Why Not Just Queue Up Another Disney Trip? Link to New TR 6/24 p136!

[Wicket's Mom]

Lovely picures,your guide was spot on with her clothes, she was even wearing her stays!

Sheild's Tavern is really good for lunch. We have eaten in all of the taverns, had our 35th anniversary dinner at the King's Arms. We were dressed in our 18th century clothing which was fun.

Did you happen to notice the graves in the floor of Bruten Parish Church? That was so cool!

I think that was just the dining room at the palace, could have been the morning room if it was a small room. Another neat place at the Palace is the hill at the back of the garden. It is the old cold storage room that was built in a hill.

 

[Happydog]

Hey there MaryEllen! I have been woefully behind, but have been trying to read along -- I just wanted to say I really like all of your Williamsburg photos! I have not been in a long time, and I forget how cool it is there! Looking forward to heading back there, maybe this fall.

And I agree with you about OKW, and being in Disney for Christmas! It is very hard to not get caught up in all the warm and fuzzy of it all! OKW is very laid back, we actually liked our visit ther back in 2009 for th 4th of July...

I am really getting excited for you, knowing how much you will enjoy the F & W ... just given your photos of vineyards, etc!!! You'll love it, promise!

 

[KatMark]

Great final wrap-up, MEK. I agree with everything you said about OKW (I wish I could swing a one bedroom for Mark and I, but that will have to wait). Love the quietness of the resort, the "vacation feel" and the Gurgling Suitcase is great.

I love your additional pictures of Williamsburg.

 

[marDgreen88]

Very nice wrap-up. I love your Williamsburg pictures! They're always so great. Can't wait to hear about your future Disney plans, woohoo!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

First, thank you for getting Red Solo Cup stuck in my head!!! "Let's have a party!!!!!"

Okay. Moving on.

I am so sad to see this massive and awesome trips report coming to an end!! But how exciting that your next trip is in 3 weeks!!!

I'm glad to hear that you liked OKW. I've never visited there, but it does seem really peaceful and relaxed! Can't wait to hear about your future plans!

 

[Nermel9]

Great wrap up! OKW looks like a beautiful resort, I'd love to stay there someday! And being at Disney for Christmas is the best! I'm not sure I liked being there so close to Christmas either, it was weird coming home and having like, 10 days of the Christmas season left, I prefer going in November to really get it going and then coming home and having the rest of the season to look forward to!

HAHA, I'm glad you missed the rain! That really put a damper on my trip, but still, it was nice seeing all the decorations!

Great Williamsburg pictures! That is the Williamsburg I'm familiar with, the colonial part of it, it's so pretty! I have to get down there again someday soon!

 

[dawnbu40]

I enjoyed your wrapup. We want to give OKW a try one of these days. We loved the feel of it when we had breakfast at Olivia's last August.

Great pics of Williamsburg.

Thanks for another great TR

 

[MEK]

Lovely picures,your guide was spot on with her clothes, she was even wearing her stays!

Well - phew! I am glad the colonial Williamsburg guide was doing it correctly. She certainly provided some interesting commentary without breaking character. Her presentation made everything more memorable.

Sheild's Tavern is really good for lunch. We have eaten in all of the taverns, had our 35th anniversary dinner at the King's Arms. We were dressed in our 18th century clothing which was fun.

I will have to try Shields the next time we go. Having lunch was a great way to experience the taverns. We ate dinner at Christina Campbells years ago.

Did you happen to notice the graves in the floor of Bruten Parish Church? That was so cool!

No, because if I did I would have taken pictures. I probably saw them but didn't know what they were.

I think that was just the dining room at the palace, could have been the morning room if it was a small room. Another neat place at the Palace is the hill at the back of the garden. It is the old cold storage room that was built in a hill.

I think I saw that - in fact, yes, we climbed to the top of the storage room. That was interesting.

Maybe it was called the morning room. It was right behind the big ballroom area. It was where the guests went for their meals. I thought it was so interesting that those parties lasted ALL night.

Hey there MaryEllen! I have been woefully behind, but have been trying to read along -- I just wanted to say I really like all of your Williamsburg photos! I have not been in a long time, and I forget how cool it is there! Looking forward to heading back there, maybe this fall.

Hey Stranger - well I know you have been a busy girl this spring with all you have going on! I found out that I absolutely LOVE Williamsburg. The more of it I see, the more I enjoy it. Not sure when I'll be going back, but I hope soon. It's perfect for a weekend getaway, but the next time I go I want to stay longer.

