"Now That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout!"- Our 1st DVC stay-May 2010-Wrap Up 9/23

[leamom2princesses]

It looks like ya'll had a blast at 1900 PF. I can't even imagine how embarrassed Dallas would be; Preston was a trooper about it.

Dallas is kind of a shy guy so I can see how he would have been REALLY embarassed. I think the characters knew that Preston was a good sport so they went with it. We had a great time at 1900PF.

nice update!! I ate there for breakfast with my roommates when I was living/working there! We had an awesome breakfast and lots of fun with the characters! I think its almost one of those Hidden Gems that people forget about!

We haven't done breakfast there yet. We need to check that out though. I think the girls would enjoy that as well. It's definitely a hidden gem to us. You can always find a spot there and the atmosphere can't be beat.

 

[leamom2princesses]

Yep, TYler would be mortified!!! HAHA Fun update tho!!

Thanks Christie! Tyler is a quiet kid like Dallas, I can see it being torture to them.

Great plans for Sep. you will have to tell me how u like the GG-we have a ressie there in Sep.
Fun dinner at 1900 PF-Preston is such a great sport and overall nice kid!!

I will let ya know on GG. Presto and Lexie are both really good kids. They offset Josie and Lindsey quite nicely.

 

[leamom2princesses]

I loved your 1900 Park fare update! Too funny that the stepsisters kissed Preston. Looks like you all had fun! We ate here on our trip too. The food was okay better than Chef Mickey's for sure!

Thanks Nichole! I don't think we will go back to Chef Mickey's. The food there last year was just nasty. 1900 PF is definitely a step above that. A lot more fun to us as well.

 

[leamom2princesses]

I have been away from the boards for a bit, so I have some catching up to do.

Breakfast looked great. Great picture of you and the family with Cinderella. The BBB pictures of the girls are so adorable. How funny that they called Joe King. I’m sure you heard about that one a lot. Bryan wouldn’t let me hear the end of it either if it were him. I love how you had a laid back morning in MK…no rushing to get to one attraction or another. It seems so laid back.

Congrats on getting the waitlist! I love Kidani so much!

YAY for Josie being tall enough! That’s a big deal. I’m glad she was able to ride her first roller coaster. How cool that your friends were Grand Marshalls! Great pics of the parade!

How funny that yall finished Buzz before Lindsey and Joe finished Space. How crazy of that guy to jump out of the ride vehicle and back in because of some stupid sunglasses. I hope the toddler ended up being okay. How scary!

Happy birthday to Lindsey! The schedule looks like a great quick trip to the World!

How cool to run into Becky at 1900 PF! How funny that Drizella proposed to Preston! What a keeper picture of him with the kiss-stained cheek!

Thanks for all the comments Megan! Josie had a lot of fun on the "big kid" rides. I measured her yesterday (because we had one issue the last WDW visit) and she has grown at least 1/2" since we left in May. She might get to ride the other ride after all this coming trip!

I really love Kidani too! We are staying at SSR in July but I have us on a waitlist for Wilderness Villas. I know I won't get it but it makes me feel better to try. The CM I spoke with told me that I had the best chance there it looked like. I'm just not that excited about SSR. I'm sure it will be just fine, but the other resorts scream Disney to me and SSR just doesn't for some reason. Silly, I know...

 

[leamom2princesses]

How nice for Lindsey, can't even imagine being in WDW with kiddies your own age...how fun

I cannot believe that....that breaks my heart You have happy memories and you will make more on this trip....healing will take place there! My BFF and her daughter stopped in last evening to give Jasmine her graduation gift as they are flying to Edm this weekend for her sisters wedding and I find it totally weird that they won't be here for Jasmine's grad We have been through everything together, our kids births, her daughters graduation, her mother's death, and I almost lost her in 2005 when she became ill and needed a liver transplant. We have cherished everyday since then and often think of the unselfish act of the donor family Friends get us through in good times and in bad....I wish you much fun my friend, she's lucky to have you

I'm sure Lindsey is going to be . Sounds like your BFF is really lucky to have you as well. Jas' big day is this weekend right? I need to pop something in the mail. I have it, I'm just the world's worst when it comes to putting something in the mailbox. I will put a reminder in my outlook calendar right now!

Congrats to Jas!!! (and you too Queen!!!!!)

 

[leamom2princesses]

YAY!! We just LOVED this dinner!! And thank you for showing us the way!! I laughed so hard that I had tears running down my face!! The stepsisters were flirting BIG time with my brother--it was soooo much fun!!

Glad you liked it Becky! We had a great time too. I bet the stepsisters were having a ball with your brother. He's a nice looking guy!

