Working on my ROAR! Jaxon's first trip to see Mickey Mouse!

[eeyoresnr]

walking/jogging trail goes completely around resort... very relaxing walk in the evening when the sun is setting

 

[eeyoresnr]

view from hall near elevator

 

[shalom]

Nice Bonnet Creek pics! That's where we were planning to go when we were going in May; then we switched to January, and it didn't seem worth twice as much when the big draw at Bonnet Creek is the pools and lazy rivers, and who knows what the weather will be like in January. *sigh* Totally want to stay there if we go again in May or sometime warm, though, and your pictures are reconfirming that.

 

[eeyoresnr]

Nice Bonnet Creek pics! That's where we were planning to go when we were going in May; then we switched to January, and it didn't seem worth twice as much when the big draw at Bonnet Creek is the pools and lazy rivers, and who knows what the weather will be like in January. *sigh* Totally want to stay there if we go again in May or sometime warm, though, and your pictures are reconfirming that.

we were really lucky both times and got the rooms for less than $70 per night so for us it was a no brainer as we can't stay in a value at Disney for that.... before we had never stayed anywhere but on Disney property except for our arrival night which we have stayed at several hotels in DTD . we always said we wouldn't stay off property, we always parked when we arrived and then used the Disney bus service while we were there for the most part...but then we decided it was easier to drive ourselves... now that we can get such good rates and so much more room it's hard to justify the extra money to stay on property

 

[shalom]

we were really lucky both times and got the rooms for less than $70 per night so for us it was a no brainer as we can't stay in a value at Disney for that....

Yeah, I know we could have gotten a better price at Bonnet Creek if we'd waited or gone with a rental; I'm just impatient and too lazy to go looking. Although I don't think even then we could have gotten it down to $42/night, which is what we're paying this time. And to be honest I'm not crazy about the towers thing -- I like the view from towers, but I prefer to be independent of elevators. I'll go down five or six flights of stairs, but I won't go up that many. Plus I hesitate with both Bonnet Creek and the onsite resorts, because we generally prefer smaller resorts to larger.

Bonnet Creek still tempts me, though. Even though I keep thinking of reasons I don't want to stay there! I expect we'll get there eventually, and onsite as well, but probably not with all five kids! Unless some of them get units of their own, that is. I figure we'll be going to WDW right regular for a good while yet, so plenty of chances to stay different places.

Just for starts, I'm looking forward to visiting WDW with my grandkids, and hopefully one of my kids will present me with a few before I get too stiff and creaky to be doing that.

 

[eeyoresnr]

but....and this is a big BUT.... since this will be Jaxon's first trip ever there is a lot I want to do... without wearing the poor thing out and one of those things is at least one, ok make that 2 character meals... plus we always and yes I do mean always have dinner at 'Ohana. Danny would not feel like he had been to Disney if we didn't eat at 'Ohana for dinner. And Josh and Stephanie are hooked on it too. We all have our favorites there. Danny's is by far the shrimp.... and I'm here to tell you, he can eat some shrimp...

and he is only getting started

 

[eeyoresnr]

back to our dilemma... besides eating dinner at 'Ohana we also want to do Mickey's Backyard BBQ.... we did that in 2010 when all of us went and everyone agrees we should take Jaxon there. but grandma (that's me) also wants to do a sit down character meal (just not sure which one) I'm thinking lunch at Tusker House. Way back when it was breakfast with Donald and friends at Restaurantosaurus was the first character meal we ever did... that was back in 2005 for Daniels first trip to WDW, so even though it is at Tusker House now I kinda want that to be Jaxon's first character meal too, and the fact that they have lunch now makes it that much better because Danny and I love their food, and Josh also known as 'The Human Garbage Disposal" isn't real picky and the word "Buffet" always makes him happy


then we have kinda gotten into the routine of eating breakfast at 'Ohana the day we leave to head back home.... we get up, finish packing the truck, check out of our room and then eat at 'Ohana , then stuff our stuffed selves in the truck and pout all the way home.... ok in reality the 3 in the back seat usually sleep most of the way home It's just Danny and I that pout

so I'm pondering the idea of staying on Disney property and doing the Dining Plan.... we have done the dining plan several times in the past but never Free Dining, and there is no guarantee they will even offer it next December, but if they do it may be the way to go....such decisions

 

[eeyoresnr]

a few from Mickey's Backyard BBQ

 

[eeyoresnr]

and just because he said "I can't believe you posted more of the hat pictures on your PTR........

he will be at work tomorrow when he sees this one

 

[eeyoresnr]

 

[eeyoresnr]

 

[eeyoresnr]

Daniel and the talking trash can.... he was having a coversation with it about recycling, and he was totally into it

 

[eeyoresnr]

a few pics from POP Century

 

[eeyoresnr]

 

[eeyoresnr]

so the next question of course, if we decide to stay on property...where do we stay... we sometimes stay at the value resort on our first night or if we do late check in, and we have enjoyed them all... mine and Danny's favorite moderate is Coronado Springs Resort, but Stephanie's is Port Orleans Riverside, and since they just finished refurbing the rooms there that might be a good choice. we have never stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter, but I think that is one Danny and I would enjoy better when it was just him and I... we also stayed in the cabins at Fort Wilderness when we all went but one bathroom is just not enough for 6 people

 

[eeyoresnr]

 

[shalom]

we also stayed in the cabins at Fort Wilderness when we all went but one bathroom is just not enough for 6 people

Yeah, I think the cabins probably work well for young families, but I wouldn't want to be there with very many at this point! Spending much time in a motel or hotel is not "vacation" to me, though, so I love that Disney has the cabins as an option.

I don't mind a night or two in a hotel, though, and would love to try out all the moderate and possibly all the value resorts sometime. Also all the DVC, which is more likely to happen because I'd probably be okay with six in most of those (assuming the one missing is one of my two terribly territorial teens!).

 

[eeyoresnr]

Yeah, I think the cabins probably work well for young families, but I wouldn't want to be there with very many at this point! Spending much time in a motel or hotel is not "vacation" to me, though, so I love that Disney has the cabins as an option.

I don't mind a night or two in a hotel, though, and would love to try out all the moderate and possibly all the value resorts sometime. Also all the DVC, which is more likely to happen because I'd probably be okay with six in most of those (assuming the one missing is one of my two terribly territorial teens!).

we have stayed in DVC several times by renting points.... our favorite is Animal Kingdom Lodge, but we have also tried Old Key West (twice) , the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Bay Lake Towers, and Boardwalk Villas...
we all liked the cabins because it was so peaceful, and it was great to sit out on the deck in the mornings with a cup of coffee and watch the squirrels and the Woodpeckers (we saw at least 10) right next to our cabin... plus you don't feel like you're in a hotel room

on the railing of our deck

 

[eeyoresnr]

 

[eeyoresnr]

my favorite parade