Timandlesley's ROAD TRIP TO DISNEY!! ARE WE THERE YET!?!6/28 TR is up, link on pg.47!

[praisehisname]

Joining in!

Denise

 

[micandminforever]

Looking forward to the update and Gatlinburg pictures.

 

[timandlesley]

Looking forward to the update and Gatlinburg pictures.

Thanks! Update coming tonight

Joining in!

Denise

WELCOME Denise!

I can't wait to hear all about it.

Coming up tonight!

OOOOO!!! What a great teaser! Can't wait to see your pictures of Gatlinburg and your parents' surprise!

How much snow are you guys getting today? Do you think the kids will be out of school tomorrow? We ended up with about 5 inches, when we were expecting no more than 3! I love the snow, though, so BRING IT ON!

I'll post the pic of my parents tonight. We already have 8 inches, 2-3 more expected by morning. They already called off the kids school, HOPING for my phone call!!!!

oh boy, maybe another snow day for you tomorrow!!!

WOO HOO!!! Kids are already off, waiting my phone call (ANXIOUSLY I might add!)

oh goodie!! Can't wait to hear all about it!!!

coming up tonight!

Glad you had a great weekend!

Can't wait to read more

Yes we did, more to come!

Congrats on the gift card.

Thanks!

Lesley,
congratulations on the gift card, I'm sure it will be well spent on your next trip. Hope you had fun on your weekend getaway.
Judy

Thanks! Yeah, can't wait to spend it : )

Congrats on the $75 win! I wish me and my mom would have the time and money this trip to make it over to universal and Islands. I've only been there once and I was 11 so I don't remember a ton about it. I'm also writing a ptr right-you should come check it out!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2380870http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2380870

Thank you, I'm very excited about it. Would love to make it over to Universal, just don't know if it's in the budget this year.

Congrats on the $75 win! Totally cool to get "free" money!!!

Just found your PTR this morning...I'm onboard (again)!!! --- feels like I've watched your kids grow up online way back when you were doing WL TRs! Time sure does fly and they're growing up so fast!

Thanks! Free money rocks!!!
Glad you found us and are back on board. I know, my kids have definitely grown up on the Dis, thanks for following us

 

[timandlesley]

Congrats on winning the $75 gift card! We did the luau and really enjoyed it! I don't know about the Yachtsman, but I would think you can drive to either place. Bummer that there is no free valet for DVC anymore.

Have a great time in Gatlinburg!

Thanks so much! Thanks for your input, I think after everyone's feedback I'll stick with the Luau. Yeah, bummer about the DVC valet. We did have fun in Gatlinburg but the trip was cut short due to our weather here.

Joining in! I love reading about your family's adventures in Disney!!! I'm sure this trip will be no exception!

Congrats on the gift card!!!

Can't wait to hear about Gatlinburg.......we're headed there this summer (on a road trip) as a stopping point before WDW!!! Have a wonderful time!!!

What fun, hopefully it's warmer for you than it was for us!

I am back to read about another of your journeys lol. We are driving down to this year also to save money. We will be down June 21-29 we are staying at bay lake tower 21-26 than AKL 26-29. Our drive is about 17 hours a little nervous but we will split the drive so it shouldnt be that bad. Are you stopping or driving straight? I figure we should leave around 5am and than stop around dinner time(also small stops in between) and than spend the night and than be there early in the morning I have done a lot of research asking my friends who drive all the time. Well Good Luck and I cant wait to read more!!!!!!!

Welcome back! Your trip this summer sounds great. You are going to love BLT, it would be super fun to stay on both of my favorites in the same trip. We will stop on the way down and probably drive straight on the way home (I say that now, but after hearing from the kids "when are we getting home" a trillion times that my change).
Lesley

Leslie - How great that your family will be enjoying WDW with Dian and hers! (hope I spelled her name right!) This should be another fun-filled trip

Congrats on winning the $75 gift card - I will definitely listen to it when the office empties out at 4 pm today. I was snowed in yesterday (have only missed one day so far with all this 2009/2010 snow here in VA).

