The "How Could You?" trips x2-the finale! 2/12

[Tiggerrn2]

Ha! Stayed at the Comfort Inn once...awful!!! The best is the Holiday Inn Express there in Kimball Tn.... We usually always stay there....but the last trip we wanted to get thur the mountains..so we stayed in Chatanooga,Tn.

Would not stay here again, given the choice. We loved it in Chattanooga! I think we could probably spend a week in TN exploring.

 

[iloverags2]

Fun drive home!!! Have never seen American Pickers, but it definitely looks like something to watch at least once.

I agree on those non-park visits...they really are enjoyable! We have done those often, and love seeing the aspects of WDW normally looked over.

Looking forward to the next trip in this report!

 

[KatMark]

Great drive home today. I'm not sharing your stop in Nashville and Bob an Frank's place or he'll have us driving up there next weekend. He watches that show all the time and it drives me insane.

Our oldest son went to Nashville (I think it was two years ago) to see Garth Brooks when he did some charity concerts. He LOVED the City.

I thoroughly enjoyed your TR, and can't wait to hear about DW without the kids. We've done it several times now and love it.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Fun drive home!!! Have never seen American Pickers, but it definitely looks like something to watch at least once.

I agree on those non-park visits...they really are enjoyable! We have done those often, and love seeing the aspects of WDW normally looked over.

Looking forward to the next trip in this report!

Can't wait to get the next part of the report going. Had such a great time.

Great drive home today. I'm not sharing your stop in Nashville and Bob an Frank's place or he'll have us driving up there next weekend. He watches that show all the time and it drives me insane.

Our oldest son went to Nashville (I think it was two years ago) to see Garth Brooks when he did some charity concerts. He LOVED the City.

I thoroughly enjoyed your TR, and can't wait to hear about DW without the kids. We've done it several times now and love it.

It was sooo worth the stop!! You could be in and out in Oh, Say 4 hours. Just kidding. If the line isn't long, it really could be a short stop.

Looking forward to moving on with the next trip. It's been such fun to write about the trip and have those memories again. Thanks for coming along and posting a bit. So much more fun knowing there are readers following along.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Ok, so now summer has passed, the kids are back to school, and my friend and I are counting down the days til we can get a few to ourselves. The planning began this past spring. J and I walk our dogs in the morning while the kids are at school. One morning, she said she thought she was ready for a return trip to Disney! That was all I needed to hear to let the planning begin! I watched for discounts and checked various dates. We knew we wanted early fall, would like to do a party night, and really wanted Food and Wine again. In 2009, we went the 3rd week in Oct. The weather had been slightly cool then. I was hoping for slightly warmer weather this time. Then the discounts came out for free dining! We jumped on it. I gave her the choice of resorts. Last time it was POR. She wanted to try a new place, still wanted to stay Mod, and finally decided on CBR. I'd stayed there back in 1996 and was ready to check it out again. Soooo, CBR it was. And the dates were Sept 29th-Oct 4th. Of course, that was all before I realized those dates would be directly impacted by a Tower of Terror run AND Epcot's 30th Anniversary.

We tried to get our 3rd member of our 2009 Mom's Only trip in on our action, but she just couldn't swing it this year. That meant it was just the 2 of us.

We have been friends for years-our kids were in kindergarten together. She is not a Disney crazed DisBoards member, but she does enjoy being there. And she especially enjoys that I do all the planning and all she has to do is come along for the fun!

We had an early flight out of Midway on AirTrans (I spent the summer sweating out finding a deal on airfare-finally getting one way for $80 and the other for $120). Flight left Sat the 29th at 0650 which meant we need to be at the airport by 0500 or so. I had arranged for a friend of mine to bring us to the airport so neither one of our husbands needed to get up or wake the kids early. Of course, that did not stop my kids from waking up early to say good-bye. The were only a little bent out of shape that I was returning to Disney (and hitting the parks) without them this time.

