Trying new things, Wearing 13 layers Magic in UK new 3/16

[k_reile]

wow...what a great view! We were there Feb 6-13 and yes it was soo COLD...BRRR!! I had soo many cute tshirts for my DS 16 mos and no one ever got to see them! We stayed on the buy 4 get 3 free at the Beach Club Villas. I love staying in the boardwalk area. My brother and SIL wanted to stay at the dolphin or swan but in the end we choose the beach club!

I remember that ADR day...i too tried calling all day and was up really early and tried online too...nothing...i did not get in until 8pm that night and was on the phone for over an hour. My brother tried the next night online and got the 3 that I could not get the day before online and for 8 people...really irked me! LOL!

our drama of our trip was trying to get there. We had 2 cancelled flights between our whole family (My parents and my brothers family was along with ours) and ended up flying out the evening of the 5th...that was the only way we would have gotten there...if not...our long awaited trip would have been canceled.

now I am wondering what celebrity you saw? THe only one that i knew was there was drew brees but he might have only been at the MK for the parade. I did see a Dis Celebrity too...I saw Jordan and his cousin Wendy at Epcot but unfortunately there was no time to say HI!

 

[jordanyosh]

What a GREAT view!!!!!!!!!!

Was that lady at Publix on crack?

 

[NMW]

subscribing

 

[mousebymarriage]

Great trip report, can't wait to hear more.
We were in Disney Feb.6th-13th and I agree it was COLD, and the torrential rain on Friday (the 12th) was unbelievable. We were in MK on Friday and by about 2pm the place was like a ghost town but, hey we got to ride and see everthing we wanted multiple times with no wait.

 

[dizneeat]

Just caught up!
Wow! That is A WONDERFUL VIEW you had at the Swolphin!

I had to LOL when you wrote about the Publix bagger! We NEVER touch any more stuff since Tom got told off for starting to put things in the cart WITHOUT bags!
(Here in Austria you pay for EVERY bag, so I always have some bags in the car. We put our stuff back in the cart and load it into the bags IN the car!)

Can't wait for more!
Hope the storm has passed and everything is A-okay for you again!

 

[laura74]

I love the Publix story. I get impatient waiting for the cashier to bag too. Why would she be angry that you're making her job easier? And forcing you to take the extra food? So funny!

Laura

 

[DisneyTiger]

Ok, I'm in, And I don't know what you're talking about... you are a GREAT writer! You have made me LOL so many times already Love the Publix story. And that view... Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[MyTalula]

wow...what a great view! We were there Feb 6-13 and yes it was soo COLD...BRRR!! I had soo many cute tshirts for my DS 16 mos and no one ever got to see them! We stayed on the buy 4 get 3 free at the Beach Club Villas. I love staying in the boardwalk area. My brother and SIL wanted to stay at the dolphin or swan but in the end we choose the beach club!

I remember that ADR day...i too tried calling all day and was up really early and tried online too...nothing...i did not get in until 8pm that night and was on the phone for over an hour. My brother tried the next night online and got the 3 that I could not get the day before online and for 8 people...really irked me! LOL!

our drama of our trip was trying to get there. We had 2 cancelled flights between our whole family (My parents and my brothers family was along with ours) and ended up flying out the evening of the 5th...that was the only way we would have gotten there...if not...our long awaited trip would have been canceled.

now I am wondering what celebrity you saw? THe only one that i knew was there was drew brees but he might have only been at the MK for the parade. I did see a Dis Celebrity too...I saw Jordan and his cousin Wendy at Epcot but unfortunately there was no time to say HI!

Ya weather has been odd all over... I told DH to be prepared to leave for FL early if a storm came up!

You shall find out what celebrity we saw in the next update, hopefully tomorrow! It was not Drew Brees though I will tell you know.

What a GREAT view!!!!!!!!!!

Was that lady at Publix on crack?

Yes that view was the best!!! Crack is one possibility!!

subscribing

Great trip report, can't wait to hear more.
We were in Disney Feb.6th-13th and I agree it was COLD, and the torrential rain on Friday (the 12th) was unbelievable. We were in MK on Friday and by about 2pm the place was like a ghost town but, hey we got to ride and see everthing we wanted multiple times with no wait.

We were in the MK on the 12th as well... we had to go back to the hotel at 3 we were soaked through and cold. However we were able to ride everything we wanted by that time.

Just caught up!
Wow! That is A WONDERFUL VIEW you had at the Swolphin!

