Our Rockin' Trip to the World~February TR! UPDATE 5/15 ~ LINK TO PTR!!!!!!

[annmarieda]

Oh I am sorry to hear your meal wasn't good. That is disappointing.

I love your resort pictures. I definitely want to stay there someday!!!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

I don't blame you for skipping out on Biergarten...CSR is BEAUTIFUL.

That's too bad about Maya Grill! I'm glad we cancelled our ADR there for our arrival night! We're planning on heading to DTD for some shopping and WPE instead.

Can't wait to hear about DHS!

 

[dizneeat]

Hi Tina!

Thanks for the update!
I am real sorry to hear that your meal at Maya Grill was so disappointing. I remember you mentioning that it was not good, but I didn't know it was that bad!
We went for breakfast that same week and it was a really nice experience - although the restaurant was literally empty!

Can't wait for more of your/our adventures and CANNOT wait for your new PTR to start!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I am finally all caught up - took long enough didn't it?!?

We were making a mistake we would make again and again throughout the trip: we asked Max what he wanted to do! I know, I know... I am not suggesting that you ignore the obvious needs of your child while at Disneyworld. But in a place as stimulating as we all know Disney can be, asking a three year old whether he wanted to go to the room or go to World Showcase was pretty much pointless. How easy it is for me to sometimes forget that I’m the adult. I’m the decider!

We did the same thing on this recent trip! Since Henry is old enough now to make solid decisions, we asked him for input instead of just saying "Now we are going to......!" and just like you-it was not a good move several times! He would want to go back to the hotel, and once we got to the hotel-he wanted to go on a ride. Thankfully we learned a bit as our time went on, but it was still a power struggle quite a few days. Ahhhh, this age is lovely at times, isn't it?!?!

Then, I showed him AKL pictures and we both just knew. That was it. Transportation worries be damned! If we know one thing after our last trip, its that Max really likes spending time at the hotel room and really enjoyed his kiddie pool at CSR. I truly feel, both from having visited there and looking at more pictures, that AKL is something exceptional. Truly spectacular, even by Disney standards.

You will LOVE AKL! It's a fantastic resort. And even though it's buses only, the service there is very good-we've never had an issue at all. If you make it over to Kidani I bet Max will have a blast in the kid splash area too!

We parked the stroller and made our way to the back entrance to the restaurant, where we stopped to take a picture with Donald:

Max might have been scared of the birds-but at least he liked this duck!

I have to give some credit where its due here and shout out Brook’s TR for clueing me in about the Boneyard and about the delicious snack options in AK. We really enjoyed our snack and Max devoured a Mickey bar. Wish I had gotten some cute pictures, but you probably know this story by now!

Aw, thanks! I'm glad my TR provided some help!

Loving the report-sorry to hear about your awful meal at Maya Grill-what a waste!

 

[tinacaplan]

Oh I am sorry to hear your meal wasn't good. That is disappointing.

I love your resort pictures. I definitely want to stay there someday!!!

You should, Ann. It really is beautiful and has a serenity and quiet to it. At least it has each of the times we've stayed there. And Max liked it, too!

I don't blame you for skipping out on Biergarten...CSR is BEAUTIFUL.

That's too bad about Maya Grill! I'm glad we cancelled our ADR there for our arrival night! We're planning on heading to DTD for some shopping and WPE instead.

Can't wait to hear about DHS!

CRS is absolutely gorgeous. DTD sounds like fun! I've only been once...maybe in July?

Hi Tina!

Thanks for the update!
I am real sorry to hear that your meal at Maya Grill was so disappointing. I remember you mentioning that it was not good, but I didn't know it was that bad!
We went for breakfast that same week and it was a really nice experience - although the restaurant was literally empty!

Can't wait for more of your/our adventures and CANNOT wait for your new PTR to start!

Hi, Karin! Yes, it was THAT bad. Oh, well.

I am finally all caught up - took long enough didn't it?!?



