MagicBands + Margaritas + Muggles + Minions = TRP. New TR link is up! 10/31

[eandesmom]

I feel better that it had been less than a day! I was like OMG, she's cleaning and running on vacation.

The kitchen likely would have been messier but my sister is a clean freak and did all the dishes from the taco fest the night before. Although, oddly enough I am general better about vacation kitchens then, um maybe at home.

OMG!

Well, if they need a place to kennel the puppy www.shylo.com is awesome! I use it for my dog all the time.

I hope your brain doesn't explode.

Jill in CO

I know they have one they have used a lot in the past for their previous dog. Not sure if it is the same one.

Our brains may explode, it is entirely possible.

 

[saintstickets]

Treehouse Recovery Program!

Sign me up for that program. I hope it has at least 3 or 4 courses!

We enjoyed our drink, stealing the gift of extra time thanks to the fact we would be driving to dinner. Before we left I decided we needed a few villa shots

THV is definitely on my bucket list.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I find it amazing how much different the new treehouses are from the ones my family and I stayed in back in 1998. The old ones used to have a spiral staircase going down to a bedroom in the lower part of the building and then there were two bedrooms in the upper part.

 

[scottny]

That is a lot of planning for races and Hawaii and stuff. It all sounds great.
Fun times at MK even in the cold.
Oh bluezoo, we ate there once.
Not a good start to Universal.
Mental note – never go to Universal at holiday time. LOL. Nice they were in the show.
The Mummy is scary.
MMM, Margaritaville.
We didn’t stay for their nighttime show and now regret it.
No Minions. That is sad.
THV are so pretty.
Love that boat ride to DTD.
WOW! A 4 day wait to get out. United I have heard bad stories of. I love my Jetblue. I have delays but they are because of NYC airports and not the airline.
Sorry to hear about your father. I hope his recovery is quick.
The plans sound good.
Love the view of the boats going to DTD.
I think I would have stayed in Orlando a day or two and seen if I could get out then.
I am all caught up.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Still loving the THV pictures. Need to try them out sometime for sure. I never knew they had their own pool. How crazy that it wasn't heated. At least you were able to salvage things a little on the verandah.......even though there wasn't any coffee involved.

Hope you still got seated when you arrived at your ADR at................. Somehow, I'm guessing that you did!

 

[eandesmom]

Sign me up for that program. I hope it has at least 3 or 4 courses!

there are a few more courses coming!

Ok, at least one

THV is definitely on my bucket list.

It's a good bucket list item!

I find it amazing how much different the new treehouses are from the ones my family and I stayed in back in 1998. The old ones used to have a spiral staircase going down to a bedroom in the lower part of the building and then there were two bedrooms in the upper part.

I've seen pictures, those look really neat. The boys were a bit bummed that they weren't "really" treehouses...but rather slightly elevated houses...nested in the trees but not actually connected to any.

That is a lot of planning for races and Hawaii and stuff. It all sounds great.

It's all coming up! I feel a little frazzled.

Fun times at MK even in the cold.
Oh bluezoo, we ate there once.

If you have to be cold, MK is a decent place for it

Not a good start to Universal.
Mental note – never go to Universal at holiday time. LOL. Nice they were in the show.
The Mummy is scary.
MMM, Margaritaville.
We didn’t stay for their nighttime show and now regret it.
No Minions. That is sad.

No minions was VERY sad!

You'll be back, see the nighttime show!

THV are so pretty.
Love that boat ride to DTD.

I love that boat ride too!

WOW! A 4 day wait to get out. United I have heard bad stories of. I love my Jetblue. I have delays but they are because of NYC airports and not the airline.

This is what I hear, we will be flying jetblue for the first time in Sept...through NYC, we will see if we are delayed. Hope not, it's a short layover.

Sorry to hear about your father. I hope his recovery is quick.
The plans sound good.
Love the view of the boats going to DTD.
I think I would have stayed in Orlando a day or two and seen if I could get out then.
I am all caught up.

I would have stayed extra in Orlando too!

Dad is doing as well as possible under the circumstances, thanks!

I need to get caught up over on yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still loving the THV pictures. Need to try them out sometime for sure. I never knew they had their own pool. How crazy that it wasn't heated. At least you were able to salvage things a little on the verandah.......even though there wasn't any coffee involved.

Cocktails are just as important as coffee on the verandah!

