The ABC's of Trip Planning, Pt 1- K is for Keeping Things Kooky- Drinks V-Z; pg. 197 + New Link

[afwdwfan]

POS (Point and Shoot

Wouldn't that be PAS???

And a bonus non-point (because the contests haven't started) for anyone who can guess where Tate O'Patty was having fun.

Hoop Dee Doo?

THE OPRYLAND HOTEL

Meh... it's a'ight.

How about overlooking the Delta River and the Atrium from one of these?

Something like this, maybe? Might have been nicer to be in a higher room though.

Yes, that really is the DJ "spinning" tunes, and yes, you do hear it piped in to all the places of Opryland.

Isn't it wonderful?

And yes, I AM a good mother. Because ice cream. Not just any ice cream. $7 ice cream from an overpriced resort ice cream.

I found it physically impossible to walk past the ice cream place without stopping. I think we were there 3 nights and I'm sure we had ice cream every single day.

Some affordable (think Disney prices at a CS);

Affordable? No. That's not the word I'd use. But cheaper than the other places.

By the way, the conference I attended in San Diego and will attend in Orlando was in Nashville in 2013. In the Opryland hotel.

 

[Elevationist]

This next ones remind me SO much of New Orleans Square at DLR. I want to live here. Forever.

Actually, upon first glance as I was scrolling through, I thought this was a picture of POFQ!

And yes, I AM a good mother. Because ice cream. Not just any ice cream. $7 ice cream from an overpriced resort ice cream.

Seems legit.

Let's talk about food.

Yes yes, let's!!!

there will be pizza pictures.

Promise? Because.... Mmmm. Pizza.

Was anybody singing "Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate's life for me!" Because I woulda been. Just saying.

See ^^ that lady just sold her eye.

See? Pirates. I knew it. Somebody get that broad an eye patch and parrot, STAT.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Please excuse the crappy photo quality as I was working with a dippy POS (Point and Shoot- not the other..... which is what that was also, though).

For a second I thought you were confusing your camera with the model of car I drive.

And a bonus non-point (because the contests haven't started) for anyone who can guess where Tate O'Patty was having fun.

Looks like Hoop-de-doo Revue to me!

Yes, Friends, if this hotel were a resort on Disney Property, I would stay there over the Contemporary (but then again I'd stay at Pop before I stayed there)

Wow, high praise.

ANY of the mods

Ok, sure, I can see it.

and even over Wilderness Lodge.

WHAT??? BLASPHEMY!

In case you neglected to read what I bothered to copy and paste, and basically plagarize. You're welcome.

Oh, come on, we're not really that lazy.

But, um, thanks.

This next ones remind me SO much of New Orleans Square at DLR. I want to live here. Forever.

Yes, I can definitely see the resemblance!

But gorgeous gardens and exotic rivers surrounded by intricate ironwork is not only what the Opryland is famous for!! It is the MOTHERLAND of country music. Period. The end. Amen. From right here the heart of country beats as it's broadcast live 24/7 on AM 650 WSM- on the air since.... forever.

This is supposed to be appealing, right?

And yes, I AM a good mother. Because ice cream. Not just any ice cream. $7 ice cream from an overpriced resort ice cream.

It's not a vacation until you have overpriced food!

Some affordable (think Disney prices at a CS); some you might have to sell a kidney to eat at (think Disney signature prices).

You just need to sell your appendix for the CS.

I invite you to stick around for the next post on our tour of Kentucky/Tennesseeland because there will be pizza pictures.

Wow, you really do know your readers!

Great shot!

See ^^ that lady just sold her eye.

Luckily my sister ponied up the cash and only one eye, so it's all good. I still have my money for Dole Whips.

All's well that ends well.

 

[Steppesister]

I'm really, REALLY hoping for a late night posting spree tonight... we shall see. What I can say is that:

1) It was INCREDIBLY weird, fun, and panic-attack inducing to be back at school today. Although it was only to help with teaching the 1st Year students their first lab skills, like literally how to work a hospital bed (believe it or not, there's more to them than meet's the eye) and how to give a bed bath etc..., it was a wake up call that starting up again is getting closer.

2) I sold our beautiful Butter Corn Snake, Orion, today for $100. That's approximately 1 entire day's worth of EATS for our trip, and stashed perfunctorily into the SSDVF!! (For those of you who are new around here, that's the "The Super Secret Disney Vacation Fund". )

3) MY TA is making our resort ressies...

TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
​

BUT, there was one surprise that even I wasn't expecting. And now that I have your attention.... my homemade mac cheese is done and we need to eat. I may or may not be back on tonight, depending on the dog situation, which I will also explain later.....

 

[Elevationist]

3) MY TA is making our resort ressies...

TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
​

BUT, there was one surprise that even I wasn't expecting. And now that I have your attention.... my homemade mac cheese is done and we need to eat. I may or may not be back on tonight, depending on the dog situation, which I will also explain later.....

OMG, I CAN'T HANDLE THE ANTICIPATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MarieLightning]

Awww maaan here I thought cliffhangers were only for TRs, apparently even PTRs aren't safe from them

And man that is a lucrative snake!

 

[jedijill]

There she goes being a tease again with the resort reservation news AND homemade Mac and Cheese!

Jill in CO

 

[Steppesister]

Whoa. That's saying a lot.

A lot.

Ok, here the skinny on the Wilderness Lodge for me. I live in the PNW; we can go to any number of amazing and hugely beautiful lodges a lot like that any day of the year we'd like and do about once a year. Not always to stay in, but you know, Pendelton blankies, log trusses, and chainsaw carvings are pretty standard here. When I go on vacation, I really want to stay somewhere unique to me that I'd never get to stay in unless I'm at WDW or actually GO to that place/area. So WL just doesn't appeal to me at all.

Not rich and not famous... So far it's not looking good.

You're pretty famous around here. Does that count?

Not American... North American, sure. But that's not what you meant.

YOu have Joes and Janes up there too?

I'm in! (I mentioned 25 years right? Next month. Don't know if she wants to head down, though.)

She should... I mean ice cream and boat rides. And congrats!! We had ours last year too!!

He's just like Elvis!
(allegedly)

.... uhh.... yeah, just like that. Except I see him all the time, so he's only mostly dead.

They do fine, but they pick up a bit of an accent.

I think you mean twang.

I'm getting tired of saying "whoa" but I can't seem to stop!

I know! It's that breath taking feeling when you walk in, and it just doesn't seem to leave.

And if she won't or can't, gimme a call.
I'll have OJ instead, but still...

Deal! We can laugh at all the schmucks walking around with $7 ice cream....


and then go buy one.

1. No.
2. I may have. I've picked up some weird stuff on a few occasions. And;
3. No.

You just don't know what you're missing!

Yeah... It's quite possible. Might have picked it up, heard Country and hastily changed the channel.

So you're saying I'd have to wear my earphones all the time???

But at least there wouldn't be dancing dollies.

Funny you should say that.
I'm referencing the very first picture in my TR... which isn't posted yet... but soon.

Oh, no! I hope you weren't wearing something too nice and dry clean only!

Obviously, you don't know me very well yet. I dress nicely, but NOPE, dry cleaning is only reserved for my ball gowns. (And yes, I do wear those on occasion when I do English Country Dancing at balls.)

Two very pretty young ladies.

Why thanks!!

Lost or someone from the fashion police confiscated them?

HEY! I didn't get a blister until AFTER I switched shoes during that trip. Shoulda stuck with em! Love 'em or hate 'em, they ARE comfy.

 

[Steppesister]

I visited the Opryland Hotel many years ago and remember how beautiful it was and how humid it was inside! I'm glad that it recovered after the floods!

Jill in CO

Me too!! That was really awful! I was there just before that happened for a BIG DISMeet and then again just after. It was really sad! And yes, it was even more humid inside, which I'm still baffled by it being possible.

That is a gorgeous hotel! I've been to Nashville once but it was such a short trip, and it was solely to attend Taylor Swift's 13 hour Meet & Greet, so I actually did nothing else than that while I was there, other than walking around the city for a bit and getting heat exhaustion

Looking at those pictures though, I definitely need to make time and go back there, and put that hotel in the top 5 of things I need to do while there!

Definitely needs to be on a top picks list! It's something that even pictures can't do justice. Truly breathtaking. Save up, it's not cheap, but def worth it. If you like country music, I mean OLD style, not the pop crap they play now, with mandolins being plucked faster than the current Administration spends money, then take in a show at the Opry as well. YOu won't be sorry!!

