LIVE from the world! (updated 9/17 WITH SOME INFO ON DVC'S BAY LAKE TOWER!!!)

[Jennygt]

I just loved all your photos! How old is your dd? We went last year when my ds turned 1. So many of the pictures look like ours, you even sort of look like me, and in so many of the shots you are looking at your dd, I have a ton of those also! Hope you are having a wonderful time!!

 

[fightinfire21]

I love your pics!

I couldn't help but notice...in the Princess pictures, Belle is getting a little "on" in years, ain't she? That gives me hope...maybe someday I can be a princess!

I was thinking the same thing. Belle was definatly up there in age!!!

DD2 was looking at your great pics with me - she enjoyed them as much as I did! Now I just have to figure out how to work a family trip in to the World to get her there... Many people offer "advice" and tell us not to take our younger kids until they are old enough to remember but if DD2 gets this excited over your pictures, I can't imagine what her reaction would be in person. And even if she doesn't remember, I will

Don't listen to the advice. This trip has been AWESOME so far. She loves almost anything she see's or does.

Belle almost has jowels!

Gorgeous Pictures!! You're either a photographer OR you have a kickin' camera

THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT!!! I'm not a photographer, and as for the camera it is a Canon Digital ELPH SD500 simple point and shoot I have had since 2005. Very basic camera. I do try to learn a little bit about the differnet modes and how to use them and I use a Joby GORILLAPOD for some of the night shots.

I just loved all your photos! How old is your dd? We went last year when my ds turned 1. So many of the pictures look like ours, you even sort of look like me, and in so many of the shots you are looking at your dd, I have a ton of those also! Hope you are having a wonderful time!!

She is 14 months old. We are having an awesome time.


I'll be putting up the photos from today at MGM Studios later tonight so check them in the morning.

 

[fightinfire21]

Hey Everyone. The gallery is updated with photos from yesterday (9/10). We were at Hollywood Studios and ate at Cape Mae Cafe, Mama Melrose, and The Hollywood Brown Derby.

 

[georgemoe]

Thanks for sharing Fightinfire. Great photos. Now I know why all the old Belle references in chat last night.

 

[SamIAm21]

Gorgeous family! You look like you are having an amazing time!! I hate when people say, oh wait til your child gets older so they'll remember. My first trip was at age 18 and I don't remember much of it. So, how old do you have to be?? HA! Besides, this time she enjoys it, and YOU WILL always remmber it.

Love the pictures, thanks for being so kind to post them. I don't need captions either. The pictures are more than enough!

She's brushing her teeth in the bathtub, holding soap... TOO CUTE!!

 

[gr8leg8]

Many people offer "advice" and tell us not to take our younger kids until they are old enough to remember but if DD2 gets this excited over your pictures, I can't imagine what her reaction would be in person. And even if she doesn't remember, I will

Just one more vote for not waiting.
DD was 3 on her first visit.
She may not remember everything...
but the videos, the pictures, the scrapbook, the autographbook, & the family time are priceless.

Remember you are younger too.
I want my DD to have some photos of me when I was young, smiling, and gorgous!
I treasure the pics of my mom in her youthful beauty.
She was quite a looker in her day, my poor dad didn't stand a chance. One smile and he was goner...


and most importantly (as you said)
YOU will remember/cherish this magic time.

I think of it as memory deposits into my brain
to replay when I get old.

 

[fightinfire21]

Loaded photos from 9/11 last night. We were at Animal Kingdom and we at at Tusker House and Captians Grille.

 

[Jennygt]

Stacy -- Take her now while you can still use the stroller, etc. We brought our kids starting when DD was two and she had a wonderful time. As a matter of fact, it was the trips when they were 4-6 that were more stressful as they both suddenly had issues where they were afraid of the characters/dark rides during that timeframe (which is pretty common). Just make sure she has plenty of naps...a happy child = happy parents.

I agree, go when you want!! You do lots of things with the little ones that they will not remember but does that stop you from doing it, no! We had the best time with DS and he had a blast, he loves to watch the video's and pictures of himself with Mickey. Just do what you want and ignore those other people, you don't need approval to go on vacation.

 

[fightinfire21]

Hey everyone. I updated with pics from yesterday (9/12). Not many pics as we didn't do much. We had a very lazy day. We were "involved" in an accident on the escelator at the contemporary. Everyone is OK. I'll give you the details later.

 

[fightinfire21]

Hey everyone. Sorry it has taken me so long to post an update. My inlaws arrived on 9/12 and we have had a very busy schedule. I updated tonight with all the photos I have taken since 9/11 including today.

There are not a HUGE amount of photos becuase I bought a new Canon VIXIA HF-100 HD video camera before we left and I have taken about 5 hours of video so far with it. But there are still a fair number of photos (LOT'S OF FOOD PORN)

As for the esclator accident I was telling you about on Friday evening we were at the Contemporary for dinner at The Wave. We ate and went upstairs to shop at the different resort shops and to visit the "smoking area" deck outside and get some good photos. After all this we got on the esclator down. It was my wife behind me, then me with my daughter in her stroller, and an older lady with her two grandsons (I'm guessing about 5 to 7?) in front of me. As she got to about 10 "steps" from the bottom she fell on top of her grandsons and the esclator "dragged" her to the bottom. My wife jumped over the side of the esclator and got around to try to hit the stop button and I "threw" the stroller over the side and by that time we were at the bottom. I don't think I stepped on the lady, I think I was able to step backwards but I'm sure I "kicked" her a little bit. It all happend VERY fast and it was kind of scary. She ended up OK for the most part. Had a small cut on her head. We were pretty shaken. There was a guy coming down the steps in between the esclators as my wife jumped over and as I "threw" the stroller over. He said we scared the crap out of him. I'm glad he was there because he helped me get the stroller over and on to the ground.