Now, for the honest explanation into why we do not bring the children, I just spent the past trip telling you what those children ate at every restaurant we went to, right?! And this WAS Free Dining!! Would you want to bring the chicken nugget, burger or pizza, grilled cheese eating ankle biters with you?

We had some awesome dining reservations secured early on in the spring. We had tickets to a Halloween party AND a reservation for a Segway tour.
So what are we waiting for? Let's get this trippie started!

 

[KatMark]

Great start; it sounds like a great trip and I can't wait to hear all about it. I love your line: "Would you want to bring the chicken nugget, burger or pizza, grilled cheese eating ankle biters with you?"

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Great start; it sounds like a great trip and I can't wait to hear all about it. I love your line: "Would you want to bring the chicken nugget, burger or pizza, grilled cheese eating ankle biters with you?"

Tis truly what they are after all!!!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Moving on with the trip. We arrived in plenty of time at the airport and security wasn't too bad. We were seated at the gate with plenty of time left debating what to do about breakfast. I almost waited too long.Grabbed a quick bite from McDonalds (breakfast burritos and Diet Coke-breakfast of Champions ). By the time we headed back, we were boarding.

We, unfortunately had a stop in Atlanta. The flight was $80. (For only $80, I'll do a stop, but I really prefer non-stop flights. Something about the ups and downs-don't most crashes happen during take-offs and landings? )

We only had an hour, so we didn't wander far from the gate. Both of us had forgotten gum for the flight, so we ran over to a little shop looking for a pack of gum. Would you believe, they do not sell gum anywhere in the Atlanta Airport. I get it in Orlando. People are headed to theme parks. Who wants to step in gum in a theme park? But in Atlanta? So we grabbed some chewy type candy and went back to wait for our flight.

Our flight left Atlanta at 11 arriving in Orlando at 12:30. We only had our carry-on bags and backpacks so we headed straight to Magical Express. It wasn't so magical. I believe that the past times I have flown to MCO, I have done so on a weekday or had very early arrivals. DME is not the place to be on an early Saturday afternoon. And that is all I have to say on that!!

Wish I'd gotten my camera out of the bag here, but it just wouldn't have been a good idea! I know we waited well over an hour to board and finally be underway. We did not arrive to CBR until 2:30.

Thankfully, check in was not mobbed. The CM checking us in got out our folder. They had us in Barbados. I was really hoping to stay in a new spot since that is where I'd stayed in 1996. I asked if there was anything available in the area I'd initially requested and she was so sweet. She checked, booked. Then she called housekeeping to see if they were cleaning any rooms there while we were waiting. We couldn't get Jamaica 45, but 46 was available and ready. Awesome! They pointed us in the direction we could go to wait for the internal bus to bring us to the room. But I just couldn't stand it any longer! Soooooooooo, we walked from the Customs House to Jamaica. It didn't look that far on the map.

photo courtesy of the Disboards resort board.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

It was a bit warm!! And the walk was a bit longer than I'd thought.
Finally, we got here.

And we open the door and see..........

Guess housekeeping wasn't quite finished after all.

So we fixed it!

Took a few photos

this were our samples this trip-much better scent than the grapefruit we had this summer (but still not as good as the original "natural spring" scent)

Then we headed over the bridge for a quick nibble....we were starving!

These guys were snacking too..

We headed into Old Port Royale

Got sidetracked by some souvies

Then we hit the food court. We only wanted a snack because we had an awesome dinner planned and didn't want to ruin it. We grabbed the kids' chicken strips and fries. and split it and also picked up our mugs (included with the dining plan).

We headed back outside to browse the resort a bit and then get ready for dinner.

the pool looked awesome-the hot tub.....even more inviting (have to check that out later)

 

[CJK]

Great start! I just realized that we stayed at CBR at the same time as you! We were over in Martinique. I think we even checked in around the same time (just before lunch on the 29th). I'll have to look for any of my family or friends in your pics! It WAS hot wasn't it????