And I agree with you about OKW, and being in Disney for Christmas! It is very hard to not get caught up in all the warm and fuzzy of it all! OKW is very laid back, we actually liked our visit ther back in 2009 for th 4th of July...

Loved OKW at Christmas. Next time I have to go earlier in the season or right after New Years so I can still enjoy some of the decorations!

I am really getting excited for you, knowing how much you will enjoy the F & W ... just given your photos of vinyards, etc!!! You'll love it, promise!

I can't wait for F&W! It's going to be a blast!!!!!!!!!!

Great final wrap-up, MEK. I agree with everything you said about OKW (I wish I could swing a one bedroom for Mark and I, but that will have to wait). Love the quietness of the resort, the "vacation feel" and the Gurgling Suitcase is great.

Wouldn't a 1 BR be awesome?????? I would LOVE that. When I think about relaxation my thoughts go right back to the wonderful solitude of OKW!

I love your additional pictures of Williamsburg.

Thanks! I still had them all on my phone so I just had to share!

Very nice wrap-up. I love your Williamsburg pictures! They're always so great. Can't wait to hear about your future Disney plans, woohoo!

Thanks!

I will be putting my last update together - future plans - soon! It's going to be strange because after my October trip I am going to try to take a year break from Disney. Can I do it?????

First, thank you for getting Red Solo Cup stuck in my head!!! "Let's have a party!!!!!"

Okay. Moving on.

That's how I was all weekend in Williamsburg. I kept walking away singing "Red solo cup. You fill me up". So - yes - song is stuck in my head again too!

I am so sad to see this massive and awesome trips report coming to an end!! But how exciting that your next trip is in 3 weeks!!!

I can't believe how long I drug this thing out. At least I didn't reach the year mark. I am sad to see it end too, but I am looking forward to writing about my next one because its going to be such a different kind of trip.

I'm glad to hear that you liked OKW. I've never visited there, but it does seem really peaceful and relaxed! Can't wait to hear about your future plans!

It's a great place. I really do hope I can sneak away from SSR for a few moments this summer to go say hi to the Gurgling Suitcase!
Future plans coming up!

Great wrap up! OKW looks like a beautiful resort, I'd love to stay there someday! And being at Disney for Christmas is the best! I'm not sure I liked being there so close to Christmas either, it was weird coming home and having like, 10 days of the Christmas season left, I prefer going in November to really get it going and then coming home and having the rest of the season to look forward to!

If you ever do decide to rent DVC points it really is a great, affordable place to stay. I think it is the perfect resort for a non park vacation. It's Disney enough, but also far away enough that you don't feel deprived from missing the parks. If I ever do a non park trip I would probably pick it.

HAHA, I'm glad you missed the rain! That really put a damper on my trip, but still, it was nice seeing all the decorations!

I was SO close to going the same weekend as you, so I think about how lucky we were. The decorations are fabulous, even in the rain!

Great Williamsburg pictures! That is the Williamsburg I'm familiar with, the colonial part of it, it's so pretty! I have to get down there again someday soon!

I am SO glad I finally bought the colonial Wburg ticket with my GF's. Two of my GF's are teachers so they got their tickets 1/2 price. If you know anyone who is a teacher and interested in going, make sure you tell them that. I don't think its well advertised, but that is a huge savings.

Next time I go back with Denny we will definitely buy the ticket again. It was wonderful. The way the characters portray themselves is perfect.

 

[MEK]

I enjoyed your wrapup. We want to give OKW a try one of these days. We loved the feel of it when we had breakfast at Olivia's last August.

Olivia's - I would love to try that place. You know how they always say that DVC is the best kept secret, while OKW is actually one of the best kept secrets because I think there are naysayers who kept it underrated. I really think you would like it. I do hope I get a chance to swing by this summer!

Great pics of Williamsburg.

Thanks. I just had to share the final pics from my girls trip. We had a blast.

Thanks for another great TR

You're welcome. I am looking forward to the next one. In fact, I want to order some new memory cards today!

 

[teekathepony]

Great wrap up! I love your review of OKW, it sounds lovely, especially the laid back atmosphere!

I found the young CM with Down’s syndrome, who was working at the gift shop, to be an absolute delight. It makes me wonder how she would fair in the much less laid back world of the Grand Floridian.

