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

[MEK]

Totally loving your AK plans!! Paula and I will be dining at Tusker House and after reading all the great reviews here on the DIS I'm really looking forward to it!!

Are your????? I am so sad I am missing you guys. I know you are going to have a great time!

As far as great shots of the Tree of Life you should ask C...she took a photo tour of the tree and took some amazing shots so she might be able to guide you around the tree. I"m hoping to ask her to take me on the trail while we're down there!!!

So, it was C that I was thinking about. I remember her TR and those fabulous pictures that she took. I will have to see if I can find the link. I think she did some kind of Tree of Life meet. How cool.

Oh...I just love Melissa's MNSSHP pictures...I cannot wait to be there!!! The Haunted Mansion portions of the parade look amazing and I can't wait to see it!!!!

Aren't they great? I see they just posted some Halloween pictures on the boards. I need to go look at them to get super psyched for MNSSHP.

Nothing to lose and ALWAYS worth trying! If it's meant to be, it will and if not, it isn't

I totally agree with this. I don't think I will tell my DH about this secret plan until we arrive. Then I will call when we get up the first morning. I have the DVC reservation number in my cell phone with my membership # right under it. That way I am reading for a DVC reservation at a moments notice!

Hey, are you calling me a freak?

I suppose I qualify. Anyone who has to take a stainless steel french press camping and bring her own coffee and cups..may just qualify.

Yeah...I would say that qualifies you as a coffee conissieur freak. But that first cup of coffee in the morning is so very important. I actually have a keurig now, which I love, but it does not put me in the same category as you. What's nice is you can use the prefilled K cups when you are in a hurry or you can use the K-cup with the filter and make your own coffee. I it for the ease and convenience. I wish I could take one of those with me on vacation!

I have, I can't recall when and while I've only been to the BW once (and didn't see it) but I did read really nice things about it. I looked at it when I was considering epcot resorts as an option
.

I think it would be so cool to stay in the Epcot resort area because of the easy walk to Epcot and HS. In December my DH and I walked all the way from HS to Epcot to watch the candlelight processional. We had dinner at Brown Derby but then decided we had to see the candlelight processional. The line for the boat looked so long so we decided to walk. It was a perfect night, but my feet were hurting by the time we got to Epcot. We had to take the boat back. I never would have made it!

I am SO glad we did Pagaini! Majaraha trek is on my list for the next trip as is TOL close up!

OK - Now I've got it straight. You had the great pictures of Pagaini and CP had the great pictures of Maharaja.

I've heard good things about the food, no clue about lunch though. I hear you on the shows, there is really no way to plan around it. Sometimes you have to just let it go and hope it works. It's funny, sometimes/days we see a lot of shows and others, a big fat nothing!

It sounds like a lot of people have heard good reviews about the TH food. I figure if the first Nemo show conflicts with our ADR at TH, then I will either try to change it or just show up 15-20 mins late. What is the worst that can happen? If they don't seat us, we will eat CS. I will try those vegetables rolls you raved abour at the Y&Y counter service.

.



Ok I'm trying to think, I think Carissa has some amazing TOL pics and maybe CP? I've seen some recently too, I'll need to rack my brain!

Oh rack your brain and if you find a link, post it.

. !I your Costco experience!

That was so funny, cause I know that guy was a die hard Disney fan. I would have struck up a conversation with him, but it was starting to rain and I wanted to get all my stuff in the car before the heavens opened up.

Mnnnnn! Kona....dinner!

I Kona for dinner! Not the greatest ambiance, it's lovely but rather open and I think it suffers only in comparison as it is less themed than most BUT oh, the food!

I agree. You feel like you are on display when you are in Kona, but the food is so good and everyone loves the Poly. Plus when I have a car I would much rather park at a monorail resort and take the monorail into the MK. I guess some people would frown on this, but its better than taking the bus.

