A Ten Day Ride on A Magic Camel - Almost Finished Trip Report

[declansdad]

It is a great feeling to take your first walk into the lobby of your resort, knowing that all the fun is yet to come. It is not so fun to board the Magical Express or drive out of your resort's driveway for the last time. I took pictures as we drove out of Pop, and then as we stopped at Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs to pick up other travelers. I tried to capture every last second of Disney that I could. When you leave Disney boundaries, it only takes a few seconds to see the difference in Disney World and Real World. The music, the colors, the smells - they are just not the same, not as intense.

Welcome back!

The part I quoted is so true, I couldn't agree more.

The trip to WDW is so intense; the feeling you get whan you land and board that first monorail is fantastic. Seeing all those billboards along the highway, taking in all the sights along the way, they all look so incredible on the way in yet so sad on the way out.

eta: thanks for the pics, we were posting at the same time.

 

[MeMom]

Scott, your turn. Just a few for you now of the seating and utensils/condiments area, but I have some more from closer up in the two thousand I took, so I'll do those when I have more time. By the way, the rotisserie chicken there is sooo good!!!

 

[MeMom]

And a walk around Coronado Springs.

A guide to the Dig Site.

On the concrete around the pool, there are many different pictures that add to the theme.

These doors are massive.

The ever-present donkey is still there to greet you with a big smile.

In the lobby.

More on the way.

 

[RachelNinja]

I was woken up early because of construction outside, but seeing that you're already posting lots and lots of pictures makes it a-okay by me! Glad to see you guys are back safe and sound! So giddy to see more

 

[MeMom]

In The Rix, which is a little snack shop on the corner before you get to Pepper Market.

All of these things are GINORMOUS!

Pepper Market.

The pan of mixed vegetables looked very appealing.

I have more!

 

[TCKK]

That looks like such a beautiful place! Can't wait to see more and hear more! Yeah!!!!!!

 

[snowbell]

Yeah -- Welcome home. Thanks for the great pictures. Your pictures of CBR brought back so many many memories of the first trip I took with DBF in May 04. We had such an amazing time. And the next time I go, I am staying at CSR... I really love it there. I hope Jill had a better experience this time. I don't like mean cm's... who don't let you fill up your cups...

 

[MeMom]

Waiting for the bus.

It is a beautiful resort. You'll love it, I think. It is very big, too. You'll do some walking to get from place to place.

 

[punkin413]

If you have ever wanted to mail someone a coconut, you can do that here.

YES!!!!!!! finally.....i've been wanting to send someone a coconut for years now!

 

[Megablocks]

I know I am late, but welcome back!

I didn't know you could send a coconut!!! I want to do that the next time I'm there. That was at CBR, correct? I wish I could remember my stay there, but we went in 1994, so all I have is pictures, the knowledge that I turned ten in Disney World (also found a lizard in the bathtub that day ), and a signed photo of all the characters.

I took pictures of the year signs at Pop as well, but only 1984 (my year) and the years that family and friends were born.

I was looking at the prices on one of the signs that you took a picture of, and while they strike me as high while I'm at home, the truth is I would think nothing of an $8 peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I'm actually down there.

 

[pooksma]

Wow MeMom!

You truly out did yourself with the resort pics

Thanks so much for the beautiful shots of CBR. Only 28 more sleeps! Can you stretch you TR out that long to keep me occupied?

 

[Nicole786]

Thanks for all the spectacular pics MeMom!! CBR is where we're staying in December, so I really enjoyed those as well!!! I hope we get to stay at The Casitas, that to me looks the nicest but El centro looks so cool!! It reminds me of the mexico pavillion in Epcot which is one of the reasons I chose it because I love that mexico pavillion!!! I know the resort is large so I hope we get a building that is close to the lobby, and if not, oh well, its only for 2 nights than we swich over to the AKl! wahoo!!

Your the best!

 

[MeMom]

Only 28 more sleeps! Can you stretch you TR out that long to keep me occupied?

You are kidding, right?!?!?

I have about two thousand pictures. That should last until about two days before we leave in November. You know how I do things!!!

 

[MeMom]

I was looking at the prices on one of the signs that you took a picture of, and while they strike me as high while I'm at home, the truth is I would think nothing of an $8 peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I'm actually down there.

I won't get a 99 cent drive-thru burger at home, but I will pay twelve times that for one in Disney World and never blink. That's messed up!

