My Animal Kingdom Lodge Grand Villa Vacation!! With a side trip to see Harry!

Yep! A grand villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge. :sohappy: No words can describe the awesomeness. Any other resort, no matter how deluxe, is going to be a letdown from here on out. In fact, my house was a bit of a disappointment when I got back. :lol:

Who: Us, the DVC members who were kind enough to use our points to take family. :D That's me Tammy- travel agent extraordinaire:lol:, dear hubby - air force officer extraordinaire who was wise enough to buy DVC two years ago, ds15 - our high school student/the quarterback who missed a football game for this trip and whose coach wasn't very happy with me :lookaroun and dd12 - who turned 13 today.:)

My in-laws whom you may recognize from my Mediterranean cruise report from May.

My brother in law and his family.

Here we are!

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When: October 3-10. On my niece’s fall break. My kids flat out skipped school. :D

What: This was supposed to be a relaxing, enjoy our resort kind of trip. I think we succeeded. We took a lot of breaks. We also took advantage of our full kitchen. The in-laws loaded us up on groceries. We ate breakfast in the room every morning and came back for another meal most days. We were trying to cut down on the quantity of food we ate.

Disclaimers: First, I took a bazillion pictures and am working my way through them, but life gets in the way. This report may take a while, but I've got the first couple of days done. Second, I am not good at food pictures. I forget to take them and someone's usually eating before I get a chance.:lol: You'll have to go elsewhere for those. Third, I may offend some with my rather conservative opinions on Disney appropriate behavior. You may think me a prude and I don't mean to offend, lets just agree to disagree.:)
 

mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
I've only made it through you're first full day at AK, but I wanted to say that your pictures are fabulous as always!!!

And that 3 bedroom villa is fantabulous!!!! I definitely would love to try AK one of these times!

It may take me a few days to read your whole TR, you overachiever, you... :lookaroun :lol:
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thank you, Jenn!!

I see that you've restarted your report, and posted on mine, and posted some layouts? Now who's the overacheiver?:lol:
 

Nicole220

Well-Known Member
We were in the lobby by 5 to check in our bags. Off to the airport. The last day always tears me up, but this time departure came so early it almost helped. I didn’t have to walk down the hall with my suitcases passing people coming in with theirs. I HATE that!!:lol:
I definitely think a super early morning check out helps. We had to be out at 5 on our last trip...I was a walking zombie. At that time of the morning, all you want to do is get home so you can go back to bed. :lol: And what always gets me is arriving at the airport after a vacation and seeing everyone else just starting theirs. UGH! I'm always tempted to join their family. :lol:

Thank you for sharing this with us, Tammy!! Amazing report and pictures, as always! When's the next trip? :D
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I definitely think a super early morning check out helps. We had to be out at 5 on our last trip...I was a walking zombie. At that time of the morning, all you want to do is get home so you can go back to bed. :lol: And what always gets me is arriving at the airport after a vacation and seeing everyone else just starting theirs. UGH! I'm always tempted to join their family. :lol:

Thank you for sharing this with us, Tammy!! Amazing report and pictures, as always! When's the next trip? :D

I think that's it, Nicole!! Maybe we have to leave crazy early everytime from now on.

My next trip is going to be AMAZING!!! I'm on a preview cruise of the Dream in January!! To say I am counting the days is an understatement!!:sohappy:

I didn't post any layouts! :lol: But I knew with a day off, I had to get something done!

I just saw you posted on that thread and assumed!:lol:
 

eagles

Active Member
wow, tammy finished her trip report before jenn:eek:

loved it tammy as always. love all the crazy things you guys did in your photos.

shirt repeaters, how funny is that. my son always repeats his shirts, drives me crazy.

thanks for sharing and finishing tammy.
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
wow, tammy finished her trip report before jenn:eek:

loved it tammy as always. love all the crazy things you guys did in your photos.

shirt repeaters, how funny is that. my son always repeats his shirts, drives me crazy.

thanks for sharing and finishing tammy.

Thanks for reading, Louella! :)
 

mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
Okay, I've read some more.

I love that Stephen makes throwing up faces in pictures. So hilarious!

I loved your pictures from harry potter. I'm not happy about it, but I'm sure we'll have to go at some point.

And that spider. I didn't show it to Sam. He would have fuh-reaked out if he saw that in Disney.....or anywhere else for that matter. :lookaroun I found a dead hairy big spider in our basement, and I made him get it. He had to put it in a tote to throw it away. :lol:
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Okay, I've read some more.

I love that Stephen makes throwing up faces in pictures. So hilarious!

I loved your pictures from harry potter. I'm not happy about it, but I'm sure we'll have to go at some point.

And that spider. I didn't show it to Sam. He would have fuh-reaked out if he saw that in Disney.....or anywhere else for that matter. :lookaroun I found a dead hairy big spider in our basement, and I made him get it. He had to put it in a tote to throw it away. :lol:

I know!! I don't know what he's thinking!:lol:

You will have to try it at some point. All Harry Potter fans have to try it once.

Sam!:lol: Definitely don't show it to him!
 

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
Wow - the AKV Grand Villa looks amazing! As do your AK shots, in general. Also liking the portraits. What lens(es) are you using for these shallow depth of field shots?

I have to admit that IOA's Potterland looks pretty cool. As a general matter, I think Harry Potter is lame, but as an theme park experience, it seems pretty cool. We might have to check it out sometime down the road, if I can convince Sarah!

Also good to hear you didn't lose any files. I have been taking one external hard drive to WDW with us for back-up, but I'm planning on now taking two for double-redundancy. It's quick to backup and memory is so cheap that I figure, "why not?"
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Wow - the AKV Grand Villa looks amazing! As do your AK shots, in general. Also liking the portraits. What lens(es) are you using for these shallow depth of field shots?

