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

[lori1043]

Hey Jackie!! I am lovin' your updates. We will have to try Kona next time we go to the World.
I took that boat ride when I was there for the marathon, and we were b/t MK stop and the GF when we were BLESSED with the fireworks going off whilst on the boat. The captain slowed the boat down for a wonderful view if the castle and fireworks. I tried to do this again with my family and got there too early, so we admired it from the Poly. I'd love to stay at the Poly ONE DAY. My top 2 places to stay if and when money don't matter-the Poly and WL.

Lovin' the pictures-Lori

 

[2xcited2sleep]

(sometimes I have three children instead of just two )

Good one! Kona sounds yummy!

 

[Native NYer]

I love the photos of Chelsea and Connor with the Tikis. And glad to hear your dinner at Kona was yummy.

You are such a good wife! I'm not sure I'd swap meals with anyone. I'm surprised Disney doesn't think to put mushrooms on the menu. What if someone is allergic?

I think I need to look over my ADRs again. We're staying at the Poly and not having dinner at Kona once This needs to change!

How are you enjoying summer vacation?

 

[cjsteiger]

Love your TR the pictures are great. My DD and I did face painting last time we were there. Turned out really great. I would forget I had it on until someone would make a comment. Had to wash it off before dinner resis at Cali Grill, my DH didn't think it fit with the mood of the resturant
Your tr makes me more determined to have a meal at the Poly on our Feb trip.

Can't wait to read more

 

[JaxJags08]

I'm now adding Kona Cafe to my ever-growing list of restaurants to try! It sounds so yummy! Mmmmm....bread and dessert

 

[MeMom]

The service was superb and the food was wonderful! I ordered the macadamia nut crusted mahi-mahi, Charles and Chelsea ordered the filet mignon, and Connor ordered chicken of some sort. I also ordered an Island Sunset drink (orange juice, pineapple juice, and rum). Our waiter brought us the most delicious bread with a sweet butter that was soooo good! I easily could have eaten my fill on the bread alone!

WORD OF WARNING: The filet comes with mushrooms, and it does not state it on the menu. Charles has a pathological dislike of mushrooms to the point where he will not even eat anything that has touched mushrooms. Imagine his dismay when his filet arrived with mushrooms all over it. To salvage the situation, I traded entrees with him (sometimes I have three children instead of just two ). I did manage to have a few bites of the mahi mahi before handing it over to him, and it was delicious. The filet with mashed potatoes and asparagus was also very tasty (thankfully).

For dessert we all ordered the Kilauea Torte -- it was like a little chocolate cake volcano filled with chocolate syrup. Mmmmm!!! If you love chocolate, this is a must-have.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Kona -- it was quiet, service was friendly and efficient, and the food was very good.

Great pictures of the sweet kids. Do you have pictures of all this good food?

 

[Charleston Princess]

I can't wait to eat at Kona Cafe....yummmmm. I am so torn between many entrees. Did you have the sticky wings?? I can't wait to try those.

Your pictures turned out so well. I love the tiki poses and the one with the kids waiting for the monorail with their backs towards the camera. So cute.

On a side note, I have been attempting to make a picture signature with all of our wedding pics but I am not being very sucessful at it. Granted, I am trying to do it at work.....

Thanks! We didn't do an appetizer since we knew we would be getting a ton of food. You'll have to let me know what you think of the sticky wings!

Any luck with your picture signature?

Good tip about Kona's filet--I'm not a fun of the mushrooms either!!!
Great pictures

Thanks! Thought I should warn others as well, since I know that lots of people don't like mushrooms!

Oh, that macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi sounds delicious! I'm not sure I'd have given it up, myself. What a loving wife you are!

And methinks I'm detecting a pattern to Connor's food choices... "chicken of some sort" indeed!

Pictures with the tiki are very cute.

Thanks! The mahi mahi was delicious, but Charles's mashed potatoes were also very good!

I can never remember what Connor ordered, but it was usually the chicken fingers.

The boat ride looks lovely and what cute photos at the Poly. Thanks for the info about the fillet, they should put that on the menu!

