Resort Split Stay with MNSSHP (Aug 2025 AKL/SSR)

[Nicnicnic.nic]

And then we were off to the community hall to play with toys there and some games and coloring.







DS3 LOVES the game don't break the ice.



We all colored something for DH since the next day was his bday. We had exchanged gifts before leaving due to the limited space in the car.

Then more arcade time.



And then we found Timon in the lobby! They move him everyday and if you find him you get a button and each additional time you get a sticker to add to the button



And then it was bedtime

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Ooo I forgot to add that DH had gone to the Jambo side that night while we were at the outlets and got me and him the beef bowl to eat back in the room and it was good! He says it wasn't as good as June but I thought it was just as good

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Tuesday

I must have got up and got some coffee from the lobby or something because I have these nice pictures of the lobby





And we ate breakfast in the room and gave DH his bday coloring pages and had 2-3 hours of pool time. DS3 was still obsessed with "the big slide" and DD6 still enjoyed her little bouts of independence. At one point DD6 wanted to teach DS3 how to swim it was pretty cute and it was the first time I didn't hold him in the pool. He had a life jacket on of course but she kept trying to tell him how to kick and use him arms. Then we went back to the room for baths

DD6 wanted to go to a different hotel for lunch (and get surprise cheesecake for DH) so that was the plan next. DH was working during the day but we were going to hang out after 5pm

We drove to pop because I heard they had cheesecake and i thought anyone could park at value resorts. I was wrong.

So then I drove to Hollywood studios since I knew I was allowed to park there but the kids fell asleep on the way.



And then I fell asleep after parking. But then a very nice woman knocked on our window because she was worried we were dead or dying. And we all woke up groggy and grumpy

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

DD6 wanted pasta for lunch so we took the tram to the front of HS and then took the skyliner to Riviera for primo piatto. IT WAS SO HOT











I brought my lunchbox with an ice pack inside to save the cheesecake from the heat. I mobile ordered our food. DD6 enjoyed her pasta and I got a kids meal of shrimp that I really enjoyed. DS3 did not want to eat his pizza so I ate his and he ate fries and mandarin oranges. I think mostly he was feeling grumpy from being woken from his nap and the heat



Then we walked around the hotel a little and DD6 got a pressed penny and pin traded in the community hall and looked at all the cool posters. Her mind was kind of blown that they weren't in English





And then it started to rain so I told the kids we had to rush back to the skyliner before the lightening comes and it shuts down. But lightening never came and the rain stopped when we got off the skyliner. We got pretty wet but it felt good because it was so hot



The kids definitely liked getting to ride the skyliner

 

[AngusIsMySpiritAnimal]

For is it was totally worth it but I wouldn't do it if it wasn't hot enough to be in the pool because we had a lot of pool and water park time. Also I was worried the kids would be sad we were at Disney but only doing rides one night but that didn't come up at all but then again they are young

All very good points! My kids are a bit older, but knowing we'll be back at Xmas might help. We are staying at the Swan which has a pretty cool pool ... not to mention the new bowling alley / arcade at the Dolphin ... my DS will likely ask if we HAVE to leave the hotel to go to the parks...

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

All very good points! My kids are a bit older, but knowing we'll be back at Xmas might help. We are staying at the Swan which has a pretty cool pool ... not to mention the new bowling alley / arcade at the Dolphin ... my DS will likely ask if we HAVE to leave the hotel to go to the parks...

Oooo I didn't know there was a bowling alley there

 

[Simba's Mom]

I didn't know there was a community hall in Riviera and with pin trading there. Is it on the same floor as Primo Piatto?

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

I didn't know there was a community hall in Riviera and with pin trading there. Is it on the same floor as Primo Piatto?

Yes if you're coming from primo it's on the right, right before the stairs. Looked like a lot of painting activities offered there

My daughter did say it looked too fancy and not like a community hall

 

[AngusIsMySpiritAnimal]

Oooo I didn't know there was a bowling alley there

Brand new! It's called Lagoon. Just opened in May apparently. A good addition to the Boardwalk for sure.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Then some arcade time before it was time for DH to meet up with us

DD6 also got her pin for finding Timon the previous day





DH met us in the arcade. We were planning to get take out Sanaa for his bday dinner. We have never eaten there. But he said he was ok waiting a little be the kids wanted to go to the community hall.

DD6 painted while DH and DS3 played and went on the balcony to look at animals. I don't think I have a picture of it but the entire length of the community hall is connected to a balcony you can walk out onto for animal viewing which is really nice.







Then we played some foosball and brought our new bowl back to the room

On the way to our room we found Timon!



So then we went back to the community hall to get a sticker



And during DH's work day he said he found a hidden Mickey inside some art in our room



Im like 80% sure this is a hidden Mickey. DH was very proud of finding his first hidden Mickey. He's not a Disney person...but I think maybe it's growing on him if he's finding hidden Mickey while alone now

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Then I mobile ordered our Sanaa dinner to go. And our room was so close I was able to say "I'm here" from our room.



