The Good, The Bad, & the Nuts! ...ANYONE GOING MAY 8-15?

[Flossbolna]

Our next trip is scheduled for aug 6-13. We will be staying at boardwalk. The new development is that I will probably be going down a couple days early, arriving sometime on thurs the 4th. The even more newer development is that I may also be staying a couple days after they leave. The possible plan is they would drop me at the airport and head out from there, and then to pick me up there again on the way home. Since we usually take 2 days on the road I would either have to stay florida longer or have somebody else pick me up at the airport back here. I know which I choose.

So, since I may be there solo aug 4&5 and maybe again the 14&15 I thought I'd see if any of you all were going to be there at the same time.

The solo days sound wonderful! But I am afraid, I won't be there in August. I hope you can set up some other DISmeets though!

 

[mom3sonstt]

Initial sketchy plans.

Wed - Reservations for breakfast at Kona Cafe. Our plans are to cut through Epcot and take the monorail over to the Ticket Center - I think DH says we are walking from there. It's a 10:15 reservation so with Epcot opening at 9 we should be ok. AFter breakfast we plan to go to Magic Kingdom and maybe stick around for the Electrical Parade. Well, we will stick around - because he wants to get pictures of the castle all lit up, it's just a matter of whether we take time to watch the parade (I vote yes!)

Today’s plans include breakfast at the Kona Café. This is the 2nd of only 2 ADRs we had scheduled…..and we skipped Biergarten the day before. So what will we do with this reservation?

We start the day with coffee and showers…..and speaking of showers, probably about this day I started to think of Glenn in the shower. Uh….well, not specifically of Glenn himself in his shower….but while I was in the shower I was thinking of…...well, no that doesn’t sound much better. Let’s go with this…..Glenn’s observation that Disney conditioner is the consistency of school paste came to mind. The first couple days was ok because the bottle was full, but about now the conditioner was no longer within easy reach. I tried leaving the bottle upside down on the ledge thinking gravity would take over….no such luck. So, since there is a nice little window ledge in the shower I spent the morning banging the bottle on the ledge until a little dab would give up and fall out. I considered that my exercise for the morning. On a regular (family – driving) trip we would bring our own shampoo – so I really haven’t had to fight this battle very often. But once I declared a truce and completed getting ready it was time to go. We left Boardwalk and went to……Epcot.

The park hadn’t opened officially yet but we were let in anyway. We walked through the UK and I tried calling the phone booth again (my call log says it was 8:52) Again I wasn’t quik enough to get anybody to answer. But Danny noticed that he had lost me again and looked back and saw me on the phone. He immediately assumes the worst and figures something is wrong with one of the kids. I told him to go over by the phone booths – he wouldn’t go all the way over but he did move a little closer to them – thinking I had lost my mind probably. I dialed the phone again. He looked over when he heard it ring….but really, he is slow, or no fun, or something because all he did was look at it, look at me and say “Are you doing that?”. I said that I was, and I got that exasperated-husband look and he told me to “come on”. He asked where I found the numbers then told me it would “cost minutes”. Considering we have hundreds of minutes leftover every month I didn’t think using a couple of them to have a little fun with was such a bad thing.

We got up to where the crowds were gathered for the opening and watched the family of the day take of in a Test Track car. You will have to take my word for it because he didn’t get the camera out for any of it. It was already in progress when we got there so he would have mostly gotten the backs of the people in front of us, and the tops of some heads.

The park is officially open and we are swimming upstream. While all the crowds who came in the main gate are flowing to Soarin and Test Track we are trying to go to the exit (entrance???) We did encounter a few lighthearted comments from CMs telling us we were going the wrong way, and the CM at the exit acted hurt that we were leaving already.

We headed for the monorail to the TTC and at the top of the ramp encountered a family sitting on the benches there. They weren’t waiting for the next monorail because they were still sitting there when it arrived, so I’m not sure exactly what they were doing.

We rode to the TTA and got off and I followed DH over to the Polynesian. I had never been over there before, but the year before he had cut through on his way to the golf tourney. At first it seemed very quiet and deserted. We walked by a few of the buildings and never saw a single person. Eventually we ran into a lady with a stroller, so I started to feel a little better. It was just too quiet. When we got closer to the main building we heard music. I am wondering if the building we walked by first, if they could have been empty? I’m curious how they fill their rooms – if the occupancy is low instead of scattering people thoughout the whole resort if the will let a section sit empty. There was no background music at all there at first. When we started to hear music we figured out what was missing. At the Great Ceremonial House we looked around for a little bit and tried to get our bearings. We finally gave up and asked where to find the Kona Café. It was upstairs, so we had to find an elevator.

