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

[podsnel]

your boys looked PERFECTLY dry to me! Very cool about the dryers though...nice touch On the ride like Kali (I'm too lazy to look back on what the name of it was haha) your son looks like he is all by himself!
Thanks for the trip to the Darkside and happy you are on your way back to the Mothership! Are we headed to BLT next?

Tracy

Yes- BLT is next- if I can get photobucket to cooperate...

 

[podsnel]

We waved good-bye to the darkside, and in a short while we were enjoying this view for the second time this trip-

Our plan was to check-in at BLT, where Pods would drop me off with the boys, while he would take the car rental back to the TTC and come back on the monorail. This lovely flower arrangement was at the front desk-

I was pretty nervous right then- as you may recall, Sean was not too happy checking into HRH, and I was concerned he was going to have another meltdown checking into yet another hotel. But....he was just peachy!! My boy was all too happy to be back to the Mothership!! It was time to be escorted over to BLT with the bellman and our luggage. I had requested a lower floor villa, because I was worried about Sean and a high balcony, so we were on the 4th floor, in a Lake View 1 BDRM. Get ready to view the bazillion pics I took of the villa, it could take a while!

Looking back toward the hallway-

The view to the right-

The view to the left-

From the balcony door-

This chair is made of some soft, soft leather...

The shower in the master-

We were lucky enough to be in one of the villas with an actual laundry room- I thought this was AWESOME!!! All the messy, dirty laundry got thrown in there for me to do a few loads, and it was all behind the door along with stored suitcases- EXCELLENT!

And, finally, the extra full bath off of the hallway-

DH got back, and he was pretty impressed. I believe his exact quote was, "WOW. How many points a night is THIS?" I know alot of people say the decor here leaves them cold, and that it looks cheap, but I can't think of anything further from the truth. BLT made us feel like we were in the lap of luxury, it felt sooooooooooooooooooooooo swanky! We loved, loved, loved it, and I hope one day I can convince DH to do a little add-on....I bet the MK view villas are spectacular! The only negative we saw was that it did feel considerably smaller than Kidani- but that fact was easily forgotten once we were in the room for a bit and our perspective adjusted.

Next up...time for dinner at Chef Mickey's...groan....

 

[dvc4life]

OMG. Your pictures are amazing. I am sitting here lifting my chin up off of the counter. Thinking, God I can't wait to stay there in September in a 2 bedroom!

I'm with you on the decor. It looks so happenin. And to have a laundry room, . I didn't even now they had those. We are used to it behind a folding door. And I do do laundry while on vacation just so we don't have to pack so much.

Can't wait for more pictures! Did you take some of the pool area? I sure hope so!

 

[podsnel]

OMG. Your pictures are amazing. I am sitting here lifting my chin up off of the counter. Thinking, God I can't wait to stay there in September in a 2 bedroom!

I'm with you on the decor. It looks so happenin. And to have a laundry room, . I didn't even now they had those. We are used to it behind a folding door. And I do do laundry while on vacation just so we don't have to pack so much.

Can't wait for more pictures! Did you take some of the pool area? I sure hope so!

Yes, I took nitetime pool pics-

The laundry room is only in some of the villas- notice we don't have stools at an eat-in counter- it is just an island. That is the trade-off. I know that there is a rhyme and reason to which rooms get which (odd versus even, or something like that) but it escapes me at the moment. Sorry! You will LOVE IT, Chris!

 

[kid-at-heart]

Very nice! It is 10 degrees here at the moment. I finally had enough of the cold last week and (1) made reservations for my Mom (lives with us - has an apartment in the basement) to fly to FL for a couple of weeks and visit family and (2) immediately after her return, the rest of the two legged family will be flying to "the world" for a four day weekend trip. I have not made a last minute trip like this since graduate school. I plan most of our trips a year to three years in advance. What prompt me to decide we had to all go south for a sanity break - YOUR PHOTOS! Thank you Miss El!

 

[podsnel]

Very nice! It is 10 degrees here at the moment. I finally had enough of the cold last week and (1) made reservations for my Mom (lives with us - has an apartment in the basement) to fly to FL for a couple of weeks and visit family and (2) immediately after her return, the rest of the two legged family will be flying to "the world" for a four day weekend trip. I have not made a last minute trip like this since graduate school. I plan most of our trips a year to three years in advance. What prompt me to decide we had to all go south for a sanity break - YOUR PHOTOS! Thank you Miss El!

