Upgrades, Underwear and Upside Down Fun -5/7 King Louie totally ROCKS!

[karajeboo]

Well, if you’ve followed my Crazy Life of a New Floridian report, and all my mini-TRs in there, you’ll know that since we’ve moved to Florida, not only have we had a lot of crazy occurrences – snakes, lizards, frogs, even a wild monkey loose in our neighborhood! But we’ve also had lots of opportunities for quickie trips to Disney!

Each time I plan a trip Daddy says, "Again?" And each time we leave, he is the one with a lump in his throat, saying goodbye to the parks, the resorts, the terrible Disney coffee, whatever it is that he can bid farewell to. And asking me when our next trip is.....

So this is another quickie trip to a new resort for us. See, now that we’re so close, my new goal is to stay at EVERY Disney Resort, and eat at EVERY table service restaurant on property. And we’re slowly getting there.
This will be the 6th Disney resort we’ve stayed at. Prior stays were at Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans-Riverside and Pop Century. We chose ASMo this trip (or so I have led you to believe....) because we are staying at AKL in May. And this is just a mother/daughter weekend so we don’t need much room, and we’re never in our room anyway…..

Wait! Did I say Mother/Daughter weekend? Yeah, that’s what I said back in November, too. And Daddy joined us midway through the trip.

See, Daddy is not much of a planner. I am the planner and control freak. So when he told me he was planning a golf weekend with all his buddies, at our house, I jumped at the chance to have some mother/daughter time with our only child (therefore I can call her my favorite daughter ), Ally, who will be 8 very soon. This is what we did in November. And the golf weekend fell through. Because he’s not the planner. But if I help him plan the weekend, then it might just happen, and if it happens, I lose all my excuses for Mother/Daughter trips to Disney!

Flash forward (no, you’re not watching Lost!!!) to March, and the golf weekend is again in the tank. So the whole family is off to Disney again!

Me…. Kara…. 42 year old Disney junkie. Seriously, if there is a 12 step program I don’t want to be a part of it!!!

DH….. Jeff…. 38 (and loves to remind me of this!). Loves Disney too but thinks it’s uncool to bring that up. But put him in the World and he’s like a pig in… well, you get the idea. He can’t say no to anything in Disney! Why do you think I try to get him there as much as possible? I’m wondering if he is intentionally sabotaging these golf weekends just so he can join us in Disney???

DD….. Ally…. 7 going on 17. She, too loves Disney! Whew! But she is slowly outgrowing the princesses. They are great as long as we are in Disney, but anywhere else and they are “for babies.”

So on to our Mother/Daughter weekend…. With Daddy! Up next, tons of pics with my handy dandy new waterproof camera, and the bomb diggity of all bomb diggity resort upgrades!!!!!

 

[MiaBella05]

tuning in

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Subscribing.

Kara - where are the photos? BAD Kara!

PS - No wonder the basic dining plan is too much for ya - all those "pit stops" in EPCOT.

 

[karajeboo]

So on Friday, we all anxiously got ready and off to school and work in the morning. The game plan is for Jeff to leave work at noon, get home, get changed, and off we go to pick Ally up at school around 1:30. Of course anyone who has ever had a “game plan” knows that they rarely go according to plan. If we had left by 1:30, we would have been comfortably in our room by 4:30, and at a park by 5pm.

Jeff left work late. So he swung by and picked Ally up on his way home. Once he got changed and the two small bags in the car, we were pulling out of our driveway around 2:00. Not too bad. Except I realized I didn’t have our passes until we got to the front of our subdivision. And it’s a large subdivision. So that little setback cost us another 15 minutes!!!!!

And of course when we pulled back into the driveway, Ally announced she needed to use the little girls room. And of course, Jeff and I were too excited to think about lunch, so we needed to swing by McD’s on the way out. So we ended up getting on the road at 2:30, and this one measly hour was going to bit us in the butt as soon as we hit Orlando…… at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon.

Now Jeff gets a little cranky in traffic. Even traffic within minutes of Disney World. Cause the pixie dust hasn’t infiltrated his pores yet. So I’m getting the third degree.