Upstairs DH first saw the Kona Island – coffee and pastries and asked if “that” was where I had us scheduled. I think the Kona Café was just on past the coffee bar so I was able to avoid that misunderstanding and get him to where the real food was. I had scheduled us for 10:15 because we weren’t sure how long it would take us to get there from where we started. We got there at about 9:45. I went ahead and checked us in since the restaurant was half empty and I think he took a quick bathroom break.

We both ordered the Tonga Toast. I was surprised that he ordered that, it didn’t seem like something he would like, he got tomato juice, I got cranberry juice and we both got coffee. We also both ordered bacon. I like bacon if it is very crisp – not so much if it is chewy. I asked the waitress if it was typically crisp (otherwise I would have gotten sausage). She said that it could be – she would just tell the cook. Ok – works for me. We got our juice and coffee, looked around the restaurant, talked about what we were going to do that day, and just kind of relaxed and enjoyed our morning. Pretty soon a guy, not our waitress, came out and sat down our plates – no comment about one bacon being crispy. It was ok. Not quite like I like it – but that could be on the verge of being burnt for some people, so no big deal.

I love breakfast food. Probably because we don’t eat many breakfasts. I would be just as happy going out for supper at an IHOP as I would be a steak house, so when I had read the menu ahead of time and saw that Tonga Toast was just one piece, plus a couple strips of bacon and a little chunk of pineapple I thought that it just wasn’t going to be enough. But I had also read people saying how filling it is or that they couldn’t eat the whole thing. Well, put me in the “couldn’t eat the whole thing” category. It was very good, and very sweet – but I think it was just too sweet for me that early in the morning. Danny ate all of his, but even he didn’t have room for the last few bites of mine.

Breakfast was declared a winner and we will probably come back here again. I think I have given Tonga Toast it’s opportunity and will try something different next time.

While we were there I noticed a family sitting at a long table. They had a girl sitting with them who was probably in her late teens/early twenties. She was the youngest one there, the others were all in there 40s, 50s, 60s. I think there were maybe 8 – 10 people there. But the girl had some sort of delays. She would lay her head on the table, and reach for other peoples plates. The man sitting next to her, her father I assumed, seemed like he had a sixth sense about her, he could have had his head turned talking to somebody at the other end of the table, but was redirecting her hands, and setting things back upright without missing a beat. I imagine he has had many years of practice. She was not loud or disruptive in any way, they just happened to be seated behind Danny in my line of vision.

When our meal was done we signed our ticket and Danny left for another bathroom run. He had set his camera on the chair next to him – which would have been across from me. I didn’t see it there, I gathered up my purse and my cane and headed out, as I was walking over to my scooter, which was parked outside the restaurant, the bus boy raised up Danny’s camera bag so I could see it then brought it over and passed it over the wall, through the window, whatever the set up is. I set it down by my feet on the scooter and put all my stuff back where it goes. I saw Danny rushing back from the bathroom, he glanced over at me then headed in towards the restaurant. Darn! I was hoping he would have forgotten until we had gotten further away. So he wouldn’t bother the people in the restaurant who had already found and returned it, I waved him off and showed him the bag. This is not the first time he has gone off and left his camera hanging on the back of a chair, or sitting on an empty chair. I left behind my purse one time and get reminded of it constantly.

After browsing through the gift shops, and Danny taking another bathroom break (the last one he didn’t actually get to – he remembered the camera before he went in) we headed for the monorail.

This was the most crowded monorail we had been on in quite a few trips. Usually its either just us in a car, or us and one other family. The monorail from the Polynesian to Magic Kingdom was very crowded. When we arrived at MK the CM on that end was busy talking with other guests and didn’t come over to put the ramp down for me to get off. I don’t remember if this is one that I go off head first or back off – I’m thinking it was a head first one. The doors to let people in had opened and I still hadn’t gotten off and there were wheelchairs wanting to board that couldn’t. Finally the chatty CM finished up and Danny got his attention and put the ramp down for me.

The ramp leaving the monorail platform divides into two sides. I went down the right side and DH went down the left. He was behind an older woman on an ECV who wasn’t doing too well with it and her elderly husband who walked beside her. I was behind a very large woman who could barely move. It looked like each step was painful. He picked the better side. But what was bad was once we got to the bottom I still couldn’t get around this woman. The rest of her group were with her and it took awhile for the people behind me who were passing us to get around so I could move over far enough to get around her. Eventually we all made it

 

[Pyrate_Pryncess]

Our next trip is scheduled for aug 6-13. We will be staying at boardwalk. The new development is that I will probably be going down a couple days early, arriving sometime on thurs the 4th. The even more newer development is that I may also be staying a couple days after they leave. The possible plan is they would drop me at the airport and head out from there, and then to pick me up there again on the way home. Since we usually take 2 days on the road I would either have to stay florida longer or have somebody else pick me up at the airport back here. I know which I choose.

