Magic as Wide as a smile!10/28 Trip Report Link!!!!

[Mickey_Mom]

So. Are you excited?

Cause I wasn't really sure if you were or not after reading your update.

Sorry, couldn't resist. And I promise not to ruin your surprise on FB.

I'm not a big help on the questions you raised, and someone else would have to confirm this, but I'm pretty sure you'd be alright swimming after you'd been checked out.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

So. Are you excited?

Cause I wasn't really sure if you were or not after reading your update.

Sorry, couldn't resist. And I promise not to ruin your surprise on FB.

I'm not a big help on the questions you raised, and someone else would have to confirm this, but I'm pretty sure you'd be alright swimming after you'd been checked out.

Just a tiny bit excited!

Thanks! I'm pretty sure we'll be able to stay at the pool at Kidani but I want make sure. I don't want to have my heart set on it and then find out we can't!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Yahoooooo! That is awesome!!!! The kids are going to have a BLAST at that pool! I hope your WL comes through - just two nights, in October...it has to, right???

Yes, you can still use the pool after you check out. We have done this before and it's never a problem.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Yahoooooo! That is awesome!!!! The kids are going to have a BLAST at that pool! I hope your WL comes through - just two nights, in October...it has to, right???

Yes, you can still use the pool after you check out. We have done this before and it's never a problem.

Actually, this will just be DH and I! I am hoping that it will be warm enough in December for the kids to swim! It certainly wasn't warm enough this past January! I hoping that one or the other WL goes through, the extra 2 nights at Kidani or all 5 nights savannah view at Kidani! No matter what I'll be happy!

Thank you! I really want to lounge by that pool!!!

 

[praisehisname]

I changed out Oct reservation!

So happy for you! I bet that wait list will come through!

Any advice or experience on the rental car thing?

We had our car the first trip, and then no car for all the other trips. I have gotten to the point where we will always have a car from now on. I hate having to be picked up by ME so far in advance of our flight. And, honestly, I'm tired of dealing with the Disney buses, especially after a tiring day in the parks.

 

[MEK]

Congrats on Kidani for three days. I hope your waitlist comes through. If it does I would cancel the car rental. If you have to change resorts I think I would keep the rental. I have found the car handy during the occasions we have stayed at SSR. Even simple things like driving to other parts of the resort. But that's just me - have car, will be lazy!

 

[Lady Lallie]

That is great news.

I think you could handle not having a car at SSR for just two days. It might be a little inconvenient but I bet it could save you lots of money.

 

[MagicShell]

I'm glad all your planning paid off. Yay for changing to your favorite place to stay. I am sure you will be happy with that decision.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

So happy for you! I bet that wait list will come through!

Thanks!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

We had our car the first trip, and then no car for all the other trips. I have gotten to the point where we will always have a car from now on. I hate having to be picked up by ME so far in advance of our flight. And, honestly, I'm tired of dealing with the Disney buses, especially after a tiring day in the parks.

I agree about ME pick up and I'm wondering what the difference will be like at the end of the day. I kinda feel like not having to drive is part of the whole Disney experience! We got a really good deal on the car so I should just keep it and give it a try, but I'm still not sure!

Congrats on Kidani for three days. I hope your waitlist comes through. If it does I would cancel the car rental. If you have to change resorts I think I would keep the rental. I have found the car handy during the occasions we have stayed at SSR. Even simple things like driving to other parts of the resort. But that's just me - have car, will be lazy!

Thanks! I'm so excited!

I think a car would be very handy at SSR. I really wasn't all the fond of the buses there! I really should stop going back and forth about it and just keep the darn thing!

That is great news.

I think you could handle not having a car at SSR for just two days. It might be a little inconvenient but I bet it could save you lots of money.

I'm so excited about Kidani!!

I'm so torn about the car! We got a really good deal on it so I think I might just keep it. But then I come up with reason I shouldn't. I know DH won't care either way! UGH! I hate not being able to decide!

I'm glad all your planning paid off. Yay for changing to your favorite place to stay. I am sure you will be happy with that decision.

Thanks! I'm super excited!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Actually, this will just be DH and I! I am hoping that it will be warm enough in December for the kids to swim! It certainly wasn't warm enough this past January! I hoping that one or the other WL goes through, the extra 2 nights at Kidani or all 5 nights savannah view at Kidani! No matter what I'll be happy!

