Two Trips in Three Months?!?--A TR of Epic Proportions!

[PlutosRHM55]

Great update!

I don't if its because of the onslaught of Disney restaurant reviews or something else, but I've been hungry. Your one of the Brown Derby is making my mouth water especially. The Cobb Salad looks really good. I'm not sure about that other dish, not a fan of mushrooms. I'll definitely have to check out that place sometime, it sounds really good. I can't wait to hear about your last adventures in MK (and based on the fact we share the same favorite rides, you'll love Space Mountain! It is less intense than ToT and Expedition).

Update as soon as possible!

 

[mla1977]

I actually carry my charger with me in the parks. I know where there are outlets in many different locations in the parks. May I recommend episode #3 of the Betamouse podcast? It's the smart phone survival guide. You can also purchase a portable battery charger. There are a couple different options for iphones. Several of my friends have them and I've been known to mooch off their chargers while in the parks.

 

[elbodans]

Great update!

I don't if its because of the onslaught of Disney restaurant reviews or something else, but I've been hungry. Your one of the Brown Derby is making my mouth water especially. The Cobb Salad looks really good. I'm not sure about that other dish, not a fan of mushrooms. I'll definitely have to check out that place sometime, it sounds really good. I can't wait to hear about your last adventures in MK (and based on the fact we share the same favorite rides, you'll love Space Mountain! It is less intense than ToT and Expedition).

Update as soon as possible!

the brown derby is my favorite disney restaurant so far--which is funny, since DHS is my least favorite park. it's like the disney gods are making sure i return!

I actually carry my charger with me in the parks. I know where there are outlets in many different locations in the parks. May I recommend episode #3 of the Betamouse podcast? It's the smart phone survival guide. You can also purchase a portable battery charger. There are a couple different options for iphones. Several of my friends have them and I've been known to mooch off their chargers while in the parks.

i will definitely check that out--thanks so much!!!!

 

[elbodans]

Day 4 Part 4--Chaos ensues at MK, how I am an emotional sponge, and my crazy ‘three parks one day’ idea.

So, I arrive at MK around 3:15pm. Here’s the approach to the castle, at 3:30pm on the first Saturday in March (supposedly a mid-level crowd day)...

Here’s me trying to walk away from the restrooms at Splash Mountain...

...and here’s the crowd walking around Frontierland.

These were the kinds of crowds I’d expected in WDW, and was beyond pleasantly surprised to NOT find during any of my days in the parks. Thus, at the end of my research-or-die trip, I gave up. I left the Magic Kingdom.

I did manage to ride PoC again before I left, but trust me when I say that the posted 30-minute standby wait was absolutely accurate. This was the longest amount of time I stood in line at any parks, on any day, ever. And most of the people in line were more cranky than even I was!

Please allow me to pause and explain my issue with crowds like this. Please note, many of you are going to think I’m insane. I’m ok with that (as is evidenced by the fact that I was perfectly ok with asking the server to wait for me to photograph my salad before he mixed it!)

My issue with crowds...

I am a very sensitive person. I’m not talking about sensitive in that I’m easily offended--in fact, I dare you to try and offend me. I’m also not a huge mush, though I do cry fairly easily (those disney commercials where parents surprise their kids make me cry every time). I mean sensitive in the ‘people’s emotions effect me’ sense. Particularly in large crowds. If you are a very tense family, and you are standing next to me, I become tense. If you are angry, I’m angry. If you are sad, I’m sad (which is how I explain the crying at rope drop, or during sad movies). If you are happy, I’m happy--which is likely why I love Disney so much in the first place. Being around that many people who are fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit the happiest place on earth--well, to an emotional sponge-person, that’s a great day! This may also explain why I’ve been having a fairly hard time teaching middle school lately (holy drama!), but that’s neither here nor there. For the purpose of this trip report, just know that the line for PoC was almost beyond my level of tolerance.

It was only 5:00ish when I decided that MK was out of the question. However, like any good woman on a mission, I finished my own personal mission (a section of my book I was very excited about) before I left, which required me to walk around ALL of the lands, snapping photos like this one...

...whist others looked at me with concern, shock, and amusement. By this point, I wasn’t batting an eyelash.

The problem, as was the trend for this trip, was that I hadn’t had dinner yet. While my lunch was awesome, and wasn’t even that far away in time at this point--maybe 5 hours--I knew I didn’t want to spend my last evening in WDW sitting in my room eating chicken fingers again. But I also knew that I wasn’t going to make my 9:50pm reservations at Citricos (and I’d cancelled them from my newly charged phone a few minutes prior) Thus, I needed to go somewhere with food.