Depending on the time of day of course

Hope you still got seated when you arrived at your ADR at................. Somehow, I'm guessing that you did!

Everyone seems to be very sure we will get seated without issue

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

t
I've seen pictures, those look really neat. The boys were a bit bummed that they weren't "really" treehouses...but rather slightly elevated houses...nested in the trees but not actually connected to any.

Yeah I can see that when you haven't seen them you do kind of expect them to be in a tree.

 

[natebenma]

F&W + Cruise (Sept 2014)
The exciting news is our cruise is paid off in full and we booked excursions. The not exciting news is that our main babysitter for the E's during this trip suffered a very big injury this week. On Wednesday my dad fell at the mariners game, landing hard on both knees. He was unable to get up. 2 days later and he was still unable to get up. They had waited on an MRI for swelling to go down thinking it was muscle trauma. Unfortunately the MRI showed something quite different, he tore the patellar tendons on BOTH knees, completely detached. Which is why he couldn't lift his legs, or stand, or bear any weight.

He had surgery yesterday to reattach. It is a very proven and successful procedure however, it's usually only done on one knee. Usually you have a good leg to use while the other one heals. He does not have that. This means my poor dad will have to live at an inpatient rehab facility, with his knees/legs basically immobilized for 6-8 weeks. After than another 1 month before he is really using a walker etc and one more after that before he is really able to walk much and drive.

Cynthia- I am so sorry to hear about your dad! I hope his recovery is going well. Sending positive energy his way.

Oops- I meant to quote about your dining at DL, although I didn't go to any of the places you are planning. I will of course have complete dining reviews, with pictures. For table service meals, Carthay Circle (World of Color dining package) lunch was our favorite. Blue Bayou was not worth the money for us, I think Café Orleans is a great alternative.

We had lots of great counter service experiences.

F&W + Cruise (Sept 2014)

St. Lucia and the Gros Piton Climb. This is the only thing booked via a non DCL tour operator. That makes me a tiny bit nervous but DCL does not offer this. He gets great reviews but it really does use up the entire day and that makes me a tiny bit nervous from a missing the ship standpoint. Granted I’ve yet to find a review where anyone missed their ship because of this tour outfit but still. We are curious to see just how hard it really is, based on reviews and descriptions. We figure it’s our Koko Steps outing of this trip (if anyone remembers that ).







To me it seems better for the going down, the hardest part of Koko to me was that it's so exposed, looking down was scary for me. This is in foliage for much of it, that alleviates a lot of my issues. Or at least I think so. Either way we both think this may be our one "must do".

Barbados and the Beach Escape. We may do this on our own; you can do something similar for about $18 less either at that same beach club or one next door. Still, for $18, not having to even think about it and transportation, has its own attraction.

St. Kitts, Railway and Brimstone Hill. There is a version of this that has a sail outing combined with the Railway. That is the one we wanted but is sold out. This is a pricey one and St. Kitts is only a half day. We may just do Brimstone Hill on our own. It sounds like it's a pita to get a taxi in St Kitts and we will need to ensure someone comes back to get us (as apparently you can't catch one from there) but it would be a lot cheaper. That said, Jeff really wants to do the railway.

One thing that is a bit of a drag is that the first 3 days excursions, if we really did do them all (days 3-5 of the cruise) are all EARLY starts. Which is good in the sense of still having plenty of time to explore on our own for Grenada and St. Lucia but bad from an early wake up standpoint.

They all sound fun. But…some or maybe even all will have to go.

Unless we win the lottery

Or I get my bonus in Sept instead of Oct. LOL! Which is possible. Not necessarily probable though.

Cruise excursions-

Of course I love your kayak, snorkel, hike adventure in Antigua. One of my favorite snorkel experiences ever was snorkeling in mangroves which all kinds of marine creatures use as a nursery.

The fort/train trip in St. Kitt's looks pretty nice.

I can totally see your dilemma about trying to do a beach day yourself vs. an organized trip that includes transportation in Barbados. I am sure a little research on the DIS cruise forums and maybe cruise critic can help you with some of the options.

And then, Gros Piton...

I immediately thought of Koko Head when I read that.

My second thought was that you two may just be crazy enough to pull that off!

Jalousie Beach is gorgeous.

If you are looking for an alternative, something with a sail around the coastline would be a good choice. St. Lucia is so gorgeous from the water.

I hope it all works out for you! Sounds like we will know soon.

 

[natebenma]

Congratulations on your new niece! What great news!

