elevator part!

It was pretty darn impressive, that's for sure. I'm glad I did it, too. I didn't realize how cool it would be until I got down there. Seriously....best attraction on the American side. A most do! And that elevator zips, but you don't even notice it. You are up and down in 10 - 15 seconds.

Wonderful Niagara Falls pics! Thanks for sharing with us. I can't help but think of that movie "Bruce Almighty" with Jim Carrey - he went into a really funny rant while on the Maid of the Mist tour!

I saw that movie awhile ago and I don't remember that part, but I never pay close attention to anything. I'll have to watch it again because I think we may still have it.

Those are just beautiful pictures! Marc has been talking about going to Niagra and I have never been that interested but now I may have to look into it!

Oh you should. Maybe you should do a weekend trip after you recover from your surgery. It's about 8 hours from my house, so I'm thinking its probably about 7 or so hours from your house. It's also good walking practice to break in your new Disney shoes. I definately did not wear the right shoes and really should have worn my crocs.

 

[jenjolt]

What gorgeous pictures MEK!!! I would love to visit Niagara some day!! Those pictures are just breathtaking!!!!

I can't wait to hear what ADRs you stuck with!!! I'm very excited to hear all about your trip!!!

 

[MEK]

What gorgeous pictures MEK!!! I would love to visit Niagara some day!! Those pictures are just breathtaking!!!!

I can't wait to hear what ADRs you stuck with!!! I'm very excited to hear all about your trip!!!

Hey Jen:

Glad you like the pics. It really was beautiful up there and a nice change of pace after the heat of Florida.

I am getting ready to list my ADRs momentarily. It was really hard picking ADR's once I upgraded to the DxDP because there were SO many choices. The more choices the harder it gets!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Wow! 5 pages behind but just got caught up. Your pictures of Niagra Falls are amazing. You ARE much braver than I am. No way on the observation deck or the elevator. I got weak knees just thinking about it while looking at your pictures...

 

[MEK]

So here are my plans for my PTR beginning with Day 1. I welcome any and all suggestions:

Our flight leaves Baltimore at 1200pm. This is really the flight I wanted. I know some people love to get up early and get out on the first flight of the morning, but that doesn't work well for me. I can never sleep when I know I "have" to get up earlier than usual. We can get up at regular time, have a few minutes for last minute chores, and leave the house by 9am. That should get us there 90 minutes early. I figure we will land no later than 2:30pm and probably earlier.

We are renting a car. Right now I have two different reservations, both at off site facilities. The cheapest is at Payless. It's $120 for a midsize car. The other reservation is with Hertz. I used a code I found here and the rate is about $135 for a compact car. Hertz is the more reputable dealer and they are the AAA preferred agency, so I may go with them. In the meantime I am going to keep shopping around. If anyone has a good code for a great rate, let me know.

Once we get the rental car we will head on over to POP. I'm not sure about the whole online check-in thing and my reservation is from AAA, so I'm not even sure I can do it. Any suggestions/opinions on the online check-in would be greatly appreciated. I would like a room over in the 80's section sort of facing the lake and/or the parking lot. Any opinions on room locations would also be helpful. I have stayed in the 70's facing the lake and the 50's facing the lake. I liked both of those locations, but they were far from the parking lot. This trip I would rather be closer to the parking lot and near the 80's pool. I suspect that is the least crowded of the pools. Please feel free to comment on the 80's (computer) pool.

I know I said I may be turning into a resort snob, but I am excited to be revisiting POP. I like walking through the resort in the early morning and after dark. I am wondering what DH's opinion will be since he has only ever stayed at a value resort for two overnights. Both times we arrived late and left early. I hope that during our visit we can get up early enough to go running over at CBR. I know a short cut to walk/run there, but it's imperative that we head over there early before the bus and CM traffic picks up.

After we check-in at POP I would like to get fully unpacked. Sometimes I only semi-unpack for short trips. But I want to keep the room clean and organized, since we will be downsizing a bit. My DH tends to be way messier than me, so I want to get his clothes put away, too. I am bringing a collapsible cooler that I will be filling with ice. I also plan to pack lots of water. I may also pack a small bottle of rum or maybe some of those small resealable wine bottles. I like that you don't have to pay for checked luggage on SWA. I will probably check the cooler with our bags. Since we are on the DxDP I do not want to be running to the grocery store for anything extra. With 16 snacks I think we should be good.

