Stop and Smell the Roses But Watch Out for the Bees! July '12 It's a Wrap Folks! 2.23

[TinksThree]

Speaking of Middendorf's

Some of the best fried catfish around! Well....it used to be! Sighhhh

That was one of the first pictures I saw... You are so right: Some of the best catfish around!!

All right, here we go. Getting all caught up!

Wow, that's crazy that a policeman pulled up when you were loading the car! That is a way to make you feel safe for sure.

Definitely!!

Tolls are ridiculous. We paid one in France that was 14 euro!

A girl at work went to Switzerland a few weeks ago and was talking about the tolls! It was crazy!! The word "Toll Road" is becoming a bad word to me!!

Okay, I'll play the what if game, even though I know I'm late. I would pick the Grand Floridian Cafe. It's a really great location, the atmosphere is nice, and if you time it right, you can watch Wishes. (That might not be in the plan, but I'll got with it).

That wound up not being in the plan but I keep trying to find one more place that is just different! I am finding it hard to get things to fit into 4 full days! I guess I just need to plan another trip!!

Gotta love the Beach Club. Great place to start.

LOVED IT!! BC is a beautiful resort!!!

Mmmm. Everything at Cape May looks good. That was one ADR I lost last year that I really wanted to get back but I couldn't when I switched our dates around.

It was very good!! I actually considered it for a return visit in October but I am trying to get places not done before instead!

Room ready at 7:45am! That's a score for sure.

I was shocked! I think I asked her twice about it because I thought I heard her wrong!

I'm so excited for you having a F&W trip. You're going to have such a good time.

I have 54 days from today! I am so excited!! I keep looking over the checklist trying to plot out the "musts"!

You're going to love staying at POP. It's a great resort and I do love the food court for sure.

Glad to hear another positive! I hope to eat there and the AOA food court since they say it is good too!

Yay, Soarin'! Favorite ride at Epcot.

Oh yes!!

That Brave sand sculpture is so cool.

Those sand sculptures amaze me! I can barely make a single castle! It was very cool!!

That fish and chip debate is so funny. Chips in England are fries. I constantly had to remember that when I was there. Oh people confusing things.

So confusing! We should make it universal!! I get to confused as it is!!

OMG you got stung by a bee! I would be freaking out. They terrify me.

Me too! All summe rI have ran from bees! I never did that before!!

OH DEAR GOD! You just freaked me out with that picture of the hornet. Ggggaaaahhhhhh!!!! I'm brushing myself off furiously right now.

That thing looked fake! The stinger was so thick it was creepy! I took the picture and asked the guy to kindly remove it from my desk!!

That's awesome that you got in at Via Napoli on a walk up.

That pizza looks amazing!

The crowd levels were so low this day but I still wasn't sure if it would happen...glad it did!! That pizza was delicious!! I think of it every time I eat pizza at home now.

Wow, look at Keith getting all park hopping crazy. It's slowly but surely sinking in.

I think it is! You haven't seen anything yet with his Park Hopping, idea getting craziness!!

I wish Harrison Ford was actually there too. Circa Raider's of the Lost Ark.

Right! Definitely that circa!!

How is it out there in that newly discovered land mass? It's probably rough huh, being so new?

Yes it is pretty rough. Now we understand why we get stares when we say we're from Mississippi...we should have been saying Land Mass!!

Streetmosphere is one of my favorite things at DHS. It's so much fun.

I always want to stop but no one else did. I don't think they understood what I was getting at but now they do!! It is fun to stop and watch rather than running from here to there!

We used to hold our ankles on one of the roller coasters at Six Flags. It totally gives you a great amount of hang time.

We learned this trick in March and it was so cool! Love that hang time!!

I'm glad you guys enjoyed Ohana. In all my trips, we've never eaten dinner there before.

Oh you must try it!! I keep praying something opens up for October!

Wow that was some job catching up!!!

Never before have I even wanted to go near O'Hanas (always been a Kona girl), but your pictures make me want to try it next time. I wonder if I can request a table off to the side and out of the craziness.....that's why we never wanted to go there.

Hope you and your family are all safe and sound. Has Isaac moved out of town yet? (Sorry, we don't get much news of it up here in ME).

I bet you could request a table away from the madness. Ours was in a quiet area. Ohana's was so good!

