Value Resorts and Inside Staterooms? Bah Humbug! 30 days of Disney fun! 02/10 Day 30

[maiziezoe]

Love your bag! I am a bit of a bag snob! I have the D&B Disney Resort bag (I think that is what they call it)... I NEED the cruise bag!

 

[tinacaplan]

Ahh...so you're back to the real world. Not the easiest transition to make, I know. Great updates. I am loving hearing all about your trip. I think we'll be able to pass quite a bit of time with this report between now and February!

 

[jenseib]

Looks like a wonderful start to your trip. I love the D&B bags, but it looks like the Disney ones just aren't big enough for me. I like mamouth sized bags!

First Great start to your TR !From the plane ride over to the UPGRADE Camaro!!!

I have a little rhyme that may help your students remember The wife's of Henry

Divorced
Beheaded
Died
Divorced
Beheaded,
Survived !!!

So the wifes were

Catherine of Arragon
Anne Boleyn
Jane Seymour
Anne of Cleves
Katherine Howard
Katherine Parr

The only way I get them in order is with the rhyme !!!!!

Really? He had a wife named Jane Seymour? LOL! And three wives name C/Katherine... and 2 name Anne....That makes it a little easier not to slip up. LOL!

 

[englishrose47]

Looks like a wonderful start to your trip. I love the D&B bags, but it looks like the Disney ones just aren't big enough for me. I like mamouth sized bags!



Really? He had a wife named Jane Seymour? LOL! And three wives name C/Katherine... and 2 name Anne....That makes it a little easier not to slip up. LOL!

But the rhyme helps remember the order of them !! He also had 3 children each by different wifes AND they each were King or Queens for a time !!!

 

[Stefy]

First Great start to your TR !From the plane ride over to the UPGRADE Camaro!!!

I have a little rhyme that may help your students remember The wife's of Henry

Divorced
Beheaded
Died
Divorced
Beheaded,
Survived !!!

So the wifes were

Catherine of Arragon
Anne Boleyn
Jane Seymour
Anne of Cleves
Katherine Howard
Katherine Parr

The only way I get them in order is with the rhyme !!!!!

Love that rhyme

That's weird that you take your bags through Customs, do they check them there as well as you?

Looking forward to seeing your other bag purchases

 

[KatMark]

Bye, Karin (and Tom). See you in a couple of weeks.

 

[Teri1]

Hi Karin, I just had a chance to sit and read the reports on your trip. We love the pictures! I can't believe you got the very D&B purse that I wanted but didn't get. I kept picking it up and putting it down in the shop. I finally couldn't spend the money after the money we spent at the spa. Maybe next trip, I will save up for it. I wrote a small summary of our trip on the Cruiseline Trip Reports forum. Can't wait to read more of your trip, it's great fun. We leave in 14 days for CBR!!!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Karin !!!Waiting for the next update !!!!

 

[Kellybelly777]

Let me start by saying I love love LOVE that bag!!! All of the new D&B bags were really beautiful but I especially like the cruise one! Van't wait to see your others!

I can't believe the plane food! It looked sooo good!!! All we get is peanuts, cheez-its and watery soda!

Yay for a car upgrade!!!

And I deffinetly get why you don't like rooms on the first floor. At any hotel you stay at anywhere, those always seem to be the loudest. Good to hear you got to move up a floor!

And the food from WPE looked awesome! And the sweet potato fries..... oooh what I would do for some of those right now!!!

Ready for a new update!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Loooooooooooove the bag. If only I could afford one. I'm actually pretty excited to use the Mickey bag I made this trip, though.

 

[dizneeat]

Well Thank you

You earned it, Rosie!

You got your confirmations for two out of THREE cruises you booked next year??? Nice!

Love the upgrade - great way to start a trip.

Funny how when you get an upgrade like the one to a 1bdr villa, you want to book it that way from then on. It's the smartest thing for Disney to do (upgrade folks). I wonder if they do it on purpose?? (If they have the room to do it!)

Yip, I don't know why, but I got an email confirmation for 1 cruise and now finally got the two missing ones in the mail! Mickey likes to surprise me!

Yes, I couldn't agree with you more on Disney's upgrade strategy! Once they have upgraded you into a "higher" category you are hooked and don't want to go without! I am SURE, they do it on purpose!

Enjoy your trip!!!!!!

