Last Trip? It was until we met Food & Wine -- Recap 2/12

[PhoenixStrength]

Kona looks so yummy, especially the Tonga Toast. George and I went back and forth between eating there and Boma and we found a good time for Boma so we are eating there.

The pictures of the animals at AK Lodge just strengthen my resolve that I will stay there one day! I'm sure you were in heaven with all of those giraffes just outside your room!

 

[jenseib]

Nice start to the day. You really had a lot of wonderful Animal shots!

 

[disneygirlll]

I can so relate to your comment about hair and Florida humidity. ugh

Sweet recap and pictures of your Kona breakfast. After many Disney trips, I’ve yet to eat there. Tonga Toast and pressed pot coffee are on my Disney bucket list.

Mark miscounted his socks. Oh yeah. Good orchestrated plan on getting Mickey socks Mark.

Love the Lion King tile in the bathroom (and YOUR bathtub).

Distraction is good pain medicine, including emotional pain. You are wise to take a break and think “happy thoughts”. Sending thoughts and prayers your way during this difficult time.

 

[MonsterWDWmom]

Yes Florida humidity was not good for my hair either, I think I had it in a messy bun the entire time!

Your breakfast looks like it was so good, I hope to try eating there one day.

By the way I love the pictures of Mark with the hats on!

 

[eandesmom]

I love that, MY bathtub

Breakfast looked fabulous and well, even if the rain changed the plans it still seems like a lovely and restful morning. Which really, is what vacation is all about

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hi Kathy - I'm a bit behind, thank you for chapter links so I could catch up.

First and foremost - Prayers and hugs for your mom and your family. I hope she is comfortable and you all can find some peace and solace. Hang in there!

Back to your trip - Such good CMs you have had so far!
Bonus FPs, great room location, cupcakes and pictures at Kona, a meet with Cynthia and Jeff!!! WOW! I've had the pleasure of meeting Cynthia a couple times and she is just wonderful! She's the kind of person you meet and instantly feel like you've known her forever.

I'm sorry we didn't get to meet up while you were there - we just missed by a few hours and we ended up at YC instead of AKL anyway. Maybe another time.
We had our share of rain too. Oh well, that's what ponchos are for!
I'm sure there was more, but I guess that's all I can think of now. I'll try to keep up!

 

[saintstickets]

Kat...I've been back a week since our DCL/WDW trip and finally got around to visiting the DISboards to try and get caught up. First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I had a very similar situation with my mom two years ago. Just know that there are many, many people with you in spirit and praying for strength, understanding and peace for your mom, you and your family.

As usual, I am enjoying the details of your TR and look forward to more. Soon I'll have to start my own TR!

 

[RGirl]

Hi Kathy,

I am so very sorry to hear about your mother. I hope that she continues to be comfortable and peaceful. You are both in my thoughts.

* * * * * * *

Oh, a stay at Kidani Village! So jealous - one day, we WILL stay at AKL with a savannah view. I hope! And oh my! Your room and view are AMAZING!!!

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful CM Jon is - how special. I’m so glad that you got that extra pixie dust right at the start of your trip. :

What a great first night at DHS! The Tune In Lounge seems like a really fun place. And a DIS meet - always great!!!

Awww - I love the anniversary pics that your Kona server took - so cute!

Wow - I can’t believe we have never visited the gift shop at AKL. We always visit the resort for a meal. How in the world have we missed the shop??? Mark got some particularly stunning hate photos there!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Nice start to your TR! Love how the CM at AKL worked things out for you! I love how the PD can just find you - that's because you are so deserving!
Great views of my buds the giraffes!!!

Nice DISmeet with Cynthia and Jeff! Interesting that the Frozen Fireworks were at DHS.

Thinking about you and praying for your mom, Kathy. Praying she is not in pain, and that God's peace and strength will fall on you.

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

I love your encounters thus far!

I am thinking of you and your mom.*HUGS*

 

[KatMark]

Wonderful trip update! Glad your mom is holding her own, and you may get more time with her than initially anticipated. These will be precious moments for all of you, and I pray you will be able to make the MOST of it!

