DVC Mike Live from BLT (Dec 4-12)

[photobob]

About now in every Disney vacation, I begin to realize just how blessed I am to be a DVC member.

Yes, DVC isn’t perfect and no; all the policies and procedures may not be how I would design them (as I’ll hear today during the Q&A session at the Annual DVC Meeting). But I am generally a very happy and satisfied DVC member.

I get to spend 32+ nights each year in what is essentially a one bedroom suite at one of my favorite places in the world. I simply couldn’t afford to do that if I wasn’t a DVC member.

Plus, my home resorts have become my second home away from home. I feel comfortable and relaxed here. I know the territory. Coming here is second nature. When I drive under the entrance arch at the outskirts of this world, a big smile plays across my face. I’m back home again. I know what the next 8 days and nights are going to be like.

I see a lot of people running around on their touring plans, trying to make the most of every minute and trying to get in as many rides as possible (I was originally like that too!). They always look so exhausted at the end of each day. That’s what happens to me back at the office, so why would I want to continue that frantic pace here?

Me, I always feel rejuvenated by my Disney vacation. Since we know we’ll be coming back again and again, we take things slowly – very slowly. We’ll wander through a theme park in the early morning just taking in the sights. We’ll enjoy having a great meal in a nice restaurant. We people watch. We take a boat out on the Seven Seas lagoon. I can just sit on the balcony and soak in the view, whether it is animals at AKV or people, boats, trains and monorails at BLT.

It feels good to be home again.

Yes, I’m glad I’m a DVC member. Are you?

Very well put Mike. I am glad to be a DVC owner as well and just hope economics allow me to continue to be for years to come. Thank you for taking the time to do trip reports every time you go, many of us look forward to them to give us a little taste between our trips.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

About now in every Disney vacation, I begin to realize just how blessed I am to be a DVC member.

Yes, DVC isn’t perfect and no; all the policies and procedures may not be how I would design them (as I’ll hear today during the Q&A session at the Annual DVC Meeting). But I am generally a very happy and satisfied DVC member.

I get to spend 32+ nights each year in what is essentially a one bedroom suite at one of my favorite places in the world. I simply couldn’t afford to do that if I wasn’t a DVC member.

Plus, my home resorts have become my second home away from home. I feel comfortable and relaxed here. I know the territory. Coming here is second nature. When I drive under the entrance arch at the outskirts of this world, a big smile plays across my face. I’m back home again. I know what the next 8 days and nights are going to be like.

I see a lot of people running around on their touring plans, trying to make the most of every minute and trying to get in as many rides as possible (I was originally like that too!). They always look so exhausted at the end of each day. That’s what happens to me back at the office, so why would I want to continue that frantic pace here?

Me, I always feel rejuvenated by my Disney vacation. Since we know we’ll be coming back again and again, we take things slowly – very slowly. We’ll wander through a theme park in the early morning just taking in the sights. We’ll enjoy having a great meal in a nice restaurant. We people watch. We take a boat out on the Seven Seas lagoon. I can just sit on the balcony and soak in the view, whether it is animals at AKV or people, boats, trains and monorails at BLT.

It feels good to be home again.

Yes, I’m glad I’m a DVC member. Are you?

I totally agree. I go once or twice a year and never get tired of going. Now my son expects us to go every year. He is already asking when we are going again. Haven't told him we are going in March.

Your pictures are breathtaking.

 

[cseca]

Beeeyooooootiful pictures!!!! Amazing photographer and camera.
I just HAD to google your D7000... yowza!

Thank you for posting those wonderful pictures.
Made me miss my "home" terribly.

And yes, as much as DVC policy changes and constant "upgrades" annoy me I still LOVE my membership.

The moment my heart stops feeling the warm fuzzies when I see WDW pictures I'd have to sell my points. I have a feeling that'll be a loooong time coming

Have a wonderful time! And keep making us jealous with your beautiful pictures!

 

[Ratpack]

Absolutely great photos. I see you are using the D7000, were most of these with the 18-105 lens that came with it or do you use other lenses?

 

[scott2997]

Mike...

I'm jumping on the "great pictures" bandwagon!

Your photos make me want to get my Nikon D50 out and start shooting.

Only thing I wish my D50 had was a depth of field preview.

Love your shutter delayed shots. I've attempted to play with some of those shots and have yet to master it.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[DVC Mike]

I attended the 2010 Annual DVC Meeting. I'll leave to others the details (yawn!).

Here are some quick snapshots.

Outside, waiting for the meeting to begin

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/OutsideDVCAnnualMeeting.jpg

The whole theme of the meeting was around Aulani resort in Hawaii, so here's a shot of Walt and Lilly in Hawaii.

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/WaltAndLillyinHawaii.jpg

The stage

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/DVCAnnualMeetingInside.jpg

Some entertainment

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/HawaiiDancers.jpg

Some charts

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/DVC2001AnnualDues.jpg

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/DVCAnnualDuesComparison.jpg

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/DVCGuestRatings.jpg

The new online booking (available before the end of 2011)

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/DVCOnlineBooking.jpg

 

[DebbieB]

The new online booking (available before the end of 2011)

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/DVCOnlineBooking.jpg

Interesting that it says that an SSR 1 bedoom "sleeps 5". To me "sleeps 5" means bedding is provided for 5.

 

[LisaS]

The new online booking (available before the end of 2011)

http://i235.*************************************Dec2010DVCMeeting/DVCOnlineBooking.jpg

Interesting that NYE, the hardest night to book, happens to be available.

Given the number of points this member owns, I have to ask, Mike is that your account?

 

[OurDogCisco]

Woohoo... online booking... That would be sweet! Thanks for sharing...

 

[Nancy F]

We were there from 12/03 t0 12/08 and had a wonderful time. We stayed in MKV Studio #8018. The Castle was dead center of my balcony. What a great room. I'm trying to talk the hubby into staying from Sunday to Sunday for our next Dec. trip. We usually stay Friday to Wednesday. I'm using the "it's the same amount of workdays" ploy.

Nancy

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the screen shots of the online booking pages! Looks like it will be a great advantage!

 

[El&Asmom]

I wish I had 1500 available points.

Great TR Mike. LOOOOOVE the pictures.

 

[Disneypirate85]

Online booking will be a GREAT "Enhancment"....looking forward to it....Shawn

 

[DVC Eric]

About now in every Disney vacation, I begin to realize just how blessed I am to be a DVC member.

Yes, DVC isn’t perfect and no; all the policies and procedures may not be how I would design them (as I’ll hear today during the Q&A session at the Annual DVC Meeting). But I am generally a very happy and satisfied DVC member.

Plus, my home resorts have become my second home away from home. I feel comfortable and relaxed here. I know the territory. Coming here is second nature. When I drive under the entrance arch at the outskirts of this world, a big smile plays across my face. I’m back home again. I know what the next 8 days and nights are going to be like.

I see a lot of people running around on their touring plans, trying to make the most of every minute and trying to get in as many rides as possible (I was originally like that too!). They always look so exhausted at the end of each day. That’s what happens to me back at the office, so why would I want to continue that frantic pace here?

Me, I always feel rejuvenated by my Disney vacation. Since we know we’ll be coming back again and again, we take things slowly – very slowly. We’ll wander through a theme park in the early morning just taking in the sights. We’ll enjoy having a great meal in a nice restaurant. We people watch. We take a boat out on the Seven Seas lagoon. I can just sit on the balcony and soak in the view, whether it is animals at AKV or people, boats, trains and monorails at BLT.

It feels good to be home again.

Yes, I’m glad I’m a DVC member. Are you?

Yes, we are very happy DVC members. We enjoy taking leisure vacations also. We enjoy bringing friends and family along, Thank you for your pictures and report.

 

[Cyndibear]

I too feel very blessed being a DVC owner. I love everything about it. Sure it gets frustrating sometimes but doesn't everything? I love being able to plan several years in advance, knowing that when the end of my trip is drawing near I have another one to look forward to that is only months away. We also take it slow and love to people watch! People always say "your going to Disney again" but noone understands the feeling I get when I'm there.

Thanks, Mike for your wonderful posts and photo's!

Cyndi

 

[kikiq]

Yes, I’m glad I’m a DVC member. Are you?

My DH could have written the same words. For us because we live on the west coast, that feeling is as soon as we board the airplane to Orlando. DVC forces him to slow down and for those days, he is relaxed and happy. Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures, my DH enjoys looking at them when he gets home every night. Time to plan for the next trip.

 

[Mom B]

Thanks, Mike, for the interesting and informative pictures of the online booking system...and as always, for the ones of the beautiful scenery. Yes, I'm glad we're members too...especially now when our next trip is 28 days away!

 

[WDWCrazyfromGA]

Thank you DVCMike for taking time out of your trip to bring us along with you through these amazing photos. We were just there the week before Thanksgiving and loved our first trip home! We are extremely pleased with this purchase - my DH and I just silently grinned when we took our first walk from BLT to MK - both shining inside with appreciation for how lucky we are to be able to own DVC!!

 

[Candy Orlando]

Mike, I'll be there soon. DVC is my happy place and feels like home. I don't think most people understand how relaxing Disney can be when you go often. I take a lot of videos with my iPhone so I can watch them wherever I am because I miss DVC when I'm not there.

 

[dianeschlicht]

About now in every Disney vacation, I begin to realize just how blessed I am to be a DVC member.

Yes, DVC isn’t perfect and no; all the policies and procedures may not be how I would design them (as I’ll hear today during the Q&A session at the Annual DVC Meeting). But I am generally a very happy and satisfied DVC member.

I get to spend 32+ nights each year in what is essentially a one bedroom suite at one of my favorite places in the world. I simply couldn’t afford to do that if I wasn’t a DVC member.

Plus, my home resorts have become my second home away from home. I feel comfortable and relaxed here. I know the territory. Coming here is second nature. When I drive under the entrance arch at the outskirts of this world, a big smile plays across my face. I’m back home again. I know what the next 8 days and nights are going to be like.

I see a lot of people running around on their touring plans, trying to make the most of every minute and trying to get in as many rides as possible (I was originally like that too!). They always look so exhausted at the end of each day. That’s what happens to me back at the office, so why would I want to continue that frantic pace here?

Me, I always feel rejuvenated by my Disney vacation. Since we know we’ll be coming back again and again, we take things slowly – very slowly. We’ll wander through a theme park in the early morning just taking in the sights. We’ll enjoy having a great meal in a nice restaurant. We people watch. We take a boat out on the Seven Seas lagoon. I can just sit on the balcony and soak in the view, whether it is animals at AKV or people, boats, trains and monorails at BLT.

It feels good to be home again.

Yes, I’m glad I’m a DVC member. Are you?

I absolutely feel the same way! We always laugh at how many things we forget to do on each trip. We'll be on the way home, and one of us will say, "oh, we forgot to ...." It's just not important if we miss something this trip....there will always be another coming up.