Operation FOURTH! a July PTR - June 24th, shopping errands and lists!

[Happydog]

Looks like you will have a fun couple of days alone with the boys
I agree that BC is a great location for F&W and to saunter over to WS for a quick slushie but like you I also love the AK pool and villas. It is just such a nice laid back vibe...love the pool "music." My reservations for October are currently at Kidani but we will see what happens by then I know we will definitely be staying there for Hank's (great nephew) first visit because he will love the animals. I have been doing a lot of brainwashing with him

Sci-Fi will be fun again for the boys. I really like the Cherry Coke and BLT soup. I like it there and it's a nice cool spot to escape the heat Loving your laid back approach to the trip

Tracy

Oh trust me I can't wait to go back! I just love the location for being able to walk to the parks! I also totally dig the pool area, and of course what is not to like. But as you say, the vibe at the AK is too cool.... Kidani is great! Oh, and that is where we are staying for one night in a couple weeks! Well, Jambo house actually, but I like Kidani for certain! I love the light, in the early evening. I think it is because the buildings are that red-brown color. But the light is so warm and makes everything pretty.

Sci Fi should be a riot. I think they will love going back there. Again, not sure if they will remember it too much, but it should be fun! I am looking forward to being there again! I know we had onion rings and split something and we enjoyed it, but the BLT soup I have heard of, so thanks for the review!!!

YES, I am definitely scheming and have plans, but really, I want them to enjoy it, because I suspect our next trip we wont have as much time in the parks... AND I want to save some time to see all my DIS friends!

 

[Happydog]

No, Sorcerers is another interactive game -- this one at the Magic Kingdom -- here is the description from Allears.

"Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom continues to have periodic soft openings. Sunday afternoon I was fortunate to finally find the Fire House door open with a sign that Sorcerers were wanted! A Cast Member checks you in by swiping your admission ticket (you can only play once a day) and hands you a map, 5 Sorcerer Cards, and a special key card that activates the portals. There are a total of 70 Sorcerer cards which are divided into nine different spell classes, such as Princess cards, Hero cards or Warrior cards. Your job, as Merlin’s apprentice sorcerer, is to save the Magic Kingdom from the Disney villains. In the practice area you swipe the key card to learn the location of your first portal. Since I only played at 3 portals I don't feel I had enough experience to give you a review, just a few observations. First, remember that the game is still in testing. I found at least one portal that was not working properly and I encountered lines of folks waiting at all 3 of my portals. The map shows locations in Fantasyland, Adventureland, Main Street and Liberty Square-Frontierland but I was only in Adventureland. The cards are colorful and I can see how you'd want to collect a whole set. Once the game is fully online there will be various levels of play and additional features. And, if you get duplicate spell cards, well there is always trading!"

OH I just googled this and saw a big write up on Behind the Magic, and WOW!!!!!! HOW COOL!!!! This looks so much fun!!!! I hope that it is in full swing by then, and maybe it will be "testing" still in February? I want to check it out!!!

SO neat. I bet the new MK is going to be so amazing. I love all the neat upgrades and changes that they continue to make. Wait until you see the new queues for HM, etc! This will be so much fun!

I'm happy to see that you are going to be flexible in the evenings! I know we will want to get together and do some things as a group!!!
I need to check my dining and see if we are eating in the same parks as you...

Yes we are pretty open a few of those nights, I have dinner ressies, but not much else, I have a park plan, but mostly mornings. And since we are going to be at the BC while you are there that will be nice to coordinate a few things!

Joining in !! Looking forward to following along on your journey.

Great! Welcome!

Your plans are fantastic! Your boys are going to have so much fun.
I've tried to convince everyone to try the autotrain in August, but no one will listen.

That is so funny, really!!?? well, maybe it is the whole boys and trains that makes it fun. It isn't perfect, mind you, and it isn't the orient express!!! LOL!! I took an overnight train from London to Edinburgh one year, and THAT was luxury. This is practical and efficient, and nice. And dinner is nice, free wine is great, and while you have to use shared bathrooms, you do on an airplane, and I have always been able to get a good night's sleep, and I don't put all the mileage on my car! So for us, it works.