We made it through Isaac okay! Some weren't so lucky and thankfully my parents wound up being okay after some stressful moments. We had lots of limbs and leaf debris to pick up but that is really nothing! Finally it is sunny but HOT!! I don't know why but after a hurricane the humidity and heat jump up and we are swarmed with annoying little black "love" bugs! I guess it is that gulf "breeze" bringing it in! ME is a goal of mine to visit! The pictures always look so amazing!

Poor Middendorf's. Makes me so sad anytime I see them flood from a bad storm. Hopefully, they'll be able to bounce back like they have in the past.

Me too!!

Glad you liked 'Ohana! We tried it for the first time on our trip as well. I agree about the pot stickers! They were definitely my favorite! Yum! I found the recipe for the bread pudding when we got back too. I'm hoping to give it a try sometime this month!!

Ohana's lives up to the hype in our opinion! I had the recipe ingredients written down to get Saturday and left my list. Winged it and forgot items! So now the bread pudding must wait...was hoping to do it today!

 

[TinksThree]

After stuffing ourselves senseless at Ohana's, we waddled to the monorail and went back to the resort via Magic Kingdom and the buses. Now it was still kind of early—6:30pm. MK had EMH PM so Madison and Chris planned to hit the EMH. Keith and I planned to go to Epcot and then to Jellyrolls.

What really happened?

First we head back to the resort

and since Madison could not wait to get to the room, she and I make a stop in the lobby for her to visit the restroom. While I wait, I take some pictures of my surroundings!

SCAT CATS

INSIDE THE REGISTRATION AREA

THE "COURTYARD" AREA FROM THE REGISTRATION AREA

Exiting the building, we head to our room...

THE POOL'S SLIDE

I wound up with a lot of pictures of this fountain and later you will begin to see why.

Continued in the next post...

 

[TinksThree]

Back at the room…Keith wanted to rest for a while so he laid down and promptly fell asleep. Madison and Chris finally left for MK around 8pm while Keith was snoring but he heard them getting ready to leave. I decided to go to MK since he was sleeping…..but then he woke up. After a discussion, Madison and Chris head out and Keith and I decide to forgo Epcot and The Boardwalk/Jellyrolls. I really wanted to do that but I tried my best not to show my disappointment! Keith and I head to the boat dock and make our way to DTD.

For Madison and Chris’ part of the evening: they rode the three mountains and got crammed in by the crowds for the fireworks. I still have to teach them something about touring since they spent 70 minutes in line for Space Mtn!! Oh, and they missed the fireworks since they were in line for Space! They returned to the resort about 12:30pm so the PM EMH wasn’t much of a thrill for them. I think I need to go with them next time to show them the ropes!! Also they were supposed to take pictures for me to use in this TR…..Here are those pictures…….

Right my kids remembering to do that task? Actually they got several Photopass pictures but in the end we only had 20, even if I did a lot of designing and made more it wasn't worth the $$$$ to get the cd. They failed to hand over their own cameras as I had asked!

Oh wait! I found a couple of pictures Chris took with his phone:

So I kind of had that task taken care of!

Meanwhile Keith and I arrive at DTD with no real agenda.

We walk and walk and walk. We walk through Marketplace. We stopped briefly to watch some guy doing some type of dance contest with kids….bored we moved on. Plus it was beyond crowded and I do not like crowds!! We make our way to Pleasure Island…..boring again! Finally we make it to the West Side.

There was a guy playing a guitar and we stopped and listened for a while. He was very, very good.

Eventually we decide to leave…we are such party animals. Maybe I just didn’t know where to go and not be bored?? I need to investigate better next time! I had really planned on being at The Boardwalk and knew all about that!


We love Forrest Gump and I have seen pictures of the Jenny in other TRs so we make our way to Planet Hollywood.

I take a picture of The Jenny

and then I notice these trees across the way:

It isn’t good because it was so dark in that area but those little white dots were hundreds (and I mean hundreds) of white birds roosting!!!

We go to the bus stop and are in our room by 10:30pm…see we are wild and crazy party animals!!!!

Arriving back at the resort...

Then we called it a night!!

Next up: Sleep In day because we were all supposed to have been out LATE the night before! And aside from sleeping in and a dinner show, we have no other plans!!

