Pinch me, did it REALLY happen????? - All wrapped up, and yes, it DID happen!

[lisaviolet]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Enjoy. I look forward to seeing the food porn from this trip.

Me too!

[dolphingirl47]

Checking in. Your plans sound great. I hope that everything will work out.

Corinna

[dgbg100106]

A little late But I am here!!!!

[Leshaface]

I'm here, and you WILL make this trip happen!

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by rentayenta

I'm in!

Nice beef.

Your plans look great. Can't wait to live vicariously.

Thanks! Glad you could make it!

Originally Posted by Hawleys

Hold up...you're CHECKING the roast?!?! What if your luggage gets lost! Why not take it in your carry on in an insulated bag with ice? We bring fresh fish from Seattle to Oakland that way all the time.

Also, a huge hurrah that this trip may finally happen.

And finally, subbing.

I'd have to check it. Although it does add an extra 5-6 lbs to our already overpacked suitcases.

We can't fit it in our carry ons. Between the bag of meds, our computers, my "purse" and all that we barely make it on the plane. That reminds me I will have a question for you all later on purses/Dooney bags and how to pack carry ons....

Originally Posted by eandesmom

Well, you might be at the freezing temp at 30K feet but then again, you could be in an air conditioned cargo hold and there is no way to know. Worst case you are at fridge temp. I'd wrap it with the frozen gel pack kind of ice sheets, stick it in a insulated tote and then in my luggage. And then yeah, you want it to thaw out but ideally not really start till you get it in the fridge at RPH. DVC is great about sticking cold stuff in the fridge right away even if your villa isn't ready, theoretically if it's still mostly frozen when you land, it'll defrost at RPH in the fridge (I'd definitely ask for one as you don't want it to spoil and refreshing the ice would be a total pita) and can go straight to the fridge at the villa.

It is economical, I'm just cracking up. Between Jenny's giant bag of marshmallow fluff and all that, you both put me to shame in the food packing category!

That's a good thing to consider! I will definitely pack it up good in an insulated bag with ice packs that are falling apart so that I can jetison them at the resort.

Originally Posted by rentayenta

I see nothing abnormal about packing a roast. I also had 20+ bags of groceries and a full carry on full of food.

Wow! When I see it in print, I feel a little proud.

You are definitely an overachiever! I couldn't carry on any more than our normal compliment though, it's hard enough to travel with our meds and other stuff, much less a roast!

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Holy Cow, Batman!!! That's a lot of meat!


Enjoy. I look forward to seeing the food porn from this trip.

Hey that's got to last us all of 2013! That's like one a month plus the last of the 2012 roasts. We ate one already and will eat the other in WDW!

Originally Posted by nunzia

Looking forward to it since we all just got our land legs back after the cruise report I really want to see Harry Potter also but since I hate flying Florida is far, far away. Looking forward to Harry opening (someday) at Universal CA. Wish the train went to WDW easier so until I figure out a way to visit I will live through your report. Hope it goes off without a hitch!

They have been rumoring that there will be a Harry Potter land in CA, wonder what part of the working studio they will demolish for that? Probably doesn't matter now since all the filming has been outsourced to Canada anyways. Fran has talked about driving to WDW, she likes road trips. Hope I can provide you some vicarious living! Yes I do hope that this goes off without a hitch!

Originally Posted by TruBlu

I'm in! Anybody that travels with a suitcase full of meat has my full attention!

I can't believe what a topic of conversation my meat has become! I hope it lives up to it's glory! Glad to have you aboard!

Originally Posted by lisaviolet

Me too!

I know you love the food porn!

Originally Posted by dolphingirl47

Checking in. Your plans sound great. I hope that everything will work out.

Corinna

Thanks! Glad to have you here!

Originally Posted by dgbg100106

A little late But I am here!!!!

Better late than never! We haven't even broken out the germ killer yet!

Originally Posted by Leshaface

I'm here, and you WILL make this trip happen!

Thanks, today it seems even more like it's happening than yesterday. I'm glad I started this Pre Trip report! The moral support is helping. I have a few more ideas to help get me in the spirit. I hope I have the time (in addition to finishing my Destination D trip report!)

[TruBlu]

Originally Posted by franandaj

That's a good thing to consider! I will definitely pack it up good in an insulated bag with ice packs that are falling apart so that I can jetison them at the resort.

I make my own! It keeps me from yelling at my kids when they accidentally throw them away!

You just need rubbing alcohol and water. I double bag it in case it leaks. I think I use 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water... Guess they haven't been throwing them away lately! You just want enough alcohol to keep the water soft after it freezes. They get super cold & work great! :

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

[MomToPrincePhillip]

I'm joining in too! I followed your Wonder TR and really enjoyed it and getting to know you and Fran.
My Auntie came to visit us for Christmas and she packed a prime rib in her luggage too, and I thought she was crazy, so maybe I owe her an apology, seems like she's not the only one to do this! It worked out fine for my aunt so I can't wait to here how your meat makes the trip

[usnuzuloose]

I made it! Can't wait to hear if the meats make it

[dgbg100106]

Originally Posted by franandaj

Better late than never! We haven't even broken out the germ killer yet!

I am so ready for some germ killer...

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by TruBlu

I make my own! It keeps me from yelling at my kids when they accidentally throw them away!

You just need rubbing alcohol and water. I double bag it in case it leaks. I think I use 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water... Guess they haven't been throwing them away lately! You just want enough alcohol to keep the water soft after it freezes. They get super cold & work great! :

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

That's good to know. I found so many of them on the counter yesterday that I'm not going to worry about it for this time. Now that we don't get refrigerated meds in the mail we don't have as many, but we used to get two new ones every month for about two years.