I think we are going to have a great time. I am looking forward to going on this adventure just them and me for a few days

 

[Happydog]

Oh as I watch the snow fall (again) SIGH... with NO accumulation that stops or delays school (again) SIGH... I long for the sun and sand and indulgences of a vacation ... Oh. Wait. I have one.

IN SEVEN DAYS!!!!!!


Sorry, got a little carried away there !!! Yep, that is the case, I have one week left before we are off for our getaway fun! In fact, as I write this, I would be in Orlando at the car rental desk!!!

I am trying to get this trip squared away, I am packing some this weekend, getting FE stuff organized (there are only 10 participants, so that is kinda nice!) and doing the usual, hair stylist appointment, beach and sandal worthy toes, and a few little shopping items... I got a fabulous new dress and a few other goodies I'll share!

AND so now I am looking at trying to update this PTR as well!!

So, in case you didn't figure it out based on the yard art from the last post, On July 1st, the guys and I are settling in to a new resort, checking out of BCV, and heading over to:

We have been to WL many times, this from last summer (just a pit stop!!)

but WHAT fun we are going to have!!! I am excited to share this resort with them... I think it will be a great deal of fun for us and have lots to offer, with the surrey bike rentals, the paths between Fort Wilderness and WLV, as well as the pools, the beach area, the movies on the beach, etc. Having not spent much time here, only staying when the boys were very little, and then on my girls only adventure, I am excited to take advantage of this resort's ammenties.. The majority of my WL lobby photos are from Christmas, Here is one I have:

But here is one I got from the DIS with better detail…

Whenever I see this lobby area, I am always so struck by the design and how pretty it is. The AKL and WL really have grand lobbies that are so rich with detail...

What I do have, however, are a few photos to share that you might not have seen, maybe photos you have not seen before because they are of the WL Villa's lobby area, not the main lodge lobby...

Well, Hello there!

These are from the grounds outside at night, and on my way in the am to get coffee after using the gym

The way that the flowers are planted, and the whole environ reminds me of Mt. Rainier in Washington State. I have spent several summers on that mountain when I was in my early twenties! The alpine flowers were some of the most beautiful I have seen... glacier run off, like these water features in the WL courtyard grounds, and the sound it makes, really remind me of the Pacific North West... I know that is the intent, but because I have been there and lived there, it makes it even more familiar and fun. AND of course the "Old Faithful" timed every 30 minutes!! HA!

MORE on WILDERNESS and our ITINERARY PART II coming up NEXT!!!

 

[Native NYer]

WL looks amazing!
Your boys are going to have so much fun there.

 

[newtexan]

I love the WL pool. We stayed there on our honeymoon and haven't been back, but my heart is there anyway.

 

[Moodyzblu]

It's beautiful !

 

[MEK]

Thanks for posting such great pictures of one of my "homes". I love Walt's train that is on display in the villas and I think its cool how the villas were designed after a 1800's roundhouse. I learned that on the lodge tour. If you have never taken the lodge tour, I highly recommend it. Ranger Joe is awesome and the whole tour is really, really interesting!

Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful summer trip, but - yes - you better get those ADRs straight.

 

[eandesmom]

WL will be so much fun and a nice change for the boys I bet! Definitely do the Ranger tour if you can, it's wonderful. Also at the front desk they have a WL hidden mickey handout for the kids which is a lot of fun.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I'm excited that we are spending two nights at VWL before our cruise in June! The tour sounds really interesting, is it something you have to book in advance?

With your ties to the Pacific NW I can see how the lodge would have a nostalgic feel to you. I think you all will have a fabulous stay there!

 

[Happydog]

WL looks amazing!
Your boys are going to have so much fun there.

I think so!!! I am looking forward to it. I love the other resorts we have stayed at, but we have not been here for an extended trip since Nolyn was 6 mos. old, and Griffin was 3!

I love the WL pool. We stayed there on our honeymoon and haven't been back, but my heart is there anyway.

It is very very pretty!

It's beautiful !

Yep, I agree, my photos dont do it justice, but I can't wait!

Thanks for posting such great pictures of one of my "homes". I love Walt's train that is on display in the villas and I think its cool how the villas were designed after a 1800's roundhouse. I learned that on the lodge tour. If you have never taken the lodge tour, I highly recommend it. Ranger Joe is awesome and the whole tour is really, really interesting!

Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful summer trip, but - yes - you better get those ADRs straight.

I think, sadly, that a famous ranger at WLV passed... I don't know if this was Ranger Joe, or not... BUT, I will check to find out. I would love to do the tour, but the boys might not be... So I may have to wait until Matt gets there! When Michelle and I were there, we both totally loved the roundhouse lobby! VERY neat!

I remember the train! My guys will like looking at that model. They LOVE the one in the lobby at the Yacht Club.

 

[Happydog]

WL will be so much fun and a nice change for the boys I bet! Definitely do the Ranger tour if you can, it's wonderful. Also at the front desk they have a WL hidden mickey handout for the kids which is a lot of fun.

Yes, I think they will like the feel of the resort, as well. I like the ammenities right near the DVC building, and their gym is really nice, too... I don't like that you have to go all the way to Roaring Forks to get coffee in the am... BOOO... but with a 2 bedroom villa, I really do not have any excuse to not make my own, and so I'll probably just do that...

I think Hidden Mickey's will be a theme for us this trip, b/c I bought the book for the parks... I think it will be fun to spend some time with them doing these sort of activities in the parks... at least that is the plan!!

I'm excited that we are spending two nights at VWL before our cruise in June! The tour sounds really interesting, is it something you have to book in advance?

With your ties to the Pacific NW I can see how the lodge would have a nostalgic feel to you. I think you all will have a fabulous stay there!

I am looking forward to staying there. I really thought about this when we were there in October. I remember walking around saying "yep, the guys would totally dig this!" We are in a 2 bedroom, so we will have lots of space.

 

[Happydog]

So we check in at Wilderness Lodge on July 1st. We have a reservation for a 2 bedroom villa. We have not been in a 2 bedroom villa since we stayed at OKW back in 2009. Which is funny, because that trip was also over 4th of July

I am not sure of location... I am going to check out the floorplan for the villas and the locations, and make a request, ideally with a pool view, if possible, or at least not the parking lot!!! Now when I was there this past October with Michelle (SoonerGirl on the DIS) I took several photos on my phone, just when I would come and go back and forth from getting coffee, etc. And once when we were out and about... but I cannot FIND these photos !!!! I know I downloaded them, but something makes me think they are saved in a different location on my computer, possibly downloads, etc. so I have to do more searching. It was easier, for the purpose of this entry, to just search on AllEars, and grab a few to share... WHEN I get/find mine, I will add them!!

So without question, two fun ammenities will be the surrey bikes and the beach area. The playground equipment is really for toddler sized kids, it isn't like some of the other play areas, but that isn't why we are here... The beach will be fun for them, though since you can't get into the water, I am not sure if they will actually want to explore it. I am sure we will take advantage of seeing a movie, however, and I like where it is located, right near the edge of the beach and the pier. It is a nice set up, away from all the bustle...

The surrey bikes will be great fun. We may end up doing this twice!! I see this as a great after pool time, but before dinner activity. twilight, before they stop renting them... I will have to check out the use, rates, etc. I just have to make sure those boys know they better pedal too!!! The trail to Fort Wilderness sounds like a great path to take, and I think even if we walk it one night (with flashlights or star wars lightsabers) that too is just the kind of adventure my guys love... maybe before a movie, or instead of one... we'll see! I also cannot wait to see the water boat parade come by!!!

Regarding the pools, well, there is the villa's pool... which, btw, is pretty cool. There are "bubblers" in the middle of the pool, which give it a different feel, vibe compared to some of the other DVC pools, and the pool deck is a neat surfaced top, textured with leaf impressions and paw prints, and very nicely presented ... The hot tub is close to the pool, and though it isn't zero entry, it has a ledge around one side of it. The shallow area is pretty big, so that will be nice as well. I sat out here one day in October and enjoyed it immensely... and the shrubbery and trees are considerably taller now, than in this photo, which is interesting, you'll see the difference in my photos if I ever find them!!! The MAIN pool, of course, is gorgeous. THe sound and the features around that area (as well as the pool bar!!!) make it such a nice set up... It doesn't have zero entry either, but the slide is fun and the area around the pool very pretty. The boys have been in this pool before... the only drawback, is that it doesn't seem like there are enough lounge chairs... many are pulled back pretty far from the pool, but I think this is because of the shape of the pool and the size of the pool area overall... the hot tub is super cool (in location)... I love all the access walkways to the boat dock (for the park transportation) and all the spanish moss in the trees... Such a pretty resort at night in particular...