Once we are unpacked I want to change out of my travel clothes into something a little nicer for dinner. I actually did change this ADR. We are now eating at 6pm at ............Narcoossee's Same resort, different restaurant. I am pretty excited about this. Mickeysmyboy (Melissa) ate here on her DxDP trip and she raved about it. As soon as we are dressed, buffed, puffed, and ready to go we will head over to the GF. Hopefully we will get there early and be able to tour the inside and the outside. Remember, this is one of the few resorts the I have never been in. The other one being the Yacht club. I am pretty psyched to see the GF in person. Of course, I may be disappointed that Iam not staying there, but I think I will survive. If there are any opinions about Narcoossee's please feel free to comment

The last time I checked the fireworks at the MK were scheduled for 8pm. I am hoping to watch the fireworks from the restaurant or from another area at the GF. Please feel free to suggest what might be the best place to watch the fireworkd from the GF if we are finished eating dinner .

After dinner we will catch the monorail and head to the MK for EMH. We may stop at the mainstreet bakery and pick up some pastries for morning. When we are too weary to stay awake any longer we will catch the monorail back to the GF and drive back to POP.

So that's it....my plan for Day 1.

Up next ....my tentative plan for Day 2. What ADRs did I add/change???????

 

[MEK]

Wow! 5 pages behind but just got caught up. Your pictures of Niagra Falls are amazing. You ARE much braver than I am. No way on the observation deck or the elevator. I got weak knees just thinking about it while looking at your pictures...

It's a good thing I'm not really afraid of heights because I did have to lean over to take a few of those pics. What really scares me (besides a 200ft elevator dug into the side of a cave) is the thought of boating on the river leading up to the falls. Upstream the water looks so calm, but imagine if you let the boat go too far downstream and you got caught in the rapids. Scary.....

 

[wigdoutdismom]

It's a good thing I'm not really afraid of heights because I did have to lean over to take a few of those pics. What really scares me (besides a 200ft elevator dug into the side of a cave) is the thought of boating on the river leading up to the falls. Upstream the water looks so calm, but imagine if you let the boat go too far downstream and you got caught in the rapids. Scary.....

When I was reading your update I asked Shocker, "where does all that water come from" his answer was unsatisfactory. I think he said from one of the Great Lakes, but if that's true, that lake would be empty by now!

 

[eandesmom]

We are renting a car. Right now I have two different reservations, both at off site facilities. The cheapest is at Payless. It's $120 for a midsize car. The other reservation is with Hertz. I used a code I found here and the rate is about $135 for a compact car. Hertz is the more reputable dealer and they are the AAA preferred agency, so I may go with them. In the meantime I am going to keep shopping around. If anyone has a good code for a great rate, let me know.

I am bringing a collapsible cooler that I will be filling with ice. I also plan to pack lots of water. I may also pack a small bottle of rum or maybe some of those small resealable wine bottles. I like that you don't have to pay for checked luggage on SWA. I will probably check the cooler with our bags. Since we are on the DxDP I do not want to be running to the grocery store for anything extra. With 16 snacks I think we should be good.

Once we are unpacked I want to change out of my travel clothes into something a little nicer for dinner. I actually did change this ADR. We are now eating at 6pm at ............Narcoossee's Same resort, different restaurant. I am pretty excited about this. Mickeysmyboy (Melissa) ate here on her DxDP trip and she raved about it. As soon as we are dressed, buffed, puffed, and ready to go we will head over to the GF. Hopefully we will get there early and be able to tour the inside and the outside. Remember, this is one of the few resorts the I have never been in. The other one being the Yacht club. I am pretty psyched to see the GF in person. Of course, I may be disappointed that Iam not staying there, but I think I will survive. If there are any opinions about Narcoossee's please feel free to comment

oohhhhhhhhhh Narcoossee's! That is definitely on my list as a non-kid place to try! I can't wait to read about it!

I agree with you about skipping the early am flights, I'm a wreck when I do that. 9:30am is about the earliest I can do or forget sleeping the night before.

I personally LOVE hertz and find them worth the extra $$. But I highly recommend signing up for their "1 club" that way your car is ready and waiting for you, no standing in line! It doesn't cost a dime and is SOOO wonderful!

Can't speak to pop at all though! Are you going to check a bag full of ice? Or are you planning on getting ice once you get there just curious!!