"So what do you want to do next?" An April '10 TR...final thoughts 8/2 p. 63

[brookelizabeth]

Okay, Netflix has it - which season?

 

[wdwgirl03]

I bet!!! It has been so HOT here that we have been having some wicked storms here too!

YAY for 2 weeks!!! I keep thinking that I still have 3 weeks to go but really it's only like 2 weeks and a few days!!!

We had a few humid days here. Today was the first day in weeks we've been able to open our windows. It was soooo nice!

Woo hoo for being less than 3 weeks!

Aww, how cute that your dad got in the pic with western Goofy and Donald!

I've never actually see that Splash Mountain sign in real life. I've only seen it in pictures! I think it's always rush-rush-rush there or such high crowds, that that's something I've missed each time. I'll have to keep an eye out next time; it's really cute!

I can't wait to explore the caves on Tom Sawyer's Island! I think I'd need a flashlight though ... haha. I'm sure I'd get kind of scared because of how I imagined it when I read Tom Sawyer in the 5th grade!

Yeah, Dad likes to be in some of the pictures. When we were little he always joked because he was never in any pictures or home videos so he kept saying how people would think he didn't really exist.

The Splash Mountain sign is pretty cute. Love the details!

They do have some lights every so often in the caves but they're still pretty dark!

Nope! I don't remember it at all! I YouTubed what I could find, but it was only short clips. Gotta check Netflix yet!

Really?! I remember a while ago they had both episodes. Maybe they took them down.

Okay, Netflix has it - which season?

It is season 6!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Sunday, April 11, 2010 cont'd (part 4)

After our mini MK resort tour, we went back to the MK to get a bus to Kidani. It was kind of depressing because there was this one lady who we talked to as we walked back into the lobby of Kidani. I am pretty sure she is a Vacation Club member and was there with a bunch of first timers. One of the guys on the bus was talking about how he didn't want to leave and wished he could live there. One of the other guys responded by saying that then it wouldn't be special, but the first guy was like "I'll take my chances." LOL. But it was just kind of fitting hearing some other people talk about the end of their trip (I think that group was leaving that night) and how much they didn't want it to end. Atleast we're not alone.

Once we were back in our room we took a break for a while. We had some more animal friends outside our room:

You can just see the corner of the pool area from our balcony:

This was also the first time we spotted these guys. They are red river hogs. Don't know where they had been hiding all week! LOL.

Then for the rest of the afternoon/evening we pretty much just took our time. Rather than go to a park we ended up going to Downtown Disney again to pick up a few more souvenirs. The first stop was the Art of Disney store where we enjoyed looking at all the artwork. Then I think we went to the World of Disney. I can't remember if this is when Dad got his retro Mickey t-shirt or if that was when he ordered our popcorn bowls. Surprisingly I don't think I got anything there. Don't worry, I still did plenty of shopping.

The main thing I was looking for was the Dooney and Bourke wristlet. Remember I had been debating all week long whether or not I should get it. I knew I wasn't going to get the bag because I REALLY couldn't justify that much money on one purse but I still wanted the wristlet. In the jewelry section of the store they have a huge wall of all the D&B stuff. It was actually quite amazing how much of it had disappeared since earlier in the week. I didn't see any of the sketch wristlets left so I asked the lady. She checked in back and didn't have anymore. She suggested I go to Tren-D to see if they had any. Before I did that though, there was another one that was cute...it was black with all different colored Mickeys on it. I almost bought it but decided that the sketch one was the one I had originally seen so I told her I'd go to Tren-D. It'd be interesting to see if they had any left there...

Before going to Tren-D though we stopped back in the Pin Traders store to get my sisters their vinylmation. Even though I had already gotten one earlier in the week of course I had to get another one. Then it was off to Tren-D to see if they had my wristlet.

