Kidani, HRH & BLT in 6 nights- Yes! We are THAT crazy!Nov 04-10,2009 OBX 4/16/10

[podsnel]

You may have only been on the bridge but your fireworks shots are awesome! I am glad Sean is back in "his" king sized bed and comfort zone.

I thought of you this morning and your hot bartender. My work computer was attacked this morning by another virus right after viewing your photos of the hot bartender (third time it has been hit with a virus this semester) and was flashing me photos of "NEKED PEOPLE" (as my southern friend from school used to say) (at least the top half was neked). I called the help desk twice in a twenty minute period to get someone over and stop the "flashing" photos. When the student tech guy walked in all he could say was, "oh my". I agreed and left for class. When I returned, well, no more flashing but my computer is still saying it is infected with a virus. Hopefully when I return tomorrow the virus will be gone and any photos which pop up will display clothed people.

Thanks for saying such nice things about the fireworks- I really was disappointed I think because I didn't have all my equipment with me- tripod, zoom lens- that stuff. So I had to balance on the edge of the railing as usual, and my tripod went unused- as usual.

I am so sorry about your computer getting attacked by viruses! Doesn't Macafee or Norton stop them? I guess there are new ones all the time. Have the neked people gone? Or are they still popping up?

Here's hoping all the people on your computer are clothed today!

Oh- love the signature-

 

[Mom2BCCC]

I've really enjoyed your trip report. I can't believe how much you packed into 6 nights. BLT looks great. DD4 and I are leaving 2/28 for 5 nights in a 2BR LV room. I can't wait to check out BLT!

Like you, we have 3 boys but were blessed with a "surprise" DD. Because of the age and gender gap with her brothers, on family trips we often rush through the princess/fantasyland experiences. It's hard to please everyone in a limited number of days. So for the 2nd year in a row (hopefully a tradition for years to come) DD and I will be spending a week with my brother's family (they have 2 girls who are the same age as DD). Its a win for everyone. I get an extra "fix". DS's get some guy time with Dad. DD is in heaven!

Now I'm thinking a trip with me and the boys would be great. They've never done Universal. DS9 is a big Harry Potter fan.

I'm sorry your TR will be coming to an end. When do you go again?

 

[podsnel]

I've really enjoyed your trip report. I can't believe how much you packed into 6 nights. BLT looks great. DD4 and I are leaving 2/28 for 5 nights in a 2BR LV room. I can't wait to check out BLT!

Like you, we have 3 boys but were blessed with a "surprise" DD. Because of the age and gender gap with her brothers, on family trips we often rush through the princess/fantasyland experiences. It's hard to please everyone in a limited number of days. So for the 2nd year in a row (hopefully a tradition for years to come) DD and I will be spending a week with my brother's family (they have 2 girls who are the same age as DD). Its a win for everyone. I get an extra "fix". DS's get some guy time with Dad. DD is in heaven!

Now I'm thinking a trip with me and the boys would be great. They've never done Universal. DS9 is a big Harry Potter fan.

I'm sorry your TR will be coming to an end. When do you go again?

Hi there! How wonderful to be going with your DD and that she will have her cousins to "princess out" with! FWIW, I tried to get DH to go for #4, hoping to get a DD (or a 4th boy would have been fine too!) and he flat out said NO!! I bet your sons would love Universal- my boys do. I think WWoHP is going to be incredible, too!

I'm sad my TR is almost done, too! I'm going back April 30th for 4 nights with girlfriends on a second DISmoms trip. We're staying at BCV in a 2 BDRM- actually needed to rent points to do it. There are 6 of us going, and if it's anything like last year, it will be a blast!

