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

[saintstickets]

Tinks....you gonna make it to the Hub City Saturday for the DIS meet up?

 

[amandaw]

Awww...I'm sorry y'all didn't love the dinner at Kona. We've had dinner there before & really enjoyed it. I did have the coconut chicken and Ed had the Teriyaki steak. I hear breakfast is even better though! I have it on my tentative ADR list for December.

How cool that y'all got to all 4 parks that day!

 

[shan23877]

Uggghhh. I didn't know I was so far behind! I would love to attempt all 4 parks in one day when Maddie's older. Seems like a fun goal.

Too bad about Kona. I guess you never know until you try though. I really have no desire to eat there, I'm with you on 'Ohana.

Yeah for Keith talking both in terns of "next time" and Deluxes! You're converting him for sure!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Well shoot! I hate that the Kona dinner didn't live up to your expectations. I'm always afraid that will happen to us. At least you know that you've tried it and, like you said, if you ever go back, you know what not to order.

 

[sherylcin]

Very cool that I guessed right! However, not cool that your dinner was just ok. I haven't eaten there yet but have also read lots of good reviews. Congrats on achieving your goal of 4 parks in one day! Makes for an exciting last day!! Kind of sad that your TR is almost done. You'll have to plan a new trip really soon!!!

 

[TinksThree]

Tinks....you gonna make it to the Hub City Saturday for the DIS meet up?

I haven't been on the Dis Boards lately and just saw the PM last night... I see it is at lunch. Madison has a soccer game at 11:30am Saturday so I am not going to be able to drive down. This is a rescheduled game from pre-holidays when I thought I had nothing going on. I hate to miss out!!

Awww...I'm sorry y'all didn't love the dinner at Kona. We've had dinner there before & really enjoyed it. I did have the coconut chicken and Ed had the Teriyaki steak. I hear breakfast is even better though! I have it on my tentative ADR list for December.

How cool that y'all got to all 4 parks that day!

I really want to try breakfast there first. I am leaning towards it being a combination of factors as to why it wasn't enjoyable. I am not writing Kona off but I will approach it differently next time. And the coconut chicken was very good! It was fun doing the 4 Parks in 1 Day and especially since we never intended on doing it, it just happened!

Uggghhh. I didn't know I was so far behind! I would love to attempt all 4 parks in one day when Maddie's older. Seems like a fun goal.

Too bad about Kona. I guess you never know until you try though. I really have no desire to eat there, I'm with you on 'Ohana.

Yeah for Keith talking both in terns of "next time" and Deluxes! You're converting him for sure!

I keep falling behind. I catch up and then it is suddenly two weeks later! "UGH" is right! I had heard so many good things on Kona but Ohana definitely reigns superior for us! Doing 4 parks in 1 day is much easier than I ever thought! Hopefully you can do it one day. I think my teens really liked doing that!

He is coming around for sure! He keeps mentioning "well plan a trip" but we have several places we want to go not Disney and we keep going back and forth. I really want to go at the holidays and keep telling him that is my next goal for when we make a trip. Secretly, I am hoping for this coming Christmas!

Well shoot! I hate that the Kona dinner didn't live up to your expectations. I'm always afraid that will happen to us. At least you know that you've tried it and, like you said, if you ever go back, you know what not to order.

I know! I keep going back to tried and true places because of my fear that I will try something and be so disappointed in it! It seems like every trip we have one of those experiences! But I will try it again because I think we had factors like being tied to a strict budget and being tired working against us on this visit.

 

[TinksThree]

Very cool that I guessed right! However, not cool that your dinner was just ok. I haven't eaten there yet but have also read lots of good reviews. Congrats on achieving your goal of 4 parks in one day! Makes for an exciting last day!! Kind of sad that your TR is almost done. You'll have to plan a new trip really soon!!!

You did very well guessing on that one! I tried to make my review of that night reflect that particular experience and not the restaurant as a whole. I definitely would encourage someone to try it but maybe not as a first choice. (At least not yet! I hope to try it again one day!) This TR is quickly coming to an end but I still have several posts left to go! And of course I am working on the one from October too but hopefully I can begin planning a new trip soon. I am working with my aunt right now for a trip in May. She and my uncle are taking their two sons and their wives for the first time since 1983! I was on the phone last night helping her pick a resort and that was almost as fun as planning my own...almost!

 

[TinksThree]

It is very close to 9pm and as we head down Main Street it is very crowded. The Memories, the Magic and You show is beginning and locate a spot close to Casey’s. We manage to squeeze in and I get a few pictures but from this angle and distance I found it hard to take pictures that I was pleased with.

