LIVE TRw/pics-UPDATE #24-Kidani for our 10th Anniversary, Easter & DDs bdays!!!

[dopeygirl76]

Well I am going to attempt to do a live TR!!! I have done them in the past and attempted to do a TR after our first SSMC in September, however a new position at work interfered with my DIS time!!!!

We leave in 15 days for 9 days as Kidani!!!
So I am going to begin with a little background....

we are a family of four: Me (DW 34), DH (35), DD6 (who will turn 7 April 25) and DD4 (who just had her bday March 22). My DH and I began dating 16 years ago today!! Yes I thought he was playing an April Fools Prank on me!!! We will celebrate 10 years of marriage on April 21! I have always been a Disney fan but had never traveled as a child. When I was pregnant with our youngest DD and our older DD was 2.5 friends were going to WDW we decided to tag along...that was Dec 2006........this trip makes 9 for us. We bought into DVC in Jan 2008 after just 2 trips to the World knowing we wanted to go there often!! We are truly a Disney addicted family!!!

Normally we stay for 1 week, DH works every other weekend and is unable to take longer off of work. However because of Easter, he was able to have 2 full weekends off!!! so we decided to go for the whole time!!! We are on a mission to try each of the DVC resorts and were pleasantly surprised that we were able to get into AKV Kidani in a 1BR standard view. We fly out of PIT on Saturday April 16th at 1:55p and arrive at MCO at 4:15p. We are car renters....long story.....DD4 hated to be held....she in VERY independent!!! So we will get our rental car and head to AKV!!!!

Our planned meals are:

Cape May Character Breakfast Sunday- we have had dinner here and loved it but never breakfast!
Yak & Yeti Dinner Monday - never ate here
Teppan Edo Dinner Tuesday - DD6 requested this one!!! We love it!!!
Le Cellier - DH & I only for our Anniversary dinner
1900 Park Fare Dinner - family favorite
Hop Dee Do Saturday - we have never done this!!
Chef Mickeys - breakfast Easter

I am one of those people who cook on vacation!!! I know!!!So my planned meals to cook are:
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Meatloaf with Mac& Cheese
Hamburgers&Hotdogs
Ham& scalloped potatoes for Easter Dinner

This trip we will also have the girls go to the Sandcastle Club at Beach Club on Thursday Evening so that DH and I can enjoy an evening out! This will be a first for us, but the girls LOVED the kids club on the SSMC and they are super excited about this!! DH and I are super excited to walk around EPCOT and NOT stop for every princess!!


They will become princesses at the Bibiddi Bobiddi Boutique on Wednesday. DD6 has done this 2 times prior but this is the first time DD4 is old enough!!

More to come.......

 

[SusieBea]

Looks like a plan to me! I'm along for the ride. I think you will enjoy your breakfast at Cape May. Character interaction is a little less raucous and very enjoyable there. And Kidani is wonderful. We stayed there for the first time in February. Having that extra bathroom if fabulous, too.

 

[Girlie1]

We will be at Kidani from 4/14-4/21. DS 11 and DS7 are so excited (not to mention how excited I am ) Maybe we will see you at the pool. Have a great vacation

 

[papertraveller]

Kidani is wonderful - you will surprised by how much you love it!
And happy anniversary!

 

[alldiz]

Have a great trip.....

I'm leaving for the World on the 12th and will return on Easter Sunday.....with a 5 day cruise in the middle. We will be hopping around this trip.
We'll be there for my DD's 9th b-day on April 23rd....We will miss you in Chef Mickey's by 1 day. We are doing breakfast on Sat her birthday at CM.
Kerri

 

[dopeygirl76]

Looks like a plan to me! I'm along for the ride. I think you will enjoy your breakfast at Cape May. Character interaction is a little less raucous and very enjoyable there. And Kidani is wonderful. We stayed there for the first time in February. Having that extra bathroom if fabulous, too.

We are breakfast food people so we LOVE any of the breakfast buffets, however adding characters just makes the girls super happy!The extra bathroom was a huge plus, especially as the girls get older!!

We will be at Kidani from 4/14-4/21. DS 11 and DS7 are so excited (not to mention how excited I am ) Maybe we will see you at the pool. Have a great vacation

Thank you and you too! We will be spending some time at the pool - I hear it is awesome!!! That would be neat!

Kidani is wonderful - you will surprised by how much you love it!
And happy anniversary!

We are really excited to stay at AKV - honestly we have enjoyed each of the DVCs for their own uniqueness. Thank you for the anniversary wishes!