 

[manntra]

Loved the update! The picture of Sean grabbing Goofy's tooth still has me cracking up!! What is with the bathroom thing? They must have been avoiding the dance/napkin twirling like you said....I used to hide in the bathroom at weddings during the bouquet toss I must have jinxed myself seeing that I am 39 and still not married!
I think your fireworks pictures are great....and what a great lounge area too The artwork was pretty cool too! I need to meet the British guy who can stay at BLT for 3 weeks! Wow!! I am not too good at catching the fireworks either so you are not alone being schedule challenged

Tracy

 

[Tinks "SS"]

Can't wait to visit the TOTW lounge!! One more day!!! I'm so ready to be in some warmer weather right now!! OUr beach pics look simply DEVINE! and the fireworks and BLT. Well, it's awesome!! Love the chef Mickey's pics and SEan playing with Goofy's tooth is awesome. I had to go back to find that picture. So glad you got to celebrate your Bday just wish it wasn't alone. lol My boys are really beginning to enjoy bathrooms too. Is it a boy thing?? i thought the girls were the primpers?? who knows!! Still loving the TR!!

 

[podsnel]

Loved the update! The picture of Sean grabbing Goofy's tooth still has me cracking up!! What is with the bathroom thing? They must have been avoiding the dance/napkin twirling like you said....I used to hide in the bathroom at weddings during the bouquet toss I must have jinxed myself seeing that I am 39 and still not married!
I think your fireworks pictures are great....and what a great lounge area too The artwork was pretty cool too! I need to meet the British guy who can stay at BLT for 3 weeks! Wow!! I am not too good at catching the fireworks either so you are not alone being schedule challenged

Tracy

Hi Tracy! I definitely feel so much better knowing I am not the only one who can't seem to get that fireworks schedule right! Oh- and Goofy doesn't appreciate the dental attention, just in case you were planning on examining his chompers for yourself one day! But by all means, get out of the bathroom for that bouquet toss!

Can't wait to visit the TOTW lounge!! One more day!!! I'm so ready to be in some warmer weather right now!! OUr beach pics look simply DEVINE! and the fireworks and BLT. Well, it's awesome!! Love the chef Mickey's pics and SEan playing with Goofy's tooth is awesome. I had to go back to find that picture. So glad you got to celebrate your Bday just wish it wasn't alone. lol My boys are really beginning to enjoy bathrooms too. Is it a boy thing?? i thought the girls were the primpers?? who knows!! Still loving the TR!!

Are you going to WDW? I hadn't noticed. Have a GREAT TIME!!!!! So excited for you and can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[podsnel]

On Monday morning, The Ts and I were going to do something we had never done together at WDW before- we were going to go out to breakfast. I know that sounds CRAZY- I mean, EVERYONE goes out to breakfast at WDW, right? Well....when one of your kids eats only french fries in restaurants, and you really don't want him having french fries for breakfast (he eats nutrigrain bars for that meal) you end up skipping that meal always. But it occured to me that the 3 of us could go and have breakfast and Pods & Sean could just meet us a little later in the MK. Because I couldn't take it anymore. All the food porn on the DIS had finally gotten me. I had to try Tonga Toast and Macadamia Nut pancakes! Sooo....we headed over to the CR to hop on the monorail-

And were quickly stepping off at the Poly.

We were perfectly on time for our 9am ADR.

And the restaurant was dead empty!

We were seated and ordered pretty quickly- our cousin (are the CM's cousins here, too?) was very mellow and attentive. Tyler the Strawberry king ordered his usual-

And I enjoyed the press pot of Kona coffee- maybe the first kona coffee I have had since I was in Hawaii on my honeymoon 23 years ago-

Timmy ordered plain french toast-

And Tyler ordered the Tonga (of course, i told him what he would be eating, he had no say in the matter!) While I knew he would love it, I knew it would be waaaaaay too sweet for my tastebuds- but that didn't mean I didn't want to try it!!

I explained to the Strawberry King that he could pour the Strawberry Sauce on, but he chose syrup at first-

And he was in love! I had gotten the Macadamia Nut Pancakes-

I don't even have words to describe how incredibly delicious these were!! They were more savory than sweet (which I like) and just so, sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo amazing!! I love these pancakes. In a world where carbs and fat are good I would make them a staple of my diet. On maybe an hourly basis. Anyway, i will be making a BIG point of eating at KC for breakfast again in the future...and again...and again... They brought me bacon instead of sausage, so a minute later they brought out some sausage for me. Which i barely touched, because I was too committed to the pancakes. But Timmy was happy about it, because he polished off a LOT of sausage AND bacon that morning! Tyler finally saw the error of his syrup-ways, and poured on some strawberry-

And while that close-up may look disgusting, here is his reaction to the first bite-

I called Pods just as we were paying the check- and he was actually on the monorail. So they hopped off to meet us at the Poly, and we all headed over to MK together. PERFECT!!

