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

[Camster0307]

CSR looks gorgeous Kara! I've never been over there.

I hope we get some of your "upgrade mojo" working for us in May!

 

[JaxJags08]

Oohh - the renovated rooms are so pretty!

 

[CRdisMom]

Don't stop I want to hear more..zz

 

[CRdisMom]

Don't stop I want to hear more..zz

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

You so crack me up. I'm trying to get cabanas close to the dining on our trip - and you just happen into them! The rooms look so nice. I honestly can't wait to get there.

Thanks for the pictures. Hey - did you notice if there was a bath mat in the tub? Last beach trip, each night the kids bonked heads or foreheads because they didn't have one. Carlos said I'd better pack one next time.

I can't believe how lucky you are!

 

[karajeboo]

CSR looks gorgeous Kara! I've never been over there.

I hope we get some of your "upgrade mojo" working for us in May!

We would be perfectly upgradeable since we're only there one night! Keep your fingers crossed!

Oohh - the renovated rooms are so pretty!

They are!!! They are not as "gaudy" as the other Disney rooms with the busy comforters, etc. I'm sure it's because it's a convention hotel, too. But the rooms seemed larger too with the new decor. And I loved the sliding door to the vanity area.

Don't stop I want to hear more..zz

"zz" - what am I boring you???

You so crack me up. I'm trying to get cabanas close to the dining on our trip - and you just happen into them! The rooms look so nice. I honestly can't wait to get there.

Thanks for the pictures. Hey - did you notice if there was a bath mat in the tub? Last beach trip, each night the kids bonked heads or foreheads because they didn't have one. Carlos said I'd better pack one next time.

I can't believe how lucky you are!

Nope, no bathmats, as in the rubber ones. If you have a preferred ressie already, keep it. Seriously. It's a large resort and if you're out in no man's land, it's a good 15 minute walk with kids just to get to the buses or dining. But it's a beautiful resort!!! My favorite of all the resorts with outside entrances.

 

[CRdisMom]

fat fingers and an iPod don't match.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Nope, no bathmats, as in the rubber ones. If you have a preferred ressie already, keep it. Seriously. It's a large resort and if you're out in no man's land, it's a good 15 minute walk with kids just to get to the buses or dining. But it's a beautiful resort!!! My favorite of all the resorts with outside entrances.

good to know. At some point you'd think the kids would get tired of slipping and sit down!

Yeah - I'm keeping our ressie. Not sure if it is preferred. All they had was water view, but I had them note in the reservation pref: new cabana with QUEEN beds!

LOVE the pictures. Keep them coming!

 

[askelton]

We stayed at CSR when DH had a meeting there. So much nicer now.

 

[podsnel]

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!

Ok...now it's my turn to say- GET OUT!!!!! That really stinks! We're getting a little rain right now, but the boys were playing outside all after school!

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!

Don't you get too comfy cozy over there at ASM!! It's going to be moving day to AKV before you know it!!!

 

[tink1957]

Wow, that room is nice....maybe we'll stay there next trip. I too have the goal of staying at every hotel & eating at every TS at WDW. Unfortunately, I'll probably have to enjoy hearing about your adventures instead as I just started a new job & have no vacation time for awhile.
Congrats on the upgrades, you're so lucky.

 

[ChefMickey123]

What a great trip report. I can't wait to read more.

 

[karajeboo]

fat fingers and an iPod don't match.

That's okay, I'll forgive you!

good to know. At some point you'd think the kids would get tired of slipping and sit down!

Yeah - I'm keeping our ressie. Not sure if it is preferred. All they had was water view, but I had them note in the reservation pref: new cabana with QUEEN beds!

LOVE the pictures. Keep them coming!

I actually liked the little courtyards around the casitas better, but I don't think they have remodeled any of those rooms yet.

We stayed at CSR when DH had a meeting there. So much nicer now.

This was my third time here. Once on business many years ago, and then just this past November. But there was a BIG difference with the remodeled rooms! so nice and the duvet was so thick and fluffy! Jeff made fun of me when I called it a duvet. He said, "y'all mean comforter?"

Don't you get too comfy cozy over there at ASM!! It's going to be moving day to AKV before you know it!!!

No worries! Maybe I'll just extend my AKL visit the first of May and stay til you get there!