Hopefully Diane and crew will be able to join us, still crossing our fingers! Thanks for the congrats, hope you got a chance to listen to it. We are snowed in today, kids already have no school tomorrow, anxiously awaiting my phone call.

Leslie:

I am in for your trip. I have ready most of your reports and they have been very helpful.

Congrats on the gift card!

We are going in July this year and staying for the first time at AKL-Club Level. I am sooo excited. I just booked the sunrise safari today.

Look forward to hearing about your magical plans!

Erika

Hi Erika,
Glad you found us again. AKL Club level will be such fun, hope to do that some day as well.

Great!! Another PTR from your fun family. I wanted to listen to the podcast but they already have one up from 2/10. Do they keep copies of past shows?

Yes, the old copies are all on itunes, hope you can find it.

$75?! That's WONDERFUL! I know, not a cruise, but sweeeeeet nonetheless!

My vote is for the luau. I think, and I've never done it, that the kids would enjoy it more. It seems to be more of an 'experience', where the steakhouse would just be another great meal. We've eaten there, and had a wonderful dinner. Maybe a good date night for you and Tim. But, if it were me, I'd stick with the luau!

My $.02 for you today!

Hope you enjoyed your 2-hour delay. Sure wish that snow would just slam Indy... we are a bit too far West this year...

Thanks, I think I am going to stick with the luau, should be fun! We got slammed again, still coming down HARD today!

Here ya go!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1145882



I understand but totally worth it!! Just imagine relaxing here:

(Royal Pacific Resort)

Eating here:

(Mama Dellas at the The Portofino Bay Resort)

And playing here!

Even if its just for one night, Universal is so much fun and your kids are at the perfect age to enjoy it! You'd think I was a Universal spokesperson or something, but it really is a great place!

Thanks Nicole, Yes would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do that, just don't know with all the trips we have planned this year (Kiawah Spring Break, Disney, Grand Haven and out to Jersey to see Diane and Crew) if we can squeeze that in the budget. Maybe we can do that next year before our Disney cruise, that would be fun!

I think my vote would be for the luau. I haven't done the luau since I was a kid but at least at the luau there would be entertainment for the kids. My mom, sister and I ate at the Yachtsman in October. It is a pretty restaurant and its always fun popping over to the Yacht and Beach club ... both are such beautiful resorts. My steak was overcooked that night and very dry. I would go back again because maybe I just caught them on a bad night but my filet at Le Cellier was just delicious. Also, I would think the luau would be something very unique for your family to experience.

Thanks, so many votes for the luau, luau it is. I'll report back with lots of pictures : ) LeCellier filets ARE the best, you are right!

Lesley
suggestion for the insert ad

TIM&LESLEY"Makin More Magical Moments" pre trip report



I like it!!

Like it.... hoping we get some other suggestions as well, so far yours is the only one in the running : )

YAY for the gift card!! I enjoy listening to the DIS Podcast as well--I'll be sure and listen to that one!!!

We've had 5 snow days here in Memphis which is really unheard of! I am sooo sick of snow and soooo ready for Spring!! Have fun in Gatlinburg!!

Thanks, glad you got to listen to it. Thanks, we did have fun in Gatlinburg but had to cut the trip short due to the snow here, but had a good time none the less.

Hi Lesley! I'm a long time lurker of your trip reports and finally decided to chime in and let you know how much I love your reports! Thanks so much for taking the time to write them!

I know you've stayed at BLT and AKV before and I'm just wondering which do you like the best? We're looking to do an add on at one of those resorts and can't decide which. We stayed at AKV (Kidani) last summer and loved it and are trying out BLT this summer before we decide- unless DVC comes out with a great offer before then.

