Saturday, In the Park - I Think it was the Fourth of July Wrapping it Up 6/26

[PrincessV]

This is good new! As I have an addiction to Target! I will be searching for this bag probably this week!

Hee hee, I resemble that addiction! Look in the camping/cooler aisle

Hmmmm....seems to me HBC sounds like an ideal "Adults Only" trip resort.

It soooo would be! Did I mention the many bars and nightclubs?

Was there anything else for Leo other than the pool? Any other kids there for him to hook up with at the pool for an hour or so? Jimmy loves to meet new kids at the pool when we're at Disney.

Well, there were lots of other kids, though Leo's not a joiner; he much prefers playing alone unless he already knows the other kids. And they have a kids' club program over at the Waldorf, which is right next door and connected. I think there was a small playground, and they do movies by the pool at night.

So begins As the Resorts Turn...but the real question will be will you speak with Cinnamon, Basil, or Paprika?????

Good question!

 

[KatGarcia]

I'm totally late but all caught up!

 

[Lauralee131]

As I prepare to depart on a little jaunt to The World, I must confess, that I do so with sadness in my heart. For I’ll be traveling without the company of a dear, departed friend.

I know...(((HUGS))) I'm sad I couldn't go either...Oh wait...you said a "departed" friend...that can only mean...

That’s right – the iPhone has left the building.

Oh...THAT friend. I'd nearly forgotten...

A friend’s iPhone lured me in and I was a goner;

I know how that feels... it made me weak too...

I still have my iPhone, and it still does lots of good things. For instance…

It still houses a decent little camera.
I can still play Leo’s ambient noise via iChillout for falling asleep in hotels.
I can still take Notes.
I can still play music, podcasts and movies.
If WiFi exists, I can do all the surfing to which I’d become accustomed over the past year.


That last one’s the painful one.

IF WiFi exists.

Know where WiFI doesn’t exist?

Disney World.

At least not for free, and not in the parks.


No longer shall I update my favorite WDW app, Touringplans’ Lines app, with the latest wait times.

No longer shall I instantly post live picture reports on Twitter or Facebook.

No longer shall I access real-time weather forecasts to determine the need for haste, umbrellas or an ark.

No longer will you make these scary faces either though...heh heh...

Really was one of my better catches of a Kodak moment...an iMoment...Friends don't let friends become iZombies...

And the timing is right, because we’re within days of taking off on our Pre-Trip Trip. The one with which to whet our appetites and prepare for the big trip to come. The one during which we’ll celebrate Leo’s eight amazing years of life. The one during which we’ll explore a new resort, tackle some new activities, and test the mental and physical limits of Gramma. Heh heh.

Stay tuned…

MUFASSSSAAAAAA....

BRRRRRR......

I seem to have developed a trend.

All too often, my “pre” trip report includes an actual trip. To Disney World.

Is that oxymoronic? Or merely moronic?

In any event, it’s happened again. And, once again, this little trip is not only a precursor to what I shall hereafter reference as the Big Trip, it also serves as something of a proving ground. The Pre-Trip-Trip offered an opportunity to test new products, new locales, new-to-us attractions and new experiences. So, while I’ll report on the Pre-Trip-Trip (PTT?!) chronologically, my focus will be primarily set on reviewing these new items in anticipation of the Big Trip.

Make sense?

Perfect sense actually...

I did love HBC, but totally got the cons on your list...right down to the speakers around the resort...all 80's, all the time...

And I loved the little towel messages every morning looking down from my room...just like this...

Next: a day at the pool and a night to remember!

And...ummmm...just how long might it be till we hear??

Hmmmm....seems to me HBC sounds like an ideal "Adults Only" trip resort.

I can be packed in an hour...when do we leave??

 

[PrincessV]

I'm totally late but all caught up!

Nah - you know how long these things go on... you're plenty early!

I know...(((HUGS))) I'm sad I couldn't go either...

Well yes, that too!

No longer will you make these scary faces either though...heh heh...

You don't think? Give me time.

MUFASSSSAAAAAA....

BRRRRRR......

Bwahahahaha!!! You're so getting me another cup of coffee for that!

I did love HBC, but totally got the cons on your list...right down to the speakers around the resort...all 80's, all the time...

Who do you think is their target audience? I don't get it.

And I loved the little towel messages every morning looking down from my room...just like this...

Just wait!

And...ummmm...just how long might it be till we hear??

Soon! Ish.

 

[DisneyJo]

All caught up, so sorry the iPhone had to go but it sounds as though it was for the best!

The hotel looks lovely and a good price too, how weird about the music

 

[PrincessV]

All caught up, so sorry the iPhone had to go but it sounds as though it was for the best!

It really was... I honestly barely miss it! There were times, though...

