Sew much to do, sew little time - but it was worth it! New PTR link posted! ~~~~~~~~~

[BrerMama]

I was going to tell you about the great gift card app I found... and then I think I remembered that you don't have a smart phone. Anyway, really cool app for iphone. Enter Disney gift card numbers and it will tell you how much is left on each one. I keep telling DH we need to sit down and get them all entered into my phone. We still haven't, but we've got time.

Sorry that GG wasn't as good as remembered. I actually was considering it and thought your review might be the one that pushed me over the edge. Nope. We'll keep with the "snack around the world" plan.

 

[DMGeurts]

Well, this was our day off from the parks... but to think it was actually a "day off" would be a mistake. It was definately a slower day...

We had a few Dismeets planned for today - which I was excited about!

The plan was to sleep in today... The girls slept in - I did not... I was up early, as usual.

There was one thing I really wanted to do, while we were at POFQ, and it wasn't something that I was going to schedule - but if it worked out... Well, I was going to do it.

You see, I just love the lighting at Disney - it brings a comforting ambiance to the whole place.

I really wanted to get pictures of how the resort looked all lit up.

So, as I was laying in bed this morning, I decided that sleep was fruitless. So, I got out of bed, threw my Donald @%#* sweatshirt on and decided to let the girls sleep while I explored the resort.

I didn't write down what time I woke - but I would have to guess it was about 6:30 am, because the pools opened at 7am.

So, after I put on my sweatshirt, I grabbed my refillable mug, and headed down to SFW to fill it with some coffee. I also grabbed my camera.

I started taking pictures just as soon as I had refilled my mug....

My first stop was the hot tub...

I took off my flip flops and sat at the side of the hot tub to dip my feet in - it was so nice and relaxing... I must have sat there for a good 10 - 15 minutes. It wasn't until I was sitting there for a while, that I was reading the rules sign, and I noticed that the pools didn't open until 7am... I looked at the clock and it was 6:55... Oops. I stayed there for a few more minutes.

Then I took the main pathway to the pool... It is just beautiful at night - or in the morning. So quiet and peaceful - and, of course, I love the lighting.

I made my way out of the pool area and on to the path by the Sassagoula River...

And then I sat there for a long time, absorbing my surroundings and watching the sun start to peek up over the horizon... Nothing short of beautiful.

I followed the river path back towards our building...

And I took a few pictures of our building with all the lights on...

I really loved these end buildings... The were just the elevator shafts and the work areas for the CMs... but I love how Disney disguised them as something like a carriage house - and they were all unique and different.

Our room:

This was our carriage house:

The fountain just outside our room:

Our side of the building - looking towards the river:

I went back to our room, after I'd refilled my mug again... As quietlly as I could - I sat on the Dis for a while, so the girls could sleep.

Link to Day 7 Part B

D~ <---- Grrr... Some of my photos refuse to rotate, even though I've rotated them several times.

 

[sjs314]

D~. I fell behind but finally caught up again. I hate going to the parks in the rain but have been lucky our last two trips with no rain. We use to love GG and went there every trip before it became a character meal, in fact DH wanted to go there this trip until I told him it had changed. They use to have a very good menu.

I am the same way about the resorts and the lighting. . Lovely pictures, I remember staying there fondly. We stayed at Port Orleans twice back when it first opened.

 

[lovethattink]

The pool area looks so nice at night. I love how the lights completely change the atmosphere from daytime to nighttime.

 

[VBAndrea]

Yum Marianne! That rootbeer float sounds so good! Must try soon

My favorite "cocktail" is also really easy to make. I take Pineapple Malibu Rum and mix it with gingerale. So easy and so yummy! And its not frozen, so you don't have to keep it from melting. The flavors of pineapple and ginger are classic and the Mailbu gives it a light coconut flavor. Yum...you guys are turning me into a lush

Your cocktail looks the best -- I'm not a huge fan of Mojitos and mixing soda with ice cream is just wrong. But Pineapple Malibu Rum is heaven!

