Very Merry Trip Report 12/7/2006 - 12/18/2006 - Updated 6/14/07 - Complete!!!

[disneyfav4ever]

My pre-trip, and trip reports have been merged into one. My pre-trip report, A Very Merry Trip Report, is posts 1 - 21, and my actual trip report, which the title changed to the Twelve Days of Christmas at Disney, starts on post number 22. That should clear up any confusion.

Day One - Post #23

Pre Trip Report

I started planning this trip this past Feb, four months after coming home from my first solo trip. I had known I wanted to go back to Disney as soon as possible, and a trip for the 2006 F&W Festival was my first idea, but then, as I thought about it a little more, I realized that if I went in that break between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then for the 2007 F&W Festival, I could get an AP and save a few hundred dollars. Besides, I had never been to Disney in Dec, and the idea of seeing all the X-mas decorations, especially the life-size gingerbread house, was quite appealing.

The first thing I wanted to take care of was booking my room. I knew that a value resort was my best option, since it was the cheapest, and the way I see it, I can either spend more money on a room, or on food. And the food is a lot more important to me then the hotel, and last year I spent $77 a day on a room, and an average of $70 a day on food. To be fair though that was during the F&W Festival, and that includes things like Party for the Senses, so there's more then $100 there. But this isn't about last year's trip, this is about this years.

So I wanted to stay at a value resort.

My choices were either one of the All Stars, or Pop Century. I had already stayed at AS Music, and decided to give Pop a chance. Then next Oct, I can just stay at which ever one I preferred. (BTW - I'm also staying at AS Movies in Feb for a mini-trip, see report "Self-Obsessive Princess-Birthday Trip.)

So I booked a room at Pop for 12 days, and 11 nights, which is one more day then last year. I had decided I needed ten full days in the park, and apparently nine and a half just isn't enough. (In the next twelve months, I'll be spending 28 days in Disney, in case anyone cares.) This is sounded like a tag for a reality show - 28 days, 52 restaurants, 3 trips, 1 person. (The 52 restaurants is considering I make as many ADR's next Oct as I did for Dec, this may be slightly higher or lower.)

My room, for the whole eleven nights, was just under $1,000, and apparently, (according to my parents,) it's sickening that I can spend that much money, not once, but twice in the course of a year on a trip.

I then booked an 8:00 AM flight, that arrives at MCO at 10:30, and then a 2:30 flight back home. Flights are boring, there is nothing Disney or magical about them. . . at least not until I get to Orlando, and then there's DME.

And in case anyone's interested in dates, I booked my room at the end of Feb, and the flight at the begining of April. (I'm into really early planning, I like to be prepared.)

I would also like to take this time to say that when, if I ever do go with my BF, that I'll make it much slower paced, less comando then when I go solo. While I enjoy, and am able, to go from park opening, to park closing, that wouldn't be for BF. I would do early mornings, then an afternoon break, and then the nightly entertainment, with a TS lunch and dinner every day. Okay, so that would be almost the same thing, except I rarely take breaks.

I bought my AP, and got the voucher, which I will be using in a few days when I order my DDE, and the only reason I haven't ordered my DDE yet is because I want it to be good through Oct 07, so I'm waiting until Oct to order it. But still early for my trip, so it has plenty of time to arrive.

Even though MVMCP tickets were available in May, I didn't buy them until June, 174 days before my trip. The reason I did this, was so that I could make my ADR's first, and in case I didn't get a date or time I wanted, I wouldn't be stuck with MVMCP tickets for a certain date, and it would be easier to fix any problems with that.

Except I wasn't going for any extremely hard-to-get ADR's, and I was calling exactly 180-days out, and I had that 10-day+ rule, so I got everything I wanted, for the almost exact times I wanted. (See day-to-day plan for ADR selections below.)

Packing

Yes, it's only Sep, and I already started packing. But, I had to move around my clothes anyway, and pack away my summery clothes, so I figured, why not just pack them for Disney while I'm at it?

Included in my Disney wardrobe - Bambi tee, Tinker Bell tee, Pirates tee, Tink hoodie, Daisy and Donald tee, Eeyore tee. . . do you see where this is going? I'm also going to take several nicer skirts / capris, and tops for the signature restaurants. (I have six signature dinners planned.) I'm planning on packing this one light weight skirt and top that I know I can take to the parks in my day bag, and change before dinner. Or is that tacky?

So I'm going to have to take my big suitcase, as well as what used to be my carry-on bag is going to be checked, (but not with the DME tags so I can pick it up right away,) with more clothes, and my soaps and lotions. So I'll have enough clothes for about a month. LOL. I also want to buy one of those Tide to go pens, and try and avoid doing laundry there.

I also have three landyards full of trader pins.

Day to Day Intenirary

Notes on the day to day plan - I have several days where I'm more specific then others, like on my MK days, I have a different "land" or two planned each morning, while the other days I've just listed the park I'm going to be at.

Arrival Day / Day 1

Early flight at 8:00 AM, (same as every year,) that arrives at MCO at 10:30, so hopefully, will be at Pop and checked in by noon, and at AK by 1:00, (I always run straight to the parks.)

Lunch ADR, (which may or may not be cancelled,) at Rainforest Cafe, at 1:45. Depending on if everything else is on time, or if I'm super early to AK, will decide what I do for lunch. (This may also be for an appetizer and / or dessert only.)

AK until park closing, at 5:00.

Dinner at Boma at 6:00, so lunch four hours earlier may not be the greatest idea.