Thank you! I really want to lounge by that pool!!!

I got the trips mixed up! I can't keep all the DIS info straight these days it seems!! AKL is such a great adult resort as well - its where Joe and I honeymooned! (and YOU will have a blast in that pool! )

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I got the trips mixed up! I can't keep all the DIS info straight these days it seems!! AKL is such a great adult resort as well - its where Joe and I honeymooned! (and YOU will have a blast in that pool! )

I know what you mean! I can't keep anything straight! I swear I pushed my brain out somewhere along the way while having 3 kids!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

So, I'm sitting here tonight, being lazy. I should really be getting ready for a house full of company this weekend but I'm not. What's better is that I really don't care that I'm not! In the past I would have been freaking out, getting ready and going crazy. But, I've decided not to stress about it! I like living my life this way a lot better!

Before I get into my TR update I have 2 things to share!

First is a cautionary tail! I meant to share it with you the other day but got wrapped up in my Kidani change! Those of you who are my FNB friend may have seen my post about my itunes account getting hacked. I wanted to warn all of you about this because I don't want it to happen to anyone else. Luckily for me I check my emails numerous times a day and check my online banking at least once. Sunday night I noticed a itunes receipt and took a look at it. I immediately knew it wasn't stuff I bought. It was for ipad apps and some of it was in chinese! I don't own an ipad and I don't speak chinese! I quick went onto itunes, changed my password and notified them and then went on my paypal account, changed the password and opened an investigation so I could hopefully get my $$ back!

When I was done with that I went back into my email and there were 5 more receipts!!! The charges totaled a little over $200!!! I went back and changed everything again and opened more investigations and waited to see what happened! I got a bunch of emails last night from paypal that they were giving me my $$ back on all of them! Thank goodness!!! The moral of this story is PLEASE monitor everything, especially itunes because apparently they've been having problems with hackers, very closely! I don't want this to happen to anyone else!

The next thing is a PTR update!

I decided to keep the car, I think

We got a really good deal on it! I rented it through National Rental Car and got a discount through a professional organization DH belongs to. I was also able to, thanks to mousesavers, sign up for Nationals Emerald Club program for free! The Emerald Club is like a premium club and you usually have to pay to join. But mousesavers had a free coupon! Being a Emerald Club member means we can skip stopping at the rental counter! We just go to the national rental lot, find the Emerald Club area and pick a car! I think it maybe worth it to keep the car and give it a try!

While I was thinking about the car I started thinking about something else. MNSSHP!! Actually, I was thinking about transportation back to the resort! Then I had a brilliant idea! I quick got online and checked the dining site! In a matter of minutes we had a reservation for a 1:55 lunch on 10/21, the day we go to MNSSHP, at The Wave! That way we can park at the Contemporary! We can walk back to the parking lot after the party!

Is that wrong of me to do?!

Am I breaking some sort of unwritten rule!? Am I breaking any written ones?!

The lunch at The Wave looks yummy and I wouldn't have taken the ADR if I didn't think we'd like it. But I looked on allears and it looks fabulous!

taken from allears...

Appetizers

The Wave Appetizer for Two - sauteed sea scallops with rock shrimp and lump crab cakes $14.99

Florida Rock Shrimp and Lump Crab Cakes - with cucumber-tomato salsa and spicy remoulade $11.49

Seasonal Soup - with Chef's Accompaniment $7.99

Strawberry Flatbread Salad - with midnight moon cheese and champagne vinaigrette $8.49

Avocado and Citrus Salad - with local greens and orange vinaigrette $7.99

Black Bean Chili - with pork tenderloin and jalapeno corn muffin $6.99

Pan-seared Sea Scallops - with sweet onions and chili cream corn sauce $10.99

Entrees

Spice-crusted Chicken (dark meat) Salad - with local greens, apples and crispy polenta croutons $14.99

Seasonal Vegetable Stew - with Shiitake mushrooms, butternut squash and multigrain rice $17.99

Seasonal Soup and Sandwich - hand-carved Roast Turkey on a Foccacia round $11.99

Italian Chef Salad - Mixed greens tossed with red wine vinaigrette served with prosciutto, cappicoloa, provolone, salami and shaved parmesan $14.99

Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich - with arugula, tomatoes, and goat cheese herb spread on multi-grain bread $13.99

Mediterranean Tuna Salad - Herb-crusted seared Ahi tuna with green beans, potatos, orasted red peppers and olive toast $16.99

Classic Reuben Sandwich - served with Bulgur Wheat Salad or roasted potato wedges $12.99

Angus Chuck Bacon Cheeseburger - served on a multigrain roll with choice of Bulgur Wheat Salad or roasted potato wedges $12.99

Vegetarian Cuban Sandwich - with sundried tomato pesto and Bulgur Wheat Salad served on grain bread $11.499

Today's Sustainable Fish - with edamame stew and cilantro chutney $20.99

Yummy! DH will be happy here!

I'm still a little torn that parking at the Contemporary and leaving the car there for like 10 hours is ok. What do you think?! Really!

That's it for changes! I think...

next post, TR update!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

On with the TR!!!

I left off with us in WS make our way toward our dinner destination!

What was that destination?! Le Cellier of course!!!

We checked in and wait just a little bit of time before we were called in! It was great to get inside because the sun was getting lower in the sky and the area outside of Le Cellier was mostly all shaded. It was getting C-O-L-D again!

We were seated at 2 tables again but we were right next to each other so all was good!

I told everyone that if they wanted an appetizer to please go ahead and order because I wasn't passing up the opportunity to have a tomato stack! DDP be damned! I LOVE tomatoes and the tomato stack is YUMMY!

We all ordered apps and dinner and reallllllllly enjoyed our meals! It was fabulous!!!!

Ryan ate kids spaghetti and made a giant mess!




During dinner Dorothy gave Uncle John some love...



We had a fabulous waiter during our fabulous meal! I told him I'd like to pay oop for Ryan's meal. Being still under 3 he didn't count toward our dining plan but I knew he needed more to eat then to eat off our plates! Our waiter didn't charge me for Ryan's meal!

With our full bellies and happy hearts we rolled out of Le Cellier into a dark, cold Epcot night!

I really wanted to stay and see Illuminations but I knew I didn't have it in me! I also knew Jen didn't have it in her either!

So we decided to split up! Jen, myself, Ryan, Johnny and Jessica decided to head back to the room to warm up and rest!

We had a lovely night in our warm Kidani home watching movies and eating popcorn! The rest of the family had a fabulous time at Illuminations and came back to the room to find everyone in bed!

Up next, a Grand morning, an adventure in banking and much, much more!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I swear I pushed my brain out somewhere along the way while having 3 kids!

I only have 1...what's my excuse?

I didn't see those updates on FB!! Eeeek! How in the world can/does that happen? Is it related to a specific app or...? I'm glad you are getting your money back though - hopefully SOON!

I haven't a clue about the parking at the resort thing since we've never rented a car, but I do think it's alright. I KNOW people do it all the time, even without an ADR, but since you have one, I do think it's okay...

But, with DVC do we get free parking in the parks? Or is that with an AP? Do you have APs? I KNOW it's one of them that gives free parking at the parks.

With that said, we did The Wave at lunch a couple trips ago and loved it! YUM! We almost booked it again this trip. We both had the burgers.

We got some "free kid meal" magic on our December trip too, even though our whole meal was OOP! Our waitress was wonderful and knew we were having a tough time with Henry that meal (at 50s, our first park day), it was a nice surprise!!!

I love that some of you went back and ate popcorn and watched movies! I think that's a WONDERFUL way to spend the evening!!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I only have 1...what's my excuse?
LOL! I assure you, 1 is a good excuse! My sister told me after DD9 was born that it will never get any better! She was right!


I didn't see those updates on FB!! Eeeek! How in the world can/does that happen? Is it related to a specific app or...? I'm glad you are getting your money back though - hopefully SOON!

I'm not really sure how it happened! I wish I was! apparently itunes has been have hacking issues since early July. I'm just glad I noticed it and that paypal is going to give me my $$ back! I'm watching everything like a hawk now!


I haven't a clue about the parking at the resort thing since we've never rented a car, but I do think it's alright. I KNOW people do it all the time, even without an ADR, but since you have one, I do think it's okay...

