My DSD came for a visit & didn't stay for our trip to WDW??? Update 1/13Kadani Villag

[jmskinner]

I like your shirt in that picture of you!

I don't think I remember the end of Disaster...I don't even know if we rode it? Was there a subway type thing at the end (don't want to give it away) or am I thinking of something else?

Well thank you and it came from Kohls. Almost all of my stuff comes from Kohls.

Yes, Disaster is the one with the subway at the end.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

These are great pictures, Melissa. It's so weird, because it just looks like you're in some town -- a town where people just walk down the street and do things. Why don't we do that in our regular towns?? LOL No, we have to go to a theme park, themed like a town...I mean, even DHS has this same kind of thing, as does Main Street. I think we should just shut down the streets every once in a while, and just make a day of it in our towns....

You've got me really curious about that Disaster ride. I read your posts during work, but the firewall won't let in the pictures, so I have to wait until I get home to see the pics. But it was worth the wait...I'm sure there was a "no pictures" sign again.


(I just want some popcorn)

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Melissa, great pictures as usual. I can kinda visualize what you are talking about having gone to Universal Hollywood, but there it is a tram. I heard they use to have a tram/backlot tour in Orlando but they took it out. Can't wait to see if Jacob got wetter .... is that possible?
I love the shirt too, very cute

Simmerbaggins.... great pictures, is the Dumbo line shaded? It looked like you were walking under some tarp? In DL there is no cover, you are outside the whole time, same thing with IASW... all outside. Which makes for easier ways to see the clock strike and the characters dance, do they have dancing dolls come out of the IASW clock in WDW? But also makes for bright sun in eyes

awaiting what happens next for both of you

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Yes, the Dumbo line is partially shaded, which is great! Of course, IASW is fantastically shaded -- inside the building. Just thinking about standing out in the FL sun for the entire time is daunting -- the Buzz Lightyear line can get pretty far out there. Let us all take a moment to thank the Imagineers who helped Walt design WDW!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Here we are, headed toward the Peter Pan ride (see the croc sticking out of the building in the left-hand corner?). Once again, I have no good pictures of that ride – too dark, and didn’t want to use the flash. But it’s a classic ride that always makes me happy – who doesn’t want to fly??

After that, we headed around to ride Buzz Lightyear – we’ve really made the circle, now. The kids are hot. Can you tell?

Against mild resistance, I managed to get this great pic.

We were missing the parade, but for some reason, our hearts weren’t into trying to catch it…these were the last floats, anyway. Afterward, we went against the crowd following the parade to head back to the resort for dinner.

Do you ever wonder if your face is in someone's photo album or scrapbook?

The bus was strangely crowded (maybe other people had dinner agendas, too?), and we stood in the very front of it. To stave off boredom, I began a game of “I Spy” with DGD. Our bus driver decided he wanted in on the action (I can imagine they look for ways to keep the magic in their day), and Emily and he began to play together. In this pic, she’s looking at the driver’s dash to find what he’s looking at.

We got back to the resort and got to see our new room; it was pretty much exactly the same, with the exception that it wasn’t made for the handicapped in the bathroom, and the layout was reversed. We walked out onto our new balcony to see the sights!

There were some really big horned cattle down there…somewhere I have a description and name for these animals, but I can’t find it to share with you.

After a refreshing time, we dressed and went down to Boma’s! It’s a buffet, with a lot of very different foods to try, as well as some of the traditional stuff. What I enjoyed the most was the steak. Have the man carve you off a huge piece, if you go. It was the best tasting piece of meat I ate the entire time at WDW.
This is the only pic that came out:

After eating, we made the decision to go back to MK and watch Dreams (fireworks). Before it started, though, we managed to sneak in one more ride, the Jungle cruise!

The cruise guide was pretty cynical; talked fast!!

In all, we rode 14 rides that day – Splash Mountain, the train, Stitch, Monsters (forgot to include that), BTMRR, Haunted Mansion, IASW, Philharmagic, Snow White, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Pooh (forgot about that one), Buzz, Jungle cruise. I think that was a pretty good first day!!

Here we are trying to get settled in a spot to watch the show:

And we ended up behind this pole, because the fireworks were hidden behind the trees from that bridge we were on.

Here's the finale -- yay, it works!!

http://www.facebook.com/v/1106356141899" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"

And that was the end of our first day!

 

[jmskinner]

These are great pictures, Melissa. It's so weird, because it just looks like you're in some town -- a town where people just walk down the street and do things. Why don't we do that in our regular towns?? LOL No, we have to go to a theme park, themed like a town...I mean, even DHS has this same kind of thing, as does Main Street. I think we should just shut down the streets every once in a while, and just make a day of it in our towns....

