Snow, Savannah, and NO School! A Feb 2010 TR! UPDATE marathon! New TR! Souvies! 3/6

[Charleston Princess]

Yeay for a fun morning at the Magic Kingdom! That view of the Castle was surely so much better than the view out of your windows at home! That turn for AKL can be confusing -- I remember once we went to eat at Boma, somehow got turned around, and ended up on I4. Connor burst into tears because he thought we were well and truly lost -- I think he was afraid we would never make it back to Disney.

Gotta love seeing zebras from your balcony!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

So fun! I would have been giddy and laughing to myself too! I have been there myself in cool temps but it still seems "off" to see everyone so bundled up! But of course you still had a super time!

Can't wait for more!

 

[Happydog]

You perfectly described that giddy feeling you must have had! It sounds almost like the feeling you get when you play hooky from school ~ knowing that everyone else is there, and you're not! (not that I would know about that ) Freedom!

Sounds like such a fun day, and I looove nights after everyone's had a good nap! Can't wait to hear about yours.

Oh it was it was and we didn't have to play hooky because we were ALL off!!!!

IT was great fun and felt wonderful to get out of the snow! Sun on the face was wonderful.

What a great time! That blue sky was beautiful indeed, so what was the temp? It does look like your vests worked out very well!

I'll bet that nap was just what everyone needed!

It was near 60 I think? And that was what we needed the vests, that night it was windy, so much colder, and the next day was colder by a few degrees, but regardless with the sun out it was just what the doctor ordered.

Just thought I'd say HI! That is so cool that you got to run down. This is my plan since we are getting APs in May. But, being DVC, we may have a tougher time getting a room, but we'll see.

Well HI! Yes, take advantage of it if you can!

Good to see you survived the snow and made it to WDW. Look forward to more.

Thanks! We did! It was great to escape!

Sounds great. I am completly envious of your MK day. It is snowing here now. Not as hard as your storm surely but still what I woulden't give to run off to Disney.

Well I hear you! We definitely had cabin fever!!

I'm here!! This is so exciting!! I still can't believe that you up and decided to go to WDW!! Can't wait to read more!

THANKS!!! Well there is more fun on the way!!!!

 

[Happydog]

What a great way to escape the snow!
How long was the drive?

Yes it was indeed that! It was 13 hrs -- maybe a little longer. But we were definitely driving by 2, stopped briefly for dinner, and all I know is that we were checking in before 5am, because the digital clock in the room told me so!!!!

Yeah, snow can be fun and pretty, but nothing beats a beautiful blue sky and seeing the castle!!! Looking forward to hearing about dinner!

That is the truth! Dinner was GREAT.

Yeay for a fun morning at the Magic Kingdom! That view of the Castle was surely so much better than the view out of your windows at home! That turn for AKL can be confusing -- I remember once we went to eat at Boma, somehow got turned around, and ended up on I4. Connor burst into tears because he thought we were well and truly lost -- I think he was afraid we would never make it back to Disney.

Gotta love seeing zebras from your balcony!

Aww that is a funny tale! My little one was a little worried that I would not get in my seat fast enough to ride with him a few times! It was really funny... he kept saying Hurry Mommy Hurry!

Yes, the morning at MK was lovely. Much better than what we were listening to on the radio!!!

So fun! I would have been giddy and laughing to myself too! I have been there myself in cool temps but it still seems "off" to see everyone so bundled up! But of course you still had a super time!

Can't wait for more!

Oh really Giddy was the word. I was giddy when we drove into WDW in the dark!!! We were laughing that we were washing all the salt away off the car when we were getting gas, and that we were enjoying a predawn view of palmtrees!!!!

 

[Happydog]

Hey there everyone, GOOOD MORNING!!! As you know I have a trip to get ready for, so I am packing and running around a bit today... will be back for an update this afternoon and then evening. I am not kidding! I want this one DONE before I leave!!!!!!!

I will share the ADRs that I got however!

I was able to book a 9:30am breakfast at The Wave, a 6:00pm dinner at San Angel our first night, a 6:00pm dinner at Brown Derby our second night, we did a walkup 12:45pm lunch at Chef's, and a 6:45pm dinner at Jiko's our third night. On the last day/evening, we had Breakfast at Boma's -- I think around 10am... We filled in with QS at the Contempo Cafe, at DHS, and at MK. It was a nice selection for us -- new places, and old!

Stay tuned this afternoon!

