The Pursuit of Disney Magic (June 7-14, 2008) ~ UPDATED 9/30 pg. 191

[Supermom3]

I'm so glad to hear you loved Teppan Edo. That's on our list for our Feb trip, unfortunately I can't make ADRs until October with the new system being put into place. Wow, scary about your room. Thankfully nothing had been touched. I'm so sad that your TR is coming to an end.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I looked longingly at the drinks menu, but decided not to try the Tokyo Sunset (I figured it would be sunset for me if I did and wanted to spare Charles hauling my limp body to the bus stop).

Really? I would've call it payback for Charles' adventures with the allergy meds. LOL

Sigh. I was denied Illuminations again. I have never seen it. Next time! I hope!

Noooooo!!!!!

Well, there's always an October trip...

::ahem::

Our safety latch was flipped out and essentially our hotel room was open to anyone that wanted to come in!!! I was beside myself. Absolutely beside myself. We quickly checked everything -- we tend to put everything away in the mornings before we leave, so nothing was laying around -- and nothing seemed to be missing. I then headed down to the front desk to complain. I was still shaking when I talked to the manager. We have stayed on-site numerous times and nothing like this had ever happened. I am sure it was just a mistake on the part of mousekeeping, but STILL!!! Our hotel room -- completely open to anyone that wanted to come in!!! The manager was very apologetic and sent someone to read the lock to see who the last person in the room had been. I hope the mousekeeper didn't lose her job, but I sure hope she was reprimanded!

Ugh. How miserable! I'm glad nothing was taken, though. It's always carpy when something like that ruins the magic.

UP NEXT: In Which Our Intrepid Adventurers Head Back to the Real World!

 

[Sarilas]

I'm sorry, Jackie but you're just going to have to start making up stories for us about faux adventures because I can NOT have you returning home yet. M'kay?

And the door! Holy carp girl... I'd have been LIVID!

 

[nessz79]

Wah! The real world??

Teppan Edo is sooooo much fun! I'm a little nervous bringing my boys. I'm afraid one will go to get something and burn his hand on that crazy hot grill.

 

[LISAMWDW]

The picture of DD dancing is fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!! I have always thought the same thing about Teppen Edo but I may have to give it whirl next time!

I would have definitely had a diva fit if my room was left open like that! I can imagine how you must have panicked!

 

[lori1043]

UP NEXT: In Which Our Intrepid Adventurers Head Back to the Real World!

But I don't wanna go back to the real world, my head is in Disney with your TR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanna go back myself, though!!

Lori

 

[scottny]

great update and pics

 

[MRYPPNS]

Wah! The real world??

Teppan Edo is sooooo much fun! I'm a little nervous bringing my boys. I'm afraid one will go to get something and burn his hand on that crazy hot grill.

The new tables have you sitting further back from the grills than before the rehab. And the corner seat would put even more table between your child and the grill.

 

[jordanyosh]

The new tables have you sitting further back from the grills than before the rehab. And the corner seat would put even more table between your child and the grill.

That may be part of the reason for the rehab come to think of it.....Safety First.

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Thanks for the restaurant review. I will check it out.

I have never seen Illuminations either, but then again, I've never seen Wishes either.

Scary about your room being open. You handled it well. My DH would have had to handle it because I would have not been able to control myself.

I'm very sad about your TR being over soon. I'm also sorry you have to go back to school. My room is about ready, but I still have a while before the kids come.

Have a good day.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great update!!

I can't believe your room door was open, I would have freaked out completely if that happened to me!

I am sad that you didn't get to see Illuminations. I am going to try my best to get in all the evening activities when we go!

I am sad that your TR is ending.

I did freak out completely!

Take lots of pictures of all of your evening activities -- since our family seems to have the worst track record ever of actually seeing any of them, I can enjoy them through your photos!

OMG I would have been angry too, about the door situation. Sortof surprised they didn't offer to do more.. Free drink coupons to take the edge of or something! serioulsy though...

