Taggin' along with the hubs-Aug 18-22, 2010---NEW 9/9 FINAL THOUGHTS & BREAKING NEWS!

[Aburns8]

I can't wait to hear about the tour. We took it in 2006 and I am sure it has changed!

 

[Disneygrl36]

The tour was INCREDIBLE!!!!! Saw lots of cool stuff. Only disappointment was I had read that the tour ended at AK & I thought they left you there & I had planned to have a snack & a drinkie & soak up some atmosphere.... but that didn't happen.
It is also soooooo hot!!!! I have been recuperating in the room & we are getting ready to head out to dinner. Should be a fun night.

 

[Aburns8]

When I did that tour, many moons ago, they didn't even take us to AK!

 

[glennbo123]

Have a great time! Looking forward to hearing about it.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Oh no! You missed out on the pretzel and a Lost on Safari???? Bummer!

Can't wait to hear about the tour.

 

[Disneygrl36]

When I did that tour, many moons ago, they didn't even take us to AK!

The AK portion was pretty cool! Nothing up close with animals though. I think they have another tour for that.

Have a great time! Looking forward to hearing about it.

Thanks Glenn. We are having fun but WOW is it HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh no! You missed out on the pretzel and a Lost on Safari???? Bummer!

Can't wait to hear about the tour.

I know Michelle I was so craving that snack & drink. Oh well, next time.

Dinner at Flying Fish last night was phenomenal. Didn't finish dinner til 10 so no one wanted to go to Jellyrolls. I would like to have gone, but once we got back to the room the tiredness from a day spent outside in this heat hit me & I was sooooo ready for bed.
Went to breakfast with Eric this am & then did alot of walking around the resort taking pictures. When I got back to the room, I was already soaked with sweat. WHEW did I say it's HOT????

Today's plans......unsupervised Disney shopping & spending time at the pool later.
Dinner tonight at JIKO!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tracy161]

Unsupervised Disney shopping?!?!?! Now THAT sounds like a good time!!! I can't wait to hear all about the tour and see lots of pictures!!!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Unsupervised Disney shopping?!?!?! Now THAT sounds like a good time!!! I can't wait to hear all about the tour and see lots of pictures!!!

I was pretty good on the shopping trip....I kept teasing my hubby via text about all the stuff I was buying. I have been taking quite a few pictures so should have some good ones for the report. I even took a pic of the loot I bought for you guys.

Today..................I am hanging in the room & maybe heading over to the pool until the conference is over around 12. Then we will be heading for MK. We have after 2 tickets that convention goers can get. We may monorail to GF or the Poly & eat lunch before we head in to the MK! It's gonna be another hot one but I am sure we will have a great time. And we have no real agenda other than making sure we get a good spot for the Main Street Electrical Parade & watching the fireworks. Should be a FUN day!!!!

 

[KatMark]

Sorry that it is so hot...but it sounds like you are having a great time. I'm anxious to hear what you thought of the Ranchos section. It is the only section Mark and I have not stayed at during our eight previous stays at the CSR (we've been in the Casitas seven times and Cabanas once; we've asked for Ranchos this time). Glad to hear you enjoyed Flying Fish...it's on our list for next year. Anxious for the next update.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Sorry that it is so hot...but it sounds like you are having a great time. I'm anxious to hear what you thought of the Ranchos section. It is the only section Mark and I have not stayed at during our eight previous stays at the CSR (we've been in the Casitas seven times and Cabanas once; we've asked for Ranchos this time). Glad to hear you enjoyed Flying Fish...it's on our list for next year. Anxious for the next update.

I enjoyed the rancho section....we were close to a quiet pool & the dig site.
More on it to come!

We got home around 2:30 safely! I am pooped & a bit drained from 3 days in the heat but it was a great trip!

Hope to get started on the trippie tomorrow.

 

[Aburns8]

Can't wait to read the trippie! I have decided to do one for our trip. I do owe you one!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Welcome home! Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

 

[Disneygrl36]

Can't wait to read the trippie! I have decided to do one for our trip. I do owe you one!

You sure do owe me one. Let me know when you start!