Oh my goodness!! How adorable is this!!!!! Your pictures are fantastic and I thank you for making my decision somewhat easier as I can show these to my grandson to see how he reacts. Thank you so much!!

]

Isn't that the cutest picture! I love it!

Mary Ellen, your AK plans sound great!! I loved the trails, nothing else like it and the CM's on the trails have so much great information!! Fun stuff!! I would like to go to Rafikis Planet Watch this time, if the boys don't tucker out too soon.

Thanks! I'm glad to hear you like the trails and I will definately tap into the CM's. I know my DH will. He loved talking to all the CM's on the AKL savannah.

There is a thread on the restaurant board that has categorized food pictures from the different disney restaurants. I will try to find the link to TH as a lot of people explain the buffet as "Boma light" and lunch/dinner look as great as breakfast!! I will edit and add it here if I can find it. Also I have read of people having a lot of success doing a walk-up to Yak and Yeti.

I have heard that as well. The Tusker House does sound very interesting. I was also wondering about the Yak and Yeti as a walk up. But now that I am hearing so many good things about TH, I will probably just stick with that.

Remember what I said about ever morphing? Things are changing yet again and we may end up changing our dining. I hope not, but time will tell. One good change, Rachel now agrees that driving is out of the question!

I am glad that Rachel is reconsidering the driving. I wish you would do a PTR because your ever changing plans would make for good reading.

Costumes at dinner sound like a great idea! We saw people dressed up at SOG and the Polynesian last September (when on our first trip and we had no clue about MNSSHP).
]

Maybe we should go as a bride and groom, since we are celebrating our anniversary. I seriously have to give this costume thing some thought. I know we will probably end up going with T-shirts, but you never know. A real creative urge could strike!

Looking forward to more plans!!

Here's the link. Just go down to TH and look at the various links within links...lol. On the bottom, two out of three of the links are lunch and I'm sure there are more.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1601839

More plans are coming and THANK YOU so much for the link!

She is in Japan. She is funny and amazing to watch! I cannot recall her name...something with an M...someone here would know I'm sure!

Your plans for AK look so great! I hope to accomplish most of what you have listed as well---except with a toddler. So well, I'm setting my expectations pretty low!

That is a bummer about Flights of Wonder!!

As for the Tree of Life, there are actually trails that go around it - they are called the Discovery Island Trails and are very well hidden, they are a hidden gem! The paths are unmarked from what I remember, but wind around all over Discover Island, including around the tree! I think we found them when we were at the Baby Care Center and saw a random path leading into the "jungle" across the road, and we thought, "why not? let's go!" They are beautiful paths, full of waterfalls, animals, and plant life. I am not even sure they are on a map???

I am going to look for that Candy Lady. This is the first time I have heard about her and it sounds so very cool. I am going to do more research on the Discovery Island Trails. That will probably be the last thing we do before we leave the park. Thank you for giving me the name. I am definately going to fing them!!!!!!

 

[MEK]

OK........that was the longest reply post I have ever posted. I am very proud of myself for cutting and pasting that much. Yeah me.....but you guys had so many great comments. Now I am exhausted from all that, so I may not post Day 4 PTR plans tonight. I may go read some other TRs. A Special thanks to the mods who are letting me continue on with my PTR plans in the TR section. I didn't think I would post as much information as I did.

 

[eandesmom]

I totally agree with this. I don't think I will tell my DH about this secret plan until we arrive. Then I will call when we get up the first morning. I have the DVC reservation number in my cell phone with my membership # right under it. That way I am reading for a DVC reservation at a moments notice!

those kind of surprises are the best I think great idea, not telling

Yeah...I would say that qualifies you as a coffee conissieur freak. But that first cup of coffee in the morning is so very important. I actually have a keurig now, which I love, but it does not put me in the same category as you. What's nice is you can use the prefilled K cups when you are in a hurry or you can use the K-cup with the filter and make your own coffee. I it for the ease and convenience. I wish I could take one of those with me on vacation!

