Greetings from the Wilderness Lodge. It's our last day of a 7 day trip. We are planning a late night tonight (dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse!) so we are relaxing at the resort for a bit.
Highlights of the trip:
1. Photopass has a great option where you can buy a CD of all your photopass pictures for $99. If you buy it at one of the locations here before you go, the cast member will open your photopass file and crop your photos and add all kinds of cool additions to the photos before burning the CD. You also get the original undoctored shots. The cast member who helped us at the Toontown location was great. I think his name was Ryan. He comes onto this site from time to time. So thanks for the help! The photopass photographers also were really nice about taking special shots for us, not just the standard ones. Last night while we were waiting for Illuminations, a wood duck settled in next to us. The photopass cast member got a couple of great shots of us with the duck. Priceless!
2. Found a great spot to watch Illuminations. Just to the USA side of the Japan pavillion there are some concrete benches in front of some low rounded hedges. No one stops there because of the hedges, but if you stand on the benches you see the whole show up close and personal. And while we were waiting for Illuminations, we got to hear the Association concert coming from the USA pavillion.
3. Found the best spot to watch Wishes. The tables in front of the currently closed Noodle Station. Incredible view, comfortable chairs and tables, and Tink flies right over your head!!!!
4. A short boat ride from Magic Kingdom takes you to a great eating spot - the Trail's End buffet at the Fort Wilderness campground. Good food, quiet respite from the MK crowds, and for not much more than counter service in the parks.
5. The new toll road to Western Way back entrance to the park is GREAT! It cut a good 30-40 minutes off the drive, and there was absolutely no traffic. As opposed to bumper to bumper stress filled I-4 after a long drive, it was quite a treat.
6. Had great food everywhere we ate. Kudos to Bridgett at Whispering Canyon for making our breakfasts so memorable and fun. And thanks to the woman at the next table who accidentally poured maple syrup into her coffee (thought it was the cream) for giving the whole restaurant a great laugh. Yvan at Chefs de France made us feel like honored guests for dinner. Also had great dinners at Artist's Point, Rose and Crown and Brown Derby, and great lunches at Le Cellier, Alfredo's, Tusker House and 50's Prime Time, where Tom the waiter recognize us from our previous trips. Quite a few cast members recognized us.
7. The highest highlight of the trip was getting the VIP treatment at the Movie Ride from Slade (who posts here). We got to sit in the front next to him as he guided the tour. He's still new at the job, but did the tour like a seasoned pro. Many thanks to Slade and the other WDWmagic posters at the Movie Ride who went out of their way to make our trip there extra special.
I may have more to post later on, maybe even some photos. Right now it's nap time.
Harry :snore: :snore: :snore: :snore:
Highlights of the trip:
1. Photopass has a great option where you can buy a CD of all your photopass pictures for $99. If you buy it at one of the locations here before you go, the cast member will open your photopass file and crop your photos and add all kinds of cool additions to the photos before burning the CD. You also get the original undoctored shots. The cast member who helped us at the Toontown location was great. I think his name was Ryan. He comes onto this site from time to time. So thanks for the help! The photopass photographers also were really nice about taking special shots for us, not just the standard ones. Last night while we were waiting for Illuminations, a wood duck settled in next to us. The photopass cast member got a couple of great shots of us with the duck. Priceless!
2. Found a great spot to watch Illuminations. Just to the USA side of the Japan pavillion there are some concrete benches in front of some low rounded hedges. No one stops there because of the hedges, but if you stand on the benches you see the whole show up close and personal. And while we were waiting for Illuminations, we got to hear the Association concert coming from the USA pavillion.
3. Found the best spot to watch Wishes. The tables in front of the currently closed Noodle Station. Incredible view, comfortable chairs and tables, and Tink flies right over your head!!!!
4. A short boat ride from Magic Kingdom takes you to a great eating spot - the Trail's End buffet at the Fort Wilderness campground. Good food, quiet respite from the MK crowds, and for not much more than counter service in the parks.
5. The new toll road to Western Way back entrance to the park is GREAT! It cut a good 30-40 minutes off the drive, and there was absolutely no traffic. As opposed to bumper to bumper stress filled I-4 after a long drive, it was quite a treat.
6. Had great food everywhere we ate. Kudos to Bridgett at Whispering Canyon for making our breakfasts so memorable and fun. And thanks to the woman at the next table who accidentally poured maple syrup into her coffee (thought it was the cream) for giving the whole restaurant a great laugh. Yvan at Chefs de France made us feel like honored guests for dinner. Also had great dinners at Artist's Point, Rose and Crown and Brown Derby, and great lunches at Le Cellier, Alfredo's, Tusker House and 50's Prime Time, where Tom the waiter recognize us from our previous trips. Quite a few cast members recognized us.
7. The highest highlight of the trip was getting the VIP treatment at the Movie Ride from Slade (who posts here). We got to sit in the front next to him as he guided the tour. He's still new at the job, but did the tour like a seasoned pro. Many thanks to Slade and the other WDWmagic posters at the Movie Ride who went out of their way to make our trip there extra special.
I may have more to post later on, maybe even some photos. Right now it's nap time.
Harry :snore: :snore: :snore: :snore:
!!
I wish we had, just to get that shot!