So...I pointed myself in the direction of the monorail. Could it be--THREE parks in one day?

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Great update (sorry I replied late )!

I don't think I've ever seen Magic Kingdom that crowded. I've been there when the crowds are quite low and when they are reaching the point where you are caught in a mob everywhere you go. I think the pictures you've shown go beyond those standards. I was really hoping to see you tough it out and ride Space Mountain... I'm disappointed Luckily, you are going again soon and you MUST go on Space Mountain. If you do a PTR, I will be posting that over and over again. If you loved ToT and Expedition Everest like me then you will love Space Mountain. Moving on... can't wait to hear about how you manage with three parks in one day (possible ) and what will be your replacement for Citricos. Update as soon as you can!

 

[elbodans]

Great update (sorry I replied late )!

I don't think I've ever seen Magic Kingdom that crowded. I've been there when the crowds are quite low and when they are reaching the point where you are caught in a mob everywhere you go. I think the pictures you've shown go beyond those standards. I was really hoping to see you tough it out and ride Space Mountain... I'm disappointed Luckily, you are going again soon and you MUST go on Space Mountain. If you do a PTR, I will be posting that over and over again. If you loved ToT and Expedition Everest like me then you will love Space Mountain. Moving on... can't wait to hear about how you manage with three parks in one day (possible ) and what will be your replacement for Citricos. Update as soon as you can!

i know i've never seen it that crowded! i have been on space mountain--my husband and i rode on our first trip. we didn't like it. so it's not like i 'think' i won't like it--like i 'think' i won't like rockin roller coaster. i know i don't like it! i don't like being in the dark with flashing lights. it makes me ill. but i'll try it again, now knowing what it is like. perhaps that will help!

i'm adding a PTR to this TR, as i kind of feel like the two trips are just one long trip, broken up by two months in the middle.

 

[chchch Chip & Dale]

My plan was to head to the Magic Kingdom for the rest of the day...but alas, my iPhone battery was again dying. So I waited at the bus stop for CSR for a good 15 minutes, and then hopped a bus back to my room. Please note--this was the longest time I waited for a bus my entire trip. Not bad!

I left the restaurant at 12:56 (ish) and was back in my room by 2:00. This includes the bus ride to the resort, walking to my room, plugging my iPhone in, and 10 blissful minutes in the hammock on the beach at CSR. If I didn’t have things to do--and if I wasn’t concerned about the amount of sun I was getting--I would have been content to spend HOURS on that hammock. But 10 minutes was better than nothing!

It was during this time that I spent a few minutes googling ‘solar powered purse’, only to find that the only solar bag I liked was WAY over my budget (around $400)--but really, what do people do in the parks when iPhones die so quickly? I spent a good fifteen minutes looking for a rogue outlet in MK on my first day, thinking that if only I could fit my charger in my tiny purse, I’d be able to steal some electricity and charge my phone (I do this at airports all the time--there’s typically an outlet under each water fountain. These are the skills obsessive travelers acquire!) The only reason I returned to CSR was to charge my phone--a sad commentary on how poorly I respect my own body (no, I don’t need a nap--but my phone needs to charge!) and I honestly wished I didn’t even need to do that.

I love your TR by the way! It is really nice to see a solo perspective. It is also helpful for future reference to have your research ideas.
Just for you to know - about the iPhone dying- I have a friend who has this phone and he has a case that also charges his phone. It adds around 8 hours onto his battery life. I don't have a name or anything like that but it's an idea to research.

 

[elbodans]

I love your TR by the way! It is really nice to see a solo perspective. It is also helpful for future reference to have your research ideas.
Just for you to know - about the iPhone dying- I have a friend who has this phone and he has a case that also charges his phone. It adds around 8 hours onto his battery life. I don't have a name or anything like that but it's an idea to research.

thanks! i'm glad you like the solo perspective. i LOVE love love disney solo!

i'll look into the case. right now i have two cases i use for different reasons--one for my xShot and one for my induction charger...they really need to make an all-in-one iphone case. like the swiss army knife version of a case!

 

[Ms. Belle]

Hi, I found your trip report and absolutely love it! I really like the solo perspective. Plus you're a great writer. I can't wait for your next installment.

 

[elbodans]

I'm realizing that I meant to tack at PTR onto the end of this TR, as the two trips are so close together in time--and my next trip is in less than two weeks! So I guess I should hurry up and finish this report!