Welcome home! Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Thanks Michelle!

I have had the Disney dumps since we got home but I have uploaded pics & plan to start 2morrow!

 

[Spartangirl]

Welcome home, Melanie! Sorry to hear that it was so hot.....hope you had a great time anyway. I can't wait to hear all about your adventures and especially the tour!

 

[Jennifer48]

Welcome home Melanie! I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Welcome home, Melanie! Sorry to hear that it was so hot.....hope you had a great time anyway. I can't wait to hear all about your adventures and especially the tour!

Thanks Lynne. It was really hot but we survived & even had a great time.

Welcome home Melanie! I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Thanks Jennifer......1st installment coming right up.

 

[Disneygrl36]

The day finally arrived when we were leaving for Walt Disney World, but not until around 3 o'clock. So, to help make the wait easier, I booked myself a pedicure that morning. Ahhhhhhhhhh getting pampered is a good thing.

And what fun, I got one of the Alice in Wonderland inspired polishes on my toes.....it is called Thank you Muchness!

Well, then I ate a bite of lunch, went home & packed our clothes & spent the remaining hours waiting for Eric to get home cleaning the bathrooms & the kitchen & messing on facebook & the DIS. He finally made it home around 3:15 & changed clothes. We hugged & kissed the doggie goodbye & were on our way.

We arrived at the airport & met up with the rest of the group. There were 4 bank employees & 3 spouses going. Check in was painless & we headed for the gate & they were already loading the plane...it was only 4:45 & the flight was 5:25. Eric was upset that we couldn't get a starbucks before we got on the plane, but most everyone else was already on board, so we reluctantly got on & sat there for a good 30 minutes. We finally took off & both proceeded to read our books. The flight was a bit rough towards the end because of storms, but we made it without too much bumping around & landed around 6:45. We all gathered & proceeded to baggage claim & then to pick up 2 rental cars. Before we knew it we were on our way & we were rewarded by seeing this rainbow.

We decided to stop before we got to Disney property to eat. We got off at the exit at the Crossroads Plaza, pulled over & discussed & decided to try a place called Johnnie's Hideaway-this picture borrowed from the internet.

It ended up being a good choice. There was a wait, but we said we'd sit at a bar table so they sat us right away there.

We were all starved & the food was really good. I had a house salad & the mahi-mahi. The steak was the winner though. I had a bite of Eric's & it was melt in your mouth good. We also ordered 2 desserts key lime pie & pina colada cake & all took a bite. That cake was moist cakey heaven on a plate. I didn't take any food pictures. But here is one of the cutest light fixutres ever.

Dinner took about 2 hours or so, so by the time we were on the way to Disney property it was heading towards 10pm.
Blurry sign............but happy sign.

We arrived at Coronado Springs happy to finally be at our final destination.

Check in was pretty painless....except they ended up spreading us all out instead putting us all in the same building as requested. Oh, well it really was fine in the long run. The girl whose hubby didn't come asked to be in our building & she was on our same floor around the corner. We headed to our rooms iin the Ranchos section building 6B & soon got a call from her that her key didn't work so while I took pictures of the room, Eric went over to wait with her while someone came to fix her key.
The newly refurbished rooms are really nice.

And some detail shots....

Eric came back before too long & then went in search of something for us to drink & ice. He came back after the 1st machine took his money, just a tad irritated & then went to another floor & had success. I think we got spoiled last time having a grocery delivery with stuff there when we got there. I was going to do this again just so I could get some diet mountain dew (which I am addicted too) but couldn't come up with the minimum order since it was such a short trip. We unpacked, drank our diet coke & settled in & finally got in bed around midnight.

Up next..........Backstage cool

 

[KatMark]

Great start, Melanie. I love the pictures of CSR...especially the one that has a hidden Mickey in the lobby. Looking forward to reading more.

 

[Aburns8]

So excited that you started! The rooms look great! I loved that Mickey lamp, I think I would have had to take it home! I think I will start mine a week or two before we go. There isn't much to report.

 

[Spartangirl]

Nothing better than starting vacation off with a pedicure!

Wow...the rooms at CSR look really nice!