Ok, I confess, I have k-cup issues. Which would definitely put me into coffee snob territory. I used to work for the big green dot as we call it out here, long before K-cup made it into the home use channel and it was a major competitor for a certain segment of business that I managed. I was actually part of a r&d effort that developed a different machine to compete with it for the channel and of course still think our product tastes better.

Part of my issue is that they do flavored coffee (which I can't stand, I like mine black, hardcore lol) and the purists will argue alot about how coffee is flavored (if done in the roasting process) and what that does to a machine. I'll spare you that though. I get the convenience though, for sure. For travel though, if it's just you, you can always do a 1-cup cone drip, they make these great little filter tops that sit right on top of a cup and you just pour the hot water right in and it brews directly into the cup.

Don't get me wrong. When I'm desperate, I will do "hot, brown and warm" which is what Nescafe is but couldn't do it daily on a whole trip.

I think it would be so cool to stay in the Epcot resort area because of the easy walk to Epcot and HS. In December my DH and I walked all the way from HS to Epcot to watch the candlelight processional. We had dinner at Brown Derby but then decided we had to see the candlelight processional. The line for the boat looked so long so we decided to walk. It was a perfect night, but my feet were hurting by the time we got to Epcot. We had to take the boat back. I never would have made it!

I really hope to stay at BCV one of these days for exactly that reason. Any will do but that's at the top of my list.

I agree. You feel like you are on display when you are in Kona, but the food is so good and everyone loves the Poly. Plus when I have a car I would much rather park at a monorail resort and take the monorail into the MK. I guess some people would frown on this, but its better than taking the bus.

ITA

Maybe we should go as a bride and groom, since we are celebrating our anniversary. I seriously have to give this costume thing some thought. I know we will probably end up going with T-shirts, but you never know. A real creative urge could strike!

That's a cute idea! I've been putzing away DISining, may post some things over the next couple of weeks for tshirts. Having fun with it for sure.

OK........that was the longest reply post I have ever posted. I am very proud of myself for cutting and pasting that much. Yeah me.....but you guys had so many great comments. Now I am exhausted from all that, so I may not post Day 4 PTR plans tonight. I may go read some other TRs. A Special thanks to the mods who are letting me continue on with my PTR plans in the TR section. I didn't think I would post as much information as I did.

I'm very proud of you. And thanks for distracting me from the really annoying fact that we have a out of state tournament a week from yesterday and STILL don't have the schedule. Meeting 2 different out of town relatives there and can't plan. AACK!

 

[eandesmom]

Carissa's Tree pics

there is another TR with some great close ups as well though so I'm going to keep thinking!

 

[MEK]

Ok, I confess, I have k-cup issues. Which would definitely put me into coffee snob territory. I used to work for the big green dot as we call it out here, long before K-cup made it into the home use channel and it was a major competitor for a certain segment of business that I managed. I was actually part of a r&d effort that developed a different machine to compete with it for the channel and of course still think our product tastes better.

Part of my issue is that they do flavored coffee (which I can't stand, I like mine black, hardcore lol) and the purists will argue alot about how coffee is flavored (if done in the roasting process) and what that does to a machine. I'll spare you that though. I get the convenience though, for sure. For travel though, if it's just you, you can always do a 1-cup cone drip, they make these great little filter tops that sit right on top of a cup and you just pour the hot water right in and it brews directly into the cup.

Don't get me wrong. When I'm desperate, I will do "hot, brown and warm" which is what Nescafe is but couldn't do it daily on a whole trip.



I've been putzing away DISining, may post some things over the next couple of weeks for tshirts. Having fun with it for sure.



I'm very proud of you. And thanks for distracting me from the really annoying fact that we have a out of state tournament a week from yesterday and STILL don't have the schedule. Meeting 2 different out of town relatives there and can't plan. AACK!

You really do have your coffee facts down. That's an interesting story about your former job. R&D must have been pretty cool.