D~ love your photos around POFQ. I took a lot around AKL but didn't think to do some night shots -- though I have a crappy camera so they probably wouldn't look great.

My kids loved Spaceship Earth. I couldn't even tell you how many times we rode it -- though I know it wasn't as many as Nemo. My dd was actually skeptical to try it, but once she did she loved it! We didn't spend much time in WS though and that's my favorite part of Epcot.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Those beautiful and peaceful pictures make me long for Disney yet again...Thank you for a nice start to our Monday morning, D~!

 

[Lidian]

I am so far behind. And my smiley is gone. Ugh. Anyway, logged in to see like 4398146 pages I need to read. D'oh!

I kind of skimmed through the comments, and read quickly the updates.

The sign said the pool opens at 7, but you were in the hot tub, right? So it doesn't count.

I'm kind of glad that we cancelled our GG ADR after your review. While I would have had kiddos at the table, I actually cancelled because of food. So hearing your review that the food wasn't worth it really makes me feel like I made the right decision. Plus, what I exchanged it for worked out well. (I enjoyed my "new" dinner that evening.)

Glad that Marianne was able to help you sort out the PP stuff and you noticed it wasn't the right card!

There's other stuff that I'm sure I've forgotten. My brain is a bit full. I have a final in just a couple of hours.

Oh - and I forgot to add...

Yesterday, I was going through my Carry-on (I know, bad me, I still haven't unpacked it...) and I found Disney GC in there from our trip, the receipt wrapped around it said that there was $20+ on there... So I logged on to the website and double checked... Sure enough - there's $20+ on there. Whoot! So now, I have $41 saved towards our next trip... I'll get really excited when I have $250 - since that's what I need to book. LOL

OK, back to your regularily scheduled TR...

D~

I thought it was only $200 to book a package? And one-night's deposit if you do RO?

Regardless, I'm excited as I have some cash saved up for our May 2013 trip! I sold all my books back.

 

[mommy2mrb]

great photos around the resort....I agree totally about how peaceful it is there....even during the day its quiet
nice you caught the sunrise....we caught a sunset in October, just beautiful!!!

 

[pharmjenn]

The "night" pics are great. It is always so peaceful to be out and about when there is no one else around. Glad you got to enjoy some time to yourself exploring.

 

[cogero]

I love all your photos. GG is the one meal I did at Disney that made me ill LOL. I think it was just too heavy for me.

 

[Pluto0809]

Well, I was thinking about POFQ for my Oct 2013 trip and I think your photos just sealed the deal! It looks beautiful. I'm looking at a moderate because I'm "making" my DH go that trip and he likes a bit more luxury than the values offer. Next year will be my 40th and our 15th anniversary so he's going whether he wants to or not! He would sit at home on the couch for a week and watch TV if it was his choice.

We stayed at POR when it was Dixie Landings for our Honeymoon and I've stayed at CS. Was debating between POFQ and CB for something different. POFQ it's gonna be!

 

[solana131]

Don't know how I missed these this morning Glad you said something on my PTR! Yay! I can't wait. So glad I made the change I promise I won't go back now.....maybe.....

 

[newtexan]

great updates.
sorry to hear about GG being blah
it's cool to see the pictures of the resort lit up like that

 

[nowellsl]

So, we're back from PORS and our stay in a Royal Room. As promised, I'll give a little review. First off Riverside is a huge resort! The royal rooms are in the two buildings to the left of the main building (lobby, check-in, food court etc.). That is where the bus stop for our building was. Once on the bus - three more stops until you're on your way We're used to Pop, hop on the bus and go

The rooms are very pretty!

DD didn't realize she was in the mirror

All in all, beautiful resort! Is it worth the extra money? Not in my opinion. I'm glad I got to stay there once, but don't feel compelled to try it again. The restaurant, Boatrights was good - but with the prices, I was glad we were on the dining plan (which more than paid for itself)! I didn't like the bus situation and the resort is huge and spread out! I much prefer the French Quarter!