Thanks, Connie.

Your breakfast looks DELICIOUS!!! And I will try one of those Kona pressed pots one of these days. They must be good, they sure are a thing of legend on the Disboards. Nice little anniversary treat, too. Love that she added umbrellas!

It was delicious; we really like it there. The Pressed Pots are worth the trip itself. We had a really sweet waitress.

All of the photos and comments about the construction at the Poly are so sad. It has always been such a gorgeous resort. I do hope when it gets all finished that it is even better than ever. I trust Disney can do that!

I hope so too; because right now I am missing the old Poly.

What is even better than our favorite animal, the giraffe? Baby giraffe!!!!! Baby giraffes are SO STINKING CUTE!!!!

Baby giraffes are the best!

Kathy,
just finished getting caught up on your TR - will post a reply on the weekend, but wanted to quickly send along my best wishes for you all to have some wonderful family time together. So glad the kids will be here this weekend for you both. Hugs

Thank you, Janet. I appreciate it. We stopped by to see my mom after the kids, Mark and I went to breakfast and vanity and tile shopping. She had a really painful day yesterday and never got out of bed, but today she was sitting at the table.

Oh Kathy, I would be remiss if I didn't pass along my deepest sorrow over your heartbreaking news. More prayers are going out especially for your mom's comfort. I hope the time shared will be special.

Rob, thank you very much...it means a lot.

Oh yeah, that day actually started with rain. Boo.

Yes it did.

OMG a morning without coffee is evening.

An evening without coffee in my case is also morning.

Aww anniversary cupcakes. You can't not love that.

Our waitress was very sweet and very attentive.

Haha never tire of the hat pictures. Just awesome!

I'm glad you are enjoying them.

Kathy, I am so sorry to hear this. You know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Love you.

Thank you, Tracy. I love you too.

I usually just lurk on trip reports, but wanted to say hi! My fiancé and I were in Disney the same time as you were. I've never experienced so much rain there before, of course we didn't let it stop us. I'm looking forward to seeing your experiences as well. Also, thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Katie, Thank you for posting. Knowing it is rainy season in September, you just have to go with the flow, and I'm glad you and your fiancé did the same. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers.

Aww, I love the kissing picture more than even the silly hat pictures! (Though Malificent is a close second.)

Thanks, Amanda. It was a cute picture.

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

We had a good visit with the kids, as always.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm glad that your Mom is holding her own, but more than that I'm very glad that the pain is not too bad for her. Hopefully they can keep her very comfortable.

Kona! Great breakfast choice, one of our favorites, even though we don't make it there every trip.

Pressed pot coffee really can't be beat. We had it every day in Belgium when we visited my Mom's family because her cousin made it for us every morning!

Jambo House really does have the best gift shop. I could just wander around in there for hours.

Maleficent! Gotta love it. I still totally want that hat, but it would collect dust.

 

[KatMark]

The Poly is so sad but breakfast looks like it makes up for a little of that.

Breakfast definitely made up for it.

A nice relaxing morning/afternoon. Sometimes it is good to just rest.

Yes it is and it will actually help for our evening plans.

Nice touch with the cupcakes- I am sure it was a good snack for later.

We had them the next day and they were very good.

Kathy - I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I hope she gets the best of care.

Thanks...appreciate that very much.

We stopped at the Poly last month and it was such a mess. We ate lunch at Captain Cook's and I could see that the pool area was all torn up. I'm sure that it will be lovely when it is finished, but right now it looks terrible.

I hope you are right.

Sorry, missed the second part yesterday, because I had gone to bed with a huge headache.

No worries, Karin; I know how those headaches can be.

Nothing better than some leisure time, especially after having some a lovely breakfast, a little window shopping and that amazing view in front of your room. Well done!

Thank you; it turned out to be a good day.

I'm so sorry to hear the latest news regarding your mom. I hope she's resting comfortably.