Looks like you all had fun at your 1900 PF dinner. Preston was a good sport about all the kissing!

We ate there for Elizabeth's 16th birthday dinner last year, and I was sooooooo disappointed that the step-sisters weren't there. Liz would have loved them, and I really wanted them to be there for her.

Sounds like a great end to a day.

What teenage boy doesn't want girls kissing all over them right??

Liz would have loved it as they really were quite funny and do such a good job of playing the part.

This was a great day for us for sure!!

 

[Queenofallthings]

I'm sure Lindsey is going to be . Sounds like your BFF is really lucky to have you as well. Jas' big day is this weekend right? I need to pop something in the mail. I have it, I'm just the world's worst when it comes to putting something in the mailbox. I will put a reminder in my outlook calendar right now!

Congrats to Jas!!! (and you too Queen!!!!!)

I am terrible at getting stuff in the mail too!! I sent you her graduation picture and didn't put enough postage on it so it was returned Since then, it's sitting on the ledge before you go out the front door....I am going to make a point of putting it in the mail tomorrow.

Yes, Tuesday is the big day. I work tomorrow then have all next week off...looking forward to having some time at home

Thanks for your kind words, you're such a great friend

 

[leamom2princesses]

I am terrible at getting stuff in the mail too!! I sent you her graduation picture and didn't put enough postage on it so it was returned Since then, it's sitting on the ledge before you go out the front door....I am going to make a point of putting it in the mail tomorrow.

Yes, Tuesday is the big day. I work tomorrow then have all next week off...looking forward to having some time at home

Thanks for your kind words, you're such a great friend

So funny you say that! I'm scared to death that I won't put on enough postage so I'm going to go over to the post office and let one of the nice clerks tell me how much I need. Hopefully I can get that done in the next day or so.

Ooooh you are so close to the big day now. I bet Jas is beside herself. Home time is always a good thing. We were thinking of going somewhere out of town this weekend but we've since changed our mind. I do have my housework done so I can really sleep in and veg now.

You're a great friend as well!

 

[leamom2princesses]

Our DHS day started off very early because we had an 8:05am ressie for H&V. We decided to drive this morning since transportation had been so slow earlier in the week. Driving was an excellent choice for DHS! When we were ready to leave we had a spot really close to the entrance so we were out of there in just a matter of minutes.

Anywho, we made it to DHS about 7:45am. We had decided the night before that we wanted to turn in one of our GAD vouchers for fastpasses. We went to Guest Relations when we got to the entrance and they took care of us right away. When we got to the turnstiles there was only one couple in front of us. We had to wait another 5 minutes or so and then they let us in. DHS was so beautiful without 10,000 people shuffling around.

Here are some pics...

We took the pics above and then decided that we needed to get checked in to H&V. Getting the empty park pics is definitely one of my favorite parts of breakfast ressies.

We checked into H&V and was asked to wait in the seating area to be called. We weren't there but 2 or 3 minutes and our waitress was calling for us. The buffet was okay, not the best of the week but not bad by any means either. This was a character meal. During breakfast we got to meet JoJo, June, Handy Manny, and Leo. Seeing JoJo always brings a smile to my face. My Mom has been calling Josie JoJo since she was born and anytime she can find something with JoJo on it she picks it up for Josie. It's just something special between Josie and her Granny.

Here are some pics from our character meet and greets...

About the time we were wrapping our meal up it was time to dance and sing along to some Playhouse songs. Of course, both of my girls being the HUGE hams that they are, got up and participated. Here are some pics....

We saw Mary and her family at this meal. We love hanging out with them. We were getting things together when I noticed Josie was no longer with us. I got up to search for her and found her sitting with Cayley at Mary's table. Little stinker totally abandoned us! I gathered Josie up, took a few last bites and sips and we made our way to rope drop. We had our eyes on riding TSM without fast passes after all!

We made it around the corner from the restaurant where we were met by a really nice CM and she was standing in front of a bright white rope. She was chatting and telling us how we would go around the corner and then the main crowd would be integrated with us and we would all be led to TSM. There was a family waiting with us and they were telling us all about their trip. Time got closer and closer to 9:00 am. We got to watch the opening show from behind. That was definitely different.

About the time that the rope dropped, three CM's in nice clothes carried the rope and led the crowd to TSM. Suddenly the family that we had befriended had now attempted to trample us. It's a good thing that Joe had Josie on his shoulders because the woman (the Mom) completely ran over top the stroller and jumped in front of me. She did give me an "ohhh sorry" but little did she know that she was messing with one of the fastest stroller walkers this side of the Mississippi! Joe and the girls kept going and because I knew exactly where stroller parking was, I walked really fast over to that area, parked it and hopped right into line with Joe. We walked all the way through the queue and only stopped when we got to the stairs. It was great!

