I Kicked it I Played it and now..Wheeling & Dealing at the WL final 9/9 p87/88

[MEK]

Wow, your pictures are gorgeous!! That shot of the Grand Floridian is just beautiful!

Thank you. That resort is just so amazing. I can't imagine working there. I would constantly be getting lost - it is huge!

 

[HockeyMomR]

Excited to find your new trip report.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

Ready to follow along on the TR!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

DH may get to go on my trip with granddaughters, it depends on how much he is willing to contribute to the trip.

We went to the Outer Banks a few years ago. We enjoyed it very much, of course there was no crowds as it was after Labor Day. Beautiful place!

 

[John's Mom]

Just joining in. Enjoying your TR and great pics!

Kathy

 

[Native NYer]

I'm glad you were able to find the room keys. I would have freaked out.
Have the VWL rooms been refurbed?

 

[MEK]

Excited to find your new trip report.

Welcome HockeyMomR! So happy to have you here joining in!

Ready to follow along on the TR!

Welcome AlohaAnnie! Thanks for joining in! I hope I can put out some more updates before you leave on your trip - I see you have one coming up soon!

DH may get to go on my trip with granddaughters, it depends on how much he is willing to contribute to the trip.

We went to the Outer Banks a few years ago. We enjoyed it very much, of course there was no crowds as it was after Labor Day. Beautiful place!

to DH having to having to earn his right to a trip. I like the way you think.

Glad you enjoyed the OBX. I am actually looking forward to a trip that will be low key and relaxed. I won't have to worry about blisters on my feet!

Just joining in. Enjoying your TR and great pics!

Welcome John's Mom! Great to see another resident of the first state joining in! It's a small world after all! Did you visit my last trip report? Are you from Dover or am I just wildly guessing?

I'm glad you were able to find the room keys. I would have freaked out.

I was 30 seconds away from freaking out!!!!!

Have the VWL rooms been refurbed?

No, but they need to be! They are not horrible, please don't get me wrong. And there was only one table that had water damage on it. I just think the whole cabin look is a little dated, but I know they can make those rooms great with the new refurb.

 

[Native NYer]

Maybe they need to refurb and do cabin chic?

 

[Dreameratheart]

Just signing up and am REALLY enjoying your TR!! Thanks so much

 

[Tinks "SS"]

Ahh, here i am again when laundry is calling. It can wait until i get caught up! Seriously, your TR and Ellen's are the only 2 i come over here for. Somehow i missed the whole pop one. Will have to check it out after i get some work done. I can totally imagine the whole dumping out of the purse and backpack cause that is totally what i would do and have done looking for things.

So again, i am ready for more please!! Anything to keep my mind distracted from housework and waiting on my Trip in june.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I thought that I would give a heads up to some new Birkestocks. They have Disney designed sandals. There are several styles that are very cute. Cute colors, too.

 

[MEK]

Maybe they need to refurb and do cabin chic?

I definitely think they need a cabin chic refurb. I would love to be the interior decorator for that.

Just signing up and am REALLY enjoying your TR!! Thanks so much

Welcome Dreameratheart! Welcome to my TR and welcome to the Dis! Happy to have to join in. You will find tons of useful information on the Dis Boards.

Ahh, here i am again when laundry is calling. It can wait until i get caught up! Seriously, your TR and Ellen's are the only 2 i come over here for. Somehow i missed the whole pop one. Will have to check it out after i get some work done. I can totally imagine the whole dumping out of the purse and backpack cause that is totally what i would do and have done looking for things.

So again, i am ready for more please!! Anything to keep my mind distracted from housework and waiting on my Trip in june.

I feel so honored that you would pick my TR with all the great ones out there (Ellen's included). I hear ya about the laundry. I got to the bottom of my laundry baskets and got everything put away before I left, but now I can't even see the bottom.

If you like food, my Pop TR is all about that. We did the DxDP for our anniversary and it was excellent. I had my old camera then and it was much easier to take food pics.

Are you staying at BLT in June? That place looks so cool. I can't wait to stay there. I will have more TR up by tomorrow night at the latest.

