Inching My Way Closer to the Castle Final thoughts/future trips 4/2p90 The End 4/4p92

[MEK]

It was just an overall bad experience, our server had the personality of a wet mop, both kids got sick, Justin during dinner, Jared after. Don got sick later that night, and I obviously ordered the wrong thing because my entree was just ehhhh. I hear lots of good things about it, but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to give it another try....



:

Given your experience, I don't think I would be brave enough to try it again either. Tonight I had some roast beef that was really similar to what I ate right before I got sick with the Evil D and while I was eating I kept thinking, "why does this remind me of something". And then..........light bulb moment! So I completely understand.

Oh that Jen...always the jokester!

Mary Ellen, your morning run sounds so peaceful

It was very peaceful. Loved it!

I can't wait to see all of the pictures you two took at AK, I love that park!

I am uploading more right now!

I can see how your early morning run can really start your day off well. The solitude and then watching the whole World wake up must really be something. Still not doing it though In May I will get up early with you and walk over to the Boardwalk Bakery and have a treat while you run around the lake

Sounds like a plan! I am actually looking forward to that run around the lake and I can't wait to run to HS in the morning. It will be like having another private running path. Oh, and while you are at the bakery, make sure you pick up something tasty for me! I can't wait to visit that place.

Jen--very cool pictures of the rays of light that you caught
MEK love the edits that you did to the fireworks...purple smoke

Tracy

We were so surprised when we saw those rays of light. It looked so cool in real live and we got lucky to get a picture of it.

I had several updates to catch-up on....let's see if I can remember the comments I wanted to make.

The Wave. I haven't gotten to that yet in my TR, but our dinner there was good but we didn't leave thinking that it was a "must do" restaurant for us.

I wouldn't say its a "must-do", but both are meals were very good. I'll have to rank my TS meals at the end of this TR to see where that one stacks up!

Bummer that the fireworks started right after you left TOTWL, but you both got some good shots from your balcony.

Thank goodness we had a MK view or I would have been so disappointed to miss those fireworks.

I
Those "beams of lights" photos are fantastic. It looks like you could climb them!

I agree. I have a few that I am going to post too. (if they ever upload )

Hmmm, I probably had more comments, but that's what happens when you get old -- you can't remember what you were going to say if you read more than one update...and people offer you the bed rather than the pull-out sofa.

Good one!!!!!

I enjoyed your wishes pictures, it is amazing what kinds of pictures you can take if you know what you are doing. I could look at your pictures all day. They make me feel like I am there.

I am so glad you enjoyed the pictures. I really don't know what I'm doing, but Jen does and I am slowly learning. I have soooooooooo much to learn! Stay tuned because we took tons of AK pictures.

Great updates, Mary Ellen and Jen. I agree...the AK has so many photo opportunities in all of the detail, etc. You guys do such a great job capturing all that detail.

AK is my favorite park to photograph. I have a ton of pictures to share and I am sure Jen does, too. I could probably update every night this week and still not get through all my AK pics.

Hi! I just wanted to let you know how much I have been enjoying your TR. Beautiful pictures!

PirateKate! We are so glad you are enjoying our trip report and the pictures. We have many, many more to post.

I like your tickers - judging by them you are one busy mom!

 

[jenjolt]

Love the additional photos, so awesome!!

DAY 3 WOOT WOOT!!!

Love that you have such great Disney runs!! That is fantastic!!! Whatever you want to do to relax and enjoy your vacation your way!!!

Once again some very very artsy and wonderful pictures of the AK!

 

[MEK]

Love the additional photos, so awesome!!

Thanks. Plenty more coming!

DAY 3 WOOT WOOT!!!

Love that you have such great Disney runs!! That is fantastic!!! Whatever you want to do to relax and enjoy your vacation your way!!!

I really do. Even though running can be hard and feel crappy sometimes, for the most part I really love it.

Once again some very very artsy and wonderful pictures of the AK!

Thanks!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I can see how your early morning run can really start your day off well. The solitude and then watching the whole World wake up must really be something. Still not doing it though In May I will get up early with you and walk over to the Boardwalk Bakery and have a treat while you run around the lake

I feel completely the same way! ETA: although she did make me run; we'll talk about that on Day 4 I believe.

