Poop Bandits & Lizard Porn! Our May '09 Adventure!!! New Poll: Where to stay next??

[longing2Batdisney]

WOW! great pictures of EVERYTHING!!! we keep missing the Rhinos and we have yet to see Miss Devine! great seats for the Nemo show...
and first you added Tutto to my list now Jiko's in on it...
we have NEVER done the food thing (being from New Orleans--just doesn't seem appealing) but, your descriptions and pictures have helped to change that

hope you're feeling well and everything is still going great!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Yay for great Baby news!!!! And great AK day update!!!! We were probably at EE right after you, it seems about the right time. Right when EMH started we were in Dinoland, we rode Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl and Triceratop spin then went to EE!!! Emily loved it, I on the other hand am not a big fan. I was scared

 

[Disneymoon09]

Love Love Love this TR!!! Congrats on the baby! My DF and I are going to start trying on our Disneymoon (haha sorry if thats TMI). I love reading about all the food you enjoyed, it has made my ADR choices a little easier! Cant wait to hear more!

 

[my2disneyboys]

hmmmmm I had just taken JIKO off my list for our trip next August... and now I am thinking of adding it back in. (I had such a bad experience at Boma- I was thinking this time, not even going to AKL!) Did you go there right from the park? We did that when we went to Boma and I think that was part of the problem- I was so hot and tired- and didnt feel like dealing with the long lines at the buffet... I was actually looking at Jiko that night and it looked so quiet and inviting... so not like the loud/lines and tons of people at Boma! - So... lucky you!!!

We also didnt get to do Finding Nemo- I think maybe a "Must do" on the next trip. How do you get the VIP seating? Is it by having lunch at Tusker House only?

Love the pics! Especially the one of Emily all snuggled into Mike - you can tell she loves her Daddy!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Looks like you had a great day at the Animal Kingdom. What better way to end a hot sweaty day than with a great meal. I've never considered Jiko but I may just have to look into a meal there.

 

[MrsSpratt]

I just love your writing style and your sense of humour, and it doesn't hurt that I am researching a trip for my 2.5 year old niece who is going with her Daddy and 10 week pregnant Mommy...you are such a huge help describing what your DD enjoyed - she is just precious. Thank you!

Auntie Spratt

 

[racefanof88]

I love your updates Wendy . I miss my May friends . The food at Jiko looked good but it isn't my choice of food. I am not crazy about fish. Now I do love raw oysters though yummmmmmmmmm. I have chosen Narcoossee's on your recommendation for out siggie. I think it looks sooooooooo good.

 

[mom2mek]

Great updates! It seems we were following sort of right behind you that night. We were at AK, rode Safari around 4:30, then FOTLK, Everest, Dinosaur, then went over to AKL for late dinner at Boma! Too funny!

Great pics and I love your descriptions on the food - looks fabulous - especially dessert - I love creme brulee and bread pudding...that would be a tough choice for me!

Upgrade? Woo-hoo!!! Wait a minute...you are already on lagoon side, right? Ooo....I know! I know!! Don't leave us hanging too long!!!

Sara

 

[ladybugmom]

LOVE your updates!! How cool that you ran into Devine! I saw her several years ago at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Your food pics are making me hungry! Can't wait to read more!

 

[MagicShell]

I enjoyed your update. I really liked Nemo as well.

 

[bertegirl]

Hey no worries. I am not sure which of us screamed louder. The heartbeat...awe. Nothing sounds so sweet. I am so behind on my reading, but I had to catch up on yours first. Jenny was asking for more photos of Emily!!! Can't wait to see how your trip ends.

 

[wlwilliams9]

Thursday, May 14th

Alrighty then, on this morning, the b4g3 part of the vacation was ending and we had to check back in for our room only reservation. I headed to the Grand Ceremonial House about 8:30am thinking I was just going to check back in and get the same room we were in. That was the plan anyway!! However, the nice CM that was helping me said, "Oh, you've been upgraded to the Hawaii bldg." My eyes widened and I exclaimed, "Concierge!?!" She said, "Yes, concierge, lagoon view room on the second floor" I was torn at this point because... 1) 2nd floor Hawaii rooms don't have balconies, 2) We would have to pack up our stuff and move rooms and 3) We had a 10:20am ADR at CRT and we could not miss that unless we wanted to be charged.....BUT IT WAS CONCIERGE!!! So I called Mike and asked him what he thought. He was all over the concierge idea so I explained to the CM that there was no way we could move before our ressie so she gave us a late check-out for 1pm! YAY!! I headed back to the room and we started packing, well, it was more like throwing anything in any bag it would fit in!! We got everything stuffed into our bags and headed to the MK for our breakfast with Cinderella. This was turning out to ba a very magical day indeed!

