« May 2010 | Main | July 2010 »

June 30, 2010

Sandcastles, Bucket and Shovel At Disney's Old Key West Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 30, 2010

My English friends often refer to a trip to the beach as a "bucket and spade" holiday...I wonder if this is what they had in mind?

VFPV Old Key West bucket and spadeblog.JPG

The kiddie area at the main pool at Old Key West has a sandcastle theme complete with this rather large bucket and shovel (I'm sorry...I just can't call that red thing a spade). The big sandcastle you see in the foreground is permanent...it's just covered in sand. In the background is the relatively new sandcastle slide.

My girls loved this play area when they were growing up. They used to hide in the bucket...ah, memories...

You'll find the kid's area to the right of the pool behind the Hospitality House at Old Key West...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Old Key West Resort is a Disney Vacation Club Resort and is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 4:37 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 27, 2010

Neon Mickeys At Fantasia Shop At Disney's Contemporary Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 27, 2010

So, which Disney resort has these neon Mickey's displayed on the wall of its shop?

You might be able to recognize the resort from the carpet or the metal structure in the background. But even if haven't been there, the Contemporary is the logical answer and it goes to show you how carefully Disney designs its resorts.



VFPV Contemporary Neon Mickeysblog.JPG

Can you imagine these Mickeys in Wilderness Lodge, Caribbean Beach or Kidani Village?

If you think about it, they just fit right in at the Contemporary. Just like a monorail passing through...

The shop, Fantasia, is on the fourth floor of the Contemporary.
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Contemporary Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 3:21 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 26, 2010

Trail Rides At Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort And Campground: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 26, 2010

These horses are all saddled up...looks like its about time for a trail ride at the Tri Circle D Ranch.

The trail rides are 45 minute guided tours of the woodlands at Fort Wilderness.

VFPV Fort Wilderness trail rideblog.JPG

Tri Circle D Ranch is also where the horses from Main Street in the Magic Kingdom and the ponies that pull Cinderella's carriage make their home. It's located in Fort Wilderness and the trail rides are right at the front of the resort...
john

The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and the Tri Circle D Ranch are located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Posted by JDVM at 3:37 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 24, 2010

Proverbs Are Like Butterflies At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge kidani Village: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 24, 2010

Proverbs are like butterflies
Some are caught
Some fly away-Ghana

VFPV Kidani proverbsblog.JPG

Sometimes I get really annoyed with myself for not noticing something sooner.

If you have been to Kidani Village, you will probably recognize the kerosine lanterns at the entrance to this new Disney Vacation Club resort.

The purple van is at Kidani about every day and on many days more than once.

I have noticed many proverbs written in gold on the walls inside the resort and a cast member had pointed out that each proverb is marked by a brass butterfly.

And now I know why. For the first time today, I saw the key to the proverbs and the brass butterflies. It was right at the entrance to the resort all along...proverbs are like butterflies...some are caught...some fly away.

I guess this is another reminder to just slow down and taken in the amazing detail in the Disney resorts...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village is a Disney Vacation Club Resort and is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 7:22 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 23, 2010

A Quiet Courtyard At The Walt Disney World Swan: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 23, 2010

Tucked away in a side door off of the right rear of the lobby of the Swan is this quiet courtyard...

VFPV Swan courtyardblog.JPG

The Swan, and its sister resort, The Dolphin, are located on the Boardwalk but they are not owned by Disney. Both resorts were designed by architect Michael Graves. The two 60 foot tall Swans that sit atop this resort make it rather hard to miss...
john

The Walt Disney World Swan is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Posted by JDVM at 7:36 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 19, 2010

Mickey's Sandcastle At Disney's Beach Club Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 21, 2010

Who's that waving to us from this sand castle?

VFPV Beach sandcastle mickeyblog.JPG

It should come as no great surprise that Disney's Beach Club Resort and Villas have a beachy theme. Lots of pastel colors and, at the resort's restaurant, Cape May Cafe, there are lots of sand castles like this one. Note the beaded board wall that sand castle is hanging on...it's what you might see in a beach house.

There are several of these three dimensional sand castles in plexiglass frames in the walkway that surrounds Cape May Cafe. I like this one because of the little fellow waving to us from one of the parapets.

The Beach Club and Yacht Club are separate resorts one the one hand. But on the other hand, they're connected and share a great pool, Stormalong Bay.

You really can't walk between the resorts on the front. But in the rear of each resort, there's a walkway that connects the two. That's where you'll find Mickey's sand castle...
john

Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Stormalong Bay and Cape May Cafe are located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Posted by JDVM at 12:34 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 17, 2010

Here Comes The Palms Solar Express: the Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 17, 2010

Here comes the Palms Solar Express!

