May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 4

[lillygator]

I totally agree! What cuties you have. Haley certainly looks like she is a character! Is that at the Polynesian?

yep - we were there twice this past week!

 

[Jhalkias]

V - I just showed Sophia all the pictures, and she loved them!

She wants to know where it is that you wake up Tinkerbell?

Of course if it means waking up Sophia early, it is probably out!

I can't tell you and Kaylee how much I enjoyed your pictures, it is so much fun to see you guys having a good time at our favorite place.

Hopefully we will get to see some Disneyland Photos soon!

I did get a quick email from Kim that they are having a good time!

 

[fourmcds]

We really are - it's been a good weekend, even if we are not at Disney.

We love OKW too V, We also love Beach Club. It is now hard for us to decide between the two resorts for where we want to stay. We love the size of the rooms, and the tranquil setting at OKW - and love the pool too. For BCV, we love the proximity close to Epcot.

Must be cool to get those fastpasses - twice there during the year and never got even a whiff of dream fastpasses.

I was telling Scott this last trip it would be great to be there for several weeks and spend a few nights at each resort (but that is way too much packing/unpacking for me). Scott's favorite is OKW for sure...the quietness, the size of the rooms and the golf course views! My favorite is VWL since it is a boat ride away from MK and the looks of the resort. I agree that BC & BW are great though because they are close to 2 resorts and it is so nice to walk into Epcot and grab a pastry or something for breakfast or just wander before the world gets crowded. Oh, so many great options and so little time!

Me too John...2 visits this year and not a single dream V must have all the luck! V...run out and buy a lottery ticket

 

[fourmcds]

[

the eyes really open and the head moves...

That is too funny. Jaide pointed this out to me this trip and it was the first time any of us noticed it! I thought it must be new since I could never have missed something like that before!

 

[lillygator]

I can't tell you how many times we have been since the Dreams started...this was our first to get any or really see any in action. We did not use either day's dream fast pass --- there was no need at all...I was shocked to see people use them!

 

[Jhalkias]

I was telling Scott this last trip it would be great to be there for several weeks and spend a few nights at each resort (but that is way too much packing/unpacking for me). Scott's favorite is OKW for sure...the quietness, the size of the rooms and the golf course views! My favorite is VWL since it is a boat ride away from MK and the looks of the resort. I agree that BC & BW are great though because they are close to 2 resorts and it is so nice to walk into Epcot and grab a pastry or something for breakfast or just wander before the world gets crowded. Oh, so many great options and so little time!

Me too John...2 visits this year and not a single dream V must have all the luck! V...run out and buy a lottery ticket

Kaylee, for awhile we were only staying at VWL - because we love WL so much. Amy even downloaded the music that plays in the background and has it on her iPod (PJ gave us the link).

But now that Sophia likes the pool and slides so much, WL pool is a bit too crowded most of the time from that aspect. Some of my favorite times at WDW though are sitting in the lobby of WL in one of those big comfy chairs near the fireplace and just watching people go by and hearing the fun at Whispering Canyon.

 

[lillygator]

I was telling Scott this last trip it would be great to be there for several weeks and spend a few nights at each resort (but that is way too much packing/unpacking for me).

me, I am in the one resort per stay camp...especially since I do the packing and repacking!! although I would like to be able to say we have stayed at tehm all one day!!!

 

[Jhalkias]

Time to get lunch!

I'll check in later tonight - the day is too nice to stay on the computer.

 

[granmaz]

We really are - it's been a good weekend, even if we are not at Disney.

We love OKW too V, We also love Beach Club. It is now hard for us to decide between the two resorts for where we want to stay. We love the size of the rooms, and the tranquil setting at OKW - and love the pool too. For BCV, we love the proximity close to Epcot.

Must be cool to get those fastpasses - twice there during the year and never got even a whiff of dream fastpasses.

It looked like a great occasion and you must be very proud.

We never saw anything at all to do with the million dreams in November/December - givers or receivers!!!

Since we love Epcot and MGM, we'd have to choose BC or BWI....love them both!!

We have only stayed onsite twice - the first time at POFQ which we loved so much we booked ther next time and added 3 nights at BWV to enjoy the closeness to Epcot. That was the only place we could get there for the first week of December last year when we tried to book - in October I think!. Everywhere booked up!!! We really loved the position and I would love to stay in the other resorts there. I think we are too old to benefit from DVC membership unfortunately.

 

[fourmcds]

Here are the links for the fireworks pics....I posted a few others there as well. I am not putting the pics here since I didn't resize them. PJ, if this doesn't work for you, let me know.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t164/fourmcds/WDW07502-1.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t164/fourmcds/WDW07511.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t164/fourmcds/WDW07503.jpg

 

[lillygator]

Kaylee, for awhile we were only staying at VWL - because we love WL so much. Amy even downloaded the music that plays in the background and has it on her iPod (PJ gave us the link).

But now that Sophia likes the pool and slides so much, WL pool is a bit too crowded most of the time from that aspect. Some of my favorite times at WDW though are sitting in the lobby of WL in one of those big comfy chairs near the fireplace and just watching people go by and hearing the fun at Whispering Canyon.

I adore WL...especially at Xmas....!! We have yet to use the pool there though, it has been much too cold!!!!! Same at the Poly!

