Steppesister
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2013
I'm here Sweet Friend!!! So glad you gave a head's up on your other thread!! Back to read in a bit....
I took my early morning mirror selfie for you all to laugh at. I look really tired even with some editing, lol
It rained so hard on the ride to the resort. The driver had to go really slow and had her hazard lights on the whole way. The rain was pretty much done by the time we got to the resort. We arrived around 1:30pm and our room wasn’t quite ready, boo I received two texts telling us it wasn’t quite ready yet.
My burger and fries were really good, I was surprised. This was the first time both of us had a meal in a restaurant since February 2020. Crazy!
After using Destino for check-in and several other reasons, I REALLY want to get a tower room someday. I adored how gorgeous it is in there and so convenient for buses and lifts. We were in Cabanas which wasn't awful but a long walk to El Centro.Time to check out our lake view room on the 10th floor, room 9040. Our view was very nice. We could see The Tree of Life and Everest. I will wrap up this post with some room pictures.
This flight was also uneventful. It left on time and we landed a little early.
MCO was not real busy, we retrieved our luggage fairly quickly and made our way to Magical Express and the wait sign said 75 minutes, yikes, we were not in for that type of wait.
We took some lobby pictures and went to get some food and caffeine at the quick service restaurant.
I hope you can cross the border this year! Our governor just announced phased reopening and it sounds like we will be back to normal by July, both exciting and scary!Oh, man. Who knows??? And who knows when the next one will be????
This is very true!Except... it's just a wee bit easier getting up when you're going to Disney.
Thanks, I really was excited, it was hard to believe we were finally doing it.Nah. You look very excited for your trip.
Why do I say literally, lolIf it's 20 or 31, I'm going to be disappointed.
I don’t know what was going on there but I was not waiting in that lineHoly smokes! Have they decided to start discontinuing it early???
Yes very good decision right out of the gate, literally did you catch that? HahaDefinitely worth it, compared to a 75 minute wait!
Yes we have not dined in a restaurant since a long time ago, we have done take out many times!Huh! I've had... one? I think? Somewhere around last summer?
I’m so glad they had the wait time posted, I remember your pictures of the line. The Lyft was definitely the right decision for us!Yikes, is right! We found the same thing when we went but had to wait because we really needed help with the luggage. You were smart to uber
The lobby is beautiful a and it smelled so good walking in there, made me so happy to be back on propertyGorgeous
I really think it is nicer than some of the old non refurbished deluxe rooms. The bathroom is so nice.definitely looks more deluxe than mod!
I really do like to fly from Duluth if the price is right, just so nice not having to drive down to the cities.I grew up in Northern MN- so I know that flight well!
That resort looks gorgeous!
It really is and the price compared to some deluxe resorts is so good!The resort looks gorgeous and that view is awesome!
It really was, it went very smoothly and yes yay to being at Disney!!Sounds like a easy travel morning! Yay for finally being at Disney!!
Hello and very happy to have you joining in. Andi loves her nickname, she is Andrea but we have never really called her that. We talked about it on the trip and she said she loves being called Andi! I call her And, lolHi! I'm new here! I love the name Andi - that was my husband's mom's nickname and she passed when he was 17. We named our daughter Lillian as a nod to her but I really wanted to use Andi!
Anyway, I am not super familiar with your hotel so I enjoyed seeing the pictures of it! Following along now!
Hi Jenny, thanks for joining in, it was wonderful to be back! We really enjoyed getting back to our happy place and Destino was very nice!Hi Caroline! I'm here and I wouldn't miss this for the world. I know how many trips you've canceled and how much you and Andi were looking forward to returning. I'm so happy for you both!!!
Thank you and Welcome back! It is awesome to have you here!I always love your trips w/Andi, and i'm excited to read a TR again after such a long time!!
