Oh, yes we are! **home from SSR, with pics and final thoughts, p.10, post 139

[Pixieflip]

Good morning from Kentucky! Arrived at the Country Inn and Suites at about 1:30 am. Nice room. ,nice breakfast. Still seems a little foggy. Last night when we crossed the Ohio River the windows fogged up on the outside causing a white out for me the driver! Fortunately no one else is on the road at that hour!

DH is singing "we're going to Disney World, we're going to Disney World!". Do you. Remember the Disney radio channel that played that song and a 30 min continuous loop of WDW info on the radio as you got closer? (He last time we heard it was in 1994. So exciting to get that close and already feel the magic!

Hoping to catch some college football on the radio today. Huskers already won on Thurs!

 

[singitalto]

Hope your making good time!!! Keep us informed. Hope you have a great trip!!!

 

[Weluvdisny]

Love your TR! We drove down our first 3 tirps but have flown the last 3 and you make me want to reconsider driving.....just a little. There are so many things to keep kids occupied these days compared to when we were younger. I made up a scavenger hunt for my kids to look for one trip and they loved it and I loved it because it made them pay attention to what's going on outside the car and appreciate this beautiful country we have!

Have a great time and can't wait to hear more!!

 

[Pixieflip]

Welcome to the live portion of this trip! I'm sitting here in the master bedroom of our two bedroom villa at SSR. My feet are up on the bed, DS9 has had his shower and is snuggled in watching Stacy.

So, if you have any questions about SSR, online check in or Food and Wine or anything while we're here, I can try to see what we see!

We finally made it to our happy place.

 

[El&Asmom]

Enjoy!!!! Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Pixieflip]

Hi there, Just found your TR, good luck tomorrow. Sounds like you're about to have a wonderful trip.

Welcome! So far so good, life is great at WDW.

I am sooo excited for you!!! I can't wait to read about your trip - I feel like I should be going too!!! Oh wait that is me wishful thinking!!!!

Haha! Totally understand! Hope we can tide you over with our tidbits until you can actually be here, too.

Have a safe and wonderful trip!! We arrive at SSR in 6 days! Ask for a villa in Congress Park....all DTD views!

We do have a DTD view, but it's dark and there are trees, so I'm not sure what's over there. I think I see Fulton's Crabhouse...or as my MIL calls it, Fuddrucker's Boat.

How exciting!!!!!!!!! Have a great time. A few more weeks for us.

Found your report today and just finished reading all the way through.

How exciting you are on your way. I look forward to following along as you post. Also, I will be borrowing some of your ideas when we get closer to our trip in January. My kids are DD20, DD18 and DS13, but they love getting surprises and they love to help plan.

Yeah! Come along!

Hope your making good time!!! Keep us informed. Hope you have a great trip!!!

Actually, we did make really good time. Not one traffic jam, no bad weather, all was good.

Love your TR! We drove down our first 3 tirps but have flown the last 3 and you make me want to reconsider driving.....just a little. There are so many things to keep kids occupied these days compared to when we were younger. I made up a scavenger hunt for my kids to look for one trip and they loved it and I loved it because it made them pay attention to what's going on outside the car and appreciate this beautiful country we have!
Have a great time and can't wait to hear more!!

You can do it! I know it's hard, particularly those last few hours, but I'm glad. The kids do get to see the country and experience it. We make it fun. I guess this is the part where I might confess that my DH's name is Clark. Clark Griswold, you may have heard of him. He sings loudly and off key just to drive us nuts. He things the goofiest things are fun and interesting. There will be more Clark stories, so stay tuned.

 

[nolanboys]

Glad to hear you made it there safely. Can't wait to read more. DH and I just got back on 10/6. You're going to love F&W. We had some really great food. Make sure to try the warm chocolate lava cake in Ireland - it's out of this world.

 

[Pixieflip]

Our first magical moment was last night on our way in. We were on 429 coming in from the north and got a view of Wishes before we even arrived! Mom and Dad were already in their room at CSR and happy to have us finally there.

Online check in was a breeze. About 13 people in the regular check in, 2 at online. I waited 5 min. Off to the room...wait...where are DH and DS16? Right. Standing in the doorway of Rix to see the end of the Florida football game. That's okay boys, we'll go SHOPPING! Bought the rolling duffle right away. I'm a sucker for bags. Shoes, not so much, but bags, absolutely.

Room was lovely. I immediatly took a shower, could not stand the road grime one more minute. Then off to bed. Okay, we swapped travel stories with Grandma and Grandpa, then off to bed.

This morning dawned beautiful. I know this because DS16 woke us up at 7am. Dude, it's vacation. Nope, he's too excited to sleep. We had breakfast in shifts as everyone woke up. Pepper Market was fun, but a different system of ordering and paying.

