"Now when can we go back??" - Aug/Sep 2009 TR

[nu2wdisneyw]

Hi Stephanie!
I started on your PTR after I saw you on ORMommy/Daddy's PTR. So I have just finished your PTR & am on to the TR.

We are going in about 6 days and we also got the SSR upgrade from ASMu. How was SSR? Did you decorate your window? I want to but I am nervous since it's a DVC do people decorate their windows? Also can you tell me where you got the DISigns from again? Was the name Natalie?
Sorry for the 20 ?'s but we just decided to do shirts for MNSSP (just added it on to our trip ) and I am anxious since we leave so soon! I actually packed most my stuff last night & my son's the other night. (this is so new for me I am usually do this all at the last minute) This is our 1st trip to WDW!! We usually go to DL every year. I was stressed & wasn't too excited for the trip then I convinced my sister to do MNSSP & whooohooo now I'm for our trip to start! We are not going to tell the boys about it. (it's my sister n nephew (12) & me n my son (14) going on the trip) My son's bday is Oct 29 so we luv halloween so i think he will like MNSSP

I know this is from your PTR but I thought I would post my Which Disney Mom R U? Result on here for ya since your PTR is over...
It said I am Tess Coleman from Freaky Friday:
You and your kids have so much in common, people often ask who is the parent and who is the child. You're always up for having fun, playing games and bonding over pizza, ice cream and a good movie. You are very proud of your kids, and want to make sure they enjoy being young. Their friends confide in you and you know more about what's going on at school (like who has a crush on whom), than any other parent. You might take a fashion cue from the teen magazines rather than the "grown up" ones, but your motto is: "I'm only as old as I feel."

Cant wait to read more and hopefully hear some tips for SSR.
Adrienne

Hey Adrienne...I do remeber seeing you on their PTR. Well, and thanks for taking the time to read.

Now about SSR...we did not decorate our windows. We were going to when we were staying at POP, but I decided against it at SSR. I really like SSR, even though we didnt spend a lot of time on the resort itself, our rooms were nice and my boys LOVED the pool...we went to the one with the waterslide and Grandstand pool. I am sure you will enjoy it...we didnt eat at Artist's Pallette, so no info on that...sorry Most, if not all of the DISigns I used were from Natalies thread...her dis name is Donatalie. Please let me know if you need the link to her thread. I am sure that you are going to have a wonderful time...are you do a PTR?

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

I am here


Yeah the party started...it's so sweet the boys look like really excited before bed like it started to really sink in just before bed time....how awesome....

Can't wait for the next installment..

Yes, they were very excited...wanted to go to the park that night!! I should be posting the next installment by Monday. Stay tuned!!

I went searching for a good TR to read and I definatly have found one! Your boys are adorable! They must have been in shock, lol :]
The video was so cute!
Can't wait for more updates!!

I am glad that you joined me and that you find my first installment entertaining. This TR will contain mostly pictures...as I did not take notes..

Hey, I figured I'd answer your question, since I just stayed there too...

(Hope that's okay Stephanie!)

SSR doesn't have windows by the doors, they have big windows in the bedroom and sliding glass doors that open onto your balcony, but no one can really see those unless they're on their balcony. And from that, you can't tell who's room is who's.

You could decorate your balcony if you wanted, but it'd just be for you.

I don't think people there decorate their windows or doors though. I don't think the doors are magnetic like cruise ships' either... although I didn't try.

Thanks Danica...no problem at all.

subbing in for sure....


I just love Jeffery's smile during the whole watching the surprise video thing....

and Jahil looks so ready to take on WDW now...

can't wait for more

Scrappie

Oh boy was he...BTW I am following you on your blog

That video of your boys watching the video is so cute!!! Aww, I'm looking forward to reading more of your TR, but it looks like I'm going to have to wait because I'm leaving for WDW in about 10 hours!!!

Thanks for joining me...HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP!!

COLLEEN!!! Now how did I miss you this trip!! We have to do better next year!!