I was so happy to see a posted wait time so we could make a decision right away, sometimes the line looks deceiving and it moves fast, this line wasn’t doing anything. It was the only crowded area in the airportUgh, wow! I like that they had a wait time posted though, so you could make the decision to get the Lyft. That's good to know - Matt and the boys want to take one last ME ride but I just want to get there as quickly as possible.
It really has been hit or miss for us! From everything i was reading people were getting their rooms early in the day, not us!This is always what happens to me. In all the years they've sent texts, I've never got one
We really loved it and the room was nice and quiet overall except for Disney’s notorious loud flushing toilets, lolI love your view! The last time I was at Gran Destino we had a similar one on the 6th floor. Our last night on our upcoming trip is at Gran Destino and we have water view again and I can't wait to show it off to Matt and the boys!!
I want to try to finish it before our June trip, I hope we get to say hi in June!Looking forward to reading all about the rest of your trip!
me too. No idea, though.I hope you can cross the border this year!
As long as enough people have vaccinations... I would think that would be okay??Our governor just announced phased reopening and it sounds like we will be back to normal by July, both exciting and scary!
I bet you were!Thanks, I really was excited, it was hard to believe we were finally doing it.
I literally don't know!Why do I say literally, lol
Yes very good decision right out of the gate, literally did you catch that? Haha
I've dined in twice that I can remember. Once with DD and we were the only ones there. Another time all 4 of us went but we had to show ID or sign affidavits that we all resided in the same household.Yes we have not dined in a restaurant since a long time ago, we have done take out many times!
Andi loves her nickname, she is Andrea but we have never really called her that.
Same to you, so glad you found this and joined in. It was so nice to visit with you for a little while on the trip!I'm here Sweet Friend!!! So glad you gave a head's up on your other thread!! Back to read in a bit....
Ahhh thank you, how sweet!Stawp!! You're gorgeous!
Oh my gosh it was a downpour, I’m sorry you got soaked, we did get wet one day when it rained for about an hour, our feet were so wet.Yeah, well, we were in AK getting soaked to the bone and staring at Naked Mole Rats for half an hour. LOL!!!
It is crazy how long it has been, we have done take out many times.First meal out!! I"m glad it was a decent one!!
We loved the tower and with the AP discount our lake view room was not to bad. It was very nice for getting Lyfts and the bus stop was right there. We stayed in Cabanas one time and it was nice but a long walk to the main building.After using Destino for check-in and several other reasons, I REALLY want to get a tower room someday. I adored how gorgeous it is in there and so convenient for buses and lifts. We were in Cabanas which wasn't awful but a long walk to El Centro.
That is funny, everyone thinks Hammer is such a weird name haha, we love it, he is such a wonderful dog! Is your husband strong? I’m guessing maybe he is with a nickname like Hammer.OMG! I also have and Andi and my DH goes by Hammer. (cue Twilight zone music...)
Thanks for joining inFollowing
And thank you for joining in. We loved being back at DisneyI always enjoy reading your trip reports. I'm so glad you and Andi were finally able to go back.
Im sure you are jealous lolLucky
It was so long, I’m glad they posted a wait time so we didn’t waste any extra time waiting.Eek! That's a longer posted wait then when I arrived, I can't imagine how long that line must have been!
It really is a nice place and the lobby smells so good. I loved our view!Oh wow, that lobby is beautiful! And the rooms look amazing too, love the view!
Yes, we have to meet 70% vaccination rate to return to normal, no masks, which seems like So strangeAs long as enough people have vaccinations... I would think that would be okay??
We need to try eating out now, both my husband and I are fully vaccinated, it was so nice to eat out at DsneyI've dined in twice that I can remember. Once with DD and we were the only ones there. Another time all 4 of us went but we had to show ID or sign affidavits that we all resided in the same household
So funny, we have never called Andi, Andrea, not even when I was mad at her!His mom was Andrea, too! Some people called her Annie - which is where we got the Lillian part (and sometimes we call her Lilli and sometimes we call her Annie, it's her "more fun" alter-ego!
