Will You Chill Out if I Sprinkle You With Pixie Dust? The End p136 *New TR Link* p138

[IheartDDuck]

Wow, that's awesome, a 25 mile bike ride.

I love all of the Illuminations pictures! I'm pretty bad at getting fireworks pictures, but I'm not gonna lie, I don't have the inclination to have a lesson to learn to take them better anyway.

You are so right about the BW parking lot! It's insane! It's the one thing I'm not looking forward to about staying there. I am that big of a dork though and I'm going to pay for valet. Because for real, it's just easier. It's not that I mind the walk.....I'm just always in a hurry it seems. But that just leads me into another rant as to why free valet was taken away from DVC members....but I digress....

Hahaha, we'll just call it that. A box full 'o' pasta.

 

[vamassey1]

Seems like I'm always trying to get caught up.

Love the pictures of Illuminations! The very first time I saw it in 2002 we stopped at the last minute and got a great spot, but I could never remember where that was. I'm beginning to think it was Norway. I remember it being pretty close to the end of World Showcase and Mexico just doesn't look right. I'm going to shoot for that spot again in the future.

So sorry for the long walk to the car. I know that feeling well, you just have to keep going. I didn't get a chance to try diner at POR when we stayed there in Feb but Danielle did. She had the pasta bar too and loved it! We also missed Bob. He was only playing on our first night. We were just too tired to stay up. Another item for the ever growing list for someday.

 

[MEK]

I think your Illuminations pictures are fabulous! I never even try because my shots always turn out blurry or streaky.

Thank you. I've gotten better at taking firework pictures by using the manual settings on my camera, but I still feel like I could do better if I learned a little bit more.

BTW - welcome back!

II also love the POR food court and the make your own pasta is a favorite. They do give you TONS of pasta, its a good deal.

It really IS a good deal. Its definitely enough for two people and I would order the exact same thing again (well, let Denny order it because I have no what he actually ordered).

IGreat idea to end the night with Yee-ha Bob! What a fun ending to the day!

Bob is always a great ending to the day. I love his show. It's so energetic and engaging. Everyone should get to see Bob at least once.

I agree with Dee - I like that picture best too.
The Eiffel Tower is so clear! And you know I'm partial to the tower!

Yes - I know you are a big fan of the Eiffel tower. And you are so lucky to have actually gone up it.

I hope you make rope drop at Epcot, but I'm guessing someone has a hard time getting going?

Let's just say that my morning didn't go the way I had hoped it would.

I liked all your IllumiNations shots! Especially the ones that had the lamp as the focal point; made me feel like I was watching the show again.

Thanks! Did you get to see Illuminations on your recent visit? I'm sure it was hard to do everything you wanted in such a short amount of time.

IThat make your own pasta dish was huge! Glad you both were able to get plenty of food to fill you up. I didn't even know they offered that at POR.

That was the surprise meal of the trip. Seriously, there is NO WAY one person could have eaten all that pasta. It really makes a nice bargain option for a meal. I wonder what other resorts have that same station.

IThe parking at the BW sounds horrible. Everyone knows that people who arrive in cars are going to have mountains of luggage to tote to their rooms, so it's just mean to park them all the way in the back and expect them to haul it all the way through the lot, then the resort, then to the room.

I think you basically need to use bell services if you park a car, which we obviously did not do. I think what bothered me is that there were SO many empty spaces in the valet lot. So Annoying!

25 miles, way to go girl!!

Austin is big into cycling and it's something I've thought about getting into, just not there yet. I've also thought about rowing, don't ask me why, it just interests me.

Cycling is a great sport if you have safe, convenient roads to ride on. It's so different from running in that it is so much less spontaneous. All your equipment has to work right and you have to take an active role in maintaining it.

I think rowing looks really cool. Sometimes I see people out a river near my drive home and it looks so interesting.

I liked your pictures of Illuminations, some of the best I've seen not done on a tripod, very impressive.

Thank you! That's very nice!

As far as firework pictures go, it's never an easy thing to do unless you have a tripod. At least that's what I keep reading. I have a higher powered point and shoot, one step away from a DSLR and it has a fireworks feature, but I'm highly doubting it will take really good pictures unless it's on a tripod. We'll just have to wait and see.

I wonder how those firework settings actually work. I think when your shutter is open longer you definitely need something to stabilize the camera. I'll be curious to see how the setting works for you on your upcoming trip.

I've thought about seeing Yehaa Bob while Mackie and I are staying our last couple of nights at POR, but I'm not sure by that point in the trip we'll be up for much of anything extra. We'll just have to play it by ear and see what happens.

Even if you wander over there for his first set, its so worth it to see his show. I really enjoyed it, probably more than Denny did. You guys are going to have a great trip!

