Oh no, is the hurricane coming your way??! 
Looks like we got lucky on this one. 
for having your cruise paid off!!! One step closer! 
We had one of our best trips ever there in February 2009 and I just fell in love! It's just simple and cozy, and very different from tropical So Fla. BUT...I do love Beach Club and Poly and Pop, also. 
I was popping on here to see if you felt the earthquake! We were shopping in Williamsburg and felt it. I thought the rack of shoes was going to fall on us! It's funny because even though it felt like a quake, my brain rationalized that it couldn't be because we don't have them around here...LOL!
I know! I thought the same thing! I kept thinking, "This feels like a quake, but it can't be... we don't have quakes!" I tell you, the weather this summer has been unbelievable. We've had terrible storms, the worst outbreak of tornadoes ever, drought and then flooding, an earthquake, and now a hurricane is coming. I've had enough! Bring on the boring winter!
I've been so busy with school stuff and I am not even officially back. Ugh. One more day...
Good luck this school year. I hope you have some wonderful students!
My favorite resort is the POLY baby! Oh yes, love that place. So wish they would make one longhouse DVC. So easily could be done. 2nd fave is OKW, yes, even over Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge (WL is Ben's favorite tho). OKW is just "us" and fits our family perfectly. Love how big everything is, color schemes, and laid back atmosphere. Just what we need after a hard day of park touring. I know it gets a bad rap sometimes because it's older and so big but the refurb really modernized it and we never notice how big it is. Enough rambling on that!
Yes, the Poly is quite nice and I'd stay there in a heartbeat... if someone else was paying for it!
MK table service is Crystal Palace, hands down. We've done, and enjoyed, every meal there. CS is Cosmic Ray's. Ellie is a picky eater and I love the variety we can get there. Something for everybody.
Everyone here seems to like CP! We've never tired Ray's... maybe this time.
Fireworks from the Poly beach are wonderful. However, I am a sucker for seeing them from Main Street. If it's a show I've seen many times before, like Wishes, then I am totally on the beach. But if it's a first time, or special show, then I am with the masses...
Oh you can't beat the atmosphere of seeing fireworks on Main Street, but the crowds are insane and sometimes more than my sanity can handle. I'm a huge fan of personal space and there is NONE of that there.
Wow, so weird how far that earthquake was felt!
Yes, it looks like the hurricane is headed this way.
As for fave resort, I have to go with Wilderness Lodge.
I like all of those too and would be happy to stay at any of them. I think WL is very nice, but for some reason, it seems strange to stay at a woodland themed place while in Florida. But I still like it a lot and think my DH would LOVE it!
Fave CS at MK is Pecos Bill. We usually just eat wherever, not too picky, but had a great burger at PB in May and I can't wait to have it again! TS...well, we haven't eaten at any other than CP for breakfast in years, so I'm gonna have to go with that.
Wow it seems like a lot of you really like PB! We're going to have to give that one another try!
Your first day plans sound perfect! And, Ohana is my absolute FAVORITE dinner in all of WDW, too!!!! YUM!
Ohana ROCKS! It's a good thing that it isn't in my hometown, b/c I would be broke from paying $100 to eat there all the time!
Sorry I've been MIA lately!! I just wanted to chime in and say we loved CBR too! My kids thought the pool was awesome! We were not super close to the food court, and I didn't think walking was too bad, but my MIL and SIL were with us and complained a lot. They are not in the best shape for walking and my SIL has since had one of her knees replaced, so take that for what it's worth.
Well I have been having problems with my feet for the last year (heel spurs) so I may end up feeling like it is too much walking too. I hope not though. My feet hurt so bad some days that it really makes me worry about the whole trip.
My favorite TS in MK is Crystal Palace. We've done both dinner and breakfast, and while I loved eating in the castle, CRT breakfast was not much different food-wise, but beats it out on ambience and experience.
We had lunch at CRT. I wish we had done breakfast b/c it's hard to mess up breakfast! Lunch was just so so. We liked the food at CP much better!
CS - I love CHH too (Tuna sandwich!), but we had yummy burgers at Pecos Bills. Cosmic Rays is just too busy/crazy. I don't like having to decide which line to get in and all that nonsense.
Your first day sounds awesome, but I bet you'll be at WDW earlier than you think unless you're stopping. (I might have missed that part) You'll be off the ship pretty much by 9 and it's about an hour drive.
I've always wanted to try Ohana for dinner - I think I have to now with all these rave reviews here!! Fireworks from the Poly beach is on my list too. We had thought about it for our last trip and it didn't seem to fit.
Yep, you NEED to try Ohana for dinner! And if you book a dinner ressie, just do it with the time of the fireworks in mind and then you can hit the beach that night and kill two birds with one stone!
We are not stopping. We will go straight from the port to CBR. I hope we can squeeze a lot out of that day like you said.
Stay safe from that nasty hurricane!!! Batten down the hatches!
I'll post a picture or two later.
Stay safe and keep us updated whenever you can. It passed to the east of us today and we had rain bands all day. I know all too well what you are preparing for today and will be saying a prayer for all in this storms path.
I know some schools here in Connecticut that went back this week or scheduled to return next week have already cancelled.
Oh, the first day of school!! Odd that it's on a Thursday!? I hope she had a great day!
You know, I was just thinking similar things about how the hurricane damage could affect the cruise. I know that there have been time where ships have diverted to avoid the actual storm and when we went on Carnival in 2008 they changed one port (Costa Maya to Cozumel) because there had been too much damage there from a previous storm that year. There is a chance they could do that, although Castaway Cay isn't something that you can really substitute for.
If they do need to make changes, they will send you a notice as soon as they make that decision, but if it would help ease your mind, I'd call DCL. They may not have an answer for you at this point, but it can't hurt. Insurance probably wouldn't cover much anyway, they usually have so many exclusions. If they are forced to cancel excursions, DCL will refund that money to you.
Stay safe and I hope it's not too bad where you are.
Stay safe Rinky!
I hope your DD had a great first day of school!
Popping in to wish you a safe weekend. With the new westerly track we are set to take a pretty direct hit here. We're heading up the street to my in-laws' Saturday morning because they have a whole house generator.
Hope it's not that bad for you!
Oh my...when I asked if the hurricane was heading your way, I didn't realize what part of the country you are in...but yeah, now I understand.
Good Morning Rinky -
Hope your DD first day of school went great yesterday. Looks like storm days will be used early this year
Looks like you and I are both in for a bumpy ride. Looks like it will only be a Cat 1 here but a direct hit, same path as Gloria which left us without power for 6 days.
Be safe Rinky
I don't blame you one bit! I would have told them to take a hike too! I'm sure you will be fine as long as you just stay inside and don't try to get out and drive anywhere. It should be a lot weaker by the time it gets that far north. I sure hope so anyway. Keep us posted on how things are going on Sunday.
