Our Drama-Filled May 2010 Bay Lake & Beach Club Trip Report(OMG-ITS MY FINAL UPDATE!)

[TigerLaw]

For dinner, we went over to flame tree BBQ for the first time ever and were pretty happy finding a place to eat at AK we liked (and not too expensive either)! I had the ribs (which were full of meat) and Melissa had a turkey sandwich. I didn’t take a picture of it, but we had a couple ducks hound us for food (that will teach me to feed donald and daisy!)

Here's a slow shutter pic I took at the back of flame tree



After dinner, headed back over to Everest for two rides (with the second ride straight through the FP line - they closed down the main line). To end our AK night, I headed over and walked onto Kali - feeling a bit brave, I went on w/o any ponchos and only got a bit wet (I did cheat though and took my shoes off to keep them dry).

By then it was 9pm, so we headed out and over to DTD for ice cream at Girardelli’s (sp?), which of course was great! From DTD, we came back home and called it a night.

Here are some misc. AK pictures to wrap things up:











another show shutter pic from my room balcony

COMING UP - MAGIC KINGDOM DAY AND NIGHT!

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

Hey! Who's the short chubby guy singing in FOLK? We had heard that the lead singer had been replaced but we were hoping it was a rumor.

Does the new guy have the same deep deep voice? Is he as good? Will I be disappointed in Dec.?

3 cheers for TigerLaw for riding Kali without a poncho. I hate those ponchos, they make you so hot, they remind me of the isolation gowns I have to wear at work.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Beautiful!! I love AK at night. As a matter of fact we always try to ride EE during the day, at dusk, then at night! It's such a different feeling, especially at night. Flame Tree is one of our must-do's every trip, especially when you can find the quiet tables down along the water. You can hear the riders from EE scream! More...more....

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

More, More! This is a great TR! Thanks for taking the time to post your fantastic pictures and write this.

 

[TigerLaw]

Hey! Who's the short chubby guy singing in FOLK? We had heard that the lead singer had been replaced but we were hoping it was a rumor.

Does the new guy have the same deep deep voice? Is he as good? Will I be disappointed in Dec.?

3 cheers for TigerLaw for riding Kali without a poncho. I hate those ponchos, they make you so hot, they remind me of the isolation gowns I have to wear at work.

You know, I actually don't remember about the singer or not - I think has almost HAS to have the James Earl Jones goin' on for the part doesn't he?!?

As for the ponchos - I used to nevr even think about such a "cheat" but as I get older, I realize more and more the value of dry underwear I guess. (one other quick note - I was the only one riding out of 6 people w/o a poncho!)

Beautiful!! I love AK at night. As a matter of fact we always try to ride EE during the day, at dusk, then at night! It's such a different feeling, especially at night. Flame Tree is one of our must-do's every trip, especially when you can find the quiet tables down along the water. You can hear the riders from EE scream! More...more....

I swear, LM, you are a hard woman to please - always wanting more!

More, More! This is a great TR! Thanks for taking the time to post your fantastic pictures and write this.

Glas you like it!

 

[TigerLaw]

To change things up a bit, thought we could play a game of which picture everyone likes best (I want to frame one of these and can't decide): Here are your choices:

Photo #1



Photo #2



Photo #3



Photo #4



Survey says....?!?

 

[2BoysMom]

Wow. Normally, I would have a quick opinion on what I like best, but MY GOD there were all fantastic. They almost look fake, they are so good.....

If I HAD to pick, maybe 3 first and then 2, 1 (but 1 & 2 are almost equal to me).

Congratulations on such beautiful pictures.

 

[JLVermillion]

Funny you should ask - I actually looked and looked and didn't see a 2nd leg - I could'nt get over how it was able to balance like that!

When I was a child I had a one legged baby duck ( did become a big duck), either a baby gator or snnapping turtle had bitten it off.She got around just fine and was quite quick.

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

To change things up a bit, thought we could play a game of which picture everyone likes best: Here are your choices:









Survey says....?!?

I vote for the 3rd pic!!

 

[Chellymouse]

Hi TigerLaw! Just found your TR and lovin' it! My vote is for the top pic of the castle. That camera is amazing! I might have to try to sweet talk DH into a new camera before our Oct. trip! Can't wait to read the next installment.

 

[TinkOhio]

More great installments! Okay...I tend to be a bit picky, but my vote either for #1 or #2. #2 could be pretty interesting with a little more cropping. I think that the clouds really add to the pictures. They're all beautiful!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Wow, wow, wow! I am LOVING your trip report!!!

Your photos are wonderful, and I'm inspired to get a camera like yours for our upcoming trip to Alaska. I've been struggling along taking photos with my very old point and shoot Olympus. It's so easy and was great when the kids were young; I had no time to worry about special settings then. But, now that our children are grown, I would love to be able to capture truly gorgeous images like yours. Maybe with lots and lots and lots of practice, I can come close. Thank you for the inspiration!!!