“Why are we staying at All Star Movies?”
“Because we have never stayed there before.”
“Refresh me again on this. If we’re gonna stay at a Value, why not Pop? We like Pop?”
“Because we’ve stayed at Pop twice, and you know my goal. We’ve never stayed at an All Star resort so we’re staying at Movies this trip. If we don’t like it, we’ll say that we’ve done All Stars and move on.”
“So where are we staying in May?”
“Animal Kingdom Lodge.”
“Why a deluxe? Why not a moderate?”
“Because we’re doing a Value now, and a Deluxe in May. Add them together and divide by two and it equals two moderates.” Well, sort of. But he doesn’t need to know my Disney math.

So we take the WDW exit, take the obligatory pic of the Welcome gates, and text to all my friends up north with snow on the ground. Yeah, you know who you are!!!

And we drive. And drive. And drive. As we enter the All Star gate, we’re told, “Oh, Movies, last resort, just drive until you can’t go any further.”

I get the chuckle from Jeff. You know, that I told you so chuckle. So we drove. And drove. And finally pulled up to check in. With Jeff smugly commenting, “yeah, this ought to be a fun ride back at the end of the day.”

Now the grounds looked great. A lot like Pop Century, and we love Pop! We are a bit of Disney snobs, but as long as I’m on Disney property, I’m good in any level of resort. Honestly. It’s just that the entire All Stars complex is so ginormous, that it seemed like the bus transportation was going to take us 15 minute just to get out of the compound!!!

So Jeff dropped me off to check in while he and Ally parked the car.
So I waited. And watched the CMs doing some scrambling behind the counter. Seemed to be taking a loooooong time. And I was getting cranky. We are already an hour and a half late checking in, so that’s an hour and a half of Disney time that I’m missing.

I’m wanting to smack the gum right out of the mouths of the two women in front of me who find it necessary to SHOW everyone their gum and their pearly whites, with every obnoxiously loud smack and crack of their gum.
I’ve got that nails on a chalkboard thing going on in my head right now.

Until I step up to the counter. The CM is new, she’s in training, and I love her!!! I have no problem with new CMs. Hey, we’ve all been there at some point in our lives and jobs, where we’ve been in learning mode.

But that’s not why I love her.

I love her because she said,

“How would you like to experience one of our moderate resorts this weekend?”
Huh?
By now, Jeff is at my side, and being the dubious man that he is he responds, “What’s the catch?”
CM: “Well, we are oversold this weekend, so we’d like to move you to Coronado Springs.”
Jeff: “Well, I guesssssss that’s okay. <to me> What do you think?”
Yeah, like it’s a worth a second thought. What a jerk……

So off we went back to the car and on our way to Coronado Springs….. where we just stayed in November for our OTHER girls weekend.

But first, some pics of ASMo, the only ones we were able to take!

So there you have the “Upgrade” part of this TR, as reflected in the title. But wait, there are more upgrades to come……..

 

[karajeboo]

tuning in

Welcome aboard - I promise it will be entertaining once we get to cruising altitude!

Subscribing.

Kara - where are the photos? BAD Kara!

PS - No wonder the basic dining plan is too much for ya - all those "pit stops" in EPCOT.

Oh, just wait til I get to the pit stops portion of this TR!!! And the photos are coming. Patience my young Jedi....

 

[JaxJags08]

Hi, Kara! I've been away for a while but it looks like I have great timing. I had no idea that you had a trip planned. Can't wait to read more and that is too cool that you got upgraded!

 

[Camster0307]

Oh Kara - you just love those "quickies", don't you?

I'm here and looking forward to reading all about the latest quickie!

 

[podsnel]

Cool! I love a good upgrade story!! And FYI- it was 71 degrees here on Saturday- the snow is GONE!!!!!!

 

[karajeboo]

Hi, Kara! I've been away for a while but it looks like I have great timing. I had no idea that you had a trip planned. Can't wait to read more and that is too cool that you got upgraded!

