Bringin' the HAPPY back! A (do-over) Spring Break TR!

[michellem1118]

Chapter 7.1 - PhotoPass Pictures

We entered Epcot through the IG again, since we came straight from DHS, and stopped for every PhotoPass photographer we encountered.

Up Next: More Epcot

 

[michellem1118]

Chapter 8.1 - PhotoPass Pictures

After an afternoon swimming break, we headed back to Epcot for the evening.

We rode Test Track:

Then more photos around Epcot:

Up Next: a few more MK pics

 

[michellem1118]

(after this one, I'll be all caught up, and PhotoPass pics will be incorporated into the regularly scheduled updates. )

Chapter 9.1 - PhotoPass Pictures

We ended the evening at the Magic Kingdom:

Up Next: We return to regularly scheduled trip reporting, with Tuesday, March 16 - our scheduled "off" day.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

You guys got some really good photo pass pics!
I think you must have noticed many, many more photographers than we did!
The kid behind you on Test Track was cracking me up...

 

[michellem1118]

Great pics, girl! I wish we were in the background of one of them!

You are right, his sweatshirt does stand out!

Thanks!

We bought that sweatshirt right before the Christmas trip at a local store. On the Spring Break trip, we actually ran into some other people with the same one! The gentleman came over to chat with DH about the matching sweatshirts, it was pretty funny!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

LOVE the sweatshirt!!!!!!


You got some really cute PP pics. You guys look so in love!!!!


I've never see the Soarin PP pic. soooo cute!

 

[michellem1118]

You guys got some really good photo pass pics!
I think you must have noticed many, many more photographers than we did!
The kid behind you on Test Track was cracking me up...

Thanks! I'm really glad so many of them came out well, we literally had no recent pictures of us together, and most of the older ones aren't very good, except for the engagement & wedding ones. We needed some new pictures of us together, so the photopass share was the perfect excuse.

OMG, I didn't even notice the kid in the Test Track pic! That is hilarious!!

We made an effort to stop for every photographer we came across, except for the ones at characters - we didn't want to wait in lines.

 

[michellem1118]

LOVE the sweatshirt!!!!!!


You got some really cute PP pics. You guys look so in love!!!!


I've never see the Soarin PP pic. soooo cute!

DH's sweatshirt is pretty cool! I have a similar-but-different one, but I didn't take it on this trip because it's so heavy.

Thanks for the compliments on the PP pics. I'm really happy with how they turned out.

The Soarin' "special" pic is really cute! I hadn't ever seen it before this trip.

 

[CW4DW]

Love all the photopass pics - I'll be there in 10 days, and can't wait!

 

[vamassey1]

Wow you got some great pictures. I would have a real hard time picking a favorite. I've never seen the soarin or balloon ones before. They're a really neat add on.

 

[MHTeacher]

Your PP pictures are fantastic! and that kid behind you during Test Track is too funny!

 

[KathyRN137]

Wow! Fabulous pictures!

I love the one with the two of you rubbing noses under the Sorcerer's Hat! So cute!


Kathy

 

[micandminforever]

After seeing your smiles in the photopass pictures, I believe you really put the happy back in your trip. The pictures were great and your smiles are wonderful.

 

[michellem1118]

Love all the photopass pics - I'll be there in 10 days, and can't wait!

Thanks! 10 days?! I'm jealous! I haven't started the countdown to our next trip officially yet, but I know it's under 30 days...

Wow you got some great pictures. I would have a real hard time picking a favorite. I've never seen the soarin or balloon ones before. They're a really neat add on.

Thanks! I'm so glad so many of them turned out well. The special pics are always so much fun!

Your PP pictures are fantastic! and that kid behind you during Test Track is too funny!

Thanks!

Wow! Fabulous pictures!

I love the one with the two of you rubbing noses under the Sorcerer's Hat! So cute!


Kathy

That one is now my Facebook profile picture!

After seeing your smiles in the photopass pictures, I believe you really put the happy back in your trip. The pictures were great and your smiles are wonderful.

Thanks! It really was a great trip!

.... We've decided to bring some friends along on one of our summer trips... I sure hope we don't end up with a repeat of Christmas!

 

[michellem1118]

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

After our late night at MK the night before, we slept in today. Our "plans" for the day didn't require us to be anywhere until 2:00pm, so we had a lazy morning planned. After getting ready, we decided to head out to DTD for some souvenir shopping. We were on the bus around 10:30am or so, and arrived at DTD pretty quickly. We got off at the Pleasure Island/West Side stop, and perused the art galleries and shops at that end. We found a ton of things we'd love to buy, but nothing we can afford right now. We then made our way down to the Marketplace side, where we did some shopping at World of Disney. At breakfast the previous day, we'd gotten a 20% off coupon, good at several Disney locations, as long as we shopped before noon, and we had some things we wanted to buy. First up was a Mickey garden gnome for my mom - she fell in love with it at Christmas but didn't buy it. DH got a t-shirt, and I got a t-shirt & a hoodie (but I ended up returning the t-shirt, because after trying it on, it just didn't look right).

