The trip of 2 Birthdays, 3 Resorts, and 79 Pins ~ Update 8/14

[pas130]

Deena...Baxter is so CUTE!!! Sorry about the airport monsoon! Knowing you will be at MCO and on the ME bus is enough to lift your spirits!!! I kno exactly how you feel after a "nap" that's how I am when I work late and have to get up at 630am...couple that with anot so great seeping arrangement........at least the next night is at the Royal Rooms...can't wait to hear about POR

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

Love your trip reports and followed along your whole wedding journal too! Can't wait to read more about your trip!

Thanks for joining!!

HI! Enjoying the TR so far...

Hi Sarah!!

Hi Luv!!! I'm joining in, and very excited to hear all the details! Your report will help us decide whether to book CL at Poly and YC next year during our crazy split stay!

I sure hope I can help!! I'm excited for your crazy split!!

Hi LuvLuvLuv! I am here and I can't wait to get started.

Yay! You're here!

I'm here!!! Can't wait to read all about it!

You've already seen sneak peeks on FB... you have an advantage, lol!

I am here... Going back to read now

Yay! Sheila's here!

Fashionably late

Can't wait for the next installment

You're not late!! I don't even have all the pictures uploaded yet

Great start to your TR! Your lucky you have someone to watch your doggie. I always feel so guilty when We drop Bella off at the kennel, not to mention it is expensive too. Best Friends bought out our local kennel and it cost us $45 a night in March.

I hate that blinding rain.

Can not wait to read more

Kennels are expensive. It's expensive for them to be unhappy--and full time attention and familiar love is free... but a couple states away. I get bad anxiety in that kind of rain--especially since my accident

Hi Deena!

I'm here!! BTW, we love pin collecting and trading too! And last year got initiated into collecting a few vinylmations. LOVE Mr. orange bird!! When we are there in August, I'm definitely getting our RC mascot!!

Can't wait to read your TR :

And Baxter is a cutie!!

Thanks Janet! At first I thought Pin Trading was unsanitary , but then I got addicted. I used to watch people trade and ask DH if he thought someone sneezed on those, or washed their hands before trading, lol. I don't even think like that now... I'm like OMG they have what I need

Deena...Baxter is so CUTE!!! Sorry about the airport monsoon! Knowing you will be at MCO and on the ME bus is enough to lift your spirits!!! I kno exactly how you feel after a "nap" that's how I am when I work late and have to get up at 630am...couple that with anot so great seeping arrangement........at least the next night is at the Royal Rooms...can't wait to hear about POR

I know I need to hurry with the POR stuff.... you'll be there in a matter of days!!! Baxter is such a little ham--you would love him

I'm off tonight DH is at softball, so I can have un-interrupted TR time!! I'm excited to start!!

We've set our dates for fall! We'll be celebrating our anniversary a few weeks early, but because of work--it's our only option. Drumroll please.....

October 17-20: Art of Animation - Little Mermaid (first time at a value)
October 20-24: Disneyland Hotel - Resort View (have stayed PPH/GCV before)

We're just going to swing both in one trip! It was cheaper flight wise to do it like this, and we won't have to request 2 separate vacations!! We realllllly wanted to go back to WDW for Food/Wine, and wanted to go see all the newness in DL before our Premier Passports expire! It's happening and I'm excited!! I think I may need a PTR

 

[pas130]

A new ticker YAY ! DL/WDW (for F&W no less)

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Thanks for joining!!



Hi Sarah!!



I sure hope I can help!! I'm excited for your crazy split!!



Yay! You're here!



You've already seen sneak peeks on FB... you have an advantage, lol!



Yay! Sheila's here!



You're not late!! I don't even have all the pictures uploaded yet



Kennels are expensive. It's expensive for them to be unhappy--and full time attention and familiar love is free... but a couple states away. I get bad anxiety in that kind of rain--especially since my accident



Thanks Janet! At first I thought Pin Trading was unsanitary , but then I got addicted. I used to watch people trade and ask DH if he thought someone sneezed on those, or washed their hands before trading, lol. I don't even think like that now... I'm like OMG they have what I need



I know I need to hurry with the POR stuff.... you'll be there in a matter of days!!! Baxter is such a little ham--you would love him

I'm off tonight DH is at softball, so I can have un-interrupted TR time!! I'm excited to start!!

