Third Time's a Charm PTR - May 2012 - I should give up on planning trips.

[franandaj]

OK, so tomorrow is our trip to Disneyland. We planned this way back in September after Labor Day. We took Arline out to the park for lunch and she told us that she really hadn’t been on many rides at all. Just the ones we had taken her on. We decided that with our upcoming trip to WDW, we needed to start some Disneducation for her. She hadn’t seen any of the Toy Story movies, Cars or even Aladdin! So we watched quite a few of the movies that should be a part of anyone’s knowledge base and set up this trip in the off season before our WDW trip. That way she can have a point of comparison when we say that our HM and POTC are better than WDW, but their ToT is better she will understand.

So I’ve been really looking forward to this since it’s been so long since I’ve been immersed in Disney. We’ve had a couple one night stays here and there, but this is the first time we’ve stayed three nights in a one bedroom! However, something happened last week and I haven’t said anything because I didn’t want to jinx it, but I think everything is in place that it REALLY will happen so I can say it now.

We had a opportunity to upgrade our DLR visits. We learned about it in January, and were on the fence, but eventually it won over and decided to go for it. We’re talking about a pretty big sum of money so it was a difficult decision. However, if we were gonna do it we wanted everything to be in place for this visit. So we spoke on the phone with one of the CMs handling the conversion. We knew about some of the perks going into this, but as we were talking she told me we were eligible for upgrades when we stayed at the Grand Californian. I told her that we are DVC members so we didn’t qualify for any upgrades. But lo, and behold we DO! Our stay in the one bedroom Villa will also come with access to the Concierge Lounge. I don’t know if any of you have stayed Concierge at the GCH, we did once on points before the Villas were built and OMG! I have three words for you Chocolate Covered Strawberries! From 11AM to 4PM! Not to mention all the other goodies, like continental breakfast, sodas, waters, wine at Happy Hour. We are going to be in Heaven!

Among the other things that will be enhancing our visit are VIP seating for WoC, a VIP tour from 11AM-5PM on Thursday, VIP seats for Aladdin on Friday and VIP viewing for Remember Dreams Come True! Friday night. WOW! Is all that I can say. I can’t even believe that an already great trip just got Super Enhanced. I have been bursting at the seams all week about this! In 24 hours I will have Chocolate Covered Strawberries coming out the wazoo! or should I say going in?

 

[rentayenta]

CL at the GCV? If I've said it once, which I have....I'll say it again....can I be you for a day? I am looking forward the report. Have a safe, magical, and healthy trip.

 

[franandaj]

CL at the GCV? If I've said it once, which I have....I'll say it again....can I be you for a day? I am looking forward the report. Have a safe, magical, and healthy trip.

Keep in mind, you would have to put up with Fran and her crankies!

Thanks! I'm so excited I'm practically jumping out of my skin! And Fran wants to do all this stuff before we go, (get things for the contractor, even though they won't need it for another couple weeks) I'm going to do as much as I can tonight and get up early so we can leave the house before 5PM.

 

[rentayenta]

Keep in mind, you would have to put up with Fran and her crankies!

Thanks! I'm so excited I'm practically jumping out of my skin! And Fran wants to do all this stuff before we go, (get things for the contractor, even though they won't need it for another couple weeks) I'm going to do as much as I can tonight and get up early so we can leave the house before 5PM.

I'm married. I know cranky.

 

[ACDSNY]

Day 3 of the trip is when we will pick up our rental car. When I started on this update, it made me realize that I had not yet reserved our rental car. I could shop around and try and find the best deal, but I’m lazy and wanted convenience. We get a decent rate through AARP and we’ve always done well with Alamo. Besides there is an Alamo rental at the WDW Car Care Center which is right up by the MK. They will pick you up from any WDW resort and drop you off when you turn in the car. It might not be so convenient for AKV, but it will be super easy for BLT when we drop off the car. With adding me as an additional drive we got a Standard SUV for a little less than $100 a day. Not bad to avoid the dirty looks from people at the bus lines.

If you belong to Costco and want to save a few bucks check out the Costco rates with Alamo and you'll get the additional driver for free.

Our stay in the one bedroom Villa will also come with access to the Concierge Lounge. I don’t know if any of you have stayed Concierge at the GCH, we did once on points before the Villas were built and OMG! I have three words for you Chocolate Covered Strawberries! From 11AM to 4PM! Not to mention all the other goodies, like continental breakfast, sodas, waters, wine at Happy Hour. We are going to be in Heaven!