Thanks! We were so shocked when the filet came out covered in mushrooms!

My DH can't stand mushrooms, either, but he would've been stuck because I would have ordered the filet as well!

I did actually try and pretend that they weren't mushrooms at first, but Charles wasn't having any of that nonsense.

God I so LOVE Kona Cafe!!! You are making me so hungry for it right now! UGH!!! The food was so good! Our night at Kona is coming up in my next update, and this much talking about it is just killing my stomach!! I don't think anything I make for supper is going to taste good now thinking of that WONDERFUL meal!! MMMMMMMM GOOD!!!!

It was delicious, wasn't it? I loved the dessert and bread best of all!

I am so excited about eating at Kona in August! Great update!

Thanks! Are you eating breakfast or dinner there?

great update and pics.

loved the boat ride.

Love Kona. My favorite meal last time.

Thanks! It was definitely near the top of our list!

Jackie you had both meals that DH and I would probably get. Glad to hear they were YUM-O I just don't know if it's a good choice for us with a 18 mo old.

I think Liam would be fine there -- it was a very family friendly place with LOTS of children there! It's not Ohanas, but it certainly isn't V&A's either -- really, I wouldn't worry about taking Liam at all!

oh, your post makes me want to eat there! That sounds so yummy!!

Sounds like your relaxed state allowed for some unexpected adventures! (In a good way, of course!)

It was yummy! Yes, not rushing allowed us to do some stuff that we normally wouldn't have done!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

I just found your PTR/TR through your link from another PTR. Your signature is what caught my eye. Very COOL

I just sat and read all of your posts. I'll be honest, I read your links and not every post in between I hope you don't mind.

I have thoroughly enjoyed everything you have written. The first thing I noticed is that I think we are twins separated at birth. OK can't be possible because I am way older

Here are a few things we have in common. (Yes, I made a list)
DIsney obsessed (OK aren't we all?)
6th grade LA teacher
I knew the reference to "Movin' Right ALong" before you told me. (I'm a little disappointed that you didn't see the Muppet's 3-D at DHS)
Self-Diagnosed OCD: Hence the list
Movie Lover: Especially Star Wars ( Han was the hunk, Luke was the wimp) and Indiana Jones
Grey's Anatomy (OK who doesn't love it)
Dreaming about every holiday at WDW. (I honestly thought I was the only one that did this.)
I was not born in Charleston, but did live there for 6 years when DH was in Air Force ( We are going back for a visit this summer)
Micky Mom's club
Loved the Rear Window reference
I was our school's coach for Science Olympiad for years
AK: Favorite Park
Desire to see Nighttime sites, but family has a hard time pulling it off
And My Favorite: My DH is also a "Closet Disney Lover"confused3

I will say it again, I love your TR so far. I am so jeolous of your impromptu trip in April.

You have given me some great ideas, and I can't wait to start planing for next summer. I promised my family that I would wait until we got back from our Myrtle Beach trip this summer. Yeah, like I haven't already started in my head.

I can't wait to read more. Your kids are adorable.

Have a great day!

 

[ampc3]

Glad you all enjoyed Kona, that was one of our faves.... Again to bad we didn't run int each other, Wednesday was our all day MK day..

I can't remember if I have asked this or not? What county are you all in? We are in Cobb..

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, CP.

What have you done?

Kona Cafe sounds good.

Really, really, really good.

Uh oh. I am torn by the desire to eat macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi and yummy yummy bread and the overwhelming need not to change anything. :::sigh:::

By the by, pictures with the tikis are soooo cute! I love Connor's shirt, I thought about buying it for my DS.

It was really good, but don't change your ADRs at this point (you have some great choices)! Just save Kona for the next trip!

Thanks! I love that shirt of Connor's!

The mahi mahi sounds delicious!

I'm with Charles on the mushroom thing...EWWW!

Cute Tiki pics!

Thanks! The mahi mahi was delicious -- what I tasted of it! Sometimes Charles and his mushroom aversion are a real drag!