We've set our dates for fall! We'll be celebrating our anniversary a few weeks early, but because of work--it's our only option. Drumroll please.....

October 17-20: Art of Animation - Little Mermaid (first time at a value)
October 20-24: Disneyland Hotel - Resort View (have stayed PPH/GCV before)

We're just going to swing both in one trip! It was cheaper flight wise to do it like this, and we won't have to request 2 separate vacations!! We realllllly wanted to go back to WDW for Food/Wine, and wanted to go see all the newness in DL before our Premier Passports expire! It's happening and I'm excited!! I think I may need a PTR

I was so sad when I saw your DL dates because I couldn't make it down there on those dates but duh just how silly am I???? I'll be in WDW when you are there! It's my crazy split stay so ..... Oct 17th BWV, Oct 18th & 19th AKV. I'll be with my DH and DD but maybe a meet???

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

Ha! I loved your intro. I’m not gonna lie… I actually thought you were still going on a trip with your stepmom. And… okay, this is where it gets REALLY bad--- I was looking forward to it because of the first stepmom report. This makes me a terrible friend, I know. I’m sorry. I hang my head in shame and all that stuff.

And… 79 pins?! Holy moly!!!

Awww. Baxter is such a cutie. In case you were wondering, we board Smokey at this place that also has doggie daycare, so he’s in daycare all day. He LOVES it there. Like, the first time we brought him there he didn’t want to stay and howled when we left. The second time, he ran up to the people who worked there, kissed them, and left without so much as a look back. My heart is still broken over it.

LOL! Oh DH and the headphones. At least you found the giftcards!

That was an awkward cutoff: “DH put her new weed…. Trimmer.” I giggled.

Breakfast of champions!!

Oh dear. They hadn’t been in 5 years?! You must have had a blast. I love talking Disney to people. Do you have to try your hardest not to sound like a know-it-all? (Not calling you a know-it-all, I know I have to reign it in a bit.)

SO glad you started your TR! I can’t wait for more. PS you should add the link to this to the document on After-ing.

 

[yourgypsy]

So glad you mentioned this on my TR! I so rarely get over to this board! (Psst... you should link it in your signature )

I never knew the Cincinatti airport was in KY! This means I have been to KY then LOL (you know you're a dork when...)

Baxter's adorable! I love his little shirt. How is he coping with no longer being the only dog?

79 pins! Wow! I've had to force myself to limiting only three per trip. Because it was getting out of hand for quite a while. (But hey, some of them ARE cheaper on ebay...

Oy vey, having to share a double bed? Eek! (I don't think I'm commenting in order lol)

Subscribing so that I don't miss out on anything else

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

A new ticker YAY ! DL/WDW (for F&W no less)

Yay! (I have the day before booked too just incase I have add-on-itis)

I was so sad when I saw your DL dates because I couldn't make it down there on those dates but duh just how silly am I???? I'll be in WDW when you are there! It's my crazy split stay so ..... Oct 17th BWV, Oct 18th & 19th AKV. I'll be with my DH and DD but maybe a meet???

We should definately meet up!! It'll be fun!!

Ha! I loved your intro. I’m not gonna lie… I actually thought you were still going on a trip with your stepmom. And… okay, this is where it gets REALLY bad--- I was looking forward to it because of the first stepmom report. This makes me a terrible friend, I know. I’m sorry. I hang my head in shame and all that stuff.

And… 79 pins?! Holy moly!!!

Awww. Baxter is such a cutie. In case you were wondering, we board Smokey at this place that also has doggie daycare, so he’s in daycare all day. He LOVES it there. Like, the first time we brought him there he didn’t want to stay and howled when we left. The second time, he ran up to the people who worked there, kissed them, and left without so much as a look back. My heart is still broken over it.

LOL! Oh DH and the headphones. At least you found the giftcards!

That was an awkward cutoff: “DH put her new weed…. Trimmer.” I giggled.

Breakfast of champions!!

