The "How Could You?" trips x2-the finale! 2/12

[Tiggerrn2]

Wanted to see if this works. Here is a quick video of our view from the California Grill.

http://youtu.be/iUByM8NA5Gs

So, I was giving my friend a hard time about not studying the moves for Toy Story Mania so we could get a high score when we played. And then I was talking to my kids (who were not along this trip) about our summer stay at the Poly.

think it's good. I will head back for replies and then moving on after our dinner.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Sounds like a great birthday dinner, and those desserts look yummy. Maybe if I show Mark those dessert pictures, I can talk him into going to California Grill one of these days.

I recommend it highly! The steak melted in my mouth. I can almost taste one now-but you will have to tell me all about one when you come home!

Ahhh, Caribbean Beach....how I miss it! I have absolutely no idea why the bus stop has a rooster on it. I guess I've never noticed. I think I'll have to ask someone when we are there next trip.

The birthday meal at California Grill sounds and looks amazing!

I will hope for an answer come summer!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the pictures of WL!!!! Oh, to be there right now...sigh.

Wow, that chocolate cake does look good and it must have been if you said it was the best! I pegged you for the cheesecake taking that honor since cheesecake tends to not be as sweet as chocolate, and key lime definitely is more tangy than sweet! Now I have to go to CG just for that cake!

That cake was AWESOME!! And you are right-I am not a chocolate lover, so for me to think this was so good is odd. But the cheesecake was not the best. I was disappointed. So glad the waiter brought us the extra as a birthday suprise.

A number of years back it was my DDL birthday so on arrival at WDW we went with the 2 GK's ,DS and DH & I to a fab dinner at CG....we were there long enough to go out after dinner and watch the MK fireworks..
It is breath taking from that spot....the food was incredible as the service..

It is beautiful up there. I could have stood out there forever. We wanted to see the fireworks from in the park, but we could've come back with our receipt (the CM told us) and watched them from there if we weren't going to the park later.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Once we completed our delicious dinner at California Grill, we decided to walk back over to the park to watch the parade and catch Wishes, since it was the only night we'd have to catch it this week. I knew it would be crowded being a Saturday (and one of the only nights of the week showing Wishes and Main Street Electrical Parade). Only took a few photos of the parade-tried video taping it to show the kids when I got home, but we weren't in the best spot and had people walking out in front of us all the time. It got to be comical after a while. Maybe I'll have my son put up a few bits of that video for me as well.

Our view when we entered the park!

Moving out in front of the bubble maker

We headed into the firestation quick to get some of the Sorcerer's cards for my other friend's daughter. She was collecting them, and since my kids know nothing of this game, we got the packs and saved them for her.

Then we headed across to the circle to catch the parade.
A few poor pics:

Waiting for wishes. How is it that I can have a perfectly awesome view one second, and just as the show is about to start, the tallest person known to man can stand up just in front of me?

He stood, he leaned, he moved over, then he would move back. What are you going to do?

Come along for some fireworks, shall we?

It's Tink

 

[Tiggerrn2]

This wasn't for the fireworks, but it really shows how crowded Main Street was.

And my last one!

Once the show was over and the crowd cleared, we set about taking care of a few rides. All were walk-ons. We hit Pirates, Buzz, and Philharmagic and then decided to shop our way out....

It had been a long day that started bright and early. Time to head back, but we did return to that hot tub for a soak of the feet. Finally hit the bed about 12:30 in the morning.

 

[iloverags2]

Your fireworks pictures are awesome! What kind of camera do you have?

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Your fireworks pictures are awesome! What kind of camera do you have?

Thanks.
It's a Canon PowerShot S3 IS. I have loved it. Bought it in 2008. Point and Shoot but has a great zoom. I keep saying I want to take a photography class and graduate myself to a Canon Rebel DSL model. Just haven't been willing to part with the $$$.

Photos would be better with a tripod. I just held my breath with each shot.

 

[Bunchkin]

I had to catch up on this thread. I was a couple weeks behind.

Great pics!!
I love how you say you didn't want to bring the kiddies and their chicken nugget appetites, and then you and your friend share a kid's chicken nugget meal after you get to the resort!!! Let's hope K & K don't read this thread!! BUSTED!

 

[KatMark]

Slowly catching up on all my subscribed threads. Awesome pics of the parade and fireworks.

 

[jenny105]

I'm enjoying all your pictures! I am DYING to stay at the Poly and your photo tour just made it worse.

I was lucky enough to go to Discovery Cove on a TA trip. I loved it there! It feels like you're tucked away on a private island somewhere rather than in the middle of the tourist capital of the world. I had a lot of fun in the aviary. The birds were taking me completely by surprise and kept flying up to me when my back was turned. I tried to stay away from the birds with big beaks.

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

I had to catch up on this thread. I was a couple weeks behind.

Great pics!!
I love how you say you didn't want to bring the kiddies and their chicken nugget appetites, and then you and your friend share a kid's chicken nugget meal after you get to the resort!!! Let's hope K & K don't read this thread!! BUSTED!

I know!! I thought the same thing when we ordered that. We only wanted a little something to share, but chicken strips in a sandpail really wasn't what I had in mind.

Slowly catching up on all my subscribed threads. Awesome pics of the parade and fireworks.

Thanks. Glad you had a great trip and are home to return to your reading/writing.

I'm enjoying all your pictures! I am DYING to stay at the Poly and your photo tour just made it worse.

I was lucky enough to go to Discovery Cove on a TA trip. I loved it there! It feels like you're tucked away on a private island somewhere rather than in the middle of the tourist capital of the world. I had a lot of fun in the aviary. The birds were taking me completely by surprise and kept flying up to me when my back was turned. I tried to stay away from the birds with big beaks.

Looking forward to reading more!

