The Empty Nesters Magical Mystery Tour *1/28* Link to New Girl's TR p141

[DWGal210]

Score on the villa! Awesome!

I'm glad the room situation was a good one and it got figured out.

Via Napoli is one of my favorite places on property - yum!

Hope Denny had a happy birthday!!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Wow, not a bad spot for lunch. Beautiful.

Aww Mary Ellen, I am so very sorry you had to put up with that awful standard view. Just brutal...

 

[ddstratton]

Wow - what a bummer about work interfering with your nice vacation buzz. (Glad to hear that it's eased up in the meantime.) It's great that the lunch spot was so good that it took your mind off work junk for a while.

And you are excused for freaking over the room stuff! That kind of stress will do it to ya. Glad to hear that all worked out well in the end. That view from your room is wonderful!

 

[Leshaface]

I have a feeling I would have been thinking like that too had my friend texted me and asked where I was sleeping. Thank goodness CM's are pretty smart and know what they're doing (most of the time!) But glad it all worked out and look at that amazing view!

I love this picture! I keep going back to it and looking at it. Couldn't be more perfect

I"m really excited, I think I may have convinced DH to go back to VN on our next trip!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I think Denny got a T-shirt. You know, one that just sits in his drawer that he never wears.

This is probably the most common fate of souvenir t-shirts anywhere.

We were meeting our friends from Delaware and they were staying as our guests. They were driving down and had spent the night in Charleston.

Wait, I don't remember being invited to go to WDW. Did I miss the e-mail?

My friend, P. texted me to say how lovely the room was and there was definitely a view of the savannah. Then she texted, “But where are YOU sleeping?”

On the savannah?

So I did what any logical…er, I mean illogical person would do. I texted the one person who would understand my dilemma. The one and only Cynthia. I explained the situation and said, “what should I do?”

And she said, "Beats me."

The DID check her into the studio so I’m not even sure if she walked into the 1 BR portion of the villa yet. I just assumed the opposite.

I felt SO stupid. I know I was running on empty and my work schedule had thrown me for a loop, but I felt so silly that I thought she was in the wrong room.

All's well that ends well.

I present to you our STANDARD view villa

Best standard view ever!

If you guessed Via you are right on!

Good choice!

I do NOT have a picture of the troll. It’s an embarrassment to admit that, but its true. I have decided that the key to taking my camera off autofocus. Unfortunately I never got to test that theory in May because the wait was 15 minutes, so we passed. And if that ride turns into an Elsa and Anna ride, I may never get a picture of the troll. How tragic.

Yes. Tragic.

 

[MeMom]

Could I just live here?

Yes, you should move there. As much as I like having four seasons here in Tennessee, with the exception of the fact that I'd like winter to last only two weeks at Christmas time and then move right on into spring, I could go back to Florida life. That is, if I could take my whole family with me.

I present to you our STANDARD view villa

Nice.



How gorgeous is THAT?

Such a beautifully painted sky.

I DID take a picture of dessert

Zeppole di Caterina
Ricotta cheese fritters, served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce

They look delicious!

 

[KatMark]

MEK, your view at lunch is stunning. Do you remember where you ate? The place looks vaguely familiar.

I would have assumed the same thing you did with the room. I'm glad it all worked out.

What a great view!

I'm glad you got to Epcot and were able to get some photopass pics on the way in and the way out.

Sometimes it is nice to just put the camera away and enjoy. And you did survive.

 

[Millie12591]

MEK! What an amazing side trip!!

All those beautiful pictures of the hotel and the beaches. It must have been a lot of fun but also strange to leave the bubble. I've been to FL a few times now since 2007 and can honestly say I don't have a feel for the state. All due to the fact most of it has been spent in WDW.

I did come to FL one year with a bunch of gals from my church, there were 9 of us, but I still didn't get to see much of the state, it was rainy almost the whole time. I didn't like it much when I was there at that time of the year.

The pool in that museum was actually kind of creepy to me, it looked like it had all those tunnel looking like areas, I would have been creeped out the entire time I was swimming.

The lunch you had at the place you can't remember the name of, looked amazing. I would have been in heaven. I love going to eat at places where the menu doesn't all look the same as every other chain restaurant everyone goes to.

