Mini Trip Report

[thegoofyfamily]

Just got back from a quickie overnight to WDW with DH and the kids. Needed a break so we packed Saturday afternoon and headed out first thing Sunday morning for the 2 1/2 hour drive north.

We decided to make our accommodations as frugal as we were able since it was last minute and we were going back mid-October, so we opted to stay at Port Orleans Riverside, where we met my good friend and her family. HATED IT. My friend and I usually stay at the Fort and this is the second time we've ventured away and were horribly disappointed both times. Looks like they did some updating and a bit of remodeling, but not enough to get me back there again. The pillows and mattresses might have been the same ones they used when this resort opened.

The grounds and pool were fine, but just does not compare with the Fort, so I won't bore you with more details and we did not take any pics here. We took the bus to Epcot. We usually take the boat to MK and hit the monorail to Epcot, but we found this to be one of many disappointments in our decision to stay at PO.

Went to will call to get the 3-day ticket for DD's friend and I realized I forgot our AP's at the room. The will call agent was able to reissue passes right there and that's when I was told that they don't create fancy credit card type AP's because they are lost so often that it's not cost efficient. Once inside, the baby was asleep, so went straight to the counties. We usually go to Canada first, but decided to go to Mexico because someone in our group needed a margarita.

 

[thegoofyfamily]

Sorry for the size of the photos. First time so I need to figure it out.

I didn't take pics of the food at the cantina, but I should have. I had regular margs, but my girlfriend had several of the fruity variety. All good. We had flautas, chips and salsa, and chicken tostadas........excellent food. One of the great things about Disney is the special attention we get for the kids. Our waitress was quick to offer a modified version of the flautas for DS1, which he loved.

Here is DH and DS1 on one of the couches in the cantina playing. He got wise to the flash on the camera and started blinking incessantly before each shot.

We left Mexico and headed to Germany. On our way, we passed this.

This may not look like much to the average person, but to the trained eye, it was masking the set up for a wine tasting area for the Food and Wine Festival starting next month!

We arrived in Germany where DH and our friend took the baby inside Biergarten while my friend and I grabbed a beer and took the kids for their Kim Possible secret mission in China.

The Kim Possible mission for the kids was pretty cool. They took these cell phones and it directed them on different missions all throughout the world showcase. They got bored with it after a couple of missions, but it's probably more fun for the 7-8 kid ages.

We took the kids and met up with the guys inside Biergarten. They found Jager and made lifelong friends with him. Here's me and DH once I found him.

A show started just after we sat down and I got a quick picture.

The food was great as usual and we used our AP's for the 10% discount. It may seem like we've eaten quite a bit up to this point, but only some of us order at each place so we can all try a little before heading off. There's always some that want Mexican or German.....so we stop so that everyone can get their craving satisfied.

The boys headed off to Rose and Crown, while my girlfriend and I stopped into the Christmas shop in Germany. We got around to Italy and snapped the picture of the street performers getting ready for a show. Notice the new Via Napoli in the background.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Yippee! Another trip report!

 

[auntie]

How lucky you are to live close enough for a last minute visit! Those photos are great. You sure looked like you had a good time.
(oh..and I agree about POR..we had a God awful room there almost two years ago...really in need of refurbishment)

 

[jonimce]

Love the photos. Sorry you didn't like PO. We have friends that stay there every year. But we're like you. Love the Fort area. We strayed away from the fort the last couple of trips but only went as far as the WL. Can't wait to go next summer.

 

[thegoofyfamily]

I wholeheartedly agree that the Fort is the best!!!

As we headed toward France, the clouds started rolling in, and with the lightning that followed, we joined the guys in Rose and Crown. We got a table on the back patio and let the kids have yet another meal. I had never had the cottage pie as we always get fish and chips. It was awesome! And, after a couple more Jameson and Gingers, my group headed back to the hotel in the rain. The kids were disappointed about not being able to ride anything in Future World, but I reminded them we'd be back in @ a month for the F&W.

The rain stopped as we got back to the POR and my older kids went to the pool, which was pretty close to our room and DH and I went back to get the baby ready for bed.

We were up at 6:15 am on Monday. AK was EMH for the day, so we headed over there. We had to head back to West Palm at noon so DH could get some work done, so we had limited time. Our friends had eaten at the POR for breakfast the day before and didn't care for it, so we headed over to AK to have breakfast at Rainforest Cafe. It was awesome! I really need to remember to take pics of the food on our next trip.

DH and DD9 rode Expedition Everest while I stayed with the baby and DD10. She had ridden it earlier this year with a school trip and was still recovering.

We had gotten Fastpasses for the rapids ride, so we were off. As we were coming off the ride, some nice people gave us 6 more fastpasses. I was soaked and told the kids NO WAY. My friend is never one to miss out on the fun and took the kids by herself. That's her sitting alone. She is a trooper!

It was @ noon by the time they finished the second rapids ride, so we headed out.....sadly..... I really want to spend a day at AK soon to watch all the shows. DH could spend an entire week at the Fort with no parks, so with all the trips we have scheduled, I might be able to sneak away to do just that!

Sorry if I was so long-winded! I'll take more pics next month.....especially at the Fort.

 

[TheLug]

Looks like a blast!!! Will be there next week!

 

[*Michele*]

Thanks for sharing! So great that you live so close to take these mini trips! Many years ago we lived in Jupiter (but were too poor to afford APs, lol).

 

[thegoofyfamily]

Thanks for sharing! So great that you live so close to take these mini trips! Many years ago we lived in Jupiter (but were too poor to afford APs, lol).

AP's are definitely a luxury that we probably wouldn't have right now if it wasn't for the monthly payment option. DH gets a year-end bonus each year that goes right into savings/retirement. We had AP's in 2008 and talking him into that huge lump sum amount was torture. When Disney decided to do the monthly AP offer, I promised DH that the monthlies would come out of our household budget....... I've saved a little making DDs' lunches.....and I've often thought about cutting out a meal or two on the weekends

Where there's a will, I find a way!

 

[Solamom]

We stayed at PO almost 3 years ago in September. But like you once we discovered the Fort....we haven't stayed anyplace else! Totally addicted to the Fort!!

Awesome report!

 

[hotmamac]

Lovin' it!
Thanks for sharing!!