Live from PBH

[debandbill]

Sitting here in the lobby of Portofino Bay (too cheap to pay for in-room internet.) We checked in today for a 5 night stay around 4 after a trip to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa where hubby received another good report after his PET/CT scan this morning, He is three years post-treatment for throat cancer.

I had booked a garden view 2 queen room..Florida ressie rate but asked the desk clerk if she could do anything for us as we are celebrating not just the good checkup but our 33rd anniversay and my 60th BD ! She was quite quick and seemingly happy to give us a Bay view room in the east wing, 5th floor with a wonderful balcony so I thanked her profusely. The room is nice, but not huge. The bathroom is plenty big with two sinks. I am going to see if Bill will help me push the beds back against the walls..they have them placed about 10 inches out from the wall and it takes up a bunch of space in the room.

We spent a few minutes in the room unpacking and on the balcony enjoying the view, then went to the Flying Fish for a drink and watched the sun set then on to CityWalk for dinner at Bubba Gumps. The weather is quite crisp tonight...in the low 60's so a light jacket felt very good. Tomorrow should be wonderful with highs around 80 degrees and clear.

We are off to Disney tomorrow to use one of our remaining two days on our Florida Resident three day play tickets. Hope to catch Wishes as we have not seen it since the first time in 2005. The schedule says that there is a 6 PM show but i will verify that at the ticket booth before I upgrade us to a park hopper tomorrow.

Then we will probably do the parks here Wednesday and who knows what from there. Its nice to just have a leisurely trip and do what we want when we want.

I am off to check emails and then a nice early night. Gotta rest up for the parks tomorrow.

Deb

 

[tfoster]

Congrats on so many things - the good check-up, the anniversary, the birthday, AND the upgrade!

Glad your stay is off to a great start and I hope it continues!

 

[christophfam]

Wow, you do have a LOT to celebrate. Have a wonderful stay!!

 

[dsmom]

Enjoy your stay! We are arriving at PB for Christmas- we love it there!

Aren't the balconies wonderful?

We are in North Florida- I see you are in Punta Gorda- we LOVE it there!!

Happy anniversary/birthday

 

[debandbill]

Hi everyone.

We had a wonderful day Tuesday at Disney. We drove from PBH to the TTCr and got a very nice agent who suggested we upgrade our 3-day play ticket to a Florida ressie weekday select annual pass and it only ran us a few bucks more than a park hopper. We then hit the highlights at Epcot (for sure Soarin) and then rode the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and spent a very leisurely afternoon there before finally getting to see Wishes after several attempts on other visits that were thwarted by weather, etc. The weather is just perfect and we were comfortable all day in jeans and light shirts and those light jackets felt good after sundown. Crowds were pretty low so we had almost no waits at any of the venues. Since the show was over by 6:30, we came back to the hotel and ate some pizza at Sal's. Its was good, but talked to me all night..think we ate too late.

Today, we slept in a bit and read the newspaper (USA Today delivered to our room door) and had a couple of cups of coffee before heading out to City Walk for brekkie at Pastamore's then on to US. Had a super day there with good weather..a little warmer than yesterday and very light crowds. Did not really need FOTL at any of the rides but we used them anyway cause we could! Went to the beach pool around 4 and stayed until sunset and now we are trying to decide what to have for din din.

Still loving our stay. I have stayed at both Hard Rock and RPR before and so far have decided that while PBH is lovely and our view and balcony are wonderful that, unless, I get a nice price break, I would be just as happy at any of the onsite hotels.

Good night everyone,

Deb

 

[CornishPixie]

You should go to RESTAURANT.COM and get a $25 Bice coupon for $2! They are having an 80% off sale on gift certificates. Use the word "GIFT" at checkout. I just got mine!

 

[debandbill]

We continue to have a charmed trip with wonderful cool weather and fairly light crowds. PBH is busier since last night...a big convention group decended.

Slept in again..coffee and the paper and a fairly late start to see IOA. We thought we would just check the crowds at WWOHP and if it seemed impossible, we would do an early start in the am and do FJ then. The whole HP area is pretty amazing and we stolled (not sure this is good term since it was wall to wall people) thru the area and checked for wait times twice today deciding that indeed, we would have to use the early admission tomorrow. Waits were 60 minutes both times..not horrible but more than we are willing to wait . Since we have annual passes there is no pressure to go but we really want to experience FJ. I am hoping that my tummy survives...I want to love the ride.

Bill and I came back to the hotel mid-afternoon and changed into our "wet" clothes to ride Rip Saw Falls and Bilge Rat Barges..had so much fun but we were chilly ...saw many people with wet sneakers and clothes and felt for them..it was too cool to be wet all day. After showers and a little rest it was back to CityWalk and Margaritaville for drinks and nachos. They were yummy and I was surprised how busy it was that early. The evening was just beautiful and we listened to the music on the Piazza as we walked back from the boats after eating.

So..its Harry Potter tomorrow early and then maybe Hollywood Studios a bit later. May do a bit of Christmas shopping as well...nice to have options and be unrushed. It's our last day but we refuse to be stressed!

Later....

Deb

PS..Thanks CP for the Bice suggestion..I will take a look.