I thought that I would give a heads up to some new Birkestocks. They have Disney designed sandals. There are several styles that are very cute. Cute colors, too.

Good to know cause I need some cute, comfortable sandals.

 

[John's Mom]

I did visit your last TR. I'm more of a lurker.

We live in Bear (close to the Christiana Mall).

Kathy

 

[MEK]

I really wanted to try for an update tonight. I am on a time budget, but I've got about an hour to spare, so let's see where it takes me.

When I last left off we had hoped a boat from WL to the MK. When we arrived no one seemed to object to the short walk to the contemporary. We could have driven. It probably would have been shorter, but the boat ride and walk were a great way to start our trip.

We chatted, oohed and aahed, and before we knew it, we were entering the Contemporary. We darted right into the Wave at 7:16pm. One minute late! No sooner had I checked in when I went to reach for my phone and turned right around to meet Tracy (manntra). What a great moment. Tracy has followed my last couple of TR's, but I had never seen her picture because I don't go on FB. I was ready to text, "Reveal yourself" when she popped right out of nowhere. She said she was late checking it, so we were practically seated at the same time. It was just pure coincidence that we booked the Wave on the same night, but it sure made for a convenient Dis meet. As it happened, Tracy wasn't seated too far from us.

Now - I have a big confession to make. I DID NOT take a lot of food pictures this trip. I love my new camera, but one of the downfalls is that I never seem to have the right lens on at the same time. I had the 50/250 lens on and I just didn't feel like changing it. This would be a common theme during the trip. If it just been Denny and I dining, I probably would have taken more food porn. But I hadn't warned Chuck and Cathy that I had an addiction to taking mega pictures, so I decided to break them in SLOWLY!

Cathy and I both had a glass of Chardonay and I am not so sure about the boys.

Three of us ordered the.......

Mega-Berry Smoothie - Raspberry Purée and Nonfat Yogurt blended with Odwalla Berries GoMega, an excellent source of Omega-3 $4.69

I love that the wave includes smoothies. I was pretty hungry since we hadn't eaten since before the flight, so I had plenty of room for a smoothie and my meal.

One thing about this meal - It was easy to remember what we ate, since, again, three of us ate the same thing and it was:


Today's Sustainable Fish - with edamame stew served with cilantro chutney $20.99

I always think I am going to remember what type of fish I eat, but I never do. All I can tell you is that the white fish looked tough to the eye, but was really light and flaky. It was so flavorable and the stew consisted of corn and small green beans. It was just delicious and certainly not too heavy.

I believe that this was Chuck's choice:

Grilled Beef Tenderloin - cabernet jus, white bean mash, and locally grown teardrop tomatoes $28.99

Dessert.....what the heck did we have for dessert?????? I just looked at the menu and I actually think the dessert menu may have changed. This is what's on there now:

Creamy Indulgence - Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis, Coconut Panna Cotta with Passion Fruit Drizzle, Chocolate-Passion Fruit Mousse with Pecan-Olive Brittle $7.99

Decadent Flavors - Blueberry Compote with Yogurt Gelato, Lemon Cornbread with Vanilla Panna Cotta, Chocolate Mousse with Salted Caramel Sauce $7.99

Crispy and Crunchy - Vanilla-braised Pineapple Spears, Almond-Pineapple-Raisin "Baklava", Zucchini-Carrot Cake with Vanilla Panna Cotta $7.99

Freshly Crafted Sorbets - Lemon-basil, Pineapple Strawberry $7.99

No Sugar Added Desserts - Chocolate-Mint Mousse, Fresh Berries with Panna Cotta, Vanilla Bean Créme Brulée $7.99




If this is the correct menu then I am going to take an educated guess and tell you that I ate the Creamy Indulgence. After all, I was on vacation so I was ready to indulge.

Towards the end of the meal I went over to visit with Tracy and I have the pictures to prove it!

And here she is folks...Drum Roll Please.......the ONE....the ONLY......Manntra:

Her photo has been edited to remove her traveling partner.