 

[PrincessV]

Okay, back to Day 1 of the Pre-Trip Trip (P-TT). We checked in around 11am and, our room being ready, we headed up to settle in a bit and change into swim gear.

Summer has arrived here in FL, and it was a hot day. Not July or August hot, but hot. Enough. Hot enough for swimming the afternoon away.

Also.

Hot enough for a tall, cold drink. In my hand.

Lucky me, it was lunch time and the Hilton Bonnet Creek (HBC) has a lovely pool bar/restaurant called Beech that makes visitors feel like pampered celebrities at a Hollywood hotel.

Beech is casual (we wore T’s and shorts over swimsuits) and outdoors, but comes with a shady roof, linen napkins and superb service.

But… all that pampering comes with a price.

$14.00

Also, $11.00.

And $10.00.

The prices of a cheeseburger, salad and kids’ chicken fingers, respectively.





I have no idea what a Pomegranate Mojito ran; I chose not to look. Surprise me, if you will. But, assuming the mojito wasn’t over $50, it was a relative bargain… it was gigantic! And cold! And minty! And pomegranate-y! And not too sweet!

It was good. Did I get that point across?

Leo awaiting the arrival of $10 chicken fingers.

Gramma: “This lunch cost $50. $50 for LUNCH?!”
V: “Hush up and look happy.”



After lunch, we strolled over toward some lounge chairs by the zero-depth entry and enjoyed an afternoon of pool:30. And. 80’s music. No mojito could get Pat Benatar and Tears for Fears to shut up, I’m afraid.

Here’s another little cost zinger to point out: if you want a tube for the HBC’s lazy river, you’ll need to cough up $5 per tube to rent them for the day, or buy some at $6 per tube and lug them back and forth to your room. I rented one tube, stuffed Leo into it and hung onto the side for my float down the river.

Another interesting thing I noted while renting the tube at a little hut by the pool were the sun care offerings. SPF 2 and 4. Dark tanning accelerator oil. After-tan bronzing lotion. All organic-ish. And running $15-25 a bottle. Oh yes, perfect for the little kiddies.

Um, I think maybe HBC is suffering from an identity crisis. Is it the newest “family-fun resort” at WDW, or is it an “all-adult tan/drink/dance resort” that just happens to be within the Mouse’s realm? Dunno.



Long about 3pm, we went back to the room to clean up for Leo’s birthday dinner at Kona Café. None of us are particularly Kona fans; we can pretty much take it or leave it. But Leo (okay, and I, and Gramma, too) adores the Polynesian Resort, so it was a good place to start his birthday festivities, which included an evening at the Magic Kingdom (MK).

We had some time to kill, so we first grabbed a Coke at Capt. Cook’s and went outside to take in the Poly ambiance. And, for the fourth or fifth year, found ducklings!

Leo is the Duck Whisperer.


Off to Kona. Leo had a request. He wanted a birthday cake, but no singing. I’d previously assured him that I’d make every attempt to thwart well-intentioned, song-singing cast members, but if they chose to sing anyway, he really had to suck it up, put on a fake smile and be polite.

I requested a cake and no singing to the host, the seater and our server. And then held my breath.


We had a faaaabulous server, Donna. Really, if you go to Kona, see if you can request her, because she’s terrific! When I explained Leo’s wishes, she never skipped a beat, never looked at him funny, just smiled and said “No problem at all; it’ll be my pleasure! What flavor cake would you like young man?” Thank you Donna!

Pre-cake, I went with my old Kona stand-by: crab cakes and the blue cheese and apple salad. Yum, yum and yum. Gramma went with the Coconut Almond Chicken, which she said had little taste at all. Leo had some kids’ meal. Really, I don’t pay much attention any more. Hotdogmacncheesehamburgerpizza. That’s pretty much Leo’s Disney diet.


At last, it was Cake Time. Would the Kona staff respect Leo’s plea for no singing? Would the cake be defrosted enough to eat without breaking teeth? Would Leo freak out if the only cake available had princesses decorating it?

All was well! Donna presented the cake with just the right amount of fanfare to make Leo feel special, without making him feel “silly.” He was a happy boy.

And I was a happy Momma. Because I got cake, too!!

We all got cake! That 6” cake holds a lot of… well, cake. No way could we finish it. We managed half, and Leo wanted to take the remains with us. To the MK. For a “snack later.” So we walked out of the Poly, onto the monorail and up to the bag check at MK with a cake box the size of my head. Which I had to open and show the security guy.

He looked at it. And looked at me. Quizzically.

I returned his questioning gaze. And then looked down. Into the box.

UGH! In 10 minutes, that icing had become all melted and the whole thing was listing precariously to starboard. There was nothing remotely yummy about that cake. The yummy had left the building.

