You mean I DO get to go to WDW in 2014?? - Link to TR in post #523

[franandaj]

Enjoy are VGC/DL escape next month, your plans sound great.

Thanks! It’s getting really close now! I NEED that R&R!

Great Feb getaway! I don't think it's crazy to have points 30 minutes from your house I think it's ideal! Lovely for a short break exactly what you are doing! Otherwise you never get around to doing it. Let's face it we all need that down time away from our environment where we can just truly relax.

Nightmare re constant demands of tenants. I bet it's never ending and you are always 'on duty'.

I am excited by these PTR because never stayed at these villas so it's very interesting to me. The shower in the 1 br looks nice. Is that an accessible room? If not it's still got a nice accessible shower like at VGF. The shower there is good enough for me to not want an accessible room but I may miss the grab rails so we will see.

I see you disinfect the jacuzzi what a good idea. Pam was talking of this also. One of my concerns after getting many infections is picking something up. Perhaps you would be so kind in your TR if you get time to let me know the best way of doing this. Not knowing American products which is the best to buy in Walmart etc. i have see n Clorox we use that in our studio. Would this work?

Yum re Steakhouse 55 can't wait for meat food porn!

Shame they don't have F & W anymore! I don't know why it was quite basic but I just adored the Matterhorn!

I really need to get away at this point, it will be a sheer pleasure!
Yes, I have another nightmare tenant being demanding. Perhaps once we get our loan, he will get a 30 notice to move!
I just use Clorox to disinfect the Jacuzzi. It’s easy and readily available.
I can’t wait to EAT at the Steakhouse!

yay! Can't wait to hear all about your DL trip. I don't think its silly to have points at VGC either...tons of people in Colorado have timeshares or cabins in the mountains!

Jill in CO

Cool! I’m glad you guys understand my obsession!

I still haven't been able to get over to Steakhouse 55. Looking forward to hearing what you think about the new chef and the menu!

Yay for Trader Sams!

I'm shocked you like the Matterhorn. Even after the refurb, it's still way to rickety for me!

I know we’ll like the new chef, I’ll just be excited to see what he does to the menu.
That’s why I want to try the other side. The one side was pretty jerky, I want to see if the other is as bad.

Cool! A getaway to DL sounds awesome. Given my love for the Wilderness Lodge, it's not too much of a stretch to say I love the Grand Californian too! Or at least, I'm sure I would if I got the chance to see it.

Other than the fact that it doesn’t have the cool sedimentary rock chimney, they do have lots of similar wooden beams and cool architecture that does resemble the WL. I’ll be sure to post some pictures!

Ask for Abby (Abigail), she was amazing! Used to be at Artist's Point. LOVED her!

If you log in and it shows your AP as active under the bands and cards section, you will be fine!

I’ll try to remember that. I’m not sure if it shows as “active” under the bands section, but it is linked to MDE on my account, same with Fran.

I swear it's almost easier in the car than it seems to be for me on an airplane.

Even without scooters it's a pain! I used them for our groceries in Dec...granted I couldn't really carry 16 target bags plus a half case of beer by myself and even with Jeff helping it was like...Bell Services please! !

Hmmm, I’ll remember that, we seem to get enough miles to keep flying FC, but if that changes I’ll have to see about taking on food, because I will not buy airline food, I’ll make my own meals!

I was so excited in 2010 when our DCA trip included F&W. Boy was I sorely disappointing to see what F&W at DCA looked like compared to WDW! I'd sure love to have some of those GCV points right now...we are hoping to get 3 nights for marathon weekend right at the 7m mark. I looked today at 9:06am EST and the first night of the booking window was gone which makes me quite nervous fur us. We are still 13 days out but...it's going to be interesting! Hopefully the fact that we are booking 3 nights separately may actually help our chances if we do have to waitlist but we will see. Pa!

The DCA Festival was very different, it was more locally based and the Signature events were what really made it.

I would walk the reservation if I were you.

rt of me wants to know if it's already booked up as it may well be and part of me doesn't! !

I can look it up, but I have to have time to do it, I have been so busy, I have not had time to do anything. I’m lucky I can respond to my thread!

Hot water is not a little thing! thank goodness she has that as an option. !

She told me that she felt like she was camping! I can see that

I find it fascinating how many folks do that with the tubs. I can honestly say I've never used them in the villas and can't recall if the kids have. We have one at home I never use and it's a pain to clean so it's kind of like why deal with it on vacation if I hate cleaning the one I have? LOL! Pathetic huh. !

I love the Jacuzzi tub and use it almost every day, sometimes twice. After I read a nasty thread I disinfect it just in case.

I don't see us going here in April but for Marathon weekend you never know so I will look forward to your review.