 

[wsushocker]

I was able to book a 9:30am breakfast at The Wave, a 6:00pm dinner at San Angel our first night, a 6:00pm dinner at Brown Derby our second night, we did a walkup 12:45pm lunch at Chef's, and a 6:45pm dinner at Jiko's our third night. On the last day/evening, we had Breakfast at Boma's -- I think around 10am... We filled in with QS at the Contempo Cafe, at DHS, and at MK. It was a nice selection for us -- new places, and old!

I am anxiously waiting your review of San Angel as Wigd talked me into an ADR there for this summer...

 

[TokyoDina]

Wow I can't believe the snow you guys got~ the seven years I lived in Middle GA I never saw snow! That's just out of this world! I can't wait to ready your finished TR

 

[erika412]

What an AWESOME idea for snow days! I'm so jealous!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

What a wonderful morning! I can only imagine how you felt. I am giddy and our vacation is still four months away!

I am looking forward to your next update. I have one more ressie to make for July and San Angel is on the list of possibilities. Anxiously waiting to hear if you like it.

Erika

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Oh darn, you are off on errands and I forgot to tell you what I found last week when we were at Target.
In the freezer section. Pretzels stuffed with pepperjack cheese....
I thought of someone in your household....

 

[Happydog]

Oh darn, you are off on errands and I forgot to tell you what I found last week when we were at Target.
In the freezer section. Pretzels stuffed with pepperjack cheese....
I thought of someone in your household....

I just got back!!! You told me about something like these before?!! I think at a different grocery store! Let me tell him! I will take a look... just was at Target!!!! It is a ritual before every Disney trip!!! I have to find a motion sickness medication for us (just in case) -- we have bands, and I had Dramamine, but everyone says to use something called Bonine instead. They were out, so I will scour a few drug stores! I will have lots to share with your for your cruise!!!

And tell Marc to get that ADR for San Angels! We thought it was quite good... I will update this afternoon after my laundry chores!!! And give you the details!!!

 

[Happydog]

I am anxiously waiting your review of San Angel as Wigd talked me into an ADR there for this summer...

Oh We really liked it! I will share! Coming up this afternoon!

Wow I can't believe the snow you guys got~ the seven years I lived in Middle GA I never saw snow! That's just out of this world! I can't wait to ready your finished TR

Well HELLO! Welcome and thanks for coming over! Yes, it was a lot of snow... It STILL is a lot of snow! But now not so pretty!

What an AWESOME idea for snow days! I'm so jealous!

Yes it was an awesome idea and totally a surprise. We are still laughing that we did it...

What a wonderful morning! I can only imagine how you felt. I am giddy and our vacation is still four months away!

I am looking forward to your next update. I have one more ressie to make for July and San Angel is on the list of possibilities. Anxiously waiting to hear if you like it.

Erika

YES! It really really was a great start to a fun and unexpected trip. We felt like we were the keepers of some great secret! Just so pleased to be walking into the MK!

San Angel's Inn was a great dinner in our opinion! I will share this afternoon -- I have to take care of some chores!! I have to stay somewhat on task this weekend!!!

 

[IluvXU]

Your boys are just so darn cute! I always love to see their sweet faces. I would be pinching myself too... leaving the snow for WDW!

Peco's Bill's is my favorite CS at MK... glad you got to try it!

Love the AK pics! I cannot wait to stay there next year.

 

[eandesmom]

what a fun morning and that Wave omelette sounds really really yummy right now. I accidentally did 2 hours of yoga and am starving lol!

I wish I could nap, it's a great source of disappointment to me that easy rest like that escapes me.

I would feel punch drunk walking into the MK on a whim like that, you'll never forget it I'm sure.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Come on... chores, shmores... at least that's the saying in this house! More Disney TR, please! I also liked San Angel this past trip so looking forward to hearing what you thought.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Spare a thought for those of us on a different time zone! Been looking forward to your update and its after 9pm already! Don't want to have to wait till tomorrow!!!

So jealous that you left with such short notice. How exciting must that have been?

Even more impressed that you were able to pack your family up in such a short space of time. Why does it take me about 4 weeks to pack our cases to go to WDW? Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your trip!
x

 

[Happydog]

SOOOOOOOOOOOO.... napped we did. Waking up a few hours later we all felt like a million bucks!

We shook off the remains of sleep, and walked down to the AK Lobby... it was humming with action now! And there was a fire going outside in the main viewing area which we could see through the windows. the lobby of the AK is gorgeous! I got several nice photos the next day, so let me keep those for my "second day" postings and we will finish up with our first night in Disney here... we got the car, and headed over to Epcot. It was a colder night, obviously with the sun down, but the wind had picked up, so two little boys were complaining enough that we popped them into the stroller with the plastic bubble to keep off the wind... it also kept the crabby pants squabbles to a muffled "waw waw waw" inside....