I have several options that night 1) DTD 2) Epcot's open till 9:30, so I could go over and see Illuminations, or 3) go back to Pop.

Day 2

Wake up early, so I can get to MK at park opening, (9:00 AM,) then tour Frontier / Adventureland in the morning. (Collect FP's) Lunch at LTT at 11:30. Continue touring MK. See afternoon parade. Dinner at CA Grill at 5:40, so I want to leave MK no later then 5:00, probably closer to 4/4:30ish so I have some time to tour the Contemporary.

MK closes at 7:00, with Wishes at 6:00, so I may be able to view them during dinner. (I actually had no intention of planning it this way, but I like to eat early, and 5:40 was the earliest time they had available, so I lucked out.)

So since MK closes at 7:00, I won't be going back there after dinner. I have the same options as the night before, except Epcot has EMH that night, and I don't know weather or not that's a good thing, since I want to take advantage of MGM's EMH the next morning, so staying at Epcot really late, may not be the best idea. And there's a Mouse Fest meet at DTD that I could go to, that starts at 7:30, so I could always go to that.

Day 3

Busy day!

There's MGM EMH that morning, so I'll either go there, and do the ToT and Rock n' Roller Coaster, and then head to Epcot, or, I'll bypass MGM, and just go to Epcot.

I do have a lunch ADR at Nine Dragons, at noon. And then that afternoon, I'll either stay at Epcot, or go to the Mega Mouse Meet. Anyone else planning on going?

I have a dinner ADR at 5:50, (for the record, I have at least two ADR's every day, and one day with three,) at Citrico's. So I want to leave Epcot by 5:00 or the MMM is over at 3:30, so I could go to the GF from there, since that is definatly a resort I want to tour - (life-size gingerbread house!)

After dinner, I could go to MK, which is open until 10:00, and see Spectro, (two showings, so could go to the second one - less crowds,) and Wishes.

Day 4

Sleep in, I have no parks planned for this morning. I do, however, have a lunch ADR at 11:30 at Wolfgang Puck's Cafe, but I won't have to be at a park for opening. (Only day I'm planning on not being at a park at opening.) Like I said, I'm comando.

That afternoon, tour DTD or AK.

Dinner at Jiko at 6:00. MK has EMH in the evening, and Mouse Fest is at MK that day, so I think I'll go there after dinner, or I could always go to Epcot, if I haven't seen Illuminations by then.

Day 5

Be at Epcot at park opening, (9:00,) and ride Soarin, and Turtle Talk with Crush. (Soarin is my favorite ride in all of Disney, so I'll be riding it as many times as possible.) Hopefully, since it'll be more then a year old by then, the lines will have slimmed down a bit.

Continue touring Future World until noon, which is when I have a lunch ADR for Chefs de France.

Tour Epcot WS for the remainder of the afternoon, until 4:00 PM, then go over to the Dolphin resort for my dinner ADR at Blue Zoo at 5:00.

Go to MGM that night for EMH. Tour the Osborne lights, I have a Fantasmic dinner package later in the week, so I won't worry about seeing the show. This way, I'll have one night for the lights, and one for the show.

MGM's open until 10:00, so depending on the crowds, I could get a few attractions in. Also, Mouse Fest has this listed as the MGM day, but there are no events scheduled yet, so we'll see if I want to do anything they come up with.

I could also always go over to the Boardwalk, and tour there.

Day 6

Another busy day! Though this one is more because of an early start, and late night, then park-hopping like day three is.

Day six starts with breakfast at 8:05 at CP, I had the same ADR time last year, and was out by the castle at 8:45, so I like that time.

Tour Fantasyland in the morning, then Toontown.

At 11:30, or earlier, I'll head over to the GF for lunch at the GF Cafe, (11:50,) this will be a light meal, appetizer and / or dessert.

Then that afternoon, either MK, or, a break, (may be a good idea, but I always tend to get to my room, try to shut my eyes, and head back to the park less then an hour later,) but I still may take that break.

Dinner at Ohana at 5:00, (so a really light lunch,) then MVMCP that night. Which I won't be using so much for the attractions, that I will for character greetings, the parade, and the fireworks.

OT a bit, but last year, when I went to two MNSSHP, I spent the first one doing very few of the Halloween things, I did see the fireworks, and the late parade, but other then that, just rode rides. Then the second party I went to, I saw the parade twice, and the fireworks, and met a bunch of characters. I enjoyed the second party more.

Day 7

Either go to MGM or Epcot at park opening. Neither has EMH, so both open at 9:00. I do have a lunch ADR at Teppanyaki, but I may cancel it.

I wouldn't even have to be at a park until 5:00 for my CP dinner package at Le Cellier. But I'm not going to sit around Pop all day waiting for it to be 5:00. This may actually also be a good morning for another visit to DTD. I wonder if I could get an ADR anywhere there? But with the CRO being so strict now, (that's what I heard anyway,) I don't think I want to mess with my ADR's. Which reminds me, I still have a regular non-CP dinner ADR for Le Cellier on 12/13 at 4:50 if anyone wants it. It's for one person, but I'm sure it could be for two.

Day 8

MK EMH in the morning, which I'll be touring Tomorrowland during, and then Frontierland as soon as the park actually opens. I'll stay at MK until 11:00, and then I have a lunch ADR at Kona at noon.

Then that afternoon, either a break, or back to MK, (though I think I'll go for a break this day.) The "break" may possibly be taken at DTD, for shopping purposes. I'm doing all of my Christmas shopping at Disney, so I'll need a little extra shopping time this year.

