Trip Report I'll stop the World and Melt with you.

It's been two years since my family and I visited WDW. Two long years. Thankfully, my son Sterg and I got a three day Disney fix last summer at Disneyland.

Curiously, this trip report is being written at a time when a lot of negative Disney vibe is emanating from other regions of WDWMagic - as it was two years ago. The Doom & Gloom is running free and wild. I'm just thankful I stayed clear of most of it before our trip because I may have cancelled what turned out to be an amazing time. It is also fortunate that we got this trip in because from the sound of things there may not be a WDW to go to in a few years.

To be truthful, some things that Disney has done has me scratching my head; but this is neither the time nor place to discuss it. Putting that aside - let's get on with the trip report!

We left on Sunday July 21st. Maybe the longest day of my life. The night before, my oldest daughter Alex went to see Taylor Swift in Philadelphia ( about 50 miles away ) and due to a long rain delay she didn't make it home until 2 am. This meant that she would not go to sleep since we were being picked up at 3 am for the drive to Philly airport for our 6 am flight. At least we were supposed to be picked up at 3am.

Here is my Mom ( Yia-Yia )and my youngest daughter Antonia ( Toni ) up and ready at 3 in the morning waiting for our ride. Yia-Yia ( grandmother in Greek ) is 77 years old and joining us for the first time on a Disney adventure. Toni is now almost 12 and the little Yorki-poo in the front is Prince. Prince is short for Prince Charming ( named by Toni ).

When the driver didn't show up by 3:15 I started to worry. I called the limo company at the same time he called me to tell me he was lost. I reeled him in and we were on our way by 3:30. The drive down was nerve wracking as I kept watching the clock and praying for no delays. That is until our driver eased my tension by telling us his son works for Disney and he goes down to the World 4 or 5 times a year. The resulting Disney conversation lasted until we hit the airport around 4:30.

More tension as we went through security. My carry on was stopped in the machine and I was pulled aside. I had put a container of Vitamin C powder in my bag that garnered some attention. Of course, my Mom came over as I was being held and my bag inspected.

"Why didn't you put that in your suitcase, Christo?" she said to me in her Greek accented voice.

"Mom, please go wait over there" I responded.

"No, I want to see what they are doing" Then she followed with this one for the TSA officer.

"It's not drugs, my son doesn't do cocaine!"

OK, I thought. I'm definitely going to be held in some prison cell for the next week.

After the chemical test proved my Mother correct, I was allowed to go on my way. We had time to grab coffee and some food and make it on the Southwest plane to Orlando. A plane full of smiling happy faces! Including these;

This is my wife Val ( not the biggest of Disney fans ), with Yia-Yia in the middle and Alex by the window.

On the other side was yours truly sporting a Hawaiian shirt ( since we were staying at the Poly ), Toni and Sterg.

Before we knew it we were up in the clouds...

 

[Uncle Lupe]

Was digging the details of the pics until I said, " Oh neat bendy Mickey straw". Do you get those with red wine?

Your right on taking the kids to fine dinning experiences. Growing up we would never acknowledge that the parents are teaching us something but as kids you learn by watching. So I learned how to act and what to expect. Also learned how to throw a dinner roll across a table for eight at a lower key restaurant. You gotta know when to have fun.

Did anyone try to wear Stergs chocolate crown decoration?

 

[rkelly42]

Fantastic trip report, thank you for sharing.

 

[Tiggerish]

Ah, Citricos. Last time there, I had pappardelle with grouper. Delish. We had a table alongside the kitchen/grill/prep area, and I could see dishes being staged for serving; many of one particular dish, which turned out to be the short ribs. Will have to try them next time.

Lovely photo of you and your mom!

 

[RandomPrincess]

Your family is beautiful! I'm loving all the pictures and your kids seem like a lot of fun.

 

[fractal]

Chris! Isn't TL the best?! The waves are awesome! Love love love it! Did you get to take in some of the details around the park? If you just wander around and look there's so much to discover. Plus, TL reminds me a lot of being on Castaway Cay. The level of detail is there only Castaway takes it to a whole new realm. It's incredible. I would love to be on CC when you get there for the first time. You'll be like a kid in a candy store, full-on geek-out mode. It's mind boggling!

You've seriously got me thinking on the camera thing. Didn't you say you had an earlier model then bought the newer version??? Thanks for the kind words on the composition. I have no doubt that my mind's eye can find the right things. My problem is all the minute details in manual settings. I'm overwhelmed by the technicality of it. Then there's learning to use software for editing. That also is a bit intimidating to me. But, I truly do wish I could take my average pics to a level where they reflect more vibrance the way I see the world.