I don't really care for flavored coffee either. I just buy the Neumann's own K-cups at Costco. They recently added Caribou K-cups. I think I like the caribou a tad better. I only tried the sample flavors that came with the machine. My DH, on the other hand, buys his own brand of flavored coffee and puts it in the reusuable K cup.

Hot, brown, and warm......and caffienated....yup Nescafe for 4 mornings. I will bring my own creamer to make it more palatable. I'll survive, but I will think of you laughing at me each morning. Of course, with the time difference I will be well into the morning before you have time to snicker!

Have fun at next week's tournament. We have one at T'giving and Christmas. Christmas is somewhere in florida (but not disney as I had originally hoped). that's OK. I'm all for a few days of warm in December!

Thanks for including the TOL pictures. They are fantastic and exactly what I hope to achieve.

You definately should go over to DISining cause you are very creative.

 

[SunnieRN]

OK........that was the longest reply post I have ever posted. I am very proud of myself for cutting and pasting that much. Yeah me.....but you guys had so many great comments. Now I am exhausted from all that, so I may not post Day 4 PTR plans tonight. I may go read some other TRs. A Special thanks to the mods who are letting me continue on with my PTR plans in the TR section. I didn't think I would post as much information as I did.

You did soooooo good!!

 

[eandesmom]

You really do have your coffee facts down. That's an interesting story about your former job. R&D must have been pretty cool.

I don't really care for flavored coffee either. I just buy the Neumann's own K-cups at Costco. They recently added Caribou K-cups. I think I like the caribou a tad better. I only tried the sample flavors that came with the machine. My DH, on the other hand, buys his own brand of flavored coffee and puts it in the reusuable K cup.

Hot, brown, and warm......and caffienated....yup Nescafe for 4 mornings. I will bring my own creamer to make it more palatable. I'll survive, but I will think of you laughing at me each morning. Of course, with the time difference I will be well into the morning before you have time to snicker!

Have fun at next week's tournament. We have one at T'giving and Christmas. Christmas is somewhere in florida (but not disney as I had originally hoped). that's OK. I'm all for a few days of warm in December!

Thanks for including the TOL pictures. They are fantastic and exactly what I hope to achieve.

You definately should go over to DISining cause you are very creative.

I'd be cranky if we had one at both holidays. We have one at Thanksgiving in San Diego but no way we can all go. Then not till Feb. The tourney told us today we'd have schedules on Monday. For an event that starts that following friday. Nuts!

K-cup has come a long ways since it went public, out of the office coffee channel. It only used to be with their own coffee, which was all flavored and UGH! I know a lot of people that are good fans. I've never tried the Newmans but Caribou makes a decent cup of joe IMHO. I wasn't actually IN R&D...but led the project as it ultimately was a marketing effort. It was cool.

I have nothing against flavoring your coffee, just think it should be done after it's brewed and not built into the roasting process. That way not only do you know what you are getting ingredient wise, you have control over the amount.

We will see on the DISigns, got about 6 done so far but want more before I post anything

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Melissa:

Thank You!!!!!!!!so much for the great pictures. I can't believe how cute you guys look, especially your little cinderella. I also love the pictures of the parade and it doesn't look that crowded. Where did you stand to take your firework pictures?

No problem at all!!! Cinderella was LOVING princesshood that day! I took to BBB in DTD (the one at the castle wasn't there yet) and she got so many wonderful reactions from so many different CM's and other park guests! The bus driver from DTD to WL when we head back after she was down announce that Cinderella was riding with us today, be bowed and curtsed (did I spelled that anywhere near correct?!) to her etc, etc, she had a smile that could light up a room from ear to ear all day!!!

I took the pictures from right up against the fence like thing somewhere between Crystal Palace and Casey's! We've found that area to be a good viewing spot and not crowded! You just have to find a spot where the trees aren't blocking anything!

BTW, that photopass shot of the family was our christmas card that year I just HAD to use it!!!

 

[MEK]

You did soooooo good!!