Love your bag! I am a bit of a bag snob! I have the D&B Disney Resort bag (I think that is what they call it)... I NEED the cruise bag!

Thank you! I love my bag too! I was so happy to have seen the cruise one in Stefy's thread, so I knew I had to wait buying one until I was on board the Wonder.

Ahh...so you're back to the real world. Not the easiest transition to make, I know. Great updates. I am loving hearing all about your trip. I think we'll be able to pass quite a bit of time with this report between now and February!

No, it was no fun returning and go to work about 15 hours later!
I guess it will take me a while to post ALL about this summer's trip - there is LOTS to report about!
I just need to finish in time for our February trip!

Looks like a wonderful start to your trip. I love the D&B bags, but it looks like the Disney ones just aren't big enough for me. I like mamouth sized bags!

Really? He had a wife named Jane Seymour? LOL! And three wives name C/Katherine... and 2 name Anne....That makes it a little easier not to slip up. LOL!

Jen, they do have HUGE bags as well. I am sure the "big" one they have would catch your eye - it was just too big for me!

And yes, we love to torture our pupils with British History and Henry is one of the kings they always LOVE to hear about!

But the rhyme helps remember the order of them !! He also had 3 children each by different wifes AND they each were King or Queens for a time !!!

Don't you just love a bit of Good Old Europe's history!

 

[dizneeat]

Love that rhyme

That's weird that you take your bags through Customs, do they check them there as well as you?

Looking forward to seeing your other bag purchases

Our bags have only been checked once (going through an x-ray machine, but some people had to open their luggage.
Before Lufthansa offered a non-stop flight to Orlando we always had a stopover in Washington and had to get our luggage, take it through customs and then check it in again for the onward flight!
We don't question it any more!

I need to take photos of my other 3 bags (1 D&B and 2 VB), I just have not gotten around to doing it yet!

Bye, Karin (and Tom). See you in a couple of weeks.

Have a fun time, Kathy and Mark!

Hi Karin, I just had a chance to sit and read the reports on your trip. We love the pictures! I can't believe you got the very D&B purse that I wanted but didn't get. I kept picking it up and putting it down in the shop. I finally couldn't spend the money after the money we spent at the spa. Maybe next trip, I will save up for it. I wrote a small summary of our trip on the Cruiseline Trip Reports forum. Can't wait to read more of your trip, it's great fun. We leave in 14 days for CBR!!!

Hi Teri!
I am so happy to have you here! It sure was fun being placed at the same table during the cruise!
I can't believe you wanted to get the D&B cruise purse! I had my heart set on it and it took me quite some time to figure out which one I wanted! I hope they will still sell them again next summer so I can get a second one!
for CBR in less than 2 weeks! Be sure to do a trip report!!

Hi Karin !!!Waiting for the next update !!!!

Your wish is my command, Rosie, next update coming up in a few more minutes!

Let me start by saying I love love LOVE that bag!!! All of the new D&B bags were really beautiful but I especially like the cruise one! Van't wait to see your others!

I can't believe the plane food! It looked sooo good!!! All we get is peanuts, cheez-its and watery soda!

Yay for a car upgrade!!!

And I deffinetly get why you don't like rooms on the first floor. At any hotel you stay at anywhere, those always seem to be the loudest. Good to hear you got to move up a floor!

And the food from WPE looked awesome! And the sweet potato fries..... oooh what I would do for some of those right now!!!

Ready for a new update!

Thanks for your comments on the cruise bag - we got a lot of comments when we got back to WDW and I was showing off my bag!

Yes, airplane food is still quite nice even on short flights, but that is one of Europe's biggest airlines we are travelling - I don't think they feed you at all if you travel on a low cost carrier.

I just have a thing with first floor rooms - even in the earthquake prone city of San Francisco I asked for a higher floor and got an 18th floor - Tom thought I was nuts!

WPE - always a sure bet! .......... and an update is coming up shortly!

Loooooooooooove the bag. If only I could afford one. I'm actually pretty excited to use the Mickey bag I made this trip, though.

Yes, those D&B bags are a bit on the expensive side. I want to see a photo of your Mickey bag. Can you post one PLEASE? (If you already posted one on your thread I do apologize but I am still far behind with catching up!)

 

[dizneeat]

Day 2, August 15

Enjoying life!

