You Want Me to Stay in this Camper "How" Long???

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I've been most negligent, but will get back to this soon

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Buffeteria ... is that like a cafeteria?

 

Yes, it is like a cafeteria

 

Looking forward to the next update.  We've considered the Swan and Dolphin resorts in the past, because Nancy is eligible for the nurse discount.  Never seemed to pull the trigger based on need to get the lower rates at the Pop Century while traveling with the kids.  I hear a lot of good things about them and love the idea of how close they are to the Boardwalk and EPCOT area.

 

Can't wait to see the photos and hear about the buffeteria - huge food loving fan here!

 

If you are a Starwood member, I'm thinking they can be a decent deal. I like the decor, and like the fact that the "Dolphins" are really dolphins, not porpoises :) (Navy Submarine folks will understand). Report on the food coming in a bit!

 

I've never been to the Swalphin or the Boardwalk. Shame on me.

 

The Boardwalk is really a neat place!

 

Love the Boardwalk!

Never been to Swalphin either....props to Kelly for that one!

It sounds like you will have some bonus content for this report now too! Looking forward to it!

 

Maybe a little.... Have been posting bits where they apply already :)

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

When we left off, we were entering Picabu's for dinner. I won't say the food was spectacular, but there was a lot of it, reasonable cost by Disney standards, and no ADR required. (However, no Disney room charging, had to use regular credit card.)

 

 

 

 

We each had the "dinner combo" Main dish and two sides. I had lasagna, cauliflower casserole, and mac & cheese

 

 

Rick had the pot roase, cauliflower casserole, and mashed potatoes & gravy

 

 

The portions were huge!!! We easily could have shared.

 

I think the meal for the two of us was around $40.00. As you can see, it was served on real plates and real silverware, and I believe they bussed the table for you.

 

Some more decor

 

 

 

 

 

Now wandering outside again

 

 

 

 

 

We took the walkway over to the Studios, then made our way to a Fort bus

 

 

 

 

and took a few evening pics of the campsite

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonite was a Halloween Party, I believe, and I wanted to catch Hallowishes, so we went up to the marina

 

 

I had lots of fireworks pictures, but most had this weird haze to them

 

 

Aaah, here's one without it

 

 

the surround fireworks are awesome!

 

 

The finale was pretty cool!

 

 

Of course, after the fireworks is Lou's favorite attraction :)

 

 

And thus ends another day of our vacation!!

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

That food looked good!

[disney4dan 68]

That food looks tasty!  And your site - I really want to get back to the Fort and kick back sometime.  Looks very comfortable!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Thanks for the photos from Picabu's.  Had y'all been there before?  Or were you just trying it out?

 

I, also, have never been to the Swan or Dolphin.  That restaurant sounds like it might be a good place to stop when hopping between DHS and Epcot. 

 

TCD

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

We like to property hop however, we too have never been to the Swan or Dolphin.  Think we may have to stop over for a visit on our next visit.  Thanks for the tip! :)

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

Oh... BTW, the Mickey Mouse pumpkin blow-up is one of my favorites.  That and the Mickey Christmas ornament blow-up.... I just think they are too, too cute! :)

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

That food looked good!

 

It was good!

 

That food looks tasty!  And your site - I really want to get back to the Fort and kick back sometime.  Looks very comfortable!

 

We do love our setup. It's a lot of work, but for the longer trips, it is sooooo worth it.

 

Thanks for the photos from Picabu's.  Had y'all been there before?  Or were you just trying it out?

 

I, also, have never been to the Swan or Dolphin.  That restaurant sounds like it might be a good place to stop when hopping between DHS and Epcot. 

 

TCD

 

I've eaten there several times. It was Rick's first time there, but it won't be our last. It is substantial comfort food, without the need for an ADR.