 

[MEK]

Great Illuminations pictures! After writing a few TR's myself, I don't like to put up a lot of fireworks pictures anymore either, but yours are so beautiful, I love looking at them!

Thank you! I'm surprised you don't want to post your firework pics because your night time pictures have all been beautiful!

Great plan to go to POR for the night! I didn't know YeeHaw Bob had such a following though, I'd like to check his show out since we'll be staying there, but I'm not sure if we'll ever actually get there!

There are totally Yee Haw Bob groupies. I have seen him two or three times and there are ALWAYS people there that know every word to every song. They all sit up close. It's fun. If you can fit it in, definitely talk a few minutes to see him.

Hope you make it to rope drop the next day!

Let's just say the beginning of my day didn't turn out exactly the way I wanted it to.

Wow, that's awesome, a 25 mile bike ride.

Thanks. I was pretty proud of myself, although my bike is really easy to ride. That's why I will never sell it. I loved that bike when I first bought it

I love all of the Illuminations pictures! I'm pretty bad at getting fireworks pictures, but I'm not gonna lie, I don't have the inclination to have a lesson to learn to take them better anyway.

Thanks! Sometimes its just better to watch the fireworks and not be so intent on taking pictures. I wish I wasn't such a camera addict. I just can't seem to put my camera down because I am always looking for that perfect picture.

You are so right about the BW parking lot! It's insane! It's the one thing I'm not looking forward to about staying there. I am that big of a dork though and I'm going to pay for valet. Because for real, it's just easier. It's not that I mind the walk.....I'm just always in a hurry it seems. But that just leads me into another rant as to why free valet was taken away from DVC members....but I digress....

Exactly. What WAS it taken away? That was a great perk and I never really took advantage of it and then *poof* it was gone. I know Denny would never pay for valet, so it wasn't even an option. He is way to "old school" for that.

Hahaha, we'll just call it that. A box full 'o' pasta.

Seems like I'm always trying to get caught up.

I know that feeling, only all too well.

Love the pictures of Illuminations! The very first time I saw it in 2002 we stopped at the last minute and got a great spot, but I could never remember where that was. I'm beginning to think it was Norway. I remember it being pretty close to the end of World Showcase and Mexico just doesn't look right. I'm going to shoot for that spot again in the future.

Thank you! I bet that spot was Norway because you can walk right up there at the last minute, literally, and get a great view of the show. I know there are other spots where the globe is closer, but this is the non claustrophobic spot.

So sorry for the long walk to the car. I know that feeling well, you just have to keep going. I didn't get a chance to try diner at POR when we stayed there in Feb but Danielle did. She had the pasta bar too and loved it! We also missed Bob. He was only playing on our first night. We were just too tired to stay up. Another item for the ever growing list for someday.

That walk to the car was such a pain, but we did find a short cut the next day.

That pasta bar was yummy. I really enjoyed it! I can't imagine Danielle even making a dent in that pasta.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

The Illumation pictures gave me a look at what I missed on our last trip! Never saw any fireworks the entire trip!

Geat job on the bike ride. We need to get back on ours & hit the road. There are so many bike paths in Ohio it isn't hard to find a good place to ride.

 

[marDgreen88]

I love all your IllumiNations pictures! That's such a beautiful show. I just love it!

Yeehaw Bob looks like a hoot!

 

[amandaw]

So much to comment on.....I hope I don't forget anything!

Love all of your AOA pictures!

Sounds like y'all had a lot of fun with your friends in Daytona! Definitely worth the trip out of the Disney bubble!

What an un-magical check-in at BWV. Even if the CM couldn't accommodate your request, she could have at least been nice about it.

Glad y'all made up & went out to EPCOT together for a nice, leisurely evening. That pasta from the POR food court looks good!

 

[Tink rules]

Ohh yes on the gas cap... only it was a T-bird and I ended up finding a dealership and I think cried until they helped me...

 

[krhst25]

I love your illumination pictures! Don't be so hard on yourself!

 

[vamassey1]

That pasta bar was yummy. I really enjoyed it! I can't imagine Danielle even making a dent in that pasta.

Oh, but she can. You haven't seen her lately.

 

[MEK]

The Illumation pictures gave me a look at what I missed on our last trip! Never saw any fireworks the entire trip!

Really? No fireworks the entire trip? Well, then you must have been off doing something else that was equally fun!

Geat job on the bike ride. We need to get back on ours & hit the road. There are so many bike paths in Ohio it isn't hard to find a good place to ride.

That must be wonderful to live someplace where there are bike paths. There are NO bike paths where I live, but I live in a rural enough area that I can ride safely on the road in the early mornings. The only thing I don't like about bike paths is the variety of speeds people go. It's annoying to pass slow people "On Your Left" over and over again.

I love all your IllumiNations pictures! That's such a beautiful show. I just love it!:

Thank you! I love it, too. It's probably my favorite firework show, if for no other reason than I can enjoy it with a margarita in hand.

