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

[KatMark]

Karin, I'm all caught up (and heading over to the dining review as soon as I can).

Keep in mind during my TR that certain hat in Germany.

I am so upset that we missed the Electrical Parade on our trip...so very sad. But your pictures brought back very fond memories of when they had it all the time.

 

[podsnel]

Ok- now I'm all caught up, too- I have been sooooooo busy because of September (back to school & I became the PTA President which is a BIG (but very good) job), so I am waaaaaaaaaaaaay behind on all my favorite reading here on the DIS. Any way-

I love OKW, too- and I hope we will stay there for a week in Nov 2012- well, that's my current plan, anyway!!

We just ate at VN this past week on our trip- so pretty in there, we loved it! But we missed that parade!! I was so bummed- the night we were going to go, it was POURING FLOODING rain. Oh well...hope it's there in May, because I know I'll make it there then for sure!

I've subbed to the other thread, too- but need to go to bed now- promise to catch up on that one tomorrow!!!

Ellen

 

[YukiPhnx]

Karin, you have NO idea how badly I'm in need of a dole whip right now. I can even taste it! Why can't it be 2012 already???

 

[Schoolbread]

Karin, you're my lifeline to all-things-Disney for the next 3 years. We don't have anything planned until 2013!

So sorry that school has been stressful to start. That's never fun, but the pictures from the hike were beautiful!

Thanks for taking the time to write this up!!!!!!!

--Tina D.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

((((Karin)))) I'm sorry the beginning of the school year is stressful, but I understand. It was a bit stressful for me as Librarian and After School Director - things seem to fall into place by mid October for us, how about you?

What's this I'm reading about you & Rosie being in WDW in August?? If only I could stand the August heat, but don't think I'll be going in August ever again. Hope you get to meet!

 

[englishrose47]

I hope your plan works out - as on Aug 22nd we will already be on the Disney Dream!
We will have a car, so wherever you stay we will be able to meet you! At the moment we are booked at Pop too! It would be fun if we stayed at the same resort, but we still have 10 months to go, and I LOVE turning things around!

We always stay at Pop !!The kids love the pool there and we are just POP People!!! Almost definately we will be there either the wed or the Thursdaybefore the 22nd I would love to meet the 2 of you!!!

 

[jenseib]

Just checking in to see how you are?

 

[dizneeat]

Yikes! I cannot believe that it took me two weeks to come back here and finally answer all your comments!

After I started my dining reviews I got very "absorbed" by them and there was lots of work for school, so this review got left behind! But I really want to update this weekend and get this thread moving again!

Karin, I'm all caught up (and heading over to the dining review as soon as I can).

Keep in mind during my TR that certain hat in Germany.

I am so upset that we missed the Electrical Parade on our trip...so very sad. But your pictures brought back very fond memories of when they had it all the time.

Don't worry too much about missing the MSEP. There will be another chance for you to see it (and if only in my trip report ). We just love it so much as it brings back memories of our first visits to Disneyland and my mum loved it too when we visited Disneyland with her back in the 1990s!

Ok- now I'm all caught up, too- I have been sooooooo busy because of September (back to school & I became the PTA President which is a BIG (but very good) job), so I am waaaaaaaaaaaaay behind on all my favorite reading here on the DIS. Any way-

I love OKW, too- and I hope we will stay there for a week in Nov 2012- well, that's my current plan, anyway!!

We just ate at VN this past week on our trip- so pretty in there, we loved it! But we missed that parade!! I was so bummed- the night we were going to go, it was POURING FLOODING rain. Oh well...hope it's there in May, because I know I'll make it there then for sure!

I've subbed to the other thread, too- but need to go to bed now- promise to catch up on that one tomorrow!!!

Ellen

I really love your trip report, Ellen!
Via Napoli is a fun restaurant, isn't it and the food is really nice! Very "real" Italian!
We just love the MSEP and I was so bummed when they first announced it and it was supposed to have its last run on the day we were to arrive. So when they announced that they were keeping it we were just
And I really hope you'll get a chance to see it in May, it is so catchy.

Karin, you have NO idea how badly I'm in need of a dole whip right now. I can even taste it! Why can't it be 2012 already???

I could do with a dole whip or a Mickeybar myself, Yuki! School has been rather stressful so far and I am ready for another vacation.

Karin, you're my lifeline to all-things-Disney for the next 3 years. We don't have anything planned until 2013!

So sorry that school has been stressful to start. That's never fun, but the pictures from the hike were beautiful!

Thanks for taking the time to write this up!!!!!!!

--Tina D.

Hi Tina!

I can't believe that you won't go back to Disney until 2013! Maybe there is a chance to "squeeze in" a magical visit!

I hope to get a few more updates up this weekend, here and on my food review and I am sure I'll find a way to "throw in" a little info about our trip to Paris in 2 weeks! I am SO ready for another vacation!

((((Karin)))) I'm sorry the beginning of the school year is stressful, but I understand. It was a bit stressful for me as Librarian and After School Director - things seem to fall into place by mid October for us, how about you?