We did the same thing on this recent trip! Since Henry is old enough now to make solid decisions, we asked him for input instead of just saying "Now we are going to......!" and just like you-it was not a good move several times! He would want to go back to the hotel, and once we got to the hotel-he wanted to go on a ride. Thankfully we learned a bit as our time went on, but it was still a power struggle quite a few days. Ahhhh, this age is lovely at times, isn't it?!?!



You will LOVE AKL! It's a fantastic resort. And even though it's buses only, the service there is very good-we've never had an issue at all. If you make it over to Kidani I bet Max will have a blast in the kid splash area too!



Max might have been scared of the birds-but at least he liked this duck!



Aw, thanks! I'm glad my TR provided some help!

Loving the report-sorry to hear about your awful meal at Maya Grill-what a waste!

Hi, Brook! Please don't worry about not being around for awhile. It happens. There are plenty of nights, after a full day of teaching, that the last thing I feel like doing is writing responses on the Dis, so I do a fair amount of quick reading without posting. But I'm glad to see you back!

I know that walking into this trip, I had no idea how Max was going to react to anything. The one thing I knew for sure was that he wouldn't freak out around the characters. Everything else, I was just rolling the dice. This time, I'm going to have a much easier time planning because I'm going to have a much better idea of what we should be doing and what Max will actually enjoy.

And I love your TRs because, in addition to being so well written (and beautifully photographed), Henry and Max are so close in age.

 

[tinacaplan]

OK, my Disfriends... I have an important question that I need some help figuring out an answer to. As you can tell from my ticker, we're going back in July and are currently booked CL at AKL. Let me very honest and up front and say that I am, more than anything, super excited to try a deluxe and the options below are all priced similarly.

My top three reasons for booking AKL:
1. The animals...duh.
2. I really love the lobby and all the theming, inside and out.
3. The CMs I've encountered there while dining have always been wonderful.

My top three nagging problems with booking AKL:

1. The location...what if this is the trip that Max decides he loves the parks? Would we better off in a slightly more convenient location that does rely solely on bus service? I should also add that we enjoy hitting rope drop and heading back the resort for an extended period of time in the afternoon before venturing out again. We're NOT doing a dining plan this time, either, as we want the utmost flexibility in our plans.

2. The bed linens... I have been spoiled and it has been sometime since I have stayed anywhere that did not have white, cotton duvet covers on the beds, as opposed to the every so slightly icky looking comforters they have at AKL. I know its a minor issue, but its important to me.

3. Max has recently begun to develop an assortment of fears, one of them being live animals. He was not a fan when we were there in February. He especially hated the birds. Now since then, he's gotten in the Lion King and birds and as I've explained that ALK would be like staying at Simba's House (work with me on this one, he's about to turn four!). I am worried that staying here will be completely wasted on him, if not downright scary for him. Then again, he might be fine.

My top three reasons why the Beach Club would be awesome:

1. Location! That walk to the International Gateway is about three point two seconds, as we discovered in February and EPCOT is mine and Mark's favorite park, hands down.
2. Storm Along Bay. Need I say more?
3. Superior bed linens, even if the theme is not my favorite, as it seeks to emulate an area of the country I've lived in all my life. That said, I liked it way more than I thought I would when we visited to go to Cape May for breakfast this past February.

I have other reasons why BC would be better, including better food options.

Of course, at AKL, I keep coming back to the fact that the resort has the ability to make me feel as though I'm somewhere else completely. Maybe not Africa, exactly, but something close. It is also, arguably, the most unique resort on property and at Disney, that's saying a lot.

What to do? What to do? I would sincerely appreciate any all advice/thoughts on this, PLEASE!

Sorry I went on so long, but I want to make sure (or as sure as I can) that I have this right!

 

[that's nice]

Tina-

Sorry your Maya Grill dinner was bad. I had an ADR there once but I ended up canceling it. Your review is making me happy that I did!