“Right.” I said to the security officer. And dumped the box in the receptacle behind him, telling Leo I’d buy him any and all treats that caught his fancy in the MK, but we were NOT carrying that cake around all night.



Gosh, I love WDW in May! We had no waits for anything Leo wanted to do. We rode Big Thunder several times in a row, braved the Haunted Mansion (which, BTW, Leo says he’ll “never” ride again… because all of a sudden it’s “too scary”… we’ll see…), swashbuckled with Pirates, and took a dive on Splash Mountain!


WHAT?!?!?!

SPLASH MOUNTAIN?!?!?!?!

Yep. The same Splash Mountain my boy has refused his entire life, not because of a big drop, but because of the possibility of getting wet. Leo doesn’t like wet.

So, imagine my surprise when we exited Big Thunder and I heard, “Mommy? I want to ride Splash Mountain now.”

“Now?!” said I, “Splash?! Are you sure? We’ll miss the fireworks, and we’re here at the Mk because you wanted fireworks for your birthday…”

“Now I want Splash for my birthday.” And off Leo went, headed for the Briar Patch.

Gramma chose to skip that one, and I’m kind of glad she did; I’m glad Leo’s first Splash ride was with me and only me. I’m selfish that way.

And the verdict?

He LOVED it! That’s what he said. Also, “This is my new favorite ride!” And, “Can we do it again?!”

We capped it at one ride that night, though, since the park was closing and Gramma was waiting for us. As we made our way out of the MK, Wishes booming behind us, Leo kept giving me the “secret hand squeezes” that mean he’s happy and that he loves me. One to three squeezes in a row symbolize contentment; four to six, extreme joy. I believe I felt a run of about 37 squeezes that night. It was a good, good day.


Coming soon: Ready, Aim, FIRE!

Scenes from the night…

Product note: Leo tried out some new footwear that night. Crocs flip-flops. They look great on him… but gave him blisters on the insides of his arches. They are now on pool duty only.

 

[Hedy]

I love Leo's gap toothed smile!

 

[askelton]

As we made our way out of the MK, Wishes booming behind us, Leo kept giving me the “secret hand squeezes” that mean he’s happy and that he loves me. One to three squeezes in a row symbolize contentment; four to six, extreme joy. I believe I felt a run of about 37 squeezes that night. It was a good, good day.

That is so sweet.

 

[sharkB8HooHaHa]

Another interesting thing I noted while renting the tube at a little hut by the pool were the sun care offerings. SPF 2 and 4. Dark tanning accelerator oil. After-tan bronzing lotion. All organic-ish. And running $15-25 a bottle.

2????? They still MAKE 2???? Seriously??? Where's that creepy Ban de Soleil woman who could be the stand in for Voldemort? Only SHE could wear 2!!!!

We had a faaaabulous server, Donna. Really, if you go to Kona, see if you can request her, because she’s terrific! When I explained Leo’s wishes, she never skipped a beat, never looked at him funny, just smiled and said “No problem at all; it’ll be my pleasure! What flavor cake would you like young man?” Thank you Donna!

YAY Donna!!!!

Gosh, I love WDW in May! We had no waits for anything Leo wanted to do. We rode Big Thunder several times in a row, braved the Haunted Mansion (which, BTW, Leo says he’ll “never” ride again… because all of a sudden it’s “too scary”… we’ll see…), swashbuckled with Pirates, and took a dive on Splash Mountain!


WHAT?!?!?!

SPLASH MOUNTAIN?!?!?!?!

Go Leo, Go!!!!!

Gramma chose to skip that one, and I’m kind of glad she did; I’m glad Leo’s first Splash ride was with me and only me. I’m selfish that way.

We capped it at one ride that night, though, since the park was closing and Gramma was waiting for us. As we made our way out of the MK, Wishes booming behind us, Leo kept giving me the “secret hand squeezes” that mean he’s happy and that he loves me. One to three squeezes in a row symbolize contentment; four to six, extreme joy. I believe I felt a run of about 37 squeezes that night. It was a good, good day.

B's a hand squeezer, too!!!!! They are the best.

Sounds like a perfectly wonderful way to spend an eighth birthday.

 

[jcc0621]

Hot enough for a tall, cold drink. In my hand.

But… all that pampering comes with a price.

$14.00

Also, $11.00.

And $10.00.

The prices of a cheeseburger, salad and kids’ chicken fingers, respectively.

No mojito could get Pat Benatar and Tears for Fears to shut up, I’m afraid.

I like Pat Benatar

Here’s another little cost zinger to point out: if you want a tube for the HBC’s lazy river, you’ll need to cough up $5 per tube to rent them for the day, or buy some at $6 per tube and lug them back and forth to your room. I rented one tube, stuffed Leo into it and hung onto the side for my float down the river.

