The reader-driven report - what interests YOU?

[ehagerty]

These are the topics I COULD write about, but prefer to post only what people are actually interested in reading. As requests come in, I will convert topics to posts, with pictures - let me know which topics, if any, are of interest...

Topic #1
Working from the World - how I have managed to weave in a week here and there of working from my hotel room (in this case, OKW) in the mornings, then exercised my AP for the remaining of the day

Topic #2
Holiday Tours - Holiday D-Lights and Yuletide Fantasy (both delivered by Disney Institute)

Topic #3
Wonder Cruise - taking "free" BLT purchase-incentive cruise with DH, DS22, mother and mother-in-law

Topic #4
Coldest December on record

Topic #5
Victoria & Albert's - why, in 2009, I used to think it was a meal-of-a-decade and now (2010) it is a vacation "requirement," with pictures

Topic #6
Meeting my brother at the WL Territory Lounge - and why that is interesting; along with commentary on PhotoPass and other topics (posted Dec 30, 2010)

Topic #7
Bumping into Carol Stein, at the piano, in the GF lobby

Topic #8
Christmas decorations at the resorts - BC, YC, BW - mostly; as with all things me - with pictures

Topic #9
What to do if you forget your passport (ID) at home, but you need it for the cruise (time is a variable here - still, this is disboard useful information at its best)

Topic #10
Southwest Airlines - positive service experiences in increasingly challenging times for the service industry

Topic #11
Tables in Wonderland Dinner - Over Norway, with reserved seating for Candlelight Processional

Topic #12
Candlelight Processional - first impressions

Topic #13
Seasonal fireworks - Wishes, Illuminations - impressions

Topic #14
Palo's - Brunch, Dinner - pictures

Topic #15
Mickey Merry Christmas Party - impression, pictures of parade, castle, fireworks; comparison to MNNSHP

Topic #16
Fun with Flat Ellen (school project)

 

[dakjoskaimiksmom]

My vote is for number 6. Yes, I'm nosy.

 

[ehagerty]

First, a nice picture - on a many levels:
- it is in focus (thank you to the stranger who volunteered to shoot the picture)
- it is at the WL
- it shows the WL Christmas Tree (tepees, canoes, and a not-so-hidden-mickey set of red ornaments)
- I am actually IN it (I prefer hiding behind the lens)
- we didn't have to assert ourselves with a PhotoPass photographer to use the spot (more on that later)

.... and why meeting DB here is interesting....

Context is everything......

First of all, it is worth noting that I have 6 (count 'em, six) brothers. I also have 2 sisters. Keeping up with that many siblings, especially at this stage of our lives where we are juggling jobs, families, in-laws, etc can be a bit of a challenge. Most of us live within 20 miles of each other, and we regularly (roughly, monthly) have family gatherings for birthdays. At least. Still, there is little extended, one-on-one conversation.

Even though DB and I (and some other siblings) worked together in the 80's and 90's, I don't think I've had an extended conversation with DB SINCE the 90's. And yet, because we are both DVC and IT workers, we managed to get to WDW more often than most, and, on this occasion, we were able to meet up at the WL for a wheat beer at the Territory Lounge. (I would have had some mushroom soup - always a must - be had just come from Holiday D-Lights tour, which included some snacks).

On this particular day, I worked (from my OKW room) in the morning, took the Holiday D-Lights tour in the afternoon. The bus driver for the tour saved me about an hour of Disney commuting, by dropping me right in front of WL (from backstage MK), where DB was waiting.

After a couple of hours of fun times, he drove me back to OKW, and both of us returned to our business activities the following morning.

Conclusion: We live within 5 miles of each other. We traveled 1500 miles to visit!

Family & DVC

What was interesting, also.....
... was that in 2006, I had my youngest brother (yes, the one Diane from VnA thought was my SON) take the DVC tour. He is the only sibling who does NOT live nearby (5 hours away, in Ohio). I offhandedly mentioned to him that he might actually see us more with DVC membership, since we can schedule vacation overlaps. This has worked out well, too!! DVC facilitates more frequent family gatherings.

This year's best Christmas gift (and it wasn't mine!!)

... and another interesting thing...

