Trip Report Revisiting 2016's War and peace I took one for the team

Hello it's me again and if you want to know what the title means you'll have to stick around for a while. Sorry but no spoiler This trip was 3 years in the making and the official countdown started at 439 days. Surprisingly the time seemed to fly by. Our little adventure was taken by me (for those who don't know I'm Figmentfan423 Figgy to my friends here), my dh and our 2 boys James 14 and fellow Disney planner and M who's a bit older autistic and doesn't like getting his picture taken or me talking about him. Our trip began at

am on July 30th. We sang happy birthday to my little guy while driving down the street on our way to Disney. I'm a very mean mommy who made my baby spend his birthday in the car. Any way it was smooth sailing until half way through Virginia where we hit rain and traffic all the way to the North Carolina border. It was bad enough we worried a bit about making it to our hotel for the first night but once we hit NC the skies cleared and so did the traffic and we made it to Florida

to take the obligitory first Florida picture of the boys. With a bit of luck and excitement we made it to Ormond Beach to get a good night's sleep.

 

[Figgy1]

So....where did the thing I gave you come in handy? Did I miss it?

I'm sorry the one thing I really didn't like at the condo was the quality of the knives for cooking. I'm a bit picky about what I use so thank you again for the ones you gave me They are currently in my rotation at home. Sorry I must have missed a very important detail in this TR

 

[Songbird76]

I'm sorry the one thing I really didn't like at the condo was the quality of the knives for cooking. I'm a bit picky about what I use so thank you again for the ones you gave me They are currently in my rotation at home. Sorry I must have missed a very important detail in this TR

Ha!! You are absolutely welcome! I was looking for something like...defending yourself against an alligator. (just kidding) I've stayed in vacation condos and you're right...the knives never do seem to be decent. I'm glad these found a home where they will be loved and appreciated and USED, instead of sitting in a box. I already have a bunch in my kitchen that I use, but I swear my dad has given me more than 50 since I've moved here and I've given probably 35 to 40 away because I just can't use that many! My dad must think I'm a prolific chopper/slicer/dicer. He must think I'm YOU! LOL

 

[Figgy1]

Some more of Potter

 

[Figgy1]

from the Horror Make Up Show

 

[Figgy1]

Time for a few final thoughts. It was a great vacation, not the best one we ever had but very close. 2011 James got to be in the Star Trek show at Kennedy, be in a SWW parade and pull the sword out of the stone so that will never be topped.
Best meal TIFFINS everything was excellent
Best nonsignature meal Sanaa
Best buffet/all you care to eat Tusker House
Best qs Thunder Falls Universal the platters were huge and the boys loved the dinosaur themeing and the food
Best qs Disney tough choice Pecos Bill's and Cosmic Ray's were both great I was quite surprised how good the falafel burger was
Best sangria Antojito's
Best wine Carmen at Tiffins
Biggest let down BOG dinner it was our favorite meal last trip
Best place to pop in for a drink Nomad Lounge and Margaritaville I'd call it a tie each are very special honorable mention to Trader Sam's
Best adult beverage seriously I can't pick just one so in no order grey Goose Slush, Lapu, It's 5 o'clock somewhere, Mowie Wowie, Mosquito Mojito and Leaping Leprechaun
Best drink value Shades of Green at SOG and the sangria at Lombardi's
Best surprise Lombardi's went in not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised how good it was
Best snack another tough choice Nomad Lounge and Spice road Table were both excellent
Best burger according to the guys Margaritaville followed by Mythos and the Fountain
Best popcorn a tie seriously Disney and Universal both have really good popcorn
Best french fries Margaritaville and Lombardi's
Favorite resort we hopped to Poly most likely because we spent to much time there LOL followed closely by AKL but if we get to pick one to stay at it would be AKL for the food
Least favorite resort hop POP and AOA we found them a bit hectic both beautiful but loud
coming up next experiences, rides and shows

 

[Cesar R M]

from the Horror Make Up ShowView attachment 165864 View attachment 165865

That show is hilarious!!! XD

 

[Figgy1]

Best security Universal by miles, it's so much faster and more organized
Boys favorite ride Mummy
Best ride at night Expedition Everest followed by TOT and Jungle cruise
Best dark ride Frozen Ever After, according to my boys ET
Best land Diagon Alley nothing else is even close
Best night time show Star Wars Fireworks
Best park after dark Animal Kingdom
Biggest surprise dh style he now likes AK mostly the food and being there after dark
Biggest surprise or maybe not my boys like Universal better than Disney
Biggest surprise me, I like Jurassic Park as much as Splash and I don't love the movie same goes for Cat in the Hat
Favorite animal show Animal Actors
Best bench COP
Favorite resorts we hopped to Portofino, AKL, Poly and Royal Pacific
Not a surprise at all next Disney trip it's either SOG or a deluxe none of us were fans of the values
Don't get me wrong I still love Disney but it may take some doing to get any of the guys back to there. So our next Florida trip may just be Universal and I won't pout or cry too much LOL There 's plenty to do there and I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Disney had better get moving on SWL so I can talk my dh into going back, that or Avatarland had better be super fantastic.

