We did the unthinkable!We Left the teenagers home: DH & I do Disney solo:update 1/15

[MEK]

MEK! How did I miss your update this morning? Oh I know! Pesky work has been very busy today.

I really love that your toured the resorts on your last day. I'm thinking with our car down there, that we will have the time do this one day and I am really looking forward to it!

Hey LL. I was busy at work today, too. Finally, we have actually been too slow lately. I like to be steady busy, not crazy busy. Yes - I am now a fan of resort tours. I think we've you've seen and done all the attractions several times, its a nice change of pace.

Hey MEK, here to help you get to 20 pages

I'm excited to see your pics and hear your impression of CSR. It's my resort choice for gnomefest.

Thanks Katie. I appreciate your help in getting me to 20 pages. That will be a new TR record for me!!!!!

I think CSR is a great choice for gnomefest. When I post one of my pics, you will see why its especially appropriate!

tee-hee! I know I'm not catching up!

You know, I thought the same thing you did about AKL - dark!! The commercials do look great, but I didn't think I would like it. Of course, we just poked around inside after dinner at Boma, and I was a bit cranky (still a bit wet from Kali, and I had monthly visitor - in Disney! rude little bugger!) but still my only memory of the lodge is *dark*.

It doesn't look so dark in your pictures, though, and your animal pics are great! DS love, love, loves animals, so now I know we'll have to stay there someday! (I guess I'll go break the news to dh - time to start moonlighting!)

Now you know if you stay on the computer all day and night for the next, uhhhhmmmm 7 months, you might be able to catch up!

Oh yeah - the resort was really nice. Even DH liked it and he stays pretty neutral about everything. He wasn't even impressed with the views we had at Vero. Well, maybe he was a little impressed!

 

[jenjolt]

I promise to finish my TR tonight. I think I am just dragging out because I want to get to 20 pages and I feel compelled to post all my pics.

I need to write my final post with my pictures. I took a bunch at the last resort we toured - CSR. I have never been to CSR and it is another place I have always wanted to stay. Every time I booked a promotion in the past, CSR was never available except for rack rate. I almost stayed there once, but it was more expensive because they only had water view. I just can't see paying for water view at the mods when: (1) you don't know what kind of view its going to be and (2) you often get upgraded to a water view anyway. So, I passed. I figured that was $ saved for more important things - like food and drink!

I have seen so many CSR pics from Buzz's website, that I knew I wanted to see it for myself. Plus CSR was close to AK and I knew we were getting dreadfully close to our airport departure time. I usually book the last flight of the day home, so I can spend the entire day at Disney. But since my kids were home alone, I wanted to see them before bed time. So I had a choice between a 3:30 flight and a 6pm flight. Logically, I took the earlier flight. So, do you think that flight left on time! Doh, No!

If you use Philly as your home airport, you probably already no that it is one of the WORST airports for on time flights! If flights are cheaper, I often fly from BWI. It may take me an extra 50 minutes to get there, but I have NEVER had a flight delay in and out of Baltimore. I guess I have just been lucky, but I do think BWI is the more efficient of the two airports. Last Jan, when I went solo, I booked the last flight back into BWI. The only thing bad about that was driving the Bay bridge in the dark with lane closures. That was scary. I kept having visions of landing in the Chesapeake!

So tonight I will post pictures of CSR and wrap this puppy up. Before I do, I would like to make a list of new things I did this trip. I would also like to ask for opinions re: my upcoming June trip. I will do that later today.

CSR is the mod I really want to stay at and if it doesn't work out for a deluxe in 2010 than I'm definitely staying at CSR for Gnomefest!!

I can't wait to see your pictures, you guys take some very fabulous pictures!!!

Here's helping you making it to 20 LOL

 

[MEK]

CSR is the mod I really want to stay at and if it doesn't work out for a deluxe in 2010 than I'm definitely staying at CSR for Gnomefest!!

I can't wait to see your pictures, you guys take some very fabulous pictures!!!

Here's helping you making it to 20 LOL

woo hoo, I think I'm almost to page 20!

 

[MEK]

Like I said, I've always wanted to stay at CSR. The only reason I picked POFQ for this trip was because it was so close to SSR. Originally I thought we were taking ME, so I figured it would be easy to take a cab over to SSR to check in. That, and I've heard so many great things about POFQ, which proved to be true. That, and POFQ is small and I thought small would be good for a one night stay.

So, I see a few votes for CSR for gnomefest. I can handle that. I think POFQ would be good for gnomefest, too, for the reasons I already mentioned. It's small and that would make it easy for everyone to meet up if we are spread around. But I'm also for CSR. It's a toss - up!

Well - We were running out of time when we got to CSR. My internal clock was just tick-tocking away because we needed to leave soon for MCO. We never made it over to the main pool. I am actually dying to swim in the CSR pool someday. I am eligible for pool hopping when I stay DVC, so I can definately see myself doing that!

So, enough gabbing..... I know you're here to see the pics.......

