Ready, Set, Let the Games Begin! - Link to new PTR/TR!

[Luvchefmic]

Between your pictures of VWL and another Dissers thread I follow I would stay there in a heart beat She also raved about the food at Artist Pointe...my wish list is ever growing

 

[lisaviolet]

Oh Alison. I'm going to have a rum and coke tonight and wiggle my nose and see what happens.

Think good thoughts.

Hope you're all having a lovely, lovely time.

 

[franandaj]

A Monsters U wake up call?! Can life seriously get any better right now?!

Just as I asked about the transportation, I read about your boat ordeal Great idea to stop by the concierge desk to have them call for you

I hope that you set one up for you guys for tomorrow morning! So glad you made it by tonight even if it was really late!

You are getting me so excited about our trip with all of those fantastic pictures. That is the hotel we are staying at.

I was wondering how you were getting so much done with PIO and Bret in such great timing. It makes sense that it was not leisurely. You must have handled everything really well, because your writing made it all seem smooth even with the scooter issues. I am full out commando, so I drag Crap and the boys along.

I'm sure you will love WL, we do!

If we don't go back to the room mid day for a nap, the trip is not leisurely! Anything that goes from open to close no matter how slowly we get from ride to ride is considered commando! Normally we get back to the room for at least an hours nap!

Loved it, Alison. Thank you for updating us. I enjoyed the walk from your door to the dock to the bus stop. Sorry it had to be that way but loved the photo walk.

Hope the rest of the day was wonderful.

I'm glad we took the walk too since we never got back that way again on the trip!

More great photos from the WL. It would be nice one day to stay onsite but that will be along time until I stay onsite at WDW.

Out of the GCV at the DLR and VWL at WDW, which one did you like the best?

I would have to say that I will always choose the VGC. It is by far my most favorite resort, sort of because it totally feels like home when we are there also because the one bedroom villas are so spacious and have two bathroom!

I've been trying to catch up for probably two days, but each time I've come back to read there's been another update

What a pain with all the scooter problems. And doubly frustrating how it made things at the airport.

Those fish and chips at the UVA bar look fabulous!!!

I'm surprised not all the boats are equipped for HA.

Your day with PIO and family sounded intense! I'll admit I got a chuckle out of how much shopping Fran was still able to do though. She made good use of her time!

Bonus that the lava cake wasn't discontinued like previously thought.

Then I'm probably going to throw you yet again! I know re the shopping Fran did, I'm not sure how she snuck it in, but when we checked out, the evidence was overwhelming!

That cake was awesome, but not sure I'll get a chance to eat it again. Too many foods, so little time (and appetite!)

 

[franandaj]

Alison, I started your TR so late, but I've finally caught up.

I'm glad you made it over here. I hope you joined in where the TR started and didn't read along from the beginning!

On my way to Disney for our meetup. Hooray!!!!

Yay! It was so much fun! Glad we got to meet!

I am leaving now too. Stopping at ESPN for runner packet pickup. Then to resort. Might head to MK for a couple of hours before the cruise.

Looking foward to meeting everyone tonight

I'm so glad you made it last night too!

Breakfast and Pooh always go together.

Great shots of the VWL. It's very peaceful. Looks like a more woodsy, and dated, GCV. Love to try it one day.

Glad you were able to make the soda swap with We Go Shop. May have to try them on our next trip.

Breakfast and Pooh, yes, breakfast and Poo, well that's another story!

The VWL are definitely dated, but that is part of their charm. We Go shop rocked, I will use them again.

Sitting at Saratoga waiting for my room. Been here since 2 and hoping it is soon so I can rest a bit

I'm sorry it took so long!

Glad you are all up here See you real soon

Yup, we did all see each other, and what fun it was!

From tonight's cruise.

Nice pic but who is who?? lol

Left to Right:

Pio, Pio DS, Behind them. Pio DH and then I presume Ed ( as we try & try to meet and it hasn't happened yet so its a guess ) back to front Fran, Alison, Bobbi, her sister Nancy, Tiffany ? and her DH ?

Missing ? the rest of US

Thanks for the pic Ed, and thanks for the play by play Ruthie!

 

[dgbg100106]

The group picture is just lovely... I so wish we were there with you all... I feel so left out!

I know you all had a wonderful time. How was the cruise?

 

[franandaj]

Between your pictures of VWL and another Dissers thread I follow I would stay there in a heart beat She also raved about the food at Artist Pointe...my wish list is ever growing

We'll make sure you stay there at least once!

The group picture is just lovely... I so wish we were there with you all... I feel so left out!

I know you all had a wonderful time. How was the cruise?

It was a great time, the cruise was awesome. Totally unexpected stuff in addition to what we expected. It was way more than I dreamed and the fireworks were awesome too!

 

[franandaj]

So we got ourselves loaded up on the bus. I had forgot how it worked when one person was on a scooter and one was not, so I didn’t load the bus when Fran did. I could see her talking to the bus driver, but didn’t know what she said. Then everyone else got on and me, and we sat down. As we pulled out of the WL, the driver said, “”Those who were asking about the Grand Floridian, I just got my next assignment and after I drop off at the MK, it’s back to the WL and on to the GF.”

