Pods-n-El & The Love Bug(S)- September 24-29th,2010 at AKV Concierge! Updates 11/30

[CRdisMom]

how popular you are! I love the car service idea and I bet that Pods does now too....lol. My car service consists of my parents driving us to the airport. I hope to sneak away to the ditch while there but we will see. Can't wait to hear about this one. already laughing so much.

 

[podsnel]

Whooo Ellen! I am hoping on board! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Oops! i think I missed you on that last reply- I'm so happy you're here! We had a great time!

I'll wear mine if you wear yours!

I haven't heard anything about the ceremony! When is it?

I think November or December?

Making this one trippie....sounds like it will make an EXTRA-FUN read !!! I remember being part of a USVirginIsles trippie you had and that was a HOOT! Can't wait.....

Hi again! Wow, I can't believe someone from the ST John trippie is here- I'm very excited to have you back!!

Ellen, I am here too. At least I know how to sign on here!

Great start! First class , pitstop

OMG, AKV looks devine! I guess I need to save a little more and stay there some time in the future!

Can't wait for more!

Hi Karin! I think there's a learning curve with FB- you'll get it eventually!

AKV IS devine- I bet they have the same deals through your TA that they had for OKW there. I am very glad we have points there, I feel very comfortable and relaxed there- it's beautiful!

Gawd, I heart AKV. I am so in.

Hi! I heart AKV, too- I am right there with ya. And all the restaurants are excellent- we ate at both Sanaa & Jiko this trip....YUMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Subbing to hopefully be on Page 1!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, ROSIE!!! Of course you're on page 1!!!

 

[podsnel]

Wow, AKL Concierge is my dream stay. I can't wait to see more pics.

Well, it is a good dream to have that I hope you get to realize one day. It is magical up there on that top floor, so nice to be pampered and taken care of every day. Thanks for reading & posting!

All caught up!!!I didn't see a pix of the DOGHOUSE where Pods was staying !!!!!!

That was HILARIOUS Rosie!! Unfortunately, they wouldn't let me take photos of the backstage area where the caveman hipster doofus cages are kept!

Nice to meet you, I can't wait to hear more. Sounds like a good time was had by all.

Hi dahall! Nice to meet you, too! It was definitely a good time- looking forward to reliving it with all of you!

First Sherpa Mary Ellen...now it is Sherpa Pods
And he didn't even have to be a Sherpa if he had listened to you in the first place!! Hopefully you didn't have to wait TOO long for the next bus after the one you should have been on left

I sooooo have to stay concierge at AKV.....I think I would actually prefer to have pool view because I have heard that when you are up that high the savanna view isn't really the best

I can't wait to be back in the ditch
I can hear it calling to me and its getting louder and louder!!

Tracy

Sherpas are sooooo funny. There were a TON of sherpas on our flight home- one of the side effects of $25 a bag checked luggage. We would have checked it all- but only had the 2 DME tags- we get 1 free each because we use the Continental credit card, and then we would have gotten another free one in First class. Oh well...

And actually, we almost didn't get on the second DME bus- the guy who sat us on the bench (no doubt to punish us for peeing in the airport) forgot all about us and boarded everyone else ahead of us. Bad, BAD CM!!

I definitely like the pool view over the savannah view in concierge- it's so high up, but the savannah you look at is not the greatest, it's kind of tucked away, unlike the wide expanses of savannah elsewhere. And you CAN see loads of animals everywhere around the resort, places i never even thought of before-

I'm in

I'm so glad! Welcome!!!

how popular you are! I love the car service idea and I bet that Pods does now too....lol. My car service consists of my parents driving us to the airport. I hope to sneak away to the ditch while there but we will see. Can't wait to hear about this one. already laughing so much.

Thanks- it's very motivating to have people want to read my Tr! We ALWAYS get car service- the only time we haven't is for 3 or 4 night trips, because then it IS less expensive to park, AND you don't haul a ton of stuff for a short trip. But I think I've made my point with him. He was probably thinking of what it costs for the whole family to go- we need to get a Van or stretch, and that IS more $$. We only live 20 minutes away (especially at 6 am), how much $$ could it be?