The Registration area is quite attractive and pretty vacant for 1pm on a Wednesday

Really one of the prettiest Christmas trees and backdrops

I could see the pool off in the distance, so I zoomed in as much as my camera would allow

I really enjoyed the Christmas decorations at this resort. Just the right amount. Plus I'm a sucker for white poinettias.

How could I forget the Pepper Market

There guys were so nice. I said, "Come - on guys, last picture for me, smile!

I tried to lighten them up, but no luck!

I'll be back with one more!

 

[MEK]

Before Katie and LL even said they thought CSR would be a good place for gnomefest, I laughed to myself when I say this picture, because I realized that I might have found a perfect spot for Nobby!

I saw this bar outside near the seating area I showed you. What do you think????? I think Nobby might be very happy here. Paula - can you photoshop him in for our viewing pleasure!

 

[jenjolt]

The resort looks so gorgeous...of course you guys take like the best pictures in the world...I so need to take lessons!!!!

I can't wait to see more pics!!!!!!!

WOOOT...that's right I'm the first post on page 20...YAY to MEK!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MEK]

Our drive and rental car return we're pretty uneventful. We had a fairly long line for Southwest check-in. The girl behind the counter said, "Please don't be mad at me, but your flight have been delayed until 7:30pm". Whhhhaaaattt?????? You mean I could have stayed at CSR another 4 hours???

She told us not to go anywhere cause the flight time could change.

The board said our 3:35 flight was 5:50pm. See, I should have booked the 6pm flight after all. And I think I will next time. Same thing happened last summer going into Philly. We had the last flight of the day, but all the earlier ones (which I almost booked) were delayed and left right before our flight. Stupid weather! Stupid Philly!

Now I know you probably can't see these guys too well because I didn't want them to think I was some weirdo taking their picture

They were an interesting quartet - 2 violins, 1 clarinet, 1 trombone. They were actually quite good. I guess the airport hired them for holidy entertainment, but they looked at each other as if to say, "What the heck are we doing with this gig in the airport?" Well, I really enjoyed listening to them. I figured, why not listen to some music before going through security. Before we finally went through security, I went over and told them how much I enjoyed their music. I think they were genuinely appreciative of my compliment. One thing I've learned from playing music, no matter how good a musician is, they always appreciate a compliment. I've never met a musician who was too pompous to accept a compliment!

Well, that's the end of my pics, folks! I actually took over 800 photographs in 4 days!

As it turns out, our flight actually left at 5:30pm. We were in Philly by 7:30 and home to Delaware by 9:30pm.

Oh, and the kids.....Are you wondering how they made out? And the cats? and the fish?

The kids seemed fine. DS15 had not run the dishwasher the entire time we were gone. All he ate was take-out. DS14 was glad to be home. He said he had a bedtime at his friend's house and he wasn't too happy with that.

The Cats - all alive and accounted for. Darn good thing I left them a gravity feeder and water dispenser. Their regular water bowl was completely dry! They did not receive one fresh water change the whole time we were gone. Poor cats! And the litter boxes - OTTV - there was some serious scooping to do!

The fish - also all present and accounted for!

So, despite my initial anxiety, we had a successful trip! Will I do it again - you betcha, but not before Christmas. I had to play eternal catch up when I got home. I was still decorating my tree on Christmas day.

I will post again tomorrow with a summary of the new things I got to do this trip. Thank you all for following along.

Now, let's see if this post puts me to page 20!

 

[MEK]

The resort looks so gorgeous...of course you guys take like the best pictures in the world...I so need to take lessons!!!!

I can't wait to see more pics!!!!!!!

WOOOT...that's right I'm the first post on page 20...YAY to MEK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Jen

and thanks for the compliment about the pictures. What did you think about Nobby's spot? Do you think you can find a spot for him like that at POP? (That is where you're staying, right?) Of course, if you leave him there too long he might be hung over for the rest of the trip!

 

[Nora03]

Yay - you made it to page 20 and beyond.....!!!

I've enjoyed your whole trip without kids. Thanks for inviting us along.

That's so exciting that you will be playing in the Inaugaration Parade! I just told my DH that I "know" someone who will be in the parade! What is the name of your band? We'll be glued to the TV all day (silly Canadians). What a momentous day for our favourite neighbours! You must be very proud.

Nora

 

[sunny_stace]

Oh I'm sure Nobby would love that spot! CSR does look very nice for gnomefest, but I'm another one who enjoys POFQ! I just love the small size of it. But CSR looks very pretty! Thanks for sharing your photos!

I'm glad everything was all ok on the homefront when you returned..not ideal perhaps but alive and accounted for!

 

[kschafer]

20 pages

Oh yes, CSR is beautiful!!

I must admit, POFQ doesn't appeal to me for 1 very odd reason...those alligators they have around. I know I just said on my TR how much I am fascinated by alligators but only the real things. Those at POFQ just give me the creeps (seriously, I don't know why )

and yes, I see the perfect spot for Nobby in the bottom right of that picture!

Glad to hear all was well when you got home, no dead pets or children to be killed

 

[MEK]

Yay - you made it to page 20 and beyond.....!!!