The good thing about choosing one resort opposed to another is you have the opportunity to try the other one next time! I think Beach Club would be nicer in August though. It is gonna be HOT down there! I do want to stay at AKL someday too.

 

[tinacaplan]

Tina-

Sorry your Maya Grill dinner was bad. I had an ADR there once but I ended up canceling it. Your review is making me happy that I did!

The good thing about choosing one resort opposed to another is you have the opportunity to try the other one next time! I think Beach Club would be nicer in August though. It is gonna be HOT down there! I do want to stay at AKL someday too.

Hi, Tim! Yeah, I would not recommend anyone eat there, but maybe they had an off night?

You raise a good point about the heat; I've always thought AKL would be nice in the winter months and SAB would be awesome in the heat. And it would be amazing to be that close to my favorite park! I'm close to making up my mind.... I think!

 

[pinkxray]

What a dilemma to have. I haven't stayed at either yet so I can't really help. I will have a bit more advice at the end of the month, but that will probably be a bit late.

If Max is really scared of live animals the whole theme of AKL might be wasted on him. Maybe you would be better off waiting until he is older so he can get more out of it? Or save it for you next Feb. trip?

Beach Club looks so nice and SAB looks perfect for kids of all ages. Isn't Epcot your favorite?

When I first booked our trip I wanted to stay at Pop since it just looked fun to me. I ended up going for VWL and BCV b/c I wanted to be closer to the parks. I figure if DD and DH want to chill out at the hotel at least it will be easy for me to get to MK or Epcot by myself without having to rely on buses.

I have to say I've been envisioning you on your trip report staying at AKL. I can't wait to hear what you decide, although I have a feeling you are going to pick BC. Good luck deciding

 

[tinacaplan]

What a dilemma to have. I haven't stayed at either yet so I can't really help. I will have a bit more advice at the end of the month, but that will probably be a bit late.

If Max is really scared of live animals the whole theme of AKL might be wasted on him. Maybe you would be better off waiting until he is older so he can get more out of it? Or save it for you next Feb. trip?

Beach Club looks so nice and SAB looks perfect for kids of all ages. Isn't Epcot your favorite?

When I first booked our trip I wanted to stay at Pop since it just looked fun to me. I ended up going for VWL and BCV b/c I wanted to be closer to the parks. I figure if DD and DH want to chill out at the hotel at least it will be easy for me to get to MK or Epcot by myself without having to rely on buses.

I have to say I've been envisioning you on your trip report staying at AKL. I can't wait to hear what you decide, although I have a feeling you are going to pick BC. Good luck deciding

I know...cry me a river, right? If only this were the biggest decision I had to make in life...life really would be a dream! You raise an excellent point about proximity to the parks for me, actually, that I had overlooked. I do rather enjoy solo touring at night and I am absolutely, positively seeing Illuminations at least once while I'm there, even if kills me this time! I truly don't know when we'll be going back (could be February...next summer...who knows? ), so I would like to take advantage of that aspect of the trip. I'm hoping that Max will be more into the parks this year, but I'm thinking he might not be. He has also developed a recent interest in these guys irate: so the boat at SAB might be right up his alley!

 

[All7OfUs]

WOW. Hmmm... this really is a unique dilemma.

I'd say if you really think Max will have that potential for being frightened, you might want to let him outgrow it, and then stay at AKL when he can really get excited about everything going on there for later. A year? 2? So many resorts to try and have fun at.

SAB alone makes me want to stay there, but the added convenience to EPCOT (also my favorite park) puts it over the top. Sounds like those, along with the better linens might tip you over to there too.

I dunno, Tina, I just hate for you to go to AK and have it not be "just what you had always dreamed of" because of those issues. If you give it some time, you may come away with a better impression in the end.

I doubt my ramblings helped any, but there ya have it. Wherever you end up, I do look forward to hearing all about it!!

