Tim and Lesley Year of Million Compromises/TONS pics- 8/5 help me pg. 164!!!

[Nicole786]

great start! im begging for more!!!

 

[VanniGirl]

What a great first day - cannot wait for the rest!!

 

[toony]

I just couldn't resist, I was uploading the pics last night and it just started flowing, next thing I knew I had day 1 finished.
Lesley

Well I must admit I couldn't resist to wait till tonight with reading.
Just read about the first day. Wow so much magic on your first day and this romantic walk down Main Street. Awwww. Just like in a Disney movie. A perfect scene to end a day. And I love the pic of your adorable little angels sleeping and Luke dancing... BTW great parade pics, too!!
It's very bad weather here and I have to work and learn for the next two weeks very hard for my last exams. So I'm looking forward to have (hopefully) a few of such nice breaks reading your report....

need to add: Great to hear another good review of the Kona Cafe. We will eat there in October...

 

[KMH1]

Awesome first day! Can't wait for more and for December to get here so we can live it again ourselves.

Red Robin was delicious. Thanks for planting the seed. I love a good juicy burger and what can beat bottomless french fries.

We are trying Kona for the first time in December. Glad to hear what a wonderful time you had. And I have got to have one of those Kona Cones. WOW!!!

I know what you speak of with the balcony and young ones. It's exactly what convinced us to buy into DVC. This last trip (our first with two) Alyssa (our 3-yr-old) would not go to bed unless we went "pretend" sleep too. Of course, after a full day at the World "pretend" sleep wasn't very "pretend."

Looking forward to your coming days. And this is so much fun, you may have got me to finally start writing a TR from our February trip.

 

[punkin413]

what a great first day!!! good move on choosing the parade over the great movie ride....trust me! we kinda forgot about the parade on our MGM day and when we got out of the great movie ride the parade was almost over. that ride just didn't do it for me - i would've much rather seen the parade!!! and wow....a life-size kermit.....so cool!!!! we ate at kona and it was really good. glad you guys enjoyed it, too! aren't those lapu lapus sooooo good???? can't wait for more!

 

[veryblessed]

Lesley,

Your children are SO cute!!

Your trip already sounds AWESOME and you’re only on day one! Thank you for such a wonderful TR! I am so excited to hear more about POFQ, I would really like to stay there sometime next year!!

Jenna

 

[dlpcarden]

Enjoyed reading about the first day of your trip. Seeing your pictures took me back to when we were there in March...(sigh...)

We didn't get a chance to see the parade at MGM, but after seeing the wonderful pictures that you took - it is making it a must for when we go back...hopefully, next year...

I have a quick question - was Kona 1 or 2 table credits? It looks so yummy...

Dottie

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I haven't read a trip report in a while and now I have a good one! We'll be staying 3 nights at the POFQ on the end of our trip in August. I booked it for its size and it does look very pretty. Im happy to hear you weren't disappointed afetr staying at the WL. We stayed at the POly last year and I loved it. It was just too much $ this year for us to spend. I'm looking forward to more days and pics! I

 

[dddisrunner]

Great Installment! Luke and Lauren's faces are just beaming with excitement! Too cute! Glad you tried Kona it was one of our faves too I was the one that asked about PAL MICKEY. Did it ever become cumbersome or annoying to drag around? Did you use it every time you went to the parks? So glad to hear you liked POFQ! I know you were worried. I have a question though, you posted that you don't think you could have done POP for 10 days but POFQ was great. I was just curious as to why? We are currently planning a 10 day stay at the end of April beginning of May 2008 and are considering POFQ or POP depending on finances and was just waying in on your thoughts. My boys are about the same ages as Luke and Lauren so I thought your point of view would more or less be ours too. The pic. of the kids sleeping is PRECIOUS! Looking forward to more!

 

[rentayenta]

Lesley, I am loving this! Your kids are adorable! Can't wait to read more! I am officially hooked!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Hi Lesley!

I just found your TR and have to admit, the 90+ pages of your PTR are little intimidating, so I'll just start at your trip report. I must say I'm really looking forward to reading, as we'll be at POFQ for 10 days in August and have been a little hesitant about it. You pics look lovely!

Awwww... and your DH! Your intimate moment on Main Street was adorably sweet! What a beautiful family you have!

Looking forward, along with everyone else for the next installment.

T.

 

[fterie4u]

I am loving your TR already! I can't believe you posted so quickly! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I love the MGM parade pictures! You know we have never seen the MGM parade! I don't know why, bu now we have to make a point of seeing it this trip! Your kids are absolutely beautiful! I wouldn;t be surprised if that is what attacted the Dream Team to you!!!

I am so looking forward to the rest of your TR!!!