Yesterday was a rough day, but today seemed a bit better.

On our last trip, we worked in a breakfast and a dinner at Kona Cafe. I just love that place!

I do too; I wasn't able to get Mark there for dinner, but I will for sure next trip.

The construction at the Poly would depress me, too. I'm really curious to see how it turns out.

I am too; I'm afraid it is not going to make me happy.

I'm so sorry to hear about the update on your mom. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. On a happier note... YUM! Kona! I love that place, tonga toast is my favourite! (I make it at home now!) very sweet of the waitress to bring you cupcakes too. I also love the Poly gift shop, but you hit the nail on the head -- I totally agree! Have a good weekend with your kids Kathy!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Thanks, Wendy. Yes, definitely a yum at Kona...one of my top three favorite places. Yes, AKL's gift shop is simply the best. We had a lot of fun with the kids.

Continuing to keep your mom and your family in my thoughts.



Thanks, Dee.

I could not agree with you more about coffee and about Kona.

Can't start your day out any better.

The thing I obsess the most about when I am planning a vacation is the accessibility of coffee. Is there a coffee maker in the room? What kind? Should I bring my own coffee in case they run out?

I have finally solved the problem of not having a coffee maker in the room, or not wanting to run one and disturb my roommates- I stash an iced coffee in the mini fridge.

Very smart move, my friend.

Kona is my favorite breakfast place at Disney! Glad you enjoyed your meal and what a great waitress you had!

It was one of our top meals this trip, and we had a real sweetheart for a waitress.

The only good thing about the walls during construction are the very cute photo ops. At least it is something.

the photo ops are really cute.

Once again beautiful pictures of your room and the view from your balcony.

Thanks, Dee.

Hope you have a decent weekend with family.

We had a lot of fun with the kids, and they got to spend some time with grandma.

 

[Clarf]

I. Cannot. Stop. Laughing at this picture. I don't even know what that is, a lion? But here I sit like a giggling fool.

First, I want to say I am continuing to send good thoughts to you and your family. I hope you mom continues to be comfortable and pain free and that you are able to enjoy some good times with her.

Kona is going to be a must try for us for breakfast I think. I don't drink coffee, but French Press coffee is Jason's favorite, so he'd love that. I don't know if I can go back to the Poly though, until the refurb is done. It's too sad.

Since you love giraffes so much, did you know you can feed the giraffes at the Milwaukee County Zoo? You can do it usually April-October, and you need an extra ticket, but it's so worth it!

This is me feeding them:


Here's Lucy feeding them on her second birthday.


If you ever want to do it, let me know!

That bathtub looks amazing. I wish I had one of those.

Hope you had a nice weekend with your family.

 

[KatMark]

Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about your mothers condition; I know what it's like to watch a mother fight this horrible battle with cancer. Even as I type this my mother is once again in the hospital with a severe case of pneumonia along with her long battle with cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Thanks, Bob; and you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom too.

We visited the Poly on our departure day back in June for our breakfast ADR at Ohana and was quit shocked how tore up the Poly looked. I know they have to refurb and etc., but wow if I would have been staying there and not known about it like so many first timers, I would not have been a happy camper. In fact, I would rather be a camper literally and sleep in a pup tent than what I saw.

You had breakfast with Stitch? You poor man. I don't know that I want to stay at the Poly again. I loved it the old way and the price is just too much.

I agree with you when it comes to gift shops; the one at the Poly is very nice indeed, but I am always completely blown away with the gift shop found in the AKL. Not only is it very large, but it has so many unique items in it that cannot be found anywhere else.

Always something new and exotic to look at...just love it.

Kathy, let me leave you with this from one of my favorite passages from the Bible found in Isaiah 40:31

"But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint".

Thanks Bob.

Once again Kathy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers! Comfortable is definitely the highest priority at this point!

Thank you Marv.

Because of course Ms. Kathy can't pass up an opportunity to get a picture with her favorite little blue guy.......

Hmmm....just wait until later in the TR for a big surprise.