Next up- Timmy pays a visit to the barbershop- Oh YEA!!!

 

[5forDiz]

Hey Ellen !!!! Hmmm a loooong bathroom line explanation from your sons ? 2 soon to be teen boys..... do ya think maybe some lovely young ladies may have caught their eye ?? so much better than looking at Goofy !



All the food porn on the DIS had finally gotten me. I had to try Tonga Toast and Macadamia Nut pancakes!


Kona Cafe !! It's one of our favs and I for one could sit there all day eating their chocolate lava cake-torte


And I enjoyed the press pot of Kona coffee- maybe the first kona coffee I have had since I was in Hawaii on my honeymoon 23 years ago-


The hubs and I honeymooned in Hawaii too (27 years ago)


I had gotten the Macadamia Nut Pancakes-

Heaven !!!

~ Laura

 

[podsnel]

Hi Laura!!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I did feel weird because my birthday was at the end of the month...but what the heck, right? I would love to be there on my ACTUAL birthday one day- maybe my 50th. That way I'll get to see all the Christmas stuff AND celebrate in the happiest place on earth!

I have no idea about the boys- and I feel like a horrible parent saying that, but they're responsible enough not to have been running around the restaurant tripping people. And hey! Goofy is a DAZZLER in a chef's hat!!

Originally we were going to eat at Kona for dinner on Friday night, but decided it would be easier to just ride EE after dark and have dinner at the HRH after we checked in. It was the breakfast that was calling to me, anyway! But I'll have to try the lava cake one day when I head there for dinner- I love lava cake.

Where in Hawaii did you honeymoon? We were at Kona Village on the big Island for 5 nights and the Hyatt in Kaanapali on Maui for 5. WOW. We couldn't afford another vacation for like 5 years after that!! I'm hoping we can go back for our 25th ....one year later than, so we can stay at the new DVC resort. We've never seen Oahu, and would like to- also want to take T&T. Maybe a week there, then a few days on Maui....Hawaii was incredible.....

 

[spiceycat]

your boys might have been in the restroom - it is not in the restuarant - but down some steps in another floor.

for some reason chef Mickey uses that one instead of the one near the gift shops/arcade????

just tell them next time to go to one near the arcade.

found out the hard way. Never going there again.... very strange area.

loved your trip reports. Love BLT!!!! when you check in you can ask for the fireworks schedule. they will point it out to you.

so sorry you missed it from TOWL. the bartender when I was there was a man - nice person. everyone that I have meet at BLT have been very, very nice.

 

[dvc4life]

Your breakfast at Kona looks so yummmmmmy! We are going in March for supper one night, but I definitely want to try it for breakfast some time. Maybe in September when we are at BLT!

 

[podsnel]

A little side track....

On this past Saturday morning we were all well enough to go on our annual overnight in the Poconos with our friends Linda & Alex (Alex is Tyler's Godfather) and their kids, Nicholas & Natasha (who is our Goddaughter). They own property at a resort called Eagle Rock, which is small and perfect for us, being that we only ski once a year (due to my CPA hubby). One thing I can say about this year, though- it was c-c-c-c-c-c-cold out there!!! BRRRRRRRR! But all the recently fallen snow made for the best conditions we have ever had there, so that was great! Here are a few pics to give you an idea of what it was like-

On the chair lift-

Boys at the top of the hill-

Us-

View from the room-

Slopes lit for nitetime skiing-

We went out for dinner, and Timmy ordered, "And ummm uhhhh, for the appetizer, I'll have the ANTI-PAS-TEEEE. (Because we are all TOTALLy AGAINST Pas-teee!! ) We said, Tim, you're never gonna eat that! Do you even know what that is? "Yes- it's a delicious assortment of Italian meats and cheeses". FYI- this is all the fault of DCL- ever since that cruise, no matter where we are, if there are appetizers on the menu, this is how he orders it!