I appreciated your reflections on BLT. We purchased 160 pts there in anticipation of future grandchildren, but I doubt we will stay there much when it's just hubby and me. We are too fond of BWV and the quick walk to Epcot (which is also our favorite resort) to change our ways. However, I can see BLT being the ideal location for anyone with young children. The small, shallow pool is actually a plus when watching very young ones (Disney calls it a "zero entry pool" in some of the promotional material... gotta give it that positive spin!) and the convenience with regard to Magic Kingdom just can't be beat for the stroller years. There is only one part of your review that was different than my own opinion... and that is the situation with most amenities being located at CR. I guess after staying at lots of spread out resorts over the years, I'm accustomed to a hike to get to anything. The walk from BLT to CR seems shorter than what we went through to get to the central areas for Boardwalk or certainly SSR and OKW when given the farthest-out rooms. Of course, we started out at Disney staying in a tent at Fort Wilderness, so going anywhere was a literal hike in those days!!! ;-)

BCV is indeed beautiful. We've never stayed there, but perhaps one day we will be able to snag a booking for our travel dates. It looks like a wonderful spot for families and fun.

For your photo choices, I like #2 the best. In that photo, it looks like your own private castle, without anyone else around!

I look forward to your next installment. THANK YOU for the time you are taking to share your experiences with all of us!

Evey =)

 

[TigerLaw]

Thanks everyonef rothe votes and comments so far - its funny what others see that you don't - I never even though about the fact that there were or were not people on the castle "drawbridge" area when taking the pics - I can now totally see why its better when there aren't any (of course, during a busy day at MK, you might after to wait awhile for that shot!)

thanks again!

 

[tink too]

Hi TigerLaw - Although all your castle shots are great - my favourite has to be #2.

 

[JLVermillion]

I vote for the 3rd pic!!

I vote #2.

 

[jstarcze]

I vote for castle pic #2. Good composition! While #1 is almost the same it seems a little washed-out to me.

 

[TigerLaw]

Thursday, May 20th

Parks Visited: Magic Kingdom
Dining: Crystal Palace (brunch) and Plaza (dinner)

Thursday was our early entry morning at MK. It took FOREVER to get a bus, such that we arrived just as the welcome show was starting. Once the rope drop took place, we headed over to fantasyland, per our standard MK EMH morning practice. We started with a ride on Dumbo, which I think we were the second “flight” of the day and then rode Peter Pan, both with no wait. From there we tried to ride Pooh, but it was down, so we ended up doing Snow White and It’s a Small World instead. After IASW, we tried to get on Pooh, but it was still down, so we ended up waiting for the main park open rope drop by IASW for like 5 minutes. Turned out that other “rope droppers” got let in before us, but no major worries. I rushed ahead and got us a FP for Splash before we rode Big Thunder, which was only using one side of the platform (they were working on the other side). After riding Big Thunder twice with little lines, we headed over for Splash, which actually already had like a 15 minute line (we had to wait outside for example). Thankfully, we didn’t get hit bY the Super Soaker Water Cannons! :

The Splash line was pretty long when we got off it, so we headed over to Pirates, which was like a five minute wait. By then, it was almost time for our Crystal Palace brunch, so I got us another set of FPs and then we headed over to CP. We ended up having to wait a LONG TIME just to get in - to the point where a CM gave us two sets of anywhere FPs (that was totally unexpected!! ). By then though, they had already started the breakfast to lunch conversion, so the breakfast food was on one side of the buffet, and then THAT caused some lines for food. Add to that we had a totally inattentive waiter, and it wasn’t our greatest disney meal to say the least.

Here are some CP character pics:





Melissa had trouble getting a decent picture with me and Eyeore, so I got one as we left CP by himself.

After brunch, we headed over to watch the Hall of Presidents, but first I ran and got us another set of FPs for splash (and saw that Big Thunder was down). This was the first time I tried to take HoP pics, so take a look:



The HoP poster is probably my favorite print in all of WDW!





I still can’t get over how the President Obama character doesn’t look like him at all!

Here are some more pics of our MK morning:








I tired to get one of Melissa flying but couldn’t, so I got this instead













COMING UP - LOTS MORE FROM THE MAGIC KINGDOM!

 

[RadioFanatic]

I don't like 3 and 4 because you can see people in them. I love 1 and 2 bc no people and a different angle than one is used to seeing. and of those two, I like 2 the best bc it seems more centered.

 

[LvsTnk]

I thought I needed to vote...very unfair to be enjoying your report so much and not post!! #2 for me, I like that there seems to be a little more of the water in that pic, almost like a lead up to the castle, not so boxy ha obviously I'm not a photographer

 

[Checkers]

Just found your TR and I'm lovin' it! Your photos are outstanding (btw, I vote #2) and the ones of the BCVs brought back so many memories. We just returned home on 5/16 (just missed you) from 8 great days at the BCVs. We had a 2br on the 2nd fl. overlooking the canal and the quiet pool. Our balcony was the entire length of the villa and it was just wonderful. We are not owners there but had used points (at 7 mo. window) from OKW & BWVs.

Thank you also for the photos of the California Grille. My DH & I will be going there for the first time on 8/7 (celebrating our anniversary). Any suggestions? This is an impromptu trip I just booked over the weekend with the AP 40% room-only discount. We are staying in a studio at OKW.

Thanks again for sharing your trip with us!