Hey Jackie!! I am lovin' your updates. We will have to try Kona next time we go to the World.
I took that boat ride when I was there for the marathon, and we were b/t MK stop and the GF when we were BLESSED with the fireworks going off whilst on the boat. The captain slowed the boat down for a wonderful view if the castle and fireworks. I tried to do this again with my family and got there too early, so we admired it from the Poly. I'd love to stay at the Poly ONE DAY. My top 2 places to stay if and when money don't matter-the Poly and WL.

Lovin' the pictures-Lori

Thanks! The kids would love to stay at the Poly! Charles and I stayed there in 1995, so there are others I want to try first -- I would definitely like to take the kids there one day!

Good one! Kona sounds yummy!

Thanks! It was very yummy!

I love the photos of Chelsea and Connor with the Tikis. And glad to hear your dinner at Kona was yummy.

You are such a good wife! I'm not sure I'd swap meals with anyone. I'm surprised Disney doesn't think to put mushrooms on the menu. What if someone is allergic?

I think I need to look over my ADRs again. We're staying at the Poly and not having dinner at Kona once This needs to change!

How are you enjoying summer vacation?

I wondered about the whole mushroom allergy thing, too! We could have sent it back, but I didn't want to wait when I was dying to head to the Magic Kingdom.

Summer vacation is flying by for me -- I go back to work on August 1!

Love your TR the pictures are great. My DD and I did face painting last time we were there. Turned out really great. I would forget I had it on until someone would make a comment. Had to wash it off before dinner resis at Cali Grill, my DH didn't think it fit with the mood of the resturant
Your tr makes me more determined to have a meal at the Poly on our Feb trip.

Can't wait to read more

Thanks! The face painting was fun! Too funny about your DH making you wash it off! Breakfast at Kona is also spectacular!

I'm now adding Kona Cafe to my ever-growing list of restaurants to try! It sounds so yummy! Mmmmm....bread and dessert

That bread -- I could eat a big chunk of it right now! Glad I could add to your list of restaurants to try!

Great pictures of the sweet kids. Do you have pictures of all this good food?

Thanks! No, I was a bad DISer and didn't take any food pics -- I have promised to do better next time.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I just found your PTR/TR through your link from another PTR. Your signature is what caught my eye. Very COOL

I just sat and read all of your posts. I'll be honest, I read your links and not every post in between I hope you don't mind.

Welcome and thanks for reading! I put the links there for that very reason! Natale1980 made my photo siggie -- I just love it!

Here are a few things we have in common. (Yes, I made a list)
DIsney obsessed (OK aren't we all?)
6th grade LA teacher
I knew the reference to "Movin' Right ALong" before you told me. (I'm a little disappointed that you didn't see the Muppet's 3-D at DHS)
Self-Diagnosed OCD: Hence the list
Movie Lover: Especially Star Wars ( Han was the hunk, Luke was the wimp) and Indiana Jones
Grey's Anatomy (OK who doesn't love it)
Dreaming about every holiday at WDW. (I honestly thought I was the only one that did this.)
I was not born in Charleston, but did live there for 6 years when DH was in Air Force ( We are going back for a visit this summer)
Micky Mom's club
Loved the Rear Window reference
I was our school's coach for Science Olympiad for years
AK: Favorite Park
Desire to see Nighttime sites, but family has a hard time pulling it off
And My Favorite: My DH is also a "Closet Disney Lover"confused3

If I made a list, it would look just like that!!!

You have given me some great ideas, and I can't wait to start planing for next summer. I promised my family that I would wait until we got back from our Myrtle Beach trip this summer. Yeah, like I haven't already started in my head.

I can't wait to read more. Your kids are adorable.

Have a great day!

Thanks! I haven't been to Myrtle Beach in years -- I bet it has changed a lot!!!

I have already started planning next summer's trip as well!

Glad you all enjoyed Kona, that was one of our faves.... Again to bad we didn't run int each other, Wednesday was our all day MK day..

I can't remember if I have asked this or not? What county are you all in? We are in Cobb..

I so wish we would have run into each other!

We are in Bartow -- right above you (kind of depending on what part of Cobb you are in)! Charles and I lived in Cobb the first four years we were in the Atlanta, then we moved up the highway.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Oooh I am even more excited to try Kona now! So glad you enjoyed it! I think I'll get the Filet, I like mushrooms! And the dessert sounds delish too!