Day 4 Part 5 (yes, FIVE!)--Park number three--Epcot--and ‘dinner’ at Cantina San Angel.

My last question was ‘could I do three parks in one day?’ The Answer--yes. Yes I could.

I took the crowd photo of Frontierland at 4:40. I then walked through Liberty Square, Fantastyland, around Tomorrowland (taking photos the whole time for afore mentioned research purposes), across the bridge to the castle, out Main Street, and to the monorail station. I boarded the monorail, rode it to the TTC, switched to the Epcot monorail, circled Futureworld as the monorail does, and walked down and around and around towards the Epcot turnstiles, and made it through the gates by 5:20pm.

For those of you who’ve not yet made your first trip to WDW--that’s really, really far!

By 5:47, I’d found a restroom and washed my hands (I was standing on the monorail, and the pole was sticky...ick!), ridden Spaceship Earth again--man I love that ride...

...and posted three blog posts (which is how I’m tracking the times now!) This may top my insane 45 minutes from eyes open to turnstile record from earlier that morning (was it only that morning?) Again, I must say...whew! I’m actually getting tired just thinking about it!

I’d come to Epcot with one goal in mind--dinner. And I knew that I wanted a margarita with that dinner--so I headed directly to Mexico, stopping only once at what I’ve dubbed ‘the emptiest restroom in Disney’ award winner...

...yes, I actually took a photo. This was the only time all week I’d seen a restroom this empty. It is located at the back of some closed restaurant that lies at the intersection of several bridges, behind test track but before the Mexico pavilion. In my guidebook, it is labeled only ‘Odyssey’.

I had big plans to circle the world showcase, sipping my drink and sampling food, but my legs and feet had other plans. I was So. Very. Tired. Plus, it seemed like a margarita should be accompanied by Mexican food.

Before I purchased my drink, I decided to do the Gran Fiesta Tour. In my last two visits to Epcot, I wasn’t able to ride because, well, I was holding a ($14) margarita, and was understandably unwilling to part with it (did I mention they are $14?) This ride was...interesting...

...ok, it was a really, really bright, kind of obnoxious, Mexican version of It’s a Small World. The best part was when we sailed through the San Angel Inn--I tried to take some pics of how beautiful it was, but of course they didn’t turn out very well. The one neat part of the ride was the fact that I was seated at the front of a boat alone, with only one couple way in the back of the same boat. Note me resting my feet...

...ahhh! Though this didn’t make up for how uncomfortable the seats were. Is it just me, or are all WDW bench seats designed as acute angles? I encountered equally painful bench seats on Living with the Land and Ellen’s Energy Adventure. Maybe it is just an Epcot thing?

The line for Cava de Tequila was, well, a line. There simply wasn’t a line when I visited with my friend two days prior. But I was determined to have a margarita. Sadly, I ordered poorly yet again. I had the Passion Fruit margarita, despite my desire to say ‘I’ll have what he’s having’ and pointing to the man in front of me, who had a very nice margarita made from actual tequila that I watched being poured and actual limes that I watched being squeezed--my drink came from a pitcher. Note to self--when someone in line in front of you orders something that looks good, ALWAYS say ‘I’ll have what he’s having’! I’ve done this in the past with much success. I don’t know why I abandoned the plan in Epcot (perhaps because his drink was likely $28?)

I then wandered out into the fading daylight, and thought about trying to get a walk up table at Hacienda, but it was literally mobbed at that point in the evening, so I didn’t have high hopes. Instead, I visited the CS mexican ‘restaurant’, and was oddly directed away from the perfectly good line I was standing in to a clearly not open line at the far end. This caused some confusion, but eventually I ordered, paid, and was served.

Yet again, I chose poorly. I should have ordered the nachos. The nachos looked awesome. But I love empanadas, and the menu promised that they were covered in some sort of spicy green sauce (I love spicy green sauce) and served with chips--so I went with the empanadas.

They were not bad, but they were not good. More like a corn-crusted mozzerella stick (or, rather, moon) than an empanada. They were also a bit too cheesy--if that’s even possible--as they were both filled with and covered in cheese. The redeeming part of the meal was the fresh (?) tortilla chips and the self-service hot sauces, into which I dipped said chips. I love self-service hot sauces!

I was very lucky to snag this seat....

...but as I enjoyed my meal, the sun sank lower and lower, and the Illuminations sharks began to circle. As I finished my meal, I found a family that looked less than willing to aggressively stalk a seat (unlike other families that literally stood there and glared at people until they finished), and directed them to my table before exiting.

