Our Big DVC Anniversary Trip-Report September 13 *completed*

Breakfast was fun, but scrummy too! It's on the must do for next year so pleased you're enjoying reading xxxxx

We did! Thank you very much xxxx

Erm, I'm not really sure what we should tip for pizza delivery either lol, we haven't ever had one before though we are thinking we might order next year so if you get a moment to let me know what the norm it, that would be very grateful!

Yeah it was a shame about the room in BLT, you would think being the newest it would have the least amount of wear and tear :-/

Aww yes Jack was really worried which made me feel awful it was such an amazing evening though, I would recommend it to anyone

It was amazing honey! Maybe something for the wedding/honeymoon.... and awwwwwww thank you, I think he does know lol

I know, it really sucked being so ill. Of all the days to be so sick!! What a PITA! It was still an amazing day though.

I've sent you a pm Allie xxxx

Day 9

Firstly big apologies with the delay, life just got in a way I guess what with Christmas etc but I'm back into full TR mode now

Check out of BLT and back home to AKL! Plus a little bit of Epcot thrown in

After the awful end to the night before we put the 'do not disturb' sign on the door to get a little bit of peace, unfortunately housekeeping had other ideas and decided to knock and wake us up anyway at 9am. I wondered if maybe the sign had come off but no, it was still there... So as we were up fairly early we decided to pack up our things and check out. We didn't rush about, mainly cause I couldn't have if I'd tried We still had a lot of stuff considering we left some at AKL a few days previous so we called bell services and asked them to give us a hand to the car, we kept our bags with us rather than have bell service move them over to AKL in the hope that our room might be ready early... So we headed straight over there to check in. We were able to check in but sadly our room wasn't ready yet I mean, we were pushing it as it was only lunchtime but we were ever hopeful After having a huge walk to our room last time we had asked for it to be added to our reservation to be close to reception this time, but we were also told at check in that our request for an upgrade to a savannah room wasn't accepted as they weren't our DVC points? (we had rented these prior to owning). I told the guy on check in that we hadn't requested that at all! I asked if maybe Gray had put it on our reservation but he just looked blankly at me as if I were speaking another language... not quite sure what happened there. But anyway we went on our merry way with a promise of an email when our room was ready...

Sy was getting hungry by this point, he had a bagel in the room at BLT but it was gone lunchtime now, I hadn't eaten anything nor did I want to because of the state I was in the night before, but I wasn't about to deny Sy some food so off we went in the car in search of something. We stopped at Target on the way as we'd never been in before and my American friend was going on about it and what a good store it was. We bought a couple of things in there and then headed back out to the car to decide where to eat.

We kept seeing adverts on the TV for applebee's lunchtime menu with a weird woman saying 'Boom!' in it, which consequently we kept saying all trip But the advertising obviously worked as Sy wanted to head in there for a half sandwich (one of his favourite foods are sandwiches which he really misses out on in Florida) so we went into the Applebee's closest to Disney along the 192. The place was EMPTY, a bad sign I thought but it wasn't to be. We were seated right away and left to peruse the menu. I wanted to eat something as I was worried I wasn't helping myself by not eating anything so I decided to order an appetiser while Sy had a famous half sandwich and salad, both were really good. I have been to applebee's a few times and always found them to be a bit meh, but this one was really nice and the food was fresh and hot. I'm sure we will head there again, especially for lunch given that our lunch was cheaper than a counter service lunch in the parks and much, much nicer!

(those people behind Sy were the ONLY other people in the whole place!)

Of course as soon as I had eaten I felt rough again I just knew it would happen. So we thought we would go back to AKL on the off chance our room would be ready, I didn't have an email yet so I wasn't holding out too much hope but we gave it a shot, and what doyaknow, our room was ready! (I never got the email btw). So off we went to our room, 1 room away from the laundry room so right by reception, overlooking the pool. Wow. I was not expecting the room to be so different to the one we had a few days before! It was smaller for one (though it was a lock off and our last one was a dedicated) and the room was full of bugs! As soon as I went out to the balcony the noise hit me (along with loads more bugs). I was really disappointed But we had asked for a room near reception! What could I do about it? I could hardly go and ask for another room further away that was quieter now, could I? I didn't have to as it was, Sy was already on the phone to reception to ask if we could possibly be moved to a quieter room, we were given practically the same room as we had before but on the other side of the hotel, so it was mile away again, but the walk was worth it for the quiet room. I felt *SO* ungrateful though, someone had gone to the effort of giving us a room close to reception because we had asked and then I go and complain about it! What an ungrateful cow I am! I did love our new room though. We called bell service to bring our bags up and unpacked again and called home before getting changed and heading out to Epcot.

