PTR....Universal Adventures of Dreams and an Expanding world part 2 About This Page:

[jenseib]

I missed a mile stone day! I am under 200 days now before we fly down and set sail! Everyone say YAY!!!!

I thought I would post a couple more off topic pictures since I haven't had time to do a real update lately.

On Sunday I went out to breakfast with my parents, who had Claire and my 2 nieces overnight (I bet my parents were beat after that).

It was so cute, because Claire and Alexis both got hot chocolate with whipped cream and choco-chips on top. Abby was mad she didn't get any, so Mom ordered her one too. I told the waitress to just get her a bowl of whipped cream and she would be happy. The waitress did, and Abby LOVES whipped cream for breakfast....I bet my sister wanted to kill me.

I took this picture with my phone.



Mom took Abby back to my sisters after we ate, but I was going to take Claire for a walk at a nearby Metro park. Alexis wanted to come too, and my sister said it was ok, so off we went. Here are some pictures I took while we were there.





This is a mansion on the property. This was all part of the Stranahan Estate at one time. (Champion spark plug owners). After they died in the 60's the area just sat empty for several years then Toledo Metro parks bought most of the land (probably about 2/3rds) and made it a metro park. You can tour the house as well, which we did. The girls loved it and wished they had a house this big to play hide and seek in!



























We also saw 3 snakes while out and about....lets just say I was the biggest chicken about that! Alexis said she loved snakes...till one was right next to her and scared the bejeezus out of her.

[cubfancolleen]

Beautiful park & house - I especially love the bleeding hearts.
Snakes, yuck! We have lots of copperheads this spring - my son just found one on our driveway this afternoon. Eewwww!

[Cam22]

Very nice pictures from the park!

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Beautiful park & house - I especially love the bleeding hearts.
Snakes, yuck! We have lots of copperheads this spring - my son just found one on our driveway this afternoon. Eewwww!

It is such a beautiful house. My grandfather had told me when he was young, kids would go and work in the yard for like 25 cents and hour. He did it and he said it was big money. LOL
And my MIL had a great Aunt who was a live in maid there and she said there were a few times where she got to go and play there with other kids.

Originally Posted by Cam22

Very nice pictures from the park!

Thanks!

[jenseib]

I know I'm slacking on my planning updates....so before I go on with the cruise days...I am going to tell you about what my new flying down plan is.


Yep, already making changes. It's been brought to my attention that it appears the last Halloween party at WDW is going to be held on Nov. 2. Well my plan is to fly down the 3rd, possibly the 2nd if I got a good rate.

No "great" rates are out yet, but I can fly out of Columbus on Southwest for a decent rate...and change it to a lower price if it drops. on the 2nd. I talked to my sister in Columbus and she said she would be happy to have Claire and I come down the night of the 1st and spend the night and then take us to the airport at the buttcrack of dawn...YES... the flight LEAVES at 7:20 AM. I have never flown out so early EVER, but then we could get to the resort, rest up, hopefully and go to the party in the evening. I am 99% sure I am going to do this.
I haven't booked a room ,and I think I will wait for now and see if any discounts come out, but most likely I'll stay at a value.
I have to double check, but I think I can take ME back to the airport then ion the 3rd and meet up with the family and head over to the port area with them then and go on as planned.
I may never have a chance to go to MNSSHP again, so I might as well since it's seems to be perfect timimg.
I'm pretty excited about this.

[Cam22]

Sounds like some good work re-planning the flights!

[ilovedisney247]

Good luck with the flights and planning--hope you get to do the party!

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by Cam22

Sounds like some good work re-planning the flights!

Originally Posted by ilovedisney247

Good luck with the flights and planning--hope you get to do the party!

I haven't purchased the flight yet, but I do have a hotel room now!

[jenseib]

Day 2 of the cruise, which is now Day 4 of my trip........

This is the day we stop at Nassau.





As you know, I am an early riser on vacations. I have connecting rooms with my parents, so I'll leave our door cracked so if Claire wakes she can go in there and go off to take pictures of the ship.



This is such a peaceful and wonderful time to explore.





We are supposed to be in Nassau at 9:30, so I'll grab breakfast and try to wake sleeping beauty up so we can get off the ship.





Right now I am undecided on if we will do an excursion and if so which one. I am leaning towards doing the Atlantis Aquarium. Skip and I did this many years ago and enjoyed it.







I do want to try and shop around town a bit this time too. We'll see how things go.

I think my parents and other family members are going to do the city tour. Skip and I also did this, and though it's interesting, Claire would be bored out of her mind.

After a day of fun we'll head back to the ship. We'll see if there are any character meets and perhaps hit a few of those.







If the line isn't too bad, we might hit the AquaDuck as well.