 

[dopeygirl76]

OK so as we planned this trip everyone at my office is well aware of my Disney addiction. I have worked for the same family for 11 years so they are my second family....although they truly do not get my madness!!! We had planned on bringing a trainer to our area. This man is world known in our field and has limited availibility....well unfortunately his opening was April 27-30....so in addition to all of my regular work I have to have everything in order for this event when I return! Then the state threw in our yearly audit for 3 of our offices...... As the clinical director I am the one that had to be sure that everything is in order...the first 2 are done...waiting on results the third is scheduled for APRIL 15!!!!

DO YOU PEOPLE KNOW THAT I AM GOING TO WDW ON APRIL 16!!!!


Apparently they do not care!! So all of this leads up to my packing problem. I usually start packing about 3 weeks in advance. I have a bit of OCD and packing for 4 people while working etc makes me crazy...........BUT I only started packing on Thursday! Well I started trying on some of DDs summer clothes....up here is SW PA we are still getting snow..... here we come!! I also went to the grocery store to get some of the things that I pack...cereal, fruit snacks, chips (Lays stax), oh and all the stuff for the Easter Baskets. This is another of those crazy things I didn't think clear through.... so I have just begun and am making my self somewhat crazy. As a person who always planned everything out to the detail I am learning to work well under pressure! I just hope I remember everything!

 

[moredisneyplease]

have an amazing trip and dont forget to report back!!

 

[dopeygirl76]

OK slight adjustment to the plans....the girls and I are taking an overnight trip with my DMom, DAunt her DIL and 2 grandchildren to a waterpark near Columbus this weekend.....I may be completely crazy to add a last minute trip in 1 week before WDW when I am still not packed but hey....DAunt is turning 60 and it sounds like a fun time!!!!

 

[kaitlyn0616]

Just did online check-in, I will be checking in the same day as you, I have an 8 year old girl and 6 year old boy,travelling solo with them this trip my hubbie has to work, maybe we will see you at the pool, Happy Anniversary!!, mine is this Friday!!

 

[dopeygirl76]

5 days until we leave for WDW!!!!


Ok our quick weekend getaway is done....DDs had a wonderful time!!! Back to reality!!!

I NEED TO PACK!!!!

Schedule for this week:
Today I work 9-6p then a mtg at the girls school at 6-?, luckily I can see the school from my office window!! DH is going to do some of the errands since he is off today....stop the mail, some yard work, pick up a few groceries....

Tues - I work 8a- 1p, DH works 2p-9p after work I will pack a little until DD6 gets home and then its off for haircuts and possibly their bday photos. I will back while I watch NCIS and NCIS- Los Angelas - I am an addict....I McGee (Sean Murray) and LL Cool J!!!!!

Wed - I work 830-430p, DH works 5p-9p Wednesday night I will print out all of our important info...I make a packing list (wehave had bags lost twice and this was invaluable!!) our Garden Grocer order, our OL contents and my own little listing of our ADRs to put in our PassPorter.

Thursday - I work 9-?, DH work 9-5, DDs will be in school and then extended care until DH picks them up. My day will only end when everything is in order for our state audit on Friday which has been as late as 9p previously... I am a slight perfectionist and I clean the office myself before the auditors come...!! I WILL fit in a pedicure somewhere! I may do that first thing and then go to work... I have trouble leaving if I do not feel all is right.

Friday - AUDIT!!! I work 830a- 430p usually. DH works 9-9p, girls will be at school and then extended care again so I hope it is not too late . After that the girls and I will go have dinner with my DDad and Dstepmom....it is NOT acceptable for us to leave without them seeing the girls!!!!! Then home to load the car...in laws coming to pick up our furbaby...I really doubt sleep will happen...I get too excited!!!

Saturday - Load last minute things....take girls to their 10am theater class....at 11am we hit the road to Pittsburgh International Airport!! with lunch on the way....and then we are on our way to WDW!!!!!!


Let's hope this all goes as planned!!!

 

[dopeygirl76]

Just did online check-in, I will be checking in the same day as you, I have an 8 year old girl and 6 year old boy,travelling solo with them this trip my hubbie has to work, maybe we will see you at the pool, Happy Anniversary!!, mine is this Friday!!

Happy Anniversary to you and your DH!!! Solo with the kids...I just did a weekend trip...3 hr drive each way...I was soooo nervous....but it went really well!!!

 

[ajf1007]

So excited to hear all about your trip! After the hectic week you will have had, it will be nice to have it all off of your shoulders so you can enjoy your well deserved vacation!

I have quite a bit more time before I can even book my trip for next year so in the meantime....I'm going to have to live vicariously through you!

