disney4dan

I just tried my first Guiness Blond today - pretty good stuff! I bet it tastes better when there is no snow on the ground.

I still remember going to LBV shopping district on the last day of our honeymoon in 1989. I think we ate at a BBQ place - Fireworks Factory maybe?

I wonder how long before NYE at Animal Kingdom becomes crowded? No way the mouse is going to let that park lose revenue on a night like that! Love the update, but looks like a damp, raw day.

Hmm - looks delicious. Departing from a planned diet for a once in a while treat - understandable! The AK surprise sounds interesting?!! Hope it doesn't involve gorillas with really good aim like the "good old days" before they put the glass windows up :-)

I read somewhere that the sulfur taste and smell can come from a reaction occuring on the heating element in the hot water tank. I typically shock the system in the spring when we take it out of storage with the small amount of bleach recommended by the manufacturer, followed by lots of flushing with town water. If there is still a slight odor or taste, I will use vinegar mixed in the water.

Also enjoying digital photography - developed a roll of film the other day and it set me back $15. For 24 shots, some of which were the usual mistake shots of the ground or sky. Anyone remember having to save some of the vacation funds in order to develop the pictures? Great update, and sounds like a fun day of unplanned bliss. I could use one of those even at home!

Great trip report and it looks like I have another place to add to the bucket list when Nancy and I are doing road trips again. Our kids are now teenagers (one in his 20's) and we have hit that point where long trips are just not part of the deal right now. Enjoy little W's portability while you can. Camping with kids is a blast and the time goes so quickly. Seems like just yesterday that my little princess was turning over rocks and looking for salamanders at campgrounds. Today, she and her friends are at a spa for a birthday party getting all pampered and stuff.

I was thinking - good thing you are posting all these photos of such a terrible time at Disney. I mean, it really helps me not want to go back to the place and NOT enjoy big smiles, multiple rides on 7dmt, kids all getting along and the good food, character interactions, you know - the really bad things in life ! But, our last trip included me getting an Anna hug and that will be hard to top, so I might just quit while I am ahead.

Great updates Dave - and the Anna/Rapunzel photos are awesome. Looks like Rapunzel was just as smitten as the rest of us are with little Anna. And she got a coveted Anna hug - perfect ending. Our last trip was also one of those with great and not so great moments. It had been 3 years, but not all of our family could go and it put a damper on things in some ways. They grow up so quick.

Spaceship Earth, best 18 minute nap in the world! Matt is trained to wake me up in time so I am ready to exit the vehicle and not embarrass him ;-) The foreshadowing seems intriguing, but a little alarming?

But where is the hill?! I must say, you have also married well. And what is the green stuff on the ground in this photo? Seems somewhat familiar. I have a very distant memory of seeing something like that once, soooo looong ago...All I can see now is a blanket of white that has this nasty looking brown crusty stuff all over it near the roads.

Love the salute! The partial family photopass shot of you guys at DHS is really nice. And INC looks better than ever, further evidence that Fiend men marry well out of their league (I know I did!). We took a more relaxed trip this last time as well, and I agree that it is fun to slow down and check out the shows, look at the details, etc. But I can still kick up the heels and move through the crowd when those Florida downpours arrive! Even if we were late to the lunch at ESPN with you and Lou. Enjoying this unofficial, not really a trip report trip report!

Work, the necessary four letter word.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TCD - I think you need to find a Vanagan full of hippies to drive you around! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great update- looking forward to the Columbia. Aka the Killer Ship! The photo of the diorama of the Grand Canyon brings back great memories for me. When I was between second and third grade, my father decided to take the summer off and travel the country with the family. Took us out of school in May and we spent months driving around the whole country including doing a hike in the Grand Canyon from the south rim. Then we traveled on to SoCal to visit my uncle who took the family to Disneyland. Saw that same diorama and thought it was so cool and realistic. Good times.

That construction looks pretty intensive! I wonder if it affects the utilidors at all? Looks like they have a long way to go before they are done. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think that is one of the things I remember about trips to WDW that I enjoyed as a kid. Being from the northeast, our sunsets are early in winter as well. But travel to Florida in the winter and the sun would set much later. I really dislike the short daylight around here in winter.

Got caught in the double post conundrum .....Dang it all! Hoping the viewing spot for WOC is better the second time.

Great updates! Wish I had more time to follow during the week. Beau Bridges! Seems like he would be a fun guy to hang out with, maybe at a bar with some scotch or something. Concierge level at the Grand Californian - now that's moving on up in style!

Great updates. I am finally catching up on things. Haven't been to beirgarten in a few years, but remember it well. Great food and even better beer.

Very cool! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You guys really scored some magical pixie dust on this trip! The look on Z's face in many of the photos is priceless. He is going to have some seriously great memories of these trips.

Very cool. I haven't been on RADP in probably ten years. I remember joining that group back when we were considering a trip when my daughter was going to be 1!! That was 15 years ago.

Those are some incredible night time and inside the ride photos. Wish I could get quality like that with a point and shoot camera! Love the photo of you and Rick at the fountain in Italy. I have a favorite photo of Nancy and Justin in that location from 19 years ago!