I think Keith actually enjoyed watching the fireworks this time around since I had tried to push on past the crowds and it was his suggestion to stop and watch!

After Wishes had ended we headed towards Adventureland in search of something to ride!! We wind up finding ourselves in search of treasure and fending off pirates!

Continued in the following post....

 

[TinksThree]

We exit POTC and begin a search for our next adventure.

Then we decide one more ride before calling it a day…a very, very long day!! Yes!! Jungle Cruise is our next destination!!

We had a wonderful CM on our cruise! We love hokeyness so this ride is right up our alley!! I did not take many pictures and rather chose to enjoy the ride.

We finish up our cruise and decide to head back to the resort. It is after 10pm by this time and we have been going strong for 16 hours!!

One last view of the castle..."sniff, sniff"....

The crowds are building for the parade:

I have to get one more balloon picture....

As we head out, the Main Street Electrical Parade is in progress. While we wait for the CM to allow us to cross the street I get to take a few pictures.

I love this parade but Keith does not like parades (surprised??) so I do not get to see this much when he is around. You grab every opportunity you can get!!

We load on the bus and head back to POFQ. This isn't a great picture but I like it all the same so I am sharing!!

We get back to the resort and crash! It has been one long and eventful day!! And tomorrow, we head home…

 

[sherylcin]

Whew! Now that was a loonngg day but a perfect ending to a WDW vacation! I never ever get tired of seeing nighttime castle or fireworks pictures. Yours never disappoint!! Nice that you got to do a couple of rides and even see some of the Electrical Parade. I think it's so much fun to help someone plan a Disney trip. Almost as much fun as planning your own!!!

Hope you all slept in the next day at least a little!

 

[amandaw]

Love all your MK pics!

Sounds like it was a great ending to the day....and the trip!

I love the Jungle Cruise so much. I don't think I've ever gone on it at night though. Must do that sometime!

I'm so sad that it was y'alls last day! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

 

[TinksThree]

Whew! Now that was a loonngg day but a perfect ending to a WDW vacation! I never ever get tired of seeing nighttime castle or fireworks pictures. Yours never disappoint!! Nice that you got to do a couple of rides and even see some of the Electrical Parade. I think it's so much fun to help someone plan a Disney trip. Almost as much fun as planning your own!!!

Hope you all slept in the next day at least a little!

I was a very long day and at the end of it, I was amazed at how much we got done and never felt rushed!

Thanks...so happy you enjoy looking at my fireworks pictures! I am having lots of fun helping my aunt! And, yes, we were in no hurry the next morning. I don't think any of us were really ready to leave!

Love all your MK pics!

Sounds like it was a great ending to the day....and the trip!

I love the Jungle Cruise so much. I don't think I've ever gone on it at night though. Must do that sometime!

I'm so sad that it was y'alls last day! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

I know!! Last days are so sad!!! And at that time I did not know I would be going back so soon! Jungle Cruise is really neat at night. It has a completely different perspective! Same jokes and scenery but the vibe is different. Hopefully you can try it one day soon!

 

[Angies1274]

Hmm...I thought I had replied to your AK day. Especially since we were there that morning and I remember those tour groups. But...Yay for seeing DeVine! We still haven't seen her yet.

Great pictures in the WS and DHS! for riding ToT twice!!!

Sorry about Kona. I have been wanting to try it there for the longest time...maybe we'll just stick to breakfast.

So glad you made it to Magic Kingdom! (4 parks in one day!!) A perfect way to end the day and your trip!!!

 

[TinksThree]

Hmm...I thought I had replied to your AK day. Especially since we were there that morning and I remember those tour groups. But...Yay for seeing DeVine! We still haven't seen her yet.

Great pictures in the WS and DHS! for riding ToT twice!!!

Sorry about Kona. I have been wanting to try it there for the longest time...maybe we'll just stick to breakfast.

So glad you made it to Magic Kingdom! (4 parks in one day!!) A perfect way to end the day and your trip!!!

I do that a lot...think I have responded and then I am like

We had so much fun doing the 4 parks in one day! It was really a neat way to end the trip since we just hit some good highlights in each park!

Kona wasn't terrible but definitely could have been much better!

 

[TinksThree]

Saturday, July 14, 2012


We wake up and are not in a hurry. We linger around getting dressed and loading up the car. I take a few last resort pictures:

The family is getting impatient with dear ol' mom!!

Then we head into the Jackson Square gift shop to make some last minute purchases (because if you recall I kept saying “I’ll grab that later!”).

From the car....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then we are on the road! La Nouba…one day I WILL see this show!!

But I want to follow THIS sign!!

We were all sad we weren’t on this bus….

