It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Needs An Eyepatch - A Dec TR Complete 8/31

[DonnaBeeGood]

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[YukiPhnx]

This is a great idea! I bought the Memory Maker for my trip too and I'm looking forward to taking advantage of it.

 

[mlegerto]

I've just stumbled across your TR, but I am caught up.

I hope you had a great trip to Turkey! Welcome back and I can't wait to keep readings your TR as you make new postings.

Your family seems like a lot of fun. Great tip on the mini photo session in the lobby. What a great keepsake and way to hold on to a bit more of your money.

 

[DisneyJo]

Your photos are lovely Lessa and how great you saved on booking a photo session!

 

[Steppesister]

The photo session turned out well! Nice job on finding a way to save money. Glad that the photog wasn't busy and you didn't have to rush through it for sure.

As for being a messy slob... my study group girls have named me "Pigpen". I wear the name proudly just like the ever-present coffee stain on every shirt I own.

 

[tazdev3225]

I love the family shots and what a great use of a memory maker photographer. I will have to remember that when I take everyone down next year. I wonder how good they will be with 20 people.

Glad you enjoyed your trip abroad and would love to see pictures.

 

[KathyM2]

Yay resort hopping!!! Can't wait to hear about it!! I would love to have the time to just do that for a couple of days lol

 

[englishrose47]

Great pix Lessa . I love the Bros Grimms being silly!!! I was beginning to think they had totally grown up!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Wonderful pictures! OK, I am totally amused by the goofy faces one...that is priceless...

Wouldn't be a dreamer family photo without the goofy faces!

Those are great pictures! So nice that the photographer was able to take the time for good poses and then have some fun!

Yes, it all worked out very well!

This is a great idea! I bought the Memory Maker for my trip too and I'm looking forward to taking advantage of it.

I always enjoy getting Memory Maker/photopass. Especially now that it includes all your ride and meal photos!

I've just stumbled across your TR, but I am caught up.

I hope you had a great trip to Turkey! Welcome back and I can't wait to keep readings your TR as you make new postings.

Your family seems like a lot of fun. Great tip on the mini photo session in the lobby. What a great keepsake and way to hold on to a bit more of your money.

Welcome!

The trip to turkey was amazing, such a beautiful country. Now that I am back I should be back on track for regular updates on the Disney trip.

Your photos are lovely Lessa and how great you saved on booking a photo session!

Yes, I was glad for the saved money and that mom got the photos that she wanted.

The photo session turned out well! Nice job on finding a way to save money. Glad that the photog wasn't busy and you didn't have to rush through it for sure.

As for being a messy slob... my study group girls have named me "Pigpen". I wear the name proudly just like the ever-present coffee stain on every shirt I own.

I love that, Pigpen!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I love the family shots and what a great use of a memory maker photographer. I will have to remember that when I take everyone down next year. I wonder how good they will be with 20 people.

Glad you enjoyed your trip abroad and would love to see pictures.

Might be a little harder with 20 people if you are wanting tons of different shots.

Yay resort hopping!!! Can't wait to hear about it!! I would love to have the time to just do that for a couple of days lol

It is always fun to visit the other resorts, especially if you have time to relax in a lounge or restaurant.

Great pix Lessa . I love the Bros Grimms being silly!!! I was beginning to think they had totally grown up!!!

No worries Rosie, I don't think that will ever happen.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

After the photos we all went back up to the room and got ready for our different plans. Mom and I said goodbye to Alek and Erich as they went off to "Disney Springs". They were going to go to Disney Quest and pick up Mom's Christmas present from Basin. We arranged to meet up with them at the Magic Kingdom around 4pm for the Christmas Party.

Mom and I changed into our suits and went down to the pool. I was hoping to get a bit of a tan from laying around in the sun but we only stayed at the pool for about an hour as it wasn't really warm enough to truly enjoy a sun bath. So I remained my super pale self. On a side note I need to always have a tan because ever since I have come back from Turkey so many people have told me how "healthy" I look! Only difference is that I got a pretty good tan stomping around the ancient ruins. I must have looked deathly ill with my paleness before!

We decided to take the bus over to the Magic Kingdom. We thought about taking the car but I wasn't sure I would feel like driving back after staying in the park until midnight.

After arriving at the Magic Kingdom we made our way over to the boat docks and hopped on the boat to the Wilderness Lodge. It was a beautiful sunny day and we had a lovely trip over to our favourite resort. Some of you may remember that the Wilderness Lodge is where we stayed on our "first" trip back in 2007 and so it has always felt special to us, a little more magical. I had originally booked this trip to be here but changed resorts after finding out about the construction.




After docking at the Lodge I was expecting to see lots of construction, well, it was very subdued. Turns out we probably could have stayed here with little disruption. Oh well! We enjoyed AKL so no regrets.

