We're here! Probably not a trip report

[wayneg]

Opps Sorry Beth I edited your post instead of replying.

My Brother uses Apple TV in London but bought here, I saw a post the other day saying cost had dropped to about £70 in UK so not much more than in US. I am not an Apple fan, I use WD TV, something similar. Plugs into the mains and a HD cable into the TV, it then connects to the wireless network. I can look at all my photos or movies from my PC on my TV or connect direct to the internet and pull content from YouTube or other sites. Great little box for about £70, got rid of all my cabling. http://www.wdc.com/en/products/homeentertainment/mediaplayers/

 

[disneyholic family]

Opps Sorry Beth I edited your post instead of replying.

My Brother uses Apple TV in London but bought here, I saw a post the other day saying cost had dropped to about £70 in UK so not much more than in US. I am not an Apple fan, I use WD TV, something similar. Plugs into the mains and a HD cable into the TV, it then connects to the wireless network. I can look at all my photos or movies from my PC on my TV or connect direct to the internet and pull content from YouTube or other sites. Great little box for about £70, got rid of all my cabling. http://www.wdc.com/en/products/homeentertainment/mediaplayers/

funny about editing my post!!!

thanks for the explanation Wayne - i really need to look into it..
we have tv shows on our computer that we only can watch on our computer...
i would love to be able to connect it to the TV....
but i'm kinda (understatement) technology challenged!!!!

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Thanks for the updates - I am really enjoying reading them Glad your wife is feeling better now

 

[london75]

Opps Sorry Beth I edited your post instead of replying.

My Brother uses Apple TV in London but bought here, I saw a post the other day saying cost had dropped to about £70 in UK so not much more than in US. I am not an Apple fan, I use WD TV, something similar. Plugs into the mains and a HD cable into the TV, it then connects to the wireless network. I can look at all my photos or movies from my PC on my TV or connect direct to the internet and pull content from YouTube or other sites. Great little box for about £70, got rid of all my cabling. http://www.wdc.com/en/products/homeentertainment/mediaplayers/

Where the Apple TV comes into its own is when you have an iPhone or iPad. To be watching something then just "flick" it to the screen is great. We bought our current one in the US last year and it works fine, the cable they use is the mini figure of 8 style connector so easily found in Europe. It works wirelessly and is very nice and simple. I'd probably only recommend it if a) you fancy getting a Netflix subscription or b) you are confident with computers. I have the former but also a central server style computer that has all films, videos, photos and music and use a bit of software called air video that can stream it to any device in the house or even across the Internet if I feel like.

Can't vouch for the WD Tv but they've been round longer than the Apple so ought to be just as good.

 

[disneyholic family]

Where the Apple TV comes into its own is when you have an iPhone or iPad. To be watching something then just "flick" it to the screen is great. We bought our current one in the US last year and it works fine, the cable they use is the mini figure of 8 style connector so easily found in Europe. It works wirelessly and is very nice and simple. I'd probably only recommend it if a) you fancy getting a Netflix subscription or b) you are confident with computers. I have the former but also a central server style computer that has all films, videos, photos and music and use a bit of software called air video that can stream it to any device in the house or even across the Internet if I feel like.

Can't vouch for the WD Tv but they've been round longer than the Apple so ought to be just as good.

i'm wondering if the apple tv is what i need to watch my itunes tv shows on my TV.

We have an itunes account and download tv shows, but can only watch them on the computer.
it's my understanding that itunes downloads are more difficult to send to other devices, so maybe that's where the apple tv would work for us.

Dunno...

 

[london75]

i'm wondering if the apple tv is what i need to watch my itunes tv shows on my TV.

We have an itunes account and download tv shows, but can only watch them on the computer.
it's my understanding that itunes downloads are more difficult to send to other devices, so maybe that's where the apple tv would work for us.

Dunno...

I think so, it certainly connects to your iTunes account so purchases should be available to stream. I've never bought anything from iTunes like TV or movies to test with I'm afraid.

 

[Cyrano]

Great update. Hope Jo fully recovers to enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[Linda67]

Just chipping in about Apple TV
It's a great way of watching anything in your iTunes library on your TV and you can also view your photos (you can even make a nice slide show set to music from your iTunes library)
Oh and you can rent movies from iTunes right through the Apple TV as well
It's about £100 to buy and well worth it in my opinion especially if, as you say, you are already buying TV series from iTunes
Oh and loving the live updates !