Wouldn't that be PAS???

Funny, I had been calling it the 'POS' for so long, it just became known as that. But, you're right. I thought, though, somewhere along the line they were called that for reals. Who knows.... Thankfully, I got myself a brand new Canon last year and LOVE it to pieces. Hoping to get a wide angle lens before the trip, though.

Hoop Dee Doo?

Excellent work.

Meh... it's a'ight.

Yeah, kinda so-so.

Something like this, maybe? Might have been nicer to be in a higher room though.

Yeah, only kind of so-so. And I agree... higher up for sure!!

Isn't it wonderful?

I found it physically impossible to walk past the ice cream place without stopping. I think we were there 3 nights and I'm sure we had ice cream every single day.

Smart man!

Affordable? No. That's not the word I'd use. But cheaper than the other places.

Well, I mean in vacation terms. But you are right. Should have gone with "do-able".

By the way, the conference I attended in San Diego and will attend in Orlando was in Nashville in 2013. In the Opryland hotel.

WHOA! They certainly know how to treat y'all!!

 

[Elevationist]

Ok, here the skinny on the Wilderness Lodge for me. I live in the PNW; we can go to any number of amazing and hugely beautiful lodges a lot like that any day of the year we'd like and do about once a year. Not always to stay in, but you know, Pendelton blankies, log trusses, and chainsaw carvings are pretty standard here. When I go on vacation, I really want to stay somewhere unique to me that I'd never get to stay in unless I'm at WDW or actually GO to that place/area. So WL just doesn't appeal to me at all.

I sooooooo understand this. I was born and raised in the "deep South." As such, Port Orleans Riverside always held ZERO appeal to me! The only reason I'm at all interested in it these days is because I'm a princess, and I want to stay in a Royal Room. But the theme of the resort itself just doesn't really speak to me, because... well... I live it everyday.

 

[Steppesister]

Actually, upon first glance as I was scrolling through, I thought this was a picture of POFQ!

Looks totally like that! I LOVE the wrought iron work!!

Promise? Because.... Mmmm. Pizza.

It was excellent pizza!!

Was anybody singing "Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate's life for me!" Because I woulda been. Just saying.

That would have been so funny!

See? Pirates. I knew it. Somebody get that broad an eye patch and parrot, STAT.

And a red wench dress!

For a second I thought you were confusing your camera with the model of car I drive.

Looks like Hoop-de-doo Revue to me!

Perfect! Just giving some beta questions to see how much I'll need to ramp up the difficulty for upcoming contests.

Wow, high praise.

It was so amazing!

WHAT??? BLASPHEMY!

See explanation above to pkondz re. WL....

Oh, come on, we're not really that lazy.

But, um, thanks.

OH not another hater. OLD country, good old fashioned Willie and Hank and Twitty.

Yes, I can definitely see the resemblance!

Nice, huh?

This is supposed to be appealing, right?

It's not a vacation until you have overpriced food!

.... or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches..?

You just need to sell your appendix for the CS.

It's amazing we can all eat more than once.

Wow, you really do know your readers!

Great shot!

Thanks; I broke my cardinal rule and handed my camera to a passerby. He did ok.

All's well that ends well.

A day that ends with Dole Whip money intact is one that ends well.

 

[Steppesister]

OMG, I CAN'T HANDLE THE ANTICIPATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awww maaan here I thought cliffhangers were only for TRs, apparently even PTRs aren't safe from them

And man that is a lucrative snake!

There she goes being a tease again with the resort reservation news AND homemade Mac and Cheese!

Jill in CO

Ok, Ladies... the suspense is over. I have 45 minutes to type something up, then I have to get my goats up and out then head to school. Here is comes...

a bombshell I'd not even seen coming even before yesterday at 11:00. EEK!!!!!!

I sooooooo understand this. I was born and raised in the "deep South." As such, Port Orleans Riverside always held ZERO appeal to me! The only reason I'm at all interested in it these days is because I'm a princess, and I want to stay in a Royal Room. But the theme of the resort itself just doesn't really speak to me, because... well... I live it everyday.

I didn't think I was alone in this. I definitely LOVE the idea of visiting WL for the Christmas decorations, which I hear are utterly amazing, but to stay....nah. I'll spend my money on something I can't get all the time. And by the same token, that's EXACTLY why I stayed AT POR last trip.