Well, that is just FABULOUS!!! I'm so happy I helped you spontaneously plan a trip!! I'm a big planner, too- but last minute ones are excellent- you kind of ride the wave of the vacation planning high right into the immediate vacation- excellent! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Here are a few pics from my recent trip to St John-

These are from the day we chartered a boat (Prowler) and spent the day in the BVI's- we had Thomas for a captain again, just like last year.

The Caves, Norman Island-

Time to do the SKI on the Willy T-

Helloooooooooooooooooooooooo Handsome Bartender!

Our guys on the Willy T-

Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Captain Thomas!

Hangin on the beach at the Soggy Dollar Bar, Jost Van Dyk-

A sign typical for all bathrooms in the BVI's-

Bart got it 3 times!!!!

Jenga on the beach at the Soggy Dollar-

Leaving my mark on Jenga-

We braved the rocks in bare feet to go to Ivan's- Kenny Chesney wrote "No shoes, no shirt, no problem" about this bar-

We sent Janie back to get the boat when we wanted to leave-

The next day in Trunk Bay on STJ-

With Janie & Pam in Trunk-

Margarita Phil's-

Hope that keeps you happy until I write a TR!

 

[mckryan]

Just wanted to forwarn you for your next WDW trip. McDs is closing at DTD.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2389106

 

[podsnel]

Just wanted to forwarn you for your next WDW trip. McDs is closing at DTD.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2389106

Thank-you! I did see that- I am so happy i took Sean to the giant golden arches while it was still possible. I wonder if its closing because of the Disney Dining Director idiot or if McDs pulled out because they have that MEGA Mickey D's right outside of Disney. Anyway, thanks for the post- so I don't include it in the next trip's book!

 

[mckryan]

I'm going to go with Disney Dining Director Idiot because of the dumbing down of the menus in some of my favorite WDW signature restaurants!

 

[manntra]

Helooooooooooooooooo Captain Thomas is right!
Great picture of the rocks and the sea foam too!
Okay now where was I? Oh yes....BLT....wow! I must say I am super impressed....I was never really feeling the decor but I dig it! And the laundry room! How cool is that!! I love to have my luggage tucked away somewhere pretending I never have to use it again Is the shower head directly overhead? And that bed looks super comfy!!

Tracy

 

[Flossbolna]

Looks like you had a great time in the sun!!

I agree with you on BLT: I love the design a lot and for it does not look cheap at all. It looks rather Scandinavian to me, I have been in a few rather nice hotels in Sweden that have exactly that style!

 

[Tinks "SS"]

Thank you! Thank you!

Love, Love the pics of BLT AND of the handsome bartenders! yumm. lol They both look so nice right now!! 3 more days til i'm at BLT (only wish it was a 1 BR though instead of a studio) next time!

 

[podsnel]

Helooooooooooooooooo Captain Thomas is right!
Great picture of the rocks and the sea foam too!
Okay now where was I? Oh yes....BLT....wow! I must say I am super impressed....I was never really feeling the decor but I dig it! And the laundry room! How cool is that!! I love to have my luggage tucked away somewhere pretending I never have to use it again Is the shower head directly overhead? And that bed looks super comfy!!

Tracy

That's a great line- made me LOL! There are two shower heads- the one on the wall and then the "rain" one overhead. Had that rain one in STJ, too- with windows overlooking the sea. Not to shabby watching the sunset while you shower....

Oh- and Thomas? He is ALL THAT. He has lived on St Thomas his whole life- poor baby!

I'm going to go with Disney Dining Director Idiot because of the dumbing down of the menus in some of my favorite WDW signature restaurants!

I HATE that DDDictator!! He ruins EVERYTHING!!

Looks like you had a great time in the sun!!

I agree with you on BLT: I love the design a lot and for it does not look cheap at all. It looks rather Scandinavian to me, I have been in a few rather nice hotels in Sweden that have exactly that style!

I bet Sweden is great- the rooms at BLT remind me of the W Hotel- I stayed at the one in Union Square, NYC, several years ago- nice!

Thank you! Thank you!

Love, Love the pics of BLT AND of the handsome bartenders! yumm. lol They both look so nice right now!! 3 more days til i'm at BLT (only wish it was a 1 BR though instead of a studio) next time!

You're welcome. Oh- and Jane corrected me last night- we called him a HOT bartender, not a HANDSOME bartender. OOPs!

You are going to have a blast!!! So excited for you!!

