You will NOT believe this. *I* woke up by 5:30! :-D Wide awake, no more sleep going to happen. WHY I’m like this on vacation I have no idea. I just do not sleep. I’m hoping it catches up to me by Vero so I get some Zzzzzz’s there and don’t get exhausted.

 

So, I made the best of it. Got a shower and got ready. (Have to love that curtain in the moderate resorts. Makes it nice that you can turn on lights without waking up the entire room. Then it was grab all the luggage we didn’t need and haul it back to the car and off to the Wilderness Lodge. We check into the Villas today, and I might as well get there, drop off the bags and check in. That will give me our Dining Plan cards as well and room charge key cards. A helpful bellman took the bags and stored them until the room was ready. Then it was inside to check in. Who would have known there is no line at 6:30 in the morning! :-D A very pleasant CM checked me in and I even tried to remember her name, but she had NO nametag! :-O I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Still, she was friendly and efficient and even told me our room was a good one with nice view and all. Wasn’t ready yet, but no problem. Easier if I didn’t have to wait for Bell services to bring up the bags anyway!

So, now back to Coronado Springs. I got a space MUCH closer and headed back up to the room. Kristen and the girls were still zonked out – geez C’mon – its 7am already! :-) So, back outside with a WAY too A/C’d and cold camera. No pictures until it warms up a bit so I just walk around carrying lenses that need to warm up. Took a bit, but gave me a bit of time to look around.

Coronado Springs is a very pretty resort. Lots of very beautiful plant life included a LOT of Cactus and flowers. There was a very nice view over toward the Main Lobby and Pepper Market, and even wildlife in the water around the resort. My walk was very enjoyable and soon enough the lens was ready for use. So, I started snapping pictures around the general area and played with camera settings. I have a new Rebel XTi this year, and I’m still (and expect to be for some time!) learning how best to use it. So, I end up taking very similar pictures with various settings to figure out what works best. I got to play with aperture, exposure speed, ISO – you name it. Slowly, but slowly I’m starting to figure out different things. I really enjoyed taking several of a Blue Heron and the multitude of flowers in the area. Some came out pretty well – at least to me!


 

TONS and TONS of Disney things. So we spent a good bit of time looking around and then got some food items as well. Out DVC unit is a one bedroom, so the kitchen comes in handy. Back to Disney property and off to the Wilderness Lodge. Bellman helped with the luggage and groceries and also brought up the bags from earlier as well. Another David from Eastern Ohio, and VERY helpful and friendly.

I also got lots of pics of the DVC room, and it was GREAT when we came in. First, we have a great view of the pool area and can see the lake as well. Nice! But the room was great in other ways too. First I noticed a nice mickey head shape on the Master bed. Then a cool character on top of the living room entertainment center. And then little things throughout the room. Special folded towels, hand towels, tissues – even a cool ‘pouch’ to hold the coffees made from another handtowel. VERY creative mousekeeper they have doing this room! :-) I’ll have to tip her well!

We unpacked and settled in, and then got ready to head over to Chef Mickey’s for dinner. Caught the boat to the Contemporary (just squeezing in as the captain asked others to make room or we’d be late). We made it on time and I was shocked to see NO LINE at Chef Mickeys! :-O We strolled right up and were quickly waiting with our beeper. That didn’t last too long and headed into our table. We were seated on the right side with a great view of the monorails coming in. Soon the characters started visiting. Donald, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy.

Lots of fun and very good food! Again this was on the dining plan so everything was included (including tip). I’m going to miss the dining plan next year. With the changes Disney is making, it will be no longer valuable to our family. Ah well. THAT will be good for my waistline, because I eat WAY too much on this plan!!

After dinner we hit the stores a bit. I found a cool new friend for Tagalong! Check them out sitting around talking to the Room puppet we also met today. ;-) Moley isn’t the only one that needs a plush intervention! :-D

After shopping Kristen and Brinn headed into the restroom while Maddy and I waited outside. Suddenly a woman and her daughter are asking if I’m Dave. Yup – and just as she introduced herself I recognized her! It was Big Red! WDWNJ wasn’t there, so I missed meeting him, but it was great meeting Cathy and her pastry chef daughter! She works at the Dolphin as a pastry chef so I’m looking forward to trying out her work in a couple weeks! :-D

So, then it was back to the Wilderness Lodge (humming Its a Small World Afterall - someone please make it stop!!!!!) Time for some nice night pictures of the Contemporary and the WL. Pool was closed due to a storm in the area. But we were tired and ready for bed.

We headed up to the room, and right after I had changed I saw a message on the phone. Seems we had an envelope at the front desk! Kristen and Brinn headed down to get it while I downloaded pictures and got the pullout bed ready for the girls. When they got back it turned out to be a great signed pictures from Pluto with a nice not of welcome from SuzyQ and Del! Thanks so much Suzy and Del! We love it! :-D

Time for bed and while I type away the girls are already all sleeping. Tomorrow is the MK so it will be a busy day! I should see if I can get a few hours of sleep myself!