 

[natebenma]

Then there were two...

You don't have to tell me about crabby teens after two weeks together with my boys. Actually they were in good spirits, but wanted to chill much more than Mark and I did. They don't feel the pressure of "We paid a lot for this trip and we are going to be outside, darnit!" So we just left them a few times.

What a bummer that pool time was a bust, but I'm glad to hear spirits were uplifted as you headed to dinner.

Can't wait to hear about it.

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Cynthia trying to catch up after Williamsburg, which by the way has an interesting pix on my Rosie Roams threadThe Tree house looks lovely, so rustic looking !!! As for an unheated pool I wouldn't put a toe in it !!! Hope you were let in for your ressie !!!!

 

[annmarieda]

I would assume both ways was bad, yes. It was really the east and the middle of the country that was a mess. If you were on a direct in or out of FL probably ok.

Our flight down we had a layover in wisconsin. I wonder if we just were super super lucky.

9. 2 bedrooms with one queen, one bedroom with bunk beds and then a queen pull out sofa and a twin sleeper chair.

That is huge!

I may need that drink tonight! LOL

She wants her DH to come...so she won't be alone during the day (which I totally get and the boys adore him).

BUT


He is severely allergic to our cats


And they just got a puppy

Last email said they might drive...which would imply they are bringing the puppy

Oh my!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then again, it would save us on airfare.

Which I guess we would need if we have to kennel the cats and steam clean the whole house?

GAH.

So you got the details of your fall trip worked out? Well... kinda. Sounds like there are some details to still work out with your mil.

 

[eandesmom]

Yeah I can see that when you haven't seen them you do kind of expect them to be in a tree.

LOL! They did know as they'd seen them a few times before in pictures or from the DTD boat but just wished they were in a tree. In a "it would be that much better if" kind of way.

Cynthia- I am so sorry to hear about your dad! I hope his recovery is going well. Sending positive energy his way.

Thanks Dee

Oops- I meant to quote about your dining at DL, although I didn't go to any of the places you are planning. I will of course have complete dining reviews, with pictures. For table service meals, Carthay Circle (World of Color dining package) lunch was our favorite. Blue Bayou was not worth the money for us, I think Café Orleans is a great alternative.

We had lots of great counter service experiences.

BB is very pricey, it's about the experience. We should have shared our meals, it was ridiculous but I do have to say, it made some of the BEST leftovers! People just love Carthay Circle, I don't think I've heard a bad thing about it ever. It was on our possible list for our pre race dinner. For some reason though I can't ever get super excited about the menu..for the prices.

I am looking forward to Café Orleans.

Cruise excursions-

Of course I love your kayak, snorkel, hike adventure in Antigua. One of my favorite snorkel experiences ever was snorkeling in mangroves which all kinds of marine creatures use as a nursery.

The fort/train trip in St. Kitt's looks pretty nice.

I can totally see your dilemma about trying to do a beach day yourself vs. an organized trip that includes transportation in Barbados. I am sure a little research on the DIS cruise forums and maybe cruise critic can help you with some of the options.

And then, Gros Piton...

I immediately thought of Koko Head when I read that.

My second thought was that you two may just be crazy enough to pull that off!

Jalousie Beach is gorgeous.

If you are looking for an alternative, something with a sail around the coastline would be a good choice. St. Lucia is so gorgeous from the water.

I hope it all works out for you! Sounds like we will know soon.

Yes, I will do a seperate update! Bottom line is we are going.

However I made some excursion changes last night, quite a few actually.

The question is, what stayed, what went and what was replaced by other things?

Congratulations on your new niece! What great news!

Yes, very exciting, she is so cute!

Then there were two...

You don't have to tell me about crabby teens after two weeks together with my boys. Actually they were in good spirits, but wanted to chill much more than Mark and I did. They don't feel the pressure of "We paid a lot for this trip and we are going to be outside, darnit!" So we just left them a few times.

Yeah...you didn't spend that kind of money so they could sit in the room and play video games, sleep or watch TV. LOL!

What a bummer that pool time was a bust, but I'm glad to hear spirits were uplifted as you headed to dinner.

Can't wait to hear about it.

Spirits vastly improved!

Hi Cynthia trying to catch up after Williamsburg, which by the way has an interesting pix on my Rosie Roams threadThe Tree house looks lovely, so rustic looking !!! As for an unheated pool I wouldn't put a toe in it !!! Hope you were let in for your ressie !!!!

