"We're going wild - Disney style" - A Oct 15-25th Pre-TR (10/12...for the ladies!)

[skier_pete]

Just 60 Days to go!

Oddly enough, we are leaving for Nevada / Utah in just 5 days to visit my Mom and Step-dad for 10 days. Somehow, our only two full week vacations of this year ended up only 45 days apart!

It's funny...with non-Disney vacations, I always feel like I should be doing more planning than I am doing.

A few details about THIS upcoming trip:

-We are flying in and out of Las Vegas. I used two frequent flyer tickets on SWA, so only had to buy one flight. Cost for three people to fly to Vegas -Round trip - direct flights from Buffalo: $450!

-We are renting a full-size car, so when we get to Utah, we can all fit easily. Through SWA, Avis had a 5 X flight credit sale...we get 2.5 flight credits for the rental. It cost $280, but that's really for 9 days, so I don't think it's so bad.

- We are then driving up to where my parents are work-camping near Bryce Canyon. They got us a good deal on a cabin, only $50 a night for 7 nights. We hope to visit Bryce and Zion, as well as Capitol Reef. I'm not sure how much DD will appreciate the "Great outdoors" aspect, but if we see some animals, she'll be fine. The campground has a pool, so she'll be happy with that.

- The following Saturday, DW and I are returning to Vegas for two nights. We got tickets for Penn and Teller, and are staying at the Rio where they perform. My parents will bring DD on Sunday and stay the night...then we fly out on Monday, the 30th, back to Buffalo.

overall, it should be a pretty fun trip. We've been doing the same things over and over lately (Disney, Myrtle Beach, Pheonix to visit parents in winter) that we are looking forward to the change of pace.

I promise more updates when I return!

 

[khertz]

Sounds like a fun trip!

We LOVED Penn & Teller when we went to Vegas. I didn't really know anything about them before we went, but DH was a fan. So when we got a $50 voucher from our timeshare that we could use for food or a show, he convinced me that we should use it to see P&T. I was skeptical, but it turned out to be the best show we saw in Vegas that week. Have fun!

 

[skier_pete]

Sounds like a fun trip!

We LOVED Penn & Teller when we went to Vegas. I didn't really know anything about them before we went, but DH was a fan. So when we got a $50 voucher from our timeshare that we could use for food or a show, he convinced me that we should use it to see P&T. I was skeptical, but it turned out to be the best show we saw in Vegas that week. Have fun!

I think it was reading your mention of seeing them in your TR thread that made me think of that as the show to see. My wife wanted to see a magic show, and I've always loved their sense of humor, so I think it will be a good fit.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Have a great trip! One of these days I'm going to make it out West.

 

[Overexcited]

Have a great trip!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

That sounds like a FANTASTIC trip. BF and I want to get out that way someday. We've already decided that if my bro and SIL-to-be end up having their bachelor/bachelorette party in Vegas, we're flying out a few days early to do the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, etc. It'll be like a teaser trip to get us back to that beautiful part of our country sooner rather than later!

 

[skier_pete]

That sounds like a FANTASTIC trip. BF and I want to get out that way someday. We've already decided that if my bro and SIL-to-be end up having their bachelor/bachelorette party in Vegas, we're flying out a few days early to do the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, etc. It'll be like a teaser trip to get us back to that beautiful part of our country sooner rather than later!

I've been to Grand Canyon before, but would highly recommend Bryce or Zion if you were to get the chance. I find that while the Grand Canyon is very beautiful, it's much too BIG....the human mind can't grasp the size, so I don't find it as interesting to visit. Also unless you have a lot of time, all you really do is stand on the edge and look at it...and then move down a few miles and do it again.

Bryce and/or Zion are much more human size, but no less spectacular. Zion in particular is a real gem. Instead of coming in along the rim of the canyon, you actually spend your time at Zion IN the bottom of the canyon. And the further you drive in, the closer the walls get. At the end, you can park and walk, and a short walk takes you to a point where the river takes up the entire canyon floor, and the walls of the canyon shoot up 1000 feet, even though they are only about 100 feet apart. It is truly, truly incredible.

 

[skier_pete]

Well, the AP discounts came out, so I was able to (FINALLY) book the last day of our trip!