Even though we had had a late night we were both up by 6.30. It takes a while for our bodies to adjust to the 6 hour time difference.
So after getting ready we headed over to Olivia’s Café for breakfast. They were virtually empty and so we were seated immediately even though we were early for our reservation. When I first changed my reservation from Pop to Old Key West I had promised myself to start this vacation off in style.

So, after we had ordered our beverages, coffee for Tom and hot tea for myself I fulfilled my promise to myself by ordering strawberries and cream as my breakfast starter.

The strawberries were brought out shortly after our beverages and were hidden under some soft brown sugar and a huge dome of whipped cream. Tom and I shared them and they were divine!

Tom ordered the Breakfast Cuban - Scrambled Eggs, Sliced Pork Loin, Ham, Swiss, and Tomato on a Grilled Cuban Roll served with Breakfast Potatoes

and I ordered the Shrimp and Conch Eggs Benedict - Poached Eggs with Shrimp and Conch Cakes on a crispy English Muffin topped with Key West Hollandaise. We shared both and both were so good. We really enjoyed our breakfast.

Once we had finished our meal we got into our car and did some grocery shopping. Our favourite store is the Xentury City Publix, where we can spend hours just walking the aisles. We took our time picking up different items and enjoying the variety.

By 11 we were done shopping and since there were no perishable food items we had bought, we decided to spend some time enjoying the Beach and Yacht Club and drove there.

Since we have stayed at the Yacht Club in 2006 we love coming back and enjoying the atmosphere. So we checked out their stores and grounds before we made our way over to Epcot.

To be continued!

 

[englishrose47]

[COLOR=






Don't you just love a bit of Good Old Europe's history! [/COLOR]

I learned more from reading Nora Lofts books than I did in school as we didn't study that period of British History as intensely as others !!
Henry's sister is buried in a church in my hometown!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Still Day 2, August 15

Enjoying life! Part 2

By 1pm we had made it to Italy and walked up to the reception to ask if they would have room for the two of us.

Yes, they did and after waiting for about 3 minutes we were led to our table. The restaurant leaves a very relaxed impression, even though you would not find anything like it in the “real” Italy.

Once we had taken in the restaurant our server arrived, asking if we were on the Disney Dining Plan and explained what our entitlements were. We told him that we would use our Tables in Wonderland card for any extras and he started explaining the menu and then headed off to get our drinks.

We both had ordered some Diet Coke and some Aqua Fresca, Tom had the Blood Orange Aqua Fresca

and I had the Strawberry Aqua Fresca. Both were very good, cold and with a strong taste of strawberries and orange.

We had seen photos of the Arancini - (fried saffron risotto balls) with mozzarella and meat ragu and wanted to try them. So we shared an order as our starter. There were 4 risotto balls and they were wonderful. The tomato sauce they came with was tasting very fresh and light.

We both loved our starter, which was crisp on the outside, then there was the creamy risotto, the gooey Mozzarella filling and the well seasoned ragout. It was so good.

We were sure that we could not hit a Pizzeria without sampling the pizza.

So Tom chose the most intriguing pizza on the menu. The Prosciutto E Melone - fontina, mozzarella, pecorino, prosciutto, canteloupe melon.

We were wondering if they would bake the melon with the pizza, but no, the melon was put on top after the baking process and so was the prosciutto! It was a wonderful combination.

I on the other hand love artichokes and went for the Carciofi - artichoke, pecorino, mozzarella and truffle oil. It was so good, lots of gooey cheese and nice tender artichokes. Both pizzas were huge. The only downside to the pizzas was that they were served on metal plates that allowed the pizza to go cold very fast. Tom finished his pizza and I tried hard with mine, but did not succeed, but that did not stop us from ordering dessert.

Tom was really stuffed, so he went for a dessert that he thought was “lighter” than the others.

He had the Coppa Di Brutti Ma Buoni - Amarena cherry and vanilla gelato sundae with cookies. It was huge and tasted like “holiday in Italy” all the way back when we were kids.

I had decided on trying the Zeppole di Catarina - ricotta cheese fritters with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. The ricotta fritters were hot and crisp on the outside and the dark chocolate sauce was to die for – but the fritters dipped in the sauce, together with the whipped cream were divine!

We used our first dining plan credits to settle the bill and left Via Napoli stuffed and happy. The time change seemed to catch up with us, so we wanted to go back to our OKW villa.

