Coffee on the Verandah - Two by two - 5/21

[KatMark]

Men!!!! Seriously, it cracks me up what they forget they've done.

What a lovely afternoon. And on figuring out dinner and breakfast for the birthday girl (despite having to go out in the rain numerous times).

Sorry about the bug bites...you do attract them, don't you? It must be because you are so sweet.

[englishrose47]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Men!!!! Seriously, it cracks me up what they forget they've done.

What a lovely afternoon. And on figuring out dinner and breakfast for the birthday girl (despite having to go out in the rain numerous times).

Sorry about the bug bites...you do attract them, don't you? It must be because you are so sweet.

As long as it is Cynthia you are calling sweet I will agree, but if Marv gets bug bites ??????

[OurDogCisco]

Fyi, if you go to Maui this place on Napili Bay is pretty in expensive. It has a full kitchen but only a 1 bedroom. The living room has a couch bed and a chair sleeper. So, the kids could sleep in their own space and the most beautiful beach is just a couple hundred yards away. You can snorkel with the turtles, too. This place is my slice of heaven.

http://www.outrigger.com/hotels-reso...-napili-shores

Here's a picture of the beach out front. Amazing...

[IMG][/IMG]

[Chilly]

oh my feet are itching just thinking about it, hope it doesn't last!

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by 2xcited2sleep

Just catching up on your past editions and got a bonus update! Score!! Wow, the beach looks so beautiful and relaxing. I am a bit bummed to hear they kick you off the loungers on the beach at 5pm. I get it... needing to clean up before the tide comes in etc. but I find sunset to be the best time on the beach.

I agree, absolutely love the sunset. I get it too and in reality those darn bugs would come out at sunset so in that respect, probably good but still it felt really early.

Originally Posted by 2xcited2sleep

Glad you were able to work out the pancake request. Sounds like you guys chose wisely and had a nice night despite the rain!

We were so lucky with rain on this trip. It rained but almost always at times that were incredibly convenient for us! It was a nice night. After I finished walking back and forth far too many times. Well, except for the bug bites.

Originally Posted by 2xcited2sleep

Oh, congrats on Aulani!! I am uber excited to hear all about the planning (ahem... hoping for a PTR???) and of course the trip itself. A visit there is definitely on my wish list... but I'm gonna need some more points.

Oh my gosh I hear you there. Between Aulani and then the big trip next NYE I will be out...which is making it hard to figure out the next girls trip!

I am planning on doing a PTR/TR for Aulani once I finish this one I think. I have been booking some things, very fun stuff.

Originally Posted by 2xcited2sleep

Hope you and your family had a terrific Thanksgiving!!!

Thanks Christine, I hope you did too! Ours was lovely, albeit exhausting. I had 20 over for dinner.

Originally Posted by Disney9.9.10

Love the pictures! Sun, sand, pool, palm trees… ahhh so relaxing lol Sorry about the rain and the bugs though. Oh, and happy belated birthday to Kendall!

Can't go wrong with Sun, sand, pool and palm trees. Rain and bugs, not so much.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by dizneeat

Great new update.

Did I get something wrong, but didn't you have to rent the loungers? And they kick you out of them at 5pm???????

Yes and no. You do have to rent but because we'd gotten down there so late, they let us take some abandoned ones for free. We did rent the day before.

Originally Posted by dizneeat

Love that you had a good drink at the pool and enjoyed the pool time.

It was lovely pool time! And an especially lovely margarita.

Originally Posted by dizneeat

Three trips to the store/front desk? Yikes! But at least you got breakfast settled.

It was a bit ridiculous, I'm sure I came across like the most disorganized person ever.

Originally Posted by dizneeat

The photos of Jeff and his Mickey bars are so funny! I quite like the decorated one.

It's a bit creepy, but funny.

Originally Posted by Mndisneygirl

I really want a vacation like that - relax at the beach, relax at the pool, relax at the villa...

Me too! Oh wait I am, in May! Except that will be more relaxing, no trips back and forth worrying about kid stuff or keeping them entertained, or feeding them.