Stephanie,
IDK how we missed you! I know the night Tammy ran into you at Tutto I think it was we were just finished eating at Leceiller and ran into Tammy as she was on her way there! So when are you going back and where r u staying? We're going the 19th of August thru the 30th! at Pop of course! With free dining the value is the best bang for your buck! Now you are spoiled by SSR! lol! I've stayed there it's really nice! I've also stayed at The Beach Club and Old Key West numerous times! along with All start music and POP! This Nov/ Dec we are trying out Animal Kingdom Villas Kindani Village can't wait it's my first time ever going twice in one yr but i've been dying to get to disney around christmas!![/QUOTE]

Well we don't have a trip planned for next year yet...we may not even go back next year. My BIL invited us to go to Costa Rica with them in July/August. Depending on finances we may have to pass...I am sure Disney would be more affordable. If we do go back, we will be booking at POP of course...I can't miss all of the fun again. I am sure our dates will cross again.

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

And I'll be back the same time next year (well, we leave the 29th on a cruise, but we're getting there the 19th too) so we can always meet up next year for a Dismeet, Stephanie!

If we do go back...which I am praying that we do...we definitely have to do a dismeet.

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

Oooo, this sounds like a good one. Can't wait to hear about your first full day. We are going next August and driving too, so I enjoyed your driving report!

the drive was not bad at all...however if we go back next year, I do want to fly.

 

[Porturican]

Hey, I figured I'd answer your question, since I just stayed there too...

(Hope that's okay Stephanie!)

SSR doesn't have windows by the doors, they have big windows in the bedroom and sliding glass doors that open onto your balcony, but no one can really see those unless they're on their balcony. And from that, you can't tell who's room is who's.

You could decorate your balcony if you wanted, but it'd just be for you.

I don't think people there decorate their windows or doors though. I don't think the doors are magnetic like cruise ships' either... although I didn't try.

Thanks for the answer, we only get a Studio @ SSR so I guess the sliding door to the balcony will be the only window we would have.
Oh well we will just decorate our door or something for us only if need be.

 

[Porturican]

Hey Adrienne...I do remeber seeing you on their PTR. Well, and thanks for taking the time to read.

Now about SSR...we did not decorate our windows. We were going to when we were staying at POP, but I decided against it at SSR. I really like SSR, even though we didnt spend a lot of time on the resort itself, our rooms were nice and my boys LOVED the pool...we went to the one with the waterslide and Grandstand pool. I am sure you will enjoy it...we didnt eat at Artist's Pallette, so no info on that...sorry Most, if not all of the DISigns I used were from Natalies thread...her dis name is Donatalie. Please let me know if you need the link to her thread. I am sure that you are going to have a wonderful time...are you do a PTR?

Thank you for the Welcome...I really wanted to do a PTR but ran outta time. But I am really thinking of doing a TR.
Your boys are adorable and I loved watching the video of them finding out they are going to WDW...so cute!
Thank you for the SSR info, I requested the Grandstand or Congress Park with DTD view, we'll see what we get.
Well I'll be waiting to read more up until I leave... 5 days!!!!

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

Thank you for the Welcome...I really wanted to do a PTR but ran outta time. But I am really thinking of doing a TR.
Your boys are adorable and I loved watching the video of them finding out they are going to WDW...so cute!
Thank you for the SSR info, I requested the Grandstand or Congress Park with DTD view, we'll see what we get.
Well I'll be waiting to read more up until I leave... 5 days!!!!

I requested Congress Park with DTD view as well...my request was granted, but we on one the 2nd floor so we couldn't see much of DTD because of the trees. You should request a room on the 4th floor if you get Congress Park. Grandstand was right across form the main building and they have a cute waterplay area at the pool.

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

Well today we got off to a late start. Even though the wakeup call was set for 6:30 am and DS10 was up at 4 am…we still were 1 hr late for our reservation at Tusker House. He had a reservation for 8:05 am…however we did not arrive until 9 am. I was afraid that we would not be able to get seated, but they gave us a pager and we were called in less than 10 minutes. I have to say that I really liked this buffet; however DH thought the eggs were disgusting. The restaurant was a little busy, however it was not too overcrowded. Mickey shaped waffles are definitely the best!!! Now I made a touring plan on RideMax, however that went out the window when we arrived 1 hr late. A few picture from breakfast:

When we walked out of the resturant we saw this in the sky:

Our first stop after breakfast was Kilimanjaro Safari…we really enjoyed this. The standby time said 20 minutes, however we walked right on!! This was a great way to start the day! We took a lot of pictures, because a lot of animal were out this morning…however many of them were sleeping. My DH swore they were sedated. Here are a few pictures from the safari:

The boys found these on the way to the safari:

And the navigator himself:

Next up…Expedition Everest! Oh no…DS5 is too short! Well DH and DS10 went on EE, while I took DS5 to DinoLand.