Ah, Mandara! I love the one in WDW, really hope to visit one again soon! Again, likely not in April but maybe May, either in WDW or their Hawaii one depending on when the next work trip is. !

I loved Steakhouse 55 a couple years ago and this chef is even better. I’m sure we’ll be going here a lot more soon!

I don’t love the Mandara spa because of their prices, but when I can get a TravelZoo certificate, I love it! They are way over priced, but with the half off thing, I’m more than happy to go there!

Trader Sam's looks great, I think we are going to try it around 7pm before it goes adult only. Thinking an hour might be enough...? I am so excited for the Matterhorn it's a bit silly!

Nice to be able to go straight home and recover from your vacation!

I didn’t know that there was a time when kids were allowed, it’s really fun inside as certain drinks trigger interesting events in the bar. Outside it is a nice place to relax. I’m not sure that an hour would be enough since it takes a while for your order to arrive.

It is nice that it only takes us half an hour to get home, but sometimes, it’s a curse. Fran expects me to go home and do work instead of relaxing a bit more.

I love your plans for Disneyland. I can't wait to read your report about Steakhouse 55. We love this place and I am curious about the new menu. We also love Trader Sam's. We only ever have been for drinks, but are planning to check it out for appetizers on our next trip.

Corinna

I’m sure you will enjoy the new chef at Steakhouse 55. You enjoyed his Chateaubriand in the past as well as his Mac n Cheese,

Can't wait to hear all about dinner at Steakhouse 55. I don't see any cocktails in the Trader Sam photos but the munchies look so good.

You just weren’t looking for the right kind of cocktail!



This is not “THE” cocktail that makes the room do funny things. It’s one of the cocktails that makes the room do funny things. If you were to zoom in on THIS picture,



You would see this picture. We have some pictures of more traditional looking drinks that also made the room do funny things, but I didn't want to give away everything we might do on the trip. Gotta save something!

Have fun with the staycation. Looking forward to the Steakhouse food porn.

Thanks! It can’t get here soon enough now!

 

[franandaj]

Was it the fun drink that makes the statues come alive? You sound so busy. No hurry, we're patient. Sorry your update got eaten. That's super frustrating.

There are many fun drinks that make the statues come alive, in fact parts of the whole room come alive. I AM so busy! We did the first "big move" into the house yesterday. The sad part is all that we moved was collectibles and curio cabinets, and we filled a 16ft truck with that stuff and wait....there's more!

I hate when the DIS eats my posts....

Have a great weekend. and enjoy!

Look forward to the pictures.

It was a busy, busy, busy weekend, and the week is proving to be that way!

Dang!

The DIS ate a picture of cocktail drinks??




Personally, I would have sipped the cocktail drinks.



Hope real life isn't too stressful. We'll be here when you have time.

I'm hoping that I will have some time soon, at least I one big time sucker to cross off my list!

Getaways are always fun. it sounds great.

I really need this getaway! Disney is always good!

Very nice plans for your trip next month. I will look forward to your update at Steakhouse 55.

Thanks Bret! Now I need to make it over to your TR and get caught up too!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I’m sure you will enjoy the new chef at Steakhouse 55. You enjoyed his Chateaubriand in the past as well as his Mac n Cheese,

I love the sound of this. I definitely have to make a reservation there for our November trip. The Macaroni Cheese was already the second best I have ever tasted and was the best until I tasted an even better one in May.

Corinna

 

[franandaj]

I love the sound of this. I definitely have to make a reservation there for our November trip. The Macaroni Cheese was already the second best I have ever tasted and was the best until I tasted an even better one in May.

Corinna

I believe this is the chef whose mac and cheese you had last May. He is only new to the steakhouse, not the resort.

 

[lisaviolet]

But it has allowed us to do some crazy things like rent out the 3 bedroom Grand Villa the night before our concert band played in DCA, at “no cost” so to speak, and let 10 friends stay there with us. It also lets us book a few nights here and there to just “enjoy the parks” without having to drive home and pretend we are tourists.

Oh man, that gives me such joy to read that, Alison. Totally. I don't understand why people don't get it. That, to me , is creating your own joy and your own happiness. Fun!

And great points to have in terms of future value as well.

 

[franandaj]

Oh man, that gives me such joy to read that, Alison. Totally. I don't understand why people don't get it. That, to me , is creating your own joy and your own happiness. Fun!

And great points to have in terms of future value as well.

I know, I'm so glad that we have points so close. When they first came out I thought it was crazy, but now I can schedule things way in advance and we can know we have some fun close to home. I love the VGC and just need to come up with more reasons to stay there because it's the best DVC resort as far as I'm concerned!