You've got me really curious about that Disaster ride. I read your posts during work, but the firewall won't let in the pictures, so I have to wait until I get home to see the pics. But it was worth the wait...I'm sure there was a "no pictures" sign again.


(I just want some popcorn)

You are so right about shutting down the streets. More people would go to Downtown areas if they didn't have to worry about cars hitting them.
No pics in Disaster either, or else I had just given up.

Did you get your popcorn?

Melissa, great pictures as usual. I can kinda visualize what you are talking about having gone to Universal Hollywood, but there it is a tram. I heard they use to have a tram/backlot tour in Orlando but they took it out. Can't wait to see if Jacob got wetter .... is that possible?
I love the shirt too, very cute

Simmerbaggins.... great pictures, is the Dumbo line shaded? It looked like you were walking under some tarp? In DL there is no cover, you are outside the whole time, same thing with IASW... all outside. Which makes for easier ways to see the clock strike and the characters dance, do they have dancing dolls come out of the IASW clock in WDW? But also makes for bright sun in eyes

awaiting what happens next for both of you

What's with all the popcorn?

Yes, the Dumbo line is partially shaded, which is great! Of course, IASW is fantastically shaded -- inside the building. Just thinking about standing out in the FL sun for the entire time is daunting -- the Buzz Lightyear line can get pretty far out there. Let us all take a moment to thank the Imagineers who helped Walt design WDW!

the Imagineers!

Wow Vickie, you guys really did do a lot. I remember texting you and asking you how many rides you had done.

And you tour MK the way Jonas does, from Peter Pan to Buzz. More on that later.

Please tell me you had the Zebra Domes at Boma. That was the thing I liked there.

You need to post that one pic on the "Is This You" thread. Well, I am now behind, so guess I will do an update since I have nothing to do but wait on the DMIL arrive.

 

[jmskinner]

So, Jacob and I headed for the Curios George area. I had seen pics of this place and knew I had to take Jacob because there is one thing he loves:

Great big buckets of water dumping on him. He even likes little buckets of water. He had a great time, I just tried to take pics without getting the camera wet.

There were large buckets on both sides:

Then Jacob found the Ball Factory, I had to walk through the water area to get to him.

As you can see by the pics, the Ball Factory is a huge ball pit where you can shoot the balls and also gather them to place in buckets that will eventually drop them.

Jacob was really enjoying himself, but Jonas called and they were already at the park entrance ready to go. I was a little miffed because I wanted them to see this and also I had hoped for one more ride on ET which we had to pass to leave.

A few last pics.

And this is the train for the new Rip Ride Rockit. It was just sitting out on one piece of track.

We found Jonas and Kara and hoped on the boat back to the resort to get our truck

And the last pics of the resort:

Now it was time to head home. When I say home, I mean POR!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Wow -- I love the Curious George area!! I mean, I'm not a huge fan of getting soaked, but the decor is GREAT!! I can see you running through that to get to Jacob, while trying to keep your camera dry!!

Is there something about getting soaked that satisfies Jacob's sensory issue? I think it's pretty neat that he can "go all out" to get soaked and he just goes on!

Enjoy DMIL -- I was getting concerned all day because I thought you might not have time to post!

Oh, and phooey, I forgot -- I DID have the Zebra Domes! They even had some extra free ones up in concierge...(sigh)...great stuff. Man, that just REALLY made me want to go back.

and no, I didn't get the popcorn!!! A friend of mine confessed the other day that one of the best things she liked about the movies is the popcorn -- we are the same way! (three of us @ movies)

 

[irky416]

Wow, Jacob is soaked!!!

The ball factory looks cool. I didn't even know it existed. That's yet another reason I need a child! (Anyone want to loan me one?)

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Looked like a fun little place. Was that in IOA or Universal? I'll have to look it up again, I made myself lists. But I don't think we would enjoy the water portion, though they have a year to maybe learn to love it Glad Jacob had fun

Can't wait to see your POR pictures

 

[jmskinner]

Wow -- I love the Curious George area!! I mean, I'm not a huge fan of getting soaked, but the decor is GREAT!! I can see you running through that to get to Jacob, while trying to keep your camera dry!!

Is there something about getting soaked that satisfies Jacob's sensory issue? I think it's pretty neat that he can "go all out" to get soaked and he just goes on!

Enjoy DMIL -- I was getting concerned all day because I thought you might not have time to post!