After dinner, we go tubing- except I wimped out because the wind was HOWLING, it was maybe 2 degrees out there, and I was just plain exhausted. Oh well. Now I'm mad at myself because they all had a GREAT time, the conditions were awesome! Here i am at the door with Linda before they went-

The kids-

When they returned, we all curled up in front of the tv to watch the Olympics- women's moguls were on.

We didn't win any medals for our skiing that day, but Linda & Pods shared a medal from Captain Morgan, if that's any clue as to where OUR talents lie!

On Sunday we headed home for a busy day- that afternoon, our friend, Shelley, was being ordained as a minister at our old church where Sean was christened. It's such a small world- Shelley & her hubby and Pods & I all met in a new members class at our new church when both S & I were pregnant (I was with tyler). Shelley & her husband went on to lead the Youth Ministry at our church, and some where in doing that, Shelley got a calling to become a minister- so she attended Princeton Theological Seminary, and lo and behold, her first full time job as a preacher is at the church we transfered from. One big circle, life always seems to come together in the craziest ways!

After the service, we were headed over to Fiona's house for Chinese New Year. Fiona spent part of her childhood in Taiwan, and began celebrating CNY then (she is originally from Scotland)- her family celebrates it every year, now here in the US. If you have never been to Chinese New Year, let me just say that it is the most AWESOME holiday!!! Red is worn for goodluck (and goes really well, considering this year we were celebrating on Valentine's Day), and the food is incredible!! It is a HUGE feast, with probably 9 or 10 courses. The way we do it is everything is prepped before hand, and then most of the guests take turns cooking a dish. Everytime a course comes out, the cook yells, "NEW DISH" and everyone toasts. Some pics-

Isn't the dining room so pretty?

Evie digs in-

Joan & Fiona yell, New Dish!

Darraugh & Fiona are very accomplished in the kitchen-

Paul & Darraugh show off their technique-

Oh no! Fiona yells, "last dish!"

By the end, everyone is stuffed with kimchi, twice cooked pork, kung pao shrimp, shrimp and snowpeas, beef in oyster sauce, chicken and cucumbers, fish in a sweet & sour sauce, string beans and shrimp, and many more things that I am forgetting- it is just unbelievable!! My favorite dinner party ever!

Ok- enough sidetracking. Next, it's back to WDW and a spin on the TeaCups!

 

[podsnel]

your boys might have been in the restroom - it is not in the restuarant - but down some steps in another floor.

for some reason chef Mickey uses that one instead of the one near the gift shops/arcade????

just tell them next time to go to one near the arcade.

found out the hard way. Never going there again.... very strange area.

loved your trip reports. Love BLT!!!! when you check in you can ask for the fireworks schedule. they will point it out to you.

so sorry you missed it from TOWL. the bartender when I was there was a man - nice person. everyone that I have meet at BLT have been very, very nice.

Well THAT makes alot of sense!! And actually, now that you mention it, I do recall they said something about the bathroom being very far away! Next time I will tell them to go to the one near the arcade- although next time, we will be at CG or the Wave!

Thanks for the advice about picking up a schedule for the fireworks- but something tells me I will STILL screw it up!

The bartender you had was the mgr, I think. Mine told me he is who is usually there, and when he is not, she is the one who fills in. Loved that place- hope I can go back next year!!

And thank-you so much for reading- I'm really happy that you are!

Your breakfast at Kona looks so yummmmmmy! We are going in March for supper one night, but I definitely want to try it for breakfast some time. Maybe in September when we are at BLT!

Great plan to go for breakfast when you are at BLT- sooooooo easy on that monorail. I will be fitting a dinner in at Kona sometime- maybe next year when I (hopefully) am back at BLT.

 

[kid-at-heart]

That is one large ANTI-PAS-TEEEE. It does look delicious! I think we need to move close to you. You attend/host the most awesome "eating" parties. I am still trying to figure out how to be around your neck of the woods for your annual seafood party.
We can provide a really tasty gumbo or cajun style shrimp boil.

 

[podsnel]

We entered MK probably a little after 10, and one of the first things I spotted was that the Barber Shop was very, very uncrowded. Having the boys get haircuts in MK is one of those things that I ADORE....and, fortunately for me, Timmy was still wanting to do it. Tyler, on the other hand, being 12 and too-cool-for-school put the big kybash on that one for himself- no matter how much we begged. And Sean wasn't interested either. Ah well...here's what they looked like in 2005-

Sigh....and here Timmy is in 2009-

Ta-DAA!!