Loooving the PP pictures of y'all at DHS. You really did look like y'all were having a great time. Especially PapaDon!! But then he always looks like he's having a great time.

 

[MEK]

Would love to do replies but for reasons I can't reveal I will probably need to start them tomorrow.

 

[Leshaface]

Would love to do replies but for reasons I can't reveal I will probably need to start them tomorrow.

 

[Pinkocto]

Would love to do replies but for reasons I can't reveal I will probably need to start them tomorrow.

Oooohhhh, intrigue!

 

[afwdwfan]

I can’t even describe how perfect the day was and, as we settled in for lunch, I became less stressed about my work schedule. I actually started to forget about it. And, no, there was NOT alcohol involved. At least not YET!

Why not???

And said, “I think you are in the wrong room”.

She said “no I’m not”.

No... this room is totally awesome and they can't get me out of here with a stick of dynamite.

Well, as it turns out the CM’s at Disney are way smarter than I gave them credit for.

The DID check her into the studio so I’m not even sure if she walked into the 1 BR portion of the villa yet. I just assumed the opposite.

But if that's what you'd expected then they probably would have done exactly what you feared to begin with.

I present to you our STANDARD view villa

If only you could be guaranteed that standard view.

If you guessed Via you are right on!

I didn't guess, but it doesn't matter. You made the right choice and I'm starting to get very hungry.

And if that ride turns into an Elsa and Anna ride, I may never get a picture of the troll. How tragic.

I'm sure they'll incorporate a troll into that ride if the change happens. There are trolls in the movie... they just might not look exactly like what's already there.

I must have decided to put the camera away. And guess what? I lived to tell about it!

Sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment.

 

[MEK]

That place you found for lunch looked good, the view was really pretty with the water and boats.

It was a lovely area. I don't remember a thing about the food, but I remember it was a gorgeous day with a perfect view!

Glad you are back in the bubble, Wow that view from your villa is awesome!

It's always good to be back in the bubble!

The view was lovely. I never will fully understand why that isn't considered a savannah view. I think it has something to do with the people pen (which you haven't seen yet, but more pictures are coming).

That was a beautiful spot for lunch but apparently the view distracted you from taking food porn or describing your meal!

Apparently so! I think I was still in a not so great mood from finding out my work schedule. Yet at the same time that view totally relaxed me and made my day so much better.

TToo funny about the room situation and I am glade that you didn't have to duke it out over who got to sleep in the master bedroom!

Can you imagine? I was so sure she had taken the MBR. I don't know WHAT I was thinking?

T

I really like this entrance arch photo. In most of them you can't see the purple road signs that are the norm once you are inside the bubble, but you can here!

Glad you like it. Getting the purple road signs was total luck. I can assure you of that.

T
Spaceship Earth looking Pretty in Pink!

Seriously. But I think Spaceship Earth may have had a little help with some creative editing.

I'm sorry about the work stress, that would definitely put a damper on things.

It really threw me for a few hours, that's for sure. I shouldn't have let it get to me, but it did.

ILove your 'standard view'. We had one of those and saw tons of animals. Glad the room sutuation was ok, what did your friend say when you met up?

She basically said nothing. I explained to her over the phone that I was worried she took the MBR and that I felt really stupid for thinking in. I have to say, the studio portion was super lovely. It was very nice. I'm glad she made her home there.

Since you are an owner - please explain to me why they are standard view. Not that I am complaining because the view has now spoiled me for life. I just don't know what's wrong with them that they're not savannah view?

IVia Napoli, oh how I love thee

Me too! That is definitely a must go restaurant for me. I love it there!

IHow was the food at the Daytona restautant?

I have no idea because I honestly can't remember what I ate or what it tasted it like. That is why I must always take pictures, but apparently I was still sulking about my work schedule.

 

[MEK]

Score on the villa! Awesome!

I know, right? That view was so awesome. I am now officially spoiled for LIFE! Now I will always need a savannah view room when I stay there.

I'm glad the room situation was a good one and it got figured out.

ugh - totally my fault for overreacting. I just assumed the worst, which was sort of short sighted of me.

Via Napoli is one of my favorite places on property - yum!

Mine too! I absolutely love it there. It's a must do for me on almost every trip!

Hope Denny had a happy birthday!!

He did. Who wouldn't have a great birthday being in Disney World and Florida???