DH got some type of beef curry with kidney beans and rice. I got the vegetable curry. We shared the bread service.





I had watched a vlog that said the dips for the bread service went from mild to spicy so we had fun trying to put them all in order.

We thought the bread service was a little over hyped but we both liked it. And it was like a fun activity to guess the dips.

Then we have DH his cheesecake from primo piatto which he liked but said it was missing crust. He was very happy for surprise cheesecake because it's his favorite and I usually bake it for him for his bday

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Then we headed to the arcade again because DD6 wanted DH to play the Star wars game since it was his bday and she knew he likes star wars.



But on the way we stopped by the gift shop to fill up our mugs and DH asked what DVC merch I wanted....he knew I wanted some type of DVC merch because I'm new and haven't bought anything yet

And I showed him and then he bought it for me





Finally it was time for bed

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Wednesday

We were switching to Saratoga Springs today so I woke up early to do laundry. I only packed us each 5 days worth of clothes since we were packing light.



The laundry room was super empty. The lobby pretty much was too.

I took a picture of our bathroom since we were leaving and I hadn't yet and I had REALLY liked our bathroom. I like the dark colors



Once we were all packed up I called bell services to take our bags. I was excited to try the luggage transfer. I had not done it before.

Then DH headed to the library to work and the kids and I headed to the car to first drop off our one bag of cold groceries off at SSR bell services and then off to blizzard beach. I had planned a split stay on purpose so that we would get 2 free water park days.

But on the way to SSR I got a text that our room was ready at SSR. It was like 1030am!

So I called DH and asked him if he wanted me to drop him off at our new room and he was like yeah of course.

So I back tracked, picked up DH and we drove to SSR. I got a little stressed out trying to find our room. I don't really know why but I did.

But we found it and I dropped off DH and we headed to blizzard beach. I got a text from DH while on the way to blizzard beach asking if he was in the right room because it looked too nice and too big and it had a full kitchen. I had booked a preferred studio (with a request to be close to the lobby) but we got upgraded to a preferred one bedroom close to the lobby!!!!!

I took these pictures later on in the day but I'll post them here to show you.









The configuration was a little wonky to me and it's not really my style but having the extra space for a resort stay with one person working from home was pretty great. I really used the dining table and DH and I liked having our own room. Plus having more room for groceries and meal prep was nice. And the kids had more room to play.

The kids also liked having the murphy bed plus the 5th sleeper with the hidden characters.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

But now on to blizzard beach! I was a little worried about taking the kids to a water park by myself. I had talked to them before we left just letting them know they had to have extra good listening and how we had to stay together at all times here and we could only do stuff that we could all do together to set their expectations.

I also packed us some food and brought my phone since I was the only adult and got a locker. But that means I have some pictures

Parking was easy again thankfully





We went to the little kid Elsa area and then the lazy river and then took the ski lift (I was nervous about us all getting on the ski lift but we were fine) up to the family raft ride and then I said we needed to take a break to eat and drink water



The lunchables weren't enough so then we shared a kids meal of chicken tenders

And then we went to the tween area and the kids went on a solo tube ride (DD6 was really good about waiting with DS3 while I walked back down to them) and DD6 did this thing where there was a rope above her heading and floating blocks of "ice" in the water and she had to get across. She fell in the water the first time but the second time she made it all the way across! There was one part where the blocks of ice were too separated for her to jump so I yelled at her to "do your monkey bars" and she just got to the next block using the rope above her head. It was awesome! I was so proud of her. There were so many older kids who couldn't do it and here's my strong determined little girl getting it done

Then we went back to the little kid Elsa area for another hour or so before I said it was time to go

But we saw goofy on the way out!









And then we drove back to SSR. The kids basically instantly fell asleep and once I parked I fell asleep too. We were out 2-3 hours. Water parks are tiring

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

I think I woke up first and realized how long we had slept and then woke up the kids and saw our amazing room and gave them a bath.

Then we placed a mobile order at the quick service and walked over



The quick service and the gift shop are all in the same area here so we looked around while we wait for our food



And then we brought our food back to our room to eat but explored on our way back





I think both kids got the Mac n cheese. DH got the beef sandwich??? He wasn't a fan. And I got the shrimp. I WAS a fan.

Then DH had to get back to work. His work turned out to be crazier than normal this week and he had a go live this night

So after eating the kids and I checked out the community hall and arcade of course



DD6 colored a magnet



DS3 played with dinosaur toys. He was VERY excited to see dinosaur toys



This arcade was very similar to AKL, mostly the same games. Would be nice to have more variety but so it goes. Kids still liked it.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Then we headed towards the lobby for pin trading and to buy milk.





There were lots of horses in the lobby and some very nice CMs

We found maximus in the gift shop while buying milk! So that means we could get a pin the next day



But while buying milk we also bought donuts so then we ate that back in the room



And off to bed