It sounds like you guys have your plans for deluxe dining, but just an FYI, from what I've read and what MS told me, DVC members do not have to pay the extra dining fees during the prime seasons.

Have a great trip to Gatlinburg!

Thanks, you are too sweet. I love it when lurkers decide to post. Glad you have enjoyed them over the years. BLT was great, did you see our Oct. TR from there? Yeah, I know you don't have to pay the extra for the basic dining plan in peak seasons as a DVC member, but it still went up like 20 bucks per person, just can't swallow that. Thanks for reading/posting!

Beach Club Villas is a great resort. I absolutely love Storm Along Bay and I think your family would love it as well. I stayed there about 5 years ago with my friends from high school on our senior trip and we "tried" to eat the Kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream...that didn't work so well haha.
We actually have a few "home" resorts with DVC and some I've never stayed at (Boardwalk and Saratoga). Surprisingly the place we usually stay at we don't own into. We usually have stayed our past few family trips at OKW because of the larger room sizes, but I really wanted to branch out this time and go back to BCV. BLT was a close second on this trip, but ended up going with BCV for being close to Hollywood Studios because of ESPN the Weekend. My DH to be is a HUGE sports fanatic and is hoping to be able to meet Ocho cinco while down there. He's never been to Disney before so I'm so excited to bring him down there and celebrate our engagement together in the most magical place!

Kristen

Hi Kristen, yes, that is on the list to stay there in the future, that's what's great about DVC, you can experience something new whenever you want, can't wait! Does your husband follow Ocho Cinco's twitter posts? If he doesn't, he should, not only are they halarious but he is CONSTANTLY posting his exact locations so your husband would be sure to meet him. Congrats on your engagement. Hope Tim and Luke get to experience ESPN weekends next year!

Doug's brother and family have done the luau and loved it. I think infact they did it twice. We also were on the bus with a group that always does it during their trips... so I have heard great things!

Lucky you a delay already tomorrow...

Sounds great, luau it is! Kings is already closed here for tomorrow, hoping Mason calls it too!

Congrats on the giftcard! I listened this morning!

Hmmm...about your dining plan, I have yet to do either dining option, but I will be doing both this year. I would think your kiddos would probably have more fun at the Luau?

Thanks! Luau it is!

Lesley...I will always be around for your TR'S, I live for
them!!!

Thanks Sharon!!! You are too sweet.

I'm here too!
I'm not sure when we are going next so I'm going to have fun reading what your family is planning. Plus it will be a break from working on my TR.

Congrats on the Gift Card! I still have to download the Podcast today. It was funny to hear your review last week because I remember reading about it in you TR. While I was listening I was wondering if you were going to let them know that the tour guide was talking about her Boy Friend the whole time. =) Great review.

-nat

Hi Nat. EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO READ AN INCREDIBLE TR, CHECK HER'S OUT, ITS ALL VIDEO, AMAZING STUFF!!!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by and posting. Glad you were able to hear me on the Podcast.

That is so great that you won the gift card!!!! What a nice surprise!

I can't give you much advice on your dining plans since I haven't eaten at either of those places, but I can tell you that when we were at the Poly back in November, we could hear the luau all the way at the boat dock. It sounded like a serious party was going on in there. We all said we wanted to try it next time. And I really like to try new place. My favorites are the ones that combine dinner and a show or some other type of entertainment. So I'd vote for the luau.

Just a suggestion though................we did Mickey's Backyard BBQ in November and LOVED it. I can't remember if you guys have done that or not. Not sure if that would interest you or if you'd enjoy it in the summer heat, but just thought I'd throw it out there. I have a review of it in my TR with pictures and video on page 37 if you are interested. I know Lauren loves to dance so I thought you guys might enjoy it as much as we did.