My Niece had DB for KK (Kris Kringle - single gift exchange program for large groups, like our family). We consciously choose a very low price ceiling to encourage the focus being on thoughtfulness, not cost. She managed to find and convert his last Syracuse football game from 1979 - an Independence Bowl game where he caught an interception (he was a freshman - broke his wrist - the university said no - local doctor found it, but that wasn't sufficient to salvage his scholarship. The things sports programs got away with in those days!!!). Took tracking down his coach (Frank Maloney? currently works for cubs), who remembered him well (which became part of the "gift story"). Took finding microfiche and converting to DVD. The microfiche was so fragile, it crumbled immediately after the interception clip....

I figure this epilogue might be useful for those of you who don't know what to get for a former sportsman. It was MUCH appreciated.

PhotoPass thoughts / comments:

As for those PhotoPass people. Well, they have a job to do. I understand. But this trip, I was actually annoyed, not because PhotoPass "stations" exist, but because they occupy ALL the good PictureSpots (what used to be signed as Kodak Picture Spots to help the uninitiated know how to get good angle / shots). I routinely take many pictures, and increasingly, it has been a challenge to get ANY of the good angles with having to ask a PhotoPass person to step aside, if indeed, you can even do that with lines of people waiting for the PhotoPass person to take their picture.

Will have to forward my comments, as I think the park maps and PhotoPass real estate should contain provisions / information for how the amateur photographer can use the same real estate / angles, for example:

ALL PhotoPass people should SMILE at amateur photographers and ENCOURAGE them to use the photo spots, by stepping aside and waving them in, by talking to them and saying things like "Please, USE this spot - just give me a second to take the current picture", etc. After all, they were OUR spots, which were democratically shared, before PhotoPass leased them.....

I don't think I should have to feel like I am asking for a favor, be ignored, and worse, treated as an intruder.... I (the collective, photographer "I") WAS THERE FIRST!!!

.

 

[Flossbolna]

I always loved your picture reports, especially on California Grill and V&A in the past and this is a fun idea for a trip report!

I would happily read all of your proposed topics, but my top three are:

1. #15
2. #5
3. #4

How interesting that you can spend more quality time with your siblings by meeting them in WDW. So many people seem to use DVC for large group trips, but you did just the opposite. What a nice idea.

Did you go to California Grill on your last trip? I remember that you used to be a great fan and there recently was a lengthy discussion how it no longer is a very good restaurant. I loved my meal there in January 2010 (I got buffallo, which is a special treat since it is very rarely sold in Germany), but would love to hear a more recent review from someone who knows the restaurant so well.

 

[ehagerty]

I always loved your picture reports, especially on California Grill and V&A in the past and this is a fun idea for a trip report!

I would happily read all of your proposed topics, but my top three are:

1. #15
2. #5
3. #4

How interesting that you can spend more quality time with your siblings by meeting them in WDW. So many people seem to use DVC for large group trips, but you did just the opposite. What a nice idea.

Did you go to California Grill on your last trip? I remember that you used to be a great fan and there recently was a lengthy discussion how it no longer is a very good restaurant. I loved my meal there in January 2010 (I got buffallo, which is a special treat since it is very rarely sold in Germany), but would love to hear a more recent review from someone who knows the restaurant so well.

Thank you for checking in - and I will follow your request (above), including the CG "current thinking" assessment - when I next sit down here!

In the meantime:

.

 

[ehagerty]

I purchased two tickets to MVMCP for the following reasons:
1. Even though I have a PAP, it is not good for a MVMCP
2. My mom does not have an AP
3. It was the only way I could fit the Christmas decorations, parade and fireworks in a 2 days of park hopping for my mom

I had attended MNSSHP in Oct 2009. At that time, I did NOT have an AP and thought this ticketed event (discounted through DVC) might be a good way to see the fireworks, ride rides and, if it fit, see the parade. I never posted those pictures, or a trip report for it, because I didn't enjoy the event enough to spend the time. Here was my assessment for MNSSHP
1. It was in the 80's and very humid, even after dark, which did not lend itself to overlooking the little things.
2. I am not much of a parade person - float and characters are fine, just not my thing (although I like Spectro and MS Electric Parade)
3. I'd seen Hallowishes from the CG balcony, as that was sufficient
4. I was hoping to ride the rides - but the lines were longer than any other average day, and no fast passes available. I suppose this could have improved over the course of the evening, but I wasn't having enough fun to stick around and wait for it.

That said, here are some things I enjoyed:
1. The decorations - were quite nice (but mostly view-able with regular day pass)

Train depot, with creepy coloring and dry ice

Special, Halloween-themed statues around the main circle by the castle

Special CM costumes and make-up (here, at Haunted Mansion)

Headless Horseman, leading the parade

Special parade floats

Special castle lighting

.... all of which leads to the next post........


