Day 3 - Wednesday
This morning was a SLOW morning all around. My folks, who are usually very early risers, did not appear until close to 9 am. We had a big breakfast (waffles, pancakes, sausages, fruit) in the room. Then while they all worked on getting showered, dressed, etc., I decided to head out for a walk. I took a stroll around the corner and down the path to the right to the boat dock. It was lovely. I loved the signs talking about the wildlife found in and around the wetlands of the THV forest.
Not needed now for any waiting boat passengers, but they certainly will be in a few months
From there I worked my way back to the road, and worked my way around the bend to the South bus stop. I had thought about going over to the Carriage House and Artist’s Palette by bus, but ended up deciding against it. I really didn’t need to go over there, so I didn’t. I decided instead to walk up the road and see how long it might take to get to the road entrance since I wanted a pic of the sign.
Walking that road only took me about 10 minutes, at a very casual, leisurely pace. I stopped every so often to watch the squirrels scamper about, and to see if I could see the various birds I heard calling. I waved to the bus driver as he passed, and several mousekeepers. Other than them, it was pretty quiet and seemingly deserted. There were cars in some parking places, but most of the guests staying in the trees were probably out and about. After a good 10 minutes of just hanging out watching the traffic pass by on the road, enjoying seeing some golfers across the street at the golf course, and getting sign pictures, I turned back into the forest and started my walk back to our unit. Just inside the gate is this little beauty
Again – the walk only took me about 10 minutes or so, though I did stop to investigate the disabled units. Those ramps are very, very long!
The first set (two units share one ramp) is very, very close to the road entrance had guests (I only knew since there was a car in the marked space), and the second set is further in. I explored the second set more because mousekeepers were there. I really liked the fact that there is both a ramp and a set of stairs for those guests within a traveling party who don’t need the ramp.
We grilled lunch today, and dinner too. Nothing fancy - just hot dogs for one and cheeseburgers for the other but it was terrific. My son wanted to help with lunch.
More of the walk back to the unit
We left for Downtown Disney around 2 via boat. We only waited at the dock about 8 minutes before it arrived. The weather was just beautiful. The temperature warmed up today to probably about 60 or so. (Supposed to be around 68 or 9 tomorrow) and in the mid 70’s Friday).
Our first stop in DTD was the Harley Davidson store. The kids enjoyed climbing on the bikes on display in the windows and my folks enjoyed looking at the clothes.
I really liked this sign’s play on words with the location and all…
We then turned our sights on the Marketplace. Christmas decorations are still up at DTD.
I loved this newest addition inside the
Lego store.
And I liked seeing the newest Lego products on display as well. I saw them just last week in the new catalog my son received in the mail, and then got to see them in person here... very fun.
I was tempted to buy some for myself - and my "display shelf" in my office.
Once again we received the free samples at
Peppermint Bark today. YUMMY. So much so, my mother, after walking out of the store, 10 minutes later had to go back and buy a great big back of it for us to enjoy over the next few days!
The kids got ice cream from the Soda Fountain, my DW got a Mickey Premium bar from the stand across the way, and I was so very, very tempted to get my favorite treat, an Itzakadoozie…but decided against it at that time, since a certain 5 year old I know would most likely not be able to finish her very large single scoop cone. I was correct, so I ended up enjoying half of a cookies & cream cone (not my favorite flavor, but I wasn’t going to throw it away!)
We definitely have our favorite stops at DTD. While we didn’t hit them all today, it’s totally okay since we’ll be back later on next week. One that we did hit though, was
I have been collecting resort specific ornaments for our Christmas tree (in fact, we have an ornament from every family trip we’ve made since DW and I married, not just Disney, but all over the place – Niagara Falls, WDW, DL, Oregon, Michigan, NY, Chicago, etc, etc – always something we look for on our travels)… our tree is definitely more or less a "travelogue" - or as DW puts it, "an ad for a trip around the world!" Sadly the resort specific ornaments are no more. Discontinued. I was so bummed. So now I have to try and create something special and am on a quest to find just the “right” kind of ornament to represent the Trees and transform into our special commemorative ornament. Sure there are a bunch of woodsy type ornaments there – but I wasn’t satisfied with any of them yet…we’ll see. I’ve got 8 more days…
We stopped by our favorite photo spot and got a new pic of the kids.
This location has been a tradition since our very first family trip to WDW - it's sure fun to look back through them all and see how the kids have grown. Every single time we’ve gone to FL, even for our non-Disney trips, we still stop by DTD and get a shot there. Even the kids ask when we’ll be getting “the picture” when talking about a trip. We always take several to get just the right one. We’re definitely going back later in the week as none of the ones we got today were “good enough”. There were just too many shadows for DW’s liking!
Right across the way by the newish Hanes shop we got this fun one too.
I'd heckle you about getting back to writing, but I already saw you did a post today! 
. So what's up next, Kidani? Can't wait as we are going there soon for the first time.
Yup, I might have to get one.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that does that.
I too love everything about them!!! They are SO Walt. 
