What a disaster!!

[topdog]

Great update! Loved the WL photos. Don't really get too many pics showing the layers of the fireplace. Loved the bottom up perspective. Looking forward to more!.

Thanks. I have plenty more pictures. The best is yet to come.

Great update!!! Love the WL pics! Were the AI people there just for the opening of the attraction in DHS? Or do they rotate some around all the time now? Can't wait till the next update, I'm loving it all!!!

From what I know, AI grand opening was on 2/15 and 2/13 was the premiere party. So they have the former AI contestants there for the parade. Also, they will have some of the former AI contestants at the AI experience as a guest once in a while. As for those AI people I saw, they were staying at the WL a few days for the AI party but not all the AI people stayed at WL.

I LOVE the WL lobby and I know it is not easy to photograph. These are awesome my friend! Made my day to see such beauty.

Thanks KSD. Those WL lobby pictures by far were the best I have taken.

Great pics of the lobby! But I am already hungry imagining what you may have eaten at AP!! Can't wait to see and hear about it!

Thanks. AP is my most favorite restaurant. It's the best.

I know everyone has been saying that Disney has really taken a hit with the economy but Touring Plans has totally changed their crowd level expectations based on the last two weeks+ of attendance. Disney has had to add hours, parades, etc due to the unexpected turn out and it is projected to keep going for quite sometime if you look at the chart. Was the "buy 4 get 3 free" deal that much of a winner? (sorry, didn't mean to highjack)
Great report Topdog! Keep it coming!

Thanks luvillians. I still have a lot to write.

Awesome update and pics.

Those are some of the best WL pics I have seen.

How nice to have seen some past people from AI.

Thank you. I still have quite a few WL pictures, both inside & outside.

Well, since everyone else with stuffed animals is coming out, ours is a Christmas duck that quacks Christmas songs - my fiance gave it to me 11 years ago, just before we started going out. It never gets put away with the Christmas things. It stays on the dresser in our bedroom alongside the towel art from Disney.

Love, love, love the pics of the WL lobby you got - great job getting the pics under the best lighting I've ever seen pics taken there. Those are the best pics of WL I've ever seen, including any that WDW has anywhere.

....anxiously awaiting more TR......

LOL...Does the Christmas duck has a name??

Thanks. You are making me blush.

Pathetic as I am, I knew every single AI person you mentioned!

Great WL pictures...

Thanks. I only knew most of the AI people and not all but I am a AI fan though.

 

[topdog]

Wow! The pics of the fireplace are beautiful! You hit the jackpot with the late afternoon sun. Those are the best photographs of the lobby I have seen. It is normally so dark in there. You can actually see the colors of the stone in the fireplace and the totem poles. Great pics!

Sorry, I don't watch American Idol; I'm a Survivor fan. I am anxiously awaiting your post of Artist Point. We love the LODGE and can't to see more pics and hear more story.....

Thank you. Taking picture of the WL lobby was always a thorn at my you know where. I was very happy with this batch. The late afternoon sunlight was just perfect.

I am a big Survivor fan too. I applied for the Africa season but never got pick. I doubt they will let me take my camera with me though.

Hi TopDog,

Thanks for another great update. As so many others have said I love the picture of the fireplace...beautiful.

Will be impatiently waiting for another installment soon as I am home sick with the flu.

TTFN

Thanks. I hope you feel better soon.

Hello, topdog. Loving the pics. You do such an amazing job, pure talent, I tell you!

I almost have to turn away from the pics of WL - it makes me too homesick - but, I peeked between my two fingers anyway! I don't know when my next visit there will be again, but your pics bring this place to life, so that will suffice for me until I go back.

You're TR is very popular! Your personality is as great as your pics. You're DW is very lucky - you seem to have a great love for her! It really shows.

Yay! Thank you MICKEY4EVER. So glad you come join us for the ride. I hope your little one didn't misbehave any more.

I love the WL. This is our second stay there. I want to drag DW to the original Old Faithful Inn some day so we can compare. When she heard there is no A/C there, she stop short. You are right. My DW is very lucky. Ha! Ha!

where is the rest?? great TR! you have comedy drama and food! just what i needed today.