WHAT?!? YOU ordered coffee? And better than Starbucks???

Ssssh....don't let out my secret.

I just Kona breakfast.......so great! I had the Tonga Toast the first time, but sadly I wasn't that high on it. It was pretty good the first few bites, but honestly, it was just a little overwhelming with all the sweet. I liked it a little better using regular syrup instead of the syrup (strawberry?) that comes with it. Sometimes I think we hear so many people rave about food items on the DIS that when we finally try it, there is no way to meet the built up expectations in a lot of cases. Maybe I need to give it another try, but I still want to try the macadamia pancakes, and your French toast looks fantastic!

Mark was not a fan of the strawberry syrup either; he used my syrup. He was NOT a fan of the macademia pancakes all that much when he tried those. My French toast was perfect.

Awwwww

Yep, have to get in at least one lovey/dovey photo.

Yes, it is painful to see such a beautiful place looking in such disarray right now!

Very painful.

I just love the AK Resorts! How can you beat a place where you can look outside and see Giraffes and Zebras and Ostriches and all the other animals. And of course you got lots and lots of pictures of your favorites! All of the Lion King theming in the rooms is pretty cool too!

It's very hard to beat...that's for sure.

Kona looks so yummy, especially the Tonga Toast. George and I went back and forth between eating there and Boma and we found a good time for Boma so we are eating there.

We like Boma too; but Kona gets a slightly higher nod. Perhaps you can try it the next trip.

The pictures of the animals at AK Lodge just strengthen my resolve that I will stay there one day! I'm sure you were in heaven with all of those giraffes just outside your room!

You must! I feel everyone should experience it once...it's so special. I had the widest grin on my face every morning we were there.

Nice start to the day. You really had a lot of wonderful Animal shots!

Thanks, Jen. We had a slew of animals this time.

 

[KatMark]

I can so relate to your comment about hair and Florida humidity. ugh

Totally brutal this time around.

Sweet recap and pictures of your Kona breakfast. After many Disney trips, I’ve yet to eat there. Tonga Toast and pressed pot coffee are on my Disney bucket list.

You really need to get there....it's so good.

Mark miscounted his socks. Oh yeah. Good orchestrated plan on getting Mickey socks Mark.

I wondered myself if it was a ploy on his part.

Love the Lion King tile in the bathroom (and YOUR bathtub).

I would love to have that tile at home; and thanks for noticing it was MY bathtub.

Distraction is good pain medicine, including emotional pain. You are wise to take a break and think “happy thoughts”. Sending thoughts and prayers your way during this difficult time.

Thanks so very, very much.

Yes Florida humidity was not good for my hair either, I think I had it in a messy bun the entire time!

Mine was in that puny ponytail.

Your breakfast looks like it was so good, I hope to try eating there one day.

Trust me, I wish it hadn't taken me so many years to try it.


By the way I love the pictures of Mark with the hats on!

Thanks; he got a few good ones this trip.

I love that, MY bathtub

Well, it was mine at the time.

Breakfast looked fabulous and well, even if the rain changed the plans it still seems like a lovely and restful morning. Which really, is what vacation is all about

Have you done Kona, Cynthia? If not, you and Jeff must try it your next trip. And it was a restful morning which got us prepared for our upcoming evening.

Hi Kathy - I'm a bit behind, thank you for chapter links so I could catch up.


Sheree, it's so good to have you here.

First and foremost - Prayers and hugs for your mom and your family. I hope she is comfortable and you all can find some peace and solace. Hang in there!

Thanks very much; it means a lot.

Back to your trip - Such good CMs you have had so far!

We had several to start, but Jon took the cake.

Bonus FPs, great room location, cupcakes and pictures at Kona, a meet with Cynthia and Jeff!!! WOW! I've had the pleasure of meeting Cynthia a couple times and she is just wonderful! She's the kind of person you meet and instantly feel like you've known her forever.

I agree; Cynthia is wonderful!