I know it. I told Charles I was hoping they would offer to pay for our next vacation as an apology!

I am soo adding Teppen Edo to my list for next time!
Is that a real tatoo on Charles' arm of Chelsea's name?? very cool...

Your family would love it! Yes, that is a real tattoo -- he has Connor on the other side. Those were his souvenirs from our 2004 New Orleans trip.

IMHO , Illuminations is neat, but nothing like Wishes or Fantasmic but something to look forward to next time for sure!
Sad all of our TR's are coming to an end... Boo Hoo.....

Definitely looking forward to it -- I just love being in the parks at night, and we never seemed to be on this trip.

I am sad, too.

Ready for the tax free weekend? I say every year I am not going back, it isn't worth the .20 cents I am saving hahah... with all the craziness that goes on... This year I really won't get to do it as we are taking one last trip this weekend...

I avoid it as much as I can. Although, I did venture out today to get bookbags for the children. That's it, though, we are officially finished shopping for back-to-school.

That is beyond scary!!! You seemed to have handled it well though! Glad you enjoyed Teppan Edo. This is the 2nd rave I have read today about their food!! Sorry you didn't get to see Illuminations That is a good reason to go back though right

I was so angry -- I tried to hold it together in front of the children though.

Try Teppan Edo -- you won't be disappointed!

Sorry you didn't see Illuminations, it is my favorite nighttime show. Next time right? I say that about Fantasmic, each time, that is the one I have never seen! LOL!

We've never seen Fantasmic either. My family are such lightweights.

Teppen Edo sounds fabulous, glad you had a fun AND tasty meal!

And very scary and unacceptable on your room. I can't believe they just left it open like that!

Allyson

Friday evening was definitely a mixed bag of emotions between the great dinner and the horrific hotel door situation!

Oh, that's nice. Like a doughnut is going to make the return to work easier!

Tell me about it. Usually it's biscuits from Chick-Fil-A, but, really, there is nothing that will make me skip merrily into my school tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn.

Good to hear Connor did get a little variety!

What can I say? My boy likes chicken.

Yay! I'm sooo going to have to get to Teppan Edo my next trip!

It's such a great experience!

How awful! That would completely freak me out--but I'm very glad that all your belongings were still there! Nevertheless, it is really a violation to know that any Dick, Tom, or Harry and Dick, Tom, and Harry's dog could've just walked in.

I really felt violated -- it was the worst feeling.

And now I'm getting out the violin to play a sad, although moving, song since your TR is drawing inexorably toward its end.

Thank you for the trip report dirge.

I am so happy you liked Off Kilter! Terrifying about the lock! So glad it turned out OK!!!

Off Kilter is on my next-time list for sure! I was so relieved that nothing was taken. Thank goodness Disney guests seem to be honest for the most part.

Glad you had a great meal at Teppan Edo. Aren't the chopsticks so much fun???

I was impressed that all three of my family members ate their meals with them.

The pic of Chelsea rockin out is so cute. Connor just looks relaxed with his sword.

I think he was plotting against his sister.

What a shocker to return to find the door to your room open. Thank goodness nothing was missing.

I am still aghast about the whole thing. It seemed almost surreal! Things like that aren't supposed to happen at Disney.

Ok so you're heading back to the real work in the next update? I don't like this at all Another trip needs to be planned ASAP.

Trying to -- fingers crossed that packages are released on Sunday!

I'm still in shock about Friday. Why open school on a Friday? Go in one day and then it's the weekend???? When do the kids start?

I have yet to admit that I am going back tomorrow. The kids start back on Thursday.

Okay, here I am reading your update, and saying, Look, DH, CP & her family really liked Teppan Edo.

Because I need an ADR change like I need a hole in the head.

So we're scrolling down a bit and he's reading a bit with me and he says, and I quote...

"Illuminations? She's never seen Illuminations? How many times have they been to Disney?"