 

[shan23877]

I'm so sorry that you didn't make it to the Boardwalk and Jellyrolls! At least it's super convenient to get to DTD from POFQ!

Poor kids should listen to their mom if they want to make the most of EMH! They probably enjoyed being off on their own though!

Your photos are making me miss POFQ! I really loved it there, but then I loved CBR and the BWI too I'm not sure if I'll ever have a favorite resort.

 

[amandaw]

Awww, sorry you didn't get to go to Jellyrolls!

You'll definitely have to join the kids for EMHs next time! They need to learn how to make the most of that time.

Can't wait to hear how the next day panned out.

 

[TinksThree]

I'm so sorry that you didn't make it to the Boardwalk and Jellyrolls! At least it's super convenient to get to DTD from POFQ!

Poor kids should listen to their mom if they want to make the most of EMH! They probably enjoyed being off on their own though!

Your photos are making me miss POFQ! I really loved it there, but then I loved CBR and the BWI too I'm not sure if I'll ever have a favorite resort.

I was slightly disappointed in not making it over to the Boardwalk area! The ease of hopping on the boat versus getting to the Boardwalk was our deciding factor!

When they told me what they had (or had not) done I couldn't believe it!

I see those pictures and I really wish I were there now! But I know what you mean about a lot of the resorts being a favorite until I see soemthing from another! I am helping my aunt plan a trip next year and I warned her about that in researching the resort options!

Awww, sorry you didn't get to go to Jellyrolls!

You'll definitely have to join the kids for EMHs next time! They need to learn how to make the most of that time.

Can't wait to hear how the next day panned out.

I hope to squeeze in Jellyrolls this October...maybe! I have learned to not plan too much! I definitely need to coach those kids some more!!

 

[solana131]

You got some great shots of the grounds at FQ. I never remember to take pics of the resort. This time around I did remember to take a few pics of our room, but not much of FQ out and about. And I love the pictures you took at night. FQ looks so great from the river with all the lights on. That's one thing Disney does great...night lighting.

ME is a goal of mine to visit! The pictures always look so amazing!

Well anytime you want to come visit, I'll show you around. I've lived here all my life. I've travelled quite a bit, all over the world and there is just nothing that holds a candle to Maine. We have the mountains, ocean, lakes and rivers all in one small area. We are fast approaching my favorite time of the year here....fall! It is so pretty with the leaves changing and the weather getting cooler. I love it!

 

[sherylcin]

Awww, it's too bad you didn't make it to the Boardwalk but that just leaves something on the list for next time! Gotta admit that when I'm at DD, it's usually for the shopping. Although we've walked over to the West End before, it's been to eat at Wolfgang's or some other mission. Too bad it wasn't more entertaining. What's at Pleasure Island now? Anything?

Funny about the kids standing in long lines and taking no pictures. Apparently they need more training which means more Disney trips!!

Don't blame you about the Photopass. I didn't buy the one from Ashton's trip in February either and for the same reason. Not enough pics to make it worthwhile. Now when we go in January 2013 with everyone, I think I'm going to go with the new Photopass +. Sounds like a great deal for our big family and we're doing several of the meals where they take pictures so I think it's a big WIN!

Waiting to hear how relaxing your next day was...........

 

[TinksThree]

You got some great shots of the grounds at FQ. I never remember to take pics of the resort. This time around I did remember to take a few pics of our room, but not much of FQ out and about. And I love the pictures you took at night. FQ looks so great from the river with all the lights on. That's one thing Disney does great...night lighting.

Thanks! My family thinks I take too many pictures! But I like to look back and pretend I am there some days!! I agree about the night lighting! It is amazing the mood that one simple act can set!

Well anytime you want to come visit, I'll show you around. I've lived here all my life. I've travelled quite a bit, all over the world and there is just nothing that holds a candle to Maine. We have the mountains, ocean, lakes and rivers all in one small area. We are fast approaching my favorite time of the year here....fall! It is so pretty with the leaves changing and the weather getting cooler. I love it!

We adore the outdoors and I think that is one reason I am so drawn to that area! Plus we have nothing like that around here. Well, we have lakes and oceans and mountains but it is spread out and just doesn't look the same! Fall is the time I would want m first visit!! Fall is just my favorite time of the year!