Wow, that room is nice....maybe we'll stay there next trip. I too have the goal of staying at every hotel & eating at every TS at WDW. Unfortunately, I'll probably have to enjoy hearing about your adventures instead as I just started a new job & have no vacation time for awhile.
Congrats on the upgrades, you're so lucky.

Congrats on the new job, boo on the no vacation time! Not sure how far Franklin is from Orlando, but there's always weekends! We have a good goal, for sure! I know it will take awhile, especially to justify $400/night for a few of those deluxes, but I'll work it out!

What a great trip report. I can't wait to read more.

Thank you! I've got so many more pics to come!

 

[CRdisMom]

hmm you maybe on to something here... the more times you the more upgrades.

 

[karajeboo]

We wandered by Test Track, and as Ally was begging and pleading to ride, we were able to pry her tiny fingers from our wrists and make our way to World Showcase, by way of Mexico. Ole!

Now Epcot was pretty busy tonight. This was our first evening EMH, and although we had no plans to stay super late, we did want to take advantage of a few attractions open late. And being the Disney gurus that we like to think we are….. we decided we’d bypass Illuminations tonight, and take advantage of the low crowds and hit some attractions!

I took a bunch of shots around WS at night. My first attempt at night shots without a flash. Read on and you'll see why.

Wasn't it a beautiful sunset???

So back to Mexio. Didn’t want burritos. Norway. Nope, no princesses for dinner tonight. Not that we’d eat princesses for dinner, but you get the idea. China? Nah, Ally doesn’t care for Mulan food.

Germany? Hmmm, let’s check it out. Line out the door and Jeff checked out the menu.

Jeff: “$28 for a buffet?”
Kara: “Did they have availablility?”
Jeff: “28 for a buffet?”
Kara: “So you don’t want to eat in Germany?”
Jeff: “$28 for a buffet????”
Kara, digging in bag for new card, pulls it out – the moonlight reflects off the new TIW card and the heavens open up with AHHHHHH: “But actually that would only be $22.40 with our new Tables in Wonderland card”
Jeff: “$22.40 for a buffet?”
Ally: “When are we gonna eat – I’m staaaaaaarving!”
Kara: “Apparently we are not eating in Germany.”
Jeff: “$28 for a buffet?”
Kara: “$22.40”

So we kept walking, and the shiny golden card was stuffed back in my bag, still unused. So sad.

Through Italy – there would be no walking in to Tutto. That would be a no-no. In Tutto. I know. And you know.

We’re in Epcot, so we will not be eating any American food. THAT is for tourists, too.

Japan? As far as Ally knows, that’s Mulan food too. Although some sushi sounded pretty tasty…

Ahhh, Morocco and our favorite counter service in all of Disney! Tangierine Café. But first let’s check out Restaurant Marakkesh!

Jeff: “$28 for chicken and couscous?”

Well, you get the idea. So we went with Tangierine Café.

Jeff grabbed us a table outside and Ally and I went inside to order. Hmmm, I’m thinking Germany is looking pretty good. Or Marakkesh.
I do love Tangierine Café, but this is not a sound economic decision.

Jeff got the Schwarma chicken/lamb platter for $13.95. It came with hummus, Tabouleh, and a Tangierine Couscous Salad with Fresh Moroccan bread.

I got the Chef’s Lunch Box for $11.95 and I totally screwed up! I thought this would be good to share with Ally, because she was not too thrilled with the kids menu, this lunch box came with fries and baklava, and I know from experience that Tangierine Café has HUGE portions! AND I thought this is what I ordered back in October. Wrong!

I meant to order the Chicken Mediterranean Wrap. Doh!

What I ordered wasn’t horrible. But it was a wrap. Whereas the Mediterranean Wrap isn’t really a wrap at all, it’s more of a gyro. Double Doh!
I ordered a couple of Casa beers to dull the pain, and all was well.

We got to hear a little bit of MoRockin while we ate, and then made our way the rest of the way around the World Showcase. After digesting our $42 counter service bill, with only two entrees. Ouch! That’s gonna hurt coming back out!

Now let me just tell you. I got a killer deal on a new camera last week. I already have a wonderful Fuji Finepix S700 that takes beautiful photos! But it’s big. And bulky. Because it has all the SLR setting on it. And it’s a pain to take to Disney.