We strolled through the entrance and over to Mexico! Once inside the pavillion it was great, because of course it was INSIDE!!! and we checked in then just meandered around the carts there, looking at books and such. I just love the inside of this pavillion. It reminds me of the restaurant at Disney LAND, the one inside that the POTC comes through...

Anyhow, it was a short wait, but here are the guys...

Shortly after we checked in our buzzer alerted us that our table was ready. San Angels was PACKED. I realized earlier that day that there were OODLES of conferences going on -- lots of adults at The Contemporary with badges and tell tale bags! And then also at the MK LOTS of cheerleaders. I have a funny story later in the trip about them, but ANYHOW, lots of people just walking up to get a table at San Angels, and willing to wait for a table.. our ADR was late for us, but because we all had napped I knew it would be fine. So we were seated in the middle of the dining room, and we ordered, and then DH took the two boys on Donald's boat ride, while I waited and just enjoyed my view of the volcano! Now, unfortunately even with my new camera I don't have the flash power for this pavillion, and of course since you have all been inside you know, it is just really cool. And I will say to eat inside along with this decor is really cool, too!! So we ordered Margaritas and that came with "chips" and a hot salsa/sauce. The sauce was great, the "chips" were deep fried tortilla chips so they were kinda puffy apparently flour tortillas and not corn chips... but I noticed that the table next to us requested traditional chips and got them, so since DH and I were not pressed to fill up on these, we didn't bother asking for the traditional chips. I am glad that we didn't, because I wanted room for dinner, but I thought I would let you all know! I am sure I would have eaten more if there were the regular kind! DH4 didn't trust these "foreign" chips... but DH7 surprisingly loved them -- this is the picky eater in our family. Anyhow, we had a lovely server, her name was America. this is why I could remember it! She was wonderful. She let me substitute black beans for the boys to go with their cheese quesadillas and they were in heaven. They love them, so this was perfect. We very rarely go wrong with Mexican or Mexican inspired food, they can always eat that. DH and I ordered a margarita that was not their house marg, it was a special, their "premium top shelf" Margarita, I think it was called.. it had premium tequila and some sort of liqueur -- it wasn't the normal liqueur you find in margs though -- but if you go it is in the bar menu with the Blood Orange margarita and the Jalepeno margarita... the Blood Orange I had that at the Flying Fish at Christmas -- VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY good. NOT at all tequila-ish if that is an issue for you.

ANYHOW, this margarita was AWESOME. Better than the topshelf one I had at the Brown Derby the following night. So we ordered dinner, I had a poblano chile relleno that came with a sirloin steak and grilled plantains. My DH had steak tacos with grilled mixed peppers or something like that -- I looked at the ALLEars menu. These don't seem to be listed. I think they were under Chef's specialty or House specialties, not sure -- I will check my receipt to see if I can get the name, but we were both very happy with the meals. The boys ate everything too! I know this restaurant gets mixed reviews, but we had no complaints. I really liked the rellano, particularly. This restaurant is not "traditional" rice and beans and red sauce enchiladas Mexican food - maybe this is why it is not always what others expect. We split a third margarita, the boys ate their churros, and then we headed out for some fireworks on the way back to the resort... my lame photos are at the end of the post!

We didn't stay for the whole show, it was late, it was cold, and we had an early morning planned for DHS! This last photo is after the boys raced down the hall way at the AKL.. I am sorry yes, I let my kids run inside, but there was NO one around, and they didn't yell, and the halls are so so so so so so so so looooooooooooooooooooooong. They agreed to sit and wait for us at this junction before we turned down the short hall to our room...

Stay Tuned! I will likely post more tonight!!!

 

[Native NYer]

The margaritas sound delish!
That hallway is LONG

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Looks like a fun evening! I agree... San Angel has a great atmosphere, the margaritas are yummy (and kinda strong!) and the food has definitely improved! I'd definitely go back.

Still can't believe you are leaving for your cruise on Wed, you lucky duck!

 

[sisaaliyah]

Oh my goodness, can't believe your spur of the moment trip...so awesome. I came back to the trip reports looking for one I was reading Friday, and recognized your user name and clicked on it in a few pages, and saw pictures of the boys and knew I recognized those boys from the TR I had been reading, but this was not right something was wrong. Yeah, I'd been reading your Christmas trip and now you've already went again WOW. So lucky. Can't wait to hear more. Your boys are so cute too! I told DH about your spur of the moment trip, and all of the snow and he said he would've stayed for the snow. Of course, he wouldn't have a choice in it since this is busy time for him at work with a wrecking company.