Oh- and don't think because we are 20 minutes from the airport that our neighborhood is anything like that- NJ has many beautiful areas, and we are fortunate to live in one of them.

 

[anewmac]

ugg as always im late to the party LOL.

 

[podsnel]

ugg as always im late to the party LOL.

Don't be tardy to the party....Oh woh oh oh woh oh.....don't be tardy to the party....

 

[lshaw6]

Happened to catch your name when I searched new posts!! I'll be following along, I LOVE your TR's! So happy for Sean, sounds like he is doing wonderful! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

 

[englishrose47]

Okay ready for more of the TR !!Will there be Monkey kissing ?????

 

[knewton64]

Okay ready for more of the TR !!Will there be Monkey kissing ?????

.....we want a-l-l the details.



Glad u r back with more zany & wacky Disney adventures. Can't wait 2 hear more.


T.T.F.N.

 

[Rozz]

This sounds too good to miss; "...a trip for grown-ups that involves all the things you really can't or shouldn't do with your kids in the most magical place on earth....well....you're in the right place, baby!!"

Can't wait!

 

[Missyrose]

I'm in, can't wait to hear more! That room looks great

 

[podsnel]

Happened to catch your name when I searched new posts!! I'll be following along, I LOVE your TR's! So happy for Sean, sounds like he is doing wonderful! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

Hi Lisa!! Yay, I'm so happy you found me! Thanks for the kind words for Sean- he has been doing well. He has been very sweet since we got home from this last trip- he keeps asking me to watch tv with him and then tell "jokes". Apparently he finds me amusing.

Okay ready for more of the TR !!Will there be Monkey kissing ?????

Well, what do YOU think?

.....we want a-l-l the details.



Glad u r back with more zany & wacky Disney adventures. Can't wait 2 hear more.


T.T.F.N.

Yes, here we go again- watch out- you're going to be a part of the NEXT crazy adventures I'm on...

This sounds too good to miss; "...a trip for grown-ups that involves all the things you really can't or shouldn't do with your kids in the most magical place on earth....well....you're in the right place, baby!!"

Can't wait!

Hi there!! Thanks so much for appreciating my summary!! I'm really glad you're coming along for the ride!

Ok- Pods & the boys just left to shoot hoops at church, so I have a little time to myself....back with an update soon!

 

[nrod]

Hi Ellen!

Glad you've started your trip report already. Sorry we didn't get to meet at Disney. I didn't make it into the Ditch, but did manage to make it to the Margarita stand. We were lucky enough that my boys really enjoyed EPCOT this trip and made it there twice! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[podsnel]

We hopped on the Epcot bus (which came pretty quickly) and it IMMEDIATELY began to POUR. Uh-oh. I've been on this vacation before... Well, we hoped for the best, and were lucky that the rain ended just as we pulled into EPCOT. Of course, I made Pods pose in front of SE, because you can never have enough photos of THAT! Or so HE says-

First things first- we had to stop at Guest Services to renew my TIW card. But how long could THAT take?? Here's what was available for dining that day- I think at about 2:00-

We were called quickly, and then it was time to make a new card. So, we waited...

And we waited....

And we waited....

Every so often the CM would poke her head out and say it was taking a really long time- there was something wrong with the computer.

Hmmmmm....gee.....I've never heard THAT before at WDW! Unless of course you count an hour ago when we were told the exact same thing as they were printing up our gold room keys. Oh well...it took so long, we were just laughing and laughing- I mean, you can produce FANTASMIC, Turtle Talk and Soarin, but room keys and TIW cards???? Not so much. Finally, maybe 1/2 an hour later, she was done. And for our troubles, we got FPs to Soarin. That's worth 1/2 an hour anyday in my book!

As soon as we had what we came for (and then some) we were off to WDW's BEST attraction (IMHO)...La Cava del Tequila, affectionately known to us all as The Ditch! And I wasn't walking...I was RUNNING! See?