Again they have them up by the register. I was in luck! They had a couple more left in stock. And there was one that I saw that had Tinkerbell on the front of it. It was looking good but I wanted to see the design on the back to see if it was good enough (I know, that sounds really OCD of me...I'm not usually like that!). So I asked the girl if I could see it. The back was perfect! It had the whole castle! Well, that did it for me. I caved and bought it. Atleast I got a little bit of a discount with my AP. Mission accomplished! Now, I am not one who uses Coach or D&B otherwise so I must admit I felt kind of cool walking around with my bag knowing what was inside.

Oh, here's what it looks like:

LOVE IT! OK, enough on that already. haha

For dinner we ended up eating at Earl of Sandwich. MMMM I love that place! The sandwiches are delicious. Seriously if you've never been there GO! I really wish they had more of those places, like one around here. So good.

After enjoying our yummy sandwiches we decided to take one of the boats over to another resort...Old Key West! We have never stayed there (yet!) and I really wanted to see what it was like. The only kind of annoying part was they changed the way the boats work at DTD so we had to take one boat to the West Side or whatever and transfer to the OKW one.

I couldn't resist taking another picture of our home...see you in 13 days, Saratoga Springs!!!

A shot of WOD from the boat...

The boat ride was very peaceful and relaxing. After a few minutes we arrived at OKW. We walked by the pool and then went into the lobby. The thing that kind of surprised me was how MASSIVE the place was. In a way it sort of reminded me of SSR. We'll definitely have to stay there some day.

We also walked around some of the grounds.

So, it was neat getting to see another resort (and the original DVC resort!)that hopefully we'll stay at soon. After exploring we took a bus to Epcot and transferred to the Kidani bus. I think that night was when the Brewers were on ESPN so we watched them on TV.

up next: the real last day

 

[wisblue]

Visiting the other resorts is a lot of fun, and the boat ride from DTD was cool and relaxing. If you don't have an annual pass and don't have enough time to justify using a day on your park pass, that would be a fun thing to do on arrival day. You'd be getting a taste of WDW with the excitement of the rest of your trip stretched out before you.

Old Key West is really interesting. With all of the streets and trees and the way the buildings are designed it seems more like an old southern community than a resort. Of course, I think that was the original idea of the Vacation Club.

 

[brookelizabeth]

It is season 6!

Thank you! I saved it to my queue...I was going to put it on top of the queue to get it next, but it tells me it has an "Unknown" date for availability. I hope I can get it, you've got me all psyched to see it!

I'm really liking that D&B wristlet! The bag is a bit too much for me, but the wristlet is just right! I might have to talk to Joe about that one...

EoS - yummmmmmmmy. It's always a hard choice for me between EoS and WPE, they are both so good! Hopefully I'll get both on this coming trip.

 

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I keep looking at that wrislet. I really like it, and I usually use wristlets... but for some reason I just can't pull the trigger. But I do really like it!

Great update! Makes me excited for our upcoming OKW and Kidiani stays.

Boo for the real last day.. but Yippee for 13 days!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Yuumm, Earl of Sandwich is my fav! I wish we had one of those around here... I think I googled it and the closest EoS is pretty far away from NC, haha

The wristlet is so cute!

 

[Cat0727]

Your Dooney and Bourke wristlet is so nice! You got great placement I want the tote bag really badly.

Oh yum, EoS. I love that place. What sandwiches did you guys get?

 

[Cory's Gal]

WOW! I missed a lot of updates Sarah! So sad to hear about that last walk out of MK! It's always NOT FUN when you have to leave the park!! At least you get to walk back in REALLY soon!!! I LOVE frontier Goofy and Donald! What a great pic of you and your dad with them! Your tour of resorts was great too! I LOVE LOVE the pics from the Poly, it is such a beautiful resort and I hope to stay there someday, we really enjoyed our short time there when we ate at Kona this past trip! The pics from AKL are great too, what an experience to stay there with all those animals to see!

Your D & B purse is awesome! I would have wanted to look at the back too to see what was on it! What fun to get a great souvenir like that too! You gotta spend like that once in a while!!! We love Earl too! Those sandwiches are awesome!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I've been thinking of your wristlet all night and how useful it would be for me. I'm starting to convince myself I NEED it.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Love the update!!!