Because Epcot is where I want to be going, not Mississippi!!! (Uhm, please ignore the fact that we really didn't want to leave, and yes that really is the Epcot parking area.....)

I hope to “See Ya Real Soon!” too Mickey!!

We had a pretty drive out of Orlando….

We did not eat breakfast and Keith said he had found a place for lunch….

But I nix that idea real quick, so we keep driving and stop for lunch in Gainesville at Steak and Shake. This is a great place to eat! If you are ever near one, I suggest stopping!!

Our food!! Very yummy burgers and fries!! There are zero fat grams or calories in this meal! I promise!!!!

Continued in the next post....

 

[TinksThree]

A few pictures of the ride home. ….

We got to Pensacola and the Pensacola Bay Bridge

Then we stop at the rest area. I love the Blue Angels! So I always like taking a picture of this plane!

We never ran into any rain (except a 20 minute downpour in Mobile) or bad weather although the clouds kept making us think we would. So I took pictures of the cloud formations we saw.

And this one of the sun getting ready to set as we got closer to Hattiesburg!! Almost home!

By this time I suppose you can tell I was getting slightly bored! The drive home seems so much faster. We left at 10am and we were home around 9pm. That isn’t too bad!

And finally the few little souvenirs I managed to bring home!!

A cookie cutter!

A cutting board for my Mom as a Thank You for keeping my little doggie!

A Mickey frame to hold our family picture from Hoop Dee Doo!!

And sadly that was it!!!


Well, now you have followed us through 4 Days, 4 Parks and 4 Years in a Row. We have made it to WDW for the last 4 years, we went to all 4 Parks and we even made it to all 4 Parks in ONE day (aside from us having 4 day military park hopper tickets)! Before I do my final wrap-up though, I want to share about my final “4” for the 2012 year.

Remember that break I had when I was so busy around Thanksgiving? We went to Gatlinburg for Thanksgiving and we had to come home for me to prepare for a work conference that was in ORLANDO!!!!!

Well, who can go to Orlando and NOT go to Walt Disney World? Not me!!!!!

So stick around cause the "fat lady ain't sang yet!!!"

 

[saintstickets]

We did not eat breakfast and Keith said he had found a place for lunch….

But I nix that idea real quick, so we keep driving and stop for lunch in Gainesville at Steak and Shake. This is a great place to eat! If you are ever near one, I suggest stopping!!

ROFLMAO!! The last time DW and I were by ourselves on a WDW trip, on the return trip, I pulled off at that exit without saying a word to DW. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see "the look" forming. As I pulled into the parking lot, my sweet, shy wife of 30 years quietly said, "What the H*LL are you doing?!" No smile, no grin...I said, "I needed to go to the bathroom. You coming in?" With the same voice that our kids knew it was time to listen to mama, "You can just hold it until we get down the road to some other place!" I couldn't hold it in any longer...I burst out laughing and did as I was told, I pulled out of the parking lot and back on the interstate. I needed a hidden video camera. We surely would have won AFV.

And this one of the sun getting ready to set as we got closer to Hattiesburg!! Almost home!

And you didn't stop and say hi....AGAIN?! I know...by this time you are ready to get home. It happens to us on this side of Mobile when we cross the AL/MS line.

Great TR Tinks....as usual. Can't wait for your next one. I hope you'll be able to make our next MS meetup!

 

[amandaw]

Awww....I'm so sad that y'alls trip is over!

Thank you for letting us relive your family trip with you. I thoroughly enjoyed your Trip Report.

And I can't wait for the next one!!

 

[TinksThree]

ROFLMAO!! The last time DW and I were by ourselves on a WDW trip, on the return trip, I pulled off at that exit without saying a word to DW. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see "the look" forming. As I pulled into the parking lot, my sweet, shy wife of 30 years quietly said, "What the H*LL are you doing?!" No smile, no grin...I said, "I needed to go to the bathroom. You coming in?" With the same voice that our kids knew it was time to listen to mama, "You can just hold it until we get down the road to some other place!" I couldn't hold it in any longer...I burst out laughing and did as I was told, I pulled out of the parking lot and back on the interstate. I needed a hidden video camera. We surely would have won AFV.

That is hilarious!! Yep...I can see that same conversation in our car!!


And you didn't stop and say hi....AGAIN?! I know...by this time you are ready to get home. It happens to us on this side of Mobile when we cross the AL/MS line.

Great TR Tinks....as usual. Can't wait for your next one. I hope you'll be able to make our next MS meetup!

We keep passing right on through don't we?! When we get to Hattiesburg we can see the finish line! Glad you enjoyed the TR! I hope I can make it to the next meetup as well!!

Awww....I'm so sad that y'alls trip is over!

