Oh what a horrible trip!!!! Now for something completely different-Final blast ......

[teekathepony]

I love the Tree of Life carvings, I am perpetually impressed by the talent the carvers must have!
I didn't know Beastly Bazaar was closing. Glad you documented it! It's a really cool building.
Love those paintings in Guest Relations! They're making me want to dig out my own brushes and a clean canvas...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I like that FP pillow - didn't notice that one on our recent trip. I also like the candies - I never spotted the monorail one either! I definitely would have bought it.

I could see hanging out around the Tree of Life more - so much to look at!

Too bad about getting soaked - I am guessing you spent a bit of time napping next!

 

[MEK]

I love your TOL pictures, but I noticed when I was there in October that I couldn't access all areas of the base of the tree. It seemed like things were roped off or something.

Where are those stairs?

They certainly have some cool pictures in guest services.

Sorry you got soaked.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, Pat!!! Happy New Year's Eve!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I always learn something reading your TR's. Never knew that part of the TOL trail went underneath to the point where you could see the structure. I saw on Modern Marvels that the structure is basically like an offshorre oil platform.

Can you believe people still swim in electrical storms?

 

[KatMark]

Loved the update, Pat. I always forget to look for the "new animals" on the Tree of Life and end up taking the same ones year after year, so I appreciate seeing the ones you took.

I forgot that the Beastly Bazaar is closing to become a meet and greet.

Sorry you got drenched going to the car. And good for you checking the pool...sometimes people do NOT think.

Happy New Year to you, my friend.

 

[englishrose47]

Pat your pix reminded me of how much I haven't seen at WDW!!! I guess I have to keep going back !!

 

[marvali]

Pat, Happy New Year to you and your family!!!

 

[Poolrat]

I love the Tree of Life carvings, I am perpetually impressed by the talent the carvers must have!
I didn't know Beastly Bazaar was closing. Glad you documented it! It's a really cool building.
Love those paintings in Guest Relations! They're making me want to dig out my own brushes and a clean canvas...

Watching a show on the construction of the tree I am always amazed.

I have always wanted to do the trails and this time I got some of them done. I really think there are more I just never seem to find them easily.

It will be neat to see what Beastly Bazaar becomes and how they transform the space.

Guest Relations was not a horrible place to be stuck for a little while.

I like that FP pillow - didn't notice that one on our recent trip. I also like the candies - I never spotted the monorail one either! I definitely would have bought it.

I could see hanging out around the Tree of Life more - so much to look at!

Too bad about getting soaked - I am guessing you spent a bit of time napping next!

I always look at those pillows but have yet to buy one.

Same thing with the chocolates.

Typical Florida storm. So funny how quick you can be drenched.

I love your TOL pictures, but I noticed when I was there in October that I couldn't access all areas of the base of the tree. It seemed like things were roped off or something.

Where are those stairs?

They certainly have some cool pictures in guest services.

Sorry you got soaked.

I always seem to stumble on the trails and feel like I have never seen most of what can really be seen.


I went in off the trail to Africa, just past the otters I think. Afer that I just followed it around just past those crazy kangaroos and the odd sitting bird.
The stairs were just after that.

Guest Relations turned out to be a pretty neat place to wait for the rain to slow down.... or at least I thought it was slowing down. Turns out it was pretending to slow down to lure me out so I could get soaked.

Hi, Pat!!! Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year Jackie!!!!

I hope 2013 brings you a bit more DIS time.

I always learn something reading your TR's. Never knew that part of the TOL trail went underneath to the point where you could see the structure. I saw on Modern Marvels that the structure is basically like an offshorre oil platform.

Can you believe people still swim in electrical storms?

It was strange when I saw the stairs. Seems like I stumble on those things.

I saw the same Modern Marvels and yes it is an offshore oil platform.

I have people who argue with me when there is an electrical storm out about how they should stay in the pool.