I am so bad with computers. I still can't get my Mickey Boo to show up in my signature.....but, look....at least I got the box where the jumping mickey pumpkin is supposed to be. LOL!

I'd be cranky if we had one at both holidays. We have one at Thanksgiving in San Diego but no way we can all go. Then not till Feb. The tourney told us today we'd have schedules on Monday. For an event that starts that following friday. Nuts!

That's a little late. But I never check the schedules until last minute. Once I know I will be traveling, I just plan on the first game of the day. I'm not sure how we will work out these two holiday tournaments. I would really like to go to Florida in December. I hate the cold, bleak, damp weather here after Christmas, so I am psyched at the prospect of something warm. Unfortunately, I am technically not supposed to take off from work during the Christmas holiday - the old "working in health care" rule. My DH, on the other hand, always gets that week off. I am going to try to work something out so I can go to Florida and he can go to the T'giving tournament. I doubt my younger son will have anything, but I am trying to get him on a more competitive team for next spring. His team and coach are terrible, but I really don't want to start that rant. He had a chance to try out for a premiere team last spring, was recommened and everything, but decided not to. He is surely regretting it! (and so am I). I actually didn't know about it until too late. His high school coach recommened him, but he never told me. He goes to a private school where kids can play JV high school soccer in 8th grade, so that's how he got referred.

K-cup has come a long ways since it went public, out of the office coffee channel. It only used to be with their own coffee, which was all flavored and UGH! I know a lot of people that are good fans. I've never tried the Newmans but Caribou makes a decent cup of joe IMHO. I wasn't actually IN R&D...but led the project as it ultimately was a marketing effort. It was cool.

I have nothing against flavoring your coffee, just think it should be done after it's brewed and not built into the roasting process. That way not only do you know what you are getting ingredient wise, you have control over the amount.

I like the Caribou a lot and hope that Costco starts to carry more brands. But if they don't, I will stick with the Caribou cause its the best I've tried so far. I enjoy trying the different ones. But I agree with you, flavoring should come after its brewed.

We will see on the DISigns, got about 6 done so far but want more before I post anything

Please pm me when you decide to post, because I would really like to see your signs.

No problem at all!!! Cinderella was LOVING princesshood that day! I took to BBB in DTD (the one at the castle wasn't there yet) and she got so many wonderful reactions from so many different CM's and other park guests! The bus driver from DTD to WL when we head back after she was down announce that Cinderella was riding with us today, be bowed and curtsed (did I spelled that anywhere near correct?!) to her etc, etc, she had a smile that could light up a room from ear to ear all day!!!

Oh, how amazing is that. What a cool bus driver. She really does look like a miniature Cinderella. What a great memory for her to have forever.

I took the pictures from right up against the fence like thing somewhere between Crystal Palace and Casey's! We've found that area to be a good viewing spot and not crowded! You just have to find a spot where the trees aren't blocking anything!

BTW, that photopass shot of the family was our christmas card that year I just HAD to use it!!!

And it wasn't corwded there? That's where I tried to stand during the Christmas party and it was packed. I took my pictures further to the right. Anyway - pics are great and I can definately see why you made that one your Christmas Card. It's perfect.

 

[MEK]

Getting down to the end of our short 4 night trip we still have 5 TS credits to use. Let's recap, shall we:

Day 1: 2 TS Narcoosee's
Day 2: 1 TS Cape May Cafe, 2TS Flying Fish
Day 3: 1 TS Tusker House 1 TS: Kona

So that's 7 which leaves us 5 more to spend over the next two days. I could use 3 on Day 4 and 2 on Day 5......or I could use 4 on Day 4 and 1 on Day 5. Decisions, decisions. Well, here is what I decided. I am still second guessing it, but I think it will be good. I decided to do a 2 TS meal for lunch at the Hollywood Brown Derby. I really like this place, I am just not sure that's its worth 2 TS. And this is why I kept flip flopping back and forth. If I changed the Brown Derby ADR to say Mama Melrose, Sc Fi, or PTC, I would have a TS left over for a Day 5 breakfast. I thought it would be fun to try Kona for breakfast. But right now I am sticking with Brown Derby. I think the picture that CP posted of the grapfruit cake won me over. When I saw that cake, any doubts disappeared. I figure we will use a lot of our snack credits for morning pastries. That should hold us until lunch.