There are so many pool photos to choose, but I liked this one.

I took photos of some of the resort detail this past October, so hopefully I will fine those dang photos!!!!

The two bedroom villa will be nice to have. Especially once DH arrives. The only concern I have about the villa is that I felt our room in October was really dim inside. We were in a studio, on the first floor, so perhaps this is why. BUT, I am hoping we'll be up higher (I think the 1 and 2 bedrooms are on the higher floors). Hopefully with more natural light this will help. I don't recall that being an issue back in 2005, when we stayed in a larger unit, so hopefully I won't have to worry about that.

I intend to pack some food items, etc. in our car, and maybe, for the first time EVER, get a green grocer order. I'll have to really decide if I need to, based on what I can bring (non-perishable) and what I can get at the little resort store (milk, primarily)... I know we won't be eating, really, in the room, other than breakfast and snacks, so I can probably get away with just using the resort store... though it would be nice to have fresh fruit, like strawberries, which won't travel well, and I don't want to fuss with while we are at BCV... so we shall see. Wine, drink mixers, breakfast items, pool snacks, park snacks for the kids, these items I can totally bring from home, and again is another reason why I love the autotrain! Makes packing SOOOO easy.

So my next update this weekend will be about my TRIP coming up next Saturday. Hard to believe that in a week I will be on Disney property!!! With my annual pass!!! YIPPEE!!!! hold me back! I have to check which park has extended hours... hopefully MK!!! I think it will be the best place for me to go..DH and I will be kicking it by the pool at the AKL on Saturday, and rather than Jiko (we were torn) or Cali Grill, we decided Blue Zoo it is... Mostly b/c we are going to Cali Grill as a family in July, and Jiko, though we love it, changed the menu. I really miss those mussels!!! We enjoyed it the second time we went, but the first dinner there was our favorite, so I'd rather go where I know the getting is good, and I can't wait to taste a little serenity along with my crab nachos and rock shrimp tacos again!!! LOL!!!

You may be wondering WHAT on earth am I doing up typing this post at this ungodly hour of the night/morning. WELL, I fell asleep after an insane week, and a very busy day today, at 10pm. And I woke up after five hours, and had trouble sleeping!!! So I am posting this, and then am going to go back and crash sleep again... when I get wound up with too much to do, I tend to be very fitful in sleep... AND that has been my life this past week with all that is going on at work, and trying to keep order in my house before my DMIL comes friday for the week.

I have some fun things to share with you tomorrow/today, however , SO be on the look out for that great post, as well... as of today, well, Sunday, officially, we will be on board the DREAM again (yep, third time is the charm!) and I can't wait!!! AND this will be our first OFFICIAL GOLD status cruise! I am so excited! It was fun to book everything earlier than before (as silver status)... I seriously have to come up with some sort of project for all our silver status lanyards!!!

See you in the NEXT POST!!!

 

[Native NYer]

WL is such a beautiful resort.
Surrey bikes and walking over to Fort Wilderness sound like the perfect ways to spend a warm summer afternoon/evening at WDW.
The autotrain definitely sounds like a great way to go to FL. You don't have to worry about packing limitations! How early do you usually book? Do you get roomettes? Or bedrooms?

And the Dream in one week sounds like the perfect February escape.

 

[MeMom]

Wilderness Lodge is bee-yoo-tee-ful!

Just be very careful about getting too close to this with quarters in your pocket!

 

[Happydog]

WL is such a beautiful resort.
Surrey bikes and walking over to Fort Wilderness sound like the perfect ways to spend a warm summer afternoon/evening at WDW.
The autotrain definitely sounds like a great way to go to FL. You don't have to worry about packing limitations! How early do you usually book? Do you get roomettes? Or bedrooms?

And the Dream in one week sounds like the perfect February escape.

Good Morning!

Yes, I thought so, too. Which is why I am really thinking it will be a fun place to be for the week.