Mom and I headed to SSR to check in. Again, about 30 people at regular check in, 2 at online. Actually, a lady from the regular check in waved me over to her before taking another regular person. Don't know how they felt about that, but I sure felt special. Didn't take much of their time, she grabbed my packet and off we went. Of course it was too early for our room to be ready, so we left all the luggage with bell services and hopped on the bus to the MK! And then we received the text that our villa was ready. Oh, well. We'll see it later.

My castle! It's so beautiful! What a wonderful way to start my day. Sigh. I could just sit on a bench on Main Street forever. Do you think Disney would mind? Mom wants to live upstairs over the Emporium. I'm sure that would be fine, right?

 

[Pixieflip]

More tomorrow, and I will try to include photos. Have to see if Dad's laptop will take my camera card as DD's will not.

Anyone have any questions? I believe we are planning to keep our Crystal Palace reservation for breakfast and then head over to Epcot. Our first Food and Wine Festival.

 

[ToddyLu]

I am caught up now and living vicariously through you. We won't be there for another 7 weeks. But I did get to buy a few things for my OL today at Walmart.

 

[jakenjess]

So glad you had a good trip and are there at your happy place! Thanks for the updates. Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[dopeygirl76]

So glad you made it safely and LOVING reading along!!! I could join you on Main Street - just sitting there- going into the bakery for the occasional coffee and chocolate cake!!!

 

[mtmbyck]

You must be in Congress Park. We had a 2 bedroom villa there 2 years ago for 10 nights and it was absolutely amazing - the view was the best ever! SSR doesnt get the hype it deserves IMHO. THe walk to the marketplace was so enjoyable.

Hope to hear from you again soon with pics??

 

[dumbo_buddy]

love the report. i'm amazed by all the prep you've done, the signs, the special disney nights, etc etc. really making the most out of a vacation! your children are very lucky! it's awesome that they love disney as much as you do

i do have an SSR question for you! i am taking my son the second week in december. he will be 17 months at the time. we were just in WDW the end of september but this time, dh won't be joining us (he just started a new job and can't really take off already!). i'm semi-nervous about going by myself but i think it will be fun. we are staying in a studio at SSR. haven't stayed there yet.

do you have any suggestions about where would be the easiest place for us to request to stay at SSR?

have a great time!!

 

[Pixieflip]

Yes, we are in Congress Park and yes, I hope to have pictures tonight. Can't believe this laptop doesn't take my card and I didn't think to bring my cord.

Dumbobuddy, I totally think you can do it alone with a 17 month old. I'd suggest The Springs. You'll be close to the main building that has hot food, supplies and the pool. My mom and the girls walked back to refill our mugs last night and it is a 20 minute walk from here! Not something I'd want to do with a crying 17 month old who needs something now! They were so tired after our day in the MK, they stopped and soaked their feet in the pool.

Maybe we are just tired, but I think we won't make an early morning ADR on our first morning next time. DH is wishing we could relax and explore the resort. But everyone is almost ready, so we'll be off to the Crystal Palace in few minutes.

Have a magical day, everyone.

 

[ont/ohana]

you are very lucky to be in WDW right now!!! my family is going there march 10th, but we are skipping out on the theme parks. we are staying at SSR for 3 nights then transforing over to vero beach for 6(?) nights! i cant wait!! looking at the vero beach and SSR menus right now! (i think im the most excited in my family!!!) have a great time pixieflip!

-DD13

 

[nolanboys]

We just bought resale SSR this spring and will be staying in THV this March for 4 days and then BCV or 3. Love to hear how much you love SSR. We've never stayed there, but thought the grounds were beautiful when we toured the property. I really think I'm going to enjoy it. DH and I just got back from a split stay between AKV/BWV, and although I liked BWV proximity to Epcot, I liked how secluded AKV is - just like OKW (stayed there 2) - and like SSR. When I get back to my room I like it to be a little quieter - then again with 4 boys that's nearly impossible!Hope you enjoyed F&W - the food is so good there this year. Make sure to pick up your passport to get stamped at each booth - the DVC kiosks have them. We have all but 7!

 

[Pixieflip]

Hello from Japan! Just did a pearl...what fun!

Two things I know today. Some of these people could go home. And also, I now have a standing boot camp with my treadmill when I get home!! F and W is not for dieting or wimps!
Off to find the chocolate lava cake...

 

[LoveKermit]

Maybe we are just tired, but I think we won't make an early morning ADR on our first morning next time. DH is wishing we could relax and explore the resort. But everyone is almost ready, so we'll be off to the Crystal Palace in few minutes.

Have a magical day, everyone.

Just joining.

I said that after our trip in Jan. We got in at 1 AM and had 9:20 ADR at CRT. Swore not to do that again.

Until August, when we got in at 11:30 PM and had a 7:45 at Kona. When will we learn? (Though that trip was so last minute, we grabbed any ADR we could for anything, but seriously)

 

[Chellymouse]

Thanks for sharing about online check in. We signed up for it this time and it will be our first time using it. 3 more days til we arrive.
glad to hear you had a safe drive and a wonderful time!