Thank you for letting us relive your family trip with you. I thoroughly enjoyed your Trip Report.

And I can't wait for the next one!!

The end of TRs are always so sad!! I am so glad you enjoyed reading along. This one has just a bit more to go to be 100% complete!!

 

[TinksThree]

A Mini-TR within my "big" TR!!

The conference was actually held at The Peabody on International Blvd. It is right next to the Orlando Convention Center which is a pretty cool architectural design in itself. I took no pictures at the conference site since that would seem peculiar. I also never saw the ducks but then I have been to The Peabody in Memphis and seen them there. The Peabody is a nice hotel and a great conference location but boy is it big!! I walked from one conference room to another almost as much as walking in a Disney park!

A little background first. The conference had several hotels with blocked rooms but as we were trying to decide which one to stay at, I got a room only discount for Disney. We all discussed it and decided since the price difference was basically $75 a night at Disney vs. $175 a night at the available conference hotel, we would go with Disney! We were renting a car anyhow and the drive was literally 15-20 minutes. It was easy to and from and no traffic on any of our days! Obviously with $75 a night we stayed at a Value Resort. We had the choice between POP and All-Star Music. Since I was staying at POP in October, we chose ASMusic—one which I can now mark off my list.

I had stayed at AS-Sports in 2009 and it was okay but not much more than that. ASMusic was eh. The rooms are clean so that is a plus. But I will come back to that. Let me tell you about who went. It was me and three co-workers. One is a Disney regular and loves it as much as I do!! However, she has never stayed on property due to the size of her family. The other two (1 male, 1 female) have never been to Disney at all. We are all roughly the same age. The “newbies” were game for whatever and we were certain we wanted to do MVMCP! I have never been at Christmas but Christmas is my GOAL!!!! Especially now!

I seem to be jumping around a bit so now I will go back to the beginning. I am going to do this as a brief mini-TR.

Monday, November 26, 2012

We flew down and this was my first time to fly into Orlando. It really wasn’t bad at all—I mean getting around the airport. We left in a storm but that wasn’t bad and thankfully I am not afraid of flying. We land, hop on the shuttle and soon we are gathering our bags. We had reserved a rental car from Advantage for $10 a day. I had never heard of them but after exploring a little bit I felt comfortable in making the reservation. They are actually a part of Hertz. The one issue we ran into was we could not understand them at all! I walked away a little afraid of what I had signed off on but in the end all seems to have been okay. Also, we got a free upgrade! That is always a plus!

We head out in search of the car, hop on an escalator, go outside, cross a street, up an elevator and walk a mile to the backside of the parking garage where we finally find our car. We load up exhausted from the hike and ready to get to our rooms!! We find our way to ASMusic with few problems and then we go inside to check-in. From the time we landed (4:25pm Eastern) until we finalize our check-in (6:30pm) is right at 2 hours. Check-in was a little long due to having four rooms to take care of so I suppose 2 hours is okay.

We are tired and decide to find our room and head off for food.

Now I will give my view of the resort and then the view point of those who have never stayed on property!

Mine: After staying at POP just one month prior and being used to Moderate resorts, all I can say is this place is clean and it has a really cute layout. Maybe the fact that our room was as far back on the property as you could get and a good way away from the nearest parking lot had something to do with this but oh.my.goodness!!! If I was using Disney buses the whole time…that was a trek!!! Just getting to our car was a hike. It was very quiet in the back 40 though!

The rooms were plain and I chose to not have Mousekeeping come every day since it was just me. Even with that I got towels left at my door midway through the week and a knock on my door Thursday afternoon to be sure all was okay and I didn’t need anything. So definitely no complaints there. Really I have no complaints at all except for the distance and just that I am spoiled by the mods. I think I may never need to go to a Deluxe for even one night if I spoil that easily!!

I would stay here again in a fix or if money was an issue but for a value POP wins hands down and no questions asked!!

The “newbie” view: This was where I laughed. They liked the accommodations and the only complaint was what I mentioned….the distance!! They loved the buses when we used those and realized why I like staying on property. But why did I laugh? As we were eating supper, I asked what they thought of the resort and one of the ladies said “It is nice and they have updated it well. You can still tell it was built in the 60’s though.”

Uhm, yeah Walt Disney World didn’t even exist in the 60’s! I proceeded to explain the history (nicely not in a yah-yah way). She couldn’t believe it! I couldn’t help but laugh. So for someone that has never read about or experienced Disney…that is the first impression!! Take it for what it is worth!

A few pictures I got of the resort over the week I was there. (We checked in on Monday evening and left on Friday morning.)

I do like the musical theme all over the resort!

Some outside pictures (these are all from my doorway):

Towel Animals:

Continued in the following post....