Originally Posted by Mndisneygirl

Well, I'm glad you got all the things you needed and could eventually stay in the villa for the evening! But your poor feet!!! That sounds awful!

I am very glad we stayed in, which had been the plan, but so nice not to deal with the grocery store and cooking, and most importantly figuring out what the heck to cool!

My feet were NOT happy.

Originally Posted by Poolrat

A bice way to end the day - always hit the pool when you are kicked off the beach.

Exactly!

Originally Posted by Poolrat

Boo on the bug bites and the multiple trip to teh front desk.

Yes, major boo. Should have sent Jeff to get the Pizza had I realized.

Originally Posted by Poolrat

YAY on figuring out the dinner and breakfast for the birthday girl.

It was a relief, I was so stressed out about those darn pancakes it was silly!

Originally Posted by Poolrat

on Jeff's "first " Mickey Bar. Maybe his first at the beach.....

Yep, maybe. Just wait, he will have a "first" again one of these days and I'm going to bring those pictures back up.

[saintstickets]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Men!!!! Seriously, it cracks me up what they forget they've done.

We don't forget...we just disremember!

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

Hello! I'm back! And, remarkably, all caught up thanks to your chapter links! I kept running commentary in the notes app on my computer.

I should do that! Great idea (running commentary)

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

I know there are definite downsides, but it always seemed cool to me to have a job the requires travel.

I think it seems far cooler if you haven't done it. It sounds cool, and occasionally there are nice moments but the reality of it isn't fun at all. It's drive to the airport, park, fly, haul stuff, sit in a meeting room all day, maybe eat, fly back, get home late and get up and go to work. usually sleep poorly as you are worried about oversleeping and it's only a night or 2 so you don't really settle in to a room.

The occasional perk like a good meal or sneaking off for a hike can lessen the pain for sure. I used to travel almost 90% of the time, don't miss that at all!

I do miss the miles that used to come with it though!

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

As for Evan thinking you're suprememly awesome for being able to get around the DME line... I have found that every time I've gone to Disney with people who haven't gone more than once or twice in their lives, they are amazed at all the little hints, tips, and tricks I seem to know. Most of which, honestly, I've gotten from peoples' TRs on the boards!

So very very true! My MIL just reached out for me to help her SIL/DIL who booked LAST WEEK for a week over Christmas.



Poor people, I think she may have confused them to death and then I probably overwhelmed them with paranoia with my giant bulliten that said MAKE ADR'S NOW!



I have visions of them, with their 4 kids, with a meal plan they can't use because they can't get in anywhere!

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

Having stayed at OKW I can honestly say it is a beautiful resort and I'm so happy for you that its your home resort. And you were in building 55? We were in 56 right across the parking lot. I thought it was a great location. We were halfway between a bus stop and a pool, although quite a trek from HH.

It isn't my home resort although for a long time I really wanted it to be. If it weren't for the THV advantage, I would prefer it as my home resort to be honest. But I wasn't doing resale, wanted THV and couldn't get what I wanted direct at OKW. It would have been on the table for our add on as well but no inventory.

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

The OKW main pool is definitely cool, although being an all adult group, we never used it. Sigh.

I don't think you need to have kids with you to enjoy the main pool...after all it is right next to the Gurgling Suitcase! Did you use the quiet pool by building 55? The E's did, I never made it in but did take a few pics on the last day there

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

The turtle krawl is super yummy. Our first afternoon, I really wanted a yummy Disney rum drink, as it would make feel like I was truly on vacation, so one of my friends and I trekked to HH and we had Turtle Krawls. It was also when we discovered that you can quickly hop on the Miller's Road stop to get back your villa, rather than go to the front of HH and wait for an internal bus.

Yes, we were clued into that after a bit and then I finally convinced the gang to walk and I didn't think it was far at all, felt like we should have just walked the entire time to be honest.

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

I completely agree with your opinion of Olivia's. It is fantastic. We ate there twice during a very short trip.

The kids REALLY want to go back there on the next trip, it seems like a lot of work if not staying there but we will see. I did love it too!