Dinner at Artist Point at 5:30, which unfortunatly, the don't have the pear tart on the menu anymore, and I wanted to try that. (Hopefully there'll be some seasonal desserts - pumpkin and eggnog etc, when I'm there.)

I have a ticket for MVMCP again that night. Which may be a little close, with only a day inbetween the two, but that's what fit my schedule best.

Day 9

Try, (after a late night the night before, "try" is the main word,) to be at AK at opening, (9:00 AM,) and ride EE before my Donald's breakfast ADR at 10:00.

After breakfast, either stay at AK for a few more hours, or go to MGM. (This will depend on what I already have and / or haven't done at either of the parks.) But I don't have many "must-dos" at AK, so will probably be on my way to MGM by noon.

The Stars and Cars parade is scheduled for 3:00 that day, so I could see that, and then get to my 4:15 Fantasmic dinner in plenty of time for my ADR.

Obviously, Fantasmic that night, and then the park closes at 7:00, immediatly after the show.

I could either go back to Pop, or DTD, or Epcot has EMH that night again, and is open until 12:30, so my plans will be decided by how tired I am that night.

Day 10

Epcot all day, (there's a reason not to go to Epcot the day before,) with FW in the morning, and WS in the afternoon and evening.

I have a 11:00 lunch ADR at Garden Grill, so maybe I'll go and get FP's for Soarin first thing in the morning, so I can use them immediatly after lunch.

Then at 4:50 I have a dinner ADR at Rose and Crown, which will probably be another light appetizer and / or dessert meal. (I want to try the sticky toffee pudding.)

I may go to the CP that night, since that's one of the narrators I want to see, and then Illuminations. This will be the last time I'm at Epcot this trip, so I want to make the most of that night.

Day 11

Be at MGM at park opening, 9:00 AM, and ride all my favorites. (ToT, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and B&tB.)

I have a lunch ADR at Mama Melrose's at 12:00.

After lunch, maybe see B&tB, since that usually doesn't show in the early morning, and see the afternoon parade, (3:00,) if I haven't seen it yet.

Leave MGM around 4:00, (maybe right after the parade,) and go to the Boardwalk. I have a 5:30 dinner ADR at Flying Fish.

After dinenr, (7ish?) MK has EMH that night and is open until 1:00 AM, and since I have nothing to do the next day except go home, :sad2: I'm going to try and stay as late as possible. There's two showings of Spectro that night, so if by some chance I haven't seen it yet, I have no reason to miss it that night.

Day 12

How sad - I'll have to go home. But, knowing I have another trip in 55 days, (less time then I have to go until Dec now,) will help me get through it.

I'm going to have to be out of my room by 11:00. My flight's at 2:30, so my DME pick-up should be by noon at the latest.

I arrive back home at 5:00, and then in the days after that I'll be posting a full trip report, food reviews and pictures, and go into over-drive for my Feb birthday trip.

[serendipity]

I love your report! 28 days, 52 restaurants, 3 trips, 1 person...great line! By the way we stayed at ASMo last year and we really loved it, but we also want to try music next time we stay at a value, but just wanted to let you know the theming at ASMo for your next trip is great, and the food court has delicious chocolate chip pancakes. yummm! I'm excited to see how you're going to like some of your restaurant choices also! you must do a dining report when you finish!

[White as Snow]

Wow. :cloud9: <----- that would be me if I could go and spend 11-12 days at the World. Here's hoping you have enough fun for both of us! What are your dates (if I may ask)? We are going Dec. 25-30. I love the way you have everything planned out. This may be a "duh" :teacher: question, but what is Mouse Fest? (sorry, I haven't been able to explore the board as much lately)

[disneyfav4ever]

My trip is the 7th to the 18th, (in Dec.) Mousefest ( http://www.mousefest.org/ ) is a gathering of Disney die-hards, (like ourselves,) and they arrange all these meets. It happens every Dec.

And, Serendipity, I had those chocolate chip pancakes last year when I was at Music, (I'm assuming that Movies and Music have the same pancakes,) and you're right. They are awesome. :goodvibes

[serendipity]

oh my god I want them now, as I read that I was eating my slim fast bar breakfast and got very annoyed at my current breakfast selection! :p . Be sure to try the french toast, also very good!

[disneyfav4ever]

oh my god I want them now, as I read that I was eating my slim fast bar breakfast and got very annoyed at my current breakfast selection! :p . Be sure to try the french toast, also very good!

Yeah, a slim-fast just doesn't compare. I eat whatever I want in Disney without worrying about calories / fat, and then when I'm home I pretty much live on lean cuisine and diet coke.

[serendipity]

haha I'm of the slim fast bar/100 calorie snack pack/diet coke kind. But same as you when I'm at disney I eat WHAT EVER I WANT.

[OhMari]

I wonder if I could get an ADR anywhere there? But with the CRO being so strict now, (that's what I heard anyway,) I don't think I want to mess with my ADR's.

What have you heard. I have called twice now and didn't have any problems.
Great itinerary. Have a great vacation.

[disneyfav4ever]

What have you heard. I have called twice now and didn't have any problems.
Great itinerary. Have a great vacation.

That people were calling, and were being told they already had a lunch ADR that day already, and they couldn't book two lunches that day or whatever. This was during free dining though, so I think it may of just been trying to limit the number of ADRs that were being made.