We wandered around the resort and took in the decorations. It was all very beautiful.









We noticed that they had some comfy new chairs in the lobby. I tested them out and they were indeed very comfortable. I could have had a nap I was that cozy!








We wandered over to the villas to check them out as we had never thought to go over there in the past. The lobby was very charming and cozy.





As much as I love WL it was time for us to head off to our next resort. We made good time and a boat was pulling up as we arrived at the dock. We got on the boat that does the loop between Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness and the Contemporary. The boat ride was very entertaining. We had a group of ladies on the boat that had some pretty funny banter going on with the CM on the boat. We belly laughed our way to Fort Wilderness and then to the Contemporary.







We didn't spend too much time at the Contemporary, it is not one of my favourites. We pretty much went in, checked out the gingerbread display, browsed the shops quickly and then caught the monorail.





Next stop was the Poly! We hadn't been here since the big reno so I was interested to see the changes.





I really liked the new lobby but I also liked the old lobby. Not sure which I prefer.

The Christmas decorations here are nothing to write home about but we weren't really here for the decorations but just for the atmosphere of the resort itself.



We were also there for the Dole Whips! The new location is right outside the main lobby. Last time we were there they were sold in Captain Cook's.





We wandered around the resort enjoying our yummy treats and found our way to the boat dock right as I was finishing mine. Perfect timing!

We had visited the Grand Floridian earlier in the trip so it was time to head back to the Magic Kingdom for the party.

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

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[YukiPhnx]

Oh my gosh, what a huge change in the Poly lobby!!! I barely recognize it. I'm going to miss the old one. It was perfect for family pictures.

I love resort-hopping days. Always so chill.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Beautiful pictures - I've never seen WL, no wonder it gets such rave reviews! Ah, maybe one day....

We love WL! Definitely a magical place to stay.

Oh my gosh, what a huge change in the Poly lobby!!! I barely recognize it. I'm going to miss the old one. It was perfect for family pictures.

I love resort-hopping days. Always so chill.

Yes, Poly is definitely different with the renovated lobby and the bungalows on the water.

 

[Steppesister]

Resort hopping perfection. I guess I'm glad I stayed at the Poly last time so I could spend time in the old lobby. I'll sure miss that fountain.

Thanks for the heads up on where to find Dole Whips there... that'll save some time.

 

[tazdev3225]

Might be a little harder with 20 people if you are wanting tons of different shots

I'd be happy with a nice shot of all of the grandkids. That is the reason for the trip anyway.

Resort hopping is fun. I don't get a chance nearly as often as I would like to do it. Maybe I'll take a break from all of the kids and branch out to a few new resorts.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Resort hopping perfection. I guess I'm glad I stayed at the Poly last time so I could spend time in the old lobby. I'll sure miss that fountain.

Thanks for the heads up on where to find Dole Whips there... that'll save some time.

I know many people were upset about the change to the lobby. I guess I never got attached to it one way or the other.

I'd be happy with a nice shot of all of the grandkids. That is the reason for the trip anyway.

Resort hopping is fun. I don't get a chance nearly as often as I would like to do it. Maybe I'll take a break from all of the kids and branch out to a few new resorts.

Yes, you might some solo time traveling with such a large group.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

n a side note I need to always have a tan because ever since I have come back from Turkey so many people have told me how "healthy" I look! Only difference is that I got a pretty good tan stomping around the ancient ruins. I must have looked deathly ill with my paleness before!

I think that's just part of being Canadian we only tan if we are out in the sun for awhile.

 

[Elevationist]

I had originally booked this trip to be here but changed resorts after finding out about the construction.

What resort DIDN'T you originally book this trip for??

We noticed that they had some comfy new chairs in the lobby. I tested them out and they were indeed very comfortable. I could have had a nap I was that cozy!

Why does WL always have the best lobby chairs??? I've not stayed there yet, but I sure have napped there...

Cuuute! I've never arrived at the Contemporary any way but by monorail, so I always miss out on these kinda of litte details!

I really liked the new lobby but I also liked the old lobby. Not sure which I prefer.

I kinda feel the same way for the most part, but the new hanging light fixtures tip it for me... I just love them!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I think that's just part of being Canadian we only tan if we are out in the sun for awhile.

I think it is more my job than my "Canadianess". When I work days I miss out on the sun, when I work nights I sleep through the sun. Winter weather does play its part though, it is only around this time of year that I crawl out of my winter hibernation hole and start enjoying the outside again (when I am not working or sleeping in order to go to work, lol).

What resort DIDN'T you originally book this trip for??

Hey now! WL was the original original reservation. The resulting game of musical resorts was all because of the WL construction.