Well, here it is, Starbuc's first attempt at a trip report

[starbuc71]

Yes, that was a bit of a disappointment.

Especially after the Rays forced this 5th game by winning two on the road!

And, we can't really say that there's always next year.

Anyway, you are continuing to do a great job on this report.

We have biked the trail to WL many times.

And, back in the day, I used to jog it.

And, don't tell anyone, but I have been known to drive it via golf cart late at night.

But, we have never walked it.

I don't know why I never thought about the fact that this could be a one-way proposition, and that we could boat or bus back.

The next time I'm at the Fort, and the weather is nice, the TCD gang is going for a walk!

Also, I always thought the resort boats went clockwise in the AM and counter-clockwise in the PM. But your boat didn't. Maybe I have been wrong about this all this time?

Looking forward to more!

TCD

* I've always wanted to take the golf cart down that path but I don't have the guts to even go down the road from the group area to the ranch yet
* an early morning walk on a crisp day down the trail is a good plan
* the boats were running wierd all week. When we left the contemporary there were two boats at the dock. One captian stated, "Wilderness Lodge" and the other shouted "Fort wilderness campgrounds" There must be 2 boat going in opposite directions at least last week

I wonder if the locals in your picture know how lucky they are? I mean, I doubt they have a "deer" Dis Discussion Board, so it's probably difficult for them to compare relative venue's across the property. I'm sure the locals at OKW speak of ready access to water, but are concerned about the little white spheres which can rudely interrupt their grazing. I also wonder if some of them have wondered off property to check out some of the other Non Disney camping venues? Hmmmm............


Oh ya. The trip report is totally awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could you imagine a disboard run by the local wildlife? What would those deers and otters be saying about all of us that would be a trip to read

 

[Solamom]

Awesome report so far! I love seeing all the pictures! We actually saw a few deer too on that path when we were there last month.

So the Cracker Barrell on I-4..the one at Lazydays??

Totally bummed the Rays lost. And the Bucs are blacked out for Sunday. bummer.

 

[anolefan]

Great pictures.

The photos of your children in the golf cart are outstanding. Very cute!

Great job on the WL photo. Looks like a postcard.

Nice job!

 

[luckycharm19335]

How long did it take you to walk to the lodge?

 

[Headlesshorseman]

Great pics.....Herbie is awesome....kids are cute....GO Rangers...SORRY...

HH

 

[LONE-STAR]

Great pics.....Herbie is awesome....kids are cute....GO Rangers...SORRY...

HH

Don't be sorry there from Texas.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

...the boats were running wierd all week. When we left the contemporary there were two boats at the dock. One captian stated, "Wilderness Lodge" and the other shouted "Fort wilderness campgrounds" There must be 2 boat going in opposite directions at least last week

It was that way when we were there too. I'm really enjoying your report and your golf cart rocks!

 

[starbuc71]

Awesome report so far! I love seeing all the pictures! We actually saw a few deer too on that path when we were there last month.

So the Cracker Barrell on I-4..the one at Lazydays??

Totally bummed the Rays lost. And the Bucs are blacked out for Sunday. bummer.

That is the correct Cracker Barrell at Lazydays. Be careful on the weekends, parking is limitited with a 30ft TT

Great pictures.

The photos of your children in the golf cart are outstanding. Very cute!

Great job on the WL photo. Looks like a postcard.

Nice job!

Thes pics turned out better than I would have imagined. I'm proud to hear "post card" quality

How long did it take you to walk to the lodge?

The Walk takes about 15 minutes I would say

Great pics.....Herbie is awesome....kids are cute....GO Rangers...SORRY...

HH

Thanks... I have to root for the rangers now since I hate the Phillies and can never root for the Yanks

Don't be sorry there from Texas.

 

[luckycharm19335]

Thanks for the info!

 

[starbuc71]

Well, on with continuation of day 2:

I last left off taking the boat from the lodge and having to hit the fort before arriving at the Contemporary resort. Now this is something I have never saw during the day before. I don't know how long Disney has been doing these "pirate cruises" I first saw it during our previous trip after 9pm at the contemporary docks. IMHO I don't know what these cruises entail and they don't look like much fun. My idea of a great pirate cruise is definatly not a decorated pontoon boat in the middle of the day. They do have a great idea there, but I think it needs to be thought out a bit better. At Clearwater beach they have a replica of a pirate ship which was sailed by the late Capt. Memo. This boat would be perfect for Bay lake. Imagine a pirate cruise and the boat actually pulling into one of the coves on the lake and re-enacting a pirate battle at a simulated pirate town? Now that would be worth the hefty bounty for a cruise like that

Almost there... Here is another classic shot that a lot of people take on thier way to the contemporary. I still need to find out someday where that water is spraying up from. I believe it may be next to the tennis courts

Here we go, after the big loop on Bay lake we have arrived

We have never really "resort hopped" but today since we had some time to kill we decided to hit some shops and explore a bit. This is a spot that the kids always want their picture taken at but for some reason we can never capture a good smile

Someday they will be Daddy's little racers

After a little shopping here is a nice pic of Bay lake from the main level and walking back to the dock

As I stated earlier, it was wierd to see 2 boats at the contemporay dock. One was going to the lodge and one to the fort. Both boats were going in opposite directions. Have no idea why but it was nice to get on the direct boat to the fort. I never got a pic of this sign before so I figured I would add it