 

[glennbo123]

And a bonus non-point (because the contests haven't started) for anyone who can guess where Tate O'Patty was having fun.

There is more Hoop Dee Doo food displayed in this one Tate picture than my whole chapter on it, which went over multiple posts if I'm not mistaken. Doh! Apparently I was just captivated by the entertainment.

I visited Opryland Hotel back sometime around 1988 or 1989 (and the Nashville Parthenon too, for that matter). It was amazing, a must-see. Good to know that it still is.

Cliffhangers in a PTR is just wrong, I tell ya.

 

[Steppesister]

I is for: I Don't Know What I've Done, But I Did It!!!!!​

Well, they say surprises come in many forms. Yesterday dropped one on me, not like bird droppings on my head while standing in line for HM, but like a unicorn tooting rainbows on my day. I guess? And you know how they say, 'be flexible and go with the flow'. Well, yesterday, gave me an opportunity to either "flip fate the bird", or "enjoy the ride". I usually choose to enjoy the ride, because life has a lot to offer and I like that perspective better than fighting disappointment.

So without further ado, I bring you the continuing drama and excitment of: "Let's try to make your resort reservation".

Many folks from young to ancient (I won't mention names) have stronly advised me to use a TA for this trip. Being that I will have about 0 minutes to spare once school gets underway, I have embraced the idea and am using an old friend I don't see on the Boards anymore. Sad day. Anyway, I passed off all the information and yesterday gave her permission to book the booking(s). I feel so powerful and technical when I use TA-speak. After a few e-mails tossed back and forth, she replied with this:

It's really weird Liesa, for some really weird reason, I can't find ANY standard rooms at AKL AT ALL for the week you're going. I've called Disney and even they can't tell me why! There is NO WAY that the ENTIRE resort is sold out except for Suites, but there are just no rooms coming up. I'm baffled. (So am I, Brook! So. Am. I!)

So, on the fly, in the blink of an eye, I made the flash decision to go with another deluxe, because that's in the budget and I really want this to be an excellent, splurgy Graduation Celebration. I did this mostly by way of elimination while weighing my options; here's how it went down:

Poly was OUT because I stayed there last time, and while I love, LOVE that resort, staying there again doesn't help me reach my fantastical, nerdy goal of staying at all the resorts on property.

Then I BRIEFLY contemplated all the mods. Only the Caribbean was tantalizing, but I quickly tossed that out because we're going to the Keys 10 days after we check in and I'll have enough of close enough to that-so it went.

Back to Deluxes: As I've said earlier, the Contemp is one that has NEVER appealed to me. It screams 70s Wright-ish, ugly fake leather furnitured, huge geometric wall art decor, so it went. Quickly. I'm not sure I'll ever stay there. Ever. The Grand Floridian would be ok, except that I'll have no kidneys left after I pay for the one we do end up at. Wilderness Lodge is already a topic started about 4 posts back.... Someday, but not for a while. That leaves the EPCOT resorts, doesn't it, boys and girls.

On a whim, since I know VERY little about ANY of them whatsoever, except that they have really cool pools, you can walk to EPCOT or take a boat, and it's pretty at night, I asked Brook what her favorite was. Without hesitation she said Boardwalk. So I told her to book it.

And she did.


All to say, as it stands, we have AoA booked from the 10-17 and a Boardwalk standard view room from 17-20th.

My thoughts?

1) It has a really creepy pool with a Clown to send my kids home with horrible nightmares. Which is awesome because we will be doing Halloween this trip, right?

2) It's super close to EPCOT, and the other highlight of this trip is F&W. So, that's a win, since we'll be spending quite a bit of time there.

3) It's a deluxe resort.

4) The shopping is WAY better than at AKL- not that we are big shoppers, but I can see us getting bakery stuff everyday for breakfast, Anara already wants to hit up the candy shop, and the Flying Fish (for my Grauation Dinner) is right there too!!

She will be checking for openings at AKL regularly, I suspect it's just a glitch, but I can VERY honestly say, I will totally happy with either option. Both are awesome! But as already said, this development came as a HUGE surprise!! I suspect it may not be the last in this continuing saga.

 

[Steppesister]

There is more Hoop Dee Doo food displayed in this one Tate picture than my whole chapter on it, which went over multiple posts if I'm not mistaken. Doh! Apparently I was just captivated by the entertainment.