And here in lies the problem with the DxDP. When you have too many choices placed in front of you, you tend to get greedy. At least I do. I really love to eat and I am lucky that Mother Nature graced me with a metabolism to be only about 10 lbs over weight at my age. Actually, I am still in the right shade on the BMI chart, but I am just barely there. A few more pounds in the wrong direction and....well....never mind. So, right now I am trying to shed a few pounds so I can be really in shape for this food fest. Not only that, but I don't like the way my clothes fit when I reach a certain size. It's really more about being comfortable in the clothes I already own then it is an actual number. I like my clothes and I want to wear all of them, not just some of them.

So Day 4 brings us to Hollywood Studios. When I described the American Idol attraction earlier in my TR, I actually thought about trying out for the show in September. I still would like to, but honestly, that just seems like work to me. Not that I am not a hard worker. I have a really good work ethic, but I tend to be really, really type A when it comes to doing anything with music. I would want to be my absolute best and I don't think that coincides with being in the vacation mode. I know that AI is all about having fun, but if I am going to sing on a stage like that ,with that many people, and an awesome sound system,wel then I want to be totally prepared. So given that logic, I have decided not to do AI. If it was a longer trip and I could dedicate the appropriate amount of time and devote a day of vacation to preparation and participation, I would do it.

So for our HS day the main goal is to get our "thrill" on. I want to ride RnR and ToT. You know I did ToT on this past trip, but we did not get a chance to do RnR. I am going to skip right over the TSM dilema and head right to RnR whil grabbing a FP for ToT. Now it is September and maybe I won't even need a FP for ToT, but I want to get those two rides out of the way early. That leaves me the rest of the day to just cruise through the other areas of the park. If we get lucky enough to ride TSM, then great. But if we get a FP timed for 5 O'clock in the afternoon, then maybe its not meant to be.

In addition to RnR and ToT I really want to visit the magic of Disney animation. I want to draw something....bad. I have never done this and I am heading there after we get our thrill on. Another thing I would like to do is the Backlot tour. I know there is nothing special about this, but I have only done it once. LL recommended the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, so me thinks I better check this out. I have never seen this before. I have done all the other attractions at HS. If time permits I wouldn't mind seeing the LMA stunt show. Its been a few years since I've seen it. We will probably ride the GMR, just because its there and the line should be short. I am also a sucker for Star Tours, but its last on the list.

Up next....the rest of Day 4 and a preview of Day 5

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am glad that my picture of the grapefruit cake helped convince you to keep the Brown Derby for a little while longer!

 

[MEK]

I am glad that my picture of the grapefruit cake helped convince you to keep the Brown Derby for a little while longer!

Yup...it did.....until......I saw Wigd's picture of Tonga Toast!

 

[jenjolt]

Ughh the horror of having to choose between Brown Derby and Tonga Toast...however will you do it MEK!!!!!

I love your DHS plans!!! I get a little extra time at DHS now in Sept and I'm going to make the most of it!! I hope you will get all the "thrill" your heart desires!!!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your wonderful plans!

 

[MEK]

Ughh the horror of having to choose between Brown Derby and Tonga Toast...however will you do it MEK!!!!!

I love your DHS plans!!! I get a little extra time at DHS now in Sept and I'm going to make the most of it!! I hope you will get all the "thrill" your heart desires!!!

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your wonderful plans!

Hey Jen.....