Good luck with your audit and looking forward to your TR!

 

[dopeygirl76]

2 days to WDW!!!​

 

[dopeygirl76]

So excited to hear all about your trip! After the hectic week you will have had, it will be nice to have it all off of your shoulders so you can enjoy your well deserved vacation!

I have quite a bit more time before I can even book my trip for next year so in the meantime....I'm going to have to live vicariously through you!

Good luck with your audit and looking forward to your TR!

Thank you so much!!! So glad you are joining!

 

[Disney_Mama]

Have a wonderful trip and safe travels. Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[dopeygirl76]

Well let’s see how many things go wrong……I will begin with Friday….as mentioned earlier I had a state audit on Friday at work and although nerve wracking all went beautiful and we got a wonderful report. I actually left work early!!! I picked the girls up at school and picked pizzas up for dinner with my parents and we were off! Dinner with dad and we head to the grocery store, our furbaby was out of food and DMIL & DFIL were picking him up later. In addition I picked up some Disney gift cards….we always use gift cards….my daughters’ school uses a program that businesses give a discount which in turn gets us money off of their tuition (This will be important later!)

Girls gave their Daddy good night kisses – he works at our local pharmacy inside of the grocery store and we head home. They begin playing. Side note (again important later) my girls are early to bed, early to rise….like 530am early so they generally go to bed about 7pm. Since they were playing nicely and my in laws were on their way I let them be and started laundry and packing. I am usually packed about 2-3 weeks prior to vacation so this was a new concept for me….last minute makes me NUTS!!!!

My in-laws arrived about 730p to pick up our furbaby – he LOVES vacation at Gramma and Paps house – it is quiet and he is the only “kid”! He RAN to their car and hoped in without even a kiss for me!!! So I head upstairs to put the girls in the tub and wait for my sister who is bringing some candy I ordered from DNiece’s school for Easter. Girls in bed by 830p….laundry going and DH arrives home about 910pm….we continue to packing/laundry /clean up craziness and finally go to bed at 1030p…….of course I NEVER sleep before WDW so after waking at 1am and 2am I finally got out of bed at 5am and resumed packing.

We head out to take the girls to their theater class which begins at 10am. 11am we are on the road, we stop for a potty break and get some food at Wendy’s to eat in the car and we are on our way to the airport. We arrive in the rainy yuck and after a rather uneventful flight arrive 5 mins early in Orlando. Down to baggage claim and all three of our checked bags are there – this is amazing for us….we usually have at least one lost bag.

So we head to the rental car counter…..now I have to say I used a different car rental company than usual. I had done online check in and had the bar code that we usually use at a kiosk scanner…..DH goes to the counter as I wait with the girls and 5 suitcases. He comes running back and says he needs a credit card…..here is where the meltdown begins…..

I LEFT THE CREDIT CARD AT HOME….IN PENNSYLVANIA…..I DIDN’T THINK I WOULD NEED IT…..THEY WILL NOT TAKE CASH…..

I had reserved this car in Oct 2010 knowing that Easter week would be CRAZY…I got a great deal for $318 for a full size car…..well I DO NOT carry that much cash and Disney gift cards will do me NO GOOD at a car rental counter…..as I shrivel into tears in level 1 A side of the airport – anyone there at about 5pm Saturday – that was me – sorry you had to see that….DH tries to find a car rental company that will let one of my parents pay over the phone or take cash – the cash option was $900+ - UMMMMMMM…………….NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

So we – nope I’m still crying – DH ushers us to the taxi area and we pay a nice man $67 to take us to AKV – Jambo……………………We are staying at Kidani – I didn’t know any better – and neither did the cab driver……..so we get all our stuff loaded into the shuttle and off to Kidani……….the girls are tired and hungry, I’m tired, hungry and really angry with myself…..we always order from Giordano’s our first night but because it was so late the wait for delivery was over an hour. DH takes DD6 and heads back to Jambo to get some dinner from Mara. After a pretty good dinner of Bacon Cheeseburgers (DH &I) and chicken nuggets for the girls, DH and I attempt to find a rental car. We have little to no luck and without a credit card we are sunk.

So after a couple of hours of nonsense I give up and say let’s go to Magic Kingdom!!!! So at 830p we board a bus to my happy place!!!!!