I really, really, really want a D&B. I'm so hoping to get one this trip. I LOVE yours!

We love EoS too. We tried breakfast there last trip and it was awesome!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Visiting the other resorts is a lot of fun, and the boat ride from DTD was cool and relaxing. If you don't have an annual pass and don't have enough time to justify using a day on your park pass, that would be a fun thing to do on arrival day. You'd be getting a taste of WDW with the excitement of the rest of your trip stretched out before you.

Old Key West is really interesting. With all of the streets and trees and the way the buildings are designed it seems more like an old southern community than a resort. Of course, I think that was the original idea of the Vacation Club.

Yeah it is a lot of fun. This time I might try to convince Claire and Emma to go over to Port Orleans since we've never been there.

I think OKW is next on my list of DVC resorts to stay at.

Thank you! I saved it to my queue...I was going to put it on top of the queue to get it next, but it tells me it has an "Unknown" date for availability. I hope I can get it, you've got me all psyched to see it!

I'm really liking that D&B wristlet! The bag is a bit too much for me, but the wristlet is just right! I might have to talk to Joe about that one...

EoS - yummmmmmmmy. It's always a hard choice for me between EoS and WPE, they are both so good! Hopefully I'll get both on this coming trip.

I hope you can get the Full House too! They are so fun to watch.

As cute as the whole bag is I kind of agree. It's amazing how many people have gotten those things! I saw they have colored ones now too.

We have never eaten at Wolfgang Puck (atleast I am assuming that's what WPE is!). haha

I keep looking at that wrislet. I really like it, and I usually use wristlets... but for some reason I just can't pull the trigger. But I do really like it!

Great update! Makes me excited for our upcoming OKW and Kidiani stays.

Boo for the real last day.. but Yippee for 13 days!

You should get it! Like I said I was debating the whole time whether or not I should...$50 is a LOT for one wristlet. But I love it so much and definitely don't regret getting it.

You guys will have fun at Kidani!

12 days now!!!

Yuumm, Earl of Sandwich is my fav! I wish we had one of those around here... I think I googled it and the closest EoS is pretty far away from NC, haha

The wristlet is so cute!

We have a place that's kind of similar around here in that it toast the sandwiches but Earl of Sandwich is so good. We were watching Boy Meets World the other day and it was an episode where Corey is trying to study for a geography bee...he says something about how Hawaii used to be called the Sandwich Island and how it was named for the Earl of Sandwich. Of course I immediately thought of WDW.

Thanks!

Your Dooney and Bourke wristlet is so nice! You got great placement I want the tote bag really badly.

Oh yum, EoS. I love that place. What sandwiches did you guys get?

I was very excited when she let me look at it and there was a castle on the back. Yay!

I got the kid's turkey sandwich (and still couldn't finish it!) and I think Dad might've gotten roast beef. So good!

WOW! I missed a lot of updates Sarah! So sad to hear about that last walk out of MK! It's always NOT FUN when you have to leave the park!! At least you get to walk back in REALLY soon!!! I LOVE frontier Goofy and Donald! What a great pic of you and your dad with them! Your tour of resorts was great too! I LOVE LOVE the pics from the Poly, it is such a beautiful resort and I hope to stay there someday, we really enjoyed our short time there when we ate at Kona this past trip! The pics from AKL are great too, what an experience to stay there with all those animals to see!

Your D & B purse is awesome! I would have wanted to look at the back too to see what was on it! What fun to get a great souvenir like that too! You gotta spend like that once in a while!!! We love Earl too! Those sandwiches are awesome!!!

It is such a lousy feeling leaving even if you know you're going back. Can't wait to be back though in a few days! I hope you guys get to stay at the Polynesian soon. We loved staying there on all those trips. And we loved animal watching at Kidani!

Exactly, I don't normally buy things like that so I figured I might as well get it!

