Our Magical WDW Adventure ~ 23 Days of Fun, Food, Cocktails... London Trip 2/8

[xoktenox]

Love that snowman!! We got snow today again, about 4 inches or so right now and they cancelled school for me (and all over Long Island) for the night. I can't believe how much it melted though just over night!

 

[ariel2007]

Love that snowman!! We got snow today again, about 4 inches or so right now and they cancelled school for me (and all over Long Island) for the night. I can't believe how much it melted though just over night!

They have canceled school here too. Over 300 schools just in our county alone, and most of the snow has gone. Its crazy how much a little bit of snow has affected everything here

 

[Sarah84]

Love the snow pictures, they are gorgeous esp the 2nd one with all the snow on the tress . I'm so jealous of where you live, a huge field like that next to your garden, sometimes living in London is rubbish its all houses, flats & shops and no lovely space like that
We haven't had any snow since yesterday afternoon, so its all starting to melt & turn to slush here too, still a bit left on the drive and the roof of my car

Ooh almost forgot to say great snowman

 

[ariel2007]

Love the snow pictures, they are gorgeous esp the 2nd one with all the snow on the tress . I'm so jealous of where you live, a huge field like that next to your garden, sometimes living in London is rubbish its all houses, flats & shops and no lovely space like that
We haven't had any snow since yesterday afternoon, so its all starting to melt & turn to slush here too, still a bit left on the drive and the roof of my car

Ooh almost forgot to say great snowman

Its not a bad place to live but I miss Devon so much. Thats where I want to live in a few years, I miss the beach and moors too much here. Our garden is quite a nice size, that was the front and we have a bigger one around the back where we have BBQ's and parties in the summer. And the field wraps around the back of our house too, its actually ours (well Nick's Dad's but we can use it whenever).

I think it stopped late evening here. Was all the trains and buses things back to normal in London today? I heard on the news that over 300 schools were closed to day in Essex, I really don't understand why

 

[wdwgirl03]

Hey, I can mail you some of the snow we have here! It is not going to be gone for a looooooong time.

 

[ariel2007]

Hey, I can mail you some of the snow we have here! It is not going to be gone for a looooooong time.

I guess you have a lot then? How long do you normally have snow for then?

 

[hlrababy]

Oh wow!!!!!!! That is a lot of snow!!!!!!! I really wish it would do that here, but we never EVER get snow anymore!!!!!

 

[ariel1025]

I think he did it like that as I was telling him about an episode of the Gilmore Girls I watched the other day when we were making it. In it they have a snowman competition and this one bloke makes his snowman look like a proper gentleman in a top hat bent over with a cane, it was amazing. Next thing I turn around and he had done that

I was thinking of that exact episode when I saw your snow pictures...I love that show!!

Also, I thought you might be interested in reading the information in this link (if you scroll about 3/4 down it gives the information on the park renovations)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Adventure

I know information from this site isn't always 100% accurate but its usually pretty close Anyway, I hope it's correct because it sounds awesome to me

 

[ariel2007]

Oh wow!!!!!!! That is a lot of snow!!!!!!! I really wish it would do that here, but we never EVER get snow anymore!!!!!

We don't get it often at all. Well we get a bit, but not enough to lay, and occasionally we get enough to play in, but this was the most we have had in 18 years . I always thought the South was always hots, I didn't realise you got snow. I hope you get lots in Gatlinburg

I was thinking of that exact episode when I saw your snow pictures...I love that show!!

Also, I thought you might be interested in reading the information in this link (if you scroll about 3/4 down it gives the information on the park renovations)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Adventure

I know information from this site isn't always 100% accurate but its usually pretty close Anyway, I hope it's correct because it sounds awesome to me

I love the snow episodes in the Gilmore Girl's it always looks so beautiful. I love the first one with snow in where Lorelai is going on about how magical it is. Then again it always looks beautiful there, especially in the fall, like the opening credits.