So there you go! According to TK's DH this is a must do for your next trip. Is that too funny? Who knew the man felt so strongly about Illuminations. And Jack Sparrow costumes. But I digress.

I love that you had a great time there and am intrigued that it made your must do list. I think I may have to explore this in the future when DS is old enough to appreciate it, like your kids.

Those were some great chopstick shots, lots of fun.

I'm sad this is drawing to a close, and freaked about the room being open. Weird. I'm glad nothing was taken.

Too funny about your DH! Tell him that I will definitely make sure that we see Illuminations next time! It will be a priority!

Wasn't the whole room door being open just bizarre???

We had a great time at Teppan Edo -- you need to explore that option!

But I don't want our intrepid adventurers to head back to the real world! If I were in charge they wouldn't have to go home.

Our intrepid adventurers didn't want to head back to the real world that's for sure.

So glad to hear such a good review of Teppan Edo...we're planning to go there in January, but I couldn't make my ADR for it because I want the 26th. Maybe I'll have to rearrange some things. Do you happen to remember how many can sit at a table? Was it more than 8?

I don't know if more than 8 could fit at a table or not. Maybe 10 at the most.

Thanks for sharing your family with us, we'll miss your reports. My DDs love all the pics of Chelsea and Connor, and now expect that we'll do every single thing that you did! I hope we can live up to the legend of the one that is Charleston Princess!

I love that your daughters enjoyed the pictures and stories, too! There will more trip reports, I promise. Tell your DDs that now you will have to have adventures to share with Chelsea and Connor! Which means you will need to write a trip report (hint hint)!

Glad everything and everyone was safe and sound with the open door. Hopefully, it was just a bad mistake by the housekeeper.

I am sure that is what happened -- she probably just got rattled and forgot -- but still! Freaked us out completely!

I'm feeling the sadness of the last Disney night already.

Reliving the sadness is kind of painful, too.

I'm also feeling the pain of that Friday morning faculty meeting, too. Got your Disney pens ready? Maybe they'll take the edge off all the notes you're having to take.

I do have my Disney pens ready thanks to your great suggestions on your TR! I am also wearing my animal print Mickey head t-shirt -- and my Mickey head bracelet -- and bringing my pins for my bulletin board -- and my pictures for my desk. There will be a little bit of Disney magic to help me get through the day!

 

[Charleston Princess]

OMG! I can't even believe he door was open...I would have freaked!!!!!

How is the pool at POR? I have yet to see it, but I will in 3 weeks!!!!

I did freak. Big time.

The pool is great! You'll love it! It's huge!

noooooooo......not back to the real world!!!!! why???????

i guess we must all face reality, huh? stinks though.

That was pretty much what I said Saturday morning when we had to leave! It does stink to go back to the real world. I guess that's why I am just dying to plan the next trip!

i want to try teppan edo (is that how you spell it?) one day! there's so many places at disney world that i want to eventually try. it will take me at least 20 trips to fit them all in.

Or more. I am hoping for more than that, so I always have a reason to go back. My newest fixation is Beaches and Cream because of all the photos I see over on the food thread! Out of this world.

can't believe your room door was open! for the most part mousekeeping does a great job but when they screw up, they REALLY screw up. they've ticked me off twice. once when they threw away our personalized narcoosee's menus and once when i left my tink necklace laying on the bathroom counter at OKW and when i called 2 hours later (WAY too quickly for another guest to have checked in) they checked with mousekeeping and they "hadn't seen it." glad you guys didn't "lose" anything that day!

That is soooo horrible about your menus and necklace!!! I would have been furious!!! We were so fortunate that nothing was taken. I am still thanking our lucky stars about that!

Yep, that was pretty much our reaction!

Glad my Peeps took good care of you. I haven't been to Teppan Edo or the previous incarnation for years as I usually babysit the kids so the adults can have a night out. Although I think Erin went this year.