I am really starting to obsess about this Tonga Toast vs. Grapefruit cake dilema. The only possible way to have both is to cancel my Cape May Cafe ADR and go to Kona Cafe for breakfast instead. That is a thought! Hmmmmm!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I think your "get your thrill on" plans. Devoting an entire day to AI would be a bit of an ordeal on a short trip - I would really love to hear the behind the scenes of it all though...there has to be a DISer out there that has at least tried out...:scratchchin:

We haven't done Brown Derby yet, but we have done Kona breakfast---it's REALLY STINKIN' good. The coffee is incredible

I'm not helping in the dilemma I'm sure!

 

[MEK]

I think your "get your thrill on" plans. Devoting an entire day to AI would be a bit of an ordeal on a short trip - I would really love to hear the behind the scenes of it all though...there has to be a DISer out there that has at least tried out...:scratchchin:

We haven't done Brown Derby yet, but we have done Kona breakfast---it's REALLY STINKIN' good. The coffee is incredible

I'm not helping in the dilemma I'm sure!

No....you are not helping the dilema! But if I don't have Tonga Toast this trip, there's always next trip.....LOL! And the coffee....I've heard it is to die for.

I'm glad you agree that I should spend my day at HS enjoying the attractions, not being one of them. I would really like to go behind the scenes though for AI. I think it would be really fun.

Oh...so much to do at Disney......so little time!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Day 4 is looking good! I agree that the DxDP gives you so many options making it hard not to over-indulge! But, the choices are so good...

 

[MEK]

Day 4 is looking good! I agree that the DxDP gives you so many options making it hard not to over-indulge! But, the choices are so good...

You can say that again. It is very hard not to overindulge and we'll see how well I do trying to resist over eating. I predict I will fail miserably!

 

[eandesmom]

I dream about Tonga Toast.

But now that I've seen that Grapefruit Cake picture (and the drink, and the salad) I want to shamelessly copy CP's entire meal!

Not helping either am I?

Cape May is on my breakfast wish list so I do hope you go there, so I can read a review!

I can relate to the clothes fitting right, in order to be able to eat what you want while you are there! You look great though. It isn't about the number, just about how you feel, that's what matters.

I think you should try out for AI, just not this trip.

I love your DHS plan!!

Can your younger DS get on the team mid year? I know you can here if there are slots open, it might not be out of the question.

 

[SunnieRN]

Well, first up, Capt'n Cookes (sp?), the QS at the poly has Tonga Toast in the morning. Just go a little early on you HS morning and buy one oop to share with DH and than forego the pastries!! That way you can try TT and still have grapefruit cake! Not that you will be able to get pressed coffee, but you can fill up your mug anyway.

So Day 4 brings us to Hollywood Studios. When I described the American Idol attraction earlier in my TR, I actually thought about trying out for the show in September. I still would like to, but honestly, that just seems like work to me. Not that I am not a hard worker. I have a really good work ethic, but I tend to be really, really type A when it comes to doing anything with music. I would want to be my absolute best and I don't think that coincides with being in the vacation mode. I know that AI is all about having fun, but if I am going to sing on a stage like that ,with that many people, and an awesome sound system,wel then I want to be totally prepared. So given that logic, I have decided not to do AI. If it was a longer trip and I could dedicate the appropriate amount of time and devote a day of vacation to preparation and participation, I would do it.

That sounds like a really logical decision! If you would be regretting not spending the time in the park it would defeat the purpose of "having fun and trying out." I am also sure you would be a contender for the finale which would take even additional time!!

But..... (Isn't there ALWAYS a but....), when we were in the park last time we saw a contestant filming a segment in ABC Commissary with one of her friends. I noticed she had a pass around her neck. She said that it was was a front of the line pass for her and her party, as the competition took so much time, between performing, rehearsing and the segments they film ahead of time. You may want to check into that as that would allow you access to your favorite rides and a chance to perform!! And this is not meant to be any kind of pressure at all, despite the fact that I could arrange my trip to be there to watch you in the competition, or anything like that. (Just that I'd mention that idea.)

Looking forward to more trip planning!!