Jen--very cool pictures of the rays of light that you caught
MEK love the edits that you did to the fireworks...purple smoke

Thanks, I was surprised they turned out that good... that well... which one is it? Ah, I was surprised they turned out so nice. That's better.

I love MEK's fireworks pics! The really colorful one is my favorite. It looks like something out of my microbiology book!

I had several updates to catch-up on....let's see if I can remember the comments I wanted to make.

The Wave. I haven't gotten to that yet in my TR, but our dinner there was good but we didn't leave thinking that it was a "must do" restaurant for us.

Bummer that the fireworks started right after you left TOTWL, but you both got some good shots from your balcony.

Those "beams of lights" photos are fantastic. It looks like you could climb them!

Hmmm, I probably had more comments, but that's what happens when you get old -- you can't remember what you were going to say if you read more than one update...and people offer you the bed rather than the pull-out sofa.

I didn't know if maybe she had a bad back and needed/preferred a more firm/plush sleeping locale. I can sleep just about anywhere under any conditions. Ya know, being young and all!

I'M KIDDING!

I enjoyed your wishes pictures, it is amazing what kinds of pictures you can take if you know what you are doing. I could look at your pictures all day. They make me feel like I am there.

GOOD! That's why we do it, to make you feel like you're there (at least that's why I do it). Going through all of my pics brings back the sounds and smells of WDW and makes me remember all the great things we did. It was a really great trip; I had excellent company in MEK, I think we really melded well. We might have to do this again!

Great updates, Mary Ellen and Jen. I agree...the AK has so many photo opportunities in all of the detail, etc. You guys do such a great job capturing all that detail.

The more I visit AK, the more time I spend there. That park has really matured over the years and I like the way it's going!

Hi! I just wanted to let you know how much I have been enjoying your TR. Beautiful pictures!

Glad to have you here with us! I've noticed that MEK has been doing a great job with the chapter links which is great, but I haven't been using titles for my posts so every now and then I see "Jen's Update" dispersed amongst her clever titles. I must remedy that.

D4D

 

[MEK]

I don't feel like doing a real update tonight, but I would like to post a few more AK pictures, since I had trouble uploading them yesterday.

When I left off Jen and I were just leaving Harambe. We had just picked up our FP's for Safari and we were heading over to EE for a ride (or two). Jen's right - I like to do the thrill rides first thing in the morning. It's like I have a mental park list and there's certain rides I like to check off first. EE is one of them. Plus some rides make me a little nervous. EE sometimes makes me a tad nervous, but once I get on the ride I am fine.

So we walked in the direction of EE and I took some pictures very similar to Jen's pictures. I will share the with you.

I was amazed when I saw the way the sunlight filtered through the trees. I usually head right to EE, so its clear that I have been missing this light show over in Harambe.....

Coming up Next.......Front Row Mojo!

 

[PrincessAlways]

The morning solitude sounds wonderful....however I'll take mine without the run please!! Just the coffee & silence!

 

[Nermel9]

I wish I was a runner just so I could get up early and run through the quiet resorts! But...I can run for about 30 seconds before I feel like I'm actually going to drop dead so maybe I'll try to take a walk early this time! I wanted to get up early when i was at WL last year and go for a walk but I was too nervous...I don't know why, it's Disney World, not like anything bad will happen.

You guys both have such amazing AK pictures! Especially the ones of the sunlight coming through the trees, so beautiful!

 

[MaryAz]

Jen I am sorry for ur doggie loss
I cannot believe that you are taking those stunning pics from a point and shoot WOW
I am rethinking our spring trip at BLT for me and my girls
I did book a meal at the Wave for our Dec trip

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Meander
Definition: wander, zigzag
Synonyms: be all over the map, change, drift, extravagate, gallivant, get sidetracked, peregrinate, ramble, range, recoil, roam, rove, snake, stray, stroll, traipse, turn, twine, twist, vagabond, wind

A very good definition of what we did. We took our time and enjoyed the park all along the way. MEK visited a bathroom for a bio break too, I believe.

Great day for reflections!