I'm sorry we didn't get to meet up while you were there - we just missed by a few hours and we ended up at YC instead of AKL anyway. Maybe another time.

I am counting on us meeting up another time.

We had our share of rain too. Oh well, that's what ponchos are for!
I'm sure there was more, but I guess that's all I can think of now. I'll try to keep up!

Yep; rain or shine, at least we are at Disney.

Kat...I've been back a week since our DCL/WDW trip and finally got around to visiting the DISboards to try and get caught up. First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I had a very similar situation with my mom two years ago. Just know that there are many, many people with you in spirit and praying for strength, understanding and peace for your mom, you and your family.

Bill, thank you so much. I am sorry to hear about your mom. I appreciate the prayers.

As usual, I am enjoying the details of your TR and look forward to more. Soon I'll have to start my own TR!

Please let me know when you start yours so I can read along.

Hi Kathy,

Roni.

I am so very sorry to hear about your mother. I hope that she continues to be comfortable and peaceful. You are both in my thoughts.

Thank you very much.

* * * * * * *

Oh, a stay at Kidani Village! So jealous - one day, we WILL stay at AKL with a savannah view. I hope! And oh my! Your room and view are AMAZING!!!

I hope you do; Meadow and you would love it.

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful CM Jon is - how special. I’m so glad that you got that extra pixie dust right at the start of your trip. :

The absolute best CM we've ever met.

What a great first night at DHS! The Tune In Lounge seems like a really fun place. And a DIS meet - always great!!!

I definitely want to hit the Tune In Lounge again...it was fun. And it was so good to see Cynthia again.

Awww - I love the anniversary pics that your Kona server took - so cute!

Thanks; it was sweet of her to do that for us.

Wow - I can’t believe we have never visited the gift shop at AKL. We always visit the resort for a meal. How in the world have we missed the shop??? Mark got some particularly stunning hate photos there!

You have to stop next time. It really is the best gift shop of all the resorts.

Nice start to your TR! Love how the CM at AKL worked things out for you! I love how the PD can just find you - that's because you are so deserving!

Jon was so good and so much fun to work with. And the extra FP+s were very nice.

Great views of my buds the giraffes!!!

Aren't they great? I love "our" giraffes.

Nice DISmeet with Cynthia and Jeff! Interesting that the Frozen Fireworks were at DHS.

We had so much fun together...even if too short of a visit. Most of the Frozen stuff is still at the Studios well, except for Anna and Elsa. I'll be curious to see if they change any of this.

Thinking about you and praying for your mom, Kathy. Praying she is not in pain, and that God's peace and strength will fall on you.

Thanks, friend. It means a lot.

I love your encounters thus far!

Thank you.

I am thinking of you and your mom.*HUGS*

I appreciate that a lot...thanks.

 

[KatMark]

I'm glad that your Mom is holding her own, but more than that I'm very glad that the pain is not too bad for her. Hopefully they can keep her very comfortable.

Thanks, Danielle.

Kona! Great breakfast choice, one of our favorites, even though we don't make it there every trip.

It's become a must do for us every trip.

Pressed pot coffee really can't be beat. We had it every day in Belgium when we visited my Mom's family because her cousin made it for us every morning!

And the pressed pot coffee is the reason it's a must do every trip. Oooh...I bet it was good in Belgium.

Jambo House really does have the best gift shop. I could just wander around in there for hours.

I really have to hid my pocketbook when in that store.

Maleficent! Gotta love it. I still totally want that hat, but it would collect dust.

Yes, it would collect dust here too...but it was a really great hat.

I. Cannot. Stop. Laughing at this picture. I don't even know what that is, a lion? But here I sit like a giggling fool.

Yep, it was a lion.

First, I want to say I am continuing to send good thoughts to you and your family. I hope you mom continues to be comfortable and pain free and that you are able to enjoy some good times with her.

Thanks, Clare.

Kona is going to be a must try for us for breakfast I think. I don't drink coffee, but French Press coffee is Jason's favorite, so he'd love that. I don't know if I can go back to the Poly though, until the refurb is done. It's too sad.