It is a great way to go, for us, anyhow -- I like flying, no question, but depending on the flexibility you want, it really can't be beat. We get the roomettes. We do that b/c it is less expensive than the actual rooms.. the difference of course is you have your own bathroom in the private rooms... to be honest, I have taken too many transatlantic flights to be pressed about a shared bathroom... I see them in the same way... if you are on an over night flight from CA to DC, trust me, it feels about the same!!! No jet lag though It is nice b/c you can book them across the aisle from eachother, the car attendant will come check on you, there is water, hot chocolate, coffee and tea all there for your access. and then when you tell him/her you would like the beds put down, they come do it for you. sheets, pillows all included, just little space, but fun dinner has been great each and every time. Good free wine and cheese (a local vinyard -- consider it a wine tasting trip!! complimentary, before you even leave, and at dinner... We are already booked for this summer. We booked in August, b/c you can always cancel, Amtrak have a very friendly cancellation policy. Get roomettes on the SECOND floor though, not the bottom floor, better view and conditions... bathrooms on the bottom floor, and you have to go up and down stairs to get to stuff. Not fun. in my opinion.

Wilderness Lodge is bee-yoo-tee-ful!

Just be very careful about getting too close to this with quarters in your pocket!

MeMom these are LOVELY!!! I just found my photos from October I am so excited! BUT these are pretty pictures, mine are just oh, let me take a picture of that rock with the directions written on it...

I know ALL about that fountain, don't worry I have heard!!!!

 

[Happydog]

Yep, I double posted because I thought I lost my other post, but FORTUNATELY I only lost a bit... what a panic that was...

 

[Happydog]

So I realize that I have not actually shared WHAT we are doing on JULY 1st, after checking in at Wilderness Lodge!

FIRST, though, let me share my photos from October, because I FOUND them!!

Not the best picture, but it shows how the lounges are set up at the big pool... Sorry that I have a total stranger in this one!! I don't like the lounges on this side, because they feel very cramped. The other side of the pool, closer to the bar... HOW convenient ... are better. As is the layout at the Villa's pool...

I remember trying to hold my refillable mug AND take this photo with my phone, HA!!!

Here, you can compare how the trees and shrubs have definitely grown from the photo I took from AllEars... it really is a nice secluded area...

Why, I don't know, but I just liked the sign on the rock, or the rock-sign, or... err....

So after checking in, I am going to assume our room will not be ready. Mostly, because it is a sunday, and Sunday is a big resort turnover day... it being the weekend before the holiday, I think this means it will be really busy, as well. SO, we plan to check our luggage, park the car, and take the boat to Magic Kingdom!!

We have TWO establishments we will be visiting right away... FIRST up is LUNCH!!! HERE:

I have been WAITING WAITING WAITING to have that Tri-corner sandwich again!!! LOL!!!! SOOO yummy! The boys will eat a proper lunch here, I am quite certain of that!

After lunch, we'll possibly be able to use a fastpass, but likely, we'll just head over to our NEXT stop, this afternoon, which is HERE:

YES, The Pirate's LEAGUE!!!

Here are a few photos from our Christmas trip, where we first tried it out...

I remember the CM telling me to get my photo of the "cute panda stage" because it all went down hill after that...

It was quite a production, and FUN!

I went back and forth about reserving this for them again. But, with DS6 (who will be 7 when we are there) only 4 years old at the time, I thought he would be much more engaged and interested in the whole process, and really look forward to doing it and being a pirate for the rest of the
afternoon and evening. DS9 who will be 10, also will still get a kick out of playing the Pirate part, b/c he is so into theater anyhow, it will make sense! He may want to pull his fencing foil out, but we will stick with the plastic swords and the revolvers we'll be sure to bring with us from home!!!

I set the appointments for 2:30pm. We have lunch at LTT at 12:30, so they'll get a good meal before this, and then we can ride some rides! Afterall, we are not getting to the park before noon, and we can collect some FPs to use since they will probably be a few hours wait, anyhow, and not timed until early evening...so it looks like we won't be going back to the resort for a while. Not sure about that timing quite yet, but that is okay. We are on vacation, after all!

ONE thing I have to decide on, is what to do about the costume aspect. The first time I did this, it was seasonally good for wearing costumes... this was at Christmas! BUT, the package I got for them was through Disney Visa, and it was a discount for the package without costumes (but then it still did include the photo!) And we were not really doing "dress the part" in the parks at that point in our Disney touring... it wasn't until Disneyland, with my Starwars guys, and then the cruises, that I realized they were totally into the idea... I was thinking of two options...

