AKV CL PTR/TR - taking practically first timers -TR starts on P. 17 (completed)

[Pinkocto]

Originally Posted by MEK

Pam, I am glad that you are behind on your TR, because that gave me time to catch up.

I love your safari pictures. I can't believe you got a pic with 4 giraffes. That is SO cool.

And the concierge spread just keeps getting better and better. I want to stay there SO badly now. You have no idea.

I feel so slow on this one. I read the journal to see what comes next, and there's so many negative feelings I find myself not wanting to write about them

The giraffes were so still I almost didn't notice them. It was really cool to see them so close.

I don't blame you, the CL is really fabulous. I can't wait to be back in March.

[Pinkocto]

Originally Posted by MEK

Oh and Pepper Market - yum. Your food looks great. I don't remember the arctic temps there in June. hmmmmm.... And too bad about the problem with the Caesar salad. Looks great though.

It was fun to go back, we really had a fabulous trip with our dad when we stayed there. The food was really good. R had the rest of his for breakfast. The whole salad thing was so bizarre. I was surprised he waited that long for it.

[Pinkocto]

Originally Posted by dolphingirl47

I am sorry that your evening turned out to be less than magical, but yay for the Pixie Dust. I wonder if it was similar Pixie Dust from what we had a couple of years ago.

Corinna

That Pixie Dust was so amazing. I wish I could tell the story, but I don't know if she would somehow get in trouble. She was our saving angel that night.

[dgbg100106]

Originally Posted by Pinkocto

It does not sound bad at all. I understand exactly what you mean.

My most immediate problem is that I invited some friends to join me on one of next years trips and now I'm really regretting it.

Pam, I am really sorry to hear that you are regretting it already. Hopefully by the time that trip comes around you will have forgotten all thee bad about this one.


And that trip will turn out to be wonderful!

[Leshaface]

Finally all caught up! I'm slowly getting around to reading everyone's TR's.

Okay first off, I know i've said this before, but i'll say it again. You truly do take the most amazing pics. I'm especially loving the one with the sunrise coming up over a fence. Gorgeous! You take artistic pics and I like that!

The spread of food looks AH-MAZING! I totally wish we could do concierge for this trip. Maybe next time.

I was getting so frustrated reading about R and M and them always being late or something. Ugh. And i'm so sorry about this last update not being the very best end to the day. Hopefully your next update will be a little easier and nicer.

And last off...YAY for a last minute cruise!!!

[Pinkocto]

Originally Posted by Leshaface

Finally all caught up! I'm slowly getting around to reading everyone's TR's.

You have the best reason for being behind on reading.

Originally Posted by Leshaface

Okay first off, I know i've said this before, but i'll say it again. You truly do take the most amazing pics. I'm especially loving the one with the sunrise coming up over a fence. Gorgeous! You take artistic pics and I like that!

Thank you so much I have never been awake early enough at Disney to catch a sunrise. I stood out there for a while and thought, I needed proof of this moment

Originally Posted by Leshaface

The spread of food looks AH-MAZING! I totally wish we could do concierge for this trip. Maybe next time.

It's definitely worth it. And so nice not having to take the wallet out as often. It really saves a lot of money for us. That's one of the things I loved about cruising.

Originally Posted by Leshaface

I was getting so frustrated reading about R and M and them always being late or something. Ugh. And i'm so sorry about this last update not being the very best end to the day. Hopefully your next update will be a little easier and nicer.

They were driving me crazy!!! All sense of time had gone out the window. It didn't occur to them that we were always waiting. We finally left them later in the trip, it was just getting ridiculous. The next update has its own drama

Originally Posted by Leshaface

And last off...YAY for a last minute cruise!!!

. I'm so excited about it!!! The price was too good to pass up. I can start booking things this coming Saturday. I really want to do the sealion excursion in Nassau but not sure if it will be too cold.

[Pinkocto]

Originally Posted by dgbg100106

Pam, I am really sorry to hear that you are regretting it already. Hopefully by the time that trip comes around you will have forgotten all thee bad about this one.


And that trip will turn out to be wonderful!

I'm trying to figure out a way to tactfully change plans. I'd really like an alone trip and am thinking if I can change dates and/or just invite them for a long weekend it would be much better. They're very good friends and I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun whatever happens. Fingers are crossed

[Leshaface]

Originally Posted by Pinkocto

They were driving me crazy!!! All sense of time had gone out the window. It didn't occur to them that we were always waiting. We finally left them later in the trip, it was just getting ridiculous. The next update has its own drama

. I'm so excited about it!!! The price was too good to pass up. I can start booking things this coming Saturday. I really want to do the sealion excursion in Nassau but not sure if it will be too cold.

Oh gosh, bring on the drama we're ready to hear it!