But, with DVC do we get free parking in the parks? Or is that with an AP? Do you have APs? I KNOW it's one of them that gives free parking at the parks.
I know people do it all the time and I know I'm being silly but i want to make sure the disney gods won't be mad at me!

You know, I hadn't thought of the free parking thing! We do have AP's so no matter which one it is we'll be covered! I have to find out which one it is though, I'm intrigued!


With that said, we did The Wave at lunch a couple trips ago and loved it! YUM! We almost booked it again this trip. We both had the burgers.

It really does sound good and I think it will be a nice way to start our MNSSHP day!

We got some "free kid meal" magic on our December trip too, even though our whole meal was OOP! Our waitress was wonderful and knew we were having a tough time with Henry that meal (at 50s, our first park day), it was a nice surprise!!!

I loved that the waiter did that! I also made sure that I gave him an extra big tip! It's kind of a pain in the butt when the little ones are still 2! Ryan eats more then the older kiddos!!! I actually asked about paying for him to have the DDP but we would have had to buy him a ark ticket too and for that $$ it wasn't worth it! I know it will cost all that much more when we do DDP again, we aren't in December, but it will be much easier!


I love that some of you went back and ate popcorn and watched movies! I think that's a WONDERFUL way to spend the evening!!!

It was so nice!!!! When we took the DVC tour our guide said that once you buy DVC you vacation differently. I didn't really believe him! But, he was right! It's so nice to have the extra space to relax in and it's fabulous to know another trip is right around the corner so you have to bust your rear to get everything in!

]

 

[MEK]

So sorry to hear about your iTunes account getting hacked into. That majorly stinks, but I am glad you caught it quickly and are getting your money back.

I think its great that you decided to go for the car, especially if its a great rate and you are changing resorts. It's very convenient if you want to make a quick grocery stop on the way to the resort. I have often stopped at the super Target on the way to the world. I have also stopped at the Chik-fil-a (Brooke?). This one doesn't need a traffic cop directing traffic!

I think you will be fine leaving the car in the contemporary lot. I have left a car in that lot many times. Of course, it was from dinner, but I really don't think lunch will make a difference. That lot always has TONS of spaces in it. I'm not kidding - it is the one deluxe resort with the most empty spaces and its a fairly good sized lot. No worries there.

That lunch menu for the Wave looks really, really good. Perhaps because its almost my lunch time. YUM!

 

[MagicShell]

I have never eaten at LeCellier. I hope to be able to one day. How nice of the waiter to not charge you for the extra kid's meal. Sometimes you just have to leave and get some rest at WDW.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Good deal on the car! You can't beat that.

I've had such great service at Le Cellier, I really hope we can get a walk up in 26 days.

 

[manntra]

Woo hoo for Kidani!!!! I know you love it as much as I do so I am happy you kept checking! I still haven't rented a car so I am no help there....I do know that if I ever have to stay at SSR again I will be sure to because I also was not a fan of their bus service Plus I kind of like the whole drop off/pick up first routine at Kidani
Ooooh I love The Wave....I was sitting right across from MEK in May I have been their twice (dinner) and have had great service and meals each time....they have a lot of really yummy and fun drinks.
As for the parking...I think people do that all the time....and you do have a reservation.......

Tracy

 

[Mickey_Mom]

So, I'm sitting here tonight, being lazy.

Good for you! You deserve it!

I rented it through National Rental Car and got a discount through a professional organization DH belongs to. I was also able to, thanks to mousesavers, sign up for Nationals Emerald Club program for free! The Emerald Club is like a premium club and you usually have to pay to join. But mousesavers had a free coupon! Being a Emerald Club member means we can skip stopping at the rental counter! We just go to the national rental lot, find the Emerald Club area and pick a car! I think it maybe worth it to keep the car and give it a try!

Hey! I just got a notice from the company I work for that we now have a National Car Rental employee discount. With it comes enrollment in the Emerald Club! I'd mentioned it to George a few days ago not knowing what it was all about.... now I'll take a closer look for our arrival day. Thanks!!!

That way we can park at the Contemporary! We can walk back to the parking lot after the party!

Is that wrong of me to do?!

I've been looking into AP perks and free parking is one of them. Either way, like others have said I think you're fine parking there but I know what you mean about displeasing the Disney gods.