Yeehaw Bob looks like a hoot!

He really is so funny. If you have never seen him you should try sometimes. The way he literally "rocks" the piano is too funny. It really does look like its going to tip.

So much to comment on.....I hope I don't forget anything!

Well, first let me say - Welcome Back! Sounds like you all had a great time and I can't wait to hear about your trip and two weeks from now I'll be catching up on your TR!

Love all of your AOA pictures!

Thanks! That resort is so freaking cool. I hope I get another chance to go back and visit one of these days.

Sounds like y'all had a lot of fun with your friends in Daytona! Definitely worth the trip out of the Disney bubble!

Most definitely. We had a really nice time. We got to catch up and relax all at the same time. It would have been nice to stay longer, but it always feels like the clock is ticking during a Florida vacation.

What an un-magical check-in at BWV. Even if the CM couldn't accommodate your request, she could have at least been nice about it.

She really wasn't very friendly. It wasn't anything specific she did. She just came off as snooty. I felt like I was imposing by even asking about my request and that made me feel uncomfortable.

Glad y'all made up & went out to EPCOT together for a nice, leisurely evening. That pasta from the POR food court looks good!

It didn't take long for us to make up and get back to enjoying our last few nights in the world. We did have a fun time that evening!

Ohh yes on the gas cap... only it was a T-bird and I ended up finding a dealership and I think cried until they helped me...

Oh No! Really? You had to find a dealership? That had to be super stressful. Note to self - do not rent a T-bird without first getting inserviced on how to open the gas cap.

I love your illumination pictures! Don't be so hard on yourself!

Thank you! You know - after I said I was disappointed with my pictures I moved my computer to a room with different lighting and they looked so much better. I think my screen was super smudgy and it made everything look crappy. I like them better now!

Oh, but she can. You haven't seen her lately.

Ah - to be young and be able to eat till heart's content! Lucky girl.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

It was hard for me to believe that it was Saturday night because there were only a few other people standing over in Norway with us. Told you it's the last minute "go to" spot!

I'm definitely going to have to try that. Your pictures are great! I'm even more embarrassed to have posted mine after seeing these.

I am certain I took a few more pictures than I really needed to. Always in search of that perfect shot, but they all pretty much look the same.

They sure look good to me.

That is so cool! I never would have thought to try that.

Great shot!

Why the HECK is the regular parking lot at the BW SO FAR AWAY???????

I dunno. Why are packages on ships called cargo and packages on cars called shipments?

This is quite possibly the worst picture you have ever seen of the POR QS area. I forget what it's called.

Riverside Mill.

But they had an "make your own" pasta station. I told Denny to just pick whatever he wanted and we would share it. I went off to fill up the mugs.

The results......

Well, you certainly got quite the pile of spaghetti.

After our late night drinking and all that pasta, we were suddenly both very tired. But, darn it, we had come this far and we weren't leaving until we saw some of Bob's show.

Good call.

 

[englishrose47]

Checkin in before I leave for Disney in 3 days !!In fact I will be there in 3 days

 

[eeyore04]

HEYYYY!!!

I am here and way behind: so random comments from random updates are in store for you :/

On GMR we had the cowboy scene and during that moment I couldn't remember if that was the 'rare' scene or not! Exciting

Looks like you had an awesome trip to the beach!

I LOVE the props in the pre show area to the Muppets... I treid to get mother and brother to stick around and watch the preshow again so I could get some pictures sans other people but they didn't buy it.

Your pictures of SSR look amazing and we had a bus ride/detour around the resort. Actually the first time we bussed past the Treehouse Villas I thought of your posts and it gave me butterflies knowing I was finally at Disney World!

I've never seen/heard of the Spaceship Earth Swiss Cheese Effect... this is interesting!

The Manatees in 2009 were Kringle and Lou... just a point of interest. Why I remember this I have NO idea

I'm now singing One Little Spark <3

WOW you got some amazing pictures of the globe and Illuminations in general!

I feel much better now that I'm all caught up! This calls for some dancing!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

How did we ever get along without computers and smart phones? Seriously, I think about that a lot. Technology has really enhanced our lives in so many ways.

Is the word google a verb in the dictionary yet?

Yes Google is one of two companies to be listed in the Oxford English dictionary as a word to mean using it. The other one is Skype.

That's a pretty cool picture. I wonder if they have to completely replace the barge periodically? Interesting stuff.

Nope it's the same one fro oct. 1999, that's why they built it from stainless steel it doesn't corrode and fire doesn't do much to it. The only refurb it had was when a pyro shell that they used to fire off of it at the beginning of the show misfired in the middle of the day and caused some damage to it. The pyro shell now has it's own launcher at the small dock in the middle of the lagoon where the Inferno barge and the earth globe dock during the show.