What's this I'm reading about you & Rosie being in WDW in August?? If only I could stand the August heat, but don't think I'll be going in August ever again. Hope you get to meet!

Once all the extra meetings are over and the routine kicks in I don't mind the stress that much. But we had a class meeting and a school meeting and all of that on top of a 10 hour day was no fun! (I leave here at 7am and don't get back until 6pm most days) But now, there's only the week in Vienna with my class that is extra work and I kind of am looking forward to that!

YES, it looks like Tom and I are going to meet Rosie in August! We are both so excited and it would be great if you could come too, but I do not blame you for not wanting to travel to WDW in August - crowds and heat!

We always stay at Pop !!The kids love the pool there and we are just POP People!!! Almost definately we will be there either the wed or the Thursdaybefore the 22nd I would love to meet the 2 of you!!!

We are currently booked at Pop too! We really enjoy staying there, the only let down is that they do not provide a fridge, but we have already checked on what a medium size cooler would cost!
I hope that you will arrive before Aug 21 - we would both LOVE to meet you and your family!!!!!!

Just checking in to see how you are?

Hi Jen!
I am finally back here and trying to do a few updates. I did type out most of the text, all I need to do is upload the photos and insert them into the text - hopefully tomorrow! (It's nearly 11pm here already and I am SO tired!)

So, stay tuned for a few updates during the weekend!

 

[jenseib]

It's amazing how time gets away from us. Take your time.

 

[dizneeat]

It's amazing how time gets away from us. Take your time.

So true, Jen, so true! I cannot believe we have been back from WDW for 5 weeks now and there are only two more weeks until we leave for Disneyland Paris!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Okay, since this is now a trip report I am moving the links to my pre-trip pages here, so there is more space in the first post to put up links to the individual vacation days.

Table of Pre-trip content:

Table of contents:

How this trip was "born"
How this trip was "born" Part 2
Why the title got changed! NEW
Planning: Day 1 - 3
Planning: Day 4 - 6
Planning: Day 7 - 9
Update and changes to Day 9!!
Planning: Day 10 - 12
Planning: Day 13 - 15 (Part 1)
Planning: Day 13 - 15 (Part 2)
Planning: Day 16 - 18 (Part 1)
Planning: Day 16 - 18 (Part 2)
Planning: Day 19 - 21 (Part 1)
Planning: Day 19 - 21 (Part 2)
Planning: Day 22
Planning: Day 23
Planning: Day 24
Planning: Day 25
Planning: Day 26
Planning: Day 27
Planning: Day 28 - 30
TRIP REPORT - DISNEYLAND PARIS MAY 22 - 24
Part 1 = Day 1
Part 2 = Day 1
Part 3 = Day 1
Part 4 = Day 1 (still)
Part 5 = Day 2
Part 6 = Day 2
Part 7 = Day 2
Part 8 = Day 2
Random DLRP photos through the seasons
More random DLRP photos through the seasons
Even more random DLRP photos
Stitch lovers' photosDLRP Space Mountain and Crush's Coaster
Introducing George James and planning the school trip to Vienna
Last week of school activities - hiking to the zoo
Last week of school activities - knights and fair maiden's games
Last week of school activities - day of music
Last week of school activities - rope garden - part 1
Last week of school activities - rope garden - part 2
Last week of school activities - dinner at school
Last week of school activities - a soccer game until after midnight, a night at school and at the pool

 

[dizneeat]

Okay, I have finally updated the first post with links to the actual trip report pages!

Let's go .............

Day 3, August 16

Shop till you drop! Part 1

We had only made it to our beds in the early hours of the morning, so we needed to sleep in. By 9am we were both up and getting things done around the villa. We could not make our minds up on what to do, or what park to go to and since we had found a HUGE spider on our balcony we decided to make this a shopping day and hunt for water shoes and spider spray.

There were lots of credits to use up, so we drove over to Downtown Disney to use two counter service credits at our favourite counter service location, Wolfgang Puck’s Espress. We parked close to the Once Upon A Toy store and walked over to the restaurant.

They had just started their lunch service and there were only a few guests in the restaurant and no one in line. When we walked up to the counter we joked that we remembered the CM, CJ from previous visits. Imagine our surprise when HE remembered US too! So after a little chat our meals were ordered, we picked a table and waited for the food to arrive. Tom and I were just discussing that some of the servers at Puck’s had been there for a long time, when one of the servers, Maritsa, came over to our table and welcomed us back. We were stunned! By the many people they serve every day, she had remembered us, TOO! We talked for a short while, then our pizzas arrived.

Tom had ordered the Barbecued Chicken Pizza - grilled red onion, cilantro and smokey barbecue sauce, while I had to have my favourite, the Four Cheese Pesto Pizza - mozzarella, fontina, parmesan and goat cheese.

We really enjoyed every little bite of our pizzas, Maritsa refilled our drinks and once we were done with our pizza we still had the Crème Brulee to look forward to.