At least everything was okay......

You should go again -- you would have so much fun there -- I can totally see you getting into the spirit of things!

We were sooo lucky!

So glad that your dinner was yummy.... I want to try there sometime when the kids are bigger. Glad you got to relax around WS, sorry no Illuminations, next time right?

OMG... you room door being open made me sick, that would really bother me and I am so glad nothing was missing. That is enough to ruin a trip!

You know me and my next-times!

I was so sick -- my stomach just dropped when I saw that door open! I didn't even really want to write about it because it brought all those feelings back. Yick.

I can't believe your room was open. That is terrible. I can't even imagine how you all must have felt. I would have needed that Tokyo Sunset. It's awesome that you were able to pull it together enough to take the kids swimming.

I don't want your trip to end!

Teppan Edo sounds delicious. I'm going to run that one past my family and see if they're interested.

I was hard-pressed to pull it together, but I wanted to end the trip on a good note.

Your family would have such a good time there.

I'm so glad you loved Tepan Edo......we did too! Most of the experience there is getting a good chef! I thought the giner chocolate cake sounded weird, but ended up loving it. I know, it involves chocolate, so what's not to love?

Our chef was so great! I wish I could remember his name -- it started with a K, I do remember that.

I have decided that chocolate paired with anything is always good.

I would have been just as upset to find my room open to any Tom, Dick, or Harry who decided to walk in!

Apparently, they were law-abiding Tom, Dick, and Harry which was good.

Wow, that certainly is a shocking discovery!! I'm sorry it happened but since it did, glad at least that it happened on your last night so that you didn't have to spend the rest of the trip freaked out about it and worried about what you'd find when you went back to your room!

I would have been so paranoid if it had happened earlier in the trip. I probably would have put the privacy sign on the door for the whole week.

Teppan Edo sounds great!!

Good luck at school tomorrow (I still can't believe it's tomorrow!!)

It was! Thanks -- getting up at 6:00 will be the kicker. I am making extra cofffee and putting it in my Disney mug in the hopes that it works its magic!

Great update Jackie!!! So scared about the door being opened!!! I hate that your TR has to end!!! Please tell me there is another trip in the works soon so that we can just move right over to another CP PTR!!!

There is always another trip in the works. No fear about that!

Hey---just wanted to tell you to enjoy your last real day of summer break!
:0( I can't believe it is already time to head back! Here's a wish for another wonderful and rewarding year of teaching! I hope you have WONDERFUL students in your class!!!

I did have a great day, thank you! Finished up school shopping, hung out with the kids, and ordered Chinese for dinner.

I know two-thirds of my students since I have kids for all three years -- and I know a few of my new 6th graders since they are Chelsea's group. I think I will have a good year based on my students.

Now I'm really glad that I didn't cancel my Teppan Edo ADR, we might make it back there after all.
We always use the room safe in hotels and I usually hide my laptop so it's not out in the open.
In regards to Illuminations....if you go in October the big earth globe in the middle of the lagoon may be missing...purpose to go in for rehab.

We use the room safe, too, and always put away DSs, iPods, etc -- which incidentally slows down a check to make sure nothing is taken (when you are stressed it's hard to remember where you put everything).

Wouldn't that just figure about Illuminations? That would be my luck. We are still on the fence about October. We may just make an extended June trip since that might make more sense.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'm so glad to hear you loved Teppan Edo. That's on our list for our Feb trip, unfortunately I can't make ADRs until October with the new system being put into place. Wow, scary about your room. Thankfully nothing had been touched. I'm so sad that your TR is coming to an end.

I hope the new system gets put in place pretty quickly!

I am sad, too -- I still have three more updates though!

Really? I would've call it payback for Charles' adventures with the allergy meds. LOL

I should have thought of that!

Well, there's always an October trip...

Maybe...I am feeling responsible today (which is so not fun) and not able to justify it. Hopefully, I will come out of that soon and be back to obsessive-plan-as-many-trips-as-I-can Jackie!