Thanks. I am working on the next installment. Just stay tune...don't touch that mouse. LOL....

Again, amazing pictures! I am so grateful that you take the time to share with us!!!

It's my pleasure. So glad you like the TR and there are still more.

 

[topdog]

Your pictures have me determined to book a room at the WL!!! With DVC I hopefully plan to stay everywhere eventually but wow that lobby!! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G pictures!! Love that fireplace!! Thanks for the update and hope your Uncle is doing better!

Thank you for the well wish.

IMO, WL have the best theme and the best location as well. One boat ride away from MK. We like the boat ride even better than the monorail.

I can't wait for June to stay at WL. My friend just got back from there and loved it.. Your pics are amazing.

I knew every AI person that you mentioned. Like you, I would say, "hey there's ______" but then not bother them.

Another great update!!!!

Hmmmm...I can smell another TR or maybe even a Pre-TR. You are going to love WL.

Those AI people are just normal people like you or I. However, they were very low key though.

LOL Topdog is so popular ("famous") here on the Dis boards, we might all be doing that to HIM one of these days if we're there when he is and we spot him. ..."hey, there's Topdog" then not bother him (cuz he'll be deeply involved in taking pictures of something.) LOL

LOL... It's not that difficult to spot me. I am 6'2" tall and stick out like a sore thumb.

LOL!! I don't know. If I saw Topdog, I might have to say something. But I would wait until he was done taking pictures. I would probably ask him to take a pic with my camera. He could probably take a better pic than me even with my camera.

Ha! Ha! You are too much. Believe it or not, I have quite a few occasion with people asking me to take a picture of them with their camera in all the parks. Every time it happened, my DW just couldn't stop laughing. It's like I have a photo pass ID on my forehead.

Another great update! I hope your family is doing well!

Thank you. So far so good. My uncle is showing some slight improvement.

 

[GoofyFairie]

I am a big Survivor fan too. I applied for the Africa season but never got pick. I doubt they will let me take my camera with me though.

I'm afraid your team mates would vote you out first. You would be too worried about your camera or getting the right shot and not have your head in the game! I can just see you lugging the big lense through an obstacle course and worried about it getting dirty or wet! Africe would have given you some really awesome shots though. Too bad. Try again, some people get picked the second time around.

So, what are we eating next? Can't wait to see your pics!

 

[LindaBabe]

Those Wilderness Lodge photos are AMAZING! I can't TELL you how many hours I've spent trying to photograph that place to my satisfaction and never managed it!

PS, if you meet my Dimples, please don't tell her she's a stuffed animal. She thinks she's a 5 year old DIVA.

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Yay! Thank you MICKEY4EVER. So glad you come join us for the ride. I hope your little one didn't misbehave any more.

I love the WL. This is our second stay there. I want to drag DW to the original Old Faithful Inn some day so we can compare. When she heard there is no A/C there, she stop short. You are right. My DW is very lucky. Ha! Ha!

I've been following along when I can! I just love your antics... DS4 has been on his very best behavior this last week - he's been asking about when we can go back to Disney and I tell him after his behavior we may never go back! LOL!

Little does he know that I'd take him back tomorrow if I could. But armed with the threat of never going back to his happy place, he's been quite the little angel. I don't know how long he will keep it up though! I'm enjoying the peaceful moments while they last...

I posted some pics on my TR - don't know if you saw those, but if you want to go look, be my guest. I'm almost ashamed to have you see my photos b/c they are TERRIBLE compared to anything you've shown us! Just squint one eye when you look at them and tilt your head a little, then they should look fine.

 

[Tiki Room Fan]

LOL...Does the Christmas duck has a name??

Yes, his tag says he's "Quincy the Quackin' Duck" but we just call him the Christmas duck.

LOL... It's not that difficult to spot me. I am 6'2" tall and stick out like a sore thumb.

Wow - 6'2"?? I didn't realize you were that tall - I couldn't tell from your pictures. How tall is your DW?

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

I am a big Survivor fan too. I applied for the Africa season but never got pick. I doubt they will let me take my camera with me though.

I too am a huge Survivor fan. I think the first Africa season was by far the hardest. I think they had it the roughest of all the seasons.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with your TR, but I wanted to throw that it.