We both managed to finish it and were stuffed when we finally left the store a little after noon.

Since we already were at Downtown Disney we walked over to the Christmas Store and had a good look around, then walked through the Once Upon A Toy Store, TrenD and World of Disney.

We found lots of interesting "head"wear!

Before we left we had a look around the Ghirardelli Store and picked up a sample as well. Once we were done window shopping we decided to go and buy some watershoes, as we were determined to try the waterparks the day after next.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Love the update. I think Joe and I need to try WP. Looks good!

I love Tom's hat!!! Joe would probably wear that one!!

 

[jenseib]

Again, your food always looks amazing. I wish I could go for a long period of time and eat at all my wish list places

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Another great update - and love the links! Now I can easily check for updates I may have missed. Thank you!

 

[brendaw]

Be careful of scams.

 

[dizneeat]

Love the update. I think Joe and I need to try WP. Looks good!

I love Tom's hat!!! Joe would probably wear that one!!

Sophia, you definitely should try WPE one time. The food rocks!

Again, your food always looks amazing. I wish I could go for a long period of time and eat at all my wish list places

Jen, 30 days is the right time frame to fit in most of your wish list .........
Sorry about that!
But even with the time we stayed we had a hard time fitting in all the restaurants on my wish list!

Another great update - and love the links! Now I can easily check for updates I may have missed. Thank you!

Thank you! I am glad my links are useful! You are right - they should make it easier to catch up, but then, by the speed I am updating ........

 

[dizneeat]

Still Day 3, August 16

Shop till you drop! Part 2

We drove to a Walmart and had a good look around, but didn’t find anything. Instead we bought a mobile hard drive and some other things we hadn’t planned on.

On the way back to our villa we stopped at the Saratoga Springs Resort for a snack at the Artist’s Palette.

We had visited the restaurant before and they offered unique flatbreads so we were determined to try and share one. Before we hit the restaurant we walked around the grounds a bit and finally explored the store before we went to order a Cheeseburger Flatbread.

Once we had placed the order we got a buzzer, picked up a fruit cup and a carrot cake and two Diet Cokes and walked to the seating area. We found a nice table, took photos of the food and finally went to pick up our flatbread. The flatbread was fantastic, the fruit cup refreshing and the carrot cake yummy.

Right when we left it started to rain, so we hurried to the car and drove over to Old Key West. We made it to our villa and relaxed for some time while the rain shower lasted. We had a reservation for Artist Point later that evening, but we just didn’t feel like it, so we cancelled it. Later that evening we discussed making a reservation somewhere else, but the thought of having to dine out, just didn’t seem right. So we drove over to Publix again and picked up a few more salads, a pizza ring, which needs to be heated in the microwave, tomatoes, a Caesar salad kit and a few more snacks for a leisurely dinner at home. When we left Publix an idea dawned on us. We already were at Highway 192, so why not make another pit stop at the Krispy Kreme store there. All the way along the road we prayed that the “Hot Now” sign would be on and it was. We picked up a dozen glazed, still hot doughnuts, got a Diet Coke and went straight to one of the tables and dug into the doughnuts.

We both had two doughnuts right there at the store, then finally got back into the car and drove back to our villa. We had a very leisurely dinner while we watched a little TV and talked about the first few days of our vacation.

There was still the water shoe problem to be addressed, but that could be done the very next day. It was close to midnight when we finally got to bed.

(Sorry, this is mostly all food, but we didn't take that many photos while out shopping! )

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Oh! Those Krispy Creme donuts make me want one NOW!! It's been years since I've had one, but this week we may have to make a trip over there.....although, we do have a wonderful donut shop closer to us...also made right there...and we get to support a local shopkeeper. Karin, see how good you are for donut shop business?! I will tell then my friend in Austria sent me.

Nice little update....but I am still wondering about the previous update - did you happen to take a pic of the huge spider? Gosh only knows why I ask because I am terrified of bugs, especially spiders.

 

[dizneeat]

Oh! Those Krispy Creme donuts make me want one NOW!! It's been years since I've had one, but this week we may have to make a trip over there.....although, we do have a wonderful donut shop closer to us...also made right there...and we get to support a local shopkeeper. Karin, see how good you are for donut shop business?! I will tell then my friend in Austria sent me.

Nice little update....but I am still wondering about the previous update - did you happen to take a pic of the huge spider? Gosh only knows why I ask because I am terrified of bugs, especially spiders.

for fresh doughnuts!!!
We don't have anything like it here, our doughnuts are different! Yip, they are Austrian!

They are yummy too, but are only sold between the New Year and Easter.

I should have kept my nerves and taken a photo of the spider, but once Tom pointed it out to me I sprinted back inside the villa! I am terrified of spiders and even small ones freak me out - this one was HUGE!!! I tell you - I am not familiar with measuring in inches so I can't give you a measurement, but this thing was bigger than your usual spider.
We bought some spider spray the next day and Tom sprayed the whole balcony and it took a day for me to actually try to go out on the balcony again!