I had spent just a little time here a few months ago with a bunch of girlfriends- you might now them as DISmoms, I know them as a bunch of rowdies who go crazy when they are let out of their cages every year in the month of May for 5 days. Anywho...The Ditch is our favorite place to be- but DH? Well, this would be his first visit. I was VERY excited to visit Mexico with my hubby and show him the ropes! First- time to order a Jalepeno Rita. But, wait! What's this? There's a NEW Rita to sample? HABANERO you say? Hmmm....is it too hot? Well, not according to the guy at the bar next to me- or to today's bartender who gave me a little sample to try (a GREAT thing in the Ditch- they are always givin out samples- and me likey samples!). Tasted really great- then I said, "I like it SPICY!!!" Oops. So mine was...ON FIRE!!!

Pods had a sip, a teeny tiny sip, and his lips were stinging for the next 30 minutes (at least- he let me know more than once...really, he mentioned it about every 30 seconds for about an hour, he is such a man. ). Really, he just can't do spicy food- but me? I'm good with that! Although I don't think I could have more than one of these, it was a challenge. Pods got a cucumber Rita, and we ordered shrimp ceviche (which is now called shrimp cocktail on the menu) and crab tostadas...YUMMM...I took a picture of everything, because I've never done that before.....

It was soooo good...that our friendly bartender asked us if we'd like some more, and then he put THIS down in front of us-

I LOVE Mexican samples!!! They rock!!

Meanwhile, I made some new friends at the bar (you know- for something different 'cuz I NEVER talk to strangers!)

Ginny ( named after a DRINK, can you imagine???) and her hubby Bob (who also had a Habanero Rita under his belt) were very nice and lots of fun. And BIG Disney fans...and lurkers on the DIS. So If you're reading....I hope you pony up and say hello, Pittsburgh people! Pods was ready for another, this time he tried Pineapple-

And he enjoyed this one, too. Which is a HUGE BIG deal- because Pods HATES tequila! (I know- the words just sound awful together, don't they?) But he was truly enjoying the Ritas! It was a Festivus miracle!!!! It was also because this guy-

made them soooo well. Bulmaro (yea- that's right- it's a name he shares with his Dad and no one else from Mexico), also known as Junior, was wonderful, he even topped off my spicy hot Rita with more mix to tone it down after a while. LOVE that place!!

Meanwhile, as we were having a festive afternoon in the Ditch, we were also waiting for someone....our friends, Lonnie & Mike, were supposed to be here any minute....an hour ago. Hmmm...I wonder where they could be????? I wonder what they could be doing???? Hmmm.....well, after being in there for an hour or two, we decided we HAD to take a break- or else we were going to need a stretcher to get us out! So....we said "seeyarealsoon!" to Junior,(mostly because it was getting real hard to read Bulmaro on that nametag of his) and headed out to the park. We passed the new CS in Mexico-

Which we thought looked very pretty, and decided to go on a ride. How 'bout Spaceship Earth? That had no wait, so that looked great to us!

I think this is the crackerjack team in charge of room keys and TIW cards-

Ooohhhhh....

Aaaahhhhhh....

Cont'd next post-

 

[podsnel]

My friend, nikkiloveswdw, inspired me to act stupid on several occasions on my trip, and this was one of them-

Pods said, "you've got a BIG problem."

I said,

We got a text from Lonnie that they were almost to the Ditch, so we headed back over. And when we got there....they were not there. So...we ordered a couple beers...and FINALLY look who came in!

Lonnie is my longtime friend, from college, a very, very loooooong time ago. She and her DH, Mike, live about 2 hours from WDW, so it's always GREAT when they can meet us for some fun in Florida (last year we all spent the weekend together at Vero Beach). Lonnie was my MOH, and I was her's. Here's a pic I scanned from my wedding day in 1986 as she was helping me get ready-

The girl standing behind her is my dear friend, Clare- also from college, she is like my big sister, and we got ready at her house. And my Flower girl, Holly? She's getting married in less than two weeks! Anywho.....