Oh dear. They hadn’t been in 5 years?! You must have had a blast. I love talking Disney to people. Do you have to try your hardest not to sound like a know-it-all? (Not calling you a know-it-all, I know I have to reign it in a bit.)

SO glad you started your TR! I can’t wait for more. PS you should add the link to this to the document on After-ing.

Yeah... the link is up on After-ing, and I will elab there. The chick at the airport was trying to tell me to expect to wait 2 hours to get into a restaurant and I'm like--oh we already have our reservations. She didn't know about ADRs! So I had to explain a little further, and I was trying to sound to over-bearing... plus it wasn't even 6am and I wasn't on my A-game. I'm glad you've joined in

So glad you mentioned this on my TR! I so rarely get over to this board! (Psst... you should link it in your signature )

I never knew the Cincinatti airport was in KY! This means I have been to KY then LOL (you know you're a dork when...)

Baxter's adorable! I love his little shirt. How is he coping with no longer being the only dog?

79 pins! Wow! I've had to force myself to limiting only three per trip. Because it was getting out of hand for quite a while. (But hey, some of them ARE cheaper on ebay...

Oy vey, having to share a double bed? Eek! (I don't think I'm commenting in order lol)

Subscribing so that I don't miss out on anything else

Baxter thanks you for the compliment. He's laying on my left elbow, and has been a little stressed with the new addition. I had "10 pins each" on my budget page. That's about how well that worked out

Pictures are uploaded.... POR check-in comin' right up!

 

[vikkii19]

Joining in, can't wait to hear all about it and how you managed that 3 resort split stay.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

Magical Express and POR Check In

I think I left off when we got off the plane. I had to catch my bearings for a moment as we normally fly Delta and arrive on the B side, but we were on A. We got right down to ME and they asked us if we had time to take a survey. I had read something about this briefly before I left.

Apparently it's a test for the Xpass coming up. They asked us a few questions, then had a choose 2 rides from each side of a paper and asked which day we would be at MK. They gave us 2 cards to use, and were told we would recieve a reminder email. We were to get fastpasses for the 4 rides we chose, but for the times alotted. It was a nice gesture, and if we were around, then we would go--but if not--eh whatever.

We proceded through the ME line and to my surprise, we walked right through and on to the bus! Last November we took a town car, and I secretly missed watching the video.

I also scope out the condos and apartments on the way there, again, secretly wondering if I should just move south. We're not all that happy in the mid-west and hope someday we can relocate. Before I knew it, I saw my favorite sign!

We dropped off at OKW and CBR, then we got to POR!

The only time I had ever been to POR was passing through once on a bus that shared with POFQ. We stayed at POFQ for 4 hours in 2010 before asking to be moved. It was before the refurb and the room was gross--we were moved to Coronado which worked out much better for us. We had stayed at CBR in 2009, so besides the cabins (which I feel are so different), this was our last moderate to try.

I was prepared from the resort board that the lobby was under refurb. I told DH so he was prepared as well. We walked in, and the lobby wasn't crazy busy--I was helped right away.

I had requested "Parterre Place / Highest Floor / Close to Bridge". My last few check-in's I have had to do a little tweaking, so I was ready to ask them to check for a better room for me--but to my surprise, they had me 3rd floor in Parterre Place! The location was great and the room was ready! It was only about 10am. We were in the main/central part of Parterre Place on the top floor! The CM explained the resort with the map, and because I had been studying the map on the PO website, I really was too excited about our location to listen to her. I told DH to just follow me, I knew where we were going.

We took note of where the gift shop and food court were. I wanted to get to the room. So we walked out the back and saw the dock, the hair wrapping station, and the surrey bike rental area. I knew I needed to find the bridge--oh there it is!

So we walk over the bridge, I'm taking in my surroundings, I know to turn right... but there's the pool??? Ummm I think I took the wrong bridge. I took a nonchalant look at the map in my purse without DH seeing. I knew to just keep going and we'd get there. The scenic route was kind of nice and I was learning where everything was--so it wasn't all bad--but I didn't want to admit I was lost for a minute.