 

[glennbo123]

Well, I bought DVC because they were building at AKL (ie. Kidani)...so, you can probably guess what my thoughts are. But I would like to stay at the Beach Club sometime.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I'm going to say go BC. My DD had a fear of animals for a while when she was 3 (she's 5 now). I mean, it was intense. Sometimes it got near panic attack levels, though other times she was just a bit uneasy. Less than a year later, she was all about petting zoos and safaris, so it really will change if you give it time. I just know that it really could ruin the trip if he is freaking out the whole time, and you don't really know how he's going to react until you get there. In a couple of years (assuming he's over the fear) give AKL a go and then you can give it the proper appreciation...all of you.

 

[tinacaplan]

WOW. Hmmm... this really is a unique dilemma.

I'd say if you really think Max will have that potential for being frightened, you might want to let him outgrow it, and then stay at AKL when he can really get excited about everything going on there for later. A year? 2? So many resorts to try and have fun at.

SAB alone makes me want to stay there, but the added convenience to EPCOT (also my favorite park) puts it over the top. Sounds like those, along with the better linens might tip you over to there too.

I dunno, Tina, I just hate for you to go to AK and have it not be "just what you had always dreamed of" because of those issues. If you give it some time, you may come away with a better impression in the end.

I doubt my ramblings helped any, but there ya have it. Wherever you end up, I do look forward to hearing all about it!!

I also don't know when we'll be able to afford the BC again. Who knows? AKL is a bit cheaper, generally. I think I'm leaning BC right now.

Well, I bought DVC because they were building at AKL (ie. Kidani)...so, you can probably guess what my thoughts are. But I would like to stay at the Beach Club sometime.

Ah...yes! I have to say that I truly think AKL is the most beautiful and most unique of the all the resorts. That said, I wonder if its the best choice for us right now.

I'm going to say go BC. My DD had a fear of animals for a while when she was 3 (she's 5 now). I mean, it was intense. Sometimes it got near panic attack levels, though other times she was just a bit uneasy. Less than a year later, she was all about petting zoos and safaris, so it really will change if you give it time. I just know that it really could ruin the trip if he is freaking out the whole time, and you don't really know how he's going to react until you get there. In a couple of years (assuming he's over the fear) give AKL a go and then you can give it the proper appreciation...all of you.

Excellent point! I just think BC might make everything easier, overall. We'll see what we end up with!

 

[tinacaplan]

THANK YOU for all of the input everyone! Please, keep it coming. I want to hear as many perspectives on this as possible, as I'm really having a tough time making a decision.

 

[glennbo123]

That said, I wonder if its the best choice for us right now.

I completely understand.

I saw this thread and thought it was interesting in light of your dilemma. Link

 

[tinacaplan]

I completely understand.

I saw this thread and thought it was interesting in light of your dilemma. Link

Thanks, Glenn. I just took a look at it....more to think about! I know how we all wring our hands over these decisions and go back and forth a million times...when, really, it is just a vacation. Granted, a pretty expensive one, but be that as it may... Its also hard because there aren't many (OK...none ) people in the "real world" who I can discuss this with. My mom's pushing BC for the convenience factor, which makes sense with an unpredictable four year-old...but...then again...how long are those bus rides to and from AKL, anyway?

 

[tinacaplan]

DHS...Here We Come!

For awhile, Max was super into Toy Story. Loved Woody and Buzz and we have seen all three movies more times than we care to count. Toy Story 3 was Max’s first movie in a movie theater, after all. To say that we were excited about TSM *(and DHS, in general) would be like saying that the mad dash there at rope isn’t capital-C crazy.

Max’s first time in Pixar Place:

Actually, I don’t recall anything about it being particularly difficult. We managed to make our way back there pretty quickly, even while staying together. We made our way to the FP machiene and Mark grabbed them for us, while my mom, Max, and I got in line to meet Buzz and Woody! Amazing. THe queue here is really so cool. A ton of fantastic photo ops awaited us, but of course, my camera-shy son, really wanted no party of them. Its frustrating, because as an infant and toddler he was all about taking pictures. I am so looking forward to Max developing some hard and fast routines and habits, so I could at least make a decent prediction about how he will react in a given situation. I’m nervous that such a time is a pipe dream, or at least years longer than I want to wait.