Lonnie got a Jalepeno Rita-

And Mikey ordered a beer. Apparently, they were parched and STARVING from some sort of strenuous activity they had just participated in. Hmmmmmmmmmm..... they ordered some Taquitos and crab tostadas-

Oops! We ate them too fast!

We all had a great time, I am happy to say, and even took a pic before we had all the Ritas put in to-go cups for touring purposes-

This was a special night, because even though Mike GREW UP IN FLORIDA AND LIVES TWO HOURS AWAY......he had never been to Epcot before. I KNOW!!!! Hard to believe these people exist, but he is living proof not everyone's life revolves around WDW. We stopped to see Off Kilter, they were just coming out-

And watched them drawing hopscotch

And although I was tempted to get in line and play, I didn't quite have the nerve, NIKKI!!!

We went to France, OOhlala

And Lonnie & I decided to go to the wine shop, while Pods & Mike went on in search of beer. Key words in our sentence being WINE and SHOP. Key word in theirs? BEER.

Up next...where is all the wine on the Wine Walk in Epcot?

 

[rentayenta]

This report is making want to take a trip with just DH and drink around the World. What is the real name of The Ditch? I must find said place next trip.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Ahhhh! I LOVE getting shout-outs on other people's TRs!

So glad I could inspire various acts stupidity throughout your trip but let's be honest, PODS, whose picture did you have more fun looking at on SE, yours or his?

Hopscotch is ONLY to be enjoyed after a few drinks so you were in perfect condition for a little hopping!! Although, I don't like the looks of all those people lined up on the street! I probably wouldn't have done it if people were sitting around watching and there were kids in line!

How were the taquitos? We've only ever gotten the guac and chips.

I LOVE that picture of you and Lonnie from your wedding. So you're celebrating your 25th next year?! Any big plans?

 

[mckryan]

This report is making want to take a trip with just DH and drink around the World. What is the real name of The Ditch? I must find said place next trip.

La Cava del Tequila inside the Mexico pavilion. Go in and head right! The best margaritas EVER!!

 

[anewmac]

you sure you took pics this time at the Ditch? cuz umm they look the same as Dismoms trip LMAO. Makes me thirsty and hungry though.

Oh and tell Pods. Im with him im a big wuss when it comes to hot stuff! (Except E that is LMAO)

 

[Mysteria]

Yay, another TR!!

So I guess you don't want to know you can park a few minutes from Newark airport for $8 a day (Think we paid $6.50 with coupon). Guarded lot too. Be dropped off and picked up at the door, so to speak, and come home to a freshly washed car?! Don't remember the name off the top of my head but I'll find it for you.

I love, love, love AKL and the rooms. So jealous. Your view is also fantastic. I will get to stay there one day!

You guys are so awesome to laugh off such a crazy wait for your TIW card. You must have the patience of a saint!

Habenero margarita!! You're a brave woman.

So happy to hear Sean is doing so well!!

 

[knewton64]

Ahhhh! I LOVE getting shout-outs on other people's TRs!

So glad I could inspire various acts stupidity throughout your trip but let's be honest, PODS, whose picture did you have more fun looking at on SE, yours or his?

Hopscotch is ONLY to be enjoyed after a few drinks so you were in perfect condition for a little hopping!! Although, I don't like the looks of all those people lined up on the street! I probably wouldn't have done it if people were sitting around watching and there were kids in line!

How were the taquitos? We've only ever gotten the guac and chips.

I LOVE that picture of you and Lonnie from your wedding. So you're celebrating your 25th next year?! Any big plans?

NEW RULE!
RE: HOPSCOTCH
"Hopscotch is ONLY to be enjoyed after a few drinks....at Epcot F&W festival."


Tho I do add dem Jalapeno Rita's have my curiosity up a wee bit! I am going to have to try a 'few" in a few more days as I have never visited in depth any of Epcot's pavilions before.
Sounds like fun



T.T.F.N.