 

[DB&KS]

I have "referred" back to the picture of Captain Thomas three times, oh my ! St. Thomas looks amazing and it looks like you had a great time, with great friends.

 

[dvc4life]

Great St. John pictures. Looks like you had a blast! Those Margaritas look amazing!

And I agree, Heloooooooooooooooooooooooooo Captain Thomas, where have you been all my life! And too bad Kenny Chesney wasn't there. That would be too sweet!

Loved the one picture of Pods. He has my favorite beverage in his hand.

 

[podsnel]

I have "referred" back to the picture of Captain Thomas three times, oh my ! St. Thomas looks amazing and it looks like you had a great time, with great friends.

Yes, he does seem to have that effect on women... He really is a nice person though, too- he is not just a pretty face! I told him that last year when I wrote my TRand posted his pic that he had a few fans out there...

Great St. John pictures. Looks like you had a blast! Those Margaritas look amazing!

And I agree, Heloooooooooooooooooooooooooo Captain Thomas, where have you been all my life! And too bad Kenny Chesney wasn't there. That would be too sweet!

Loved the one picture of Pods. He has my favorite beverage in his hand.

My girl Janie LOVES Kenny Chesney- she and her DH are going to see him in Las Vegas for their birthdays this spring.

FWIW, Captain Thomas is in his senior year in college in NC- when he finishes in a few months, he will be back in St Thomas with his family for good- working in the family business...hope we get to hire him again next year!

And those Margaritas are GINORMOUS!!! They helped us all do alot of damage in the jewelry store we all visited when we left there...

 

[podsnel]

We were off to Chef Mickey's. This was the one restaurant that my kids had requested we eat at- it is the restaurant that I called DD in a panic in the car on the drive home from HHI this past summer when I realized I was past the 90 day mark. Because they really wanted to go.

But I really don't know why!

Well, all I can say about it is here is a clear wake-up call for everyone who thinks their life with their kids will always be the same.

It won't. Like all else in life, kids are CONSTANTLY evolving. Constantly growing-up and changing. Lately I've been feeling like I'm going to blink my eyes and they are going to be off to college. I'd be lying if I said this doesn't freak me out, because it does. A whole lot. So when my kids said, "Why haven't we gone back to Chef Mickey's?" I didn't question anything, I just booked it. Oops.

To give you an idea of what our last visit to CM's was like, I have a few pics from 2005- when they were 11, 8 and 6-

With Chef not-Mickey

And Timmy danced when the Characters danced....Timmy danced all over Disney that year....

So, in my mind, I was looking forward to more crazy fun with my nutty kids while we shoveled in some CM buffet. I can honestly say, it's not just my kids who have changed since 2005. CM's has also changed quite a bit. All the bad food reviews it inspires? Well, let's just say that they have not been too greatly exaggerated....

yum? Never have I been more happy to see Rita-

Tyler went for his usual strawberry smoothie-

The character interaction IS still really great there- it's just that, sadly, my kids are kind of in the "I'm too cool for characters" phase of life. See? Evolving, changing....bummer. They did manage to pose for a couple of photos, though-

I do love Goofy- he's my favorite-

For some reason, throughout this meal, Timmy & Tyler were MIA ALL THE TIME. I think they may have been up at the desserts...I know they spent a LOT of time in the bathroom....I can't figure it out. So I had fun twirling the napkin by MYSELF!

I had booked this dinner as the one where they would celebrate my birthday. I meant to switch to a different restaurant, but forgot all about it until they brought out my special dessert. And my boys were still MIA. So I blew out my candle ALONE...

Well, Pods and Sean were there, but the dynamic duo were still mysteriously absent from the festivities. When they FINALLY came back to the table, they said there was a long line at the bathroom (for the MEN'S room????). Whatever. I just find it so odd that we go to Chef Mickey's for all the hokey-pokey-craziness, certainly NOT for the food, and, my boys are in a bathroom line (which I STILL question) for all of the napkin twirling nuttiness the place has to offer. Ah well...at least I know what to say if they ever want to eat there again... (And FWIW, it is my personal opinion that they were hiding out in said men's room to avoid having to dance and napkin twirl...maybe they'll confess one day when they're feeling honest in their 40's).

A couple more forced character photos-

And we paid the check (which I waited for for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time)and skee-daddled. Actually, Pods left with the boys first, because Sean was getting a little antsy. I will say this about it though- the manager of the restaurant was LOVELY and kind and gracious...even when I read the bill wrong and thought they charged us $30 for Sean to eat a plate of fries...which they did NOT. They didn't charge him at all. I was over-tired, not feeling well (did I mention I was sick all week? I was. I was just ignoring that fact because I was at WDW) and clearly not my usual fun fun fun self. I am one to barely look at the bill usually, I leave that to Pods (which is obviously a GOOD thing). Anywhoo....