I need to get over there! Gong to get some updates up and then get busy catching up!

THV is just lovely

Our flight down we had a layover in wisconsin. I wonder if we just were super super lucky.


That is huge!

So you got the details of your fall trip worked out? Well... kinda. Sounds like there are some details to still work out with your mil.

As of about 5 minutes ago...yes, details are worked out!

 

[eandesmom]

It was almost 7.

We had a dinner reservation for a party of 7, at 6:25.

We were just now in line to check in.

Except there were only 4 of us.

Checking in, the first CM seemed more than a little disgruntled at our late arrival, hemming and hawing and saying "well..... I am not sure if we can accommodate you now". However before I could say a thing to plead our case, he was overridden by a clearly more senior CM who told him it was fine and to check us in.

WHEW!

When Belle is your favorite Princess, Beauty and the Beast one of your favorite movies and a 13 and 14 year old boys whose ONLY must do restaurant is to dine in Beasts castle…and you have deliberately timed your reservation as to be after picky boy cousin eaters have left, well, you might be totally sweating bullets while this goes on!

With that, we were off. Led by Eric





Lumiere is pretty cool but it is hard to see in there! And even harder to get a decent picture.





We were seated in the ballroom, next to the windows and by the Christmas tree. It could not have been a lovelier spot, for such a large room due to our location it felt very private.

As it was night, we watched the snow swirl in the dark



Looked back at the bustling room



Enjoyed the tree



Attempted some close ups of the ornaments





I attempted pictures of the food and they are SOOOO dark they aren’t even worth posting!

We had an AMAZING CM. Absolutely adored her. Abby I believe. If you go there, request her. Hands down the best server we have had, anywhere on property. She was so cute, very impressed with the boys and how "adventuresome" they were in their food choices (which didn't seem adventuresome at all to us, it's not that adventurous of a menu lol).

Jeff and I, with Abby's input I think, chose a lovely bottle of wine, Freemark Abby Merlot.

I had these

• French Onion Soup, topped with a Crouton and Gruyère Cheese $7.49
• Mussels Provençal with White Wine, Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Basil, and Butter $12.99

Abby was great and warned me that it was a vegetable broth based French Onion soup (versus the normal beef) as it does make a difference in flavor. I wanted it anyway.

Jeff went for

• Grilled Strip Steak with Garlic-Herb Butter and Pommes Frites $33.49

The boys both got the same thing

• Thyme-scented Pork Rack Chop with Au Gratin Macaroni, Seasonal Vegetables, and Red Wine Jus $23.99

Those pork chops were HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like bigger than my head huge. The boys were definitely seduced by the Au Gratin Macaroni being included but I have to give them credit, they actually ate the whole thing.
We all really really enjoyed our food. And because well, they begged, and they had eaten their entire dinner, we did let the boys choose a treat.





I did have a bite of the Grey Stuff. I am not much of a mousse fan and well, it is mousse. It was ok. The boys were happy though and ate the whole thing.

I will be honest. It was a pricey meal, even with TIW. A lot of that of course was our choice of wine. It really, REALLY was worth every penny. It was such an amazing family dinner for us, incredibly special. Crankiness was gone, the boys enjoying being with just us, and vice versa. Great food, great service, great ambiance and great moods. It really was magical all around.

We had missed some of our fast passes at this point, and had a bit of time before the lone one still intact would expire. Since we had, we decided a tour of the west wing and the library were in order, we wanted to soak up the experience.

The west wing is DARK!









It was so cool to finally see the Rose! I will say, I don't know that I'd like eating near it, so many folks trying to take pictures.

Next up, the Rose Gallery

This wasn't open as it is a luncheon room but it was neat to walk around in it.





I loved all the art!!



Actually I really love Belle's green dress here. I've thought of it as an idea for PHM but don’t think anyone would have a clue what it is.







I like her red rose winter dress too....but running in a cloak…hmmn.









Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

Continued from previous







The dessert cart was stored here



With that, it was time to meet the master!









Evan and Eric wanted nothing to do with it. Except for use my phone to take pictures. I think Evan took 50 of the same shot. Arrgh.

Visiting the armor









And the bathroom



Bye bye ballroom!



Time for Space!





And then...to see how would be drivers would do





Guess who I rode with?