 

[Tiggerrn2]

And I just have to ask this question (because it's been bothering me for a bit now....what is the rooster sign on the map at the bus station Trinidad North for? What does it mean? Anyone? Lisa?)

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Great start! I just realized that we stayed at CBR at the same time as you! We were over in Martinique. I think we even checked in around the same time (just before lunch on the 29th). I'll have to look for any of my family or friends in your pics! It WAS hot wasn't it????

That is funny!!!! And yes it was quite warm there this time around!! And humid.

 

[iloverags2]

And I just have to ask this question (because it's been bothering me for a bit now....what is the rooster sign on the map at the bus station Trinidad North for? What does it mean? Anyone? Lisa?)

I always thought it was a bird (or parrot) and had something to do with the exotic birds they have at the resort. Of course, why the icon is on the bus stop is beyond me!

Wondering where you went for dinner!

 

[KatMark]

Great update. Our son stayed in Barbados the time he stayed at CBR.

Too funny that housekeeping forgot to finish your Mickey head on the bed.

I do not care for the new soaps/shampoos at all.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

I always thought it was a bird (or parrot) and had something to do with the exotic birds they have at the resort. Of course, why the icon is on the bus stop is beyond me!

Wondering where you went for dinner!

Answer coming up!

Great update. Our son stayed in Barbados the time he stayed at CBR.

Too funny that housekeeping forgot to finish your Mickey head on the bed.

I do not care for the new soaps/shampoos at all.

Me either.. And the bottles are soooo small now!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

I left off with us getting cleaned up for dinner. We boarded a bus to the Magic Kingdom and then took a nice, liesurely walk over to the Contemporary. Our first time ever eating at the California Grill. Now, I don't know why I didn't have my camera out before we were up there, but for some reason, this is the first photo I took.

Wow!!! Looking at the park from up here was amazing!!

Just gorgeous!

My summer home!

For you, Cindy!!

We had a trainee with us for our waiter tonight, but he was soooo nice! He spent a lot of extra time with us. My friend and I were both celebrating our birthdays-hers was just before our trip and mine was just after. We met up with another one of my friend's from home (she was there with her family for her daughter's birthday and she wanted to join us for a mom's only meal).

Two of us had the Oak Fired Filet of Beef, and the other one had the Pork Tenderloins and substituted some fresh veggies for the mushrooms. Let me tell you, this dinner was AMAZING!! (better than our dinner last time at Le Cellier) Wish I had taken photos. And we had an awesome table. We were in the room that faces the back side of the hotel and Bay Lake. We looked out the windows on Discovery Island. It was very pretty. And the nice thing was, this room was very quiet.
I did get some desert photos, however!

This was an extra (thank you to our waiter!) and it was sooooo good!!!

J ordered this desert. It was a raspberry sorbet and chocolate cake

And I ordered the key lime cheesecake.

But the best desert by far was the chocolate cake.

 

[KatMark]

Sounds like a great birthday dinner, and those desserts look yummy. Maybe if I show Mark those dessert pictures, I can talk him into going to California Grill one of these days.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Ahhh, Caribbean Beach....how I miss it! I have absolutely no idea why the bus stop has a rooster on it. I guess I've never noticed. I think I'll have to ask someone when we are there next trip.

The birthday meal at California Grill sounds and looks amazing!

 

[iloverags2]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the pictures of WL!!!! Oh, to be there right now...sigh.

Wow, that chocolate cake does look good and it must have been if you said it was the best! I pegged you for the cheesecake taking that honor since cheesecake tends to not be as sweet as chocolate, and key lime definitely is more tangy than sweet! Now I have to go to CG just for that cake!

 

[Buzzsgramma]

A number of years back it was my DDL birthday so on arrival at WDW we went with the 2 GK's ,DS and DH & I to a fab dinner at CG....we were there long enough to go out after dinner and watch the MK fireworks..
It is breath taking from that spot....the food was incredible as the service..