So we enter DinoLand and our first stop was Primeval Whirl…guess what…………..You got it: HE’S TOO SHORT!! So we head to Tricera Top Spin and he really enjoyed this ride.

I get a call from DH within about 10 – 15 minutes. They are done with the ride and looking to meet up with us. This is when I realize the Finding Nemo Show is getting ready to start. DS5 DID NOT want to go. He pouted and whined all the way to the theatre. Well needless to say he really enjoyed the show. He was smiling and in awe the whole time!! I thought that it was a really good show. They summed the movie up really well in 30 minutes. It was a really good break from the heat as well.

After the show we headed back to DinoLand and DH and DS10 rode Primeval whirl. Now the wait for this ride is much longer that the wait for EE?!? In order to pass sometime while we wait, we got a snack for DS. He chose the Edy’s ice cream bar…here is is enjoying it while we wait at PW.

The wait was taking much longer than we wanted to wait, so we went looking for the Boneyard…one the way we ran Pluto and Goofy and we HAD to stop!! DH called while we were waiting for pictures and autographs from Goofy and Pluto. He said he was hungry and he was still trying to figure the DDP out. We stop at Resturantosaurus so we can grab lunch. While he is eating I take the boys to the Boneyard as none of us are hungry yet:

The boys played in the Boneyard for about ½ hr, then we head back to find DH. DS10 gets a rootbeer float so we sat outside the restaurant while he enjoyed it…
Up next…Dinosaur, TTBAB, more snacks and food and the end to a wonderful day

Thanks for reading!

~Stephanie

 

[Goofy22]

Oooo, this sounds like a good one. Can't wait to hear about your first full day. We are going next August and driving too, so I enjoyed your driving report!

I may be driving to if my mother decides shes going she won't fly! LOL And looks like we will be there the same dates!




Stephanie,
IDK how we missed you! I know the night Tammy ran into you at Tutto I think it was we were just finished eating at Leceiller and ran into Tammy as she was on her way there! So when are you going back and where r u staying? We're going the 19th of August thru the 30th! at Pop of course! With free dining the value is the best bang for your buck! Now you are spoiled by SSR! lol! I've stayed there it's really nice! I've also stayed at The Beach Club and Old Key West numerous times! along with All start music and POP! This Nov/ Dec we are trying out Animal Kingdom Villas Kindani Village can't wait it's my first time ever going twice in one yr but i've been dying to get to disney around christmas!![/QUOTE]

Well we don't have a trip planned for next year yet...we may not even go back next year. My BIL invited us to go to Costa Rica with them in July/August. Depending on finances we may have to pass...I am sure Disney would be more affordable. If we do go back, we will be booking at POP of course...I can't miss all of the fun again. I am sure our dates will cross again.[/QUOTE]

Well That sounds fun either way! Disney would definitely be more affordable but Costa Rica be alot nicer I bet! We book before we leave and if for some eason we can't go or something comes up we cancel and it's all refundable as long as you don't get that travel ins! Thats the best part of booking while your there. But I hope you and your fanily make it to one of the two places next summer!

 

[ortholablady]

I got almost the same shot of the sky writer that same morning from the Yacht Club before we left for Sea World.

 

[ZeroToHero]

I don't remember if I saw that one, but I saw one that was like "JESUS + U = GOD" or something....


Apparently it's some church that writes giant messages in the sky.

 

[tinkerbell3747]

Thanks for posting the video of their surprise reaction....they really seemed shocked by it all.....

Oh...I loved the pic of Jhalil on TTS he has a great smile, and the the boys together on the jeep near the Bone Yard Play area....gotta love that one....