Thanks for that link it was really interesting to read. I didn't realise they planned so much work! It sounds like its going to be great when its finished, the 1920's and 30's themes should be great. Although it would be quite cool to see it before, and then again after, if only I could win the lottery

TOT looks just like the one in DLRP. I love the WDW more, its more erry and more atmospheric looking.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I guess you have a lot then? How long do you normally have snow for then?

Yeah, we do have a lot. Actually when we were on our trip in December we had snow here pretty much every other day...including one day where we got about a foot. That snow was pretty much all melted and then in January we got a ton more. So that combined with the really cold temperatures means the snow is here for a while. I just remember last year they had something on the news about the last little spot of snow melted in July. But I'm guessing it'll be here until April.

 

[ariel2007]

Yeah, we do have a lot. Actually when we were on our trip in December we had snow here pretty much every other day...including one day where we got about a foot. That snow was pretty much all melted and then in January we got a ton more. So that combined with the really cold temperatures means the snow is here for a while. I just remember last year they had something on the news about the last little spot of snow melted in July. But I'm guessing it'll be here until April.

Wow thats crazy. I like a bit but guess I would probably get sick of it all the time, especially if I couldn't just go skiing everyday. We quite often get a bit around Christmas, some through Jan and Feb and quite often some over Easter. But by mid April its normally quite nice and we get some of our best weather. Obviously this is when Nick and I are on holiday so we miss our only nice weather

 

[disneydusted]

Hey Ariel, all of us seem to be big fans of Nick's snowman! He did a good job! We haven't been able to make one here for a few years now, not enough snow! We had another dusting of snow this morning but I think it is going to melt again.
I was thinking about all of the Disney resorts you've stayed in and I wondered how you would rank them?

 

[ariel2007]

Hey Ariel, all of us seem to be big fans of Nick's snowman! He did a good job! We haven't been able to make one here for a few years now, not enough snow! We had another dusting of snow this morning but I think it is going to melt again.
I was thinking about all of the Disney resorts you've stayed in and I wondered how you would rank them?

Thanks I will tell him. He will be very pleased as the head took him a while

Ooo how would I rank the resorts, now theres a question, and a good idea for another post

 

[Villainess]

Oooo - I want to see how you would rank the resorts too!

 

[Sarah84]

Its not a bad place to live but I miss Devon so much. Thats where I want to live in a few years, I miss the beach and moors too much here. Our garden is quite a nice size, that was the front and we have a bigger one around the back where we have BBQ's and parties in the summer. And the field wraps around the back of our house too, its actually ours (well Nick's Dad's but we can use it whenever).

I think it stopped late evening here. Was all the trains and buses things back to normal in London today? I heard on the news that over 300 schools were closed to day in Essex, I really don't understand why

Devon looks so pretty, I'd miss the beach too. Did you move away to live with Nick? Sounds like you have lots of space where you house is thouh, that must be lovely.
Yep everything all back to normal in regards to the transport here, it was so strange on monday not to have a bus on the roads. So strange how we have some snow and everything just shuts down & can't cope, though I guess its not like other countrys that are used to it though surely they knew it was coming so could have prepared a bit in regards to gritting the roads and things.

 

[ariel2007]

Devon looks so pretty, I'd miss the beach too. Did you move away to live with Nick? Sounds like you have lots of space where you house is thouh, that must be lovely.
Yep everything all back to normal in regards to the transport here, it was so strange on monday not to have a bus on the roads. So strange how we have some snow and everything just shuts down & can't cope, though I guess its not like other countrys that are used to it though surely they knew it was coming so could have prepared a bit in regards to gritting the roads and things.

Yes I really don't know why the schools had to shut, some were even still shut today

Yes my families all in Devon but after university Nick and I moved up to Essex, which is where all his family is. We plan to move back down to Devon in a few years for good, so I don't mind. And its nice living somewhere else for a while, especially somewhere so close to London, its quite different to Devon.

 

[ariel2007]

Disney Dreams...
... Part 3​

Now surprisingly for a bunch of Disney World fanatics no-one has noticed something missing on the last post. Or more specifically somewhere. And it wasn't just anywhere, it was the Grandest of the Grand...