Awww, it's too bad you didn't make it to the Boardwalk but that just leaves something on the list for next time! Gotta admit that when I'm at DD, it's usually for the shopping. Although we've walked over to the West End before, it's been to eat at Wolfgang's or some other mission. Too bad it wasn't more entertaining. What's at Pleasure Island now? Anything?

Funny about the kids standing in long lines and taking no pictures. Apparently they need more training which means more Disney trips!!

Don't blame you about the Photopass. I didn't buy the one from Ashton's trip in February either and for the same reason. Not enough pics to make it worthwhile. Now when we go in January 2013 with everyone, I think I'm going to go with the new Photopass +. Sounds like a great deal for our big family and we're doing several of the meals where they take pictures so I think it's a big WIN!

Waiting to hear how relaxing your next day was...........

We have only gone to DTD for eating and shopping too up until this trip. Pleasure Island didn't have anything going on. We thought about going to a movie but it was $12 or $15 a person and at the time there wasn't anything interesting enough to pay that much money! For the October trip I hope Splitsville is open and we may try it out! We like to bowl and it looks a little different than your typical bowling alley. And Boardwalk is definitely on the plans for October! We'll see if Jellyrolls makes the cut!

I have got to get those kids trained better....more trips sounds like just the right way to train!!

I had considered the PPP due to the restaurants and ride photos but by the end of the trip, I still don't think that would have been worth it. I am thinking I may have to coerce Keith into getting pictures in October since it will be just the two of us!!

 

[TinksThree]

Monday, July 9, 2012

Monday is one of our “free” days. We have two, the other one is on Wednesday. I had planned this day since I figured we would be tired from the previous night’s adventures! Everyone sleeps in but me. I am almost always an early riser mostly due to a little Jack Russell that insists on going out when the sun rises. That means my body clock is pretty much set for early rising—no matter how much sleep I did (or didn’t) get! I enjoy the quiet moments anyway so it isn’t that bad, and since I am not a morning person it allows me to get rid of the morning grumpies before others wake. Of course when I am at Disney those morning grumpies quickly dissolve!!!

On this particular morning I woke up around 6:45am. I had planned on a morning walk anyhow and quickly grabbed the things I had set aside the night before and head out! Aside from several runners, I am all alone. The runners made me feel guilty that I was leisurely wandering with a bulky camera….but I got over it! Warning: HEAVY on resort pics!!

Since we were right next to the Sassagoula River, that was the direction I headed. I found a bench and sat for a few moments.

Then I made my way along the pathway to Riverside. Since we were in Building 1 our location was about as far away from Riverside as I could get. The round trip would have been around 20 minutes walking moderately had I not made stops. It is a beautiful walk also! So here are some pictures along the way….

The sun begins to rise above the treetops!

The bridge that "separates" POR and POFQ...

The mansions….

I make my way to the Sassagoula Steamboat Company………..

This area is probably one of my favorites. It just seems so quaint and lovely. In many ways it makes my imagination a reality of how areas along the Mississippi should be…not how they really are!



Continued in the next post...

 

[TinksThree]

I cross over the bridge by Ol Man River Island. Which way to go???

This is the pool of my choice! We never come down this way to swim when at POFQ but I prefer it over the one at POFQ. Maybe it just seems more “grown-up”…not sure. I also like the quiet pools around POR. Those are nice places to relax without the hustle and bustle of the main pools.

Now it is time to make a return trip to POFQ. I cross the Sassagoula River Bridge and walk along the mansions' side. There was a family that was boating and stopped to try their luck at fishing. To me the fishing part would be boring since it is catch and release. If I go fishing I want Keith to clean those suckers so we can have a good ole fish fry!!! The boating part looked nice though and it was a beautiful morning that had started off semi-cool but the humidity was quickly building!

Further down the trail I pass one of the mansions and a mother/daughter photo session (mom was taking the photos). I snapped a picture (not one I will post since I don’t know the people) just to show Madison I am not weird with my picture taking! I later deleted the unneeded picture once my point was made! It was at this gazebo though!

Reaching the end of the mansion section, I cross back over the Sassagoula River and make my way back to POFQ.

Soon I am back to French Quarter and this time I cut through the paths around the buildings...

Seeing this gives me an idea..

I love Magnolias! Maybe because I grew up in a town with that name but it just seems so Southern to me!!

Almost back to the room...