I've enjoyed your whole trip without kids. Thanks for inviting us along.

That's so exciting that you will be playing in the Inaugaration Parade! I just told my DH that I "know" someone who will be in the parade! What is the name of your band? We'll be glued to the TV all day (silly Canadians). What a momentous day for our favourite neighbours! You must be very proud.

Nora

Nora-
Thanks so much for joining in. I am a member of the Citizen Hose Fire company banf of Smyrna, Delaware. We are the ONLY fire company marching band in Delaware. We will be marching with over 400 firefighters from Delaware. I think they invited us because Joe Biden is from Delaware. So, all together there are 10 buses going from Delaware. We are all meeting up at a check point and have to be at the Pentagon by 9am. We don't actually march until 3pm We are in the middle of the parade! I will be the piccolo player who is out of step! LOL let's hope not!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I have never really been interested in CSR before seeing a lot of pics on here recently and it does look very intriguing. I love the picture of the Christmas Tree, it's very nice.

I'm sorry your plane was delayed but glad everything and everyone was intact when you arrived home.

 

[MEK]

Oh I'm sure Nobby would love that spot! CSR does look very nice for gnomefest, but I'm another one who enjoys POFQ! I just love the small size of it. But CSR looks very pretty! Thanks for sharing your photos!

I'm glad everything was all ok on the homefront when you returned..not ideal perhaps but alive and accounted for!

Hey Stace:

I'm glad you agree that Nobby would fit nicely into that spot! I'm glad you like POFQ, too. It has a very intimate feel. It really is ideal for people who don't like the big resorts. Yet CSR has the amazing pool and does appear a bit more upscale.

I'm glad everything was OK when I got home, too. Phew! I did hate unloading the dishwasher, though!

 

[MEK]

I have never really been interested in CSR before seeing a lot of pics on here recently and it does look very intriguing. I love the picture of the Christmas Tree, it's very nice.

I'm sorry your plane was delayed but glad everything and everyone was intact when you arrived home.

Like certain people, CSR is a very photogenic resort! Like I said, the registration area was beautiful. Very upscale. I like how the outdoor bar is right near registration. Those convention people must need a drink when they first check in!

Hopefull, I'll be back later today with my final thoughts!

 

[daze]

I just caught up w/ you. sounds like you had a great trip. Great TR!!

 

[MEK]

Hey Daze,

Welcome to the DIS boards. Thanks for joining in and I hope your daughter has a spectacular first trip to WDW!

 

[MEK]

Whenever I go to Disney I like to reflect on the new things I got to experience, no matter how silly or mundane. So, let's see what was new this trip:

1. We rented a car from Advantage Car Rental (formerly L&M). Would I rent from them again - yeah, but I don't recommednd the mystery car, unless you are willing to drive stick!

2. We stayed at POFQ - Would I stay here again - absolutely! I loved this resort and I think it would be perfect for a solo trip (or a gnomefest). I definately hope to stay here again.

3. I requested a room change at SSR. I've never done this before, never needed to. Would I do it again - Yes, if my room smelled like bleach or I didn't like it for another legitimate reason.

4. I toured the new AI attraction - Will I go see this again? - yes, but probably as an audience member. I sing all the time in front of people, but I don't think I would be a contestant. I think the emphasis of AI is on youth and pop music. I'm old and I'm more a folk/christian music type singer. However, I might consider auditioning, if my gnomies were there with me. At least I would get a few votes from them (I hope)

3. I ate at the Brown Derby - very good, good food, good waiter, nice ambience. Would I eat there again? - Yes, but probably only using the DDE (opps - Tables in Wonderland card). Even though my AP is officially expired, my DDE extends into July 2009. However, it doesn't cover the Fantasmic pckg and I would really like to do that this summer. So, I don't know when I will be eating there again. I don't like to use the regular dining plan for BD.

4. I walked the path from DH to the Boardwalk to Epcot - very cool. Would I do this again????? - Do, I need to even answer that? That was one freak'n long walk and it was definately blister inducing. However, if I ever get to stay in the boardwalk area (which I better before I die), I would definately run on this path. I am one of those crazy people who prefer running over walking. It's faster and less blister inducing!

5. I rode the friendship boat - again, a first! Would I do this again? - definately if the only other option was to walk again!

OK - gotta go do some work. I will be back soon to add to my list!

 

[ILuvCrush]

4. I toured the new AI attraction - Will I go see this again? - yes, but probably as an audience member. I sing all the time in front of people, but I don't think I would be a contestant. I think the emphasis of AI is on youth and pop music. I'm old and I'm more a folk/christian music type singer. However, I might consider auditioning, if my gnomies were there with me. At least I would get a few votes from them (I hope)

You better believe we'd all be there rooting for you!!
It would be fun to have someone we actually know competing!!


Paula

 

[kschafer]

You better believe we'd all be there rooting for you!!
It would be fun to have someone we actually know competing!!

Yep, sign her up for gnomefest!! Trust me, you wouldn't want it to be me from our group I'm not all that interested in the attraction generally speaking BUT would definitely go if a gnomie was in it!!