Absolutely - we ended up going back on another day! I did take some more shots during the second visit. I love the themeing. Someday I will get to CC!

I had an Nex-3 for 2 years before moving up to the NEX-7. The NEX-3 is a great started camera. Keep it on auto the whole time and you'll be blown away by the pics compared to and I-Phone or P&S. I think you would love it.

Nice pics...Thinking of treating myself to a good camera instead of using point and shoot and my iPod...

thanks - and I think an upgrade would be well worth it!

I'm also a big fan of the common areas in the GF. I love how it's so elegant yet still has so much Disney embedded in it. That's awesome how much Val seemed to like it! Maybe a stay at the GF is in your future! Love the lobby pics with the fisheye. Can't wait to hear more about Citrico's. It's on my short list of sigs to try.

Totally agree and yes, Val loved it! Yeah, GF may be next - this Disney habit is getting expensive! Thanks for the comments, Citricos was enjoyable, but I'm not sure I would spend 2 credits on it in the future especially after some of the one credit restaurants we ate at.

Your pictures make me feel like I'm there. Thanks so much for sharing

Thanks, and thanks for tagging along!

Your pictures are just beautiful and I love the use of the fish eye! Keep em' coming!!

Thanks! I hope your latest trip went well!

Goodness, Chris! You're killin' it with the pictures! Fantastic!

What's Sterg's Vine username??? Convo it to me! I want to see this video of you! LOL! My niece, Sarah, showed us Vine when I was just at my mom & dad's for a visit. You can search for different things and find cool videos. I spent a while this morning looking at #disneycruise and #castawaycay.

Ooooooh...a stay at the GF in your future! I'm staying there 1 night before the girls cruise next month. Gonna be fun, 4 of us grown-up girls in 1 room! LOL! Be on the lookout for details in trip reports from me and/or @Disneyfalcon .

I love how you are telling us how classy Citricos is then the next shot is Alex with a Mickey bendy-straw. That's. frickin'. hilarious.

Bring on more of your killer pics!

Thanks Kelly! I will find out his Vine but not sure I'm ready to share. Just kidding. I'm not as proficient as you, I'm still at the twitter stage.
We'll see about GF. The kids want to go back to BC - maybe a split stay? I'm really excited for you and the "girls", wouldn't be a bad idea to get that camera just for that. The trip report will likely break all WDWMagic records!

Yes, but it was a "classy" Mickey straw.

I haven't been to Citricos in YEARS but you are seriously making me want to go!!!

I'm glad we went, and we enjoyed the food and restaurant but 2 dinning credit ( on the meal plan ) is a bit steep.

@fractal I must say I'm really enjoying your report and loving the family banter. Also loving your choice of pictures of all the details and especially the one of the chef!

Thanks Zipitidoda! I like that shot as well!

Another installment of your wonderful trip report.

A-MA-ZING pictures! (sorry about the caps, I'm just blown away)

Thanks Disney80! thanks for reading along!

OK one last time .. make and model of that camera ! The pictures are amazing! I want a good camera but was thinking for SLR for the kids sports but these pictures are really good. Side note : Do you add the park hopper addition?

Sony NEX-7. It's the flagship camera of the NEX line of mirrorless cameras, but all the models are excellent in my opinion. I have had much success using this for my kids sporting events - including swimming ( indoors ) which may be the hardest thing to shoot. The NEX-7 can shoot 10 frames per second if needed.

We did do the park hopper and we always use it hard. thanks for following along!

 

[fractal]

Great trip report! Thanks for posting

Thanks Steve! Great website!

Such a cool trip report! I´ve been stalking it for a few days and I gotta say I love it. I still don´t understand why Val doesn´t enjoy WDW so much. As always, adorable family and I can´t wait to read more!

Thanks Sarabell! The kids and I have a theory that she enjoys it more than she let's on. Thanks for the comments!

Great report Fractal, photo bombing is an art form and Sterg has it down pat on that dessert picture. Your pictures look great, makes me want to take out my old Canon 35mm rebel sure shot.... Maybe not.

Thanks! He got me at least one more time. Thanks - we used to have a Canon Rebel ( film ) back when the kids were much younger. Good camera! Thanks for following!

Your last update is absolutely historical! The kids antics are so funny. You better hope that Sterg doesn't figure out how to post that video on this forum.
Sounds like you found a new "home" at WDW...The Grand Floridian!

Thanks Dennis! I'm leaving out the moments when I wanted to "kill" them but some of that coming up. Yeah - that wouldn't be good!