It was clearly time to return to the resort, as it was approaching 7pm and I had no intention of being caught up in the post Illuminations exodus. However, somewhere between that empty bathroom (that I stopped at again--I blame the margarita) and the exit, I found myself outside of Test Track. And it was only 7:15. And there was only a 20 minute wait for the standby line.

As I sat outside of TT, trying to finish my drink (that same margarita from over an hour before), I met a very nice woman who I determined was from North Carolina based on her accent (I was wrong--she was originally from Tennessee, and had moved to Florida) and we chatted for a while as she waited for her friends to exit TT. Right as her husband approached and she stood to leave, the single rider line wait time changed from 20 minutes to 10. Clearly, it was a sign.

So I rode Test Track again...

...this time with a very nice--but not very English speaking--family of five. I realize this can’t count as a tip as it is something you have absolutely no control over, but for the record--being seated on a ride with a family that doesn’t speak English is great. You don’t have to have that awkward obligatory conversation. You just get to scream as your car rounds a turn at over 70 mph!

After Test Track, I stood and stared at Mission Space for a good long while before deciding against it. Instead, I spent some time browsing the GIANT gift shop across from Innoventions East. Man that’s one big gift store. I found the mug I wanted to buy for a friend on my last trip...

...but upon seeing the price (something like $18) I decided against it. By this point in the trip, my credit card was in a constant state of slow smolder, like a fire that’s been burning for a while and has no intention of going out.

Somewhat sadly, I made my way out of the park, ran for the bus (that was waiting at the stop) and made my way back to CSR, all the way contemplating how insane it was for me to be sad after such a long day!

I made plans in my head to wake up early the next morning to make rope drop at AK before catching my 11:30 DME bus to the airport, with the sole purpose of riding EE as many times as possible in one hour. Though I was up early enough the next morning--at this point I was waking up on my own at 6:00-ish--I decided I needed to let go of this trip and start looking forward to the next. Which reminds me--I should get started on that Pre Trip Report--we leave in less than two weeks!

Up next--a final breakdown of EVERYTHING.

 

[norybell]

Joining in! You are not going to believe this, but I, too, am in the process of writing a book set in WDW (a YA novel, though, so not competition)! And I, too, am currently writing a TR (link in my siggie) about my solo book-research trip!

I also spent one night of that trip at CSR, and had the exact same corkscrew experience (though I haven't reached that part of my TR yet).

We should clearly start a WDW-book-writers support group, or something!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Awwww... your TR is ending. I was really enjoying it. You are a very good writer. I can't wait to hear about your next trip. Moving on... Yeah, at La Cantina de San Angel (the CS to La Hacienda) definitely get the Nachos, they are awesome. I've gotten them twice between two trips, one of the only repeat counter services, and when I was there, it was a little bar next to the pavilion. La Hacienda and the CS wasn't opened. And the gift shop near Innoventions is MouseGear (BTW, that is a nice mug, I saw those everywhere, but I stick to my refillable mugs ). I can't wait to hear your last thought! Update ASAP!

 

[elbodans]

Joining in! You are not going to believe this, but I, too, am in the process of writing a book set in WDW (a YA novel, though, so not competition)! And I, too, am currently writing a TR (link in my siggie) about my solo book-research trip!

I also spent one night of that trip at CSR, and had the exact same corkscrew experience (though I haven't reached that part of my TR yet).

We should clearly start a WDW-book-writers support group, or something!

that is awesome! let's start that support group! i'll be checking out your trip report as soon as i hit submit on this! i love YA lit--it is the only fiction i read. i teach middle school, so it kind of gives me an 'excuse' to read YA, but really, i read it because i love it. i'd love to hear about your book! perhaps i will...in your trip report!

Awwww... your TR is ending. I was really enjoying it. You are a very good writer. I can't wait to hear about your next trip. Moving on... Yeah, at La Cantina de San Angel (the CS to La Hacienda) definitely get the Nachos, they are awesome. I've gotten them twice between two trips, one of the only repeat counter services, and when I was there, it was a little bar next to the pavilion. La Hacienda and the CS wasn't opened. And the gift shop near Innoventions is MouseGear (BTW, that is a nice mug, I saw those everywhere, but I stick to my refillable mugs ). I can't wait to hear your last thought! Update ASAP!

i'll add the next trip details to the end of this trip report.

and i know--i should have had the nachos. they looked so good! but i was like 'i can get nachos anywhere'--but nachos are different everywhere! ooops. thankfully there's always a next time!