 

[WildcatDen]

THNX but I almost never drink at home

As long as it is not alone. . . cue George Thorogood

 

[Figgy1]

I finally got the box we had shipped to one of our relatives because we knew we wouldn't be home by the time it got up north.
The ornament we had made for my MIL, my dh made a video of it being made, to go with it.

I'm not supposed to know I'm getting this for Christmas, I'll act very surprised when the boys give it to me. BTW it was being made while we were in the shop

Like i've said before if you get a chance check our the glas demonstrations on Main Street

 

[Figgy1]

One last pic my pearl

 

[littleroo]

One last pic my pearlView attachment 166419

All 3 are absolutely beautiful!! Fabulous taste!!

 

[MinnieM123]

Those are all beautiful items. (The most I ever buy at WDW are silly t-shirtst! )

 

[Figgy1]

All 3 are absolutely beautiful!! Fabulous taste!!

Thank you and none were overpriced when compared to what they'd cost in the real world. In fact a place i know that does glass blowing not far from me charges even more than Disney

 

[littleroo]

Thank you and none were overpriced when compared to what they'd cost in the real world. In fact a place i know that does glass blowing not far from me charges even more than Disney

There really are a few resonably priced things in Disney compared to the regular world.

 

[Sans Souci]

Best security Universal by miles, it's so much faster and more organized
Boys favorite ride Mummy
Best ride at night Expedition Everest followed by TOT and Jungle cruise
Best dark ride Frozen Ever After, according to my boys ET
Best land Diagon Alley nothing else is even close
Best night time show Star Wars Fireworks
Best park after dark Animal Kingdom
Biggest surprise dh style he now likes AK mostly the food and being there after dark
Biggest surprise or maybe not my boys like Universal better than Disney
Biggest surprise me, I like Jurassic Park as much as Splash and I don't love the movie same goes for Cat in the Hat
Favorite animal show Animal Actors
Best bench COP
Favorite resorts we hopped to Portofino, AKL, Poly and Royal Pacific
Not a surprise at all next Disney trip it's either SOG or a deluxe none of us were fans of the values
Don't get me wrong I still love Disney but it may take some doing to get any of the guys back to there. So our next Florida trip may just be Universal and I won't pout or cry too much LOL There 's plenty to do there and I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Disney had better get moving on SWL so I can talk my dh into going back, that or Avatarland had better be super fantastic.

My son doesn't really care for Disney anymore, either. He is nearly 15, he's at "that age", you know? LOL He loves ToT and RnRC, but outside of that he's "meh" about it. So I think future trips will be solo or just long weekends down.

Also, "best bench?"

 

[93boomer]

All 3 are absolutely beautiful!! Fabulous taste!!

I agree!!! Pretty!

 

[Figgy1]

My son doesn't really care for Disney anymore, either. He is nearly 15, he's at "that age", you know? LOL He loves ToT and RnRC, but outside of that he's "meh" about it. So I think future trips will be solo or just long weekends down.

Also, "best bench?"

I really hate to say it but he'll love Universal. Portofino and Royal Pacific have unlimited express pass. I'd stay away from Hard Rock quite lovely but loud.

 

[Gabe1]

Ha!! You are absolutely welcome! I was looking for something like...defending yourself against an alligator. (just kidding) I've stayed in vacation condos and you're right...the knives never do seem to be decent. I'm glad these found a home where they will be loved and appreciated and USED, instead of sitting in a box. I already have a bunch in my kitchen that I use, but I swear my dad has given me more than 50 since I've moved here and I've given probably 35 to 40 away because I just can't use that many! My dad must think I'm a prolific chopper/slicer/dicer. He must think I'm YOU! LOL

Hilarious!

 

[Gabe1]

Best security Universal by miles, it's so much faster and more organized
Boys favorite ride Mummy
Best ride at night Expedition Everest followed by TOT and Jungle cruise
Best dark ride Frozen Ever After, according to my boys ET
Best land Diagon Alley nothing else is even close
Best night time show Star Wars Fireworks
Best park after dark Animal Kingdom
Biggest surprise dh style he now likes AK mostly the food and being there after dark
Biggest surprise or maybe not my boys like Universal better than Disney
Biggest surprise me, I like Jurassic Park as much as Splash and I don't love the movie same goes for Cat in the Hat
Favorite animal show Animal Actors
Best bench COP
Favorite resorts we hopped to Portofino, AKL, Poly and Royal Pacific
Not a surprise at all next Disney trip it's either SOG or a deluxe none of us were fans of the values
Don't get me wrong I still love Disney but it may take some doing to get any of the guys back to there. So our next Florida trip may just be Universal and I won't pout or cry too much LOL There 's plenty to do there and I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Disney had better get moving on SWL so I can talk my dh into going back, that or Avatarland had better be super fantastic.

They Topped Volcano, Universals new waterpark this week, to open next year. We were awe struck how much progress had been made in short order as we passed in our Uber. Universal over the years has indeed stepped it up over the years. And now maybe you understand my deep love of Portofino? Did you happen to see her at night, she is beyond gorgeous.

 

[Figgy1]

They Topped Volcano, Universals new waterpark this week, to open next year. We were awe struck how much progress had been made in short order as we passed in our Uber. Universal over the years has indeed stepped it up over the years. And now maybe you understand my deep love of Portofino? Did you happen to see her at night, she is beyond gorgeous.

No I only had some time during one morning