No amount of cajoling from the barber(ette?) could get Tyler up in her seat, so we had to be content with just Tim's new do. Love the back-

We were excited to see the MHTP was back in business, and we would be on the next ride. Someone else was riding first- how COOL!!

I have to say, Alice was all THAT! She was REALLY hamming it up in that cup with those girls. For that matter, whenever i see Alice in MK or Epcot, she always is Alice to the hilt- really a fun, FUN character. Cinderella may be my favorite Princess, and Goofy my favorite fab 5, but Alice is up there too, just for sheer personality PLUS! Soon it was our turn to take a spin- and for the first time ever, we had to split up- we have finally gotten too big as a family of 5 to fit. Sean was soooooo happy to finally ride!!

Yippee!!! We rode another time, then made our way over to Tomorrowland. Cont'd next post, as I just realized some of my upload didn't "take" on PB so I need to go upload!

 

[podsnel]

We paid a visit to Winnie the pooh before getting on the TS- when the kids have thrie own drivers licenses, will they STILL need to ride this one? They LOVE it- every visit!

I think this time, though, the noise was getting to Sean-

Love it!

We went for a spin with Buzz-

And then for the first time, went into Monsters Inc! It was hilarious!

We made nice in front of the castle for the PhotoPass Photographer...but ours came out better, so here they are-

I took a few Christmassy pics while we exited. Someday i'm coming for ALL the Christmas stuff!

Daisy was just coming out- she was nice enough to wave hello to my family-

Then we headed for the monorail and made our way to Epcot-

Next- the Sum of All thrills, and where are those Crepes?

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I love your TR! I read it from beginning to end (well, to your last post.) Well done! Looks like a busy, fun time! I may have to seek out those nachos when we're at Universal! Also drooling over the Kona breakfast--maybe we'll work that in our next trip too (even though we did it last time and have all our ADRs already for May. Darn you, Tonga Toast!) My kids want to get haircuts at MK now after seeing your pics. Do you need reservations? How long does it take? How much does it cost?

 

[podsnel]

I love your TR! I read it from beginning to end (well, to your last post.) Well done! Looks like a busy, fun time! I may have to seek out those nachos when we're at Universal! Also drooling over the Kona breakfast--maybe we'll work that in our next trip too (even though we did it last time and have all our ADRs already for May. Darn you, Tonga Toast!) My kids want to get haircuts at MK now after seeing your pics. Do you need reservations? How long does it take? How much does it cost?

Hi and welcome, new reader! Definitely work in the nachos and Kona- you won't be sorry about either. Timmy is so happy he has inspired someone else to get the MK barbershop treatment! You can NOT make reservations, though- but usually it is either VERY CROWDED or VERY EMPTY- so you just have to check when you are nearby- the last time we did it, it was right before parade time, so it was empty. When we came out, the parade finishes right there, so we didn't miss a thing- and some of the characters came up to our boys to play with their heads- well, the mischevious ones, like tweedle Dum & Tweedle dee! The cut takes...as long as a normal boy cut, maybe 10 or 15 minutes? And it is a good deal- with tip it was around $20- maybe less (so sorry- i am HORRIBLE with remembering $$$- that's why I married an accountant, LOL!! I'm better with the words, I guess!). I do hope you get to do it- the kids will get SOOOOOOO much attention everywhere you go- I think I need a buzz cut next time! Thanks for reading!

 

[KirstenB]

I love Timmy's haircut. For some reason, I really like the Buzz photo of Pods and Shawn. Just something in their body language that's really sweet. Some of my favorite photos are of the kids standing together with their backs to us.

 

[manntra]

It HAS been a cold winter.....I have only been snowboarding twice this year....I just can't do it when it is so cold out! My niece told me I am old and cold!! We have a cottage in the Poconos too....on Elk Lake....close to Honesdale--very pretty area
Love Timmy's do! I don't think I have ever seen the red, white and blue!
How cute is that with Alice spinning around in her teacups!! She's adorable!!

Tracy