.

 

[ehagerty]

All of which helped to align my expectations for MVMCP
1. I only planned to go for parade and fireworks (because my mom likes those things)
2. I was NOT planning to do any rides (she is 81)
3. We were following a pretty full day schedule:
-- Arise 6:30 am
-- Disembark Disney Wonder 7:30 am
-- Pick up car at Budget, Pt Canaveral 8:00 am
-- Drop off travel party members at MCO 9:30 am
-- Check in BLT 10:00 am, pick up wheel chair, check bags
-- Drive car to DTD, drop Mom at DTD, drop car at 2305 Hotel Blvd
-- Eat at Earl of Sandwich (mobbed this time of year)
-- Meet up with Uncle (who now works at World of Disney)
-- Get dropped off at BLT around 3:45
-- Get room assignment at 4:00 pm
-- Get bags from bell services at 4:30 pm
-- Get to monorail at SR at 4:50 pm
-- Check in for VnA reservation at 5:00 pm
-- Get to MK for Wishes (9:30 pm) and second viewing of parade (10:30 pm)

My mother, at 81, is a trooper!!!

Pictures from the rest of the day will be disperses around other posts, but to carry on with MVMCP, I enjoyed the parade more (probably because Christmas is more touching (for me) than Halloween. We parked on Main St, but a very well-trained CM was walking up and down Main St looking for wheelchairs and inviting us to relocate to the Main Circle (by City Hall). It made for a much less stressful location, as someone other than me was responsible for managing to keep people from locating in front of us. We waited for a short time (15 minutes?), and caught a few of the floats (the down side of the location, is that is was not a photographer's preferred location - hard to line up shots, but a reasonable trade off for the other conveniences).

Donald and Daisy

Prince Charming and Cinderella, with their matching horses

....with a close up

Tin Soldiers

Santa

Castle, in varying shades.....

Christmas fireworks

Town Square

Summary:
1. It was more enjoyable, for me, than MNSSHP - partially because my expectations were so low. I got out of it what I expected - opportunity for my mom to see the fireworks and parade from within the MK.
2. Would I recommend it? Only if you want to spend 5 hours in the park and do not already have a park pass.
3. Would I do it again? Probably not. I really enjoy the Christmas decorations and music, but you don't have to pay extra to see them....



As a post script commendation to a CM, I forwarded the following comments to wdw guest communications, AS SOON AS I GOT BACK TO MY ROOM THAT NIGHT (he was that good)

"ust had to comment on what a great job Eric did tonight. In the 60 minutes I observed him, he interacted with all sorts of guests - adult, children, handicapped, etc. He was always doing his job (traffic) while entertaining (telling jokes, etc) while interacting with guests. All the CMs were "nice", but they mostly talked to each other. Eric was 100% Disney. He was such an exception, I nominate him for whatever comprises "awards" in the Disney culture (read letter aloud to peers, raise, etc.)."

My mom noted "He would have made Walt proud."

.

 

[ehagerty]

Largest Mickey wreath on property (per Holiday D-Lights tours) - also, an imperfect, but download-able Christmas picture for CR lovers....

Parked in BLT parking lot - apparently, owning a Mercedes can cheer you up!

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[ehagerty]

Just getting started, but the Victoria & Albert's Dining Report will be officially posted under the Dining Review thread.

Click here to be connected to VnA Report


For those who may not already be aware, there are other nights to this story..
Night #1 - Victoria & Alberts - Picture Trip Report (January, 2009)
Night #2 - Victoria & Albert - A Once-in-a-Decade Dinner, for the second time in 2009 (May, 2009)
Night #3 - Victoria & Albert - My Dining Scheherazade (September, 2009)
Night #4 - Victoria & Albert - Dining Scheherazade Night #4 - "Table for One" (October, 2009)
Night #5 - [URL="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2461568"]Victoria & Albert - Dining Scheherazade Night #5 - "Table for One - Again" 23 FEB 10[/URL] (February, 2010)
Night #6 and 7 - [URL="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2461568"]Victoria & Albert Dining Scheherazade Night #6&7 "I could die happy,and I am only 20"[/URL] (June, 2010)
Night #8 and 9 - [URL="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2627108"]Victoria & Albert - Dining Scheherazade Night 8 and 9 - "New Regulars"[/URL] (December, 2010)