 

[jedijill]

I know, I'm so glad that we have points so close. When they first came out I thought it was crazy, but now I can schedule things way in advance and we can know we have some fun close to home. I love the VGC and just need to come up with more reasons to stay there because it's the best DVC resort as far as I'm concerned!

Here's a reason....You favorite friend from Denver would like to stay there and is out of points until August of 2015.

Jill in CO

 

[eandesmom]

I would walk the reservation if I were you.

I can look it up, but I have to have time to do it, I have been so busy, I have not had time to do anything. I’m lucky I can respond to my thread!

Not enough points to walk, or I probably would.

I don’t love the Mandara spa because of their prices, but when I can get a TravelZoo certificate, I love it! They are way over priced, but with the half off thing, I’m more than happy to go there!

spa's in general are way overpriced. What is a TravelZoo certificate?

I didn’t know that there was a time when kids were allowed, it’s really fun inside as certain drinks trigger interesting events in the bar. Outside it is a nice place to relax. I’m not sure that an hour would be enough since it takes a while for your order to arrive.

Good to know, according to the website, before 8pm it is ok to have kids in there. Maybe it's a better lunch spot in that event?

 

[rentayenta]

I thought that big drink was some sort of vase filled with flowers! Yummy!


I cannot even imagine the stuff you have to move. So worth it though to be in your beautiful new home eventually with all of your lovely collectibles displayed.

 

[franandaj]

Here's a reason....You favorite friend from Denver would like to stay there and is out of points until August of 2015.

Jill in CO

I can work with that, but I'm not sure I can convince Fran!

Not enough points to walk, or I probably would.

Ahhhh...I understand.

spa's in general are way overpriced. What is a TravelZoo certificate?.

It's like a Groupon. Every so often they come out with a deal, buy a certificate for $99 and redeem it for $200 worth of spa services. Pretty good deal. I jump on those and buy the maximum of two per person whenever I see them.

Good to know, according to the website, before 8pm it is ok to have kids in there. Maybe it's a better lunch spot in that event?

I've probably never been there before 8PM.

 

[PrincessInOz]

That tableware looks very interesting.

 

[eandesmom]

It's like a Groupon. Every so often they come out with a deal, buy a certificate for $99 and redeem it for $200 worth of spa services. Pretty good deal. I jump on those and buy the maximum of two per person whenever I see them.

.

Well if you ever see one, PM me here or on FB

 

[rentayenta]

Well if you ever see one, PM me here or on FB

I get the OC Groupn too. I'll keep an eye out for you. Alison is right, it's $99 for $200 of spa services before tip.​

 

[eandesmom]

I get the OC Groupn too. I'll keep an eye out for you. Alison is right, it's $99 for $200 of spa services before tip.​

I am SO down with that. Either for April, or August

or both....



Man our groupons are never for actual NICE spas like Mandara....although the FL one does give a decent DVC discount (which I may need to use in May!)

 

[franandaj]

I thought that big drink was some sort of vase filled with flowers! Yummy!


I cannot even imagine the stuff you have to move. So worth it though to be in your beautiful new home eventually with all of your lovely collectibles displayed.

Like we would have a flower in the middle of the table!

I don't even want to think about the stuff we have to move. Monday was killer and that was barely the beginning!

That tableware looks very interesting.

The Uh-oah mug?

Well if you ever see one, PM me here or on FB

I will. The one I bought over Thanksgiving wouldn't have worked for you. It's only good through March 31, 2014.

I get the OC Groupn too. I'll keep an eye out for you. Alison is right, it's $99 for $200 of spa services before tip.​

I am SO down with that. Either for April, or August

or both....



Man our groupons are never for actual NICE spas like Mandara....although the FL one does give a decent DVC discount (which I may need to use in May!)

TravelZoo is different than Groupon, but same concept. You might check out TravelZoo they seem to have a lot of upscale types of experiences, but the Anaheim Mandara is the only one that I've ever purchased.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The Uh-oah mug?

I wasn't quite sure what to call it. It just seemed so much more than just a mug. I'm not sure I could have drunk that!

 

[franandaj]

I wasn't quite sure what to call it. It just seemed so much more than just a mug. I'm not sure I could have drunk that!

Yeah, it was much more than a mug, the four corners were lit on fire when it was served to us, I don't think I could catch that in the pictures as it went out pretty quickly. It did say on the menu recommended for two or more. We had at least one more drink...

Here's a better picture of the drink.





I'll save the others in case we have them on the next trip!

 

[dgbg100106]

I'll save the others in case we have them on the next trip!

That ring is beautiful! Do you have a close up?

 

[Leshaface]

LOVE this drink! I'm pretty sure you were one of the influencers to get us to Trader Sams and for that I thank you!

 

[PrincessInOz]

That is one heck of a 'mug'.