 

We like to property hop however, we too have never been to the Swan or Dolphin.  Think we may have to stop over for a visit on our next visit.  Thanks for the tip! :)

 

We seem to do a lot of hopping between Epcot and Studios, so have visited the Epcot resorts frequently.  Also pretty easy to get to. If you aren't coming from a park, then bus to Studios, and take the walkway.

 

Oh... BTW, the Mickey Mouse pumpkin blow-up is one of my favorites.  That and the Mickey Christmas ornament blow-up.... I just think they are too, too cute! :)

 

That big Mickey blow up was my first inflatable :)

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Now, it is Monday morning, the 27th of October.....

 

This was the morning my new credit card arrrived (remember, way back on Friday, they cancelled my old one). So a trip up to the front desk to retrieve my package.

 

 

 

 

 

I spent a good bit of the morning on the computer activating the new card, resetting auto charges, and then back up to the front desk to put the new card on our room account.

 

Then I went looping.

 

Here's Red's site

 

 

Some other Halloween decorations

 

 

A real teardrop

 

 

Took a few more pictures of the campsite

 

 

Love our little kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, we added an extra fridge

 

 

Not as big as TJs, but did the job.

 

 

Sitting in the chair was our new Mickey lamp head.  My old one cracked, and Gary Cruise offered to drill me some new ones.

 

 

 

Now, we're off to the Outpost for the bus stop. We left the truck out in the lot. Don't like it being in the way at the campsite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, the shed was still there

 

 

Cute cart

 

 

 

On our way

 

 

We're here at Downtown Disney. Rick actually gets his belts from the vendor there at DTD. Actually good prices on very good belts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo limit....

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Continuing on, here is some of the construction

 

 

The Rainforest Volcano is back under scaffolding.

 

 

More construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped at Earl of Sandwich for lunch/dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were at DTD, I noticed that David Doss was at the Art of Disney store, so I made a beeline inside and got an autographed print!

 

 

I actually got two. A big one that I will get framed for my office, and a smaller one that I'm going to hang in the camper :)

 

 

We wandered in the Christmas store for a bit

 

 

 

 

We also wandered through the Rainforest Cafe store to look for something that a friend at home wanted

 

 

 

 

Then back in the Art of Disney store so Rick could see what I bought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and once again, we're at photo limit...

 

More to come later :)

[GOBA Mom Lynn 18]

We stayed at the Dolphin in 2004 and liked it.  My SIL was able to get us the teacher's discount, so the price was nice.  The best thing about the rooms were the "Heavenly Beds".  Super comfy.  I really liked the pool area, which is shared between the 2 hotels.  They call it the Grotto and it is a series of freeform pools, waterfalls and hot tubs.  

 

I like your kitchen, too.  Is your fridge the original, or a replacement?  They put a different kind in the clamshell models, as opposed to inside kitchens, right?  

 

Thanks for continuing the report! 

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

We stayed at the Dolphin in 2004 and liked it.  My SIL was able to get us the teacher's discount, so the price was nice.  The best thing about the rooms were the "Heavenly Beds".  Super comfy.  I really liked the pool area, which is shared between the 2 hotels.  They call it the Grotto and it is a series of freeform pools, waterfalls and hot tubs.  

 

I like your kitchen, too.  Is your fridge the original, or a replacement?  They put a different kind in the clamshell models, as opposed to inside kitchens, right?  

 

Thanks for continuing the report! 

My fridge is the original. Yes, you are right! The clamshells have a 12V fridge. That is the only option.

 

The models that have inside kitchens can also have a 3-way fridge which can also work on propoane.  However, the 12V fridge can and sometimes is installed in the inside kitchens.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Enjoyed your DTD photos!  We didn't make it there this trip.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Enjoyed your DTD photos!  We didn't make it there this trip.

Thanks for reading! That was the only time we made it there, and we didn't wander very far.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

After we left Downtown Disney,. we went looping looking at Halloween Decorations.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and thus ends another day of an awesome Mouse-ke-T@b vacation :)

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

Awesome decorations! I'm already excited about next year.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Great nighttime shots!