Among the other things that will be enhancing our visit are VIP seating for WoC, a VIP tour from 11AM-5PM on Thursday, VIP seats for Aladdin on Friday and VIP viewing for Remember Dreams Come True! Friday night. WOW! Is all that I can say. I can’t even believe that an already great trip just got Super Enhanced. I have been bursting at the seams all week about this! In 24 hours I will have Chocolate Covered Strawberries coming out the wazoo! or should I say going in?

AWESOME!!!!

 

[franandaj]

Here's a picture of the coffee pods. I posted it on the AKL thread since others were wondering about it too. But they look like the same thing they used in the espresso machine in the Kilamanjaro CL, and were so easy to use. You just slide it in the front and the machine pierces it and makes a single cup.

I just looked this up, it could be a four cup pod also, not sure which one they'll have, but this is a good article. http://cuisinartcoffee.com/

So these little things have become quite a headache! Evidently Starbucks makes these but you can only buy them in 120 count packages. Well that doesn't work for me especially since we just got the news about the concierge stuff at VGC, I will be getting my coffee in the lounge!

I guess I'll just order some ground coffee and bring my filters like I always do. Enough of that!

Also I convinced Fran that the stuff for the contractors that can wait a week, can wait a week! I hope we get out of here before 3PM. I'm going to bed now so I can wake up EARLY!

 

[PrincessInOz]

You deserve the extra super charged perks. Enjoy.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Sorry, just getting caught up. All the food looks yummy. I get oatmeal this morning. How exciting, GF. That is a beautiful hotel.

 

[franandaj]

So yesterday we arrived at the DL Resort around 2PM, we were greeted by the Valets, our luggage was taken and headed to check-in. We evidently confused the reservationist because our upgraded experience is new as of this year and we must be among the first to use the benefits. Check in took a while, and our room was not ready (of course). However, we were greeted by a guide who took us up to the Concierge Lounge where “afternoon tea” was taking place.

Here is the Lounge.

I hadn’t had my coffee yet, so I was thrilled to see this.

One can’t have tea without “tea sandwiches”

Scones with Chocolate Sabayon and Jam

I wasn’t quite sure how to operate this machine, but the helpful host showed me and I made a cup of cappuccino.

They had fruit

Cookies

They had these

And some snacks

But the best thing there had to be this!

Here was Fran’s plate:

And my plate:

Following our late lunch we headed into Disneyland. We went on a couple rides, Star Tours

And then Space Mountain

By this point it was well after 4PM and we still had not received the text message that our room was ready, so we decided to go back to the hotel and find out what was up with that!

To be continued….

 

[rentayenta]

Oh. Em. Gee.

 

[ACDSNY]

I'll take the scones and strawberries please.

 

[skiingfast]

Did you walk into the lounge right as it opened for Tea? Were any other guest in the lounge with you?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Love the choc covered strawbs. Have quite a few for me.

 

[Angel16]

The lounge looks very nice, roomy and all the food was presented well. The sandwiches look really yummy. I would have so been into the fruit especially the chocolate covered strawberries.

I am so happy the three of you are having an awesome trip.

Angel16

 

[franandaj]

Oh. Em. Gee.

I know, thats what I said.

I'll take the scones and strawberries please.

Did you walk into the lounge right as it opened for Tea? Were any other guest in the lounge with you?

We got there shortly after 2PM. It opens at 11AM for tea. We pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Love the choc covered strawbs. Have quite a few for me.

I wish I had another stomach! There is too much good food here, and I'm getting full so quickly!

The lounge looks very nice, roomy and all the food was presented well. The sandwiches look really yummy. I would have so been into the fruit especially the chocolate covered strawberries.

I am so happy the three of you are having an awesome trip.

Angel16

Most of my lunch was fruit. Hopefully we'll go back there again today to have a snack.

 

[franandaj]

So it’s 4:30, we’re at the front desk, Fran and Arline are tired and I’m slightly aggravated that we still don’t know our room number. The gentleman looks it up in the computer and says that the room SHOULD be ready, but he’s going to go check and see personally. Fran and Arline went to the gift shop while I waited for the room #. Another reception specialist comes to tell me the room is ready and that the guy who went to check it out has just called back to confirm this. I tell her “thanks” but that doesn’t help me since I don’t know the room number. She gets out a map and starts to try to tell me where I am, where the Villas are. I told her that really all I need is the number and I know where it is. 3514. Great. Third floor. The trees have grown enough to block any views from this room. Then I realize that 1514 is the handicapped room and we are two floors above that, so we really have no view.

Oh well, at least we HAVE a room. So we called up for our bags and the bellman was there within 15 minutes. I unpacked and began the tub cleanse, Fran and Arline laid down and both were asleep instantly. I decided to go up and check the lounge offerings and see if it was worth waking them up.