I called and out of curiousity asked what the price would be to add another day in our room onto our trip at the AKV with the AP discount. The price for one more night: $305 Boy, renting DVC points is quite a deal, I'm paying just over 1/2 that! I can't believe they can charge these prices for hotels and people pay it.

So, I went back to the original plan, we would spend our last night at POP Century. Interestingly, we could only book a preferred room...the standard rooms were not available at the discount rate. Though I could care less about the preferred location, I suppose it will be nice to be more centrally located. It's $93.50 with the discount, and a standard without the discount would have been like $110 with tax, so it only makes sense.

Works out OK too...saved about $200 by flying out on Monday instead of Sunday. Spend $93.50 for the room, but get the full day on Sunday. (We'll stretch our DDP meals through Sunday so shouldn't have to spend more on food.)

Only TWO days until we leave for the wild wild west. I'll be posting when I get back!

 

[onescgirl]

That's great getting to stay one extra day & saving $ by doing so!

 

[skier_pete]

Hey everyone...we're back from our trip out to the Wild West! Though not Disney related, I thought I would share some pictures and thoughts.

My parents winter in Mesa, Arizona, and though they are in their seventies, they still spend the summer work-camping at a KOA campground near Bryce Canyon, Utah. We had never gone out to visit, but figured DD was finally old enough at 7 to handle the trip.

The travel out there was rough...flying from Buffalo to Vegas (DIRECT! thank you SWA!) and then having a 250 mile drive out of Vegas to Cannonville, UT (look it up - population 150) made for a LONG day.

So, I won't do this like a regular TR...I'll just hit the highlights. We spent much of our time either around the campground (there was a small swimming pool which DD loved) meeting the people that work with my parents, or visiting up to Bryce Canyon. Bryce is an absolutely amazing place...can't say I've seen anything like it anywhere else:

Love this shot below...you can see the level of erosion that forms this place...this ground is basically eroding out from under this tree, exposing the roots.

More views from Bryce point, overlooking the whole canyon. Pictures can hardly do it justice:

My one regret is we didn't get a chance to hike down into the canyon. We knew we couldn't take DD, but I have also been having heel spur problems (taking painkillers) and we decided not to chance it. I swore next time we come we would do it, though.

Some wildlife...prairie dogs, which you are not allowed to approach...

and a ground squirrel that let me get real close:

 

[skier_pete]

The one "hike" we did was a 1/2 mile trek up this path called Mossy Cave. The cave itself wasn't much to look at, but the canyon itself (called Tropic Wash) has a stream going down it. The valley where we are staying apparently has great farmland but an unstable supply of water. The mesa above has a river that flows all year round, so 100 years ago, settlers dug a 10-mile trench diverting the water from the Sevier river to the top of Tropic Wash. The result is the valley has water for farming, and this little canyon has a constantly flowing stream. The result, a fun little waterfall where you can wade. DD loved it so much, we came back a second time with our bathing suits so we could really get wet.

Windows worn in the rock:

Water fall from above:

DW and DD walked up the stream to the waterfall. I didn't because I didn't have water shoes and couldn't walk barefoot. The second time, I decided to just trash my hiking boots.

We also took two day trips...one was to Capitol Reef National Park. It's was a good 2.5 hour drive away, and the drive was absolutely spectacular. This part of the country is so varied and every time you drive another 20 miles, the landscape changes completely. I unfortunately was driving, so didn't get any pictures of the landscape, but took some pictures at Capital Reef. It's hard to get any sense of scale, but those cliffs are easily 1000 feet high.

They had an area that has some petroglyphs. ("Rock Pictures" made by ancient people.

DD with Grandma and Grandpa

A mule deer by the side of the road munching on apples. Part of the valley at Capitol Reef was settled as a fruit orchard, and still had working orchards where you can pick your own fruit.

That's it for now. Our server is down, else I wouldn't have time for this much. More to come.

 

[MommaMouse411]

hey not sure if this was mentioned but the step sisters and mother are HILAROIUS @ 1900 Park!!! we had so much fun watching them act crazy during dinner.

 

[onescgirl]

I have really enjoyed looking at your recent trip pictures. They are so BEAUTIFUL! I really want to go out west one day! And, I want to go to VEGAS, BABY!!!

 

[Overexcited]

OMG Beautiful pics! I always think upstate NY is beautiful but these pics are breath taking!

