Monorail Drink-A-Thon

[ctrabada]

Hi, guys, I'm back....

Jen, I haven't had a chance to read your trip report... I really want to get to it but I have to borrow computers to post here and don't have the time....

Dagny, I did add on 120 pts but have not sent the paperwork back yet....

We went to MNSSHP on Sunday, 10/30 and it was sold out but all the rides we went on were walk ons.... loved it. I really liked Hallowishes but was not impressed with the parade... last year's was so much better. This time they bundled all the villains into one float... the one time a year they can shine they get relegated to one little part of the parade now.... Last year they had a lot more villain floats and felt more like Halloween....

I will post pix later, I'm trying to upload them.

WLL, I didn't do PfTS because we didn't want to spend the $$$$.... I haven't been able to work for 2 weeks and I'm self-employed, so no worky, no money and DH just started today and I think he'll have to take a whole week without pay. I just couldn't justify it, but I will make plans for it next year.

ahhhhhhh, we stayed at BWV and really liked it. The bartenders at the pool bar were fabulous. One of them, Ty, made me a drink called "Hurricane" to get over my Hurricane Wilma blues and it was very yummy! When I asked him what it had (after I drank it of course) he said rum several times.... We kept hopping from the hot tub (it was cold!) to the slide to the hot tub.... it was fun.

For F&W, we didn't do as much as we have in past years, probably because I was somewhat frazzled (had only 1/2 tank of gas and there was no gas anywhere... finally was able to fill up after a 30-min wait in Ft. Pierce... I was running on fumes). When we checked in, they offered me a handicap-accessible room right away but I declined and decided to wait for a regular room. We left our luggage in storage and walked to Epcot.

France: Vouvray (this was fabulous, loved it)

Spain: Tried the $8 sampling tour of 5 different wines, one white and 4 red. All good

Barley & Hops Market: Sam Adams Black Lager (excellent); BBQ Beef with New England Cornbread (excellent); Samuel Adams Chocolate Cream
Stout Cake (too chocolatey for me, but DH liked it)

Italy: Baked Ziti Carbonara with Pancetta (good)

Germany: German Weinkraut and Sausage (very good); Traditional Apple Strudel (very good); Lowenbrau Oktoberfest (excellent). Alexander, the CM selling pretzels next to the German booth kept talking to us and teaching us German words, he was great.

Australia: Did the walkabout. Wines were very good.

China: Pot stickers (very good) and Tsingtsao beer (good).

And by that time, I was tired and called to see if our room was ready and it was, so we headed back to collect our luggage. We unpacked and went to the pool.

Overall, it was a great weekend escape.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi Cristy! thanks for the trip report...i would LOVE to see some pics! i really enjoyed BWV,,,which room did you stay in? we were in 3133 which was waaaayyyy down the hall, but it was nice to be next to the stairwell and that much closer to the MGM walkway. I spent a few days at that pool bar, also. Mainly stoli/club sodas, though. I actually went down the keister coaster myself!

Can't believe you got another 120 points! how many does that take you up to? I am jealous!

Did you have a hard time getting into BWV? I thought it was hard to get a room there during Oct due to it's close proximity to Epcot and F&W Festival.

I here ya about the cash thing. I hope you do PftS next year, I want to hear your opinion.

 

[ctrabada]

WLL, yep, I sure added more points cuz the deal was too good to pass up and I don't have enough (total 350 now)... as it is, I would like more but can't afford them right now and want to wait until the next property (strong rumors about north wing at CR). I booked my BWV studio about 6 months ago with points so it was not difficult; actually, they didn't have the weekend I wanted available (I believe it was the weekend before our stay) so I settled for that one.

Here are some pix from MNSSHP:

The pirate family, from left: my sis, DD8, me and DH

Our "preferred" view from our room 3052 (yep, big trees in front of the pool... you can see some blue if you look hard enough).

Hallowishes

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Ok, that's it...I have just GOTTA learn how to post pics! I want to show you the view from my room at BWV. I think it is pretty darn good for a "standard" view.

I love the family pic!


hmmm, strong rumors re: CR DVC....hmmm....

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

Our preferred room was blocked by a massive tree as well! But we were just a hop skip away from the lobby, so view or not we were happy!

Thanks for the report! We're throwing ideas around for a trip this december, wheee!

 

[ctrabada]

Our preferred room was blocked by a massive tree as well! But we were just a hop skip away from the lobby, so view or not we were happy!

Thanks for the report! We're throwing ideas around for a trip this december, wheee!

I know what you mean.... we were pretty close to the elevators & lobby, so I'm not complaining either. So far, I've liked every room I've stayed in except one, it was our WL concierge... that one really sucked... ugly view and solid wall balcony... it was awful and so not worth the money... after that, I learned not to stay concierge there and my last courtyard view was amazing. Going back this Xmas and staying at the VWL. Can't wait!