Yes, it was a nice surprise. We will definitely give the luau a try ; ) Mickey's BYBBQ always sounded fun but we've always skipped it due to the heat, but luau is outside too........ hmmmmmmm
Lesley

 

[timandlesley]

Hello everyone from SNOWY Ohio! We have already broken the record set in the 1920's for the amount of snow fall in our area for the entire month of February, and it's only the 15th!
We had a GREAT time in Gatlinburg but unfortunately had to cut our fun short by a day because we knew what weather was approaching Kentucky/Ohio and so we made it home LATE last night before the snow began to fall.
I will post more photo's of our Gatlinburg adventures soon (they are on the other camera and I haven't gotten to those pics yet).
GUESS WHAT WAS STILL OPEN IN GATLINBURG!
THE DISNEY OUTLET!!!!!
I was like a kid in a candy store. Look at all the shirts I got for Lauren for only 2.99 each!!!

Cute huh?
Then I got some for myself (I think they were 4.99 each):

Tim got some as well for around 4.99 each!

Luke spent some of his birthday money on two Club Penguin plush's, they were buy one get one free so he was thrilled. Lauren also scored a Sharpay Barbie for 3 bucks!
Luke didn't get any shirts because he is the only one of us who has NOT changed sizes since last years trip, so he has MORE disney shirts than all of us. (don't feel too sorry for him).
So...... we DID make it home safely last night and woke up to tons of snow on the ground. We have about 8 inches right now and are supposed to get around another 2-3 overnight.
We decided to walk to our neighborhood park together and go sledding this morning. We were the ONLY people out there so we had the park to ourselves. Here are some pics from this morning:
The kids and I braving the elements:

Tim and I in the snow:

After about a half an hour of constant sledding (and falling) Lauren was VERY cold, so Tim being the AWESOME father that he is, took his sweatshirt off for Lauren, that bought us about 15 more minutes of snow time:

Me and my girl in the snow:

Luke gave a snowboard a try this time, he had fun. Here is my handsome little man:

We had so much fun out there, such fun being kids with our kids!!!
We promised the kids if we have no school tomorrow we'll give it another try. Well the kids are already cancelled, I'm PRAYING for my phone call!

So........... as I told you, my parents were in Disney this weekend. They had a great time, but it was COLD! They stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter and enjoyed the resort. They had each of us give them our top 4 things that we thought they should experience at Epcot and Magic Kingdom and they got in almost all of them.
At Epcot they did Soarin' (from my list), Test Track (from Tim's list), Spaceship Earth (Luke's list), and they did a Kim Possible Mission in Japan (Luke and Lauren's list). They also ate at LeCellier (thanks to me getting them a reservation ; ) They loved it.
Yesterday they went to Magic Kingdom and got a Dole Whip Float (Luke's list) and LOVED it, road Haunted Mansion (Tim's list), Hall of Presidents (Luke's list), Jungle Cruise (Lauren's list), Thunder Mountain Railroad (my list), Pirate's of the Carribean (Tim's list), and had lunch at the Plaza.
We were in Gatlinburg yesterday at Magiquest with the kids (which is INCREDIBLE BY THE WAY, pics and details to come) and I got a pic on my cell phone from my mom, THIS WAS THE PICTURE:

The text read :
"Think there was your involvement here, loved it!" HUH!!!! they actually thought I could have pulled this off, I was flattered!
I texted back "no involvement here, PURE Disney Magic, glad you loved it, can't wait to hear details".
Turns out they were the 100th customer of the day, got the certificate and the Mayor bought them desert (they weren't on the dining plan so they LOVED this treat!).
Don't you just LOVE Disney Magic!!!!!
They went back to Magic Kingdom last night and got a spot at the train station (Tim's suggestion) and watched Wishes (a first for them) and Spectro, they said the view was great! They flew in today and luckily landed safely in all the snow but had a rough drive home on snow covered roads.