It really is nice, the lobby sells so good and the elevators are so fast even with only 1 family per elevatorI am in for your report. Love the look of Grand Destino and will definitely consider if I ever don't have enough DVC points.
I really like those masks, very comfortable, one of my friends, who I met on here, told me about the site and I loved all the different ones for Disney!And love the I'm Vaccinated masks. I know where you got them --- I have the exact same ones! LOL!
Ah! That's the first time I've seen an actual number associated with it. Thanks!Yes, we have to meet 70% vaccination rate to return to normal, no masks, which seems like So strange
Well, I won't be for a while. They just shut down all the restaurants again here just a couple hours ago.We need to try eating out now, both my husband and I are fully vaccinated, it was so nice to eat out at Dsney
You look great for that early in the morning!I took my early morning mirror selfie for you all to laugh at. I look really tired even with some editing, lol
You posted this and I barely recognized Andi!We were through security and at our gate in literally 15 minutes total. We decided to do an airport selfie prior to boarding.
I am sad Magical Express is going away. But it sounds like the waits have been VERY long. Like they have already given up on it. Which is sad.MCO was not real busy, we retrieved our luggage fairly quickly and made our way to Magical Express and the wait sign said 75 minutes, yikes, we were not in for that type of wait.
Oh I am so happy to have found this. Pretty sure we are all in the Disney AA club.Welcome to my newest TR, It has been 15 months since my last one. Sounds like I am introducing myself at an AA meeting, lol
You know its Disney day when Caroline is taking selfies!!! Wouldn't be the same without it. So happy to live vicariously through you bothI took my early morning mirror selfie for you all to laugh at. I look really tired even with some editing, lol
Yikes!!!!!! No thank you!MCO was not real busy, we retrieved our luggage fairly quickly and made our way to Magical Express and the wait sign said 75 minutes, yikes, we were not in for that type of wait.
I guess they just really wanted to make sure you knew it wasn't ready. Strangely we never get our room is ready texts. I've even asked about it and they say nothing is wrong but I'm all about the conspiracy theory.We arrived around 1:30pm and our room wasn’t quite ready, boo I received two texts telling us it wasn’t quite ready yet.
So is Andi off the vegetarian train?????I got the bacon cheeseburger and Andi had the spicy chicken sandwich.
Ahhh, Thank you, you are so sweetYou look great for that early in the morning!
No joke right? That girl messed with her hair something crazy during the lockdown. I love her no matter what but her hair right now ,no way!You posted this and I barely recognized Andi!
We have always loved to use ME but not with those waits. We have never waited anywhere near that ever!I am sad Magical Express is going away. But it sounds like the waits have been VERY long. Like they have already given up on it. Which is sad.
Hi Kari, so glad to see you joining the AA meeting,Oh I am so happy to have found this. Pretty sure we are all in the Disney AA club.
Either way it is gross, just wait!And dying to hear what your trip report name means. I'm hoping its a peeker and not a picker but one never knows
My famous very very amateur shotsYou know its Disney day when Caroline is taking selfies!!! Wouldn't be the same without it. So happy to live vicariously through you both
This seems to be a problem right now, not sure if it is a short staffed thing, with Disney I am thinking yes! NO ME for us with those waitsYikes!!!!!! No thank you!
Those texts are worthless, I have received a room ready text about 20% of the timeI guess they just really wanted to make sure you knew it wasn't ready. Strangely we never get our room is ready texts. I've even asked about it and they say nothing is wrong but I'm all about the conspiracy theory.
Yes thank goodness, she still won‘t eat red meat!So is Andi off the vegetarian train?????
Welcome and yay for a trip coming up! We will be back in June as well, we want to do more Flower and Garden touring in June.Can't wait to hear more. I always enjoy your TR's . We are headed to WDW in 28 days! Staying at Movies, but my parents are staying at CS. It looks beautiful!