We arrived just in time for our ADR and we were ushered right into the castle to meet Cinderella:

Emily was then given her magic wand and we headed up the royal staircase to be seated! We got a great royal table near the royal windows! Everything was "Royal" at the castle! You'll have to forgive the pics though, in all of the crazy packing we did, we accidentally packed up the cameras and left them in the room so our CRT pics are from Mike's phone!

Royal staircase:

Royal ceiling:

Royal Windows:

Royal patrons:

We forgot to take pics of our food, I know, shame on us!! Our Royal waiter brought over a delicious fruit bowl, a family style platter of the usuals, eggs, breakfast meats, pastries, etc and Emily was served french toast sticks! We ate our delicious bfast as the princesses came around. We saw:

Belle left a kiss mark on her forehead:

Our breakfast at CRT was yummy, but definitely not as good as Crystal Palace. However, it was the best princess meal we had and we would not hesitate to eat at Cinderella's Royal Table again. I mean, it is the castle after all!! The food was fresh and the service was outstanding! My only complaint...the Cinderella that was there that day looked sort of...um...manly!! Mike and I kept saying, "She's a man, man!" In our best Austin Powers accent!! Anyway, we give CRT

Con't in next post....

 

[wlwilliams9]

After filling our bellies yet again, we headed back to the Poly and called Bell Services to come and get our bags. We headed to Hawaii and had to use our new YELLOW KTTK cards to get into the bldg!

We got to our room and our bags arrived right behind us. This is what we saw:

It was a great view, BUT MK was blocked by a couple of palm trees and we didn't have a balcony which was really a bummer. We headed to the concierge lounge to check it out and had a few snacks. They had pita bread and hummus, chips, salsa, soda, pretzels, and various other snacks. There is a great view of the castle and a TV playing Disney Channel for the kiddos. Still bumming about the no balcony and lack of view, I went back to the room and called concierge. I explained how we had originally upgraded to MK view and now we had lost that view. The CM was very kind and said, "Let me look to see if we have a MK view available for your stay, let me call you right back!" I said, alrighty and waited! Amber (the CM) called back immediatly and informed me that there was a MK view room on the 3rd floor (BALCONY) that we could move to. She had already sent bell services up! WOO HOO!! I went back to the concierge lounge to get Mike and Emily and when I got on the elevator to go to the 3rd floor, Mike was like, "Where are you going, we're on this floor!" I said, smiling ear to ear, "Not anymore!!" He was geeked and we went to our new MK CL room! WoW, this room had a view!!

After enjoying our spectacular room, we headed back to the MK for some more fun even though it started to sprinkle again!

After another fun evening at the MK, we headed back to the Poly for some concierge delights. When we walked into the room, we had been turned down!!

Chocolate mints and everything!

So there you have it! The wonderful upgrade to concierge! Honestly, CL was nice, escpecially because we were no longer on the DxDP, but I definitely wouldn't pay the extra $$$ for it!



Up next: More Epcot fun and Mike drinks around the WS!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Oh! wow !! how magical is that... LOVE the view--when I showed Danny & Dayne the castle view Dayne looked at Danny and said I'll sleep on the floor if you get a room w/a view like that--LOL!!!
great picture of Emily and Mike having "tea"...

 

[bertegirl]

Ok the view is like something out of a story book. Wow! I mean we paid for Savannah view and got a parking to begin with...Jenny is going to be so jealous when I tell her Jasmine was at your CRT. She never came to ours and that was the one princess Jenny really wanted to meet. Loved the tea party. Only Disney can still be fun in the pouring rain!

 

[khertz]

What an awesome surprise! I'm glad everything worked out so you could enjoy your CRT breakfast, AND upgraded room, AND MK view!! That's definitely a magical day!

 

[mickeystoontown]

What a fantastic view! Gorgeous!

I love the picture of your husband and daughter at the little table. That's sooo sweet.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Wow! What a view! I want to stay at Poly someday with that kind of view.

 

[BridetobeDisney]

I'm all caught up! Wow that view is amazing. It's awesome that you got upgraded. I was wondering if CL was worth it. It would definitely be nice if you didn't have the DDP.

Aww the heartbeat! I can't wait to hear what you are having. Are you going to find out or have it be a surprise? If you find out will you tell us please?!

I just love the pics of Emily. She's so cute!

 

[mom2mek]

Fabulous update! Wow! Color me jealous!!! Fabulous view!

I was thinking that Cindy seemed a little "off" appearance wise! Sometimes Disney casting nails it, sometimes....eh....not so much!

Sara