Standing in Pixar Place...look, we started out happy!

But I digress. We took semi-sucessful pictures with Buzz and Woody. Nothing great, but not horrible, either. Buzz and Woody also signed Max’s TS football, which my mom had purchased for him outside. The boy might have come home souvenir-less had it none been for my mom.

We then went back and hopped into the FP line at TSM. I was so excited to experience the queue to this ride with Max. He was...well, unimpressed. Or at the very least he appeared very nonplussed. I had a blast playing the actual game; Max not so sure. I do know that afterward, he showed no interest in doing it again.

We then wandered away from Pixar Place. We were off in search of one thing and one thing only: Radiator Springs!. Luigi’s Casa della Tires, to be exact. Since first laying eyes on the movie last summer, Cars has become Max’s favorite movie EVER. He has a the entire cast, a Cars race track, and a Lightening McQueen bed! I figured he’d be beside himself excited seeing his old pals Mater and Lightening. But...sadly...he enjoyed it, but he wasn’t thrilled. Truth be told, he was far more excited about his recent Chuggington acquisition that we got for five bucks at our local Barnes and Noble. Oh, well.

One of the only good pictures I got with Lightening and Mater:

From there we explored the Streets of America a bit and took a series of ridiculous and borderline embarrassing photos, some of which I will show here:

Look...we look happy...in a photograph!

We made our way over to the Muppet show. I don’t hear many people say anything about this show, but I grew up watching the Muppets every Sunday evening at seven. It was soothing, in a funny sort of way, always there to entertain me. I even had a set of Miss Piggy paperdolls. Wish I still had those!
The show was entertaining, nothing spectacular, which I knew going in, but still a lot of fun and absolutely worth it when there’s no line.

Now, I’m not clear on the order here but I think the next we did was hit our lunch ADR at Sci-Fi. Mark and I were so excited to take Max here. OK, we were so excited to be going back ourselves! I wouldn’t say Sci Fi had the greatest food after that first trip, but the food was good for what it was and the place had atmosphere that is truly out of this world.

We were seated in one of the cars; Mark and Max in the front, my mom and I behind.

Mom and I shared an order of onion rings for our appetizer. There was too much breading and the rings were rather soggy as a result. Just not particularly appetizing, that’s for sure.

My mom and I both had reubens for our entiree and this one didn’t hold a candle to the one we had at PM just a couple of days prior. These sandwhiches were very salty, that much I remember.

Mark and Max both had burgers and Mark was not thrilled with his meal, either. We left feeling not so great.

We journeyed over to the HISTK playground, which Max, of course loved.

He could have spent all day in there, if we let him. I’m not sure why, but after twenty minutes or so, we decided to head to our next attraction and Max had a total and complete beserk meltdown. It was so loud, in fact, that I had to take him over to a remote corner (where I met a super nice mom who was also dealing with kids in meltdown mode) to calm down. It is possible that either a small toy of some kind or a snack would have staved off that particular tantrum, but alas... I’m not the best at anticipating these situations beforehand. Thankfully, I’m getting a second chance.

After Max recovered, my mom said she wanted to head back and it was decided that she and I would head back to CSR, while Mark and stayed at DHS with a much calmer Max. As we made our way out of an increasingly busy park, I began to wonder whether or not dinner at the California Grill was the best idea, especially given Max’s mood and my mom’s inflexibility. Oh, and did I mention it was her birthday? Yes, I had big plans to celebrate at California Grill. Would they work out? Or would we go another way?

 

[glennbo123]

Fleetwood Mac!

Love the happy pictures!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Looks you had lots of fun in DHS!

Sorry about your meal at Sci-Fi. I haven't been there in years! I probably won't get back there for another few trips. I would probably do a lunch OOP for it as we usually do the DDP and I don't think it's worth the TS credit.

Can't wait for more!