Perhaps what we did at Vero Beach, which was just the tops with shorts...

BUT as you can probably tell, they were still hot from running around!!!Though I don't think they'll be doing battle with anyone at the park!!! Unless it was at the Pirate show outside POTC!

The OTHER option I am tossing around, is this...

But they are $20.00 apiece, and I am not convinced they'll be worn too much afterwards, so even though I have a $15.00 coupon to use at the Disney store online, I have to decide is I want to spend this... They do have their Pirate Tees from the cruise LAST year...

This is a little better -- you can see (I think) the pirate eye patch, eyebrow, and moustache... they still can very much wear them, so I don't see them outgrowing these before summer, but they don't necessarily go with the "costume" concept...

So I am going to deliberate on this one... the skeleton costume is definitely not as hot as the jack sparrow top, because the super cool jacket is just really well made and heavy... so one thought I had was to maybe look for a less heavy top for DS10... we'll see! I have time...

We have ONE more ressie this evening, I am not 100% certain we are going to use it, but I have ALWAYS wanted to eat outside at the Plaza... so I made a reservation for dinner, b/c I do plan to spend the evening at MK, or at least most of it, and perhaps head back to the resort for a movie if it is a good one... not sure entirely yet. I'll have to see what the Pirates think! We could do quick service, this is true, but the menu at The Plaza is reasonable, and we have the TIW card, so I am not sure if in the end it would be all that more $. I have it for now, and as we get closer I'll keep thinking about it.

WELL, folks... I have more to share about my CRUISE plans too, but I have to add a few more photos before I do!!! Got my hair done yesterday, and hope to slip out for my nails today, and the suitcases will come from upstairs, probably mid week

TTFN!!! SIX MORE NIGHTS BEFORE we LEAVE!!!

 

[MEK]

I'm excited that we are spending two nights at VWL before our cruise in June! The tour sounds really interesting, is it something you have to book in advance?

Nope - just show up at 0900 in the lobby and look for Ranger Joe. I'm pretty sure the tour is most days ( at least it was two years ago).

Ranger Stan did pass away, but Ranger Joe took over when he retired several years ago. This guy loves his job. This was seriously one of my favorite, unexpected Disney moments. Denny and my two friend took it on a Wednesday (while I was trying out for AI). They loved it and raved about it. I showed up the next day at 9am and I was the only one on the tour. The bonus was - he asked me if there was anything special I wanted to do and I asked to go to the roof. At the end of the tour he took me and the other couple staying with us up there. It was AMAZING (although hot as hell in early May). I tried to tip this guy at the end of the tour and he completely refused. This tour is truly a hidden gem!

Back to read now!

 

[Native NYer]

Pirate's League is so much fun!
My nephews picked out that t-shirt at the PL in August. They didn't want one of the more elaborate costumes, probably because of the heat. It's a great summer alternative to a costume.

 

[MEK]

When I stayed in a 2BR at VWL is was a lock-off right on the corner of the building so the 1BR part was positioned in one direction and the studio around the corner. I did not face the pool, but rather just faced all pine trees out the MBR and LR. The studio had a bit of an MK view because we were on the 5th floor. The decor is rather like staying in a log cabin. It's a little dark, but once I understood that the decor was supposed to be in line with what was going on in the early 1800's. Apparently, this was a big time for train travel and people were heading west. Because it was so difficult to transport furnishings it was very common for people to have odd pieces of furniture that they picked up and dropped off along the way. This explains why everything has the same "theme", but doesnt quite match.

Because we were a corner 2BR the whole villa was HUGE

Our MBR view

I had the wrong lens on when I took these pictures so you don't get the best perspective.



Here's a picture of my two friends and I with Ranger Joe after the fabulous tour

Then Ranger Joe actually sent a PP photographer over to take pictures of all 6 of us by the pool

I think your plans for your first day at VWL sound great. I love LTT lunch - I LOVE the tricorner sandwich and I'm also a big fan of the Plaza! Sounds fun. Not so sure about the boys costumes since it will probably be stinking hot.