The tusker House pics were all cute as well.....it's great that you guys were still able to be seated....I would have been silently loosing it....(silent so as to not ruin everyones day - but fuming on the inside)
They look so happy and excited.....this is great...can't wait for the next installment...

 

[mousescrapper]

Sounds like you are having a great first day at Animal Kingdom...sorry you had a mjor late start, but I can totally understand after being in the car for 13 hours...you guys needed some sleep.

looking forward to more

PS thanks for checkin out my BLOG!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Aww, that is a bummer your son couldn't go on Everest! Looks like a fun day at AK otherwise.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Definitely jumping on board for this one! I noticed you were from VA! Me too! This sounds funny, but I saw your county sticker on your car and was trying to figure out if yall were anywhere near us since it takes us about the same time to drive to Disney!

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

Definitely jumping on board for this one! I noticed you were from VA! Me too! This sounds funny, but I saw your county sticker on your car and was trying to figure out if yall were anywhere near us since it takes us about the same time to drive to Disney!

Hey Lauren! ! What county are you in??

Aww, that is a bummer your son couldn't go on Everest! Looks like a fun day at AK otherwise.

I was bummed that I couldnt ride it...Jahlil not too concerned as you will see later in the report.

Sounds like you are having a great first day at Animal Kingdom...sorry you had a mjor late start, but I can totally understand after being in the car for 13 hours...you guys needed some sleep.

looking forward to more

PS thanks for checkin out my BLOG!

You will realize that a late start was a tread in our vacation!!

Can't wait to catch up on your blog!

Thanks for posting the video of their surprise reaction....they really seemed shocked by it all.....

Oh...I loved the pic of Jhalil on TTS he has a great smile, and the the boys together on the jeep near the Bone Yard Play area....gotta love that one....


The tusker House pics were all cute as well.....it's great that you guys were still able to be seated....I would have been silently loosing it....(silent so as to not ruin everyones day - but fuming on the inside)
They look so happy and excited.....this is great...can't wait for the next installment...

They were very excited and I was loosing it a little. But then I realized that we arenot really early risers and an 8:05 am breakfast just didn't work for our family.

I don't remember if I saw that one, but I saw one that was like "JESUS + U = GOD" or something....


Apparently it's some church that writes giant messages in the sky.

Yeah we thought that it was really cool!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Hey Lauren! ! What county are you in??

Heeeey! We're in Prince William... what about yall?

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

Heeeey! We're in Prince William... what about yall?

We're in Prince William too!! I work at Wegmans in Gainesville in HR! That is tooo funny!!

 

[KathyRN137]

So glad they were able to take you at Tusker House... and that you didn't get too stressed out by getting to the park so late! Good for you!

Looks like all your boys worked up an appetite! They really can eat, can't they?

Glad they liked Nemo and of course the Boneyard was a hit!

Looking foreward to the rest of your day...

Kathy

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

Okay, so we left off with DS10 enjoying his Root Beer float right outside of Resturantosarus after DH had lunch.

After that we headed over to Dinosaur. The stand-by time was like 25 minutes, so we waited. There was the funniest CM running the lines at this ride. Every time he saw someone with a Birthday pin on, he would get really loud and have everyone in line singing “Happy Birthday to you….”, this must have happened like 6 times while we were in the line. No this is the first big ride that we really went on all together. Now that I think about it this is the first time we ever were in a theme park all together. Well it’s our turn load in the car, DH & DS5 are in the front and me & DS10 are in the back. Now my boys like Dinosaurs, so I thought that this ride would be pretty cool….boy was I WRONG!!! DS5 FREAKED!! Now he doesn’t like the dark…but he was dealing with it and he was enjoying the beginning of the ride with a little hesitation….but once the show the one dinosaur eating the other…HE LOOSES IT!!! Completely freaks out for the duration of the ride!! I was so glad the background noises were loud because it was able to drown him out. I felt SOOO bad…I wasn’t expecting it to be like that. Then the end of the ride did it for him….OMG the big dinosaur that looks like he is going to eat everyone made him completely loose it! He cried for about 10 minute after the ride was over….NEVER AGAIN!!