I had to LOL when you wrote about the Publix bagger! We NEVER touch any more stuff since Tom got told off for starting to put things in the cart WITHOUT bags!
(Here in Austria you pay for EVERY bag, so I always have some bags in the car. We put our stuff back in the cart and load it into the bags IN the car!)

Can't wait for more!
Hope the storm has passed and everything is A-okay for you again!

I always have big bags with me at home too! I hate having them pack 23 bags with 1 or 2 items in them.

The big storm has moved out to sea, unfortunately they're saying it's going to back in over us tonight with more snow and wind. ARRRRRRRGH

I love the Publix story. I get impatient waiting for the cashier to bag too. Why would she be angry that you're making her job easier? And forcing you to take the extra food? So funny!

Laura

I know, you would think she would be happy I was trying to help LOL

Ok, I'm in, And I don't know what you're talking about... you are a GREAT writer! You have made me LOL so many times already Love the Publix story. And that view... Can't wait to read more!!!

Thanks that's sweet of you!! Miss that view so much....

 

[englishrose47]

Waiting for the Celebrity!!

 

[MyTalula]

Waiting for the Celebrity!!

The wait is over....

 

[MyTalula]

We settled into our room and unpacked a bit, and realized our stomachs were growling. We’d not really eaten anything of substance since we split a bagel at the airport at 5am that morning. We decided to head down to Picabu or Fresh for a bite.


We took the elevators down and Picabu was the first one we saw, so it won! Our first impression was how very loud it was walking in. Loud bird chirping/singing… noises, luckily once we got inside it quieted down considerably.


The menu is partially written on a chalk board, and also on signs at the various stations… we grabbed drinks and tried to read all of the stations, but we felt pressure to make a decision, so I chose roasted chicken, and DH got Lasagna, which both came with 2 sides, I chose mashed & corn, and DH got mashed & creamed spinach and DD got chicken fingers, which came with fries, she didn’t get a choice.


The meals and sides were delicious. Well everything except the bread sticks they gave us, they were so hard we could have used them as weapons. LOL It was way more food than we wanted at that point in the day, almost 2pm! In hindsight DH & I splitting one of those meals would have been plenty.


We made our way up to our room and finished unpacking and organizing… DD was begging to head to the Boardwalk, she knew there were carnival games… her favorite thing in the whole wide world apparently.


While unpacking and making the room ours for the next week, the three of us would gravitate to the window and just stare out at it all before us. DH said to me, “what don’t you see?”


I looked around and suddenly I realized what was missing. People! The Boardwalk, the pathways, the bridge, all empty. It was slightly drizzly, but not bad enough to keep people away. I was hoping that would mean low crowd levels for the rest of the week. Ya Right.


We promised DD we’d go soon, but I needed to rest just for a bit. Being up since midnight and the traveling was catching up to me fast. I found one of her favorite shows, and laid myself down on that heavenly bed, just for an hour. I couldn’t fall asleep, but that bit of rest and a hot shower after, was all I needed to venture out to the Boardwalk.


We donned our rain coats since it was drizzling, and off we went.

Our first stop was of course to play the carnival games… OMG those games aren’t cheap! But oh well we were in Disney!!

DD did win herself a stuffed dog, so all was right with the world. Then the skies opened up and we hit the general store, where DD found some new croc flip flops… that girls’ feet grow so fast it’s hard to keep up. And I found a few cute things that I would come back for later; I figured we had a week, no need to lug it around now.

The rain calmed to a drizzle again so off we went. My camera was tucked tight in my rain coat pocket… and who do we run right smack into… Cat Cora! We said Hi, and DD told her that she was her favorite Iron Chef, and Cat Cora gave her a high five and tol her to keep on cooking. I said thank you and started to walk away, then DH goes … “ UH Hon, where were you with the camera on that one?” I was like OH DAMN

I was so happy for DD she absolutely loves Cat Cora; we have to tape every Iron Chef, but she usually only watches if Cat is competing. I guess I was just to involved in the moment and not thinking. Bad Bad Mother and Bad Diser!

I turned around to look and she was still talking to a lady from her restaurant, and I thought about going back and asking for a do over, but I didn’t want to be that person. I could see she was trying to get up to her room. Well, actually we heard her tell the manager, she was going to her room and would see her tomorrow. So I let the chance slide. I’ve regretted not having my camera out in my hand every time, the memory has cropped up.


We did the loop around the boardwalk, past the beach and yacht club, just to see it all. We stopped to get DD a slushy and I mentioned to the lady at the counter we’d run into Cat Cora earlier, and I was surprised to see her. She told me that as part of the deal with Disney, Cat had to be at her restaurant 4 times a year for a book signing. That explained it. We strolled around some more, watched the street performers, and then decided we’d try Big River Grill.