Yeah, we keep upping the ante. I'm getting excited for you and your upcoming trip; but I'm sure not as much as you!

Ah, Citricos. Last time there, I had pappardelle with grouper. Delish. We had a table alongside the kitchen/grill/prep area, and I could see dishes being staged for serving; many of one particular dish, which turned out to be the short ribs. Will have to try them next time.

Lovely photo of you and your mom!

No complaints from me about Citricos. I think the grouper was the fish of the day the night we ate their. I was tempted.

 

[fractal]

Was digging the details of the pics until I said, " Oh neat bendy Mickey straw". Do you get those with red wine?

Your right on taking the kids to fine dinning experiences. Growing up we would never acknowledge that the parents are teaching us something but as kids you learn by watching. So I learned how to act and what to expect. Also learned how to throw a dinner roll across a table for eight at a lower key restaurant. You gotta know when to have fun.

Did anyone try to wear Stergs chocolate crown decoration?

Lol! I was tempted to drink my beer with one.

Yeah, my kids have been know to start a food fight or two. Not that I ever did anything like that.

The chocolate lava dessert thingy did come with a chocolate tiara. Of course I teased him about it!

Fantastic trip report, thank you for sharing.

Thanks much rkelly!

 

[WDW_Princess24]

↑
Your pictures are just beautiful and I love the use of the fish eye! Keep em' coming!!
Thanks! I hope your latest trip went well!
↑

It was great, thanks! Hoping to get to a TR soon!!

 

[me_stitch]

Great pictures and report as always.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Chris, I am beyond impressed with your photography! I was impressed last time when you jumped into manual without practice! Now it's awesome! And don't give the camera too much credit. I know several people with mirrorless cameras who don't take pictures like yours.
Setting up behind the carousel may have been a bust for fireworks, but I love the picture of the carousel! It's awesome!
And I think some of the pictures with Beast Castle are great too!
The fisheye at Animal Kingdom was perfect!
Grand Floridian! I like the way Val thinks...
Citricos is one of my favorites now. It's awesome!

 

[gsrjedi]

Really nice shots with the Rokinon fisheye. I had my mind made up to get the fisheye adapter for the 16/30 macro, but you've got me rethinking buying the Rokinon instead.


Here's a link that might be able to help you with the purple corner fringing on the 7

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

Was digging the details of the pics until I said, " Oh neat bendy Mickey straw". Do you get those with red wine?

Nothing could "class" up Citricos like seeing a Mickey bendy straw in a glass of red wine. At that point I'll expect to see the red wine being poured out of a box.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Setting up behind the carousel may have been a bust for fireworks, but I love the picture of the carousel! It's awesome!

I totally agree. I have actually made that pic my background on my work computer.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Oh man! That camera is killin' me! This morning I mentioned to Tracey I wanted one. In fact, I approached it in such a fantastic way, "Babe, I'm selling 5 of my dolls. Probably will have enough to buy this awesome mirrorless camera I've been looking at. I won't get it unless I can cover the cost from my dolls, though."

Him: "How many cameras do you need? What's wrong with the Pentax?"

Me: "Nothing. It's an underwater camera. Takes great underwater pics & video. I want something that does really amazing dry air pictures."

Him: "Can't we buy another lens for Chandler's Canon (Rebel, DSLR) and buy that from him? He never uses it."

Me: "I suppose but I don't know how to use all those settings and stuff in manual. It scares me and I'll mess everything up."

Him: "It's not hard. You just gotta try it."

Sooooo, maybe I'll give Chandler's Canon a try in the next few days to see how much of a train wreck I am with it. I'm scared to death of the settings and stuff because there's **gasp** numbers involved. Maybe I can take it with me on the girls cruise and get @Disneyfalcon to give me a crash course. I'm pathetic, aren't I? I want to have killer pics like you but of the ships and the ports and all that jazz!!!! But, Tracey does have a point. All the P&S cameras I've had over the years that I thought sucked...I'm kinda the common denominator.

I think the bendy straws were awesome! Serious. I think I'll have to find me a couple and take them with me to some of the fine dining places on the ships. Just for fun. We'll call it an ode to the Fractal Family! And I totally agree with taking the kiddos to fine restaurants. We've approached all restaurants that way from the time they were toddlers. If you never take them, how will the learn how to act? Right????

So looking forward to more of your pics. Man, they're soooooo good!