We walked towards Germany,

explored their goods and funny hats. I had Tom try on one of their chicken hats and while I was trying to take his picture crying with laughter we heard another woman tell her husband to try one on as well and she would take his photo, but he refused very vehemently, because "his photo would end up on the internet in a split second". Well, that cracked me up even more!

And then we were right on time to watch the figurines outside the building chasing each other.

To be continued!

 

[dizneeat]

I learned more from reading Nora Lofts books than I did in school as we didn't study that period of British History as intensely as others !!
Henry's sister is buried in a church in my hometown!!!

I was always intrigued by Henry VIII and read a few biographies before I started to include him in my "brief history" of the UK.
My pupils (and I) love to read bits and pieces of the "Terrible Tudors" a fun little book I came across a few years ago.
It puts a real fun twist on that period in British History!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Great day 2, Karin!

Those strawberries and cream look scrumptious - every visit I swear I will begin the day with strawberries and cream, but in 27 yrs and more visits than I can count, never have I done so. After seeing this photo, it's a done deal!

The last time I was in Italy I had Prosciutto & Melon and did not expect to like it...my friend talked me into trying it and oh my... what a delicious surprise! Glad Tom enjoyed it as well.

Looking forward seeing your other D&B and the 2 VB bags...I need a new Fall/Winter bag and thinking it will be a VB - now to decide on a pattern. Always choose the simpler navy blue, but trying to convince myself get one more interesting and colorful this time.

Thanks for a great update...ready for more. Loving the pics (and think Tom was ight about his pic showing up in a few seconds! Perhaps he's seen Grumpy?) (are you on FB?)

 

[dizneeat]

Great day 2, Karin!

Those strawberries and cream look scrumptious - every visit I swear I will begin the day with strawberries and cream, but in 27 yrs and more visits than I can count, never have I done so. After seeing this photo, it's a done deal!

The last time I was in Italy I had Prosciutto & Melon and did not expect to like it...my friend talked me into trying it and oh my... what a delicious surprise! Glad Tom enjoyed it as well.

Looking forward seeing your other D&B and the 2 VB bags...I need a new Fall/Winter bag and thinking it will be a VB - now to decide on a pattern. Always choose the simpler navy blue, but trying to convince myself get one more interesting and colorful this time.

Thanks for a great update...ready for more. Loving the pics (and think Tom was ight about his pic showing up in a few seconds! Perhaps he's seen Grumpy?) (are you on FB?)

Thanks Christine!

The strawberries were some kind of promise to myself. When we initially booked last summer's vacation (during our 09 vacation) we were sure that would we go on 2 cruises and 21 nights at WDW, a value resort would be the only affordable way to go. Well, we scrimped and saved and finally were able to upgrade to OKW (UK deal, which was 42% off rack rate AND Free Dining) and I promised myself to have something REAL special on our first day - then I booked that breakfast at Olivia's and the strawberries seemed like the perfect indulgence on our first day - they were - I wish I had some now!

Prosciutto and melon is a typical Italian combination and we have had it a lot of times, but never on pizza - so we were both curious and it did not disappoint - soooooo good!

I had to LOL when I read your VB comment - one of the handbags I got is a VERY simple dark blue one - no pattern at all!

Tom is quite used to having to pose in different hats! Every year he puts together a christmas countdown calendar for some friends with all his different hat photos - please remind me to send you the link - it's a real fun thing to see.
There was this other couple behind us and the husband was making the comment about being on the internet, which we overheard and I could not stop laughing. If it was not for the calendar, maybe I could convince Tom to let me post his photo in the chicken hat!

No, we have not made it to Facebook yet. I don't know if it would be such a good idea with all my pupils being on there too!

 

[jenseib]

I am suddenly VERY hungry! That food looks amazing.
So the Italy place, is that walk in's only, or do they take ADR's as well. I have read of other people walking in as well. I may have to give it a try next trip. Even if we just have a "snack" there and share a pizza.

 

[dizneeat]

I am suddenly VERY hungry! That food looks amazing.
So the Italy place, is that walk in's only, or do they take ADR's as well. I have read of other people walking in as well. I may have to give it a try next trip. Even if we just have a "snack" there and share a pizza.

You are hungry? Hmmmm, I wonder why

Via Napoli does take ADRs, but when we went there for the first time it had just opened a few days ago and they were not accepting ADRs at that time.
They do an amazing 1/2 meter pizza! Very thin crust and amazing toppings! You need to try it for yourself!