 

[wayneg]

It's about £100 to buy and well worth it in my opinion especially if, as you say, you are already buying TV series from iTunes
Oh and loving the live updates !

If you watch HotUKdeals they keep popping up from about £70, WAE is about cheapest just now at £82 but threads it creates are great, like this one, http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/apple-tv-latest-3rd-generation-amazon-88-99-1252684
People love to argue about Apple TV, its a perfect unit for anyone who like Apple, uses itunes, has an ipad etc. they all work great together. I am a little more old fashioned and prefer the way WDTV works, don't really get ipads(or the price) the new Nexus 16gb tablet at £189 is more my price for something like that http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/nex...id-tablet-google-189-99-hmv-with-code-1264183

 

[alibeau]

Keep the TR's coming, love reading them. Hope Jo is feeling 100% soon

DH has just purchased 'apple tv' this week and so is currently in 'apple tv bore mode', he can't stop raving about it. I think we are going to get an extra 'unit' for the girls bedroom so that they can take the Ipad up there and watch films on Netflix etc of an evening and it will then free my tv up to watch MY programmes again rather than having to sit through kids stuff

Enjoy the rest of your hols

Ali

 

[london75]

Keep the TR's coming, love reading them. Hope Jo is feeling 100% soon

DH has just purchased 'apple tv' this week and so is currently in 'apple tv bore mode', he can't stop raving about it. I think we are going to get an extra 'unit' for the girls bedroom so that they can take the Ipad up there and watch films on Netflix etc of an evening and it will then free my tv up to watch MY programmes again rather than having to sit through kids stuff

Enjoy the rest of your hols

Ali

That's what we're doing, getting one for the kids room. They don't have an aeriel socket so this will stop them scratching all the DVDs.

strangely I'm wide awake at 5 this morning but I'll wait to write about yesterday as I'm on the wrong gadget.

 

[disneyholic family]

Just chipping in about Apple TV
It's a great way of watching anything in your iTunes library on your TV and you can also view your photos (you can even make a nice slide show set to music from your iTunes library)
Oh and you can rent movies from iTunes right through the Apple TV as well
It's about £100 to buy and well worth it in my opinion especially if, as you say, you are already buying TV series from iTunes
Oh and loving the live updates !

thanks!

If you watch HotUKdeals they keep popping up from about £70, WAE is about cheapest just now at £82 but threads it creates are great, like this one, http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/apple-tv-latest-3rd-generation-amazon-88-99-1252684
People love to argue about Apple TV, its a perfect unit for anyone who like Apple, uses itunes, has an ipad etc. they all work great together. I am a little more old fashioned and prefer the way WDTV works, don't really get ipads(or the price) the new Nexus 16gb tablet at £189 is more my price for something like that http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/nex...id-tablet-google-189-99-hmv-with-code-1264183

we don't have ipads either, but we do use itunes, so it's sounding like the apple tv may be useful for us....i don't know why i never thought about it before!

 

[london75]

Just a quick update today promise!

Day 6 - MK and Kona Cafe
It was the first time we'd been to any of the resorts so having a wander around the Polynesian was lovely, it's nice to see new things and when it's such a nicely themed hotel waiting for a fantastic lunch it's even better. My only minor gripe was we got there at 11:30 and not knowing it was not serving yet as people were sat down eating I asked if we could eat early. They said come back at 12:00 as those were the tail end of breakfast and I thought nothing of it. We came back at 12 and it appeared they'd checked loads of other people in and given them pagers so every one else in the lobby got seated before us even though we were there first. Why didn't they check us in and give us a pager? Even when they did check us in we didn't get a pager and just had to stand there waiting, when it was our turn the Maitre'D just gestured to us. It was an odd experience and not common over here. I expected to get treated as second class at home lol.

Food was nice and the waitress was great with the kids who were pretty good but had just spent their pocket money in the shop while we waited so really just wanted to play, my fault for taking them in.

I had the grilled teriyaki steak and Jo the chicken sandwich. Both were tasty and I enjoyed having rice rather than fries for a change.

After lunch it was off into MK which was packed and very very hot. We got tickets for BTM which Daisy wants to ride but that was for 4 hours time so I was dubious we'd make it but got them anyway. As I feared it was just too hot and the queues too long so we decided to head back for a swim (always the silver lining when we tell the kids we want to go). However, when we got back and had had something to eat I was just too tired and to answer my prayers, it started throwing down with rain and plenty of lightning so we decided it would be early to bed and early to rise for a Day at Epcot and actually do some rides and meet some characters before the afternoon heat and rain.