Before too long it will be time for dinner. I am not super excited about early dinner. We eat late at home and we just have found we like eating later on the ship as well, but with the family going along, we had to do what worked best for them and we will have a couple of little ones who will need an early bed time.





The show tonight should be Villians Tonight. I was not a big fan of this show last time. I am not sure if I will go again or not, especially since DCL no longer allows you to take pictures at the shows. Claire, on the other hand loved it, so if I don't go, I'll send her off with family members who do go to see it.







We'll just hang out for the rest of the evening. Maybe take a look at the shops. Claire may go off to the kids club for awhile. If so, I might check out the bars. I never had much of a chance to do so last time.













There might be time for another late night swim too.



Then off to bed.

[jenseib]

Back tracking now to the NEW day 1.

I plan to book the only direct flight out of Columbus on SW. It leaves very early, but we will have a full day at Disney then, which is nice.

I believe we arrive at MCO at 9:30 AM. I expect to be at our resort with in 2 hours. It usually has taken less time, but I like to just be prepared incase it takes longer.

Which resort you ask? Well I was going to wait and think it over.........yeah I'm not good with waiting. I decided to pick a resort that Claire has pointed out many times over in my brochures..."Mom can we PLEASE stay here some day?"...."I really love this place, can we try stay there?"













Does this ring a bell?











Well if you couldn't tell by the pictures....It's Animal Kingdom Lodge!

Claire has pointed this resort out over and over. She wants to see the animals and go in that pool. I had always told her that we could probably swing it for 1 night during a trip....this is going to be that 1 night. We are actually staying in the DVC part, but in Jambo. I just booked a standard room. Now I would love to have a savanah view, but I couldn't justify the price enough.

We did note that we will arrive early. Of course there is no guarentee that our room will be ready before 4.
We will get checked in and then if the room is ready stop off there, if not, we'll do some exploring and Claire will want to swim. We will probably get lunch there at some point. I looked at the selections and they aren't fabulous for Quick Service, but they will do. Actually I didn't mind them, but Claire might not like it so much.

If our room is ready early, we will try and get a little nap in. It will be a long day and it would be best if Claire got at least a 45 minute rest in before we go like wild dogs again.

We should be able to get into the party at 4PM, so the plan right now is to head over there then so we can get as much MK time in as possible.

Now I have never done a party, but have read about them on TR's....that being said, I have a LOT of research to do for myself. I know the parade is a must for us. Also I would like to dress up, so we need to decided on something we both agree on. I also don't want to really spend much money on a costume for myself that may never be worn again.

I do plan to stay at the party till closing if all goes well.
The next day we head off to the port and basically will be a lazy day, meeting up with family. I'll let Claire sleep in if possible.
When we have to leave will depend on when my family arrives at MCO.

I do hope we get to the port area early enough to see the Fantasy though!

[Big Baloo]

Fabulous news on the stay at AKL! When we stayed there, (about 6 yrs now) my DD was about the same age that Claire is now, and was perfectly satisfied with the offerings from the Mara. And she was/is a very picky eater (we joke that she lives on air and chicken fingers).

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by Big Baloo

Fabulous news on the stay at AKL! When we stayed there, (about 6 yrs now) my DD was about the same age that Claire is now, and was perfectly satisfied with the offerings from the Mara. And she was/is a very picky eater (we joke that she lives on air and chicken fingers).

Thats good. Claire can too. I just hate seeing her eat the same thing over and over. I thought about sharing a meal with her (I see they have a half chicken with rice and stew). That way, maybe she'll try new things. And I hate wasting food, so a lot of times we do share a counter service meal. We might eat more often, but at least we're not throwing away money.
Last year she insisted on P & J and I got the regular chicken strips. I should've gotten the kids portion or gave her n choice and had her share. We threw a lot of it away because it was too much for us to eat.

I haven't mentioned this to Claire at all either. I'll probably keep it a surprise...unless I slip up. But it's so far out that I don't want her bugging me about it. I already showed her AoA pictures and all I hear now is how she wants a little mermaid room (we are booked there for 3 nights and she knows it.)

[mcc0313]

Love the change in plans, how great you will be able to head over early and enjoy the MNSSHP. Love your choice of resorts....we love AKL, Jambo is our home resort and the girls never want to leave. They always enjoy the Mara but another idea, you could always walk over and do an early lunch at Sanaa...we love starting our trips there.

[jenseib]

Originally Posted by mcc0313

Love the change in plans, how great you will be able to head over early and enjoy the MNSSHP. Love your choice of resorts....we love AKL, Jambo is our home resort and the girls never want to leave. They always enjoy the Mara but another idea, you could always walk over and do an early lunch at Sanaa...we love starting our trips there.

Thanks for that suggestion. I'll check out the menu and see if it has anything she'll eat.

[Cam22]

Just catching up! Plans are looking great!