Disney was a lot more crowded than I thought it would be, but it was a nice quick trip!

 

[lovethattink]

So, we're back from PORS and our stay in a Royal Room. As promised, I'll give a little review. First off Riverside is a huge resort! The royal rooms are in the two buildings to the left of the main building (lobby, check-in, food court etc.). That is where the bus stop for our building was. Once on the bus - three more stops until you're on your way We're used to Pop, hop on the bus and go

The rooms are very pretty!

All in all, beautiful resort! Is it worth the extra money? Not in my opinion. I'm glad I got to stay there once, but don't feel compelled to try it again. The restaurant, Boatrights was good - but with the prices, I was glad we were on the dining plan (which more than paid for itself)! I didn't like the bus situation and the resort is huge and spread out! I much prefer the French Quarter!

Disney was a lot more crowded than I thought it would be, but it was a nice quick trip!

Wow!! The room is beautiful! Were there fiberoptics in the pictures at the bed? If so, did the lights "move" the whole time the lights were turned on?

Love the sink and lamp!

 

[mommy2mrb]

what a pretty room! happy you had a fun trip!

 

[nowellsl]

Wow!! The room is beautiful! Were there fiberoptics in the pictures at the bed? If so, did the lights "move" the whole time the lights were turned on?

Love the sink and lamp!

The lights in the headboard did move, but you have to push a button on the side and they only stayed on for a short while. It was kind of funny - DD pushed the buttons, and by the time she got around to set up a picture, the lights would go off she did that about 3 times before she got me to push the buttons while she stood there ready to take the picture

 

[DMGeurts]

So, we're back from PORS and our stay in a Royal Room. As promised, I'll give a little review. First off Riverside is a huge resort! The royal rooms are in the two buildings to the left of the main building (lobby, check-in, food court etc.). That is where the bus stop for our building was. Once on the bus - three more stops until you're on your way We're used to Pop, hop on the bus and go

The rooms are very pretty!

DD didn't realize she was in the mirror

All in all, beautiful resort! Is it worth the extra money? Not in my opinion. I'm glad I got to stay there once, but don't feel compelled to try it again. The restaurant, Boatrights was good - but with the prices, I was glad we were on the dining plan (which more than paid for itself)! I didn't like the bus situation and the resort is huge and spread out! I much prefer the French Quarter!

Disney was a lot more crowded than I thought it would be, but it was a nice quick trip!

Thank you so much for the review Stephanie! I love all the little details! Especially the lamp faucet - amazing!

The lights in the headboard did move, but you have to push a button on the side and they only stayed on for a short while. It was kind of funny - DD pushed the buttons, and by the time she got around to set up a picture, the lights would go off she did that about 3 times before she got me to push the buttons while she stood there ready to take the picture

Thank your dd for helping you take the pictures!

D~ P.S. - don't let Suzie see these pictures, she'll want to switch to POR.

 

[solana131]

P.S. - don't let Suzie see these pictures, she'll want to switch to POR.

Ha ha, very funny. Nope, they look nice, but I am at peace with my choice.....finally. We will tour around POR while there, but I'm happy with FQ. The bus situation is my deciding factor

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

You aren't missing much on my PTR so no worries...I have planning block...

My family loves Garden Grill's food. I enjoy the salad very much, but I am not very interested in the other items. My girls are picky and it amuses me that they eat seconds there. (It's food they would and do complain about at home... )

My one daughter wears her DCs- I might have actually had permission to donate the other's. (Life's a blur over here...)

The DCs look like this:

Her other clown shoes are these:

I prefer them to the DCs. They aren't as wide. I was the one who bought them--they were only $10 from $50, so I couldn't resist!


Your morning pictures are nice; it's those moments that I love to absorb Disney!

PS Sorry for the giant photos!!