So, since I may be there solo aug 4&5 and maybe again the 14&15 I thought I'd see if any of you all were going to be there at the same time.

Tanya, Im here!!! I love your pics of Disney of the past! I grew up seeing those pictures but never being able to go!

I have to say that after reading your Day 1, You must be married to me! ha! I am the one in my house that tends to get loud and mean!!! I probably would have dealt with it all the same way that he did.

As for August, keep me posted on this! We will be living 5 hours away from WDW by August and I would LOVE to come with NO KIDS~

 

[mom3sonstt]

Tanya, Im here!!! I love your pics of Disney of the past! I grew up seeing those pictures but never being able to go!

I hope to dig out more pics from old trips eventually - but that involves digging through the closet and scanning them in. So it could be awhile.

I have to say that after reading your Day 1, You must be married to me! ha! I am the one in my house that tends to get loud and mean!!! I probably would have dealt with it all the same way that he did.

Oh no - there's two of you....I hope we never check in at the same time

As for August, keep me posted on this! We will be living 5 hours away from WDW by August and I would LOVE to come with NO KIDS~

I will let you know. So far it's only "talk". I told him I was thinking either Animal Kingdom if I could get a concierge floor studio. Or Saratoga, since I could go over to Downtown without taking a bus. He thinks I should stay at Boardwalk since that is where we will be staying so it would be less of a hassle to move my stuff. But we haven't gotten to the part of the conversation where "book it" has been said.

 

[KatMark]

Tanya, where did you get the phone number from that booth? I would love to do that when Mark is walking by it.

Thanks for the review of Kona; we missed it this year (we were too tired after our night with the little ones), but we are definitely going this year.

 

[Flossbolna]

Breakfast at Kona is wonderful! I loved the Macadamia Nut pancakes there! So I would recommend those for your next visit!

I stayed at the Poly in 2009 and loved the atmospher, it never seemed busy even though we did see people going into several of the buildings. I loved the walk from the TTC to our room and very often helps people in search of the restaurants, they regularly thought that they were not on the right way because it seemed so quiet.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Tanya, where did you get the phone number from that booth? I would love to do that when Mark is walking by it.

Thanks for the review of Kona; we missed it this year (we were too tired after our night with the little ones), but we are definitely going this year.

The phone numbers I have are Left Booth 407-827-9862 Center Booth 407-827-9863 Right Booth 407-827-9867

I just tried dialing them - the left booth rang and rang then went to what sounded like a fax machine.....but it rang about 5 or 6 times first, the center booth somebody answered, and the right one said it had been changed or disconnected......and no, I didn't talk to the person on the center booth - I said hello, then obnoxious youngest son started pestering me so I told them to have a wonderful day then hung up.

We liked Kona. Don't know if we will go on our August trip, or if it will be reserved for our parent-only trips. The boys don't usually like going anywhere for breakfast, if they are up they would rather go to a park, and if they don't have to get up they would just as soon stay in bed. Of course we could always book it for the two of us and let them do their own thing.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Breakfast at Kona is wonderful! I loved the Macadamia Nut pancakes there! So I would recommend those for your next visit!

I stayed at the Poly in 2009 and loved the atmospher, it never seemed busy even though we did see people going into several of the buildings. I loved the walk from the TTC to our room and very often helps people in search of the restaurants, they regularly thought that they were not on the right way because it seemed so quiet.

I had considered the macademia Nut pancakes, but it was the reputation of Tonga Toast that lured me there, so I thought I better get that instead.

If Danny hadn't already been there before and said he knew where he was going, I would have sworn we were lost. It seemed so deserted. But I can see where that would be very relaxing after a day at the parks.

 

[mom3sonstt]

I was just about to post that I was for sure going to be flying down early and back late, so would definitely have 2 solo days on either end of our trip in August. I did update my signature to say that. Then I get a message from oldest son asking if I have already paid for him to go to WDW. There was no explanation as to why he is asking. I assume that he is going to have some reason why he can't go, or doesn't want to go, or something. If that is the case - if he doesn't go - then I probably will not be going early and staying late. The "justification" of my flying was that all 5 of us do not fit comfortably in the car for that long of a drive and if I flew they wouldn't have to worry about the lay-out of the rooms going down (I need them a certain way to set up my machine). If there are only 4 of us, there is no need to go to the extra expense.
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Ok - Sean just called. Apparently a friend of his is planning to propose to his girlfriend. And apparently, if she says yes, they plan to get married in August before she starts Grad School. And while the proposal hasn't happened yet, and a date has not been set, we will be gone the first 2 Saturdays in August which would probably be the most likely candidates for an August-before-school-starts wedding. Sean assumes he will be asked to take part in, or at least be invited to, the wedding, and would therefore not want to go to Florida with us.