I asked, “so is that quicker than taking the Monorail from the MK?” and he told me that it definitely was. When we got to the MK, he came back to unload Fran’s scooter, and she told him that we were going to the GF.

“If I had known that, I would have gone directly over there.” I guess Fran wasn’t “those who were asking about the GF”, it was the other group of people on our bus. (There was only us and another group of about six). So back to the WL and on to GF we headed!

When we arrived we were unloaded and went right inside. I never tire of these classic vehicles that they have parked out front.



So we went on in….







They had Fran park her scooter outside in a courtyard and we had never been out here before. Love the Mary Poppins topiary!



The room was pretty busy and noisy.



So if you remember, the day before (wow was it only a day ago?) Fran said that we would rent a scooter so that I didn’t have to walk. The day before I was saying that we could wait until we got to the Beach Club, I really wouldn’t be walking that much….however, as we were on the little walk that we took (in the last post), my tendon in my left foot started to hurt really bad. I didn’t say anything, but I was thinking “maybe I won’t make it to the Beach Club.”

So once we got seated, Fran immediately went to work on finding a scooter. Actually she had been searching on her phone while we were on the bus. She had already picked out a company, so she started calling them as soon as we were seated. Since she was on the phone, I had to take this selfie with Mary Poppins.



Pretty soon Fran was off the phone with the scooter company and it turned out they could have one to us that morning. Luckily she was off the phone in time to participate in all these other photos because I didn’t pay $25+pp to take selfies with all the characters!!!

]









Then it was time to hit the buffet. Pretty much the same as I remembered it in January.




























[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

Normally I don’t go for eggs on a buffet, but these were cooked so wonderfully I couldn’t resist! They were perfectly undercooked for me. And I obviously got some Mickey waffles.



Here is Fran’s plate



I got a bowl of strawberry soup.



Fran got another plate.



This was my last plate.



And hers



The Mad Hatter stopped by since we missed him before. I was impressed that he remembered!





At that point we got a call from the scooter company that they were about to deliver the scooter to the VWL and that we had to be there to pick it up. They couldn’t leave it with Bell Services…so they rerouted the driver to the GF where we were!

With both of us scootered up, we decided to head over the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Luvchefmic]

thank you for what you said about WL so sweet & we will talk more about that

Love your pictures I haven't eaten at 1900 for breakfast in a very long time, had dinner there on my birthday in Sept and it was fabulous ! I'll be posting that soon

You know no matter how I try I just can't get the selfie pictures down guess I better practice you look great So wonderful that the scooter guy diverted over to you, what a time saver !

 

[ACDSNY]

Great pics of your 1900 breakfast. That's wonderful you were able to get a scooter so quick, I'm looking forward to your next update.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I got to see your group picture on the Old Fogies thread yesterday and it was a great group photo.

That is great news to hear that you are able to get a scooter during your trip without renting one at the parks. I remember during my WDW last year in October/November that my family got a scooter & ECV and it took us awhile to sign the waiver of using the ECV. It did took part of our time when we are at the park.

Very nice photos from the GF and breakfast from 1900. I will look forward to your next update.

 

[Linda67]

Looks like a fun time at 1900 PF
Must get myself over there at some point, if only to try the strawberry soup !

 

[kmedina]

Breakfast looks fantastic. I love all of the character pictures (even the selfies). Mostly, I think it is sweet that Fran arranged the scooter for you before you even mentioned your pain. You did the same for her by automatically giving her the one working scooter. The love you two share is awesome.

 

[TifffanyD]

Mmmmmm strawberry soup. Haven't had that in so long. Have had DCL's version but it's not the same.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Good Morning Tiffany Just wanted to say Hi to you and Matt So very nice to meet you yesterday ! When are you heading home ? Hope to talk to you soon,

Ruthie

 

[TifffanyD]

Good Morning Tiffany Just wanted to say Hi to you and Matt So very nice to meet you yesterday ! When are you heading home ? Hope to talk to you soon, Ruthie

It was great meeting you too! We will head home today. Not sure if/what we will do first. Was thinking bowling but still sick so might skip

 

[dgbg100106]

We'll make sure you stay there at least once!



It was a great time, the cruise was awesome. Totally unexpected stuff in addition to what we expected. It was way more than I dreamed and the fireworks were awesome too!

That is so amazing!

That is wonderful that it was MORE than expected!

 

[dgbg100106]

Breakfast looks awesome.... Do you find the character breakfasts crowded? There has to be a ton of children?

How loud does it get? David is a little hard of hearing and the loud crowd noises get to him sometimes.

 

[John's Mom]

Alison, I had to start the TR from the beginning. Didn't want to miss anything, especially the food porn.

I've been meaning to tell you that Fran looks so much like my husband's aunt (of course, when she was much younger). Every time I see Fran's picture, I think fondly of Aunt Helen.

 

[dolphingirl47]

That breakfast looks amazing and strawberry soup for breakfast is just my idea of heaven. That was a bit of good luck that the bus took you right to the Grand Floridian and that you had the scooter before you left the hotel.

Corinna