A Visual Feast - DVC Member Cruise, Bocuse d'or USA Competition, Pleasure Island

[ehagerty]

Link List (for those who want to skip the interim comments)

A Very Merry Unintroduction - First Post = #1 = Post #1 Added 10/1
DVC Member Cruise Chapter - Mass after the Disboard Meet = Post #21 Added 10/21 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - Waiting at Port Canaveral = Post #24, added 10/21/08 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - It's the PEOPLE - Part 1 = Post #11 Added 10/2 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - Sports Inspirations = Post #13 Added 10/5 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - No, wait - It's the FOOD!!! - Palo's Brunch, Part 1 = Post #14 Added 10/6 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - Palo's Brunch - Part #2 = Post #15 Added 10/6 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - Castaway Cay - Post #20 - Added 10/16 - LINK
[URL="http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=28287726&postcount=22"]DVC Member Cruise Chapter - "It's the SHOWS!!" = Post #22 - Added 10/21/08 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - Miscellaneous Pictures from Day #2 = Post #28 - Added 10/22/08 - LINK
DVC Member Cruise - Dinner at Palo's = Post #29 - Added 10/22/08 - LINK

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WDW Epcot Bocuse d'Or USA Finals 9/26-27/08 Updated 10/19 - LINK

WDW Magic Kingdom - Wishes = Post #16 Added 10/7 - LINK
WDW California Grill
Part #1 - Added 10/14 - LINK
Part #2 - Added 10/14 - LINK

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A Very Merry Unintroduction

I have to keep reminding myself - if I wait for a coherent "theme" or storyline, this trip report not only will take forever, mostly likely, it will never occur. Besides, this is the internet - blogging, random collections of ruminating thoughts. I can edit and re-order later - get the pictures posted NOW!!

...and I will probably need to cross-post - or cross-link - or whatever, to satisfy the thread supervisors (you really should post this on the food thread, on the cruise thread, on the yada, yada thread). If I get a head of steam going, I may even backfill a couple of years to the beginnings of digitals pics.... but first, one picture and thought at a time, and without any regard to who we are, here's the rough outline:

• CSR - 2 nights
• DVC Member Cruise - 4 nights
• SSR - 4 nights

...and a single picture to get started - let's see, I guess it will have to be one of the few currently uploaded....

Should I start with "Classic Wishes"?

How about something from the Bocuse d'Or USA finals to open Epcot's F&W? Hmmmm, not uploaded yet. No, with enough distractions I managed to get this one loaded...

Paul Bocuse, Jerome Bocuse, Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud - displaying their watch-prizes

Guess we'll have to go with "Classic Castaway Cay" - Hello, Buoys!!

And a truly outstanding meal - Palo's on the Wonder - lamb chops!!

Come join me as I wander through a truly great vacation of classic favorites, unique opportunities and general "reliving the experience" that digital cameras and occasional text support so nicely!!


.

 

[OhMari]

Great pictures. I don't care where else you post, but I hope you stay here..

 

[Baloo]

Beautiful pictures...that first one is stunning!!

 

[WDWLVR]

What a great start Ellen. Can't wait to see more!

 

[danandnan]

Ellen great pictures.
If you could send Nancy and I your E-Mail address we have some pictures for you and Tom.
Wish we were all back on the Wonder.
You guys have a great day and say hi to Tom
danandnan

 

[mohrt2]

Can't wait to see the rest!!!

 

[njprincess]

Can't wait to see the rest!!!

Wow, Ellen, these are beautiful!

 

[Time4disneynow]

Hi Ellen
Fantastic pictures!!!!! My favorite is the first one...."Classic Wishes"
I can't wait to see the rest!!!


Take care.....Monika

 

[LWQuestie]

Yay Ellie, I'm looking forward to seeing all of your pictures!

 

[ehagerty]

Beautiful pictures...that first one is stunning!!

Stay tuned, there are more Wishes pictures coming!

Dancing Baloo - my youngest brother really like him growing up. Do you share? I'll share pictures!!

I was planning to do more tonight, but getting message that disboard server is having trouble responding. Maybe I am overtaxing my wi-fi. Maybe they are doing service - whatever - more tomorrow!!

Up next......

More responses to comments

AND

DVC Member Cruise Chapter - "It's the PEOPLE!!"

 

[ehagerty]

When I asked myself where I wanted to wander next, I let the post-responders lead the way. You know you are going to be in good company when you are with another DISer - or another DVCer - or another DCLer - but when you have the trifecta of common interests, you have a group of people who become like family quickly (thanks in no small part to Mark & Mary and their MotherBoard).

So, from the collection of currently uploaded pictures, here are a few of the people pictures (again, in no particular order!).

First, the dining companions:

Dan & Nan - I seem to have the most of you, probably because we sat across form each other at dinner. More to come, but here is the first:

Dan & Nan - Brunch at Palo's:

Gary & Gail - First Night Dinner

Todd - holding forth through the hole-in-the-wall:

Cheryl with her custom dessert

Father Frank and Sister Kathy - uh, I mean, Kathy, his sister - Sailaway!!!

Karen (KarenNY) and Mary (iluvdisney):

Mike & Monika - brunch at Palo's

Eric & Erin - brunch at Palo's - although I have to admit, I wish I had taken a picture of them reading their books in line for Palo's dinner - it was a classic!! (I'm pretty sure if I had married a "reader", I would have been doing the same thing. Alas.)

Lest you forget who we are - Tom & Ellen - first night dinner - thanks, Dan!!

I would like to continue, but Zenfolio is SOOO SLOW, that I can't stand it. Have to believe they are doing back-ups or something. Once I have all pictures uploaded, I can work from my desktop. Maybe that will help.

Anyway, to be continued....

 

[WDWLVR]

A really nice picture of these two ladies (help with names, please!):

Ellen, these two lovely ladies are my dining companions and our chat hosts for weekly cruise and DVC chats.

On the left is Karen (aka KarenNY) and on the right is Mary (iluvdisney).

 

[ehagerty]

We enjoyed all of the inspirations...

This first photo seems to frame the relationship of Patrick and his dad, with the cruise theme as backdrop (taken without flash, hand held, from the audience):

Vince Papale making light of invasive medical procedures.

He was very pleasant and friendly wherever he was on the ship, whether shaking hands in the gift shop (sometimes I forget to turn my autofocus back on):

Or waving from the sailaway "bridge" (well, he was waving before I got my camera out...)

The Sports Inspiration finale - his dad, Linda Kohn, Vince, Patrick - Patrick
chats about his music.

 

[ehagerty]

Breakfrast for 14, please!!

The inner sanctum hovers over the seafood section

Stone crab claws (yum!!)

Chocolate Croissants

Sharing tips on pastries and fruit

Salmon & Capers

Fresh berries.....

.... and a mound of fresh whipped cream (white on white doesn't make a great photo, but it conjures a great memory!)

Chocolate Pots

Erin & Eric

Cheese Plate

Prosciutto & Melon

Caviar on toast points

Danishes

Our very own dessert plate, with coffee

Egg Options

Eric & Erin (again)

 

[ehagerty]

Fish dish (good, but could have spent ALL my time at the stations)

Fruit & Danish station

Poached Scallops

Panne Cotta

Mike & Monika

In the inner sanctum.....

Our seafood plate

Veal entree

Tuna, capers

Can hardly wait to return

Seconds of everything scrumptious

Brunch cocktails

 

[ehagerty]

Sample from this trip

....and another instant classic

 

[ehagerty]

RnR - for guitar lovers

ToT

 

[ehagerty]

..... but on specific topics that may be of more interest to specific readers. My recommendation is that, if the topic interests you, subscribe to that thead, as posting will continue to take some time!


For the foodies - Epcot F&W - Bocuse d'Or USA Finals - 9/26-27/08

California Grill - updated to include SEP '08 meal
Part #1
Part #2

 

[ehagerty]

Bocuse d'Or USA Competition - the casual observer's experience
========================================================

Link List
Introduction = This Post
From Platter to Plate = Post #2 - Added 10/10/08 - LINK
Judging the Plates - Post #3 - Added 10/10/08 - LINK
Competitor Chef Richard Rosendale = Post #4 Added 10/10/08 - LINK
Winning Chef Hollingsworth's Platters = Post #17 Added 10/12/08 - LINK
A List of the Competition Teams = Post #18 Added 10/13/08 - LINK
Competition Judges List = Post #23 Added 10/13/08 - LINK
Chef's Party Set-up - Beach Club Resort = Post #30 Added 10/15/08 - LINK

 

[ehagerty]

One of my favorite places - the view from the ship

View of the sailboats along the walkeway

Our hangout when we snorkel at the family beach

Davy Jones' Boat

Beach Ambiance

Kid's Play Center

Gary & Gail at Serenity Bay

Goofy & Donald

Exploring Conchs

Serenity Bay Entrance

Heading back to the ship

Not your "classic view", but I like the sense of place

.