Ugh. How miserable! I'm glad nothing was taken, though. It's always carpy when something like that ruins the magic.

It's so not supposed to happen at WDW.

I'm sorry, Jackie but you're just going to have to start making up stories for us about faux adventures because I can NOT have you returning home yet. M'kay?

And the door! Holy carp girl... I'd have been LIVID!

Maybe I can do a whole new TR called The Faux Adventures of Charleston Princess.

Livid, furious, violated -- felt all of that.

Wah! The real world??

Teppan Edo is sooooo much fun! I'm a little nervous bringing my boys. I'm afraid one will go to get something and burn his hand on that crazy hot grill.

I don't think they will be able to reach it -- it's set pretty far back from the diners and the chef and waitress made a BIG deal about not touching it.

The picture of DD dancing is fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!! I have always thought the same thing about Teppen Edo but I may have to give it whirl next time!

I would have definitely had a diva fit if my room was left open like that! I can imagine how you must have panicked!

It's so not a Benihana's -- it's like comparing the buffets at WDW to Ryan's or the Golden Corral -- so far above!

My voice was shaking, but I wasn't quite to the loudness of my Yak and Yeti fit.

But I don't wanna go back to the real world, my head is in Disney with your TR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanna go back myself, though!!

Lori

Soon it will be time for you to start your cruise PTR!

great update and pics

Thank you!

The new tables have you sitting further back from the grills than before the rehab. And the corner seat would put even more table between your child and the grill.

That is true -- Chelsea would have had to lay her body across the table and stretch her arms to their full lengths to reach the grill.

That may be part of the reason for the rehab come to think of it.....Safety First.

Good point!

Thanks for the restaurant review. I will check it out.

I have never seen Illuminations either, but then again, I've never seen Wishes either.

Yes, I can say I have seen Wishes -- one down, two to go!

Scary about your room being open. You handled it well. My DH would have had to handle it because I would have not been able to control myself.

Charles would have been too nice about it. He never wants to cause a scene.

I'm very sad about your TR being over soon. I'm also sorry you have to go back to school. My room is about ready, but I still have a while before the kids come.

Have a good day.

I still need to get by room ready. There is so much I need to do that I am just not thinking about. Tomorrow will find me making a to-do list during the faculty meeting, I have no doubt!

 

[javamom]

OMGosh I would have had heart failure right then and there if I found my door left open!! How fantastic that nothing was missing though!!

 

[IluvXU]

Jackie... I will be thinking of you tomorrow. I hope your meetings go well and that you have some time to relax this weekend!

 

[jordanyosh]

Getting your DIS on before the school cycle starts.....

Were you the teacher that would post from the classroom or was that someone else?

 

[Charleston Princess]

OMGosh I would have had heart failure right then and there if I found my door left open!! How fantastic that nothing was missing though!!

Oh, it was just horrible to turn the corner to our room and to be confronted with that! We were very fortunate that nothing had disappeared!

Jackie... I will be thinking of you tomorrow. I hope your meetings go well and that you have some time to relax this weekend!

Thank you!!! Of course, here it is 11:00, and I am not the least bit tired. I am so going to regret it tomorrow morning. Our calendar is pretty empty for this weekend which I hope means we can just relax!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Getting your DIS on before the school cycle starts.....

Were you the teacher that would post from the classroom or was that someone else?

Yep -- I am wide awake and not in the least ready for bed -- I may be the one at the faculty meeting that is sound asleep -- a la some of the classic "sleeping on a bench" DIS pics.

Um, I have been known to post from my classroom...

 

[jordanyosh]

I didn't think it was you........

 

[Charleston Princess]

I didn't think it was you........

My fear is always a student coming up to my desk and asking, "Who's Charleston Princess?" Plus, this year Chelsea will be one of my students, and she is only too well aware of the DIS. I will have no secrets anymore.