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

Amazing views from the Vero villa. Wow. I'd love to do a Florida beach vacation one of these days.

The turtlewalk sounds amazing.

It was wonderful all around! Except for the bugs of course.

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

Sorry about the wi-fi connection. Can I just say that Disney's wi-fi is really bad...and to have to get something done, for real...ugh. No doubt that was seriously frustrating.

The wifi is horrible. I didn't really test it at OKW so couldn't compare but had issues at AKV and then at BWV as well. Although at Boardwalk I think it was more the Alaska site than the wifi.

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

The dirt bike trails look gorgeous. All of the pictures are just making me miss Florida, in general.

You got some lovely shots of the beach. I'm surprised it isn't more crowded. Beaches up here are usually wall to wall people in the middle of the summer.

Impressive merman sand sculpture!

Oh...boy...bad bug bites heading into the cruise. Yuck.

It was fairly full right in front of the resort but not at all on either side, it's an awfully long beach that just keeps going and going and going.....

The merman was funny.

The bug bites were NOT.

Originally Posted by tinacaplan

Oh, and I just noticed your ticker...adults at Aulani? Sounds awesome!

Yep! Ditching the kids to have Mai Tai's with Mickey. I can't wait!

Originally Posted by Misskitty3

Oh no about the No See Ums........that doesn't sound good at all!

It wasn't. At all!

Originally Posted by Misskitty3

Great pool pics - looks like heaven!

It was a lovely pool, I really did enjoy it. A bit more crowded in the water itself than was ideal for me but from a lounger, it was just perfect!

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

Happy Belated 16th to Kendall... She is officially a young lady now.. and I hope her pancakes turned out well...

Yep, complete with college visits and all that rot.

Pancake morning will be coming up next

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

Teeny little bug bites... hmmm... Don't like the sound of that too much...

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

Oh we have wine too but since we're having 12 including the 4 of us... 3 children under the age of 10, 3 senior parents... we don't have that many drinks to make... A combo of bourbon, apple cider and ginger ale won... It was very autumnal tasting...

hmmm the eggnog sounds nice... did you doctor up store bought or did you make from scratch... I didn't Dis too much for Thanksgiving and the day after I was in a Turkey/Carb coma... I've got a fire on and am watching the Patrick Stewart version of Christmas Carol...

That does sound autumnal! And yummy. It is store bought eggnog although I do have an amazing from scratch recipe (courtesy of HappyDog) that I will make at some point over the season.

Originally Posted by PracPerfPatricia

I am always happy to enable traveling... If you want I'll give you my short/medium travel bucket list... and you can enable me... and Aulani is definitely on that list so when you write about that I'm sure I'll be planning a trip there sometime in the next several years...

I'd love to trade travel bucket lists! And mutually enable

Originally Posted by Moira222

Wow Cynthia - talk about being overwhelmed with serious worries for loved ones and friends. Prayers for you all that the Holy Spirit is with you all. Your uncle's story is the perfect example of how you never know what the best answer is (who ever heard of praying to lose a leg!) but He does.

Thank you so much we are praying for the swelling to go down, it does sound like the other lower leg needs to come off as well and they aren't sure if they will try a prosthetic before or after that happens or just wait and try both at once. I just pray that all of it stops the infections.

Originally Posted by Moira222

My thought are all jumbled from your updates but YAY for Kendall! How exciting! I hope her UCSD visit goes well too. and a for your couples trip to HI for Aulani. I know you've been wanting to go since they opened. HHOOORRAAYYY

Thanks, it is all exciting

Originally Posted by Moira222

Your Beach afternoon sounds just perfect, and that is a great family shot you have.

sorry you are so tasty to the bugs. Katie and I both get bitten a lot but not as much as you. ow!

Yeah, it's been a problem my whole life. Which is why I was taking all those B vitamins before we left, and then broke out like a teenager, heck almost like I had the measles! Can't win. It is worth it though most of the time to be outside either camping or at the beach or whatever it is, I just have to tough it out for a few days. Evan gets it bad, almost as bad but not quite. Even with spray, I'll get bit.