Oh, and phooey, I forgot -- I DID have the Zebra Domes! They even had some extra free ones up in concierge...(sigh)...great stuff. Man, that just REALLY made me want to go back.

and no, I didn't get the popcorn!!! A friend of mine confessed the other day that one of the best things she liked about the movies is the popcorn -- we are the same way! (three of us @ movies)

Well, I actually didn't have to run through the true water area. Behind the scene were stairs you could use to get to the ball pit, but I didn't take any chances, waited for the bucket to clean out and then put the camera under my blouse and off I went.

I think the water is a sensory issue with Jacob. Very hard to get him away from it.

Hey, your ahead of me again, so I need to get this day completed. Going to try now, but between the wine and yacking with the DMIL....

Wow, Jacob is soaked!!!

The ball factory looks cool. I didn't even know it existed. That's yet another reason I need a child! (Anyone want to loan me one?)

You can always borrow Jacob! But, I say go have some fun. The kids would probably love being targets, or having targets!

Looked like a fun little place. Was that in IOA or Universal? I'll have to look it up again, I made myself lists. But I don't think we would enjoy the water portion, though they have a year to maybe learn to love it Glad Jacob had fun

Can't wait to see your POR pictures

Curious George is in Universal! POR pics coming up!

 

[jmskinner]

We made it to the truck and Jonas offered to drive. I could take pics!

I know, I am completely pic crazy! But, who can resist this pic,

And when I saw this:

I actually said out loud, "We're home!" Even though we had been at Universal and before going I was afraid it would ruin some of the magic I have for WDW, it didn't. All the magic was still there and I was so excited to be at POR.

We pulled in to a spot next to another family, who I walked past to get to check-in. I was on a mission. I had checked-in online, but stupidly went to the regualr check-in spot, but the CM walked over and got all my papers etcs. I was so excited because we were at Magnolia Manor! Oh, one glitch. Jonas still had my ID from being at Universal, so I had to holler across the lobby at him.

Sorry, I didn't get any pics at this point, left the camera in the truck. But thought I would go ahead and post all of my POR pics now and give a little review of the resort.

We found this when we entered the room:

I tried to get some pics before destroying the room completely:

The walk from the lobby to our room (had to walk through that hallway to get to our room).

And the gazebo at the other end of the path:

Path leading to 'ol Man Island pool.

Design stamped into the sidewalk:

Boat Dock:

Boat to DTD (he didn't make a fast turn, it really did lean to one side!)

Oops, too many pics, more to follow in the next post.

 

[jmskinner]

Excuse the next few, they were taken in the morning and the lens kept fogging over.

The back side of the building facing the parking lot, our room was there on the far left of the photo:

We only had to walk across the parking lot to get to the bus stop:

Another pic of the pool without anyone in it:

This is that hallway we used to cut through the building, it is also where the elevators are.

I had really planned to take some time and take pics of POR, but I never did. Too busy at the parks. We love POR. We have now stayed there 3 times since 2006. When we went in 2008 I tried to get Jonas to stay elsewhere, but he wanted to stay at POR. This trip we originally planned to stay at Shades of Green, but since Kara wasn't going to stay with us at WDW. I just wasn't getting a good vibe off of SoG and then figured out POR would actually be cheaper. We keep thinking of a Deluxe, but we love walking out of our room and being outdoors instead of a hallway. Which is funny because when we are on the road, we only stay at hotels with indoor corridors, but Disney knows how to immerse you into another world don't they.

Next up, our night at DTD.

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Okay, I feel like a broken record saying those are great pics. I do want to say: that last picture is SPOOKY!! I feel like a ghost is going to pop out at any moment...don't even really like to look at it!

It's funny, because I just realized that Robert is going to be the same about AKL that you guys are for POR; Jordan and I want to try Bay Lake Towers (we fell in love with the rooms, and got some great pics), but he wants the ambiance of the savannah and the fireplaces, etc. So we have been going back & forth -- not to mention WHEN we will be going back. (oh, & I have to figure out how to change this thing at the end of my posts, because I'm LYIN'!) But, I think people really fall for a certain resort at Disney, and always want to go back.

...good stuff...!

 

[jmskinner]

This was our last night with Kara. She was getting on a plane the next day back to NC. One last special treat, Harry Potter, which had opened the night before and I had preordered tickets to see it at DTD. So, on the boat we went:

Tree House Villas

And their own special dock:

SSR:

Before the movie, we decided to eat at Rainforest Cafe. I had joined their Safari Club and had the $10 gift certificate to use, and they allowed me to take 10% off our meal also, so this turned out to be an inexpensive meal. Also, with this card, you get front of the line treatment, so when I checked in, Jonas and Jacob walked off because Jonas assumed we would have a wait and thought he could wander the store. So, I hollered across at them and Jonas was really surprised we didn't have a wait. Of course we then had to squeeze by the other people waiting who wondered why we were special.