I have to admit that IOA's Potterland looks pretty cool. As a general matter, I think Harry Potter is lame, but as an theme park experience, it seems pretty cool. We might have to check it out sometime down the road, if I can convince Sarah!

Also good to hear you didn't lose any files. I have been taking one external hard drive to WDW with us for back-up, but I'm planning on now taking two for double-redundancy. It's quick to backup and memory is so cheap that I figure, "why not?"

Thanks, Figment! Portraits are what I'm best at. I've been taking a lot of senior pictures around here and I really enjoy them. I'm a prime lens girl and they can't be beat for portraits. I was using the 50mm most of the time on this trip.

Harry Potter is lame?:eek::lol:

That's a great idea to bring a drive with me. I should do that in January because I would be devastated if I lost those pictures!
 

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
Thanks, Figment! Portraits are what I'm best at. I've been taking a lot of senior pictures around here and I really enjoy them. I'm a prime lens girl and they can't be beat for portraits. I was using the 50mm most of the time on this trip.

Harry Potter is lame?:eek::lol:

That's a great idea to bring a drive with me. I should do that in January because I would be devastated if I lost those pictures!

Which 50mm?

I have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 (I think you use Canon; in any case, they're optically about the same) but I'm not too fond of it. I have been thinking of switching to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4. The Sigma 30 1.4 is killer, so I imagine the 50 would be, as well. Unfortunately, it's a $300 or so upgrade.
 

ttalovebug

Active Member
So the lines for Potter were light? Huh, here I am waiting for the crowds to to die down; I would have gone already if I knew it wouldn't be brutal! Like others, I'm not a Potter fan, but the ride looks pretty cool.

That villa is amazing! I love all the Lion King touches.

I haven't finished reading yet, but great report! For a new, busy college student like me, reading others' reports make me feel like I'm there, having fun. :eek:
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Which 50mm?

I have the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 (I think you use Canon; in any case, they're optically about the same) but I'm not too fond of it. I have been thinking of switching to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4. The Sigma 30 1.4 is killer, so I imagine the 50 would be, as well. Unfortunately, it's a $300 or so upgrade.

I do use Canon. It's the 1.4. I borrowed it from a friend. I loved that 1.4! I am borrowing it again this weekend for some family portrait sessions and if it's the perfect length for that like I think it will be, I'm buying it!

I've had the 1.8 and someone broke it. I didn't replace it because I was sure I would get the 1.4 one day. :)

So the lines for Potter were light? Huh, here I am waiting for the crowds to to die down; I would have gone already if I knew it wouldn't be brutal! Like others, I'm not a Potter fan, but the ride looks pretty cool.

That villa is amazing! I love all the Lion King touches.

I haven't finished reading yet, but great report! For a new, busy college student like me, reading others' reports make me feel like I'm there, having fun. :eek:

They were not bad at all! Tuesday morning is supposed to be the quietest. We went to Forbidden Journey first and essentially walked on. Its line got longer later on.

I'm glad I could entertain you for a little while!:)
 

Tidbit

Active Member
WOW!!! Thanks for sharing your family with us Tammy. I had a great time looking at all your pics and reading about your day's in my favorite place!! I leave in 6 days (Nov 11th) with 3 teenagers! We are planning to sneak away for a day with Harry too, and it really helped with our planning looking at your TR. I hate that I have to lock up my camera while on rides!

On a side note WDWFigment you MUST go visit Harry.....I would love to see your awesome pics from there some day!! I will take millions I'm sure but nothing that compares to your work......at least not yet!

Back to Tammy: I really enjoyed your pics of EVERYTHING! I think you, and I would have a great time with each other.....we share soooooo many of the same interest. OMG I'm gonna miss Survivor & Hell's Kicthen while on vacation at WDW......mom's DVR set!

OK so now get started on some scrapbook pages!
 

jhoff3405

Active Member
Thank you for giving me a great Saturday morning read! Your pics are great...I even found your cruise TR and love your Ds shirt regarding Spain.

The Chef Mickey pics are wonderful, and your fun Photopass pics......so great.

I see you are heading on another trip in Jan. I look forward to that TR! I think I really chose the wrong career.......travel agent extraordinaire sounds so appealing!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thank you for giving me a great Saturday morning read! Your pics are great...I even found your cruise TR and love your Ds shirt regarding Spain.

The Chef Mickey pics are wonderful, and your fun Photopass pics......so great.

I see you are heading on another trip in Jan. I look forward to that TR! I think I really chose the wrong career.......travel agent extraordinaire sounds so appealing!

I'm so glad I entertained you!:D I loved that shirt. It was perfect and luckily he sees the humor in it!:lol:

I am, I am!! It's a tough job being travel agent extraordinaire, but you know, someone's got to do it!!:)
 

diddy_mouse

Well-Known Member
I couldn't agree more with you about how crowded Epcot was on the 9th. It was ridiculous.

Yeah, I'd say leaving at 5am is a good way to avoid the immediate Disney-depression that kicks in when you see others checking into the resort. :lol:

Thanks again for posting your wonderful trip report! I always love seeing a big group having a good time. :D
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I couldn't agree more with you about how crowded Epcot was on the 9th. It was ridiculous.

Yeah, I'd say leaving at 5am is a good way to avoid the immediate Disney-depression that kicks in when you see others checking into the resort. :lol:

Thanks again for posting your wonderful trip report! I always love seeing a big group having a good time. :D

It was crazy!! Crazy, crazy!!

Thanks for reading Diddy Mouse!:)
 

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