Have you looked at the weather for that time of year yet? One of my friends goes to the Bahamas EVERY January for the past 10 years because the weather is so nice and warm. It should be great when you go!

[franandaj]

For similar reasons, we do not do resort to resort dinner transfers anymore. That's one thing that will be nice about staying at BLT, we have the monorail resort for or dinners that we don't make in the room.

It sounds like they were incredibly frustrating to travel with. I think if we travel with others in the future, we will set ground rules prior to booking and one will be "we are not to be joined at the hip and tied to the same schedule and pace!"

Just keep remembering the good and try not to let the frustrating get in the way!

[dgbg100106]

Originally Posted by Pinkocto

I'm trying to figure out a way to tactfully change plans. I'd really like an alone trip and am thinking if I can change dates and/or just invite them for a long weekend it would be much better. They're very good friends and I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun whatever happens. Fingers are crossed

Maybe invite them for the last part of the trip...

That way you have your time upfront and then they can join you!

[dgbg100106]

Originally Posted by franandaj

For similar reasons, we do not do resort to resort dinner transfers anymore. That's one thing that will be nice about staying at BLT, we have the monorail resort for or dinners that we don't make in the room.

It sounds like they were incredibly frustrating to travel with. I think if we travel with others in the future, we will set ground rules prior to booking and one will be "we are not to be joined at the hip and tied to the same schedule and pace!"

Just keep remembering the good and try not to let the frustrating get in the way!

that was our rules too but it did not always work.

but it really did work great for us about 3 years ago when David's sister joined us for the last third of our vacation, we had been and seen and done what we wanted and ready to relax and she was doing all the running around and did not have time for us.

[Pinkocto]

We’ve made it to the 3rd day of vacation. The plans were to go to the Magic Kingdom. I woke up around 7:40 and mom not too long after that. We took the short walk out to the CL, have I mentioned how fabulous it was to be on the same floor. If not it was absolutely fabulous. I had some pastries while mom had some coffee. There was not a peep from R & M so we headed down to the pool around 9:15. Stayed for about an hour, I actually got in the water, usually I just lounge in the sun. I like to be really hot before swimming so it must have started out being another scorcher. Mom started to get hungry so we went up before they took breakfast away. I’m pretty sure R & M had their leftovers from the Pepper Market for breakfast. They really enjoyed having the fridge and microwave in the kitchenette. We started to head out and I asked R & M if they had remembered ther anniversary buttons that had been waiting in their room on check-in day. They kept forgetting them and today was no different so M raced back to the room to grab them. We headed out to MK around 11:40 and made it there around noon. I was a bit worried that we were yet again starting the day off late, but it ended up being a very productive day.

I have never been to WDW while any of the Fall decorations have been up, so this was an unexpected treat.













I was just loving all the details.









I was so enthralled I was just taking pictures left and right and completely left the others behind. You can see M’s green shirt in the middle of the picture





I must have stopped and waited for them to catch up.



My one and only balloon picture of the trip.



I thought it was pretty nice these pumpkins had found themselves some chairs to lounge in.



The lack of people was just fantastic.



I have never been inside this restaurant before. I’m always in such a rush to get further into the park or trying to leave before the crowds. I think a milkshake is in order the next time I’m there.






Photobucket is being really glitchy right now so I'll try to do another update later on.

[Pinkocto]

Originally Posted by Leshaface

Oh gosh, bring on the drama we're ready to hear it!

Have you looked at the weather for that time of year yet? One of my friends goes to the Bahamas EVERY January for the past 10 years because the weather is so nice and warm. It should be great when you go!

Drama to come shortly, no worries

That's wonderful to hear about the weather. I looked it up and the average is 78 degrees in January. Hopefully it won't be too cold in the water.

[Pinkocto]

Originally Posted by franandaj

For similar reasons, we do not do resort to resort dinner transfers anymore. That's one thing that will be nice about staying at BLT, we have the monorail resort for or dinners that we don't make in the room.

I just didn't think about how much time it would take to finally get there and back, especially after the parks are closed and you have to take a DTD and then get a resort bus. If that wonderful CM hadn't come along I don't even want to think about how long it would have taken us to get home.

Originally Posted by franandaj

It sounds like they were incredibly frustrating to travel with. I think if we travel with others in the future, we will set ground rules prior to booking and one will be "we are not to be joined at the hip and tied to the same schedule and pace!"

I tried to convince them that they didn't need to be with us every second but they just kept resisting. Finally we just left them, thankfully. No doubt about it, it was very frustrating.

Originally Posted by franandaj

Just keep remembering the good and try not to let the frustrating get in the way!

I try to remember the good I'm glad we were able to do this together, it was good quality family time. I think if we ever do something again it will probably be a cruise. That way I can just say, lets meet up for dinner and any other time do what you want... Maybe in a couple years.

[dgbg100106]

Beautiful pictures so far! Love the update, ready for the drama