 

[TDC Nala]

Reminded to do the Australia wine walkabout and try the ziti carbonara this weekend...

for Halloween weekend I was in BWV 3066...same tree, same view.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Yay! ahhhh and minnie are back on the thread! I missed the "wheeeeeees!"

Cristy...That is why I will never stay concierge at WL. I hate those solid balconies. Well, I have never stayed concierge ANYWHERE yet, but when I do, it will NOT be at my beloved WL!

Hi TDC!

 

[ctrabada]

WLL, I was not impressed with WL concierge at all... and we had stayed the prior year at the AKL concierge and we were blown away. That made WL's one even more of a disappointment: terrible balconies, no lounge, food selections were so so.... I'm sure it has improved now with their new lounge but I still wouldn't do concierge there. I've heard of people staying concierge but requesting a different floor and getting it, so that could be a possibility. I love the WL but will never do concierge there again, even with the new lounge. I would like to try Poly's concierge next, but that one will burn a hole in my pocket so it'll have to wait. My pockets are still healing from my DVC add on and will be for a while...

TDC Nala, we were neighbors the same weekend!!! Room 3062, just 2 doors down!

 

[justlikeeyore]

Hi everyone I will be attending a Karaoke Meet at Kimonos during MF does anyone know where this is located. Is there any special drink I should get while there. Thanks

 

[TDC Nala]

TDC Nala, we were neighbors the same weekend!!! Room 3062, just 2 doors down!

did you see Catwoman trying to sneak onto the elevator on Halloween night? That was me. Yikes.

Kimonos is located in the Swan hotel.

 

[ctrabada]

did you see Catwoman trying to sneak onto the elevator on Halloween night? That was me. Yikes.

Nope, we checked out on the 31st but I would've loved to see you in costume. We went to MNSSHP on the 30th.

 

[justlikeeyore]

Thank you TDC

 

[Dagny]

Hey you guys!!! Just wanted to check in and say hi. I finally got the rest of my pictures from my October trip posted on my website (only took a month, sigh)....

Ok, who wants to start making plans for next year's Food and Wine Festival????.... Let's work on some dates.... Cristy has enough DVC points for everyone

xxoo

 

[ctrabada]

OK, I just had to post.... we've been waaaayyyyy too quiet for over a month! Come on, lushes, say something!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and wish you all the best during the holidays. I am looking forward to my next trip to WDW on 12/25-12/30 at VWL. We were watching a show on the Food Network about holidays around the World and we were so pumped knowing we'll be there to see and experience it again in just a few short weeks.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi Cristy! Glad you posted!

My Thanksgiving was great. I saw that show, hosted by Raven, that you mentioned. Now I really want to go at Christmastime!

I am a little bummed right now, I made a ressie at WL for the last weekend of January...but FL res rate was $195 a night with tax and everything (woods view.) That is way too high, I am used to paying around $140 a night in Jan w/ a FL res rate. DH and I discussed it and I cancelled it the next day. I would love to rent points again, but we cannot get away on a week night, and weekend points are just too dang high!

On a happy note...I do have my next Oct trip reserved at BWV! Renting points from the same gentleman...we want to duplicate our last Oct trip....it was the best ever!

So, you are checking in on Christmas Day? What a great way to spend the holidays. I am pea green with envy! Please take lots of pics. Will you be having Noche Bueno at your parents?

 

[lillygator]

Hi guys - I haven't checked in in a while!! We are heading up to the World on Thursday! Checking in to the Poly and heading straight for drinks around the world~!!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

ARRRGH! You guys are killin' me over here!

Have a backscratcher for me, Lily!!!!!!

 

[ctrabada]

lillygator, have fun and post when you get back!

WLL, yes, we're checking in on the 25th but we're actually driving up on the 23rd. We'll have Noche Buena at my parents on the 24th (I'm bringing the roast pork, plaintains and moros...I have to make the puertorrican eggnog, "coquito," as well... yum) and then we're all having Christmas Dinner at Cape May Cafe on the 25th. We can't wait.... we were so excited yesterday while watching the show we just couldn't sit still.... we kept hugging each other and jumping around... such a silly family....lol.

I decorated my Christmas tree this weekend (while drinking Sangria) and I'll post pictures soon. I still have to finish the rest of the decorations. DH hasn't put up the lights yet.... sigh... he was supposed to do that this weekend... I usually build a village as well, but I don't think I'll do it this year. I started just too late. My DD wants to do it, so maybe I'll do a mini one with only 2 or 3 houses, just for her.

 

[Aidensmom]

Hi everyone, I had just been thinking about how it had been a while since anyone posted on this thread. I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was great!

I met a couple of friends at WDW the day after Thanksgiving. We went to Big River Grille for dinner and split the beer sampler among the three of us while waiting for a table, and then we all had a glass of our favorite with dinner. I think mine was called something like Winter Magnolia. Then we went to Jellyroll's and had a great time.