I love that they're giving everyone opportunities. The bolded quote made me really stop and think about that and you're so right. I have to say I am not a fan of the GF -- not that I've stayed there, but for visits/meals I found the place stuck up and snobbish, staff included. Not the type of attitude I want on my vacation. My dad however is dying to stay there. To each their own!

My favorite food items were the fried green beans at Yak & Yeti, [...] I will go back there for drinks and more greenbeans! Heaven on a plate.

Every time I read about these it makes me so excited to eat at Y&Y this fall!


My thoughts Re: The Christmas season -- I can understand your feeling rushed and blue when you got home. I can't imagine going so close to Christmas, lol! When I went in 2010 in mid-November, for me it was perfect. I so loved being wrapped in the Disney Christmas atmosphere, but when I got home I still had lots of time for baking and decorating and shopping and wrapping. I love Christmas so much, I'm almost fanatic, so leaving Disney for Christmas at home was a very good way for me to avoid the post-Disney blues. Johnny and I said that for our 2015 trip, we're going mid-late Nov. for sure.

The long and short of it is, my lens cap will never be secure again and its going to be such a pain to have that thing falling off all over Disney world this summer.

Bummer about the lens cap, but you can get a "cap keeper" that is designed to stick to the cap and attach to the camera, of course that only works if you've got that lens on, but you might be able to find a way to hook the cap keeper to the lens in stead of the camera.

Can't wait for the future trips post! And I loved the Williamsburg pictures too, that's a really pretty place.

 

[MEK]

Great wrap up! I love your review of OKW, it sounds lovely, especially the laid back atmosphere!

I love that they're giving everyone opportunities. The bolded quote made me really stop and think about that and you're so right. I have to say I am not a fan of the GF -- not that I've stayed there, but for visits/meals I found the place stuck up and snobbish, staff included. Not the type of attitude I want on my vacation. My dad however is dying to stay there. To each their own!

The laid back attitude was what won me over. I don't stray too much from the TR section of the boards these days, but when I used to frequent the resorts threads I always felt like there was this deluxe snobbery attitude. I love all the Disney resorts and I feel like each and every one of them has great attributes. But that was the first thing that struck me. I just sort of "knew" that lovely young lady wouldn't be employed at a lot of the other more "desired" resorts, shall we say.

I will stay at the GF when the DVC finally opens, but it will probably just be for a few nights, not a whole vacation. I have to say that when I pooled hopped over there when I stayed at BLT I felt that the grounds and pools were just so lovely and it seemed like a great place to get away from all the hustle - bustle.

Every time I read about these it makes me so excited to eat at Y&Y this fall!

I could eat those green beans right now!!!!!!!!!! Morning, noon, and night. They are THAT good!

My thoughts Re: The Christmas season -- I can understand your feeling rushed and blue when you got home. I can't imagine going so close to Christmas, lol! When I went in 2010 in mid-November, for me it was perfect. I so loved being wrapped in the Disney Christmas atmosphere, but when I got home I still had lots of time for baking and decorating and shopping and wrapping. I love Christmas so much, I'm almost fanatic, so leaving Disney for Christmas at home was a very good way for me to avoid the post-Disney blues. Johnny and I said that for our 2015 trip, we're going mid-late Nov. for sure.

I agree that November works SO much better. We are taking a cruise in fall of 2013 and I am toying with the idea of a late October cruise and then going to WDW for the change over to the Christmas season. My next Christmas trip will probably be post Christmas/NY's when I can still see some of the decorations.

Bummer about the lens cap, but you can get a "cap keeper" that is designed to stick to the cap and attach to the camera, of course that only works if you've got that lens on, but you might be able to find a way to hook the cap keeper to the lens in stead of the camera.

I will look for one of those on Amazon when I order my memory cards. Thanks for the tip. That's very useful information because it will help out A LOT!

Can't wait for the future trips post! And I loved the Williamsburg pictures too, that's a really pretty place.

I'll be working on the update on the side soon. Glad you enjoyed the visits to Colonial Williamsburg. I do really love that place. Its about 4 1/2 hours from here yet its got a much more southern feel than where I live. I like that!

 

[tinacaplan]

Nice wrap up! Everytime we drove past OKW on the way to SSR I wanted to stop in there and check it out. What little I could see beyond the palm trees was beautiful. I have actually thought about doing a two bedroom there for October...which isn't that much more than a moderate would be, at least not when its split between four people. It would end up being like $200/night. I think my mom might really like it there. She loved the real Key West so much when she visited. I also never realized how close OKW and SSR are to the parks.