Loved the update, Pat. I always forget to look for the "new animals" on the Tree of Life and end up taking the same ones year after year, so I appreciate seeing the ones you took.

I forgot that the Beastly Bazaar is closing to become a meet and greet.

Sorry you got drenched going to the car. And good for you checking the pool...sometimes people do NOT think.

Happy New Year to you, my friend.

Put the ToL back on your list to get a close look at. I eventually got there and still need to go back.

I am curious to see how Beastly Bazaar will transform.

I always check the pool , easy when I am walking past it but occupational hazard I guess.

Yup I was soaked but it was hilarious.

Happy New Year to you too Kathy.

Pat your pix reminded me of how much I haven't seen at WDW!!! I guess I have to keep going back !!

Put the tree of life on the list for the next trip.

Pat, Happy New Year to you and your family!!!

Happy New Year to you and your family Marv!!!! I hope 2013 is good for you!!!

 

[Poolrat]

Despite my next picture not being until 8:17 I actually was up and out the door before then.
A pool meet scheduled for that afternoon was a bust because of rain. After I got back to the room and had to change out of my renched clothes and nice nap was in order. I must have grabbed something to eat. No pictures and no record... Horrible.

However Memom texted and was wondering if I was around for a quick meet.

I have no pictures myself ( Memom may have some in her report but that was right before she left so we are not “there” yet ).
I met Memom , Brooklyn Anita, Marc and even Baylor down by Stormalong Bay. We sat and chatted a bit and basically caught up on all the goings on of the week.

Now I had some choices to make. DHS and EPOT were both having fireworks as was MK for the “real 4th of July. I was at the Poly the night before so Mk was not real high on the list , either to be on the beach again or in the park.

In fact as I bid goodbye to Anita Marc and MeMom( brooklynn was being a mermaid…. Or a dolphin) I still had no idea where I was going to head.

How’s that for Horrible????!?!?!?!? A planner to the nth degree and I honestly had no idea where I was going.


My Next picture and my decision …

I must have had a rather uneventful walk in. The sun was beginning to set and as a result I spent some time taking a picture of the view.

I found a spot on the bridge on the what should be Africa side of the bridge. It was crowded and while it was not quite dark yet I was not going to move.

Not dark enough yet.

I noticed this in the tree behind me.

Can you see the white spot?

It was this bird with a great seat.

This picture is clearer but you can’t tell this is a bird really.

Now it is dark enough.

MK fireworks started at 9. I could see just a bit over the ball but not enough to photograph.

The EPCOT fireworks were due to start at 10pm. The DHS fireworks at 9:45.
Look what I can see from where I was standing.

 

[Poolrat]

That was a nice little extra…..

Gather ‘round the fire…

Waiting for the dust to clear somewhat and then making my way out. I had to join this for a bit.

Before “swimming” upstream to get the back door.


Another "horrible " day that was anything but.

 

[KatMark]

How great for a DIS meet...well, two actually.


And exciting that you got bonus fireworks to boot!

Great pictures (haven't seen Illimunations in at least six or seven years).

 

[eandesmom]

Drenched at the 11th hour. SO close and yet so far. Isn't that always the case? All you can do is laugh. I like that fast pass pillow and have thought about getting one, but then think I need 2, one for each side of the couch and then talk myself out of it.

I like that Guest Services, I've been in there a couple of times and those wall prints are fun.

Double prizes on the fireworks! You have to love that. Lovely sunset pictures.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Beautiful sunset and firework pictures! I remember that day quite well!

We were in World Showcase as well -- how did we not see each other?

 

[MeMom]

Here ya go.
Anita's feet, you, and the mermaid/dolphin girl in the background.

And here is the mermaid/dolphin girl on dry land.

Glad we got to meet up for a few minutes that day.

 

[MEK]

Sorry I missed this update last night when I could see pictures. Bummer! But from everyone's comments its sounds like you have some great ones. And it sounds like a super fun afternoon/evening. DISmeets always brighten the day.