 

[topdog]

I'm afraid your team mates would vote you out first. You would be too worried about your camera or getting the right shot and not have your head in the game! I can just see you lugging the big lense through an obstacle course and worried about it getting dirty or wet! Africe would have given you some really awesome shots though. Too bad. Try again, some people get picked the second time around.

So, what are we eating next? Can't wait to see your pics!

LOL...I probably have to carry an anvil case for my camera. That won't work well with the challenge isn't it? I would love to spend a month at Africa just for photograph.

Those Wilderness Lodge photos are AMAZING! I can't TELL you how many hours I've spent trying to photograph that place to my satisfaction and never managed it!

PS, if you meet my Dimples, please don't tell her she's a stuffed animal. She thinks she's a 5 year old DIVA.

Photograph the WL lobby was much more difficult than I thought. My only advice is to keep trying at different time of day. Eventually, you will get it.

LOL...Dimples with an attitude.

I've been following along when I can! I just love your antics... DS4 has been on his very best behavior this last week - he's been asking about when we can go back to Disney and I tell him after his behavior we may never go back! LOL!

Little does he know that I'd take him back tomorrow if I could. But armed with the threat of never going back to his happy place, he's been quite the little angel. I don't know how long he will keep it up though! I'm enjoying the peaceful moments while they last...

I posted some pics on my TR - don't know if you saw those, but if you want to go look, be my guest. I'm almost ashamed to have you see my photos b/c they are TERRIBLE compared to anything you've shown us! Just squint one eye when you look at them and tilt your head a little, then they should look fine.

Yes. I did saw your TR photos. They are pretty good. Your DS is such a cute kid.

I was a nightmare to my mom when I was a kid. I once push a shoe rack down in a department store and create a domino effect. After that stunt, I couldn't seat for a week. Use your imagination what my punishment was.

Yes, his tag says he's "Quincy the Quackin' Duck" but we just call him the Christmas duck.

Wow - 6'2"?? I didn't realize you were that tall - I couldn't tell from your pictures. How tall is your DW?

DW is about 5'6". Here is a picture when we were at Aruba 1 1/2 year ago.

I too am a huge Survivor fan. I think the first Africa season was by far the hardest. I think they had it the roughest of all the seasons.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with your TR, but I wanted to throw that it.

That's okay. I can talk about anything.

Africa might be rough but that's expected. Some time I don't understand why those contestants whine about how hard Survivor was. Hello!!! What were you thinking? Do you think they just hand you a million dollar just because you show up?!

 

[topdog]

Just a quick note. I should post another update later on tonight. But after that, I will be MIA for a few day. We are heading down to NC for Easter so I won't be back until next Monday. I will bring my laptop with me but not sure I will have internet connection. My SIL doesn't have internet at her home. I have to sneak out and stop by Krispy Kreme for free wifi.

 

[WDWAtLast]

Just a quick note. I should post another update later on tonight. But after that, I will be MIA for a few day. We are heading down to NC for Easter so I won't be back until next Monday. I will bring my laptop with me but not sure I will have internet connection. My SIL doesn't have internet at her home. I have to sneak out and stop by Krispy Kreme for free wifi.

Haha - have a donut and some coffee for me!!

 

[topdog]

Day #5 (Thursday) Part 4

Since dinner was at 5:30pm and Artist Point is downstair, it did not take long for me and DW to get ready for dinner. Once we got to the Artist Point check-in desk, we were greet by two CMs there. A young man in his mid 20s and a young lady probably in her early 20s. There was no one at the line so it was just DW and I. I notice the young man CM was staring at me and whispering to the young girl CM while she was looking up on our ADR information. The young man CM also keeps pointing to me at the same time. I turned around and saw no one behind me so I assume he must be whispering about me to her ear.