Thanks for coming along to read and comment. We loved the aviary. So simple and yet such a nice place to wander around. We did love our day there. Glad you are enjoying the pictures.

Sorry I have been MIA. We were all sick here for a bit and then the washer broke down so I have been having to go to the laundromat on my days off. I need to upload the next batch of photos so I can carry on. Soon, I promise!

 

[Bunchkin]

I know!! I thought the same thing when we ordered that. We only wanted a little something to share, but chicken strips in a sandpail really wasn't what I had in mind.

Soooooo....who kept the sandpail??

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Soooooo....who kept the sandpail??

We were good Disers and left it for some kiddies at the beach!

 

[iloverags2]

Thanks.
It's a Canon PowerShot S3 IS. I have loved it. Bought it in 2008. Point and Shoot but has a great zoom. I keep saying I want to take a photography class and graduate myself to a Canon Rebel DSL model. Just haven't been willing to part with the $$$.

Photos would be better with a tripod. I just held my breath with each shot.

Ok, I have a Canon point and shoot...so, what setting do you use for fireworks pictures and do you shut the flash?

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Ok, I have a Canon point and shoot...so, what setting do you use for fireworks pictures and do you shut the flash?

I've used both the fireworks setting and the backlit settings. I leave the flash off. Would be better, as I said, with a tripod. I just never want to carry one around with me. I just hold my breath when taking the photo and try to be as still as possible. I take tons of shots. I only keep the ones that turn our halfway decent.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Sunday, October 30th!! Party Day!
The plans were to sleep in.I was up by 7:30. But my friend was still knocked out. So I grabbed our mugs and headed out for a morning walk to Port Royale. I browsed in the Calypso Trading Co. I picked up some pins and a pair of swim shorts, filled our mugs and wandered back to the room. J was up and we decided we would head to the food court for breakfast. I got my favorite Mickey waffle platter and J got a bagel. We headed outside (it was really chilly indoors) to a table to eat our breakfast and relax. We checked in with families at home and then wandered back to the room to shower and change. We were headed to the Magic Kingdom.

Now, I know this first part of the day was not rich in photos. Sorry. I am a terrible food porn Diser. And you all know what a bagel and a Mickey Waffle look like any way, right? Right?

We entered Magic Kingdom about noon.

There were no real crowds for the afternoon. We got fastpasses for Space Mntn and just wandered around. We rode the TTA (which I can't remember the last time I did that), then we headed to

I borrowed an old photo-didn't want you all getting bored without something to see.
We had a great show! "That Guy" wasn't too sure what he was supposed to do-making it all the more funny. But it was the little kid that stole the show. Little boy (maybe 4) dressed in a Star Wars Jedi costume, was asked if he likes Star Wars. He answers "of course". Everyone laughs, then he's asked his name---"Luke". A look to the mother, who confirms that yes, indeed, his name is Luke. Lots of laughs.

Time to head back over to....

please disregard those children in the front (once again a borrowed photo from 2008, and yes, those are my children-not just some random kids I used to take a photo). And I don't know what my son was doing with his hands, but trust me, he is not flashing any signs.

We used our fastpasses. And I decided I really don't have a need to ride this so much any more-certainly not a "wait in a more than 20 min. line" to do so. I keep hoping it will be as awesome as Space in DisneyLand. But it just doesn't compare. The ride at DL is so much smoother, and the music is in speakers behind your head.

We headed on over to

where we had our longest wait of the day. About 20 minutes, but we did walk through the graveyard first.
And we met this guy....

I love how the HM CMs dress for the parties.

Meanwhile, I knew that one of my Chicagoarea Disers friends was in the park, so I was texting with her to meet up. Seems we kept just missing each other. Finally, she said she'd wait outside HOP for us to finish in HM. It was there I got to meet Macraven! (and I know, if there isn't a picture, it didn't happen-but it did!!! I just forgot to get a photo) We watched the afternoon parade from across the way from the HOP. And we had an enjoyable visit.

Apparently I only took 1 parade photo.

J and I were getting a bit hungry, so we said our good-byes to Macraven and headed on over to CHH. I had eaten here in 2008 during the Keys to the Kingdom Tour (had the Tuna sandwich then) and was looking forward to heading back. I had a Lobster roll calling my name. (along with an apple crisp) J had the fish and chips.
I was really looking forward to the lobster roll, but sadly, it wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped. (the one at Food/Wine at Hops and Barley was much better). J did like her fish/chips.

After lunch we shopped a bit in Ye Ol Christmas Shoppe and headed to Big Thunder, Splash Mountain and then back to HOP to catch the show. Hadn't sat through HOP in some years. It was a great (educational) show.

Time for another desert. I thought for sure I would get a Dole Whip, but as we headed over, another desert caught my eye!
Time to try the citrus swirl cup! It was very refreshing. Loved the orange juice blended with the vanilla ice cream. Loved it!!! Only wish I'd taken a photo to show you. Sorry.

UP next, time to get the party started!!!

 

[Bunchkin]

I'm thinking you didn't meet Macraven!! Where's the proof? I've met her at a Chicago meet years ago, so I would have been able to verify if it was her in a picture.....had there been a picture. LOL!!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

I'm thinking you didn't meet Macraven!! Where's the proof? I've met her at a Chicago meet years ago, so I would have been able to verify if it was her in a picture.....had there been a picture. LOL!!

Proof?

 

[Tiggerrn2]

To My DisBoard Friends/Family

May you all have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!!!!!

 

[KatMark]

Great update (sorry I'm a little behind). I love the Halloween decorations. You got a lot done. Sorry your sandwich wasn't as good as you remembered fro the past.

I wanted to wish you and all of yours a very Merry Christmas.

 

[KatMark]

Happy New Year to you and your family.