I know exactly how you felt about the last minute indecision. I was like that on my last night in Disney World. Cynthia left late afternoon and I was left with much indecision about how to spend my final evening. But it all worked out and it ended up being one of my favorite evenings of the trip!

 

[natebenma]

What a really nice afternoon and evening! I'm so glad the rain cleared out so you could have a wonderful meet by the pool. The gorgeous night sky at Epcot does not show hints of the horrible storm earlier.

That is so great that you had a little bonus fireworks show! Great positioning!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Cool, double bonus fireworks! Looks like you picked a great spot. I really like the sunset pictures. The sky is beautiful.

for DIS meets!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

is that part of the trail suppose to be available to the public, cant see disney letting people see the none magic side of things like that.

awesome that you were able to see someone form my town. im sure they knew me.

 

[Poolrat]

How great for a DIS meet...well, two actually.


And exciting that you got bonus fireworks to boot!

Great pictures (haven't seen Illimunations in at least six or seven years).

DIS meets are fun After getting the CD ( for the Tapestry of Dreams music ) the score really grew on me.

Drenched at the 11th hour. SO close and yet so far. Isn't that always the case? All you can do is laugh. I like that fast pass pillow and have thought about getting one, but then think I need 2, one for each side of the couch and then talk myself out of it.

I like that Guest Services, I've been in there a couple of times and those wall prints are fun.

Double prizes on the fireworks! You have to love that. Lovely sunset pictures.

As soon as I got out in the open with nowhere to hide the skies opened again.

I know for a fact I will be buying much less with a 10% discount now.....

That Guest Services is a nice one and not bad at all when waiting out a downpour.

After the downpour the leat Mother Nature could do was give us a nice sunset.

Beautiful sunset and firework pictures! I remember that day quite well!

We were in World Showcase as well -- how did we not see each other?

I just read all about it.

Well we could have been within feet of each other and not known it. It was pretty busy that night.

Here ya go.
Anita's feet, you, and the mermaid/dolphin girl in the background.

And here is the mermaid/dolphin girl on dry land.

Glad we got to meet up for a few minutes that day.

I am sorry we did not get to spend more time together. Maybe NYE 2013?
More planned time- promise!!!

Sorry I missed this update last night when I could see pictures. Bummer! But from everyone's comments its sounds like you have some great ones. And it sounds like a super fun afternoon/evening. DISmeets always brighten the day.

I know exactly how you felt about the last minute indecision. I was like that on my last night in Disney World. Cynthia left late afternoon and I was left with much indecision about how to spend my final evening. But it all worked out and it ended up being one of my favorite evenings of the trip!

Hope you were able to go back. Didn't get any great pictures but the 4th of July with the AA all lit up in Red, white and Blue was neat. Also being able to see the DHS and the EPCOT fireworks was a nice little bonus.

Crazy to think I was still sitting on the fence as to what to do. This was really a go with the flow trip...

What a really nice afternoon and evening! I'm so glad the rain cleared out so you could have a wonderful meet by the pool. The gorgeous night sky at Epcot does not show hints of the horrible storm earlier.

That is so great that you had a little bonus fireworks show! Great positioning!

Those Florida storms usually get out of the way quick.

Loved having some time toime to catch up with Anita and Caren ( Marc, Baylor and Brooklynn too)

Cool, double bonus fireworks! Looks like you picked a great spot. I really like the sunset pictures. The sky is beautiful.

for DIS meets!

Right by the bridge by China. Almost a triple bonus as I caught a glimpse of MK too.

It was the least Mother Nature could do after the soaking I got earlier was to provide a beautiful sunset.

DIS meets are the best!!!!

is that part of the trail suppose to be available to the public, cant see disney letting people see the none magic side of things like that.

awesome that you were able to see someone form my town. im sure they knew me.

I know I didn't cross or duck under anything to get there but I will try to find it again and check.

I never did write the CM's name down but after I got to talking to her, she has a brother in the FD and thought she new your last name.