We're booked for Le Cellier at lunch which we've never been to before so fingers crossed for a nice steak.

 

[disneyholic family]

how annoying at Kona!!! i would have been terribly frustrated!! (not sure i would have been able to hold my tongue - especially in that heat, when my temper tends to frazzle faster!! )

 

[dixonsontour]

Thanks for taking the time to do the updates, great to see what you are upto

 

[Cyrano]

Shame Kona experience was not the best. I am with Beth I do not do very well at biting my tongue

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Shame Kona experience was not the best. I am with Beth I do not do very well at biting my tongue

Errr yeah me three! Thankfully the food sounds like it made up for it

LOVE my Apple iTV - I have an iPad and iphone and love the Airplay and also using it to rent from the ITunes store. I did have a Netflix subscription but I cancelled it because it's not the same as the one that I have seen in America. On Netflix there you can watch fitness videos and the such like and lots more TV programs... Netflix.co.uk is a poormans version IMHO although it does look good for children - great selection for them!

 

[wayneg]

LOVE my Apple iTV - I have an iPad and iphone and love the Airplay and also using it to rent from the ITunes store. I did have a Netflix subscription but I cancelled it because it's not the same as the one that I have seen in America. On Netflix there you can watch fitness videos and the such like and lots more TV programs... Netflix.co.uk is a poormans version IMHO although it does look good for children - great selection for them!

There should be a way of getting the US Netflix, I know there is with WDTV.

 

[zippy99]

Nice Quidco deal on Netflix £5 for completing the trial and a further £15 if you sign up so effectively you can try it out for 4 months for free.

 

[london75]

Just a quick review of Day 7 as technically we're into Day now.

Yesterday we got a lot done again, managed to drag everyone out early as I woke at 5 with Poppy not one after, we still didn't get out until 9 but that's good for us a week into the holiday as things tend to go downhill!

Off to Epcot for an explore and as hoped, it was nice and quiet. Unfortunately the left over play ground from the flower and garden festival had been removed. I saw it last Sunday and as we used to be May regulars I knew the kids loved it so made a mental note to return to it asap as it just suddenly disappears. We forgot that day and tried yesterday and it was just a flat patch of mud surrounded by potted trees! It's amazing how quickly things change. The moral is if you see a temporary feature then visit it then and there as it might not be there next time.

It was really hot as you can probably imagine but we did a little Kidcot and started the Agent P thing but stopped pretty soon after as Daisy just didn't feel like listening to the clues properly and we had a lunch res at Le Cellier. It took a while to seat us all but once sat we had a great meal, I had the New York Steak and Jo the Miso Salmon and both were lovely. For the first time this trip the steak actually was medium rare, so far all other steaks I've had have been a fair bit over the medium mark with no pink.

After a few rides and talking Poppy into going on Soarin' we decided it was too hot and left for the villa planning on swimming. By the time we'd got back stopping at a supermarket again I'd already decided I was going to head back into MK for a late night with at least Daisy but possibly Poppy too. Daisy wanted it to be just the two of us but Poppy wanted to come and so Jo had to as well. We'd talked about all going out and coming home at different times on the bus so this was the night to test it. It was pretty busy but Friday evening was always likely to be until 11pm when the non hotel guests start leaving. There was a second electrical parade at 11pm so the park felt busy but from a ride point of view there were very few queues from 11 onwards.

Jo and Poppy left around 10:30 but in hindsight a sleeping 4 year old with a pushchair and 3rd floor room was never a great idea for a shattered Mum. She did it but I don't think she will again despite enjoying MK at night.

The biggest news was Daisy trying Big Thunder Mountain for the first time and in the dark as well. She absolutely loved it and we went on 2 more times. We would have carried on but it seemed to get much busier after midnight and the queue became a real static queue rather than just a walking column of people and I really wasn't up to carrying Daisy.

Today was a quiet day so I'll skip reporting on it as it was just shopping and off for a quick swim before getting ready for Californian Grill for 9:10, hope I got roughly the right time to see fireworks after the meal!

We've had a re-shuffle of reservations, ditching Boma at 8am (was massively optimistic lol) and booking another Teppan Edo which we all agree was our favourite so far. Moved Mama Melrose to tomorrow from Wednesday. This leads to an observation that might be useful. All the reservations I've wanted to make and pretty much any other restaurant have been available if I want to change to them. Maybe it's only really necessary to book a couple like CRT etc at the 6 month mark.