I visited Opryland Hotel back sometime around 1988 or 1989 (and the Nashville Parthenon too, for that matter). It was amazing, a must-see. Good to know that it still is.

Cliffhangers in a PTR is just wrong, I tell ya.

The entertainment was nothing to be trifled at. The show is amazing, and I"d do it again in a heartbeat! The food was GREAT too! Mmmmm, gimme some of that fried chicken right now!

The flood really did a number on it, but they did such a NICE job restoring it.

HAHA, you know me and my threads by now, Glennbo! Get used to it; there'll be more.

 

[Flossbolna]

How strange that AKL is not available... I wonder what might be going on that they have blocked the whole resort? Maybe a visit by a foreign dignitary. But then the suites would be blocked, too. Crazy!!

Boardwalk is one of my favorites!! I own DVC there and Katharina and I stayed there in 2011. I think you will absolutely love it for the convenience of being able to walk to two theme parks! The neat thing is that you also have kind of a small Disney village all around you with food, entertainment etc.

My 2011 TR is more a general thoughts and not a play-by-play report and this was the post where I wrote about the Boardwalk, but we stayed in the DVC portion: Magdalene's Boardwalk experience

I know it is pricey, but if you HAVE to settle on a Deluxe besides AKL (and WL - I understand your reasoning, I still love it!), I think you made a great choice!!

 

[glennbo123]

 

[Elevationist]

Yesterday dropped one on me, not like bird droppings on my head while standing in line for HM, but like a unicorn tooting rainbows on my day.

You kill me.

It's really weird Liesa, for some really weird reason, I can't find ANY standard rooms at AKL AT ALL for the week you're going. I've called Disney and even they can't tell me why! There is NO WAY that the ENTIRE resort is sold out except for Suites, but there are just no rooms coming up. I'm baffled. (So am I, Brook! So. Am. I!)

Sadly, this doesn't shock me. Availability has been SUPER WEIRD lately. I'm actually fighting that fight for a few of my clients at the moment.

Poly was OUT because I stayed there last time, and while I love, LOVE that resort, staying there again doesn't help me reach my fantastical, nerdy goal of staying at all the resorts on property.

We share this fantastical, nerdy goal, my friend. I absolutely loved POFQ, but it's unlikely I'll return there anytime soon, as it's already been crossed off of the bucket list.

All to say, as it stands, we have AoA booked from the 10-17 and a Boardwalk standard view room from 17-20th.

I love this plan!!! Which section of AoA?

1) It has a really creepy pool with a Clown to send my kids home with horrible nightmares. Which is awesome because we will be doing Halloween this trip, right?

Yeah... That clown pool, man... I can't. I just can't. Eventually I'm going to have to stay at BWI to cross it off my list. And I do love EVERYTHING else about the resort. So. I myself am pretty much saving this one for the next time that an opportunity presents itself for a short trip in the dead of winter. So I can stay far, far away from that pool.

2) It's super close to EPCOT, and the other highlight of this trip is F&W. So, that's a win, since we'll be spending quite a bit of time there.

Yaaaaassss! (This is one of the reasons why I am hoping to move my Oct 2016 booking over to the Beach Club (no creepy clowns there, btw), if only the dang military rates will hurry up and get released!)

3) It's a deluxe resort.

Nuff said.

4) The shopping is WAY better than at AKL- not that we are big shoppers, but I can see us getting bakery stuff everyday for breakfast, Anara already wants to hit up the candy shop, and the Flying Fish (for my Grauation Dinner) is right there too!!

Absolutely! The entire Boardwalk area is GREAT! Okay, sure, no wandering zebras and stuff, but whatever! You'll see those at AK on the safari anyhow, right?

She will be checking for openings at AKL regularly, I suspect it's just a glitch, but I can VERY honestly say, I will totally happy with either option. Both are awesome! But as already said, this development came as a HUGE surprise!! I suspect it may not be the last in this continuing saga.

How excitiiiiiiing!!! And I just love your easy-going attitude about the change. I think you're going to have an AWESOME trip, no matter what!

 

[Elevationist]

HOW RUDE.

*sobs into her pillow*

 

[glennbo123]

HOW RUDE.

*sobs into her pillow*