What a great update! I just loved the lodge. It was so relaxing sitting on our balcony watching the animals. We must try concierge in the future.
How great that you ended the cruise with Disney!
Isn't the lodge just beautiful!? Glad you enjoy it as much as we do!
What a great welcome from such a sad departure - I certainly wouldnt have wanted to leave that ship but wow - AKV, Concierge!
I want to add on with AKV in the worst way...I figure in a couple more years maybe. But it will only get better so wait, I must!
Cant wait to read more! You have such the picture perfect family!
It was a great welcome, just loved staying AKL concierge. I hope you are able to add on there someday, we love owning there. Thanks so much for your kind comments, means the world!
Sad you had to leave the cruise but at least you didn't have to go home just yet!
Concierge is incredible. I am insanely jealous!
GOOOO Lauren!!! For beating the boys!
Glad you are enjoying the posts! Lauren loved your comment : ) : )
So, would you do the concierge thing again?? The extra perks that go with the service sound wonderful. Enjoyed the update and pics are great as always
How can anyone not love Disney....you really know how to experience the magic! I love living it through your reports!!
Yes, we definitely will use our points for concierge again, WAY worth it! I agree, how could anyone NOT!?! Thanks for reading/posting, glad you are enjoying everything.
Great question about concierge again! Lesley, what type of dining plan did you have after your cruise? Not that you rely on concierge for your meals, but it looks like snacks were covered for sure!
We did the regular dining plan. There were definitely people making dinner of it (they ATTACKED the food when it came out) you could make a light dinner out of all of the offerings and breakfast is definitely covered, but not lunch. We loved the evening spread of deserts, beer and wine, AWESOME!
6209!! That's where we stayed in July this year! How funny is that? Small world. That was my first time staying at AKL and I loved it (especially concierge). You are right, it was the best room location with an amazing view. We loved sitting out on our balcony and watching the animals. So fun!
Great report; can't wait for more!
Too funny!!! Small world indeed!! So glad you loved it too, isn't it amazaing!
Wow, the sunset really was gorgeous!
Wasn't it! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great update! When reading it, it really made me think back to all your trips of years past, as well as a few other's trips I have read about, with your kids. It just reinforces the feeling that I want to make sure to be able to share my love of Disney with my (soon-to-be-here) child. I've had such a love of Disney and just haven't been able to get there for awhile. I definitely want that to change once AJ gets here. I want to make sure he grows up Disney! I'm hopeful that that will be possible for our family (with DVC, etc).
Thanks for sharing all your memories!
So glad that we have helped you look forward to that. Sharing Disney with our kids over the years (every year, sometimes more than once a year since Lauren was 8 months and Luke was 2 1/2) are some of our BEST family memories and I wouldn't trade that for the world. I know you will do the same with AJ and those memories will just build and build. If you ever decide to do DVC let me know, I have an AWESOME guide. Glad you continue to enjoy the reports. Thanks for reading/posting.
This is an awesome TR! Thank you so much for sharing! I can't wait for the rest
Lisa
You are quite welcome, thanks for reading/posting, makes it all worth it!
Great update! I love the sunset pictures and sooooo jealous, concierge level...I guess it's the only way to go after the Disney Cruise!
Sunset was so pretty that night! Yes, it was a nice transition from the cruise : )
I just read your entire report so far. I am all caught up and ready to sub....... I have to admit looking at your Boardwalk pictures I was looking in the background to see if I could see my Courtney in any of them. She is my oldest daughter and she is doing the Disney college program right now. I took her there in May. She works at the Boardwalk. She works in the gift shops and at Seashore Sweets and the ESPN gift shop. They schedule her all over. I really enjoyed reading your report and can't wait to read more. We are going visit Courtney in three weeks and I miss her so badly. This is the longest she has ever been away from home. She is enjoying the experience. I can't believe she was 13 when we first took her to Disney World and now she is living there for over seven months. She has made friends from all over the world. I was missing her terribly tonight and decided to read a good trip report. You did not disappoint. Thanks for sharing your memories. I can't wait to read more. Courtney will be coming home in January unless she gets selected to be a princess. She auditioned and out of 188 girls she was one of 9 selected to actually get dressed as a princess. She got to go to hair and makeup and be Belle. The other girl got the part but they told her to try again in November. She had a cold at the time and her voice sounded like she well..........had a cold. LOL! It was such an honor to get the experience. She had to take her makeup off before she left because it would be copyright infringement if she left their building with it on. It was so cool. I am sorry for rambling on but I miss her tonight and well I kinda babbled on............
Glad you found us and are enjoying the report. How incredible about your daughter, so exciting!!!
Subscribing

I love your trip report and all the wonderful photos. Looking forward to your next installment
So glad you are enjoying it so far! Thanks for reading/posting.
Lesley! I'm so sorry I haven't been able to respond to each individual post. Please know I've been reading and thoroughly enjoying all of your updates!
I just had to comment on the picture of Tim and Luke holding hands. When we were wrapping up our Grand Gathering in June, we went around the room and asked everyone to share their favorite memories from the week. My father-in-law took out his iPhone, held up a picture he had taken of Matt and Tyson walking down Main Street holding hands, and he didn't say a word... the tears just started streaming down his face. Oh my gosh... such a precious, precious moment. I'm glad you were able to capture that one as well!!
Thanks again for the wonderful report!
Don't apologize, us teachers/mothers, etc. are SUPER busy, I totally understand. Glad you are enjoying it. I have been reading yours as well adn loving it, I need to get over there and post. That comment of your dad's, WOW, just WOW!!! Thanks again for your help this weekend with the facebook "likes"


Lesley