I would so love to see all the Christmas decorations, but that will only happen for us the dreaded week between Christmas and New Year's. Ha. But I still want to do it someday... when Max is older and Christmas becomes a slightly less big deal up here, maybe...

I understand your thoughts about restaurants. Good meals were few and far between on our trips in February 2011 and July 2011, but we had good experiences this past February and in April. It makes me think I should just stick to the places I know are really good.

Love your tour of Williamsburg. I actually believe that I dined at the same restaurant way back on mhy trip to Virginia as a junior in highschool...and the menu hasn't changed much. I had the peanut soup. It was so strange to me then, but so delicious!

And for being so close to your trip!!!

 

[podsnel]

Hi MEK! I am still catching up, but wanted to post before I forgot what I was commenting on-

Very happy you are going to see your friends. We will be taking a day to go and see Pods' Aunt Irma- who is in her 90s- one of our days this fall- she lives near Tampa. HATE to give up the time at WDW, but really always leave so sad we couldn't see more of her.

I hate those Timeshare presentations- mostly because I hate saying no to them, especially when they try to make you feel guilty. Good for you being so upfront and honest!

Ok, back to more reading-

 

[amazingact21]

Loved reading your final thought on your trip; OKW sounds like a resort I'd love to stay at one day. I can only imagine how hard it must've been to leave Disney with all its Christmas decorations and festivities and go back home.


Just had to say...the incident with the lense cap happened to me on my trip. It had been feeling a little loose for a few days, and right in the middle of FoTLK one of the plastic parts that helps grasp the lense fell off. I had to walk around the rest of the day holding my hand over my lense in fear that it would get scratched. Thankfully, I had my long range lens in the camera bag at the resort and for the rest of the trip, I just swapped the caps. But still...it's a frustrating thing to have happened and I can completely understand where you're coming from.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Great wrap up ME! I love that you explored OKW since I'm going in October to spend a couple nights there in a 1BR. DH will love that it has that relaxed feel. He's always saying that he wants to go and not do the parks eek, but at least we will spend some resort time there and enjoy it. I'll be trying a turtle Krawl.

I also love Williamsburg! even with your phone you got good pictures - the red solo cup!

Looking foward to hearing about your future plans!

 

[MEK]

Nice wrap up! Everytime we drove past OKW on the way to SSR I wanted to stop in there and check it out. What little I could see beyond the palm trees was beautiful. I have actually thought about doing a two bedroom there for October...which isn't that much more than a moderate would be, at least not when its split between four people. It would end up being like $200/night. I think my mom might really like it there. She loved the real Key West so much when she visited. I also never realized how close OKW and SSR are to the parks.

People sometimes act like OKW and SSR are in the boonies, but they really aren't, especially when they take the back way to the MK.

I think $200 a night is a great deal. You should really consider it. You would love all the room.

I would so love to see all the Christmas decorations, but that will only happen for us the dreaded week between Christmas and New Year's. Ha. But I still want to do it someday... when Max is older and Christmas becomes a slightly less big deal up here, maybe...

I guess its tough when you are a teacher. Your time off for Christmas trips come right at peak season. I noticed that a lot of the southern schools have two weeks off at Christmas because there were a ton of people from Louisiana there where we visited and all the Florida schools are closed for two weeks.

I understand your thoughts about restaurants. Good meals were few and far between on our trips in February 2011 and July 2011, but we had good experiences this past February and in April. It makes me think I should just stick to the places I know are really good.

That's my plan from now on, but I do want to go back and retry some I haven't visited in years. I like variety and am willing to risk a not great meal here and there to try new things.

Love your tour of Williamsburg. I actually believe that I dined at the same restaurant way back on mhy trip to Virginia as a junior in highschool...and the menu hasn't changed much. I had the peanut soup. It was so strange to me then, but so delicious!

I was actually shocked that they have peanut soup on the menu with all the people who have peanut allergies. I think they have it on all the colonial tavern menus. I wasn't brave enough to try it, although I'm sure I would love it. I did have a really delish pasta.

And for being so close to your trip!!!

3 weeks 3 days for June and 5 months for October!

Hi MEK! I am still catching up, but wanted to post before I forgot what I was commenting on-

I know the feeling - all too well!