[DizzKneeGeek]

Sounds like you are going to have a great time...11 days...jealous!

[disneyfav4ever]

I ordered my DDE last week, and now I just want it to come in the mail. I know the lady said four to six weeks, but that doesn't mean it couldn't come early. Could it? And also, have read that other Dec trippers have started recieving their DME tags in the mail. Still waiting on those to. Though last year I didn't get my DME tags until three weeks before, and I still have a little less then seven weeks to go. (47 days as of right now.) Waiting may be the hardest part, it wasn't so bad when I had something to plan, or ADR's to make, or something to order.

But now, all I have to do is wait. And pack, and I actually already packed all of my summer clothes into a bag. I'm taking two smaller carry-on size bags, and a suitcase. The suitcase and one of the carry-on type bags will be checked, but only the suitcase will have a DME tag, since I plan on getting the checked carry-on bag as soon as I get to MCO, which will contain things I need as soon as I get to MCO, which have been banned from carry-ons. I'm very pale, so I need sunscreen, and I don't want to pay a high price at the resort, which may not even carry the 60 SPF brand I use.

Besides, with three bags, I'll have enough room, for all my clothes, and all of the stuff I buy in Disney. Which last year, my spendings totaled around $700.

[mlill]

I ordered my DDE last week, and now I just want it to come in the mail. I know the lady said four to six weeks, but that doesn't mean it couldn't come early. Could it?

Not a chance. Sorry. I'm still waiting for mine and I ordered it over 5 weeks ago! I just hope it gets here by next week!!!

Well, 28 days in WDW... you beat us by a week! We're only going to get 21 days between our October & December trips! I hope you have a wonderful time! :sunny:

-Michelle

[lovesdumbo]

I better call and order my DDE card on Monday. I got one for a trip last Aug. I planned the trip less than a month out and called and ordered the card about 4 weeks out and it came the day before I left. I had thought they were a bit quicker but I better call and order now for my Dec 14th trip.

Sounds like you've got a trip planned! My quick 3 night Dec trip will make 21 days on my AP and it doesn't expire until May 1st. What is the 2nd night for your MVMCP? I plan on going Dec 15th (you're probably going the 14th) as I didn't want to do it on arrival day.

[disneyfav4ever]

I got my DME information with the luggage tags in the mail yesterday. I was a little upset though that last year with the DME things they sent a voucher for a pin and landyard, and this year, there wasn't one. I was kind of hoping for a free pin. Oh well, this means that now my trip is even closer. Only 38 days to go. :goodvibes

[disneyfav4ever]

You know what else I ordered? The customized Disney park maps. Though I have no idea what to expect with them, especially since I included almost everything, except for a few things I know I have no interest in - the Kidcot stops, though I think they're great for kids, do nothing for me, Tom Saywer Island, and other things like that. I probably won't take them to Florida with me, they'll probably end up being used like the plannind dvd's, and while I look at them a thousand times, they'll never actually leave my house.

[disneyfav4ever]

When I ordered the DDE, they said four to six weeks for delivery, and tomorrow it will be four weeks since I've ordered it. So, technically, I could get it tomorrow. I know, don't get my hopes up, but I really want it, and my personalized maps, and the new dvd. . .

[lovesdumbo]

I'm waiting for all 3 of those items too. I just ordered my DDE card yesterday. The CM told me 3-4 weeks and she was sure I would get it in time. I waited til yesterday to get a 12/07 expire date-a good excuse to go again next December!

I also ordered the custome maps. I tried printing them on my home printer but they were kind of funky. Not all the items were on the maps and #'s in the wrong place. Hope the real things are a bit better.

I got my DME tags yesterday. Makes the trip seem close now. :cool1:

[disneyfav4ever]

I got my DDE card in the mail today. :goodvibes That went straight in my wallet. But, for some reason, I have yet to attach the DME luggage tags tp my suitcase, even though I'm pretty much packed. The DME stuff is, and has been for like two weeks, laying on my counter. I should probaby go file it.

[disneyfav4ever]

A friend of mine died. :guilty: My trip is now just 10 days away, and usually I'd be all excited and happy, but all I can think of is my friend. And how the last time we spoke, we argued. I wasn't even that mad at him, just annoyed mostly, and as it turns out, that argument was pretty pointless anyway.

So, I have a million things to do, but, can't seem to concentrate. On a scale of one to ten, my mood is zero, and I'm hoping while I'm in Disney, that is rises to a one or two. Usually, I'm a pretty optimistic person, and I almost never get depressed. But, considering the circumstances.

Ten days to go - and I can't get excited about my trip. That's the bottom line. Luckily, I think I already have most-everything I need. The only thing I need to do is to go to the bank and make a transfer from savings to checking, and go to a coin star / penny arcade, and get some change turned into spending money.

I also tend to go into shopping frenzies when I'm depressed, and since my friend died, have made three decent-sized purchases from Disneyshopping.com. 1) Pins, (like I'm not going to buy a bunch in Disney,) 2) clothes, (like I need more,) and 3) ornaments, (which I don't have a lot of, and they were on sale, but I know there are several X-mas shops at Disney that I'll end up spending a fortune on if I'm not careful.

[disneyfav4ever]

So I leave tomorrow. I'm still very upset about my friend, but not in the "that's all I can think about, I can't function right now, how am I ever going to get through anything," mood I was in a week ago. And, while I'm not as excited as I was a month ago, I back to being ready to go. To tell the truth, I'm glad I'm going to be able to get away from reality for the next two weeks. I'll be posting a full trip report when I return, but it may not get posted until after Christmas.