Perfect timing! Glad you're back!

Oh Kara - you just love those "quickies", don't you?

I'm here and looking forward to reading all about the latest quickie!

I'm taking the Fifth here....

Cool! I love a good upgrade story!! And FYI- it was 71 degrees here on Saturday- the snow is GONE!!!!!!

Get OUT!!!! Another Seinfeld reference for you my friend!!!

 

[Camster0307]

Cool! I love a good upgrade story!! And FYI- it was 71 degrees here on Saturday- the snow is GONE!!!!!!

Yeah - it was in the 60s here yesterday. And the snow was gone. And you know what?

It's 30 degrees today and I've got 3inches of snow outside.........and it's still coming down!

 

[poohbearluver]

I'm on board! I can't wait to read more!

Pretty cool that you got upgraded!

 

[askelton]

Great that you got an upgrade, but now that means you still haven't stayed at All Star Movies, and you know what that means.

 

[Camster0307]

Aren't we staying in All-Star movies in May?

 

[CRdisMom]

im here tooo!!!

 

[karajeboo]

Yeah - it was in the 60s here yesterday. And the snow was gone. And you know what?

It's 30 degrees today and I've got 3inches of snow outside.........and it's still coming down!

Ouch! It's 82 today, and gonna hit 85 tomorrow..... not that I'm bragging or anything....

I'm on board! I can't wait to read more!

Pretty cool that you got upgraded!

It was wonderful to be upgraded like that! And there are more upgrades coming! Thanx for reading!!!

Great that you got an upgrade, but now that means you still haven't stayed at All Star Movies, and you know what that means.

I don't know. Something tells me I'll never make the All Stars.....

Aren't we staying in All-Star movies in May?

All Star Music. The other bad thing about AS Movies is that I heard it was the only one that hadn't been upgraded, and people were really complaining about it here on the DIS. So for my DVC friend, I made sure we got a remodeled room as AS Music!

 

[jmskinner]

I found you. Was this trip this past weekend? As I'm reading, I start remembering that I-4 had been shut down this past Friday. I know because my poor DH was on his way to DC and had to detour, calling me for directions.

You lucky dawg getting upgraded like that. I wonder why they were so full....

Can't remember if I knew that you were older than your DH, I am also. Only by 8 months, but he doesn't let me live it down either.

Isn't this weather crazy. 82 down here also. I guess Summer is here.

I'll patiently wait for more updates, well as patient as I can be.
Melissa

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Ouch! It's 82 today, and gonna hit 85 tomorrow..... not that I'm bragging or anything....



It was wonderful to be upgraded like that! And there are more upgrades coming! Thanx for reading!!!



I don't know. Something tells me I'll never make the All Stars.....



All Star Music. The other bad thing about AS Movies is that I heard it was the only one that hadn't been upgraded, and people were really complaining about it here on the DIS. So for my DVC friend, I made sure we got a remodeled room as AS Music!

And I tell you, NOTHING irked me more than having to sit on the bus once it stopped at Sports... then at Music.... to get to Movies. I think you will like Music. Hey, after all - it's DISNEY!

Cammie - I spread the blanket out today at Soccer practice. It was 75 degrees. But I'm sorry you have snow... but 75 degrees!

 

[Camster0307]

All Star Music. The other bad thing about AS Movies is that I heard it was the only one that hadn't been upgraded, and people were really complaining about it here on the DIS. So for my DVC friend, I made sure we got a remodeled room as AS Music!

As always, you've got my back!

 

[karajeboo]

So as we made the looooooong drive out of the All Stars compound, we were high fiving, doing cartwheels, and basically acting like the Disney idiots we are and debating buying lottery tickets to celebrate our good luck! We pulled into CSR and marched our happy butts into the lobby.

As I walked to the counter, I met one very smiley CM from the Netherlands. Now this little dutch boy would soon turn out to be an even better friend than my friend at ASMo. He couldn’t find us right away in the reservation system, but once I told him we had been UPGRADED, upgraded, upgraded (that darn echo….), he said “Ah, yes.” Big smile.