 

[elbodans]

As this was a research trip, of course I was going in thinking I’d be learning a lot. However, I ended up coming away from the trip with many non-research related lessons. Ahem....

-I love Disney solo.

-I really want to take my husband there for a real vacation...some day. Ok...sooner rather than later!

-It is totally worth getting up early to make rope drop.

-It is also totally worth getting ready quickly enough to make it way BEFORE rope drop, so you are one of the first people through the gate. While I may never make commando-style plans, or determine ride order in advance, I will always be on the bus one hour before park opening. Always. I will also happily stand outside the turnstiles for upwards of 30 minutes, knowing that I’m saving hours of standing-in-line time.

-Related to the ‘getting ready quickly’ item above (sort of)--light packing be damned, I’m bringing my hair straightener on my next trip. It will absolutely fit in my backpack, and make my photos much less...awful! Here’s me at the airport waiting for my flight home....

-Park order is important. I know that I love Epcot; thus, it should be a two day park. Additionally, Epcot should always be the last park I visit, as I’m typically quite beat by this point--but for some reason, I become energized in Epcot. I cannot say the same for DHS--though I am glad I’m making it our first park on our next trip!

-I can’t do park open to park close without a break (except, again, in Epcot).

- Not everyone loves Disney as much as I do.

-The fact that I’m willing to admit that I love Disney, despite everything I’ve ever thought about it, proves that I’m growing as a person. Which is a good thing, as I’m 31. I was waiting for that to kick in at some point!

-Speaking of ‘growing up’--if my husband and I ever adopt, we will take our child to WDW...but I will go in with totally different expectations. Thank you drunken friend for teaching me this lesson!

-Drinking around the world is way overrated. I’d prefer ‘drinking whilst in the world’, but definitely not 'drinking in ever single country so that you are falling down drunk'. I'm glad I've never done it, and I never will. Disney is fun sober--why drink?

-I like hotels that are convenient. Walking for ten minutes to get a sandwich, while not awful-sounding in writing, is actually quite exhausting and annoying in reality.

-CSR has such awesome bus service, I’d be willing to overlook my last statement and stay there again.

-Dinner reservations after 7pm won’t happen. I can make them, but I won’t make it TO them, at least not without a break in the afternoon.

-The above statement goes against every trip-planning cell in my body. When I visit a city, I need a late dinner. When I'm in WDW, I need to be in BED by 10pm!

-I love table service lunch.

-The Hollywood Brown Derby is awesome.

-Me eating at a table service restaurant will ALWAYS cost $30 for lunch--twice that for dinner.

-Gift shops are worth the time, even if you are only browsing (I purchased ONLY a hat for my husband and lanyard/pin for my mother the entire time!)

-It is possible to blog whilst in WDW. However, a solar panel purse would really help.

-There is so much to see and do in WDW that one requires multiple trips to absorb all of it. Good thing I have an annual pass!

Up next...a breakdown of everything I accomplished, plus a mini Pre-Trip Report for my trip that's coming up...next Friday!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Wow, that's a lot. And yeah, parks before rope drop The whole sober comment reminds me of when my dad wore a certain Life is Good shirt to our rez at Crystal Palace. CMs even recommend sobriety . I don't agree with the 10pm though, because on my last trip, the earliest I went to bed was... 11 and the latest was 1. But that's just me. It was awesome following you on this great TR. I can't wait to read your next one!

 

[elbodans]

Wow, that's a lot. And yeah, parks before rope drop The whole sober comment reminds me of when my dad wore a certain Life is Good shirt to our rez at Crystal Palace. CMs even recommend sobriety . I don't agree with the 10pm though, because on my last trip, the earliest I went to bed was... 11 and the latest was 1. But that's just me. It was awesome following you on this great TR. I can't wait to read your next one!

well, you are young, so you can go with less sleep! though i'm surprised you are all for rope drop, too. late nights and early mornings--now THAT'S a disney fan!

though i have to admit, i'm incapable of sleeping past 6am in WDW. i even TRIED on my last day there, but was unable to do it. even with the black out curtains, somehow my brain knows that the sun is up!

 

[disneygeeks]

Great TR and can't wait to start reading your next one. You had lots of good info in here but like PlutosRHM35 said I also have to stay up later and maybe catch some EMH at MK or any other park that has them. Take care.

 

[elbodans]

Great TR and can't wait to start reading your next one. You had lots of good info in here but like PlutosRHM35 said I also have to stay up later and maybe catch some EMH at MK or any other park that has them. Take care.

for this next trip, i'm hoping to manage the 2am EMH at MK. we'll see how that goes--especially traveling with my mother, who wakes up at 4am every day!