Originally Posted by Moira222

I chuckle a bit when I see the E's playing in the sand - they are def in that middle territory, not quite a teen but not a little kid either. sigh. it goes so fast! My own girl goes from wanting high heels and her ears pierced to playing with her dolls. I try to just savor the moment.

Eric has a lot more little boy in him still than Evan does but I love seeing those glimpses of it with Evan and we saw a LOT of it on the trip which was just magical.

Originally Posted by Moira222

Hope you are enjoying an extended Thanksgiving weekend. I am finally having a little kick back time...and enjoying the DIS for a bit.

It was lovely. Very very busy (cooked and then cleaned for 20) and then decorated my house, and my mothers. But it was still really nice and I did not want to go back Monday morning!

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by MAGICFOR2

I know the rain wasn't part of your overall plan, but it sounds like it turned out to be a nice, cozy evening. Sorry about the bug bites.

It was a nice cozy evening! Except for the bites. Nothing remotely cozy about those.

Originally Posted by MeMom

Sometimes these can be some of the most needed and memorable nights of a trip.

SO very true. What was truly lovely and memorable about this trip, and different, is that we had several of those kinds of nights. Just quality, laying low evenings. Really special. A no park trip is not such a bad thing.

Originally Posted by MeMom

I can totally relate. I always have to spray before I go to a beach or soccer field or somewhere where these fellas live. I am apparently particularly yummy to them.

Sometimes I think it's part of why I am such a sun worshiper. They like the shade! It isn't much fun, I'm sorry it happens to you too.

Originally Posted by natebenma

Not a bad plan going from beach bums to pool hopping.

Not horrible!

Originally Posted by natebenma

Hmmm, getting soaked on your last night (of that leg of the trip)- that sounds eerily familiar! You are lucky it happened that night and not on the night of your amazing turtle walk!

Well I would say you got far more soaked than I did, I'd have traded squishy shoes for the bug bites that's for sure!

Very lucky it happened on the night it did. We were incredibly lucky all aroudn with when the rain decided to show up over the entire length of the trip.

Originally Posted by natebenma

That was a great demonstration of parenting- making sure the birthday girl got her request, and everyone would have a decent breakfast, even if you had to brave a deluge and killer no-see-ums!

oh the things we do for our kids (that they have NO idea is even going on)

Originally Posted by natebenma

about Jeff thinking this was his first Mickey Bar.

Oh my goodness, he was POSITIVE. It was hysterical.

Originally Posted by brookelizabeth

The creepy Mickey Bar made me laugh out loud! You are right though...he looks crazy!

It was very creepy. sad wierd and melted looking. Good villain though. Mickey's evil twin.

Originally Posted by brookelizabeth

Uh-oh on the no see um's...ughhhhhhhhh!

Uh-oh is right.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Wasting away again...

It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

Actually it was.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Time for Pop Tarts and PB&J!

Except both of those would required a trip to the store. Though we did still have some leftover muffins and cereal all of the "favorites" had been used up.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Uh oh. Signs of old age approaching. The good news is, you can go back to Disney World time and time again and it will be like the first time!

Just wait, he will have one in Aulani and swear it's his first. Any luck on your waitlist? I've heard of some folks having luck with calling daily. Which is a bit of a nightmare but might be worth it if it's an option to do so. What room category were you trying for?

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Yep.

[Millie12591]

Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry you've had all this weighing on you for so long. :hugs: Bless your heart, of course I'll be praying for your family, one of our mutual friends I've already been praying for, the others I will certainly be lifting as well.

It's hard to hold onto faith when so much is hitting all at once, but it's our faith that will see us through, and it will be what holds others up as well. I don't know how much people believe in prayer, but when you ask others for it and you feel a strength come from out of no where...you suddenly realize how strong the Source and the power of prayer truly is.

Hang in there, babe. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you. It takes the support of others to get us through these times.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Just wait, he will have one in Aulani and swear it's his first. Any luck on your waitlist? I've heard of some folks having luck with calling daily. Which is a bit of a nightmare but might be worth it if it's an option to do so. What room category were you trying for?