 

[Bibbidi]

Well, glad I could entertain you with mine for now. Oh don't worry - I never keep people waiting too long!
Lesley


You know, Tim and I talked about this at great length, we missed WL because we just love it so much but honestly we didn't feel anything missing at POFQ, transportation was excellent, food court incredible, we thought the pool was even better. If it would have been raining I would have missed the "all under one roof concept" because that saved us quite a bit going in June and it always raining constantly. I did miss hoping on the elevator to get drink refills, etc. but when we moved rooms (detail on that later) it was a non issue. I missed the 2 hot tubs at WL and I love the the theming and turn down service at WL (kids missed those chocolates on the pillows - I know SPOILED!!!) the only other major thing missing was the boat to the contemporary and MK, we used that A LOT at WL and it took us quite a while to get to our dinners at the Poly and contemporary resorts this year which stunk. We also missed the electric light parade this year and sitting on the balcony after the kids had gone to bed, but since we stayed out most days this year we were SO exhausted at night that I don't know if we would have even used the balcony this year - but whenkids were younger that balcony was a life saver. But as for the actual hotel, we felt GREAT staying 10 nights at POFQ. We made comments several times that we couldn't have done POP for that long and were glad we chose POFQ. The theming is just out of this world, we loved the pool, Luke loved the slide, the kiddie pool is great, loved the bar right there by the pool and the hot tub was great for a nice getaway- did enjoy that one night in the rain too I highly recommend POFQ if you want to save some money over WL.
As for the dining plan we will definitely do it again. I found myself giving the kids some of my meals every now and then which was FINE I had so much food. I will share some of the restaraunts choices which differed that you can keep in mind, one inparticular had an outstanding menu and great choices. I did take a pic of the kids menu to share here too so you'll get an idea of the choices. There are french fries available, fruit, veggies, soup, salad, or a yogurt parfait at most places as sides. You get two sides total so if you get a soup and veggie = no desert/ice cream which is a bummer. I would say if yo uthrew in a few character buffets and looked at the menus to make sure yo uhad some variety for the kids like we did you will be fine.
It is SUCH a savings. We had lunch at a sit down and the bill came to 105!!!! We wouldn't go without the dining plan!
Lesley
Lesley

Thanks for your prompt reply. I love promptness in others
When you mentioned giving the kids some of your food, did you mean that their choices weren't great so you shared some of what you had, or did you mean that you were able to only use your credit (and not theirs) and just share food that way and save a child credit for later?

And...as for next year, where do you think you'll stay, now that you've done POFQ? Will you try a different moderate so your stay could be longer, or will you want to go back to WL since it will have been two years by then? I'm curious to know your answer. We have a 4 night cruise booked next May and were planning on doing 3 days at WDW afterwards, but honestly I think I'd rather stay 8 or 9 nights at a moderate on the dining plan. It would actually cost us less too.

 

[disneyaddicted]

I was ready for some serious trip report reading, I went and got a salad at Mcd's (southwest grilled chicken) and an ice coffee brought it home and set myself at the computer to read your report. I loved it. And I was choking back tears from the very beginning. Luke and Laurens excitement was so radiant on their faces, it shown in their eyes and everything. I think Disney should consider making you all the poster family for them. Any one reading your trip report would want to book a trip right then and there.
I am going in Dec, but without Jim (DS) and Kent (DH) just Reese and friends, but now I am wanting a family trip again because you report shows such a bonded family.
Thanks for the pics, looking forward to more TR.

 

[KatGarcia]

Awesome start! Welcome back! I hope you guys had the best time I can't wait to read all about it. I need to get moving on my tr but reading everyone else's is so much easier! LOL! Your kiddos are just ADORABLE!!!! And by the way we celebrated my 31st birthday is Disneyland! How funny is that? Which day is your birthday exactly? Anyways happy tr writing!

 

[jblb1020]

I LOVED hearing about your first day and LOVE the pictures! I know there is a lot of talk about the dining plan and our family loves the dining plan too! It is well worth the money and you get plenty of food. The bad news is one of my friend's just got back from Disney a couple weeks ago and a cast member told her that next year they are taking out the gratuity and raising the price of the plan for adults and children. Now this is what she heard from a cast member so I'm not sure if its 100% true but if it is I will be very upset because then I'm not sure that it will be worth it.
I can't wait to hear more of your trip and see lots more pictures!! AND THE SURPRISE B-DAY GIFT!

 

[daisy_77]

Lesley-
I loved your first installment! It sounds like your first day was awesome! Your kids look sooooo excited to be at Disney! I cannot to read about the rest of your trip.

Thanks for getting started on your TR so soon after getting back!

 

[Stargazer]

Love your 1st installment! Glad to hear you had good weather too (that always is a plus).

Thanks for the pics of the parade at MGM - DH and DD were able to see all of it, but I was busy trying to grab all of our orders at Backlot Express so I only caught bits and pieces. I'll definitely have to try and catch it next time.

 

[prncess674]

Great installment. Is there anyway you could make the photos a little smaller in the next installment? Even with my monitor 1280x768 setting it is diffiicult to see the photo all in one screen.

 

[Navywife508]

Loved your last TR and loving the start of this one. Now I have to get reading your Pre TR. I know what I am doing tonight once the kiddos are in bed.