When we got to Epcot we parked the head and headed inside, stopping on the way for the obligatory photopass pictures....

Our first stop was innoventions. We have only scratched the surface on here so we went to the piggy bank challenge for the first time ever! That was really cute, did you know the piggy makes a noise when you rattle him? I really loved that attraction, what a big kid I am

We then decided to try and brave it on Test Track, I wasn't sure it was a good idea with my sensitive tummy but I was ok, we kept stopping on the track inside though, not sure what was going on. We then went to club cool, Sy went in to test a few while I sat outside and moved one of our fast passes around so we could go and meet the characters at the character spot next. I have never done this before as I've always worried about how long the queue could be inside however with the new fastpass+ we were able to do it!

We met Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. Pluto was soooooo cute! We had a bit of a joke and a play with him and we were about to go when I told him he was my favourite and he pulled me back again for more pictures and he made a huge fuss of me! I was in total heaven, that was some of the best character interaction I've ever had, in fact it was the best right up to this point but mickey out does him on our last day

There were a **lot** of pictures so I've tried to cut them down... I don't know how good I was at it

Before our trip I had a list of places I wanted to try and eat at that we hadn't been to before, one of those was Katsura Grill in the Japan pavilion. Sy loves Sushi and there were a few things I fancied trying on the menu so we decided to head over there for some dinner.

When we were placing our order (Teriyaki chicken for me, sushi for Sy) I was admiring an origami bird on the till so when the girl gave us our meal she also gave me one of the origami birds! I was so happy, I still have it now. We got a table outside and ate our food, well Sy ate his, I didn't eat mine there was nothing wrong with mine but I just didn't like it. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with me feeling a bit dodgy or if its just my usual dodgy taste buds, but I just didn't like it. Sy loved his and he ate some of mine too and said it was lovely so don't trust my judgement

Afterwards we walked back through France so I could get one of those gorgeous ice creams note to anyone debating if they are big enough to share 1 between 2, they are HUGE! I couldn't finish it and Sy was full from his dinner and half of mine so I ended up throwing half away, sacrilege!

I'm not sure the picture actually does justice to how big it was, take my word for it, it was HUGE!

It was now about time for our Soarin' fastpass+ so we rode that before heading out to the car, I was seriously flagging by this time even though it was only about 8pm.

We stopped on the way out for some more photopass pictures (gotta make the most of that photopass CD that we had pre-ordered with Hayley and Gareth )

We headed back to our room and I got ready for bed, Sy insisted that I have something to eat as I hadn't really eaten much all day so he went to get me some chicken nuggets from Mara, I ate about half of them in bed before crashing about 10:30pm, Sy stayed up a bit longer watching some TV and went to be at about 11:30pm.

Tomorrow, a rather large purchase AK and some shopping!

It really was, I'd love to do it again sometime

Trust you to make it dirty lol

That is actually really useful, thank you! I always assumed it was like at restaurant ie tip 15 - 20%. We are thinking next time we might order take out if we are too tired to go out, I didn't think the Mara was up to much really.