So I started shopping around for a smaller camera. Right around $100. My “second” camera.

I found a clearance sale at Office Max and bought an Olympus 750SW. Originally $280, less $30, then 50% off!!!! So I got a $280 camera for $125. With a 14 day return policy. So I wanted to use it this weekend. And use it I did. And you will see why.

It's green. It's ugly. But it's shockproof - meaning I can drop it from 5 feet! And it's waterproof!!!! And because it's so ugly, nobody will steal it!

289 photos in 2 days. And I plan on posting them ALL before I’m done!!!!!

Here's just a sampling of some photos I took around World Showcase this night.....still learning all the ins and outs of this camera. Guess I should've read the instructions BEFORE taking it to Disney!

Up next, Disney math works in my favor... AGAIN!!!

 

[Kimberly815]

You are an upgrade magnet! Good for you!

 

[jmskinner]

So, you really should have purchased lottery tickets. You missed the accident on I-4, which had it shut down in both directions from early in the morning until about 3:00pm that afternoon, you got upgraded from value to moderate, and then from standard to preferred view. That kind of stuff never happens to me.

Love the room you were in. Very pretty.

I can't believe you passed up Biergarten. It is one of my favorites. Oh well, guess you saved about $20 or so, plus you didn't have to tip at the CS.

See, you buy a smaller camera. I just bought an SLR. I take about 400 pics now everytime I go. The new one is sort of Dis green isn't it?

 

[karajeboo]

You are an upgrade magnet! Good for you!

Oh, I like that. "I am an upgrade magnet!" That should be what I tell my husband all the time - I am his upgrade! It's actually funny - we have been upgraded almost every time we've been to Disney. At Pop we were upgraded to preferred room once, at CSR another time we were given preferred room, and at Boardwalk and Yacht Club we requested standard view and were given garden view at YC and Epcot view at BW. So I NEVER request (or pay for!) anything more than standard view! The two times we've gotten standard view have been fine too. Once at Pop (with my inlaws - we blame them because they are grumpy! lol) and once at POR. Each time was just quite a ways from the buses and main areas, but otherwise it was just fine. I'm just cheap like that!

So, you really should have purchased lottery tickets. You missed the accident on I-4, which had it shut down in both directions from early in the morning until about 3:00pm that afternoon, you got upgraded from value to moderate, and then from standard to preferred view. That kind of stuff never happens to me.

Love the room you were in. Very pretty.

I can't believe you passed up Biergarten. It is one of my favorites. Oh well, guess you saved about $20 or so, plus you didn't have to tip at the CS.

See, you buy a smaller camera. I just bought an SLR. I take about 400 pics now everytime I go. The new one is sort of Dis green isn't it?

YES!!! It is DIS green! I never realized that until now! I love my SLR, but it's so big. I'll still use it for family events and such, or any place that I can set up my tripod. But I REALLY liked being able to put my little camera in my pocket and whip it out in a flash. And the deal we got on it made it okay for a 2nd camera - I didn't feel too guilty about that.

 

[podsnel]

Kara- I have that camera!! Only I have the newer version, the 850SW and mine is an ugly yellow!!! But I really like the camera!! Especially because I keep dropping it and it still works! Also LOVE using it in the water and not having to worry- so cool! But I really REALLY want to get an SLR- I have the "old" kind, but would love a digital one. Although I'd rather have more DVC points, so I'll wait! Oh! And I want to add, your sunset pics were beautiful!!!

maybe YOU need to check us in on Sunday morning to concierge!!! Get us into a 2br villa!!!

 

[karajeboo]

Kara- I have that camera!! Only I have the newer version, the 850SW and mine is an ugly yellow!!! But I really like the camera!! Especially because I keep dropping it and it still works! Also LOVE using it in the water and not having to worry- so cool! But I really REALLY want to get an SLR- I have the "old" kind, but would love a digital one. Although I'd rather have more DVC points, so I'll wait! Oh! And I want to add, your sunset pics were beautiful!!!

maybe YOU need to check us in on Sunday morning to concierge!!! Get us into a 2br villa!!!

The first thing Jeff did when I brought home this camera was to start checking into Caribbean vacations so we can take it snorkeling!!! I used it on KRR this trip at AK "just because I could!" Jeff was laughing at me the whole time.