 

[Tink rules]

Oh No! Really? You had to find a dealership? That had to be super stressful. Note to self - do not rent a T-bird without first getting inserviced on how to open the gas cap.

Luckily it was up the road... but I did buy a T bird and it was easy after that... (I was turning the wrong way...)

 

[MEK]

I'm definitely going to have to try that. Your pictures are great! I'm even more embarrassed to have posted mine after seeing these.

As I recall, all of your Epcot pictures were wonderful, including Illuminations.

I really do like the Norway viewing spot. Earlier in the trip my youngest nephew line right up along the fence. No problem with rude people obstructing the kids views, like you had.

They sure look good to me.

Thank you. At first I thought they looked dull and lifeless, but I think it may have been a smudgy computer screen.

That is so cool! I never would have thought to try that.

I think I did that once by accident and now I use it all the time.

Great shot!

Thank you!

I dunno. Why are packages on ships called cargo and packages on cars called shipments?

Can I just ask you how in the world you ever thought of that? Good point, but still that is something that never would have crossed my mind in a million years.

Riverside Mill.

Thanks! I knew someone had to know the correct name.

Well, you certainly got quite the pile of spaghetti.

It gave new meaning to the term "pasta party".

Good call.

I know.

Checkin in before I leave for Disney in 3 days !!In fact I will be there in 3 days

2 days! I am down to 7!

HEYYYY!!!

I am here and way behind: so random comments from random updates are in store for you :/

Welcome Back! I am so excited to hear all about your trip. It sounds like you had a wonderful time.

On GMR we had the cowboy scene and during that moment I couldn't remember if that was the 'rare' scene or not! Exciting

Yeah for the cowboy scene. I have gotten that exactly once in perhaps the 20 times I have been on GMR. That's some bad odds.

Looks like you had an awesome trip to the beach!

We really did! It was hard to leave the bubble, but so much fun to visit our friends. Plus, a glorious beach day never hurts!

I LOVE the props in the pre show area to the Muppets... I treid to get mother and brother to stick around and watch the preshow again so I could get some pictures sans other people but they didn't buy it.

It's tough when people don't see the point of what you are doing. I know that sometimes I force myself to take pictures because I know I will appreciate them way more in the future than I do when I am forcing myself to take them. A good photo-op really is priceless.

Your pictures of SSR look amazing and we had a bus ride/detour around the resort. Actually the first time we bussed past the Treehouse Villas I thought of your posts and it gave me butterflies knowing I was finally at Disney World!

Isn't that the best feeling. Did you pass the villas when you were still on ME? Even though the ME ride is short, it's hard to be patient, isn't it?

I've never seen/heard of the Spaceship Earth Swiss Cheese Effect... this is interesting!

I think I made that up. It just seems that I always have giant craters in my face whenever my picture is taken on that ride.

The Manatees in 2009 were Kringle and Lou... just a point of interest. Why I remember this I have NO idea

Wow - you DO have a good memory. Those are great names. I think the manatees are super cool and I love that they have such fun names.

I'm now singing One Little Spark <3

You're welcome!

WOW you got some amazing pictures of the globe and Illuminations in general!

Thank you!

I feel much better now that I'm all caught up! This calls for some dancing!

I will be feeling the same way when I get back from my trip and I am completely behind on everyone else's TR.

 

[MEK]

Yes Google is one of two companies to be listed in the Oxford English dictionary as a word to mean using it. The other one is Skype..

Cool. I love how we keep adding new words to our dictionary.

Nope it's the same one fro oct. 1999, that's why they built it from stainless steel it doesn't corrode and fire doesn't do much to it. The only refurb it had was when a pyro shell that they used to fire off of it at the beginning of the show misfired in the middle of the day and caused some damage to it. The pyro shell now has it's own launcher at the small dock in the middle of the lagoon where the Inferno barge and the earth globe dock during the show.

Did you do a behind the scenes tour to learn all this stuff or did you just research it on your own? I do think that learning about the inner workings of Illuminations definitely increases the viewing experience. Appreciating everything that goes on behind the scenes really enhances the whole show.

Luckily it was up the road... but I did buy a T bird and it was easy after that... (I was turning the wrong way...)

Nice car to own. I guess so much for "rightsy tightsy...lefty loosey"

 

[MEK]

Just popping in to say...........One Week Until Disney!

I know my ticker has 8 days - just ignore that and trust me! Hopefully an update tomorrow. I wanted to do one tonight, but I had some computer "issues".

 

[glennbo123]

I think that many of your Illuminations pictures turned out great. I especially like the "lamp" ones and the one you pointed out.

It's a good thing you took a picture of the pasta on a plate, because in the first picture it looks like a carton-full of cheese.

I'm glad you caught some of Bob's show, even if you were pretty tired.