 

[All7OfUs]

I recently played the leave the camera somewhere trick - but plum forgot it altogether. I was so lucky!! Glad it was remembered before you got too far!!

Kona, kona!! Yum!

That's funny you were going the "wrong" way through EPCOT. I can imagine all the funny looks you got!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

what does he think a love story wedding comes before disney

 

[mom3sonstt]

I recently played the leave the camera somewhere trick - but plum forgot it altogether. I was so lucky!! Glad it was remembered before you got too far!!

Kona, kona!! Yum!

That's funny you were going the "wrong" way through EPCOT. I can imagine all the funny looks you got!

It's hard enough going through the mornign rush to Soarin' when you are going with the flow - going against it?? I don't recommend it!

what does he think a love story wedding comes before disney

I know - silly boy. Actually, I don't really care whether he goes or not (he is at that "know it all", "I'm entitled to whatever I want", "drama queen" stage and is really no fun to be around right now ), I just want to know whether or not he is going so I can finish making plans.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

I know - silly boy. Actually, I don't really care whether he goes or not (he is at that "know it all", "I'm entitled to whatever I want", "drama queen" stage and is really no fun to be around right now ), I just want to know whether or not he is going so I can finish making plans.

thats understandable.

hey are you prepared for the 24 inches of snow we are suppose to get on tuesday night/wednesday

 

[mom3sonstt]

thats understandable.

hey are you prepared for the 24 inches of snow we are suppose to get on tuesday night/wednesday

I will never be ready for that kind of snow - hate it! But I did just get back from grocery store, got stuff for chili, sloppy joes, stew, and some other odds and ends. And cold medicine and cough drops - our whole house sounds like a TB ward! DH had gotten over his cold a few weeks ago, Mark has his just about beat, but now Ryne & I have it and it sounds like Danny is getting his back again.

 

[marvali]

what does he think a love story wedding comes before disney

I know - silly boy. Actually, I don't really care whether he goes or not (he is at that "know it all", "I'm entitled to whatever I want", "drama queen" stage and is really no fun to be around right now ), I just want to know whether or not he is going so I can finish making plans.

And its not even HIS!!! Of course, if it were that might be additional justification for not changing the original plans..........

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We loved Kona for dinner, and it sounds like it's worth the trip for breakfast as well. I'll have to look into that...

As far as bucking crowds in Epcot, I'm sure that turned a lot of heads! You could have played it up like you were big-shot VIP's!

 

[glennbo123]

Boy, I picked the wrong update to be a little late for. All this talk about me in the shower. At least I'm clean. But I'm glad to see that you agree with me....that Disney conditioner is some thick stuff!

I just might have some World Showcase telephone stories coming up myself.

 

[mom3sonstt]

And its not even HIS!!! Of course, if it were that might be additional justification for not changing the original plans..........

I can't even imagine if it were Sean's wedding .....that's a scary thought!

We loved Kona for dinner, and it sounds like it's worth the trip for breakfast as well. I'll have to look into that...

As far as bucking crowds in Epcot, I'm sure that turned a lot of heads! You could have played it up like you were big-shot VIP's!

Big shots would have been nice - I felt like we were at the othe end of the spectrum! People were looking at us like we were nuts - and it didn't help that he was doing his dodging and weaving through the crowds with a "determined" look on his face, then would periodically stop and look back at me. I'm sure any people watchers out there were making up some interesting stories about us.

Boy, I picked the wrong update to be a little late for. All this talk about me in the shower. At least I'm clean. But I'm glad to see that you agree with me....that Disney conditioner is some thick stuff!

I just might have some World Showcase telephone stories coming up myself.

See what happens when you're late!

Can't wait to hear your phone stories!

 

[All7OfUs]

Good Morning, Tanya!! Glad to see you back- missed you for a spell there!

 

[mom3sonstt]

Good Morning, Tanya!! Glad to see you back- missed you for a spell there!

I've been in hibernation! Last week we had the "big storm" and Danny & the boys were home for 3 days, Friday they went back to work/school then were home again on the weekend. With everybody around all the time it was hard to find time to just veg on the computer.