[disney4dan 68]

Looks like some great set ups - especially the Haunted Mansion themed arrangement.

 

While looking at the shots of the Tab kitchen I was wondering whether the lift gate would work to shelter the cook on a rainy day?  Is there a rubber gasket at the hinge point that would be similar to an SUV or van liftgate that would channel the water off to the side?

 

I know your setup with the EZ-Ups would provide much better shelter anyway, but it looks like the designers put a lot of thought into the trailer and it would seem like they thought of rain also?

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Looks like some great set ups - especially the Haunted Mansion themed arrangement.

 

While looking at the shots of the Tab kitchen I was wondering whether the lift gate would work to shelter the cook on a rainy day?  Is there a rubber gasket at the hinge point that would be similar to an SUV or van liftgate that would channel the water off to the side?

 

I know your setup with the EZ-Ups would provide much better shelter anyway, but it looks like the designers put a lot of thought into the trailer and it would seem like they thought of rain also?

Well.......... yes, there is now a rubber gasket across the entire hinge, but I put it there myself (well had a dealer install it). My year clamshell and earlier had some hatch problems, and that is my 2nd hatch under warranty. Even the 2nd hatch would drip water inside if opened when wet. Finally got the idea from teardrop home builders, and had it corrected. The current manufacturer of T@Bs is installing a rubber gasket along the hinge.

 

So if it's a light sprinkle, yes I can have the hatch up and have some weather protection.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Awesome decorations! I'm already excited about next year.

 

 

Great nighttime shots!

 

There were some awesome Halloween decorations this year. We didn't see a whole lot, cause the weather cooled off over Halloween weekend and we didn't do much night looping after that.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

It's time to continue this report. We are now at October 29th.

 

Getting ready to head out for the day

 

 

 

 

Arriving at Hollywood Studios

 

 

 

As you can see the weather was GLORIOUS again :)

 

some other peoples kids with Chip & Dale

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Movie Ride

 

 

Rick was taking lots of light fixture pics this trip

 

 

At least they seem to be changing up the displays some

 

 

Did you know there are LOTS of Roger Rabbit references in the Studios. I actually did a scavenger hunt once based on that. The Studios was built right after this movie came out and there were hopes for lots more Roger Rabbit at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

I think this attraction kindled my love for old movies and radio. I watch lots of Turner Classic Movies, American Movie Classics, and listen to Radio Classics almost nonstop on Sirius/XM

 

 

 

 

But, I'm finding the full movies a bit bizarre, Footlight Parade is one of them

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo limit

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

 

 

 

 

We've finally left GMR and continuing on to Star Tours.... This was the most bizarre experience.......

 

 

 

 

We were loaded in, and somebody had a soda bottle that was loose, so they stopped the attraction. Came in, secured the soda bottle, then started us up again.

 

Then about 2 minutes in, all the video went blank, and we finished out the attraction with no video.  We told the attendant when they opened the doors, and they gave everyone a reride, but us old folks couldn't tolerate it again right then, so we exited, and waited around the exit for a bit to see if we could get a reride later in the day, but it was taking so long to find a Lead that we left.

 

We then were back to wandering

 

 

 

Watched some Streetmosphere

 

 

 

 

 

Rick loves these old cars

 

 

Some more Streetmosphere

 

 

 

Then we had dinner at 50's Prime Time :)

 

 

 

 

Crabcake appetizer

 

 

I'm not sure what this is

 

 

Chicken Pot Pie

 

 

Sampler Platter

 

 

 

We split a sundae for desert

 

 

Awww, we do like each other :)

 

 

Then we decided to go see Fantasmic

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Limit

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

There were quite a few Glow With the Show Ears in attendance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And thus ends another great day of our trip :)

 

Now that the Christmas craziness is over, hopefully I'll keep this moving along :)

[alexwyattmommy 181]

Was that the baked cheese thing at Prime Time?

The crab cake looked yummy.