[disneyfav4ever]

Well, I am now completely ready to go. My suitcase is in the car. All of my documents are printed up, and on the top of my carry-on. I've transfered everything from my purse that I'll need into my shoulder bag that I use in the parks as a purse, and that's at the bottom of the stairs, ready for me to grab tomorrow morning. My clothes for tomorrow are laid out in my room. The only thing I need that is not in my purse is my cell, and that's because I intend to make a few more calls tonight, and I need it as an alarm clock. I probably won't be back online tonight, and not again until I'm back from Disney. I need to go eat dinner, and I got a movie from Netflix today. And then I'll try and get some sleep. Tomorrow begins with a 2:45 AM wake-up call.

[disneyfav4ever]

Introduction

Okay, so it wasn't actually Christmas week when I went to Disney, there was actually still the week before Christmas when I came home. But this was a Christmas presant to myself, (not to be confused with my birthday presant to myself - another trip to Disney,) and I would be there for all the special Christmas festivities.

I have my pre-trip report on the pre-trip reports board. Some of you may have already read it, if not, I'll post a link. No use posting what my plans were again. Though for the first few days I did a very good job of sticking to them if I say so myself.

But, in brief, I had a twelve day solo trip booked at Pop.

The report will be divided into twelve posts / chapters, one for each day. Simple enough? So day one, will start with the next post, and I'll put a table of contents on the first post, saying which post number, is each continuing day.

[disneyfav4ever]

Nope, I can't come up with creative titles for my days. Day one is such a boring run-of-the-mill title, and I'm open to suggestions.

After trying to get to bed early the night before, I went to bed at ten, couldn't sleep, watched Christmas with the Kranks, which was not as horrible as I thought it would be, and finally fell asleep past midnight, I had set my alarm for 3:00 AM since I wanted to be on my way to the airport at 4:00 AM. Early morning flights = more time in the parks that day, so I had booked a 7:55 AM flight.

I ended up over-sleeping. In fact, I don't even remember my alarm going off. I'm sure it did. I just must of turned it off and fallen back asleep without realizing it.

Luckily, when I checked the clock, it was only 3:37 AM, so I hadn't over-slept that much, and was in no danger of missing my flight. Providing I could still get to the airport in time.

I'm being over dramatic here. I always worry about missing flights, and getting through security. And I was sure I'd be stopped at security with my pins, and would have to choose between leaving them behind, or missing my flight.

Yep, I was overly anxious this morning.

I was out of the house at 4:25. So 25 minutes behind schedule instead of 37. Here I am thinking that it's like the Amazing Race and every minute counts.

Yeah, so security was no problem. I had my pins in a ziploc baggie, and my suntan lotion and purell, in another ziploc baggie, and I got right through security. I now have an overflow on quart-sized ziploc baggies at home, since I only bought them for the plane. Hmm, maybe I should take a thrid 2007 trip to use up some baggies.

I was at my gate at 5:40. I was the first person at the gate. I really didn't need to be there that early.

So I had more then two hours before my flight. And I hadn't really brought much to do with me, since last year I had packed tons of extra books and stuff, but never really read anything.

I did have my Pass Porter, and the latest issue of Glamour which had just come in the mail the day before, so I skimmed through both of those. I also treated myself to a frozen latte. Vacation means no worrying about calories or fat intake.

The flight went much quicker then the wait at the airport. I skimmed through my Pass Porter again during it, and talked to the nice people next to me, also going to Disney.

The flight landed in Orlando on time, and I quickly made my way to the DME desk, and was on a bus no more then fifteen minutes later, probably more like ten. I felt like such an expert knowing exactly where to go, as I used DME last year as well.

Pop Century

After the short, though what seemed like a long half-hour DME bus ride, I arrived at bus. I sat at the front of the bus puposefully to be one of the first ones off. I've never understood what is appealing about sitting on the back of the bus, since the farther back you are, the longer you have to wait to get off.

I had taken my carry-on on the bus with me, so had no bags underneath to wait for, and I was able to be the first one off the bus, and in line to check-in.

The check-in line moved quickly, and the check-in itself seemed to go more quickly then last year. Whcih it probably did, since last year I wrote a check, and this year I used a credit card.

I had requested a room in the 50's, and my request was granted. It wouldn't have been such a big deal if I hadn't gotten in the 50's, but I was grateful for the shorter walk back to my room, and I really like Lady and the Tramp, so it was cool for me to see them every morning when leaving my room.

Luckily, for me, I got my room right away, even though it was hardly even noon then. As long as the day had seemed so far, it was just getting to be lunch time.

But, I didn't want lunch. I wanted to go straight to the parks.

Day 1 - Plan

Afternoon - Animal Kingdom
Dinner - Boma
Night - Epcot or Downtown Disney

Animal Kingdom

Almost as soon as I reached the bus stops, a bus for AK arrived, and I was on my way.

The first thing I had to do was exchange my AP voucher for the actual AP. I don't get why the voucher is a plastic credit card like card, and then the ticket is that stock type paper.

On the bright side, I like the Year of A Million Dreams ticket designs better then the ones they had for the Happiest Celebration on Earth. I got the one with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy on the Mad Tea Party, though I would of preferred the one with Cinderella. It's amazing what I think about, isn't it?

After exchanging the voucher, which I had since the summer, and now having an active AP, yea, I was ready to explore the Animal Kingdom.