No, we haven't heard anything from the wait list. I hadn't heard about calling in daily--I'll have to talk to my DVC friend and see if she's willing to go through that haslle for us. I hate to be an inconvenience.

We were trying to keep it as cheap as we could, so we went for a standard view 1-bedroom suite (to accommodate 5 people). We said to book it if they had the next category up for view (Island view, I think?) as well. I think they did have something available but it was only for 2 nights instead of the 3 we wanted, and we didn't want to have to change resorts for that short of a trip.

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

No, we haven't heard anything from the wait list. I hadn't heard about calling in daily--I'll have to talk to my DVC friend and see if she's willing to go through that haslle for us. I hate to be an inconvenience.

We were trying to keep it as cheap as we could, so we went for a standard view 1-bedroom suite (to accommodate 5 people). We said to book it if they had the next category up for view (Island view, I think?) as well. I think they did have something available but it was only for 2 nights instead of the 3 we wanted, and we didn't want to have to change resorts for that short of a trip.

Ah, that explains it. There are actually only 18 1 bedrooms that are in the standard view category and 10 of those are in phase 3 which is under construction right now. Not sure if they are booking those phase 3 rooms yet or not.. If they aren't, it could mean you have a chance on the wait list coming through. I had to call member services this morning on something else anyway. What she said is that they don't get visibility to when rooms for phase 3 are released into inventory but I would think that it's a moving target right now, especially on the Island View Rooms. 30 of those in the first 2 phases, which are open, and then another 57 opening in phase 3. I have heard that some rooms in phase 3 have been given to folks at check in but it's in the "short" wing of Ewa which is only 16 of those 57 1 bedrooms.

Hopefully she is wait listing for both categories as the chances on Island View are a ton better. It's kind of interesting, as once it's fully open the most inventory is either Island, or Ocean. Very few standards and not a lot of Pool. It will be interesting to see if some of the ocean views end up being reclassified as pool, with all the pool view rooms currently basically being the same location as the ocean view...just lower floors.

I assume you are doing other islands as part of the trip? What all have you booked?

[glennbo123]

Looked like a nice night. I'm glad you weren't too distressed over getting rained on; a warm rain isn't too bad.

Too funny that Jeff didn't remember having a Mickey Bar before, but you had photographic proof.

I think there must have been something wrong with your TV. Ours didn't look like that, and I'd think the reception would be from a satellite that serves the whole resort.

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by MEK

Funny how a couple good ritas can make you compromise on your dinner plans. Of course, the rain didn't help much either making it impossible to grill.

True. We could have pan fried them but for 5, that's a pita. the reality is that we were both just so relaxed and content, leaving the property had a major ruin our vibe feel to it and we didn't want to!

Originally Posted by MEK

A perfect solution for the birthday girl - room service.

It was a great idea, I gushed like a crazy person at the CM, I'm sure they thought I was nuts but it had not remotely occurred to me. Going out for breakfast on property wasn't an option either. I suppose it could have been but it was a cost we didn't need especially heading into 4 days of gluttony on the ship and then the DDP when we returned.

Originally Posted by MEK

Oh you bug magnet you. How did you manage to fall asleep? Benadryl and cortisone cream? I have serious issues with bug bites, too. But not that bad. When my cats get fleas even the tiniest bit of flea dirt causes irritation, so I feel your pain trying to sleep.

Sadly, neither of those work. I do have a organic lavendar spray that is part repellent, part cooling spray that does provide some short term relief but everything else is worthless. Lord knows I've tried it all over the years.

I did not sleep well I can tell you that. More like fits of dozing.

Originally Posted by KatMark

Men!!!! Seriously, it cracks me up what they forget they've done.

And I joke I have a brain like a colander.

It's one thhing to forget something I told him (or to have never listened to it in the first place lol) but something they actually did?

Originally Posted by KatMark

What a lovely afternoon. And on figuring out dinner and breakfast for the birthday girl (despite having to go out in the rain numerous times).