I had a glass of wine and checked out the offerings and decided to wake them up. We had to be at DCA by 7:45 for our VIP seating for WoC and we had also planned to eat at HoB (Arline’s choice). I had the concierge check it out and they were open until 1:30AM so we decided to have dinner after the show and go to the lounge for a pre-show snack.

Here’s what they had for Happy Hour. These were like mini Beef Wellingtons and the dipping sauce was nice and spicy!

An assortment of Cheese and Fruit

Veggies (I didn’t see the dip until the second night)

Arline and I had a glass or Chardonnay, or two And then we headed off to our VIP seating of WoC. I should have taken pictures of how good our view was. We were substantially higher than all the people in the FP zones, so even though they were all standing, even the two in scooters could see the lower water projections. I left my scooter in the room to avoid congestion in the area, it turns out that I could have brought it along, but oh well, I got a little exercise!

Arline loved the show, it was very spectacular, and it had been changed quite a bit since I last saw it from the viewing area. I am so glad that we have this perk, and I think we might be taking advantage of it so that we can enjoy the show with friends in the future!

Afterwards we went back to the room to get my scooter (my foot was starting to really hurt) and go catch dinner at House of Blues. Arline just wanted to be able to say that she had been here, and Aaron Sanchez of Food Network fame has taken over the menu and redesigned it. Everything was really good. Here are some ambiance shots.

Arline and Fran checking out the literature.

And posing for my pictures

So we ordered one appetizer and an entrée. Pulled Pork Sliders

Fried Chicken

Turns out this was a good move because we were still hungry enough to order Bourbon Bread Pudding, which was covered in a Caramel Sauce.

Tired and full, we headed back to the room. I filled the Jacuzzi tub, had a wonderful bath and crawled into bed with a full day behind and an even more full day ahead.

 

[franandaj]

Thursday, February 9, 2012

This was a Magic Morning, Disneyland opened at 10:00AM so 9:00AM was when park guests could get into the park. For me this was a doable morning time! So we were up and dressed by 7:30AM and headed up to the Concierge Lounge. They had a very plentiful offering for the mornings.

There were dry cereals, Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, Kashi something and Raisin Bran. Today I noticed that they have little boxes of Rice Krispies hidden away

Sliced meats and cheeses. There was also salami when the plates were brought out, but evidently that is the most popular meat, because it was always gone first. There was Ham and I think Capicolla and some other type of meat. Muenster cheese, cheddar and swiss.

Fruit, Banana Bread, Muffins and other breads.

Bagels and Cream Cheese, they had blueberry flavor in addition to regular.

Oatmeal (not fresh granted), but they had golden raisins, brown sugar and stuff in those little tins.

They had various juices and milk too

They also had the same Coffee service as they had at afternoon tea. Here was my breakfast.

We headed back to the room, to get ready for Magic Mornings. On the way back to the room Arline started to have a problem. Both Fran and Arline suffer from chronic pain and take Morphine to dull the pain. Accidently Arline took double her dosage, and was evidently seeing two of me as we rode the scooters back to the room. She decided she needed to lay down and sleep it off because this was not the time to be going on Star Tours. Fran was going to stay in the room anyways to save her energy. I decided since they would both be asleep there was no reason that I couldn’t enjoy the MM. Fran suggested that I take her scooter since it has a bigger battery.

Though I didn’t know it at the time, this was a bad idea.

I headed to Star Tours first. There was somewhat of a line, but nothing bad.

Then I did Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters.

I decided to mosey around and take some pictures. The obligatory Castle shot.

Here are all the poor people not staying on site who had to wait.

Some Tomorrowland shots

The Matterhorn was having a refurb

I just love the topiaries around the parks

And the transportation of different shapes and sizes

I decided I better start heading back to the resort and rouse the troops, here are the crowds entering via Main Street as the park is opening.

I head back to the room to get everyone up for our 11AM VIP tour.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Looks like a lovely morning for you. CL seems to be worth it....from the food perspective.

 

[franandaj]

Looks like a lovely morning for you. CL seems to be worth it....from the food perspective.

I'm estimating about $100-$150 per day in food, wine, cappucino, chocolate covered strawberries. I mean what a bagel and cream cheese could cost $2.99, a strawberry $3.59, fruit cup $5.99, cappuccino $6.99, wine $12 per glass. Our breakfasts could easily cost $30pp for what we're eating. As a result we would instead starve ourselves and just get one thing and a coffee. Every morning we are stuffed and left saying, "I ate too much"!

 

[PrincessInOz]

But that's what having breakfast on holiday is supposed to do.