Around noon, we decided to leave DTD. We weren't thinking, and didn't have our souvies sent over to the resort, so we debated taking them back to the room ourselves, but we were a bit worried about time. When we got to the bus stop, there was a bus there that was heading to our destination - the Contemporary/Bay Lake Towers - so we hopped on.

Let me backtrack here: when we were at Epcot with wigd, shocker, and jewjubean, wigd mentioned that they were going to a DVC member preview event at Bay Lake Towers, and they gave us the day & time they'd signed up for. That afternoon, after leaving their villa at BW, we stopped in the lobby and signed up for the same event, which is where we were headed now.

Back to the update: So, with nearly 2 hours to spare, we hopped on a bus at DTD Marketplace to the Contemporary. I believe it also went to Poly & GF, & possibly to WL. (Sidenote - does anyone else think it's kind of strange that all the deluxe resorts share a bus, while the mods all have their own? I know it's a size/space thing, but I just think if I was paying cash for a GF room and had to share a bus with 3 other resorts, I'd be really annoyed...) . This was the LONGEST bus ride EVER. First to the Pleasure Island stop, then to Typhoon Lagoon, then to Poly, before we finally arrived at the Contemporary. At 1:15pm. Yep, right at an hour to get from DTD back to the Contemporary.

With time to spare, we decided to get something to snack on, so we headed around to the pool area at the Contemporary, where we shared a hot dog & chips. On our way to the snack bar area, we took this photo using the self-timer on the camera:

and I took the following while we were waiting:

Finally, it was about 1:45, and we decided to go check in for the member preview event. We headed into the lobby of BLT & got checked in. They were taking small groups of people up to the Top of the World Lounge, but we decided to wait in the lobby until wigd and shocker arrived.

They got there a few minutes later, and the 4 of us headed up to the Top of the World. Some pictures along the way:

the BLT pool, from a high window

from the observation deck @ the Top of the World Lounge:

inside the Top of the World Lounge:

We played DVC trivia and listened to the add-on sales pitch, but weren't enticed (although... I might be enticed if they're still offering the same incentives in June, assuming the IRS fixes their mistake and gets our tax refund to us before then... ) and then headed out on a tour of the resort area.

the pool from ground level:

and finally, the model rooms - a 1BR & connected studio... judging from the photos, there must be 3 bathrooms in this 2BR lock-off configuration.

crowded kitchen area, with a fuzzy wigd

master bedroom

studio area:

hallway art work:

After the tour, we checked out at the front & were given 3 "magic" FPs apiece - when you put the card in the FP machine, it spits out a FP for that exact time.

The four of us then walked over to the MK. DH & I caught a bus back to Beach Club (we were still hauling our souvies around, LOL). We'd mentioned to wigd and shocker that our APs had expired, so we weren't sure what to do with the rest of the day. They, in turn, had mentioned that there was an AP renewal offer that made the new APs valid for 15 months instead of 12. On the bus ride back to Beach Club, DH & I discussed the pros & cons of renewing the passes.

Up next: How do we spend the rest of our day? And what do we decide to do about the expired APs?

 

[MHTeacher]

Sounds as if you had a good, relaxing day!

The pictures of BLT look really nice. It really didn't matter about your blurred pic of Wigd, because we all recognized her because of her Cupcakes Pink mailbag!

Curious to see what you did about the APs.

 

[vamassey1]

A nice relaxing day in the World. Interesting pictures of BLT. I can't decide if I like it or not.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I need to get busy and get my days caught up to yours Michelle!
You got some good pictures of the pool from up high and the pics of MK and GF are great!

Vanessa, I didn't think I was going to like BLT, I really like a tropical or lush feel to a resort....
Well forget that.
I loved BLT! It's beautiful!
I think it's hard to see how pretty it is with all the people in the photographs.

 

[KathyRN137]

That was a nice little diversion! Thanks for all the pix! The views from the observation deck are amazing... I can just imagine how lovely the MK fireworks would look from that vantage point.


Kathy

 

[michellem1118]

Sounds as if you had a good, relaxing day!

The pictures of BLT look really nice. It really didn't matter about your blurred pic of Wigd, because we all recognized her because of her Cupcakes Pink mailbag!

Curious to see what you did about the APs.

BLT *was* really nice. I didn't expect to like it, since I've never really been a fan of the Contemporary, but I was pleasantly surprised. I can't wait to stay there in July!

You mean all the tickers in my siggy didn't give away the AP decision?

A nice relaxing day in the World. Interesting pictures of BLT. I can't decide if I like it or not.

I really liked it! It's so pretty!

I need to get busy and get my days caught up to yours Michelle!
You got some good pictures of the pool from up high and the pics of MK and GF are great!

Vanessa, I didn't think I was going to like BLT, I really like a tropical or lush feel to a resort....
Well forget that.
I loved BLT! It's beautiful!
I think it's hard to see how pretty it is with all the people in the photographs.

Yes, yes you do. I think you're still a day behind where I am, and you have the pictures of all of us on the observation deck!

That was a nice little diversion! Thanks for all the pix! The views from the observation deck are amazing... I can just imagine how lovely the MK fireworks would look from that vantage point.


Kathy

I enjoyed the BLT tour. We ended up liking BLT a lot more than we thought we would. I'll have pictures of the fireworks from up there in July!