We hadn't been on Autopia in YEARS. Years and years! It was fun. So much fun, in a super silly way. I cannot honestly recall if we made our FP time or just walked on.

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

Continued from previous

My first (and possibly only) time seeing the castle lit up for the holidays!





It was a quick peek. We had missed a very important FP earlier. One that I had missed twice already on the trip, due to it being down. Can you guess what it was?



Yeah...didn't take many pictures. Just enjoyed the ride!

If I had to wait until the end of the trip, riding BTMRR in the dark, with all the holiday lights on...well it doesn't get much better than that.

And then the walk out...

Pretty!!!!!!!!!





Time for a photopass!

















With that it was time to say goodbye to the Magic Kingdom. Tomorrow was our last full day and it was a "whatever the boys wanted" morning (Jeff would be flying). MK was not on the list since we had been there tonight. We didn't expect to be back.





In fact, at that time, I truly had no idea when we'd be back...at least anyone other than just me! I would be back in May. I knew, of course the rest of would, it just wasn't on the schedule yet. At the boys ages though, the clock is ticking on just how many times we can get back before college given other things in their lives and I knew as I stood there, for Evan at least...there was probably only one more trip possible in his high school years.

SNIFF!

Up next, operation Grandma and Cruise plans! (yes, we are going!!! and yes, I've made all kind of changes!)

 

[Pinkocto]

Hooray for that CM and getting into dinner!!! Love all the pictures, the details are awesome. How wonderful you had such a great meal

I will not be telling my vegetarian mom that French onion soup is made with beef, she would be appalled! That's one of her favorite things.



Double hooray for the cruise!!!!!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

However before I could say a thing to plead our case, he was overridden by a clearly more senior CM who told him it was fine and to check us in.

WHEW!

Whew is right. I'm glad that they worked you in.

As it was night, we watched the snow swirl in the dark

I love the effects of that window. We watched Beauty and the Beast with the kids last night, actually, and I was sitting there just thinking about BOG and how impressive the detail is in comparison to the movie.

I will be honest. It was a pricey meal, even with TIW. A lot of that of course was our choice of wine. It really, REALLY was worth every penny. It was such an amazing family dinner for us, incredibly special. Crankiness was gone, the boys enjoying being with just us, and vice versa. Great food, great service, great ambiance and great moods. It really was magical all around.

You're really making me regret not grabbing an ADR now... Oh well, I know we'll enjoy lunch there. We'll get there for dinner eventually. Likely when the kids are older and will appreciate the food a little more.

I will say, I don't know that I'd like eating near it, so many folks trying to take pictures.

I've thought the same thing! I mean, I want to walk around that restaurant and check out all the detail, but I feel like I'm being rude to the people sitting there trying to enjoy their meal.

Guess who I rode with?

Is this considered to be a moment of bravery or a moment of stupidity?

Wow! It looks like you're going faster than 7 mph in this one!

My first (and possibly only) time seeing the castle lit up for the holidays!

It is a beautiful sight. I certainly hope it isn't your last time!

In fact, at that time, I truly had no idea when we'd be back...at least anyone other than just me! I would be back in May. I knew, of course the rest of would, it just wasn't on the schedule yet. At the boys ages though, the clock is ticking on just how many times we can get back before college given other things in their lives and I knew as I stood there, for Evan at least...there was probably only one more trip possible in his high school years.

SNIFF!

Well, that's kind of a downer. I hope that despite the added activities coming up over the next several years for the boys, you can still manage to find a way to get a few more trips in.

Up next, operation Grandma and Cruise plans! (yes, we are going!!! and yes, I've made all kind of changes!)

Changes are to be expected, given the circumstances, but I'm glad you're at least going to get to make the trip!

 

[jedijill]

What a great meal and evening at the MK. I love the icicle lights on the Castle. It's sad that the boys are growing up and there won't be many more chances for visits. Sniff.

Can't wait to hear about your cruise plans.

Jill in CO

 

[natebenma]

Although I didn't officially register my guess, I knew you would get in. I am also the perpetrator of a late ADR arrival that ended well.

So glad you enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere at BOG.

Yeah for Space!

It has been forever since we have done the cars, too. I'm ok with that.

Big Thunder Big Thunder at Night

I love the photopass pictures with castle and Christmas sweaters!

Got a little teary with your mention about the ever-decreasing window of opportunities to travel with the boys. Hits a little close to home.

That being said... that your couples cruise is still on!!!

Can't wait to read about the details!