Glad you enjoyed our little update, more Gatlinburg stories/photo's to come. PRAY I get a snow day tomorrow, then I'll have more time to update

-Lesley

 

[sharonW]

VERY COOL!! You do have a lot of snow there,
we got our 13inches last wk. Its snowing right now but
we are only supposed to have a few inches this time around.
Fingers crossed ya get that call and the day off tomorrow!!!!
Neat experience for your parents..gotta love those special
diz moments

 

[Native NYer]

Disney magic is the best

That's a lot of snow
I hope you get your snow day!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Pixie dust for a snow day for you tomorrow!!! Looks like the kids had a great time sledding!

Great Disney outlet purchases!!! I will expect to see all of them in the summer pictures this year.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Great purchases, snow fun and Disney magic! This update has it all!

 

[praisehisname]

I love all the shirts you got at the Disney outlet! Great deal!

Sounds like your parents had a fun trip; they got a lot of stuff done!

Denise

 

[We_love_WDW]

I'm glad I came acroos your ptr.....I read your last one and it was so much fun. We are going in June too, but are leaving on the 15th. Good deals on the shirts - I love when my disney store has a great sale - I wish I had an oultlet around here.

 

[dddisrunner]

GREAT update!!! I LOVE all of your Disney Outlet purchases! What a SCORE that was!!! I can't wait to see your Gatlinburg pictures!!! Any issues with spiders this time? I am so glad to see someone else with the snow and not us!! You truly look like you had a blast sledding!! Enjoy your snow day today and STAY WARM!!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

You are brave...I cannot stand the snow. My husband and the kids' nanny are forced to take the kids out playing in it! They love it, though, so they don't mind.

Sounds like they had a fantastic time in Disney! Great suggestions and it seems like they saw some of the best parts of those parks.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hope you get your snow day!! What great Disney magic for your parents. And what a nice way to take you all along with them by getting your top 4 lists. Very cool!

So jealous of all your purchases at the Disney Outlet... wish we had one here.

Have fun in the snow!!

 

[moparop]

Well you got your day off! I bet you were a lot happier to get that call than I was!

Your trip plans sound great, can't wait to hear more!

 

[mylag1rl]

Looks like you guys had a great time in the snow. Love the Disney purchases from the outlet ... can't beat those deals. A little Disney magic for your parents. I have never heard about a visit from the Mayor, that was very cute.

One of my firends at work just got back from Disney and brought me a Minnie coffee mug. I am sitting at work drinking out of it. It's a amazing a little bit of Disney magic brightens the day.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Wow, look at all that snow! Hope you got another snow day today! We have snow today as well, but we're on our february break!

Loving your PTR, and can't wait to see your pictures from Gatlinburg!!!

 

[heaven2dc]

Are you as sick of the snow yet as we are here in Virginia? We got 17 inches the week before Christmas (which melted) then got 20 inches a week ago and then another 4 on top of that! Now that it's all supposed to start melting, we get to look forward to icy roads. We broke records here in VA & DC area too! But I am SO looking forward to spring. Your kids looked so cute playing in the snow!

I wish they had kept the Disney store here where I live (well more importantly so I could still work there part-time I was with them for about 6 months and then they closed it down and There is one about 15 miles north of where I live but I never found it the last time I was up there. Loved all the t-shirts you got! You scored big time

What a fun trip your parents had! Am glad they made it home safe and sound

 

[DWGal210]

I'm glad your parents are having such a great time!! That is a neat picture.

And score for your shopping purchases! Sweet!

I just love reading your TRs/PTRs and so count me in as along for the ride!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Hmmmm, I may have to make a trip to Gatlinburg just for that outlet store! You got some great stuff.

What a great magical moment for your parents! That is the stuff that keeps up all hooked! Glad to hear they had such a good time and enjoyed all your recommendations. I made a similar list of must-dos for a friends who recently went to Disney for the first time. You forget how many "must-dos" there are until you try to narrow down a list like that for someone. You picked some great stuff though!

Can't wait for your Gatlinburg pictures! We have GOT to get back up there sometime soon!