We actually weren't very hungry, Kara had the Spinach Dip, I had the nachos and Jonas had the Cesear Salad. Now, I knew Jacob didn't like the chicken nuggets here, so I didn't force him to eat them. He actually asked about tortilla chips, so I got him an order just to make it until we got back to the resort and I could get him some chicken nuggets he likes.

Paid our ticket and out the door we went, but first we all lost each other in the store and spent 10 minutes trying to find each other. Finally found each other and got this pic of Jacob:

We made it to the movie an hour before and Jacob and I played a video game and then joined Kara and Jonas inside the theatre. First off, we had watched a movie in this theatre before, this one room was different. The main seating area was designed like a balcony. It had a wall in front of the first row of that area, and then you had more seats down below the wall, which would be the section only the late arrivals get to sit in.

So, there was a party taking the row right in front of the wall. We found our seats in the row behind them. Kara and Jonas got up to gets snacks, so Jacob and I stayed behind. Well, the two guys in front of us were looking at an Iphone and flipping through pics. One pic comes up and shows this young guy, then the next pic comes up. Same young guy, but...how should I say this...in the full monty. I was in shock. The other guy told the guy with the phone to put it down lower, so they must have heard my gasp. I was so glad Kara was gone and luckily Jacob wasn't paying attention.

Eventually the movie began and we all enjoyed it. After that we took the boat to the other side of DTD.

After that we headed back to the hotel for some sleep. Jacob's air mattress fit so much better in this room than the one at RPR.

Next up, we meet up with Vickie and her family.

 

[jmskinner]

Okay, I feel like a broken record saying those are great pics. I do want to say: that last picture is SPOOKY!! I feel like a ghost is going to pop out at any moment...don't even really like to look at it!

It's funny, because I just realized that Robert is going to be the same about AKL that you guys are for POR; Jordan and I want to try Bay Lake Towers (we fell in love with the rooms, and got some great pics), but he wants the ambiance of the savannah and the fireplaces, etc. So we have been going back & forth -- not to mention WHEN we will be going back. (oh, & I have to figure out how to change this thing at the end of my posts, because I'm LYIN'!) But, I think people really fall for a certain resort at Disney, and always want to go back.

...good stuff...!

that pic is a little spooky. Your right we all find a resort we like and want to keep going back to it. We'll see if CBR changes our minds about POR in a few weeks.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Melissa!

Great updates and photos again! I was especially excited to see the POR ones, I can't wait to go now! It looks really beautiful!

Di x

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Wow Melissa, great shots. Makes me want to stay at POR all that much sooner. Hoping I get to soon.

It's almost time for your TR's to meet, how fun

 

[SimmerBaggins]

It’s Friday, the day we are to meet with the Skinners (well, minus Kara, and Jonas for a while)! It’s Animal Kingdom day!

I don’t remember much about getting ready that morning other than we knew we needed the spray/fan bottle and I wanted my Safari hat from a previous trip. Putting most of our stuff (unfortunately for him) into DH’s backpack, we set off...first to The Mara for a bit of breakfast, and then the bus stop.

We were running a bit late to make it for the opening of the park, so I don’t have any pictures of our scurrying to the bus stop…to make matters worse, as we are about to walk out of the resort, Melissa texts me to say they are already at their bus stop. I hate to be behind. This puts me in overdrive mode, and I hurriedly text her that we are walking to ours.

This just continues: as we are waiting on our bus, she texts me to tell me they are on theirs. Have you ever done this? It’s nerve-racking…like a race you have no control over whatsoever!! So we stand there, willing our bus to come to us. Meanwhile, a resort CM is out there with a little surprise – a box with holes in it, for the kids to put their hands in to see if they can tell what is in each compartment! They had fun with this, but there was no way they could have figured them out – that’s all I’ll say about that!

So, we get on the bus that finally decides to pick us up for AK. I hate to make somebody wait. We are almost there, when Melissa texts me that they are there! Hmm. As we round the bend, I stand up and start looking at the walkway from the AK bus stop – and there they are!! Heh, heh. I text her: I see you! Or something like that – which is kind of mean, I guess, because she has no idea where we are….

Your story to this point, Melissa? I have no pics to share with this part.

 

[jmskinner]

Hi Melissa!

Great updates and photos again! I was especially excited to see the POR ones, I can't wait to go now! It looks really beautiful!

Di x

POR is beautiful. So relaxing.

Wow Melissa, great shots. Makes me want to stay at POR all that much sooner. Hoping I get to soon.

It's almost time for your TR's to meet, how fun

I hope you get there soon also. And the WDW fun really begins now.