Working on the next update as we speak so hopefully that should go up in the next few days. I'm a bit ill at the mo, just a nasty cold but bad enough that i'm pretty much staying in bed most of the day so making good use of my time

Day 10

After my super early night I was awake at 8:30 this morning, but thankfully I was feeling about a million times better We had a little breakfast in the room before getting on the bus to Kidani to meet our DVC guide, Tim... He told us he would be there this morning if we decided we wanted to add on points at the Grand Floridian... I think by now you have guessed where this is going

Tim didn't know we were definitely coming but he was very good at making himself available so we could sign some papers and give him a big chunk of cash I wasn't really prepared for just how long it would take, we had already bought points at AKL but that was resale so we really didn't have a clue. Tim swapped places with a guy called Jose who went through all the paperwork with us. Unfortunately once we were half way through we realised that he had given us the wrong direct debit date and he was MOST upset that we wanted to the correct date that we had chosen, and he made sure we knew he wasn't pleased, that wasn't quite the DVC experience we were expecting... especially as it was his own mistake! He then didn't offer us the welcome home breakfast (we only knew about it cause Hayley and Gareth had mentioned it to us), when we asked Tim about it he said that Jose should have arranged it for us. Think that might have been payback for making him reprint the paperwork.

Once we were all signed and sorted we headed to Animal Kingdom, we had an ADR at Yak & Yeti that was coming up shortly. I have it on good authority in my notes that we drove over there, but I'm pretty sure we floated there We were walking on air all day!

We had a little time before our ADR so we went to watch Its Tough To Be A Bug. I love that show, though I do move my bum forward ever so slightly at some points I don't like things poking around my bum no matter what you may have heard hehehe

Afterwards we made our way over to Yak and Yeti, we didn't have to wait at all to be taken to our table, we were seated upstairs. Sadly this is one of the few places that doesn't accept the tables in wonderland card so no 20% off here but Sy was really keen to try it again after our first time. I thought my food was a bit meh whereas he really loved his so hence us coming back again. Sadly the service from our first time hadn't improved. We were left without drinks and then with empty glasses for a long time, and given our check before being offered a dessert, though we tell him to take it back as we wanted to look over the dessert menu

I had the bourbon chicken and Sy has the maple tamarind chicken, I couldn't decide between the 2 but I was soooo glad I have the one I did as I didn't like Sy's at all. Mine was nice enough, but nothing special. I had a virgin mango daiquiri while Sy had a diet coke, and we then decided to share a mango pie which was lush and the winner of the meal hands down!

I'm not sure how soon we will be back, maybe if it was included on the TiW card we might be tempted but at the moment its just a bit too pricey and the service too slack for us to want to return anytime soon, which is a real shame as I feel like AK is already lacking in good TS places. But hey ho!

We then got a good spot to watch the parade to let our lunch go down in the warm Florida air

After the parade we decided to head back to the room for a nap, all that excitement takes it out of you I'll have you know

Once suitably refreshed we headed back out to do a little shopping, its not like we had spent too much today or anything Off to the outlets we go! I wont bore you with all the many shops we went in other than to say we booked an extra bag to fly home with All bargains though The outlets were mobbed, not sure if it was cause it was the weekend but there were people taking up half the shop with bags they had abandoned! Crazy shopping! We didn't go that far, if we cant carry it, we don't buy it

After our marathon shopping sesh we decided we would get take out and head back to the room. Sy really wanted Steak and Shake however I wasn't feeling it so we just got Sy something for now, and planned to sort me out with something later on. Unfortunately Sy decided to drive home via Downtown Disney, on a Saturday evening, while all the building was going on... 40 minutes after getting his food we arrived back at AKL, luckily the studios had a microwave

Sy ate his food while I went off to do some washing, stopping on the way back to get some food from Mara.

Finally hit the hay at about midnight.

Tomorrow, HS and Maya Grill

Day 11

Hollywood Studios and Maya Grill

I was up at 8am due to Sy's snoring again, I got ready and let him sleep a bit longer. Once I did wake him up he refused to move with any sort of a hurry and we didn't leave the room until 10:30am, I was not impressed as I'd been up so long and been kind enough to let him sleep longer yet he wouldn get a wriggle on for me! I don't think I would normally have been so narked but he was waking me up every morning and during the night so it was wearing thin now

Considering we had been here 11 days by now and the weather was meant to be turning cooler, this was the hottest day yet, it was unseasonably warm and made me totally remember why I don't come in the summer months We launched from one shop to another for the air-con until we reached the Great Movie Ride, my favourite ride in HS We got the gangster experience.

Now, has anyone noticed one of the munchkins on GMR has a REALLY weird face, almost like he has had an allergic reaction to something? I managed to get a picture of him this time, he always makes us laugh! Totally rubbish picture but hopefully you can see what I mean...