It was a lovely afternoon and honestly, as miserable as those bites were, at the time it was totally worth it to not leave the property. Or cook.

Originally Posted by KatMark

Sorry about the bug bites...you do attract them, don't you? It must be because you are so sweet.

So they say. It is something in the blood that smells more attractive to them. So being dirty and smelly is a repllent of it's own as well. I've taken B vitamins in the past as it will alter the smell to them a bit. But that was a fiasco on it's own as you will recall the horrid rash that I got before the trip and I am personally convinced (though the Dermatologist thought otherwise) that the B vitamins were a contributing factor. I just didn't expect them in the rain! On the sidewalk, not in the woods or on the beach.

Originally Posted by englishrose47

As long as it is Cynthia you are calling sweet I will agree, but if Marv gets bug bites ??????

Well since Marv isn't here, we can call him whatever we want.

Originally Posted by OurDogCisco

Fyi, if you go to Maui this place on Napili Bay is pretty in expensive. It has a full kitchen but only a 1 bedroom. The living room has a couch bed and a chair sleeper. So, the kids could sleep in their own space and the most beautiful beach is just a couple hundred yards away. You can snorkel with the turtles, too. This place is my slice of heaven.

http://www.outrigger.com/hotels-reso...-napili-shores

Here's a picture of the beach out front. Amazing...

[IMG][/IMG]

that is lovely! This is a couples trip, no kids, and just to Oahu this time as with DVC it makes it a very reasonable trip. But I've used Outrigger before on the Big Island and was very very happy with our condo, reasonable and just lovely! Next trip will be with the kids. Historically we've used an Aston condo in Maui, up by Kanaapali but I will keep this one in mind, as the one we stay at really doesn't have that much of a beach as much as we like the location.

Originally Posted by Chilly

oh my feet are itching just thinking about it, hope it doesn't last!

It was rather miserable.

[eandesmom]

Originally Posted by glennbo123

Looked like a nice night. I'm glad you weren't too distressed over getting rained on; a warm rain isn't too bad.

I don't mind warm rain at all and besides, I'd been in the ocean and the pool and was dressed for it, hat, flip flops and all.

Originally Posted by glennbo123

Too funny that Jeff didn't remember having a Mickey Bar before, but you had photographic proof.

I am still betting he has one in Aulani and swears it's the first one.

Originally Posted by glennbo123

I think there must have been something wrong with your TV. Ours didn't look like that, and I'd think the reception would be from a satellite that serves the whole resort.

If memory serves the TV issue really was the worst on whatever channel the Olympics were on. Which seemed crazy to us. The kids watched Jane by Design that night and it seems to me that it was just fine. Wierd.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Ah, that explains it. There are actually only 18 1 bedrooms that are in the standard view category and 10 of those are in phase 3 which is under construction right now. Not sure if they are booking those phase 3 rooms yet or not.. If they aren't, it could mean you have a chance on the wait list coming through. I had to call member services this morning on something else anyway. What she said is that they don't get visibility to when rooms for phase 3 are released into inventory but I would think that it's a moving target right now, especially on the Island View Rooms. 30 of those in the first 2 phases, which are open, and then another 57 opening in phase 3. I have heard that some rooms in phase 3 have been given to folks at check in but it's in the "short" wing of Ewa which is only 16 of those 57 1 bedrooms.

I see. Didn't realize the number was so low. I think she did wait list us for either standard or island view, so maybe that will help our chances. Fingers crossed. Given the points chart and the cost of renting points, I didn't feel like we could justify the cost of the pool/ocean view rooms. This would all be moot if they would just build the hotel rooms to hold 5 people!

Originally Posted by eandesmom

I assume you are doing other islands as part of the trip? What all have you booked?

I can't give away all of that; then you'd skip the last chapter of my TR!

We are hoping to do 4 islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai. It's ambitious, but we have a couple of aces up our sleeve keeping some costs down. So far we have our flights out booked and paid for (or miles used), and I have a hotel on the big island and a condo in Kauai rented. Baby steps...