While calming DS5 down, we head over to It’s Tough To Be A Bug…this can’t be so bad right? No drops or really dark places. We have been to 3-D movies before so this should be a piece of cake…WRONG AGAIN!!! DS5 hated this show...it was over for him when Hopper came out…I learned from this trip that anything BIG and MEAN…he did NOT like!! I had him take off his glasses, so that it would be so intense. I held on to him so that he would feel some kind of comfort. In my mind I an thinking that this is going to be a long week, because I don’t think I can take much more. I was getting frustrated, because I was trying to get him to understand that it was all fake and these were characters he had seen in a movie. He was not buying it. I tried to enjoy the show with a whining 5 yr old holding on to me…I was so happy when it was over…but when it feels like the bugs are crawling through the wood over our behinds….I thought he had jumped 10 ft in the air!!! DH was getting aggravated and it was turning out to be a VERY frustrating day!!!

BEFORE the show:

We leave ITTBAB with DH fussing about the rest of the week…we are trying to decide whether we should just leave the park or not. While we are walking through Asia we have DS10 begging to go on Kali River Rapids…he had been asking about this since we left the Safari. We told him that we would ride it later when we were on our way out so that we weren’t walking around the park wet. We stop at a ice cream snack station, when DH asks me to get him a Strawberry bar…I try to use my credit and the system is down?!?! Great…glad we had cash.

We see CM setting up for Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade…so we decide to take a seat and grab some lunch while we wait for the parade. I stop at Yak Yeti Café and get honey chicken w/ white rice and a frozen lemonade. Then I get DS5 corn dog nuggets and apples from another place near where we were sitting. DS10 is not hungry and even after I push that he needs to eat, he still wants nothing. I make him drink some water and eat a bar I had in my bag. We had visitors while we were eating and DH thought is was funny to throw food by my feet for them to come and get it. This guy hung around and actually stood in DH’s face to wait for him to drop some food!! LOL!!

By the time we were finished eating we walked back towards Tusker House and stand in front of the misting fans …the parade it coming. We got a really good viewing spot and the boys had really good interaction with the character…I really missed some good shot (JESH ~ I need a new camera). Here are some photos of the parade:

After the parade DS10 kept asking about Camp Mickey & Minnie and Kali….I believe by this time the characters were gone from the camp, so we head to Kali.
We saw these fun little guys on the way:

DH refuses to ride…he hates to be wet. DS5 was hesitant to go, but he came. I really like this ride and the fact that I had on flip flops was great…I HATE wet shoes. I was a great was to end our day in AK…we of course sat in the seat where we got soaked and the people across from us only had a few drops on them. When we were going through the bonfire scene, DS5 got really nervous thinking that it was real…he didn’t cry and he LOVED getting wet!

We head to the exit and we see the dance party in the front of the park…the boys join in on the party. They had a really good time and they both love to dance. This was really cute. Here are some picture of them partying:

We head back to the resort…hung out for about 30 minutes and me and the boys head to the pool. It was not a bad walk once we figured out where we were going. We stop to get DS5 a life jacket, which was located right outside the pool. Then we go and enjoy the rest of our evening.
Around 8 pm they start setting up for a pool side movie. This night they were showing Lilo & Stitch…movies started at 8:30p, now I knew I was not going to be able to get them to leave and we still didn’t have dinner!?!? About 8:45pm DH calls and then comes and meets us by the pool.

Shortly after we go take a quick shower and head to DTD for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. We all get pizzas…we were going to take it back to the room, but we decide to eat there. The food was awesome. I have to agree with almost all the reviews in saying that this is a GREAT meal for a CS credit!!

After dinner, we head back to the room…and we are all sleep within the hour!! We had a very long day and we were in need of some rest.

Things I enjoyed most about AK:
• Breakfast at Tusker House
• Nemo
• Kali
• Parade
• Kilimanjaro Safari
Not to miss next trip:
• Expedition Everest (me)
• Camp Mickey & Minnie
• Walking trails to see Tree of Life up close
• Lion King show

UP NEXT ~ Day 2…will we make it to MK by Rope Drop??