I've been thinking of your wristlet all night and how useful it would be for me. I'm starting to convince myself I NEED it.

Too funny Brook!

Love the update!!!

I really, really, really want a D&B. I'm so hoping to get one this trip. I LOVE yours!

We love EoS too. We tried breakfast there last trip and it was awesome!

haha. I love mine too. Are you going to go for one of the big bags or just the wristlet?

Oooh, breakfast at Earl? That sounds good!

 

[meeko_33785]

Cool picture of the River Hogs. I didn't even know that they had those.

Old Key West sounds like a neat resort. So many people have been talking about it recently that I'm starting to want to visit it since it's one of the few resorts I've never been to. I don't know if it would fit with any of the other trips I'm planning, but it's something to add to the "someday" list.

 

[SoonerGirl]

I'm all caught up - I can't believe your trip is almost over! It's a good thing you have another one right around the corner

Love your wristlet, I may have gotten something similar, will be to that point in my report soon

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I don't know if I am going to go for the bag or the wristlet. It's our 10th anniversary so maybe I can talk Joe into the bag and the wristlet?

 

[MHTeacher]

Cute wristlet. I wanted one of the brown bags so badly, but in the end, just like you, I just couldn't justify the cost. The wristlet is a good alternative!

 

[brookelizabeth]

We have never eaten at Wolfgang Puck (atleast I am assuming that's what WPE is!). haha

Too funny Brook!

Yep, Wolfgang Puck Express. It's delish, but a bit on the expensive side if you do OOP (which, if I remember correctly - you guys always do - we almost always do too). EoS is such a good value.

I'm STILL thinking about that wristlet and how handy it would be for quick jaunts around the neighborhood, running errands-which I do all the time!! I haven't shown it to Joe yet. I think I'll send him a link...

 

[wdwgirl03]

Cool picture of the River Hogs. I didn't even know that they had those.

Old Key West sounds like a neat resort. So many people have been talking about it recently that I'm starting to want to visit it since it's one of the few resorts I've never been to. I don't know if it would fit with any of the other trips I'm planning, but it's something to add to the "someday" list.

I didn't either. It was weird we saw them for the first time that last day.

I would really like to stay at OKW some day. Gotta hit all the DVC resorts.

I'm all caught up - I can't believe your trip is almost over! It's a good thing you have another one right around the corner

Love your wristlet, I may have gotten something similar, will be to that point in my report soon

Only 8 days to go!

Ohhh boy, can't wait for that update. hehe

I don't know if I am going to go for the bag or the wristlet. It's our 10th anniversary so maybe I can talk Joe into the bag and the wristlet?

That sounds like a good idea. What a nice present that would be. I'll be curious to see what you end up with.

Cute wristlet. I wanted one of the brown bags so badly, but in the end, just like you, I just couldn't justify the cost. The wristlet is a good alternative!

Yeah, I really don't know why they have to be so expensive but maybe that is just me. I love my wristlet.

Yep, Wolfgang Puck Express. It's delish, but a bit on the expensive side if you do OOP (which, if I remember correctly - you guys always do - we almost always do too). EoS is such a good value.

I'm STILL thinking about that wristlet and how handy it would be for quick jaunts around the neighborhood, running errands-which I do all the time!! I haven't shown it to Joe yet. I think I'll send him a link...

LOL, that is funny! Have you dropped any hints yet?

 

[wdwgirl03]

Well, I think it is about time I finally wrap this thing up...almost 4 months later. LOL! So here we go, our real last day.

Monday, April 12, 2010

All too quickly, like always, our final day had arrived. Normally we get early flights out of Orlando but for this trip we got one a little later in the afternoon. Since we didn't have to be up we slept in a little bit. I think I was still up by 8:00 though. We still had to be checked out of the resort by 11 I think so we had to think of a way to occupy ourselves before the dreadful ME bus came. We ended up taking our bags down to the front desk to have them hold onto them until later. I took one last picture of the lobby...