I whispering to my DW, "I think they are talking about me." And I have a suspicion I know what he was talking about. Suddenly the young girl CM raised her head and spoke to me in a very serious stern tone. She said, "I can't believe you come into my restaurant dress like that." DW wasn't quite caught on what she was talking about. I reply to the young girl CM with a smile knowing exactly what she was talking, "Sorry, this is all I got for today. Beside, you got to love Bugs." By then, the young man CM couldn't stop laughing at our conversation and he was doing the Bugs Bunny tap dance opening routine at the same time. Finally, DW knew it was just an act and realize what's going on. I was wearing a Bugs Bunny golf shirt. Busted!!! The young girl rolled her eyes and reply back, "I can't talk to you right now because I can't even look at your face." I reply back with a smile, "That's okay. I won't bother you any more and you have a nice day." The young man CM then led us to our table while continue laughing.

I asked the young man CM, "I bet things must be chaos around WL isn't it with the AI people staying here." He reply, "Yes. They were here for dinner last night and every body were excited seeing celebrity."

Dinner tonight was just spectacular. I was so looking forward to have my buffalo steak because we came here twice on our last trip just to have buffalo. Unfortunately, it was no longer on the menu. Instead they have the buffalo short rib so I decide to have something different.

For appetizer, DW has the mixed greens salad with roasted pear and champagne vinaigrette, black diamond cheddar and candied hazelnuts, very fancy schmancy. DW liked it very much.

For me, I have to have the Smoky Portabello soup with roasted shiitakes and chive oil.
I had this soup every time when I came to Artist Point. It's a must for me. The flavor of this soup was just out of this world.

Main course, DW has the grilled pork chop with smoked red curry squash mash, broccolini and huckleberry jus. DW loved it.

Since I can't get the buffalo steak any more, so I decided to have the grilled beef strip sirloin with braised root vegetable and read wine butter.

While I really wanted to have the buffalo, but this strip sirloin was excellent as well. The red wine butter was very different. First time I ever eat steak with butter.

After we inhaled our dinner then it's dessert time. DW has the Artist Point cobbler, seasonal berries and housemade black raspberry ice cream.

DW thought that was fantastic.

I have the double chocolate cheesecake with vanilla shortbread, raspberry coulis, Grand Marnier mousse and candied orange.

My dessert was equally as stunning as the main course but I wish Disney can serve the dessert in a little larger portion. It looks like they were meant for birds. I can eat 2 or 3 of those dessert. LOL...

After dinner, it was time to head back out to the bus station and get a ride to EPCOT. Get ready for the next wave of disaster. Stay tune...

 

[topdog]

Haha - have a donut and some coffee for me!!

Yes. I think I will have a few. One donut is not enough.

 

[scottny]

funny what they did to you.

That food looks delicious. I will have to try it sometime.

 

[Jillpie]

Topdog, you are amazing, seriously. What a fantastic report! I wish I were a WL lover, are you by any chance planning a Beach Club resort trip any time soon?? I would love to see what you could do around that whole Boardwalk area!!
Anyway, I was studying your DHS photos like crazy, trying to find my son. He works at the Great Movie Ride as a college CM. We are going down to see him next week! Did you by any chance grab any pictures of that ride, with any CM's in it?
Oh, I can't wait for more. This has taken me two whole nights to read, I memorized where I left off last night (pg. 17) and I couldn't wait to come back for more tonight. I just LOVE this. So hurry back! Now I have to memorize where I left off tonight, I may not be able to read until I get back from Disney!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Topdog: Glad you stopped by to see the pics and thanks for thinking my kid is cute. I think he's pretty adorable, myself, but I gave birth to him! LOL!

I cannot believe you knocked over racks of shoes like that. So far, I've been lucky that nothing like that has happened, but he did bump into a shelf with a cart at Wal-Mart last week and knocked down a huge bottle of wine that shattered everywhere.

I am sure I can imagine what your punishment was, too! I'm sure you deserved it!!!!!! You seemed to have turned out all right, so I'm not going to worry so much about DS4...

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Have in NY and can't wait to find out what the next disaster was. I hope it didn't involve your photography equipment this time.

 

[ladylyons]

Yeah a Topdog update!!! Oh no another disater!!! Don't leave us hanging to long!! PLEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE!

 

[djcjn]

Great TR, I'll be waiting for more!

 

[Planning fanatic mom]

Those desserts look amazing. I love the story about your shirt.

I will wait patiently for the next disaster.

Have a great weekend and Easter.