I love him already.

I told him we had just stayed at CSR in November and he asked me which section. I replied that we were in the casitas.

Big smile. “Ah, well you’re going to like this better. I’m putting you in the cabanas with a nice remodeled room.” Big smile.

I will marry this man someday. I would even wear wooden shoes for him.

Because not only did he upgrade our upgrade to include a remodeled room with the new QUEEN beds, queen beds, queen beds (do you hear that echo too?), but he put us in building 9A, as in preferred location. As in nearest building to bus stop. As in CHA CHING!!!!

At this point I’m about to INSIST that we go buy lottery tickets, cause so far we just can’t lose!!!!

Jeff brought in our two small bags from the car, and we moseyed on over to our lovely little cabana.

The view out our door - you can see the Coronado Springs entrance from the main road, but surprisingly, you couldn't hear a bit of street noise!

Some random shots around the resort....

Once we dropped our bags in our room, we were off...... Ally wanted to go to MK this night, but since we were delayed in traffic, and in our good fortune at ASMo, we decided that it really wasn't worth it to head over there for only an hour or two, as it was now 6:15 and MK closed at 8. So since Epcot was having EMH this night, we decided to give it a go.

Now normally, we only do morning EMH and then bolt after lunch when the crowds start building, but since we were on no schedule at all this trip, we thought, what the heck?

We were in the gates at Epcot by 6:30 and STARVING!!!!

Now remember what I said about my main motivation for getting Jeff to Disney? HE CAN'T SAY NO TO ANYTHING!!! Not only can he not say "no" but he is the instigator, the suggester, and the overall spender while under the pixie dust spell.

So while I had tried to keep this weekend semi-inexpensive, and only booked one TS meal, he walked through those gates of Epcot like Howard Huges on a mission.

"Let's check with guest services and see if any restaurants in World Showcase have availability tonight."

See? He's here, and he's gonna do it right!!!!

We saw that Marakkesh and Biergarten both had availability, as well as Teppan Edo and one other that I can't recall.

So he and Ally went to hop on Spaceship Earth while I waited at Guest Services to purchase a Tables in Wonderland card.

I missed the $60 deal for passholders by two days!!! It was now $75 but I knew that it would still pay off in the end. I just didn't tell Jeff about that little increase. I'll tell him AFTER we have saved $75 in a few months! Or after a few drinks in WS....

So now that we're locked and loaded with our new handy dandy money saving meal card, we all met up and headed to World Showcase to get some grub.

After the luck we've had so far, I'm thinking we can just walk into Le Cellier and get a table!!!! OK, not really, and didn't even try it. Didn't want to look like a tourist ya know.....

Up next, Epcot EMH, and more UPGRADES!!!! Is it OUR year of a million dreams now?

 

[karajeboo]

im here tooo!!!

I found you. Was this trip this past weekend? As I'm reading, I start remembering that I-4 had been shut down this past Friday. I know because my poor DH was on his way to DC and had to detour, calling me for directions.

You lucky dawg getting upgraded like that. I wonder why they were so full....

Can't remember if I knew that you were older than your DH, I am also. Only by 8 months, but he doesn't let me live it down either.

Isn't this weather crazy. 82 down here also. I guess Summer is here.

I'll patiently wait for more updates, well as patient as I can be.
Melissa

Yes, just this past weekend! I guess we missed that I-4 shutdown. Oh, that would have REALLY set Jeff off - that and the ASMo thing on the drive in. But aside from the normal Orlando traffic, not too bad.

And I tell you, NOTHING irked me more than having to sit on the bus once it stopped at Sports... then at Music.... to get to Movies. I think you will like Music. Hey, after all - it's DISNEY!

Cammie - I spread the blanket out today at Soccer practice. It was 75 degrees. But I'm sorry you have snow... but 75 degrees!

Yes, I think we would have HATED that drive into ASMo! Pop is not that way at all. One stop, then off to the parks. I still think it's be best bang for your buck on Disney property.

As always, you've got my back!

Of course, Dahling!