Disney Dream Number Three...

On my very first trip to Disney World one of the most magical memories I have was sailing across the Seven Sea's Lagoon for the first time. The sun was shining in the beautiful blue sky, the water glistening below us, and in front was the most beautiful sight, our first glance of the magical Cinderella Castle. But it was not only the magical castle that caught my eye, but this beautiful, dazzling, turn of the century resort that looked fit for a princess. I spent much time day dreaming over the resort on our visit, imagining how beautiful it must be inside, imagining all the lucky people enjoying there magical stay there, people, I imagined, that must be rich. After our visit I forgot about the beautiful resort, until we went back and again started our journey across the Seven Sea's Lagoon. Again we were awestruck by the beautiful castle in front of us, and again my eye was caught by one of my favorite sights, the Grand Floridian. On our third visit I decided that although we may not be able to quite afford to stay there, we should not pass up the chance to have a look, so booked breakfast at 1900 Park fayre. As we stepped off the monorail and into the resort I was gob smacked by the pure elegance and beauty of the place. It was even more beautiful than I had imagined, and as we walked around the resort I continued to be amazed. The chandeliers, the domed ceilings, the sofas and tables, the beautiful flowers, glass lifts, sweeping grand staircases. The entrance with a beautiful carriage outside, the greeters and staff in their Victorian attire, the great shops and amazing restaurants, the beautiful flower filled grounds with fountains and powder white beaches. I just loved it all. We had a great breakfast, in a beautiful restaurant (notice the word beautiful features a lot here), something we have done again since. We have also had afternoon tea in the Garden View lounge, an experience I enjoyed thoroughly and could easily get used to.


At the entrance on our first visit

The beautiful lobby

One of the fountains

Some of the beautiful grounds

One of the pool

One of the great shops

Breakfast at 1900 Park Fayre, the hysterical mad hatter

Mary Poppins

Tigger

Tigger playing with Dad ~ he was lots of fun

Sophie and Alice

Sophie as Alice

Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea

So my third Disney Dream is one I hope will come true pretty soon, one that I have had since my first visit to my favorite place, to stay in the beautiful Grand Floridian. Unfortunately Nick is not as sold on the place as I am, I guess he doesn't quite share my princess tenancies, else we would have probably stayed there by now. But he knows how much it means for me to stay there, and waiting is just making me more excited for when I do finally get to stay there

Coming Up... Disney Dream Number Four ​

 

[Villainess]

You should try the Private Dining at the GF! You don't have to be a guest there to arrange it. exDH and I did it one year for his birthday - we had a private table for 2 out by the marina. I had chosen our menu ahead of time and we had a lovely view of Wishes during dessert.

DS's godfather and his family go to Disney about 3-4 times per year and each time stay at the GF. They either have the Walt Disney or Roy Disney suite. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing what these rooms look like, but my parents did - I was so mad my mom didn't take pictures!

 

[ariel2007]

You should try the Private Dining at the GF! You don't have to be a guest there to arrange it. exDH and I did it one year for his birthday - we had a private table for 2 out by the marina. I had chosen our menu ahead of time and we had a lovely view of Wishes during dessert.

DS's godfather and his family go to Disney about 3-4 times per year and each time stay at the GF. They either have the Walt Disney or Roy Disney suite. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing what these rooms look like, but my parents did - I was so mad my mom didn't take pictures!

How lucky are they. I mean to go to Disney that much is lucky enough but to stay in a GF suite is just amazing.

I have heard about the private dining before but not seen any reviews. Did you really enjoy it?

 

[Villainess]

Yes, I did. I called their Private Dining number about a month or so before we went. They emailed me menus, wine lists, etc. When I called back with my menu selections, we finalized the location of our dining - they gave me quite a few options and we had a backup in case of rain. I paid everything on CC ahead of time, and gratuity is added at that point. I ordered the glass slipper white chocolate for one of the desserts. The manager was quite nice during our conversations and our server for the evening met us by the piano in the Grand Lobby - white glove service. Wonderful!