But ya all know I'm not afraid to have my picture taken. Yeah - my smiling muscles may be a little out of shape, but I think I will have them toned in no time!

After dinner we decided we were too lazy to walk back to the MK (were old, ya know) and we hopped on the monorail. On our way to the monorail I decided to get a few photographs of the tiles.....

I was trying something a little artsy here with the photo editing, but all it looks like is a black and white photo. LOL!

It was standing room only on the monorail, but that's OK because we were just enjoying the ride as we were trying to ignore the sweaty foot smells coming from the other guests returning from the park. We passed the GF and I imagined what it would be like to stay there someday.

We arrived in the park shortly before 10pm and the start of Wishes. I lugged my tripod with me to dinner and into the parks and now was my time to use it. If you have followed my other TRs you know that I am always struggling for the perfect photo spot and the perfect fireworks photo. I have a bad habit of getting in the way of other guests. It's not intentional, its just my lack of situational awareness I suspect!

I decided to go up to the train platform. There really wasn't time for anything else. I set up my tripod and managed not to get in anyone's personal space. My view was obstructed, but I was able to edit enough to get the fireworks. I could NOT get the castle and the fireworks.

Here are some seriously edited pictures of the buildings on main street.

I took about a gazillion practice shots until it was finally time for Wishes to begin.

So they aren't the greatest firework photos, but they are improvement over previous trips. I think I really could have gotten some decent shots if I had arrived earlier to setup somewhere on Main Street.

Wishes was awesome. Chuck and Cathy liked it and soon it was time form EMH!

Next up....a quick trip to see some happy haunts and the Dismoms descend on the MK.

 

[Nermel9]

Hello!!! I'm joining in, I'm kind of new to the trip report area of the disboards, but now I'm addicted! Love your pictures, especially of the Wilderness Lodge!

 

[podsnel]

What a great pic of both of you!! I know what you mean about the lenses and the camera- I am constantly switching between my 2- and I've become REALLY FAST at switching them- lensoff, cap off, lenson, cap on! But I take breaks from it- and just use my P&S so it doesn't become overwhelming.

YAY for the fireworks pics!! Aren't you so happy?!

Looking forward to us descending DISmoms!

 

[podsnel]

OMG Ellen.....Are we really two creepy internet friends????? That was "laugh out loud" funny! I do remember telling you that I was going to smile in the picture, but instead I look a little ill! It must have been an offering to that porcelain god that I was getting ready to meet later in the evening.

Ditto regarding meeting you! It was so fun to meet you and I can't say enough about how sweet and polite your boys were. Totally tolerant of the creepy internet meeting!

The creepy internet thing is just what we were all calling ourselves on the vacation- think of it as a term of endearment! Thanks so much for the compliments on my boys, of course I LOVE hearing about how sweet and polite they were- that was, of course, their second creepy internet meeting, being that I drove them up the GS Parkway a couple of years ago to meet Cammie at a rest stop- now THAT was classy AND creepy!! So by the time we were meeting you, they had become old pros!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Sounds like you had a nice meal at The Wave, we had a not so nice experience there in December, not sure if I'll ever give it another try.

How cool that you and Tracy were there at the same time!

I totally get what your saying about switching the lenses on your camera, it gets to be a bit of a pain doesn't it? You get some really great photos though

 

[MEK]

I did visit your last TR. I'm more of a lurker.

We live in Bear (close to the Christiana Mall).

Kathy

That's right. I was getting you confused with someone else who lives in Dover. We Delaware folks gotta stick together!

Glad you are venturing out of lurkedom!!!!!! (I don't think that's a word)

Hello!!! I'm joining in, I'm kind of new to the trip report area of the disboards, but now I'm addicted! Love your pictures, especially of the Wilderness Lodge!

Welcome Nermel9! thanks for joining in! The TR section of the boards is the BEST because everyone is really nice and people rarely complain. Some other areas of the boards are too weighted down with "beoche" sessions.


I promise more pictures of the WL very soon!