Then we decided to head over to Epcot for a little bit. I thought it would be fun to look at the flowers one more time.

It was strange since that was the first time we had gone to a park and not been there at opening! The lines to get bags checked were a little bit longer but oh well, we weren't really in any hurry. We were just going to stroll around and soak up the sunshine before coming back home.

I can't remember the exact order but I know we went on Test Track. It ended up breaking down for a little bit but we were still able to ride.

We also walked through Pixie Hollow again and I got pictures of the rest of the fairies:

Fawn, the animal fairy.

Pretty flowers!

Iridessa, the light fairy.

More flowers...

We then headed over to World Showcase. It was such a beautiful day that even though we were leaving it was hard not to enjoy just being there. The flowers were great and the weather couldn't have been nicer. I wish we could've stayed longer but that's the way it goes. I loved the walkway leading into World Showcase...

I think we made the entire loop around, not really stopping for anything in particular so I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

We did stop at this little gift stand and got another gift for mom. No, it wasn't the Mickey gnome in the picture. Instead it was a really cute Tinkerbell windchime. We had thought about getting it earlier in the week and never picked it up but we thought she might like it.

More of the Chinese zodiac sculptures. This time I found the years for when my sisters were born: the year of the horse and the year of the rabbit. So funny reading them because they don't sound like us at all. haha

After completing the WS loop Dad said those dreaded words that we better start heading back to Kidani. So we said good bye to Epcot and went to wait for our bus. It sort of stunk since it was still fairly early, maybe around noon or so. I remember hearing one of the security guards saying to some other people "leaving already?!". Sigh. I got jealous of all the people walking in and just starting their days. Oh how I wish that could've been us.

When we got back to Kidani we picked up our bags from the desk and went to sit out on one of the balconies overlooking the savanna. I tried to take my mind off of leaving by doing a Sudoku book and telling myself we'd be back but it still is just depressing knowing you're about to leave.

Good-bye, savanna!

Good-bye, turtle!

And good-bye Kidani!

Soon our ME bus pulled up and it was time to head back to the airport. I nearly started crying when I heard one lady climb on and say "awww, everyone is ending their trips." It's just funny listening to other people who don't want to leave either. I know there was one other guy who said how a week without his laptop or whatever had been so nice. Why can't it just last forever? Sigh.

After making a couple stops we started the drive to Orlando International. I always hate watching the video they show (somehow it's not quite the same when you're leaving!) but you know how they show all the different events they have throughout the year? Rather than being sad, I really kind of enjoyed watching it and seeing all those great events. It brought back a lot of memories because we've been so fortunate to experience so many of them. That kind of cheered me up.

We made it to the airport safely and had an uneventful flight home. It was interesting though trying to get through security. Since it was later in the afternoon the airport was a lot busier. The "line" to get through security was insane! It wasn't even so much of a line, just a mass of people trying to push their way through to get in line. Good thing we had plenty of time!

A couple other funny things:
*at the gate when our plane got there a couple kids who were on our flight were literally sitting right by the door and were clapping and cheering when people were coming off the plane. LOL!

*Once we were on the plane there were these two girls sitting in the row in front and across from us who put these posters from one of those teenybopper magazines on their tray tables. I thought that was hilarious...so Justin Bieber and Taylor Lautner (the one dude from Twilight) kept them company.

Like I said the flight home was uneventful. We did experience a bit of drama when we got to the airport here because our luggage didn't make it home. Luckily they paged us as soon as we got to the baggage claim so we weren't waiting around for it and we were able to get it the next day. They just sent it on a later flight.

So, I guess that about wraps things up for this trip report. I'm sad to bring it to an end because it was a great trip. Stay tuned for final thoughts and the all important souvenirs!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Aww last day ):
When I went in April, I found my animal from the year I was born (I'm a rat... wow, lucky me) I actually fit it pretty well, which surprised me!
Too funny the girls infront of you had posters of Justin Bieber and Taylor Lautner; I'm not really a fan of either of them, I prefer Nick Jonas LOL