When we got to Parterre Place, I was so pleased with the landscaping and care of the resort. It was absolutely beautiful. DH even commented on how nice it was. We found the elevator, and made it up to our room. I was so stinking excited!! Here are some pictures:

(Oak Manor)

(This would be the correct bridge for future reference)

DH put his key in the door....
And we go in.....
And you will have to wait until I nourish myself to find out about the room!

I'll be back in a bit!

 

[sjs314]

 

[Mousemommy1]

How rude!!! Putting your hunger before a TR???
Waiting anxiously, let's keep this train rolling!

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Joining Sjs with a box of popcorn! Loving the TR so far!

 

[MelMel11]

Count me in!!!

 

[jennyjinx3]

OK, how long does it take for a snack??? LOL POR does look so nice! It's on our list....some year!!

 

[Lisa29]

Yay, you have a new trip report!!

I was feeling quite down as another TR I had been reading and enjoying has finished and then I found yours!

Very unfair leaving us hanging like that - really hope your room is nice.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Hi I'm joining in. Can't wait to hear about all the different resorts your are staying at.

Oh, and Baxter is such a cutie!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

How rude!!! Putting your hunger before a TR???
Waiting anxiously, let's keep this train rolling!

I know--it just seemed appropriate, lol. I always get all anxious when others do the same!

Joining Sjs with a box of popcorn! Loving the TR so far!

Thanks!!

Count me in!!!

Hello Hello!

OK, how long does it take for a snack??? LOL POR does look so nice! It's on our list....some year!!

Yeah.... well DH got home early and we decided to go to eat--the night escaped me from there. POR was a nice surprise!

Yay, you have a new trip report!!

I was feeling quite down as another TR I had been reading and enjoying has finished and then I found yours!

Very unfair leaving us hanging like that - really hope your room is nice.

You're here! Yay!!

Hi I'm joining in. Can't wait to hear about all the different resorts your are staying at.

Oh, and Baxter is such a cutie!

Thanks and Welcome!!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

The Room

I'm sorry I left y'all hanging. So we enter the room, and DH knows to step aside while I take my pictures. Everything was immaculate, and there were no visible signs that anyone else had stayed in the room before us. It was in pristine condition and I was super impressed. (I did later find a spot on the table that looked like dried spaghetti sauce, but that was the only thing I saw otherwise)

And that's the room! We didn't our bags from ME yet, but sat down for a minute to think of a plan. We had Via Napoli booked, but we were both so tired, and the thought of hopping a bus and walking to the back of Epcot made us both nausiated. I called dining and canceled. I looked around the room and was very, very happy. I don't know why I have turned into such a deluxe snob, but I was really happy here, and for a moment, kicked myself for not keeping it for all 6 nights. It would have saved me $1030, and I was just as happy in this room--well at least for the moment

First thing's first--we got showers. I wasn't going to feel right until I got one. I felt icky from the rain and the plane, and was planning on putting on the same clothes since we didn't have anything yet--but our luggage came just in time! Yay!

We were both in that awkward tired, but I'm in WDW adrenaline phase. Our solution was to check out the resort and the food court. We haven't eaten at a resort food court for a meal since 2009 at CBR. We normally do all table service, but today, we just wanted something close, small, and convenient. So we decided to venture out.

I'm probably close to my picture limit, and I have to order lunch for my company... so I'll take a little intermission for now! I wanted to make sure Pas130 got to see the room!! She'll be there next week!

 

[sjs314]

Oh Deena I would so stay at POR but now that I need to use the ECV Bob is my voice of reason and staying at BWI does make sense. If I could get him to go for a split stay

We always pooper out on arrival day too, I really should not make any ADRs that day.

Loving reading your TR. I never did get started on mine

 

[mommytominnie]

I love the royal room!! We are staying at POR in August (our first time) and I am super excited to see more of the resort from your TR. When I was booking, I got a 30% pin when I called reservations and I explained to my Grumpy for the original price we thought we would be spending prior to surprise pin, we could request a Royal Room. He thought it over and said we did not really "need" to stay there and we could save the 200.00 for something else Since this trip is another surprise for our Princess, she would never know that we could have stayed in the Princess room.

Anyway, I did not put up to much of a fight, since I was just relieved he agreed to go back to Disney so soon after our first and last trip in Dec. 2011. Anyway, can't wait to read more!!