Continued in the following post

 

[TinksThree]

Can you tell I liked the view from our room? How many times have you seen this picture!?

Back at the room, I discover three people still sleeping! This is around 8am so I decide to change into my swimsuit and head to the pool. It is deserted except for maybe 4-5 other people. I read my book and try to ignore the annoying power washer going non-stop in the bar area—which was right behind me.

Giving up on that I move down a little and can hear some of the jazz music being played (I love jazz! ). I swim some, read some, and then Keith calls…they are awake and hungry. I head back to the room and we fix breakfast.

I have become aware that what I am now about to say actually implicates me in illegal activity but since I never truly hid the illegal item (but it wasn’t in plain view as some fellow Disser’s got in trouble for….) and nothing was said, I did not realize you couldn’t bring certain items into the rooms until planning this upcoming trip and seeing a “Not Allowed” listing. Curiosity up yet?

Well, as a cost cutting measure one thing we had planned was eating breakfast in our room and since we aren’t big breakfast eaters, nothing fancy was really needed! We had little boxes of cereal, frozen sausage/biscuits that survived the week in the refrigerator, fruit and makings for waffles…so I brought along a waffle maker. Little did I know you aren’t supposed to bring any type of cooking devices. My biggest complaint on the moderates ( and even worse at the values) is that microwaves aren’t provided when you get that at other less expensive hotels but that is another gripe for another day)!

I make waffles for everyone and we make waffles reminiscent of the ones at Sleepy Hollow. Madison and I had the Nutella waffle in March and fell in love with it! No bananas due to it is summer and I can’t fathom having bananas in a hot car! Makes me car sick imagining the smell! But we did have strawberries and blueberries. Also we had leftover watermelon from July 4th celebrations so this was what my plate looked like:

The guys added in the sausage and biscuits that Chris had taken to the food court to heat. This was the basis of every morning with cereal thrown in on some days for good measure. The waffle iron cools quickly and clean-up was very minimal!

With our (at least partly) illegal breakfast now over we all head down to the pool. By this time it is around 9:30am. We swim for 45 minutes or so and decide to head to DTD for lunch.

Next up: Part 2 of a "Free Day"!!

 

[shan23877]

Love all of the resort pics! POR is on my list of 'maybe's for the next trip (princess room of course). I haven't seen many pics of that resort, so I was really happy to see yours.

I love being up and around the resort so early. (and I'm not a morning person either). It's so peaceful out there almost all alone. A nice way to start the day when you know you'll be facing the Disney crowds.

That waffle looks great! I didn't know it was illegal. Thank goodness you didn't bring an iron.

 

[sherylcin]

Thank you for the LOVELY morning walk. Your pictures are amazing!! There is just nothing like a beautiful Disney resort for theming is there?!? I also noted that (at roughly 7:00 am) there is almost noone else in your pictures. Even the pool is quiet! We stayed at PO Riverside last year for one night and I thought the grounds were beautiful but we didn't have enough time to really explore much.

I think you're off to a great start for your quiet day even if you are now a lawbreaker on the loose. That illegal waffle did look very yummy I have to say. I knew that was Nutella on there even before I read your description. My opinion is anything with Nutella on it is wonderful!! I can't wait to try that Waffle treat at Sleepy Hollow! (P.S. at least Security didn't confiscate your (waffle) iron like someone else we know on their cruise!)

 

[mickeystoontown]

I really really enjoyed your walk around the Port Orleans resorts. The grounds are so well maintained and pretty.

Oh Lord have mercy! We have another lawbreaker on our hands and I am feeling the kinship. I bring an iron on a cruise and you bring a wafflemaker to use in your resort room. We Southern girls sure do know how to break the rules.

 

[TinksThree]

Love all of the resort pics! POR is on my list of 'maybe's for the next trip (princess room of course). I haven't seen many pics of that resort, so I was really happy to see yours.

I love being up and around the resort so early. (and I'm not a morning person either). It's so peaceful out there almost all alone. A nice way to start the day when you know you'll be facing the Disney crowds.

That waffle looks great! I didn't know it was illegal. Thank goodness you didn't bring an iron.

We haven't stayed at a lot of different resorts: All-Star Sports which was not great and then POR/POFQ. POR is/was our favorite but POFQ has quickly grown on us! I am anxious to see how POP measures up. I am just glad Keith is getting interested in the deluxe resorts!!