It was around 1:00, and I was on time according to my "schedule." My plan for the afternoon was to try and see the new attractions since my last visit, so Expedition Everest, and Finding Nemo - The Musical, were at the top of my list of things to do. I also wanted to try and see the afternoon parade, since I hadn't seen the Christmas version before, and Festival of the Lion King, since that's one of my favorites.

I was kind of hungry, I can't eat anything when I'm overly excited, so hadn't eaten anything yet that day, so stopped at Flame Tree BBQ, and had some onion rings. They were very good, and had whole slices of onion instead of those ones that are just chopped up onions.

I walked to Dinoland, and rode Primeval Whirl, since that was a walk-on, before making my way over to Expedition Everest.

The stand-by wait was 30 minutes, but me, being solo, got in the singles line. I ended up waiting 25 minutes in the singles line, so I think the regular stand-by line may have been faster then that.

As far as the ride itself goes, I enjoyed it. It wasn't nearly as jerky as Rock N' Roller coaster is, and that's a good thing. The special effects are good, if not great. I didn't find it scary, but that may be because I knew what to expect.

When I got off the ride it was 2:20. There was a Finding Nemo show scheduled for 3:00, and the times guide said to get there half an hour early. Me being a good little park patron walked back over to Dinoland to get in line. I was glad I did. The theater seemed to fill up very fast.

Right before getting in line for Nemo I had heard a family saying that the show was too long, and not entertaining enough, and I thought about skipping it. But then I thought to myself, it would be stupid to miss something new just becuase I'd overheard a complete stranger's opinion.

I am so glad I saw the show. It is now one of my favorite things at Disney, and may even pass the Lion King on my favorites list.

After seeing Nemo, it was 3:45, which is when the parade was scheduled to start, so I walked quickly over to Africa, to the start of the parade route. It had already started by the time I got there, but Rafiki was just passing by, and if you've seen the parade before, you'll know that's the first float.

I got a smoothie at Tamu Tamu Refreshments, and enjoyed the rest of the parade. I had a smoothie from there before last year and had really liked it. I didn't like this one as much. The one I'd had last year had been much creamier, and this one was more watery, and didn't have much flavor.

After the whole parade had passed, I walked to the back of Tamu Tamu, and waited the ten - fifteen minutes until the parade came back, and this time, took pictures.

When the parade was completely over it was about 4:30, and AK closed at 5:00 this night. So I did have some time, but I started to make my way to the park entrance anyway, since I had a 6:00 dinner reservation at Boma, and I wanted time to walk around Animal Kingdom Lodge before I ate.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

I arrived at AK Lodge at 5:10, so I had alomost an hour before my ADR time to look around the resort. I love this resort, it's one of, if not, my favorite. It's my goal in life to try every restaurant, and stay in every resort on Disney property. And if I must say so, I'm doing a pretty good job on the restaurants, but have only stayed at AS Music, Pop, and I stayed at Shades of Green once when I was little. In Feb, I get to stay at AS Movies for the first time.

It seems I always stay at a value resort though. I can't justify staying at a deluxe, or even a moderate solo. I'm never in the room, except for when I sleep. Maybe when DBF starts taking trips with me, we'll stay at deluxes, since he could really care less about what anything costs.

Boma

I checked in early, and was seated ten minutes before my ADR time. I really hadn't eaten at all that day, except for a small snack after arriving in WDW hours earlier. I had eaten at Boma once before, and picked to go this day, since I knew I wouldn't be eating that much before-hand, so I'd be able to pig out, and also since it was a different night on the rotation than the last time I had eaten there. Not that the last time wasn't good, but I wanted to try new things.

I was seated in the same section as I had been last year, near the begining of the buffet. My server was Allison, and I liked her better then the server I had last year. She was pleasant, I never had an empty glass, and my dishes were always cleared before I got back with another plate.

I had two plates of entree, savory-type foods, which consisted of the following. I had some of the pasta salad that I loved last year, but it didn't taste quite the same this time. It wasn't bad, but I didn't love it nearly as much. I also had some coconut-carrot and pineapple salad that I thought was very good. I also tried the watercress salad, but didn't like it. The macaroni and cheese was good, but pretty standard. I just felt like having some. I liked the potato and bacon soup, but not as much as the soups I had last year, (the crab and butternut squash soups.) I tried the bobotie, (I think that's what it was,) the ground beef / lamb mixture with a bread like topping? That was really good. I also tried the lamb potjie, and also really liked that. The thing that really stood out, was the prime rib. That may be the best prime rib I've ever had. It was so good, and had a great seasoning on it. The prime rib was the only thing I had seconds of.

I also had a plate of desserts. I had a passion fruit tart, which was good, a piece of milk tart, which was okay, zebra domes, which I liked better last year, but they were still good, coconut tiramisu, which was good, and banana bread pudding, which was my favorite dessert item.

Also, I should mention that I had pretty much memorized the rotational menus from here before I went, and it was pretty much accurate.

Boma is still one of my favorites, and I will definatly be returning here in 2007, though not until the fall, since I just can't fit it in for my four-day birthday trip.

Downtown Disney

After dinner, which didn't last that long, I was done eating by 6:30, I wasn't tired, but didn't feel like going and running around a theme park, so I decided to go to Downtown Disney instead, and do some shopping.

I spent two hours at the Marketplace, going through all my favorite stores; Once Upon A Toy, World of Disney, Days of Christmas, etc. All the stores were pretty much mobbed, so I didn't bother to do anything other then browse, and start to think about what I should buy for people back home.