What a great pic of both of you!! I know what you mean about the lenses and the camera- I am constantly switching between my 2- and I've become REALLY FAST at switching them- lensoff, cap off, lenson, cap on! But I take breaks from it- and just use my P&S so it doesn't become overwhelming.

:

Thanks, Tracy's traveling companion took that.

One of the photopass people told me just to invest in a 18/250 lens. He said, "you can get an inexpensive one for about $300". That won't be happening anytime soon, but would make a nice Christmas present!

You have a nice small point and shoot. Mine is not that much smaller than my new camera, so there's no way I would be lugging both of them. That's the other alternative, just buy a small camera for those moments when speed is necessary!

YAY for the fireworks pics!! Aren't you so happy?!

Looking forward to us descending DISmoms!

I am def glad I brought the tripod for the fireworks, even though it keep falling out of my backpack!

The creepy internet thing is just what we were all calling ourselves on the vacation- think of it as a term of endearment! Thanks so much for the compliments on my boys, of course I LOVE hearing about how sweet and polite they were- that was, of course, their second creepy internet meeting, being that I drove them up the GS Parkway a couple of years ago to meet Cammie at a rest stop- now THAT was classy AND creepy!! So by the time we were meeting you, they had become old pros!

Term of endearment - love it!

Yes, I think your boys are old pros at creepy internet meetings. I remember reading about the GS Parkway meet. LOL!

Hey - I'll be on the GS parkway next Friday (going to the real Saratoga Springs for soccer) - wanna meet? Need a do-over! I will be thinking about you as I drive by the rest stops. I actually like that stop right before you cross into NY state. I was stuck there once when the windows on Denny's old blazer would not go up after I put them down for a toll. Long story short, but I was driving my kids and my dad to NH for a ski trip. Denny was already there. Left the light on in the truck - battery died - then all the fuses got screwed up. Put the window down at that toll and it wouldn't go up. It was like 30 degrees out. Finally, somehow reset the fuses and we were a go. But I sat in that parking lot for awhile waiting for AAA before I "fixed" it.

Sounds like you had a nice meal at The Wave, we had a not so nice experience there in December, not sure if I'll ever give it another try.

How cool that you and Tracy were there at the same time!

I totally get what your saying about switching the lenses on your camera, it gets to be a bit of a pain doesn't it? You get some really great photos though

Sorry your meal was not so great. It was not my favorite meal, but it was certainly adequate. There are a couple places where I have had bad meals and I won't go back, so I know what you mean.

Tracy and I totally did not plan that - just great minds think alike. Late MK hours = dinner at a monorail resort!

Glad you like the photos so far. Better ones are coming of the WL!

 

[MEK]

I have 15 mins - can I possibly post an update. Probably not, but its short. I'll try.

After fireworks we went to Jen's favorite spot. Yup - you guessed it - the home of the 999 happy haunts. We literally had to fight our way to the HM. the number of people leaving the park were ridiculous. I felt like fish fighting the current to swim up stream. I picked HM because - well - its a great attraction and I knew that Cathy would be OK with it. She doesn't love thrill rides, so I wasn't sure what else she might like.

When we got to HM I suddenly felt very tired. I just wanted to lean against the wall and fall asleep while we were in the stretching room. When we hit our doom buggy I leaned my head against Denny's shoulder and closed my eyes. But not for long - the ghosts called me to full attention and I enjoyed the ride as much as ever. However, I didn't even try to take pictures because I was certain that would end in disaster with my camera bag spilling everyone. So, alas, no pics of the Madame or the bride.

After HM there will still tons of people leaving the park. We started to head down main street. I think my co-travelers were getting tired and ready to return to our villa. We hit the castle and I got a text from Ellen - the Dis moms had descended. They were wondering up main street as we were wondering down. It was so funny, because we were practically on top of one another before we saw each other. Tracy was there, too. She had already braved the new and improved Space Mtn and loved it.

I handed the camera to Denny so he could take some pictures. He tried.....he really did, but the results are not that fantastic........


Are you ready????? Really ready to see those Dismoms....haha .....you are just going to have to wait. I've got to get ready for work!!!!!!