 

[skier_pete]

hey not sure if this was mentioned but the step sisters and mother are HILAROIUS @ 1900 Park!!! we had so much fun watching them act crazy during dinner.

Sounds great! I definitely decided to go with 1900 Park Fare, just don't know which night? (I have two ADRs at the moment.) While I enjoy all the characters, face characters are the best because you can really play around with them.

I have really enjoyed looking at your recent trip pictures. They are so BEAUTIFUL! I really want to go out west one day! And, I want to go to VEGAS, BABY!!!

We spent 2 days in Vegas, I'll get to that eventually. It's definitely a different place. Not DW nor my style though. At one point I turned to DW and said "This place is just like Disney World...except EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE!" Meaning, there's lots of similarities, but where-as Disney is very family friendly, Vegas is decidedly not. As I said, I'll get into that more later (With FOOD porn!)

OMG Beautiful pics! I always think upstate NY is beautiful but these pics are breath taking!

It is literally breath taking. The pictures truly barely do it justice, because you just can't get the scope of it in a few snapshots. WE do have some beautiful scenery here in WNY...I thought of Letchworth while I was out there, and how it's marketed as "the grand canyon of the east"...it's nice but it doesn't even compare. Pix from my favorite canyon are coming up.

 

[If U Had Wings]

The pictures are all absolutely stunning. It looks like you all had a wonderful trip. What a great opportunity to spend time with the entire family in that setting!

 

[skier_pete]

The pictures are all absolutely stunning. It looks like you all had a wonderful trip. What a great opportunity to spend time with the entire family in that setting!

Thanks. It's all the scenery, not my picture-taking ability. This is all done with a Nikon Coolpix point and shoot.


So, our other day trip was to Zion...but first we stopped at Best Friends, this is a place probably best described as an animal shelter, but that is an understatement. I linked to a slideshow of the place...they recover stray cats and dogs (and horses, pigs, birds, rabbits...you name it) and care for them and try and find them homes. The facility is on 3,000 acres (actually they lease another 30,000 acres in addition making it 33,000 acres)...has 440 full time employees, and typically houses over 700 cats and 500 dogs at any one time. (They also are known for having taken in Micheal Vick's dogs) I didn't really get many good pictures, but if you are an animal lover, I advise you to check out the link. The 90-minute facility tour is really pretty amazing. Our DD loved it, but was sad when we wouldn't let her adopt a dog or cat. I can't say I am a real bleeding heart-type when it comes to animals, but it is great to see these animals so well-taken care of.

Next stop: Zion NP. This to me is probably the most impressive national park of all. (BTW, this picture was taken by DD(7)....not bad, huh?

We came in via the West entrance, which has the famous "checkerboard mesa":

Shots coming down the canyon switchbacks from the west entrance tunnel:

We got to the main visitors center around 2:00 PM:

DD spotted this little guy by the visitor center sign...about 4 inches long:

After browsing in the visitor center, the weather suddenly turned ugly. The main canyon of Zion is a deep canyon with sheer walls towering 1500 feet above the valley floor. You used to be able to drive up the canyon, but they have closed it down to cars, so you have to take a shuttle bus to get in and out of the canyon. After we got on the bus, it started to POUR, like Florida rainstorm. We decided to just stay on the bus and ride up and down the canyon. I occasionally cracked open the window to take a picture:

I was disappointed that between the lateness of our arrival and the rain, we wouldn't have a chance to walk "the Narrows". At the end of the canyon, there is a fairly flat trial that goes into the canyon along the Virgin River as it gets narrower and narrower..after about a mile, the trail ends, and you have to walk up the stream to continue into "The Narrows". There are many famous shots of this slot canyon. I pulled one off of photobucket, since we didn't go ourselves. We never got to do this when I was a kid, but in the rain like it was it is very dangerous due to flash flooding, so we didn't even consider it.

We DID get to see some pretty cool "waterfalls" tumbling down from the top of the canyon. These only appear when it rains. They really were too tall and fine to get pictures of. We stopped at the Zion lodge, and afterwards made our way back to the car for the long ride home.

Next up...off to Las Vegas. (Lost Wages?)

 

[onescgirl]

Beautiful!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Love, love, love all the amazing shots. So beautiful!

 

[Disneychix]

What a trip! Your pictures are breathtaking!! What an experience for your DD. I cna't believe your parents live there for part of the year. I'd be amazed everyday!