When I saw this I thought of my DH. An inside joke with us is to say "Kitty!" any time we see something that is clearly not soft and cuddly; like when Boo calls Suley, "Kitty!" in Monsters, INC.

"Kitty!"

D4D

 

[MEK]

The morning solitude sounds wonderful....however I'll take mine without the run please!! Just the coffee & silence!

I think a lot of people feel the way you do! I probably love the coffee and solitude part a little better than the actual run!

 

[MEK]

I wish I was a runner just so I could get up early and run through the quiet resorts! But...I can run for about 30 seconds before I feel like I'm actually going to drop dead so maybe I'll try to take a walk early this time! I wanted to get up early when i was at WL last year and go for a walk but I was too nervous...I don't know why, it's Disney World, not like anything bad will happen.

I am always a little nervous when I go out by myself, too. Especially at the WL because I really was running through the wilderness. But then, like you said, I remind myself its Disney and I am good to go. Running in the dark was a little spooky, though!

You guys both have such amazing AK pictures! Especially the ones of the sunlight coming through the trees, so beautiful!

I don't know how we got so lucky to hit that sunlight just right. Seems the mojo was already starting as we were walking down that path!

I have so many AK pics, I will never be able to decide which to post!

Jen I am sorry for ur doggie loss
I cannot believe that you are taking those stunning pics from a point and shoot WOW

Jen really knows how to take a good picture! I can't tell the difference between hers and mine when we take the same pic. I do think the Canon point n shoots take great pictures!

I am rethinking our spring trip at BLT for me and my girls
I did book a meal at the Wave for our Dec trip

OH, don't give up on blt yet. Yeah, its a small room but your girls are still small and I think you would love the location. They would probably like the pool, too because its not real deep anywhere. You have great vision as far as watching the girls and you many like that.

Wave

 

[SoonerGirl]

Thanks for all the gorgeous AK pics ladies!

 

[KatMark]

More great pictures of AK...love them.

 

[MEK]

Thanks for all the gorgeous AK pics ladies!

More great pictures of AK...love them.

Thanks Michelle & Kathy - we are just picture posting fools! I probably won't post tonight though. I have a soccer game to go to. Let's ask Jen if she will post her front row EE mojo pics, shall we????? Maybe she'll start that update!

HEY JEN - Any chance you will post your front row EE mojo pics since yours are better than mine (since I didn't change the lens). I promise I will post first after that!!!!!!

 

[KatMark]

Pretty please, Jen????????

MaryEllen, have fun at soccer.

 

[eandesmom]

I love the rays of light photos, very very cool!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Thanks Michelle & Kathy - we are just picture posting fools! I probably won't post tonight though. I have a soccer game to go to. Let's ask Jen if she will post her front row EE mojo pics, shall we????? Maybe she'll start that update!

HEY JEN - Any chance you will post your front row EE mojo pics since yours are better than mine (since I didn't change the lens). I promise I will post first after that!!!!!!

Not a problem! I am out with crazy kids right now but the pics are already uplaoded so I just need to post them! I have been debating between postinthem all rogether or separate them into ride 1 and ride 2 - that' right folks, we had front row mojo x2!

D4D

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Ladies, these pictures are gorgeous! This makes me so stinkin' mad that I can't get on the DIS at school anymore.
I'd love to show these photos to my students....

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I think I will post them as Ride 1 and Ride 2. Twice the fun that way! MEK wanted to ride in the front row and I was in total agreement

First let's go over some rules:

Welcome to the front seat!

1st Hill:

View from first hill:

Her, that's where we'll be after this little first drop...

Wow, that's a crappy shot. I can't believe I shared that one.

Under the archway and up the second hill!

Second hill!

Nice view before...

While we're up here, let's look around.

Still up here... hmm, this has quite the hang time.

Now we're going BBAAACCCCKKKKKWAAARRDDDSS!

(that was taken at a high rate of speed I have NO CLUE how I got that shot )

It's the YETI! Ok, it's his shadow and it's a mediocre shot, but better than I thought. I tried to get a shot of the actual Yeti but I barely saw him. Have they changed that part of the ride?

WOOT! First ride down! Let's do it AGAIN!

D4D

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Yay for front row! We sure think it's always worth the wait...