 

[Ella's Mommy]

@sweetpea_1993 I say just buy the camera lol!! Also I'm dying for a noodle bowl from Capt. Cooks now!! Thanks Sterg!! LOL

 

[jwakja]

Wonderful report! We felt as if we were in your group since we have a Yia-Yia, Disney lovers as well as Disney smartalecs in our blended Greek family. Your family is beautiful! We had to miss our yearly WDW trip so thanks for "having us along"! Why is it I drive 5 miles for 5 cents less a gallon of gas but at WDW it's "GO FOR IT"!

 

[38053WDW]

Such a cool trip report! I´ve been stalking it for a few days and I gotta say I love it. I still don´t understand why Val doesn´t enjoy WDW so much. As always, adorable family and I can´t wait to read more!

Maybe time for a DVC at GF ? - It looks amazing so far !

 

[38053WDW]

Absolutely - we ended up going back on another day! I did take some more shots during the second visit. I love the themeing. Someday I will get to CC!

I had an Nex-3 for 2 years before moving up to the NEX-7. The NEX-3 is a great started camera. Keep it on auto the whole time and you'll be blown away by the pics compared to and I-Phone or P&S. I think you would love it.



thanks - and I think an upgrade would be well worth it!



Totally agree and yes, Val loved it! Yeah, GF may be next - this Disney habit is getting expensive! Thanks for the comments, Citricos was enjoyable, but I'm not sure I would spend 2 credits on it in the future especially after some of the one credit restaurants we ate at.



Thanks, and thanks for tagging along!


Thanks! I hope your latest trip went well!



Thanks Kelly! I will find out his Vine but not sure I'm ready to share. Just kidding. I'm not as proficient as you, I'm still at the twitter stage.
We'll see about GF. The kids want to go back to BC - maybe a split stay? I'm really excited for you and the "girls", wouldn't be a bad idea to get that camera just for that. The trip report will likely break all WDWMagic records!

Yes, but it was a "classy" Mickey straw.


I'm glad we went, and we enjoyed the food and restaurant but 2 dinning credit ( on the meal plan ) is a bit steep.



Thanks Zipitidoda! I like that shot as well!



Thanks Disney80! thanks for reading along!



Sony NEX-7. It's the flagship camera of the NEX line of mirrorless cameras, but all the models are excellent in my opinion. I have had much success using this for my kids sporting events - including swimming ( indoors ) which may be the hardest thing to shoot. The NEX-7 can shoot 10 frames per second if needed.

We did do the park hopper and we always use it hard. thanks for following along!

Yowza ! Nex 7's >> $$$ ! Think I'll start at NEX-3 before next trip They are around the same $$ as SLR's I am looking at. Are those like 10mb for each picture? (Quality) ... Keep the updates coming !

 

[Uncle Lupe]

Oh man! That camera is killin' me! This morning I mentioned to Tracey I wanted one. In fact, I approached it in such a fantastic way, "Babe, I'm selling 5 of my dolls. Probably will have enough to buy this awesome mirrorless camera I've been looking at. I won't get it unless I can cover the cost from my dolls, though."

Him: "How many cameras do you need? What's wrong with the Pentax?"

Me: "Nothing. It's an underwater camera. Takes great underwater pics & video. I want something that does really amazing dry air pictures."

Him: "Can't we buy another lens for Chandler's Canon (Rebel, DSLR) and buy that from him? He never uses it."

Me: "I suppose but I don't know how to use all those settings and stuff in manual. It scares me and I'll mess everything up."

Him: "It's not hard. You just gotta try it."

Sooooo, maybe I'll give Chandler's Canon a try in the next few days to see how much of a train wreck I am with it. I'm scared to death of the settings and stuff because there's **gasp** numbers involved. Maybe I can take it with me on the girls cruise and get @Disneyfalcon to give me a crash course. I'm pathetic, aren't I? I want to have killer pics like you but of the ships and the ports and all that jazz!!!! But, Tracey does have a point. All the P&S cameras I've had over the years that I thought sucked...I'm kinda the common denominator.

I think the bendy straws were awesome! Serious. I think I'll have to find me a couple and take them with me to some of the fine dining places on the ships. Just for fun. We'll call it an ode to the Fractal Family! And I totally agree with taking the kiddos to fine restaurants. We've approached all restaurants that way from the time they were toddlers. If you never take them, how will the learn how to act? Right????

So looking forward to more of your pics. Man, they're soooooo good!

@sweetpee_1993 The good thing about what you have is the ability for instant feedback on your settings. If it did not come out right just delete the pic and try a new setting. At least you don't have to take a pic, develop the film and try to figure out what your settings were and how to fix the mistakes. Just practice plenty and find a good camera book before vacation.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Maybe time for a DVC at GF ? - It looks amazing so far !

Genius! Chris, this could be your golden ticket, buddy!!!!