Marriott Vacation Club has a number of resorts in Orlando including three that are on the grounds of Marriott's Orlando World Center, the 28 story hotel complex you can see from Downtown Disney. The three small vacation club resorts are called Sabal Palms, Royal Palms and Imperial Palms.

And the best way to get from one resort to another is on this cute yellow vehicle.



VFPV Palms solar expressblog.JPG

The Palms Solar Express is an electric vehicle that is partially powered by photo voltaic cells that convert sunlight to electricity. What looks like a black roof rack is actually an array of solar cells.

Since it's powered by sunlight, the solar express is appropriately painted bright yellow. There are some other famous brightly colored vehicles in this photo...The red one is nice, but my favorite is the purple one...
john

Marriott's Royal Palms, Marriott's Imperial Palms and Marriott's Sabal Palms are located in Marriott's Orlando World Center.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Posted by JDVM at 3:27 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 16, 2010

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort At Sunrise: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 16, 2010

'twas early this morning not long after sunrise...and there were very few creatures stirring at Port Orleans Riverside...

VFPV Riverside sunriseblog.JPG

...and I just liked how the main building looked in the early morning light. The tower on the lobby building has always caught my eye (have you ever noticed the door and tiny balcony at the top?) and in this light it seemed extra-special...
john

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Posted by JDVM at 5:38 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 15, 2010

Herbie, The Love Bug At Disney's All-Star Movies Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 15, 2010

It's Herbie, from The Love Bug, at All-Star Movies.

VFPV Movies herbieblog.JPG

All-Star Movies is divided into five sections of about 200 rooms each. Each section is themed to a Disney movie and has two giant icons (like this Herbie) between buildings. This is obviously from The Love Bug section of All-Star Movies. The other icon is the rear half of Herbie...but that's another adventure for another day...
john


Disney's All-Star Movies Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Posted by JDVM at 4:46 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 14, 2010

The Essence Of Disney's Polynesian Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 14, 2010

Let's see...

 tiki god...

 torch...

 flowing water...

 tropical landscaping...

Could it possibly be the Polynesian?

VFPV Poly torchblog.JPG

It is indeed.

I've always loved the torches at the Polynesian and I was struck while walking into the lobby and looked to my right and took this picture. The essence of the resort was right there in the frame....
john



If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Polynesian Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 4:33 PM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

June 13, 2010

Maestro Mickey At Disney's All-Star Music Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 13, 2010

The shop at All-Star Music is called Maestro Mickey's and here's why:

VFPV Maestro Mickeyblog.JPG

All the way in the back of the shop is this painting behind a counter of Mickey ready to conduct an orchestra. But what I really like about the painting is how it changes from two to three dimensions with Mickey's face and right arm...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's All-Star Music Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 7:34 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 11, 2010

Crape Myrtles At Walt Disney World: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 11, 2010

By now you know that I think one of the real treats of driving the purple van is appreciating the fantastic landscaping the Disney horticulture gang have provided for us to enjoy.

It seems like just this week, the crape myrtle trees have exploded with blossoms.

VFPV Crepe Myrtlesblog.JPG

I've seen crape myrtles in every resort, all of the parks and along many of the roads at WDW. This is hardly scientific but I'd be willing to bet that they are pretty high on the list of "most common plants" in Walt Disney World.

They are in bloom for about a month this time of year but the trunks and especially the peeling bark make them special all year long.

These three specimens are at Boardwalk. If you walk out of the lobby onto the porch at the rear that overlooks Crescent Lake, these crape myrtles will be on your right...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Disney's Boardwalk Villas are located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 4:50 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 10, 2010

Cinderella Wedding Coach At Disney's Grand Floridian Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 10, 2010

You just never know what you might see cruising around Walt Disney World in a purple van. This morning I was coming out of the luggage room at the Grand Floridian and saw the Cinderella wedding coach getting it's final preparations.

VFPV Grand Floridian coachblog.JPG

A few minutes later the bride and groom would board the coach and the six white ponies would take the very lucky couple to the wedding pavilion next door.

As a father of daughters, I'll admit I shuddered to think of what that must have cost!...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Disney's Wedding Pavilion is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 5:11 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 9, 2010

Dumping Buckets At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village's Samawati Springs Pool: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 9, 2010

Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village has a pretty amazing pool called Samawati Springs Pool and it has a kiddie area that includes these buckets that fill with water and tip over dumping their contents on unsuspecting children.