 

[Jhalkias]

me, I am in the one resort per stay camp...especially since I do the packing and repacking!! although I would like to be able to say we have stayed at tehm all one day!!!

I will say that before we had DVC we used to stay at two on every stay. We wanted to see as many as possible. You may not know, but Bell Services will transfer your luggage for you from one resort to the other. You do still have to pack though. On the day of the move we would be packed, send our luggage with GS, and go to the parks and check in later at the other resort.

 

[fourmcds]

Kaylee, for awhile we were only staying at VWL - because we love WL so much. Amy even downloaded the music that plays in the background and has it on her iPod (PJ gave us the link).

But now that Sophia likes the pool and slides so much, WL pool is a bit too crowded most of the time from that aspect. Some of my favorite times at WDW though are sitting in the lobby of WL in one of those big comfy chairs near the fireplace and just watching people go by and hearing the fun at Whispering Canyon.

Totally agree about the pool there. It was nearly impossible to find a chair there one day. Both my girls started their "water slide adventures" at WL and now they think it is a fairly boring one. OKW is their favorite....haven't been to BC recently for them to compare.

 

[lillygator]

she loved this and the big "shobel, shobel mommmmmmy"!!

Samantha is bound and determined to be able to do everything!

ice cream snacks!

daddy and his smoothie!

I am not sure - but think this may have been part of the tree house village??

Wolfgang Puck ---- so LOUD! I will only go back to the upstairs I think, or maybe just the sushi bar...

 

[fourmcds]

me, I am in the one resort per stay camp...especially since I do the packing and repacking!! although I would like to be able to say we have stayed at tehm all one day!!!

I am always amazed when to hear that it would take over 70 years to stay 1 night in every room they have at WDW!
We did hear a rumor (love them) that Disney is slowly going to phase itself out of the hotels and focus on DVC and the cruise industry. Four Seasons is buying a few golf courses (eagle pines and osprey) and building a new hotel there with condos. According to the CM we were talking to he said that Disney wants all of it's hotels to be sold out and managed by other chains, like the Swan and Dolphin. He thought the value resorts would be the first. Who knows if this is true or not. He also said the the MK parking lot alone made over 38 million dollars last year!!!! That is crazy.

 

[calmom]

Haven't spent New Years Eve in the city in years, can't you tell? As for me, I loved the Ritz high tea but haven't done that in years as GK's moved father away.

We didn't spend much time in the city at hotels being so close in Woodside, except for conferences. I am a firm believer if the company can pay instead of me, much better deal!! The youngest DD especially loved the Ritz in Laguna Nigel. Have you ever stayed there?

I agree with you the Ritz is definitely not a "budget" hotel!! Especially with all the cruising we plan to do in the next few years.

No, I've never stayed at Laguna Nigel. I will have to try that (after our cruise of course!)

Let's see: Best Hotel stays of all time (for me!):
Four Seasons Resort, Kona (black bottom pool with marine life was awesome to go swimming in) http://www.fourseasons.com/hualalai/

Four Seasons Las Vegas (loved their quietness in the midst of a very loud city) http://www.fourseasons.com/lasvegas/

Mandarin Oriental, SF (love that they call my sons by their names - they must have cheat sheets somewhere; they left a brand new stuff animal in the crib for our youngest along with other baby stuff) http://www.mandarinoriental.com/sanfrancisco/

Ritz, SF (The indoor pool, lobby, all the extras for the kids) http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/SanFrancisco/Default.htm

Plaza, NY (stayed there several years ago - now it is turned into residences. So romantic to see Central Park outside the window) http://www.theplazaresidences.com/

Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans (quick visit before a cruise - loved the Old World Elegance) http://www.windsorcourthotel.com/web/onor/onor_a2a_home.jsp

Regina Palace, Stresa Italy (Beautiful and classical older hotel http://www.stresa.net/hotel/regina/en/index2.html)

Le Meridien Piccadilly (loved the English Breakfast every morning and being so close to everything)
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1925

And of course - Disneyland Hotel! I just loved all the Disney special touches. I'd like to try The Grand Californian. Can't wait to hear about your visit!

Anyone have a favority hotel to add?

 

[lillygator]

this was the smiley face fries...tasted like a plain donut to me....

 

[fourmcds]

I will say that before we had DVC we used to stay at two on every stay. We wanted to see as many as possible. You may not know, but Bell Services will transfer your luggage for you from one resort to the other. You do still have to pack though. On the day of the move we would be packed, send our luggage with GS, and go to the parks and check in later at the other resort.

We have used this service before and it is great. One trip we stayed 2 n at BC, 2 n at BW and 6 n at OKW. It was a pain to not really unpack, but great to leave the one resort and check into the next resort after a day of play at the parks (and not have to worry about the luggage)

 

[fourmcds]

[

I am not sure - but think this may have been part of the tree house village??
...

More great pictures V. You girls are just so adorable!

That is one of the tree house villages...I heard that it was CM housing now...anyone know if that is true? I also heard that some where condemned and falling down, but every time we go by on the ferries it always looks like people are staying there.

 

[lillygator]

I am always amazed when to hear that it would take over 70 years to stay 1 night in every room they have at WDW!

Oh my - that must be in every room in every resort???
I just want to be able to lay my head down in a room at each resort before I go!!