Originally Posted by MomToPrincePhillip

I'm joining in too! I followed your Wonder TR and really enjoyed it and getting to know you and Fran.
My Auntie came to visit us for Christmas and she packed a prime rib in her luggage too, and I thought she was crazy, so maybe I owe her an apology, seems like she's not the only one to do this! It worked out fine for my aunt so I can't wait to here how your meat makes the trip

Glad to have you over here! Good for your Auntie! We always bring one with us up to my parents house at Christmas, but we drive there and have a cooler. I've read about other people packing meat in their luggage for the trip to WDW and decided "why not?"

Originally Posted by usnuzuloose

I made it! Can't wait to hear if the meats make it

Glad to have you over here Usnuz!

Originally Posted by dgbg100106

I am so ready for some germ killer...

And it's still early in the morning!

[franandaj]

So none of these resorts are new to us. We have stayed at all three of these places before at one time or another. In an effort to generate my own excitement I'm going to post some pictures from my previous visits. When we originally booked at the RPH in 2010 we had booked a standard room. In 2011 when I rebooked the room, standard was not available. A year earlier I had already paid the tariff for one night. Upgrading to a pool view was only $40 OOP, so what the heck! Then in 2012 when rebooking, only CL rooms were available. Again it was a mere $40 to upgrade the first night. We will have to pay for the second night (and the outrageous parking fees) when we check in, but since so much of it was paid for years ago it doesn't hurt as bad.

This was our room when we stayed last time. I can't really tell from the website if CL rooms are located in a specific area or just a certain number of rooms have lounge access. It was considered a standard or garden view room.







This is the view off the lobby. I remember thinking how beautiful this fountain display was. However this was before ever setting foot in a DVC resort. It IS beautiful, but I wonder if I’m not a little jaded now after having stayed at six different DVC resorts.



As you approach the hotel from the valets there are these cute little frog guys playing percussion instruments. I have a ton of pictures of them, but I’ll save posting any for the real TR when perhaps I will get some more “interesting” poses than last time.

I’ve found that since becoming a DVC snob, I don’t enjoy regular hotel rooms nearly as much as my DVC Villas, so it will be interesting to see how this goes. At least it’s only two nights before we move on to our luxurious villa at Kidani. I can’t wait to revisit my pictures from there again!

[Pinkocto]

I'm here for the new adventure! Fingers are crossed everything goes perfectly to plan.

[dolphingirl47]

The RPH looks lovely. I know what you mean though about becoming a DVC snob. It feels strange now to stay in an ordinary hotel.

Corinna

[rentayenta]

Originally Posted by franandaj

So none of these resorts are new to us. We have stayed at all three of these places before at one time or another. In an effort to generate my own excitement I'm going to post some pictures from my previous visits. When we originally booked at the RPH in 2010 we had booked a standard room. In 2011 when I rebooked the room, standard was not available. A year earlier I had already paid the tariff for one night. Upgrading to a pool view was only $40 OOP, so what the heck! Then in 2012 when rebooking, only CL rooms were available. Again it was a mere $40 to upgrade the first night. We will have to pay for the second night (and the outrageous parking fees) when we check in, but since so much of it was paid for years ago it doesn't hurt as bad.

This was our room when we stayed last time. I can't really tell from the website if CL rooms are located in a specific area or just a certain number of rooms have lounge access. It was considered a standard or garden view room.

This is the view off the lobby. I remember thinking how beautiful this fountain display was. However this was before ever setting foot in a DVC resort. It IS beautiful, but I wonder if I’m not a little jaded now after having stayed at six different DVC resorts.

As you approach the hotel from the valets there are these cute little frog guys playing percussion instruments. I have a ton of pictures of them, but I’ll save posting any for the real TR when perhaps I will get some more “interesting” poses than last time.

I’ve found that since becoming a DVC snob, I don’t enjoy regular hotel rooms nearly as much as my DVC Villas, so it will be interesting to see how this goes. At least it’s only two nights before we move on to our luxurious villa at Kidani. I can’t wait to revisit my pictures from there again!

I third the DVC snobiness.

I think the room and lobby look nice from your last trip. It'll be fun to try something new though and you can't go wrong with concierge level.

I enjoy the familiarity of staying at the same resort. We've only stayed in 4 DVC resorts so far; OKW, GCV, AKV (both Kidani and Jambo), and the THV. I'm excited to try them all at some point.

Are you using Garden Grocer?

[franandaj]

Originally Posted by Pinkocto

I'm here for the new adventure! Fingers are crossed everything goes perfectly to plan.

Glad you made it over here!

Originally Posted by dolphingirl47

The RPH looks lovely. I know what you mean though about becoming a DVC snob. It feels strange now to stay in an ordinary hotel.

Corinna

I know isn't it funny? The last extended hotel stay that I did was at the Anaheim Hilton for the D23 Expo in 2010. I found it very difficult working out meals and stuff without the benefit of the kitchen or the kitchenette! I was making salads in the bathroom and the plug in cooler we brought was perched on the dresser and the food I had stuffed in there kept falling out all over the place!

Originally Posted by rentayenta

I third the DVC snobiness.

I think the room and lobby look nice from your last trip. It'll be fun to try something new though and you can't go wrong with concierge level.

I enjoy the familiarity of staying at the same resort. We've only stayed in 4 DVC resorts so far; OKW, GCV, AKV (both Kidani and Jambo), and the THV. I'm excited to try them all at some point.

Are you using Garden Grocer?

Hopefully by the end of the year, I will have stayed at all the Theme Park DVCs. If you count THV and SSR as two different places that would make seven resorts. I have not been to Hilton Head, or Vero Beach and don't really intend to. Aulani on the other hand is a different story!

We are shopping ourselves instead of using Garden Grocer.