VFPV Kidani kiddie pool2blog.JPG

This section of the pool also has the water cannon, in the foreground, the fountains to the left and the snakes that spray water. This kids play area rivals what you'd find at one of the water parks...and, what you see here is just part of it...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village is a Disney Vacation Club Resort and is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 6:27 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 7, 2010

Electric Carts At Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort And Campground: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 7, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines...
This isn't the starting line at the Indy 500 and these carts are electric motors rather than engines...

It's a line of carts waiting for arriving guests at Fort Wilderness.

VFPV Fort Wilderness golf cartsblog.JPG

These carts are parked outside the Reception Outpost at Fort Wilderness and may be reserved up to a year in advance by guests at the resort's campsites and cabins,

You may recall from an earlier post that one of my dreams is to open a bar in the Reception Outpost. I love that building.

Fort Wilderness is a 750 wooded area behind Wilderness Lodge on Bay Lake. Guests stay in cabins or their own tents, campers and recreational vehicles...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

The Campsites At Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and The Cabins At Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort are located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 5:45 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 6, 2010

Resort Directory At Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 6, 2010

It never ceases to amaze me how the Disney imagineers can turn so simple into something so special. This is a directory at Port Orleans Riverside.

VFPV Riverside directoryblog.JPG

It does what a directory should do, of course, but it also fits right in...and then some.

There are lots of riverboat references at Riverside and the the smokestack plumes on the top of this directory are a good example. And, the red and black on the posts with the gold detail really let you know you're looking at something from the turn of the century along the Mississippi (make that the Sassagoula!)

You can find this directory to the right as you exist the lobby from the rear...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 10:02 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 5, 2010

Kiddie Pool At Disney's Boardwalk Inn And Villas: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van Jun 5, 2010

First you pat the tummy of the elephant for good luck and then you head into the pool...



VFPV Boardwalk Kiddie Poolblog.JPG

This is the kiddie pool at Boardwalk and the fellow getting his tummy patted is one of several elephants you see in the Luna Park Pool. The pool is named after the Coney Island amusement park in Brooklyn that featured elephant rides in the early 1900's.

The pool at Boardwalk has lots of amusement park theme elements--notice the bright primary colors. It also features a bar that resembles a carousel and an infamous clown slide...but those are other adventures for another day...
john

p.s. this pool is really shallow and the little boy in the foreground is fine...he's just playing a game with his little brother!
j

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Disney's Boardwalk Villas are located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 4:02 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 4, 2010

New Lobby Fountain At Hilton Grand Vacations Club At Sea World: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 4, 2010

The lobby at Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld has just undergone a major rehab...and the centerpiece is this new fountain which features streams of water coming from a spiral and lots and lots of sparkly, crystal stars.

VFPV HGVC Sea World fountainblog.JPG

Built in 1995 on 33 acres adjacent to SeaWorld, this resort has almost 500 units made up of studios as well as 1,2 and 3 bedroom suites...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld is located adjacent to SeaWorld and is approximately 5 miles from Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 3:06 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 2, 2010

The Barefoot Pool Bar At Disney's Polynesian Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of the Purple Van June 3, 2010

Well, summer's almost here which means swimming pools...and pool bars!

VFPV Poly pool barblog.JPG

This is the Barefoot Pool Bar and you can find it at the main pool at the Polynesian. I think they serve one of the best pina coladas on property here.

The Barefoot pool Bar looks like a tropical tiki hut and is tucked away at the left rear of the pool as you approach from the lobby. It seems a bit dwarfed by the relatively new volcano slide you can see in the background though, doesn't it?
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Polynesian Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 4:32 PM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

June 1, 2010

Tropical Tower At Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort: The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van June 1, 2010

I don't know which is prettier...the beautiful blue sky today or the tropical colors in this tower at Caribbean Beach

VFPV Caribbean Beach towerblog.JPG

This tower is in the Martinique village of Caribbean Beach, a 2000 unit resort between Pop Century and EPCOT. It's made up of clusters of two story buildings and is divided into six villages named after islands in the Caribbean.

The landscaping is lush and tropical at Caribbean Beach and at times almost completely hides the buildings..but not the towers. I think this one has a bit of a "Small World" look...
john

If you'd like to be notified by e-mail when a new Everyday Adventure Of The Purple Van is posted, you can subscribe here:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is located in Walt Disney World.

click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

The Everyday Adventures Of The Purple Van is brought to you by Owner's Locker and Magic Strollers.
j

Posted by JDVM at 4:14 PM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Search


Tag Cloud

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

Subscribe to this blog's feed
[What is this?]
Creative Commons License
This weblog is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Powered by
Movable Type 4.1