We are booking Kona for dinner for our January trip too!

Allyson

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oooh I am even more excited to try Kona now! So glad you enjoyed it! I think I'll get the Filet, I like mushrooms! And the dessert sounds delish too!

We are booking Kona for dinner for our January trip too!

Allyson

It's a great place -- we loved breakfast there as well when we went in April. Now we just need to try lunch there!

 

[Native NYer]

August 1st???? When do your students start?
I go back the Tuesday after Labor Day. My friends and I call the last week of August New York State Teacher Depression Awareness Week.


Have you ever booked one of the bounceback offers during your stay? I'm trying to plan for next year, but Disney needs to release 2009 prices!!!!

 

[ampc3]

Yep I think you are just above us, we are west cobb area...

 

[Charleston Princess]

August 1st???? When do your students start?
I go back the Tuesday after Labor Day. My friends and I call the last week of August New York State Teacher Depression Awareness Week.

Have you ever booked one of the bounceback offers during your stay? I'm trying to plan for next year, but Disney needs to release 2009 prices!!!!

Our students start back on August 7th! However, on the plus side we always get out the Friday before Memorial Day, so I guess it all works out in the long run.

about NY State Teacher Depression Awareness Week -- that will be us the last week in July!

Yep I think you are just above us, we are west cobb area...

Yep, right above you!

 

[Native NYer]

Our students start back on August 7th! However, on the plus side we always get out the Friday before Memorial Day, so I guess it all works out in the long run.

about NY State Teacher Depression Awareness Week -- that will be us the last week in July!

Wow that's fast. But you get out much earlier than we do. Our last day was June 20th. It ends up being the same amount of time, just configured differently.

For once, I'd like to have off when everyone's in school so I can take advantage of the low crowds in the off season. Hmmm maybe when I get married and am on maternity leave. I think a newborn can handle Disney

So the last week of July will be Georgia Prozac Appreciation Week.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Wow that's fast. But you get out much earlier than we do. Our last day was June 20th. It ends up being the same amount of time, just configured differently.

For once, I'd like to have off when everyone's in school so I can take advantage of the low crowds in the off season. Hmmm maybe when I get married and am on maternity leave. I think a newborn can handle Disney

So the last week of July will be Georgia Prozac Appreciation Week.

You missed the few days where I was contemplating changing careers so I could go during the off-season! Luckily, I came to my senses about that one pretty quick!

Yes, the last week of July will be GA Prozac Appreciation Week! I have already started having the back-to-school dreams where my room isn't ready for open house and such.

 

[Native NYer]

You missed the few days where I was contemplating changing careers so I could go during the off-season! Luckily, I came to my senses about that one pretty quick!

Yes, the last week of July will be GA Prozac Appreciation Week! I have already started having the back-to-school dreams where my room isn't ready for open house and such.

I've contemplated changing careers. The one I have chosen is to be wealthy and not have to work. Where do I apply for that job?

OMG I have those dreams too! I nearly passed out in Barnes and Noble the other day. I went to the children's section to get T some books and passed by a display of teacher plan books School just ended here. Are they trying to put me away in a padded room for the rest of the summer?

Have the back to school sales started in Georgia?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I've contemplated changing careers. The one I have chosen is to be wealthy and not have to work. Where do I apply for that job?

OMG I have those dreams too! I nearly passed out in Barnes and Noble the other day. I went to the children's section to get T some books and passed by a display of teacher plan books School just ended here. Are they trying to put me away in a padded room for the rest of the summer?

Have the back to school sales started in Georgia?

OK, I'm jumping right in on this topic.....
We have our first day inservice on August 6th and entry level conferences on the 7th. Talk about dreaming that your room isn't ready! No days are built in to prepare for that one. We end the year here before Memorial Day as well and were down at WDW the end of May/first of June and it still seemed crowded. Crowds or no crowds it's still the best place to be!

Oh and I was at Wal Mart today and saw the school supply lists, wished I could have sat down and changed some of the items on my list.....