We took a quick trip on TSM and then decided to go check out TOT and RNR. First, we put our AP's in the FP machine and got a couple of passes for later in the day. By that time the crowd was little to nothing at the FP machines. It worked out perfectly.

Up Next: Josie's first TOT ride!!

 

[tksbaskets]

I love your pictures of the empty DHS. Your hat picture ROCKS! The character breakfast shots make me feel old. I don't recognize a single character...

Looking forward to hearing about the TOT

 

[MHTeacher]

Great pictures of the empty DHS that morning. It's definitely a benefit of getting to the park early.

Your girls look so cute in their pictures at H & V breakfast. They look as if they had a great time.

Can't wait to hear about Josie's first ToT ride!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Woo hoo, gotta love an empty park! What a cool chance to take pictures without everyone getting in your way.

I am very anxious to hear how Josie did on TOT!

 

[Queenofallthings]

Never been to a breakfast ressie at DHS...how great to see an empty park!!!

Love the pics from H & V....I laughed out loud when I ready about Josie sitting at Mary's table....too cute!!

I can't wait to hear how she did on ToT

 

[wdwgirl03]

We've never done dinner at Tony's, Garden Grill or Cape May. We had some of the TH dinner at our Grand Gathering but technically all of the places Lindsey picked are new for us. It is going to be fun and interesting for sure.

I'm anxious about SSR myself. After staying in such a great room at AKV, I'm kind of nervous about it. Any recommendations on room location? We will be spending A LOT of time at the pool. It's great having you as a friend Sarah! You've stayed everywhere I want to stay and you have all kinds of info to share.

Thanks on the b-day wishes! I'll pass them along.

You will love Tony's! We have never eaten at the Garden Grill either but I do remember a long time ago we went there for this ice cream social thing (we had some sort of voucher with our package) which was really cool!

I will tell you, as I'm sure you already know though, SSR is a LOT different that AKV which is partly why we like staying at all the different DVC places. It is a massive resort (there are several different bus stops within the resort itself). The two times I've stayed there we've been in Congress Park, but I think when my parents and Emma went they were in a different area. We like Congress Park since it's close to DTD. If you plan on spending a lot of time at the pool you might want to request a room near the Carriage House too. I forget exactly which section that is offhand. (ETA: Just looked at the map and the Springs is the section closest to the Carriage House). There are other quiet pools throughout too but I bet your girls would enjoy the main pool. I really hope you like it there! Let me know if you have any other questions...I'll try to help!

 

[klacey1]

Wow, I wish there was a breakfast in DHS that I actually wanted to do so I could see the park that empty!! Glad you enjoyed H+V. Score on the non-existant TSMM line!

 

[mom2mek]

My kids really enjoyed Jojo's Circus when they were little, but they really don't know the characters that well now. I wonder if they will be switching the characters at H&V anytime soon, because I would love to get in DHS early. Such pretty pics! All of our morning DHS pics are of the crazy crowd behind whichever one of us is standing at the rope for rope drop!

You had me cracking up with your stroller driver description - "one of the fastest stroller walkers this side of the Mississippi"


Love TSM!!!

Sara

 

[LoveMyTwoPrincesses]

I just wanted to let you know that I am really enjoying your TR! I have two princesses also, so it is fun to see your adventures. We had an 8:05 breakfast at H&V during our trip. Wasn't it great to get that little bit of a jump on the masses?

 

[disney<333]

I love your empty park pictures! Especially the one with the dinosaur in front and the palm trees in the back and the trees in the water!!!!
I'm with you for Jojo! I loved Jojo's circus! "Hey Jojo, what do you say? We all want to know what you learned today, so step on up and give it away we all want to know what you learned today!"
Happy belated birthday, Lindsey!!!
Hope I got at least one character smiley that she likes.
Cute character pics at breakfast! Looks like the girls really enjoyed it. The pics where they are dancing with Jojo and June; that girl in the blue kind of looks like Amy.
How rude of that family. It's always the nicest ones that abandon you in the end. (Lotso from TS3)
We use the same strategy for TSM and works well for us, too.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Mailed Jasmine's graduation picture to you this morning I'm interested to see how long it takes to reach you

 

[ladybugmom]

What great pictures of an empty HS!!! Beautiful!! Glady ou enjoyed H&V--we ate there for lunch last year--loved the character interaction but the food left a lot to be desired. YAY for getting on TSM so quickly!! How fun!!