Our meals and drinks were very good. We started with the Chicken Nachos, which were excellent. Then for my meal I had a cup of the Beer Cheese Soup, and the Greenhouse Salad. The soup was good, but not great like I was hoping for. The salad was fresh and crisp and satisfying. DH had the regular Dinner Salad and the Blackened Mahi Mahi sandwich, which he loved. And DD had a hot dog.


We were too full for dessert. DD’s meal came with ice cream or chocolate cake, so she got the cake to go. Then we swung by the Boardwalk Bakery, to pick up some items to go with our cereal for breakfast the next day. We picked a Cinnamon Roll, a Blueberry Muffin and a Cheese Danish. The desserts looked so good, I thought to myself we’ll be back for a dessert another night!


We leisurely strolled back to the Dolphin, with a bounce in our step, discussing all of the adventures that lay ahead. We all agreed how cool it was to be staying right there in the middle of Epcot, Boardwalk & the Studios. I was truly happy with my decision to try the Dolphin.


We made it up to our room, shortly before Illuminations was to start. DD ate her cake while we waited, then I turned off all the lights and we all sat on the couch and watched Illuminations from our room!

We fell into those wonderful, comfortable, heavenly beds, and fast asleep.

Up next… Disney Studios, Dis-celebrities, and an Illuminations dinner to remember!

 

[mom2mek]

It sounds like a great day! That's too bad about the camera - I've certainly had my fair share of moments like that! My oldest daughter says "did you lose your brain again?," since I always refer to "losing my head". Those boardwalk games look like fun, but I bet they do add up fast (at least they would with my 3...ugh...).

Ahh...Illuminations from your room! How fun!

Sara

 

[DisneyTiger]

WOW! Sounds like a great day, even with the drizzles I am bummed you didn't get a pic with Cat Cora! That would have been way cool But glad your DD has that memory!!! Ok, and can I just say how totally jealous I am of you being able to watch Illuminations from your room That is my fav show at Disney, by far. I get chills just thinking about it. Being able to watch it from the room would be awesome!!! I just may have to look into the Dolphin one of these days!!! Great update

 

[mickeystoontown]

Woohoo! for the run in with Cat Cora! And very cool of her to stop and give your daughter a high five. It's just too bad you didn't have your camera out and ready.

 

[dellasgirl]

z

 

[vamassey1]

What a fabulous first day and the perfect ending.

 

[Señor DonDuck]

Caught up now and look forward to reading more.

 

[MyTalula]

It sounds like a great day! That's too bad about the camera - I've certainly had my fair share of moments like that! My oldest daughter says "did you lose your brain again?," since I always refer to "losing my head". Those boardwalk games look like fun, but I bet they do add up fast (at least they would with my 3...ugh...).

Ahh...Illuminations from your room! How fun!

Sara

I'm still kicking my own butt over not getting my camera out in time. But oh well. And I think Illuminations from our room was my most favorite "perk".

WOW! Sounds like a great day, even with the drizzles I am bummed you didn't get a pic with Cat Cora! That would have been way cool But glad your DD has that memory!!! Ok, and can I just say how totally jealous I am of you being able to watch Illuminations from your room That is my fav show at Disney, by far. I get chills just thinking about it. Being able to watch it from the room would be awesome!!! I just may have to look into the Dolphin one of these days!!! Great update

I know, it would have been so great to have that picture for her to take to school and share... though I don't know if the rest of her class are food network freaks like we are.

We absolutley loved the Dolphin... we loved the Polynesian, for different reasons, but I believe the Dolphin will be our first choice from now on!! It was just so great being able to walk to the Boardwalk, Epcot & Dis Studios.

Woohoo! for the run in with Cat Cora! And very cool of her to stop and give your daughter a high five. It's just too bad you didn't have your camera out and ready.

I know it was so nice of her... she seemed really sweet in person. And my DH says she's super hot in person!!

What a great start to your wdw vacation. seeing cat cora and watching Illuminations from your room(without the crowd )

Ohhhh ya, plus we were warm, watching it from our room!! Though we have a pretty magical Illuminations dinner coming up in the next installment.

What a fabulous first day and the perfect ending.

Exactly!!!

Caught up now and look forward to reading more.

More to come soon!! Thanks for reading everyone!!!

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Great report! I'm in. We were there when you were there, too (at BLT).

 

[MyTalula]

Great report! I'm in. We were there when you were there, too (at BLT).

Thanks and I've been away, hence the lack of an update, but hopefully will get one up soon!