 

[moparop]

Oh MeMom!! You outdid yourself again! We actually changed our hotel to CBR about the time you left and here you have just posted a bunch of amazing pictures from there. I love the angles you shot from and the perspective you used. It gives me so much more of the flavor of the resort. How did you like the S5? I'm hoping you were pretty happy with the results since I sang its praises.

 

[MeMom]

Oh MeMom!! You outdid yourself again! We actually changed our hotel to CBR about the time you left and here you have just posted a bunch of amazing pictures from there. I love the angles you shot from and the perspective you used. It gives me so much more of the flavor of the resort. How did you like the S5? I'm hoping you were pretty happy with the results since I sang its praises.

I was very happy with the camera. It was easy to use and got very nice pictures.

I will be putting up tons of them, but right now between catching up on housework, camp work, and errands, I'm trying to go through and delete some and crop some, etc. My eyes are closing on me because I am exhausted, as anyone is after ten days in Disney World. Also, my right leg is still swollen and hurting, especially around the knee. It's about three times the size of the left one, so I'm looking rather odd as I try to hobble around and get caught up. I have to rest it as much as possible this week with church camp coming up next week or I'll never make it! I think I may go try to catch a little nap and put the lame leg up on pillows for a while. I'll come back and Dis some later.

I do want to say a special welcome to all of our new friends on this thread and to people who have read along but just started posting. It is always exciting to have new people aboard.

And to all of you tried and true faithful friends who've been around for forever, you know how special you are to us. Throughout the whole trip Jill and I would find ourselves saying something about so many of you - something you've said or somewhere you'd stayed or will be staying or something you would like that we wanted to share with you. You're friends even though we've never met.

Tyler (Pendragon1515) was such a nice guy to meet. It was very comfortable just to sit and talk with him and watch the parade. I know he is a great CM who loves his job at WDW.

It was fun to talk to Dawn and Nicole while we were there, too, and share the fun with them.

I hope everyone will enjoy this trip with us, and I hope you'll bear with my pictures of lightposts and flowers and cracks in the sidewalk and such. To me, it's all such a rich experience, and I think if I did just the standard pictures, I wouldn't really be relaying/conveying the trip to you properly. Just scroll through the parts you don't like and enjoy the parts you do.

 

[k_reile]

Memom:
What camera did you buy again? Dh wants a new camera (ours is fine but a bit bulky) and you camera did take really nice pictures. We just purchased our first video camera so we can get ready for the birth of the baby (we are not taping that part though )

 

[scottny]

you are the best.

those are great pics.

I love the CBR ones as we have switched to that resort.

I cannot wait to mail myself a coconut. I have always wanted one of them.

 

[MeMom]

Memom:
What camera did you buy again? Dh wants a new camera (ours is fine but a bit bulky) and you camera did take really nice pictures. We just purchased our first video camera so we can get ready for the birth of the baby (we are not taping that part though )

Canon S5IS, and it did just fine. Jill took the video camera, but they never got it out. She'll regret it later, and she even said that, but she just thought it was too much of a hassle to carry it around and try to keep up with it. I would love to have recorded Brooklynn singing 'It's a Small World' as she was going through the ride. Maybe next time we go on a trip together, I'll put down the regular camera and do the video camera. That way it won't be any trouble for them and we'll have the memories to play in the future.



Okay, I didn't get the afternoon nap I intended to, but I did get to rest the leg, so I'm refreshed and ready to start this journey if you all are.

We'll start with the night before, when we went out to eat. Drew didn't make it home in time to go out, but he met us back at the house afterward. We wanted to have the whole group together before we left, since three of them weren't going to be going along.

We went to Cheddars to eat.

Where there is Kristi, there is ketchup!

Back on the homefront.

We had to be at the airport at about 4:30 a.m. Here's Brooklynn getting an early morning hair treatment.

Unpacking everything at the airport.

Bye, Bubby. See you in ten days!

Standing so patiently with the luggage.

A little breakfast

and a little ear infection medicine.

On the plane.

Since the plane was not anywhere near full, Brooklynn was able to have a seat of her own.

Here's the view from my seat.

I was right behind Brooklynn, so we talked through the space between the window and the seat.

Clouds somewhere over punkin's house.

What Mommy loves Brooklynn to do on a plane.

Recognize Florida?

Sure you do. See the water!

Follow that Mouse!

There were many flags and red, white, and blue decorations all around.

Brooklynn's words - "Yay, Mickey Mouse!"

 

[byoung]

Nice report thanks.