I remember your morning CBR pics and it brought to mind my morning. It really is a great, peaceful way to begin a Disney day! Funny how I hate getting up at the same time at home!

Those waffles are so easy (and delicious!) and has become a Saturday morning favorite!! I wonder if waffle irons are misdemeanors and irons are felonies?!

Thank you for the LOVELY morning walk. Your pictures are amazing!! There is just nothing like a beautiful Disney resort for theming is there?!? I also noted that (at roughly 7:00 am) there is almost noone else in your pictures. Even the pool is quiet! We stayed at PO Riverside last year for one night and I thought the grounds were beautiful but we didn't have enough time to really explore much.

I think you're off to a great start for your quiet day even if you are now a lawbreaker on the loose. That illegal waffle did look very yummy I have to say. I knew that was Nutella on there even before I read your description. My opinion is anything with Nutella on it is wonderful!! I can't wait to try that Waffle treat at Sleepy Hollow! (P.S. at least Security didn't confiscate your (waffle) iron like someone else we know on their cruise!)

I am so glad you enjoyed the morning walk in pictures! It was an "ahhhhh" morning. So relaxing and it was wonderful how quiet it was around the resort! This day is just one that goes done in the "good memories" book!

Isn't Nutella so good!? It even make plain toast yummy!! I am just a sneakier criminal than some people I suppose!!

I really really enjoyed your walk around the Port Orleans resorts. The grounds are so well maintained and pretty.

Oh Lord have mercy! We have another lawbreaker on our hands and I am feeling the kinship. I bring an iron on a cruise and you bring a wafflemaker to use in your resort room. We Southern girls sure do know how to break the rules.

So happy you enjoyed the little "walk"!! The grounds are like a lovely Southern Plantation. It amazes me how in one small area of Florida they can have the Caribbean, a Southwestern desert, a Southern plantation, an African savannah...well you get the idea!! And they are all lovely in their own way!!

Yes we are partners in crime. We may need to enter into a protection service. I wonder if I pictures holding the incriminating evidence is now posted behind the resort check-in desk (like at Chinese restaurants)! Southern Girls are Rebellious!! You have to watch out for us!!

 

[amandaw]

Your resort pictures are really lovely. Everything is so pretty and calm. It was very relaxing to look at - and I needed something relaxing tonight. Sounds like you had a wonderful start to your day!

That waffle looks very good.....even if it is illegal. Glad the Disney police didn't take you to Disney jail. Although....Disney jail doesn't sound too terrible.

 

[TinksThree]

Your resort pictures are really lovely. Everything is so pretty and calm. It was very relaxing to look at - and I needed something relaxing tonight. Sounds like you had a wonderful start to your day!

That waffle looks very good.....even if it is illegal. Glad the Disney police didn't take you to Disney jail. Although....Disney jail doesn't sound too terrible.

Glad you enjoyed those pictures! I was having an EXTREMEMLY bad day yesterday and decided to post these pictures...made me feel a lot better!!

I'm glad those Disney police didn't find me!! My luck Disney jail would be non-stop "Stitch's Great Escape"!

And I saw you're going to HDDR! I have GOT to get to your PTR but my next post should be on HDDR!! Funny it was Ohana and now HDDR!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

My mom never sleeps in either. I think it's a mom thing. When we went to the Dominican, for a beach do nothing vacation, she was up at like 5:30am every day, just to claim our beach chairs. I am so not like that.

I just love all of the early morning pictures, but I know for a fact you will not be seeing any from me.

There is no such thing as excessive / unnecessary picture taking. Especially at Disney.

Ooohh, contraband waffle maker! I had no idea. You just gave me some new information.

 

[solana131]

Love all the pics....ahhhhh, brings me right back

And I just had to comment on the pressure washer thing. Wow was that annoying! Do they really need to do that every single morning around the entire resort?? I mean, it is wonderful that they keep things so clean and I'm sure I would be one of the first people to complain if it was dirty, but every day? Maybe every other day would be okay....or just "spot cleaning". We were right across the courtyard from you in Building 2 on the end that is closest to Building 1. I loved that pretty fountain in front of us, but we could never sit and enjoy it because whenever it wasn't 195 degrees out, they were pressure washing. Really annoying.....

Okay, rant over