 

[elbodans]

So...as this was a short trip, and a trip with a purpose (doing research) the question becomes 'how much did I accomplish'.

The Grand Total...

Rides...

Pooh (twice)
Small World
Haunted Mansion
Big Thunder Mountain RR (twice)
Pirates (twice)
Swiss Family Treehouse (not really a ride, but still)
People Mover
Tom Sawyer Island (again, not a ride...)
Soarin (twice)
Living with the Land
Nemo
Journey into Imagination
Ellen’s Energy Adventure
Test Track (twice)
Spaceship Earth (twice)
Everest (three times!)
Kilimanjaro Safari
Toy Story Midway Mania (twice)
Tower of Terror
Studio Backlot Tour
Gran Fiesta Boat Ride

Shows....

Mickey’s Philharmagic
Hall of Presidents
Turtle Talk
It’s Tough to Be a Bug
Festival of the Lion King
Nemo the Musical
Muppets 3D

Restaurants....

Dole Whip Stand
Kona Cafe
Artist’s Point
Les Chefs de France
Margaritas at Cava de Tequila
Lots of CS wine in Epcot!
Caramel Kitchen Caramel Corn
France’s Pastry Shop’s Napoleon
Yak and Yeti
Pepper Market
Starring Rolls
Brown Derby
Cantina de San Angel


So, that’s 30 rides (counting the multiple rides), 7 Shows, 5 table service restaurants, 3 snacks, two counter service restaurants, one food court, and many counters selling alcohol. Add to that dozens of pages of notes, one mini-high school reunion, and the fact that this was only a long-weekend trip, and I’d call that a success. Wow--I don’t think I realized how insane the trip was until right now.

Up next--a mini-Pre Trip Report for my next trip, which is only EIGHT DAYS AWAY!

 

[elbodans]

Well gee--I guess I should really get to the mini-pre trip report part of this report, as I'm leaving on trip #2...TOMORROW! So, here are the details...

This trip is a VERY split trip, as I'm not just staying at two different resorts at two different parks, I'm going with two different people.

Part I of this trip--Friday, May 6th-Wednesday, May 11th-- is a mother's day trip with my mom. I'll get into more detail about the back story in my actual Trip Report, but let's just say that this is a payback trip for her. She took me when I was 10 years old and I was a MISERABLE child. I'm taking her back to WDW to give her the disney vacation I denied her as a child.

Part II of this trip is a long weekend with my husband--Wednesday, May 11-Sunday May 15. My mother is flying home on Wednesday morning and my husband is flying down on Wednesday night, and we will be spending Thursday-Sunday at Universal Orlando.

Details of Part I--
Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge

Special Events: Wanyama Safari Tour, Mother's Day Tea at Grand Floridian, Wishes dinner at California Grill

ADRs:
Brown Derby
Jiko
GF Garden View Tea Room
Sanaa
Yak and Yeti
Cali Grill
Via Napoli
Bistro De Paris OR Kouzzina

Details of Part II--
Resort: Portofino Bay

Special Events: See story below!

Reservations:
Mythos
Tchoup Shop (spelling?)
no other reservations because everyone said that I don't need them.

The special event part of this trip is a surprise for my husband. You see, he really, REALLY wanted to stay at Portofino. He liked that there was a quiet pool, as we plan to spend each afternoon reading in the sun with a blender drink. He also just really liked the look of the resort--he's a big fan of resort relaxation style vacations (though we will be at the gates at IoA by 7:30 on our first day!) He did not care how much Portofino cost. I did--and so I convinced him to let me book at Royal Pacific. He was bummed. Well...the day before yesteray I randomly checked online for prices (I have no idea why) and found that the current AP rate for Portofino was only $20/night more than our current Royal Pacific reservation. So...I called and changed it.

And I didn't tell him.

I've made him town car reservations for his arrival, and indicated that he MUST be taken to Portofino no matter what he says. When the car service called to confirm my reservation, they told me that they absoltuely can do that (I'm sure this sort of odd request is made occasionally in Orlando).

So he's going to pull up to the valet area at Portofino and be greeted by me shouting SURPRISE (and hopefully holding some sort of beverage--he works that day and I want to make his arrival as magical as possible...even though it's not disney!)

Ok--there you have it--the shortest PTR imaginable! I will be writing a lengthy TR when I return. In fact, I'm taking my netbook with me so hopefully much of it will be written before I return.

I can't wait!!!!