Next up was of course TSM, I actually beat Sy on this one for once, if you ask him he will tell you his gun wasn't working properly, though I like to call it being a big baby cause I beat him for once!!

We then went over to Animation Studio. We watched a little show with Mushu in, the girl who was leading it was **SO** not into it, it was actually painful as there was no inflections to her voice, it was all monotone and very much going through the motions I've never done it before in Orlando, only in Paris but then its half in French so it was a shame not to get it in English done properly.

We then went to grab some lunch in ABC commissary, I wasn't a huge fan of the menu but it had air-con! There's no way on a day like today that I would be eating outside I had the chicken club which was very mediocre. Our lunch bill came to almost exactly what the bill came to the day before at applebee's which is where the comparison came from.

We then went to watch Muppets 3D. Has anyone ever noticed this sign?

I dunno what was up with me today but the love beads bit totally made me laugh... I mentioned it to my mum and she told me what love beads meant, unfortunately I only knew the dirty meaning... (I do wonder if they mean the same thing in America as they do in the UK??!!)

I was actually falling asleep inside the muppets so we decided we better make a swift exit, though we did make a quick stop on the way to get a take away Napoleon at starring rolls. We also managed to catch the end of Mulch Sweat and Shears.

Another weird moment, had anyone ever noticed that the guy on the keyboard looks a bit too Justin beiber in the early years to be believable in this band?? The others are all a bit alternative and rocky and he's all cleanly shaven and clean cut lol.

We got back to the hotel just in the nic of time, as a huge storm then hit which left lots of homes around Orlando without power.

I slept through most of the storm while Sy watched some tv, I woke up about 2 hours later at 6.30pm. We had to get dressed really quickly to make it for our ADR at Maya Grill. I love Mexican food and I cant find a huge amount said about this place online so I thought we would give it a go and see what it was like.

There were a LOT of people milling around, I think there must have been a conference on as there were lots of adults dressed smartly who all seemed to know each other. We zig-zagged our way through to Maya Grill to see a massive queue we joined it and before long we were checked in. It didn't take us long to be called for our table.

I had nachos as a main instead of a big main while Sy had fish tacos. Both were really scrummy! It was all a bit quick, our food came almost as quickly as our drinks did. The service was excellent though and I'm sure we will head back there sometime

We had tossed around the idea that we might head to MK for EMH but decided that I wasn't really feeling up to it. This is a decision that I have later regretted You see we had friends who were in Orlando at the same time as us, we had met up with Matt earlier in the trip when he did EMH on his own and tonight his wife Sue was doing EMH on her own and we were going to head there and meet up. We didn't actually meet up with Sue the whole trip, no real reason to it just with one thing or another it didn't happen and a week after they returned from WDW she died So yeah, I really regret not going to MK now

We were back at the hotel and in bed by 9pm, we were both feeling a bit sleep deprived, Sy was keeping me up with his snoring and I was kicking up and waking him all night to stop him... think we need to move up to a 1 bed so I can kick him onto the sofa bed lol

Tomorrow MK!

Awww I love Pluto, he reminds me of a few of my parents dog's over the years. Though I do always get confused as to why he walks on all fours on the TV but 2 legs in person, Sy says its society that has made him feel like he needs to conform

Trying really hard to feel better, I've not really moved from my bed all day, but I have Mary Poppins on to make me feel better :D

Awww thank you! 2 more days up now and the next is being worked on too

Disneydoc, maya grill is in Coronado springs it's worth a visit if staying nearby. It's one of the times I was glad to have a car cause it would be a total pain to try to get to relying on disney transport.

Nasal strips don't work sadly the only thing that works every time is Sy losing a few pounds, as soon as new year is over we will both be back on the health kick and the snoring should hopefully stop again. I am so pleased we have a spare room at home

And love beads... *snigger*

See, that is the way my mum explained them to me! I obviously have a mind that's in the gutter

No I wouldn't skip yak and yeti, loads of people go and love it so I would say to everyone to go and make up your own mind. Plus I'm sure in a few years we will try it again