On another note, I don't know if Kevin will read this, but I think my wife may have spotted him last night at the 9/16 MNSSHP. Right before the fireworks she was in line to get popcorn and she came back and told me there was a guy in front of here that she thought was Kevin. She said the guy was with his mom and that his mom was in a wheelchair. She doesn't really listen to the podcast (only when I make her listen in the car) but she has listend some and seen the pics I have shown her on the net, so she didn't say anything to the guy. I went back to find this guy but couldn't. So I may have just missed my chance to meet a Pod Cast Crem member or maybe Kevin wasn't even there my wife was wrong. So if you read this Kevin let me know if you were there and if this might have been you.

Finally. I have some offical Bay Lake Tower DVC news. I took the DVC tour today and when I asked I was able to get prices and a point chart on the BLT. The price per point is $112 and they are currently offering a $5 per point discount from that. The points go on sale to non-members on 10/5 (I think this is the date, if i am wrong it is within the first few days of October). Maintnance fees are going to start at $3.67 per point. Our guide told us that this is because there is only one building vs. many different buildings(example. Saratoga Springs), the building is built "green", and it will share check-in desk, etc. with the Contemporary. Lastly I recieved a brouchure with a points chart and it is not that bad. Very comparable to the other resorts. LAST but not least... we got to see the sample BLT rooms. Our guide specifically asked me not to post this on the internet BUT I see it is already posted over on the DVC boards that these rooms opened for viewing today so I am going to post it that we got to tour them. When I asked to take photos I was told NO yet the lady ahead of us touring the room was snapping away. The guide said it was because she was already a member that she was allowed to take photos. So if you want photos of the sample rooms you'll have to convince a member to go get some LOL. As for my opinion on the rooms I will have to say that they are AWESOME. I really liked them.

I would be happy to submit the points chart to the DIS once I get home but since so many of the podcast crew/webmasters are DVC members I'm sure they can call and get the same brocuhure as I did pretty quick (before I go home Saturday).

Sorry for the long post. Hope you enjoy the pics.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Sorry to say that it wasnt me.....

 

[fightinfire21]

Sorry to say that it wasnt me.....

I wasn't sure.... didn't think you would be without John. LOL

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Wow, I guess that's what you call "escalating" a situation!

Seriously, I hope she wasn't badly hurt. And I hope your daughter in the stroller was okay...I presume that when you say you "threw" the stroller over the side of the escalator, either she wasn't in it or it was just a quick "lift and gently drop" the stroller into a safer situation (my guess, but the visual on that one is really frightening!).

Now you have a story to tell about how you kicked a granny in the head whilst pushing her down the stairs....

 

[tinkbutt]

your photos look great!!! thanks for sharing them!!

 

[aprince&princess]

How was your dinner at the Captain's Grille? We have never eaten there, but have a reservation in Dec. I know Kevin didn't have a great experience when they went to do the review.

 

[fightinfire21]

Captains Grille was OK. Wasn't on the top of the list. I had the apple cider Pork Chop with apple butter on top and it was pretty good. The rest of the meal was just average. Our server was just OK, nothing spectacular.

Here is a list of bests and worst:

All three of these resturants had excellent food and excellent servers. I really can't say enough about all aspects of each of these dining experiences, all GREAT MEALS that we will add to our must do again list for the next trip. As for atmosphere the California Grille had an AWESOME view. This was our fist time at all of these resturants.

In order from the best:
1. Narcoossee's
2. Artist Point
3. California Grille

Here are some others we mostly enjoyed:

-Spoodles:
Great food, terrible server. She auctually made smart comments to us and rolled her eyes when my wife asked a question about an item on the menu and she couldn't explain it (she didn't think anyone was watching when she did this and the worst part was I don't think she knew what it was to explain it)

-Rose and Crown:
Again, great food. Also a great atsmophere and an average server here. Only bad thing we experienced was a 45 min wait past our ADR but I guess that's free dining for you.

As for bad experinces was had the following:

-Kona Cafe:
this was the second time we have at here and didn't like it. The food is just not good at all. I gave it a second try because everyone says it is sooo good but I probablly won't return again anytime soon.

-The Hollywood Brown Derby:
This was the biggest let down of the trip. Almost all the podcast team said this would be a place they would choose to eat if they could only pick one on property. We DID NOT feel that way. We did not have a good server here at all. He just wasn't around and he took FOREVER. The food here wasn't any better than anywhere else. I could understand this if it wasn't a "signature" resturant but for signature prices (or in our case two credits) I was not impressed and probablly won't return anytime soon. As a personal note, this was the only signature we did that was in a park vs. in a resort. I wonder if this made any difference. Also I guess every resturant has it's "off" nights.

Coral Reef:
Our server here was the only thing to complain about. He was a very nice guy but just wasn't cut out to work as a waiter in a busy resturant. He didn't know what way to go next. Also, this is kind of comical, he was an asian gentelman that couldn't speak very good english and his name tag said Roberto LOL His famous last words were "I'll be back". I felt like I was being served by the terminator. The food and the atmosphere here were both good. I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

The rest of our dining experiences were all just average. Mostly good food and decent service. They all were places I wouln't hesitate to return.

 

[jcb]

Thanks for the updates. I have to agree with you on the Brown Derby, at least as far as latest experiences go. It was one of my all-time favorite WDW restaurants so, when DW and I were there last January, I had built up the expectations (as you say it is a signature restaurant and my past experiences had been so wonderful). Sadly, DW and I were both let down. I can't say anything was bad - not at all - it was just ordinary - both the food, the server and the atmosphere.