So we get to MK just as the 9pm parade is starting but the girls decide they want to ride stuff instead so we head to Tomorrowland to the speedway and have a wonderful ride around. Then DD4 decides she MUST GO HOME – now home is AKV. She is tired and agrees to a lemonade slushy, as we turn the corner she sees the teacups and immediately her mood changes to….that is my favorite ride….so DH opts out of the spinning and around we go. DH and DD6 watch Wishes while DD4 and I hide in Pinnochios then we head off to let DH and DD6 ride BTMR…..after its ice cream on main street where DD4 falls asleep on DH. We finally board the bus a little after 11pm…..carrying 2 sleeping kids in we put them to bed and DH and I head for bed hoping to sleep in…….

Up next: day 2 – Cape May breakfast and finally some thoughts on Kidani!

 

[Mom B]

Wow! What a whirlwind of activity! Hope you have a fabulous trip...don't forget to RELAX while you're there after all the hectic preparations!

 

[dopeygirl76]

So we had hoped to sleep in thinking that since the girls were out until 1130pm they would sleep in – nope DD4 came into our room at 645am saying she was hungry! So we got up and had breakfast in the room, the girls had cereal and DH and I had bagels. I made coffee but I have a keurig at home and the coffee I made here (I brought Maxwell House which is what I drank before I learned about the keurig)was horrid – not just bad – undrinkable!! So as we discuss our options and research more on the internet we decide a rental car is out of the question. I phone my DMom who goes to our house and agrees to overnight my credit card first thing Monday morning….so we are using Disney transportation. We decide to get the bus to AK or DHS whichever comes first. We have 11am ADR at Cape May Café. AK bus comes first and we are off, once at AK we head to the loading area for YC/BC. After a short wait we are on our way. We get off at the YC stop and explore the lobby a little. The we are off to BC for our breakfast. We did arrive early and total transit time was only about an hour.

We had never had the breakfast at Cape May and were pleasantly surprised. If you give me sausage gravy and biscuits I am in heaven and DH and DDs are sausage/baconators so we were all happy. The BEST part – coffee!!!! YUM!!!! We had our visits by Minnie, Goofy and Donald. The only downside to this meal was our waitress…..she was less than pleasant and we only saw her twice during the time we were there and the second time was to bring the check. I realize it is a buffet but my husband had to flag down another CM to get a refill on his soda.

So after breakfast we hope on the Friendship and head to DHS. Upon arrival at 1230p the FPs for TSM were gone. We headed over to the new Disney Junior and enjoyed the addition of Jake and the Neverland Pirates complete with gold dubloons for all! After DD4 decided she wanted to leave. DD6 was not having it so we told DD4 she could take a seat in her stroller and sleep – then we get to the Muppets 3D and amazingly she is fine! So after the Muppets we decide to find a spot to sit and get ice cream while we wait for the parade. It was hot but not unbearable, we were lucky enough to find a spot with shade. The “stars” did a great job keeping us entertained as we waited. This was our first time seeing the Countdown to Fun and although it had a lot of great characters, I missed the interaction of the Block Party Bash. After the parade we headed back to the rest. I had put meatballs & sauce in the crock pot before we left and we were going have spaghetti & meatballs for dinner in the room. When we got back it was still pretty early for dinner so DH headed to the pool with the girls while I searched for a pot to boil pasta in…..this again where my brain decided to malfunction…..I could not find a pot – looked everywhere – found 3 skillets and no pots! So I call housekeeping…..when the CM arrives she asks if I am sure so I welcome her in to look…..YEP they were there….bottom shelf pushed clear back – I felt like a bigger idiot than yesterday – is that possible?!?!?!?!?!?!

So after the pot disaster I head down to the pool – an adventure in itself….but WOW is this resort gorgeous! DH is in LOVE – VWL were his favorite until we got here. And the pool area is amazing at Kidani. We had such a great time. DD4 loved the smaller slide – I think she went on it about 50 times! And DD6 found a friend and played for hours….more reasons to love it here! As I note the things I love I must add seeing the animals. We got a standard view 1 BDR, we are on the 5th floor and overlook the entrance to Kidani. The observation areas are wonderful though. Another HUGE plus is the second bathroom – WOW!! And that master bath – I have rooms in my house smaller than that! So far our overall rating for AKV-Kidani is A (no plus only for the distance).

So after swimming and a bath for the girls we had spaghetti and meatballs and called it an early night. With the girls in bed, DH & I took some adult drinks and our nooks to the balcony to relax!

Next up: Day 3 – More firsts! Dinner at yak & yeti and the Pangani Forrest Trail!

 

[dopeygirl76]

So here are some photos from our first two days.

The master bath!

Entering MK:

Easter Cake outside of the Cape May Cafe:

Some photos from Countdown to Fun Parade:

Photos around Kidani: