DVC Mike Live from BLT (Dec 4-12)

[DVC Mike]

Japan by DVC Mike, on Flickr


OutsideItaly by DVC Mike, on Flickr


OutsideItaly2 by DVC Mike, on Flickr

ItalyGondolas by DVC Mike, on Flickr


EpcotView2 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


GermanyXmas by DVC Mike, on Flickr

 

[DVC Mike]

EpcotCanoes by DVC Mike, on Flickr


EpcotView3 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


China1 by DVC Mike, on Flickr

China2 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


China3 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


Viking by DVC Mike, on Flickr

 

[DVC Mike]

Mexico by DVC Mike, on Flickr

EpcotView4 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


EpcotChristmasTree by DVC Mike, on Flickr


EpcotView5 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


EpcotDonald by DVC Mike, on Flickr


EpcotGoofy by DVC Mike, on Flickr

 

[DVC Mike]

EpcotView6 by DVC Mike, on Flickr

Canada1 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


Canada2 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


Canada3 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


Canada4 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


Canada5 by DVC Mike, on Flickr

 

[DVC Mike]

Afterwards, we went to Beaches and Cream at the YC/BC for lunch.

EpcotBackToYachtClub by DVC Mike, on Flickr


SAB1 by DVC Mike, on Flickr

SAB2 by DVC Mike, on Flickr


SAB3 by DVC Mike, on Flickr

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Is it just me or there are hardly anyone at the parks?

 

[DVC Mike]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the complements on the photos. I really only have time to take photos when I'm here at Disney, as I'm typically too busy while at work.

Last night, our meal at the Flying Fish Café was awesome! I had the crab cakes followed by the potato-wrapped red snapper, while my wife had the artisanal cheese plate, mushroom soup, and a vegetarian platter. As always, Flying Fish didn’t disappoint and everything was delicious.

Tonight, we’re heading up to the California Grill. My wife will probably get sushi while I’ll get steak or seafood.

Friday night, we’re looking forward to Citricos, which offers fabulous food.

 

[Sandisw]

Those pictures are just wonderful!!! Really make me miss WDW right now. We have gotten more than 3 feet of snow since Saturday and its still coming.

Thanks for sharing the magic!

 

[maminnie]

Mike:

The temps may be cool but the blue skies are breathtaking!

Thanks, as always, for sharing your trip with us. Your pictures are beautiful. It makes these cold, almost winter, days seem a lot sunnier and warmer!

maminne

 

[podsnel]

Well, you sure had fun playing with your camera today!! I LOVE that lens!! Great photos, Mike!

 

[edk35]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the trip pics!!! Nothing like a virtual Disney trip with a DVC/Dis Vet like you!!! I am really enjoying these pictures. I can't wait to get back to Disney when all the decorations are up. We have been in Dec. twice and in Nov. 4 times and I am ready to go back during the holidays.

 

[MELSMICE]

Great photos!

 

[DVC Mike]

We had a nice dinner at the California Grill on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort. Our waitress, Jenny, was very good - and so was the food.

After dinner, I stepped out to the rooftop observation area and snapped this shot of Bay Lake Tower.

I took this handheld with a 1/8 second exposure. I typically can't hold the camera below 1/30 of a second and get a clear shot, so I'm pleased how this turned out.

BLTfromCRRoof by DVC Mike, on Flickr

 

[Yankeemouse]

Bay Lake Tower looks so beautiful. We're new owners and our first stay will be in August. I cannot get over how blue the skies were these past few days! It may have been chilly but with the sun shining and those skies, who cares!

 

[DizGirl20]

Can I just say - your pictures are absolutely stunning! I say quit your day job and have Disney hire you as a professional photographer for all their marketing material!

I especially enjoyed your pictures of SAB. We stayed at BCV in May and I miss it terribly. I think of SAB almost every day. Funny to see it so empty (well, not so funny to those who are staying there and probably would like to enjoy warmer weather!). Thanks for sharing. Sigh!

 

[Cee]

Oooooooooooooooooo, I LOVE the potato-wrapped Red Snapper!

What a wonderful TR. I long to be there....and I was just there last month!

 

[DVC Mike]

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?

 

[Hopefully]

I too feel truly lucky to be a DVC owner. We love our Disney trips, although we are not able to go as frequently as you do, we truly relax as well.
Last year we discovered Vero Beach. We spent a week where we truly rested, relaxed and marvelled over how lucky we are.
This year we are going to combine a F& W visit to BCV followed by 6 nights at Vero. It will be our first 2 week vacation in years. We are both very excited for this trip.
We couldn't do this without DVC. I looked at the WDW web site and just our 5 nights in a 1 BR at BCV would have been about $3800.00 rack rate. Just one type of value we see.
Thanks for your report and your thoughts. I look forward to the rest of your trip report.

 

[jakenjess]

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?

No one could have stated it better. That's why when people say, "You're going to Disney, again??" I just smile and say, yes, we're going again. And that's exactly why.

Yes, I'm very glad I'm a DVC member. Thanks so much for sharing your trip, your thoughts, and your beautiful pictures. Enjoy!

 

[MELSMICE]

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?