Up next...Wishes Fireworks! Then TOWL! In the wrong order because I can't tell time!!

 

[podsnel]

So, I am all happy with myself, it is just 8:00 and that means I have a whole hour to get up to the TOWL and watch Wishes, right? WRONG!! I don't know if you have ever read in my other posts, but I seem to have a knack for missing fireworks at WDW. I screw up the times, I'm in a restaurant against a wall, I am NEVER properly positioned to enjoy the spectacle of Disneylicious fireworks, or at least I haven't been in quite a while. I am NOT one of those who will line up hours in advance (I'm too busy having other fun somewhere, I suppose) and I am also in a family of non-enthusiastic fireworks admirers who would balk at the idea of missing some short line rides to stand on the perfect corner and enjoy the view. Sigh....I also am not one of those that would run in front of all the people who DO have the patience to line up an hour in advance- I would NEVER do that, it's rude!! So...I was looking forward to taking advantage of our primo BLT accomodations and getting my behind up to the TOWL in time to see Wishes in it's entirety. Except.....

Wishes does not start at 9. That is when Illuminations begins. Wishes on this night was going off at 8. You know, when I was on the bridge from the Contemporary to BLT. Of course. So here are my fireworks pics from not the most perfect place to take them, but I took them nonetheless, as this is as close as I may ever come to actually viewing Wishes...you know...because I can't tell time or read a schedule.

Back in the room, the boys were all relaxing- we would not be going to EMH at MK tonight, the day at Universal had wiped us out! That's ok- Sean was happy with his book and his "friends" back in the comfy king-size bed, and Pods was watching a game on the tube- it WAS Sunday, after all! Timmy & Tyler were itchin' to blow through some of their hard earned coins at the arcade, so I walked them over (to show them where it was- very easy, right at the end of the walkway from BLT, pretty much. Very convenient) and left them instructions to waste some money in the arcade ONLY before returning to our room.

I, on the other hand, was going up to the TOWL- and nothing was going to stop me, even if the fireworks were over!!

Next up- TOWL for me and 1 other patron- and the BEST bartender in WDW!

 

[kid-at-heart]

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.

 

[podsnel]

The kids were pretty much salivating at the prospect of hanging out in that arcade- it IS huge, after all, and recently redone, so all shiny and new. I turned around and went back over to BLT, catching a glimpse of the water parade on the way-

After which I went downstairs to the BLT lobby to be escorted upstairs to the TOWL. Which had a total of 1 guy at the bar, 1 bartender, and 3 wait staff (although actually, maybe one of them was the mgr.). Pretty good ratio of drinkers to servers, I'd say! The bartender, who i believe was named Holly, was ALL THAT. She was a positively magical CM who completely adored working up there in this very, very special and exclusive lounge. She explained that usually she works the pool bar, and every so often gets to do the TOWL- too bad it's not more busy, because then she could be there all the time spreading pixie dust on the top floor of BLT. I asked her to recommend a cocktail- she said she was partial to this one, and now I can't remember which one it was!! Maybe a Pamarita? Well, I SHOULD remember, because I went back the next night to have it again, and it was just as yummy the second time around. Here's a pic-

Since we had the place to ourselves, I felt completely comfortable taking plenty of pics-

The little secluded drinking nook-

The view is breathtaking. I finished my cocktail and said goodnight to my new friend Holly and the English gentleman I was sitting at the bar with (who was on the last night of his 3 week BLT holiday. Aaaahhhh to be rich and British! Love those long vacations! WOW!!) Somewhere along the way, i took a photo of the chandelier...

OOps- I didn't need to go all the way down to the bottom, I could have just gotten off on the 4th floor. DUH. Anyway, back at the room, the Ts were still not there, so I went over to find them in the arcade. Looks like they were getting their nickel's worth!

We headed back to BLT, but first the Ts needed to take a nap in the Contemporary-

Aaahhhh...home at last-

And then to bed, where we all got a good night's sleep- well, except for Pods, of course. Who I had convinced to try staying in the king- but he got kicked out by Sean at some point that night, so once again, it was the pull-out for him!

Tomorrow- breakfast at Kona Cafe and those Tea cups are FINALLY open!!