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

[jmskinner]

It does look really nice. I guess I need to watch Wishes from some place besides the park some time, but after watching it from the front of the castle, I don't want to watch it anywhere else. Or maybe it was that CM that told me Walt Disney wanted everyone to watch the fireworks from Main Street.

Can't believe we are almost at the end of this TR, but so glad a new one is just around the corner!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Yes, I've got to hurry & get this finished this weekend!!

We were shown to another BLT room and I took a few more pictures (this is when they told us about the deal, which is now over.

We left BLT, hungry. Of course we didn't buy any points!! We really weren't prepared to, but we took the information in case we saw a way we could, afterward.... We went to the Contemporary and looked at the lunch offerings there, but nothing really appealed to us. I made the decision to go over to the Polynesian to eat at their counter-restaurant.

Here we are, on the monorail to that destination:

Here's the sit-down restaurant in the Poly -- Kona Cafe. I've heard good and bad things about this place, and our one trip there years ago wasn't so good, so we didn't entertain this thought.

The walk of the hungry.

They have nice little shops on the way to Captain Cook's restaurant.

Next up...maybe the last bit of WDW??

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Well, after coming back and reviewing my own post (seems kind of egotistical, but I do it all the time!), I got to thinking.

This was an extraordinary trip for us. Melissa and I have been friends a long time, and we were glad to be able to get together for this trip. In addition, DVC became a good value for us, because it ENCOURAGED us to take this trip, and staying on property is the best thing. I could go on & on here -- we have an RCI property as well and have stayed off-campus, but the magic just isn't the same. Not having to drive and walking back to your Disney room and curling up in that soft bed...well. I'll stop there.

But I've enjoyed reliving this trip this way. I got to see sides of the trip from Melissa's perspective, and she, mine. The only thing I can think of that's bad about this long TR is that it seems unwieldy, after a while. Certain people will read for a while, then they lose track, and after a while, there's just so much to catch up on, it's simply easier to start reading someone else's new TR. I, myself, found it difficult to want to jump onto someone's lengthy TR that I've never been a party to. Although -- some people have more time than I do, and that might not be a deterrent for them.

And, there's no way to bundle this long, beautiful thread into a box and take it back out after a long while. It'll be gone...and it has been a great creation! (I don't know...do they archive these somewhere?)

Anyway, for those of you who've been reading -- thank you. Especially after your most favorite Dis'er's thread was done (Melissa), it wasn't nearly as exciting to follow along with. So any of you left out there who are still reading, I'm grateful to been able to share this. It was fun.

And, again -- soon will be the end. And later, the beginning. And isn't that how things work?

Vickie

 

[SimmerBaggins]

So, here we are at Captain Cook's -- they give you these neat little boxes for the food!

Afterward, my DGD pulls out the snack she's been working on...

We have a little bit of time, so we wander around the stores a bit...doesn't this thing look like it's about to get her??

This is a really beautiful resort. As a matter of fact, it was the first resort we stayed at the first time we ever went to WDW. My daughter was in kindergarten, and we just pulled her out and came. It was a Land/Sea trip...there's absolutely no substitute for your first WDW experience.

This is the only store I've ever seen to exclusively sell this guy's art: he's the artist who made famous all the undersea paintings that looked so surreal.

Okay, I've got to find another picture...so I'll be back shortly.



Vickie

 

[SimmerBaggins]

As we were on our way out (the long way!), I remembered that during our first visit to WDW, my daughter and I took a picture up on this upper floor, looking over the railing. Feeling nostalgic, I decided to take another:

And, because I wanted to compare -- I took a moment and found the original to share with you!

I wish I could have done that more.

We said goodbye to Mickey, who was dressed to the nines in Hawaii get-up.

We went outside to catch the monorail back to our hotel, and noted some construction going on, high up on the rooftop:

We are quiet...it's been a long day...we're not eager to go, but maybe just resigned to it.

I hope you aren't totally disappointed in the ending of this...but here we are, at the entrance of the Jambo house. They had someone retrieve our luggage for the bus while we waited.

Here's my last picture of AKL....

And here, as the final, FINAL picture, is the one DD and I took at DHS -- she had one taken of her the last time we had gone, and I wanted in on the action! It works as not only the ending for this TR, but also as a herald to the next TR...as our first park in our next trip in June will be DHS, during the Star Wars weekend!!! Adios, amigos, and good trip-planning and story-telling to you all.

Until next time,

Vickie

 

[disneybarbie]

Oh no, it's finished!! this has been one of my longest-subscribed-to-threads!
Really enjoyed reading along.. it's been great that both of you were posting your thoughts and photos

Look forward to your next TRs

Emma x

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Thanks, Emma!! I'm really so excited about our next trip...! Finishing this thread makes it feel like I really can open the door for our next dual-trip, and of course, the next thread!

 

[jmskinner]

I love the comparison shots. Jordan was so little.


And wait, we have some more shots we didn't include in the TR, our photopass pics!!!

The kids with Flick:


In front of EE:


Tree of Life:


Blackmail material when the kids get older:


At 1900 Park Faire:


Robert, Vickie, Jordan and Emily before we caught up to them:


Tinkerbell made an appearance:


Me, Jonas and Jacob on TT:


Vickie and her family:

 

[ScotsMinnie]

So disappointed it is finished. I too have loved the 2 author report! Can't wait for the next one!

To finish off I love this picture - its gorgeous!!!

Blackmail material when the kids get older:

 

[jmskinner]

Oh no, it's finished!! this has been one of my longest-subscribed-to-threads!
Really enjoyed reading along.. it's been great that both of you were posting your thoughts and photos

Look forward to your next TRs

Emma x

Thanks Emma! Glad you enjoyed it.

So disappointed it is finished. I too have loved the 2 author report! Can't wait for the next one!

To finish off I love this picture - its gorgeous!!!

I love this picture also. Couldn't believe Jacob smiled, he wasn't happy when the photographer was giving him instructions.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

The end of a TR is always sad , but you had a really fun holiday and I really enjoyed seeing all the photos and reading all about it!

BLT and Kidani looked lovely - you'll have a great holiday there!!!

Di x

 

[jmskinner]

The end of a TR is always sad , but you had a really fun holiday and I really enjoyed seeing all the photos and reading all about it!

BLT and Kidani looked lovely - you'll have a great holiday there!!!

Di x

Thanks for joining us Di. It is always sad to read the end of TR's. I still remember that pic of your family waving goodbye to MK. Before we leave Florida I want to get pics like that for all of the parks.

And also, thought I would let everyone know that Vickie has started her PTR for her trip this June, which we will be a part of, at least for a couple of days. Here is the link:Share a WDW moment with someone: It’s a Star Wars Weekend, after all!

 

[SimmerBaggins]

Yay -- a plug for my PTR!!