Dorothy we aren't in Disney anymore

Hotdogmacncheesehamburgerpizza. That’s pretty much Leo’s Disney diet.

Jimmy's too!

All was well! Donna presented the cake with just the right amount of fanfare to make Leo feel special, without making him feel “silly.” He was a happy boy.

Go Donna

He LOVED it! That’s what he said. Also, “This is my new favorite ride!” And, “Can we do it again?!”

Go Leo

I believe I felt a run of about 37 squeezes that night. It was a good, good day.

 

[jess98ac]

WAY late here, but all caught up on the PTR/PTTR/FUN!

 

[KatGarcia]

Go Leo!!!!!

 

[PrincessV]

I love Leo's gap toothed smile!

Isn't it funny?! Poor kid lost a bunch, but the new ones are taking forever to come in!

That is so sweet.

It warmed me all over!

2????? They still MAKE 2???? Seriously??? Where's that creepy Ban de Soleil woman who could be the stand in for Voldemort? Only SHE could wear 2!!!!

Oh, you're gonna love a little sun care product info I've got coming up!

B's a hand squeezer, too!!!!! They are the best.

I thought I remembered you telling me that!

I like Pat Benatar

No judgement Janet! I just really, really wanted some quiet time... Pat's not quiet, TFI.

Dorothy we aren't in Disney anymore

I know, right?! And I thought Disney had the lead in nickel & diming.

WAY late here, but all caught up on the PTR/PTTR/FUN!

Yay, thanks so much for joining in!

Go Leo!!!!!

I'm so proud of him!

 

[mrsksomeday]

I am loving your PTR/TR, congrats on the great rate at HBC!! The Iphone trance picture was priceless, I seem to get that way on my Blackberry Storm at times.

Leo is adorable, he looks so grown up now.

The non stop 80's music would have gotten on my nerves after a while, I would have expected that from Pop Century, but not from HBC?

Oh no about the scented towels, that had to have been horrible for your allergies . Beautiful pictures from the resort.

Thanks for the Poly pictures, we are staying there for the first time in December, I can't wait .

Leo looked really happy with his cake, I can just imagine the security guards face when he saw how the cake had melted, too funny. It is wonderful that Leo wanted to try Splash Mountain and so sweet about the "secret hand squeezes" .

I can't wait to read more.

 

[PittypatBR]

Well, Hello, Princess! Wow Leo has grown since the last TR I rode along on! I am looking forward to another interesting ride.

 

[PrincessV]

Oh no about the scented towels, that had to have been horrible for your allergies

It wasn't good. And so odd - I can't remember the last time I noticed scented towels or sheets in a hotel!

Thanks for the Poly pictures, we are staying there for the first time in December, I can't wait .

Oh, you're going to love it - instant relaxation, that's what the Poly's all about!

Thanks so much for coming along Mrs. K!

Well, Hello, Princess! Wow Leo has grown since the last TR I rode along on! I am looking forward to another interesting ride.

Hey there Pittypat! Yep, Leo's getting to be a big kid now. I thought I'd be a little sad and nostalgic, but 8 is FUN! Thanks for coming back for more!

 

[OhMari]

So, is this HBC Lazy River? I know it isn't. But in Wisconsin, we are lucky, that we can float down rivers in inner tubes, and not be afraid of alligator's. That is about the only plus thing of living in Wisconsin. Usually it is way to cold to swim. Last summer we had 1 80 degree day.

You always looked tiny in your pictures, and I know you mentioned a few times, how you manage to find time to work out at WDW, but you "really" look slim and tiny now. Good for you.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Hey V!

Hope all is well down your way. Great update! I was cracking up over the cake incident. That's awesome that Leo rode Splash! I understand where he's coming from. Walking around with a soggy biscuit is no picnic. But at least it was at the end of the day and you were headed back to the land of 80's pop and adult sunscreen. Looking foward to more!

 

[PrincessV]

So, is this HBC Lazy River?

I guess it wouldn't be that lazy, trying to out-run the gators, huh?!

Last summer we had 1 80 degree day.

I'm pretty sure I'd die.

You always looked tiny in your pictures, and I know you mentioned a few times, how you manage to find time to work out at WDW, but you "really" look slim and tiny now. Good for you.

Oh my gosh - THANK YOU! Sadly, I've put on a few and I had the worst time trying to put together an outfit that night. You made my day!

Hey V!

Hey GB!

That's awesome that Leo rode Splash! I understand where he's coming from. Walking around with a soggy biscuit is no picnic. But at least it was at the end of the day and you were headed back to the land of 80's pop and adult sunscreen. Looking foward to more!

OH! I left that part out... guess who DIDN'T get hit by the water cannons?! Yay us! Just a little sprinkling for our boat-log But will that luck last?