It's really a great breakfast and that coffee is to die for.

Since you love giraffes so much, did you know you can feed the giraffes at the Milwaukee County Zoo? You can do it usually April-October, and you need an extra ticket, but it's so worth it!

Yes I did know that. I fed them at the Jacksonville Zoo and Mark did it at the Naples Zoo. We've not yet done it at the Milwaukee Zoo. Perhaps our next visit there.

This is me feeding them:


Here's Lucy feeding them on her second birthday.


Awesome!

If you ever want to do it, let me know!

I sure will.

That bathtub looks amazing. I wish I had one of those.

I told Mark when we move to Florida I would REALLY like a Jacuzzi tub.

Hope you had a nice weekend with your family.

We had a lot of fun with the kids and went to see Mom. The kids are now home safely so I can rest if Rolo will let me...he keeps wants to play.


For those of you not friends with me on Facebook, we went to an Alumni Dinner for the high school wrestling team where Markie went. One of the silent auction items was 4 one day hopper passes (value around $570.) for Disney World. Of course, Mark and I were bidding on them and had the high bid the last time we had looked. Then we were eating dinner and I guess a few people went over there and upped it in $5 increments and I kind of forgot about it as we were visiting with the people at our table.

I had set myself a limit, even knowing what they were worth, with some expenses that will fall in my lap when mom passes. Well, it turns out our dear friends (who we spent time with in Vegas in August and who we have known for about 17 years) were the last ones to bid. The final bid was $250 (I had planned on going up to $300). I did NOT know they were the final bidders until the announced who won the bids after dinner before the speeches started. They announced the Bears tickets (thank the Lord I didn't bid on them as they are terrible), the golf outing for four and then the Disney tickets. This is when we found out our friends had the highest bid. Then it was announced that the *Bal**** had won the auction, but were giving the tickets to their good friends, Kathy and Mark S******. Have you ever seen a big girl cry? Well, you would have if you had been there when I heard the news. We are so blessed to have these people in our lives. I spent the rest of the evening trying to get them to let me write them a check and they refused. I hope to get an update done tomorrow or Tuesday. Hope you all had a great weekend.

 

[Clarf]

What a wonderful thing for your friends to do! I would have cried too.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

That is LOVELY news!

I am also slightly selfishly happy that this means more TRs! Hug your friends for me.

I hope you and your family are doing well today. Have a wonderful week! <3

 

[jedijill]

Yes, it would collect dust here too...but it was a really great hat.



We had a lot of fun with the kids and went to see Mom. The kids are now home safely so I can rest if Rolo will let me...he keeps wants to play.


For those of you not friends with me on Facebook, we went to an Alumni Dinner for the high school wrestling team where Markie went. One of the silent auction items was 4 one day hopper passes (value around $570.) for Disney World. Of course, Mark and I were bidding on them and had the high bid the last time we had looked. Then we were eating dinner and I guess a few people went over there and upped it in $5 increments and I kind of forgot about it as we were visiting with the people at our table.

I had set myself a limit, even knowing what they were worth, with some expenses that will fall in my lap when mom passes. Well, it turns out our dear friends (who we spent time with in Vegas in August and who we have known for about 17 years) were the last ones to bid. The final bid was $250 (I had planned on going up to $300). I did NOT know they were the final bidders until the announced who won the bids after dinner before the speeches started. They announced the Bears tickets (thank the Lord I didn't bid on them as they are terrible), the golf outing for four and then the Disney tickets. This is when we found out our friends had the highest bid. Then it was announced that the *Bal**** had won the auction, but were giving the tickets to their good friends, Kathy and Mark S******. Have you ever seen a big girl cry? Well, you would have if you had been there when I heard the news. We are so blessed to have these people in our lives. I spent the rest of the evening trying to get them to let me write them a check and they refused. I hope to get an update done tomorrow or Tuesday. Hope you all had a great weekend.

Awww, you have the bestest friends!

Jill in CO