My wife and I figured our daughter was old enough now for maybe a pony ride. We never did this before so it was something new for her. I shelled out the whopping $5 and she had a blast. The pony's name was "Tonka"

After the pony ride I took some random shots of pioneer hall. And of course we could not go a day without my daughter doing something she shouldn't be doing....walking through the flowers

Now it was time to head back to the camper and get ready for the big night, the MNSSHP. My daughter had to be Tinkerbell and since my son is going to be the future 3rd baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays (or by then probably the Nashville Rays or Charlotte Rays or the Nebraska Rays... you get the point) he was going to be a baseball player

Here we are on the boat on our way to the Magic Kingdom. Gotta love the festive folks in front of us in orange

They do such an awsome job transforming the MK into fall and Halloween mode. Here we are at the entrance and on main street

Here is the kids mode of transportation throughout the park when they get tired of walking. We bought this stroller last year not thinking my daughter is growing like a leaf. One more trip in Nov. for he x-mas party and she will have offically out grown this expensive contraption

 

[starbuc71]

I ran out of room to finish the day. Here are the last 3 shots at the MNSSHP. I was so mad that as soon as the sun started to set, the battery died on my camera. I guess it's not used to all the picture taking The kids went nuts over Woody and Jessie, unfortunatley the line was a mile long to get your picture taken with them, so enjoy this shot with someone elses kids

This was the last shot before the camera died. Thankfully I had the camcorder to tape the whole Boo to you parade. Sorry to all of you that were getting excited for MNSSHP pics.

Next up: Day 3: a day at the pool

 

[PrincessNP]

I have really enjoyed your trip report! Thanks for the hard work and effort!

I am jealous about your short drive to Disney. As many of the campers can agree....try a 10 hour drive with a 1 1/2 and 3 year old girls! Yippee!

(Which is why we leave a 1AM)

 

[LONE-STAR]

 

[kampfirekim]

I last left off taking the boat from the lodge and having to hit the fort before arriving at the Contemporary resort. Now this is something I have never saw during the day before. I don't know how long Disney has been doing these "pirate cruises" I first saw it during our previous trip after 9pm at the contemporary docks. IMHO I don't know what these cruises entail and they don't look like much fun. My idea of a great pirate cruise is definatly not a decorated pontoon boat in the middle of the day. They do have a great idea there, but I think it needs to be thought out a bit better.

The Pirate Cruise is better than it looks. It is for kids ages 4-12. My DS did it a couple of years ago with a cousin and they both thought it was awesome. He had a broken leg with a great big cast at the time, so he was obviously dubbed as the "Peg Leg Pirate". Granted, they could come up with a better looking "ship", but the kids loved it just the same.

Great TR.

Beautiful family.

No comparison necessary for the Herbies.

The older one is Herbie back in the day and your Herbie is.....well, Fully Loaded of course!

 

[Judy in Texas]

Allrighty, the Rays game is over and my team lost 5-1 to the Texas Rangers.

Sorry your Rays lost to my Rangers. I know there were some iffy calls, seems like there always are no matter who is playing, and for once they went the Rangers' way. One thing I took from the series is that both teams seem like a bunch of good guys who played their hearts out.
(No "antler" emoticons on the list. Figment is the closest). Watch for "Antlers" and "Claws" during the Rangers/Yankees games.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Congratulations Starbuc71!

You showed me a photo of something at WDW that I have never seen or even heard of before!

And that is saying something.

I never knew that there were daytime pirate cruises.

But, after seeing your photos of that pirate ship, I checked, and found this thread:

Grand Floridian Pirate Cruises

I knew nothing about this activity.

But now I do.

Thanks.

And, your photos are excellent!

TCD

 

[starbuc71]

The Pirate Cruise is better than it looks. It is for kids ages 4-12. My DS did it a couple of years ago with a cousin and they both thought it was awesome. He had a broken leg with a great big cast at the time, so he was obviously dubbed as the "Peg Leg Pirate". Granted, they could come up with a better looking "ship", but the kids loved it just the same.

Great TR.

Beautiful family.

No comparison necessary for the Herbies.

The older one is Herbie back in the day and your Herbie is.....well, Fully Loaded of course!

I have never even heard of this pirate curise until our last visit. Your probably right that it's great for the kids and I'm sure my 2 will love it someday. From my first sight of it and not knowing exactly what it was I thought Disney pulled off a cheap attraction, but it's all about the kids. If they like it, it was a job well done. Below is what I thought would make Bay lake a huge success

http://www.captainmemo.com/index.html

 

[starbuc71]

Congratulations Starbuc71!

You showed me a photo of something at WDW that I have never seen or even heard of before!

And that is saying something.

I never knew that there were daytime pirate cruises.

But, after seeing your photos of that pirate ship, I checked, and found this thread:

Grand Floridian Pirate Cruises

I knew nothing about this activity.



But now I do.

Thanks.

And, your photos are excellent!

TCD

Yeah! I found something new...Booya

 

[kampfirekim]

I never knew that there were daytime pirate cruises.

But, after seeing your photos of that pirate ship, I checked, and found this thread:

Grand Floridian Pirate Cruises

TCD

Cruises also set sail from Carribean Beach Resort and Port Orleans. Each is themed slightly different to match the pirates that would have been in each respective area. DS did the one at CBR.

 

[Headlesshorseman]

When does the VIDEO START??????

HH