I knew I had an early morning here, due to a lunch ADR at West Side in a few days, and figured I would wait, and do my shopping then, since it was sure to be less crowded then.

They were playing all my favorite Christmas music at DTD as well. All the cds I had left at home, since I didn't want to bother taking them with me, were playing a lot of the time, so I was able to here it all anyway.

Back at Pop

At about 9:00 I went back to Pop, and got a refill of diet coke, as well as some fries. Even after Boma, I needed something to munch on, and I never eat fries back at home. Almost never anyway. I've got to love those refillable mugs, they save me $$$ every trip. I was in bed by 10:00.

[swankybeth]

Looking forward to more. :thumbsup2 There was actually one trip where DH and I really did oversleep. My dad woke us up to ask if we had called a cab because there was one waiting outside for us. :earseek: We got ready SO fast! :hyper: And then there was that trip that DH thought he left his wallet at home... :rolleyes: Glad to hear you made it on time! :cheer2:

[OhMari]

Enjoying your report. I'll merge your pre-trip onto your TR. You'll just have to change the title.

[disneyfav4ever]

I added an update to the first paragraph of post #1. My trip report starts on post #23.

[Lauralee131]

YAY!! I've been waiting for you to go on this trip and come back already!!!:banana:

Can't wait to hear more!!!

[S.Poppins]

popcorn:: Waiting for the continuation!

[MomofCKJ]

Yes are you coming back to finish?

Allyson :)

[disneyfav4ever]

I was just thinking this morning how I should work on my TR today. LOL. I've been distracted by sooo many other things. I have half-finished my dining reviews, located here - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1302533 if anyone's interested. I'm going to try and finish day one, and start day two today.

I know it's been awhile since I've updated, but with New Years, Christmas, people coming over, family coming home for waaay to long, and planning another trip, I just haven't had a lot of free time. It seems all of that is over now, with the exception of planning another trip, and I just made another ADR this morning for that. . .

[byoung]

Thanks for reporting.

[disneyfav4ever]

Okay, I finished day one, there really wasn't that much left to add, since I just used the Boma review that had been in my dining review. So, as promised, I'll try and start day two today.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Two

I had my alarm set for 6:00 AM, and was able to get out of bed at 6:10. Which for me, is good, since at home I'll lay in bed for an hour or so, but that's because at home, I have nothing better to do. Today, I had something ver exciting to do - go to the Magic Kingdom!

I'm always excited the first time I go to MK on every trip. I don't feel completely in Disney until I see the castle. I needed to see the castle.

I went down to Everything Pop for a soda, and to see if there was anything I wanted for breakfast. I'm not a big breakfast eater, and definatly not an egg eater. I settled on a side of potatoes to go with my diet coke. I eat so healthy in Disney, don't I? I mean, so far, I'd eaten onion rings, pigged out at Boma, (three plates is pigging out for me,) fries, and potatoes, as well as tons of soda. Oh well, at least the soda was diet. I promise, I don't eat like this at home.

I was at the bus stop before 8:00, and made it to MK before 8:15. So I had forty-five minutes to kill before the official park opening. As I was waiting at the turnstiles, (at the front of line I might add,) I saw all the little girls going to eat breakfast at CRT, and I realized that this would be the first trip that I hadn't eaten at CRT. Well, I hadn't eaten at CRT my first time in Disney either, but ever since then I had. I got a little upset by that, but not really, since I had dinner at CA Grill that night to look foward to, and I knew I was eating at CRT in a couple months anyway. The joy of having an AP, and being able to take three trips in less then a year's time.

At about 8:30, we, (me, and all the other MK-goers for the day,) were let in the turnstiles, and were allowed as far as the walkway with the stroller rentals. At 8:50, the train came around and the Main Street song started playing on the loud-speakers. Yep, definatly did not need to bring my cds with me. There was also a multitude of characters, I do love the characters, waving, and greeting everyone to MK for the day.

At 8:55, we were let on to Main Street, and I was able to make my way to the castle to be at Fantasyland for the rope drop.

At exactly 9:00, the rope dropped, and since I was right at the front of the mob, err, crowds, and didn't have any strollers or anything to worry about, I rushed to Dumbo, and was able to get on the first ride of the day with no wait.

Last year I didn't ride Dumbo, I couldn't justify waiting an hour or more to ride something that wasn't that thrilling to me. But, it is somewhat sentimental, and I was glad I got to ride it this time.

After Dumbo, I rode the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventures, and It's A Small World, in that order, all with no wait. I also grabbed a Fast Pass for Pooh right before riding it since Pooh is my favorite Fantasyland attraction, and I think it's sooo adorable.

I then walked over to Liberty Square, and since it was close by, and also, had no wait either, rode another favorite of mine, the Haunted Mansion.

It was a little past 10:00 then, so I walked over to Toon Town. I went to the Toon Town Hall of Fame, and they had Belle listed in the Princess Room, (I do not remember those signs saying whose there being there last year,) and I knew she wears her yellow ball gown when she's in Toon Town, which I didn't yet have a picture with her yet of, so I got in the Princess line. I also saw Cinderella and Snow White, all of which I've seen before, so didn't bother with autographs, I mean who needs five, six, even seven autographs of the same character? But I did get my picture taken with all of them. Pictures, you can never have enough of.