Wow, not a bad spot for lunch. Beautiful.

Not bad at all. All I remember is it was a stellar day. The weather was so perfect. It couldn't have been any better!

Aww Mary Ellen, I am so very sorry you had to put up with that awful standard view. Just brutal...

Yeah it was REALLY rough!

Actually, that view totally spoiled me and the whole 2BR thing is so great. Total luxury. We don't have any upcoming plans to travel with anyone else so it looks like we'll have to live with studios for awhile.

Wow - what a bummer about work interfering with your nice vacation buzz. (Glad to hear that it's eased up in the meantime.) It's great that the lunch spot was so good that it took your mind off work junk for a while.

Darla!

Vacation buzz - I LOVE that! Yup - work drama totally took that buzz away. But it has definitely gotten better in the meantime. Hard to believe I have been there a year now. Phew! The lunch spot definitely helped bring the buzz back on!

And you are excused for freaking over the room stuff! That kind of stress will do it to ya. Glad to hear that all worked out well in the end. That view from your room is wonderful!

I was totally freaked. It was NOT pretty. But it worked out perfectly and our villa was just so awesome. I really loved it there.

 

[MEK]

I have a feeling I would have been thinking like that too had my friend texted me and asked where I was sleeping. Thank goodness CM's are pretty smart and know what they're doing (most of the time!) But glad it all worked out and look at that amazing view!

Thank you for saying that because I was wondering if anyone else would have thought the same thing. I'm glad to know I am not alone and I'm glad to know that the Disney CM's know how to handle that type of check-in. It really was an amazing view. I was so thrilled!

I love this picture! I keep going back to it and looking at it. Couldn't be more perfect

Thank you! It really WAS a perfect night (and day). I just love traveling to Florida in October. It's got to be my favorite month.

I"m really excited, I think I may have convinced DH to go back to VN on our next trip!

Yayayayay! When are you guys heading back? Do you have another F&W trip in the works?

This is probably the most common fate of souvenir t-shirts anywhere.

For Denny it certainly is. I can't tell you how many t-shirts either he or I have bought for him and in the drawer they sit. But he continues to wear the same old crappy ones.

Wait, I don't remember being invited to go to WDW. Did I miss the e-mail?

We have other friends from Delaware, you know!

On the savannah?

Well, there WAS a people pen right outside our window so THAT may have worked!

And she said, "Beats me."

Oh No. Cynthia was very helpful. She helped me work up the strength to call my friend and get things figured out right then and there. I'm glad I called her or I would have stewed over it longer. (and needlessly)

All's well that ends well.

Best standard view ever!

It really was SO perfect. I kept wondering what was so standard about it. I just LOVED it! Amazing! I am spoiled for LIFE!

Good choice!

I love that place. It's a must do for me on every trip!

Yes. Tragic.

Not a fan of Elsa and Ana? Really?

 

[Pinkocto]

You are correct about the people pen being the reason. A lot of the current standard view rooms were originally classified as a savannah view but when people complained they reclassified them. Let the people complain, I love the less points. Now if I could guarantee that as the view I would get a standard view every time. I believe the other standards have a pool view, and that view wouldn't be bad either.

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Not so far behind this time!

Great that you got some with the villa at Jambo House! Too funny about the mix-up with the room.

Looks like you got a lot done at Epcot. Always a great choice eating at Via! Sorry you didn't like the zeppole's.........one of my favorites!

 

[englishrose47]

Awesome pix Mary Ellen.. Wow your standard room is GREAT!!!! Grat pix of Maelstrom !!! Marv keeps saying there is a hidden Mickey in that mural, but I can't find it !!!!

 

[tazdev3225]

Caught up again. The standard room view is so much nicer than the standard view I had. I got to see cars.

Nice pics. I enjoyed Via Napoli the one time I ate there til the very end of my meal. They needed to pep the veal parm just a little better. My friend had a very good but large pizza for 1. I think she finished it, barely.

 

[khertz]

DANG, that is a pretty amazing "standard" view!! I'm glad the room situation turned out to be a non-issue, but sorry all that stress was making you worry!

Epcot is admittedly not my favorite park, but there's no denying how beautiful it is in the evening.

Yay, my favorite restaurant!! You are making me hungry with your Via Napoli pics...