Very happy you are going to see your friends. We will be taking a day to go and see Pods' Aunt Irma- who is in her 90s- one of our days this fall- she lives near Tampa. HATE to give up the time at WDW, but really always leave so sad we couldn't see more of her.

That's exactly how I feel. I hate to give up a day, but I know I will want to spend more times with our friends than what I have alloted. I wish they could have come over to Disney because we had a blast the last time we took them into the parks.

I hate those Timeshare presentations- mostly because I hate saying no to them, especially when they try to make you feel guilty. Good for you being so upfront and honest!

Exactly - I always feel guilty too. But the fact that I genuinely did not love the resort made me feel much less guilty so I could live with myself afterwards.

Ok, back to more reading-

Loved reading your final thought on your trip; OKW sounds like a resort I'd love to stay at one day. I can only imagine how hard it must've been to leave Disney with all its Christmas decorations and festivities and go back home.

Welcome back! Looking forward to reading all about your trip!

Thanks!

OKW is a really great resort. I think it is a must try for all DISers!

It was very hard to leave with the Christmas festivities in full swing. Maybe I wouldn't have felt so sad if we had stayed a few more days. I just felt so, well, cheated.

Just had to say...the incident with the lense cap happened to me on my trip. It had been feeling a little loose for a few days, and right in the middle of FoTLK one of the plastic parts that helps grasp the lense fell off. I had to walk around the rest of the day holding my hand over my lense in fear that it would get scratched. Thankfully, I had my long range lens in the camera bag at the resort and for the rest of the trip, I just swapped the caps. But still...it's a frustrating thing to have happened and I can completely understand where you're coming from.

Ugh! I wish mine was the cap rather than the actual lens. I literally broke the ring around the lens and I'm so irritated with myself for doing it. It doesn't help that Denny accused me of being careless. I guess he's a little right, but I think it was more sensory overloaded from a full day at the parks.

Great wrap up ME! I love that you explored OKW since I'm going in October to spend a couple nights there in a 1BR. DH will love that it has that relaxed feel. He's always saying that he wants to go and not do the parks eek, but at least we will spend some resort time there and enjoy it. I'll be trying a turtle Krawl.

The 1 BR is going to be sooooooo wonderful. You will love that! And you will also love the Turtle Crawl. That was so yummy good!

I also love Williamsburg! even with your phone you got good pictures - the red solo cup!

Nothing like a red solo cup to lift the spirits! I am officially done with Williamsburg now. Can't believe I went on three trips to Wburg during the one trip report. That's a lot!

Looking foward to hearing about your future plans!

That update will be like an entire PTR all in one update!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Loved the wrap-up. I'd like to give Old Key West a try someday, just wish they had a beach. It does look like it has a nice laid back feel to it which is what we like. I was glad to read that there were many more "likes" than "dislikes".

Although I haven't posted, I have been following along with your Williamsburg posts. It looks like an amazing place to visit.

 

[MEK]

Loved the wrap-up. I'd like to give Old Key West a try someday, just wish they had a beach. It does look like it has a nice laid back feel to it which is what we like. I was glad to read that there were many more "likes" than "dislikes".

Yeah - not much in the way of a beach at OKW but the whole "marina" area was very nice. It is a little bit like CBR and it was definitely the perfect place to stay for this trip! Definitely way more likes than dislikes!

Although I haven't posted, I have been following along with your Williamsburg posts. It looks like an amazing place to visit.

It is such a cool place. It really centers on the humble beginnings of our country and the brave men and women who settled here and made it all happen. Wow - what a daunting task that way.

I see you only have 5 more days until your trip! That's awesome!

 

[saintstickets]

This fits me to a tee!

Of course, DW would say this is more fitting for me!

Great TR, as usual. I'm so glad you enjoyed OKW. You hit it right on the head...it's more of a resort to relax and truly vacation at instead of the hustle and bustle of some of the other resorts. There's nothing wrong with the others...OKW is just different (a good different!). I can't believe I've never had the Turtle Crawl. Gotta add that to my bucket list but I think I'm gonna need a bigger bucket! Getting ready to head out Saturday morning. Hope my TR when I return is half as great as yours has been!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Thanks for the report! (and bonus Williamsburg pictures)

I've said it before, but I love your photography. You do an amazing job, with or without a lens cap.

You really made me want to visit during Christmas time. That's a bucket list item for our family.