After seeing the princesses, the lines for the other two character rooms had grown considerably, so I opted not to wait for either of those. Besides, I still had ten days of vacation left, and was sure to see Mickey, Minnie, and everyone else mutiple times over the next week or so.

Instead, I went to the Toon Town train station to go to Frontierland. There was a train there just as I walked up, so I boarded. Just as the train started to pull away, I saw Pocahontas come out for meets and greets. Drats! I had never seen her before, and she was one I really wanted to meet. Why is it that whenever I'm on the train at Toon Town I see a character I need, and then I don't see them again. The last time I rode the train, which was in 1999, and had been at Toon Town station it had been the seven dwarfs, all seven of them. I did see them at MNSSHP last year, but they weren't signing there, they were just doing pictures as a group. I'm still upset by the fact that I could of gotten their autographs almost eight years ago now, but didn't because I was one of a group of twelve, and I'm the only one who wanted to get off and get them.

Anyway, so I took the train from Toon Town to Frontierland. I was going to get a Fast Pass for Splash Mt, but the FP machines were closed. It didn't matter, Splash Mt was a walk-on. It was a little chilly that day, so I guess people didn't want to ride.

I then got a Fast Pass for Big Thunder Mt. Railroad, so I could ride it after lunch. It was then after 11:00, (the line for the princesses in Toon Town had eaten up more then half an hour,) and I had a lunch ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern at 11:30, so I started to walk over to that area.

As I was in line to check-in for lunch, some lady cut in front of me, since she had a 11:30 ADR. Huh? So did just about everyone else in the line. Sure, there was some guy at the front of the line making an ADR for that night, but everyone else was checking-in for lunch. She was also kind of rude to the hostess, saying she wanted to be seated in a certain room. Not in a nice way either, like in a "I have to be in this room, don't you dare seat me anywhere else," way. Some people.

Liberty Tree Tavern

This was my first time at Liberty Tree Tavern, and I was anxious to try it, though not as anxious as some of the other places I would also be trying.

I was seated in the George Washington room, which was nice, and away from the crazy lady who was cutting in the check-in line. It was a smaller room from what I could tell, compared to the others.

My server was Nicholas, and he was very attentive, and fast, though I wasn't rushed.

I had memorized the menus on All Ears before going to Disney, and thought I had decided on just getting appetizers. But as I was sitting there, looking at the menu, I realized I was hungry for a sandwich instead.

I had the tri-corner, which was roast beef, swiss cheese, horseradish, coleslaw, and arugula. To me, a roast beef sandwich is not complete without horseradish, so I was glad it was on the sandwich. There was a lot of meat, and a lot of bread. I actually thought the bread was on the dry side, and after eating half the sandwich, (as I was getting full,) started just picking out the roast beef.

The fries that came with the sandwich were fantastic. They were those big-fat steak fries, not those little skinny ones that don't hold up that well when dunking them in ketchup.

Speaking of ketchup, when the sandwich was originally brought out, there was no ketchup. I didn't realize it until after Nicholas had walked away. It wasn't a big deal, I would just grab him the next time he passed by. A couple minutes later, he appeared with a dish of ketchup, like he had read my mind or something.

Overall, I think Liberty Tree Tavern is a nice restaurant, though it is not a must-do for me. I'll probably return there sooner or later. Well, actually I'm eating there for the character dinner in Febuary, but I don't think it would be fair to compare the lunch and dinner, since they are so different.

Magic Kingdom

Lunch went by very quickly. I was out in the park again just after noon. I headed over to Adentureland.

The wait for Pirates of the Caribbean was only ten minutes, so I got in line. I know there's been some flaming for Disney re-doing the ride, but I loved the new additions. But that could be cause I have OCD when it comes to Johnny Depp, especially when it's Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

After exiting the ride I was able to catch most of Captain Jack's Pirate Turtorial. Mmm, Johnny Depp - Jack Sparrow look-alike. I was in heaven.

Anyway, after the show was over, and I was back to my usual state of mind, I walked back over to Frontierland, where I got a second Fast Pass for Big Thunder Mt. Railroad, and used my first, making my wait only five minutes.

I then went to the Frontierland train station, and took the train back to Toon Town, so over the course of the day I did have a round trip on the WDW Railroad, just not at once.

When I got off at Toon Town, I was going to check the characters again, but the lines had gotten really long. There was a mystery character in one of the rooms, so I'll always be curious as to who that was. I just hope I didn't miss anybody really rare.

I went back to Fantasyland, and was able to see one of my favorite WDW attractions; Mickey's Phillarmagic. Which is, by far, my favorite 3D show at Disney. After Phillarmagic, I used the Fast Pass for Pooh I had gotten that morning.

It was around 2:00 then, and I didn't really do anything for the next hour. I did do some window shopping, and had a dole whip. Mmm, dole whips. I walked over to where right where the parade starts, and got a spot there early, around 2:30.

I had wanted to be right in front for the parade, so I had gotten there, like I said, half an hour early. At that point, there was only a couple with a video camera with me right next to the fence, the rest of the area was empty. I was in the little corner section, right next to the crosswalk, near Splash Mt, exactly where the parade starts. It was a great spot, except for the fact that there was no shade.

Anyway, since I had gotten there so early, I was in a great spot for pictures. The CMs kept saying that people had to keep the crosswalk clear, which I was probably about two feet away from. Well, as it got closer and closer to 3:00, more people tried to stand in the crosswalk that the CMs were trying to keep clear, so they started bunching and crowding into the little corner section I was in, and trying to get in front of me. Luckily, since it was just me, I was able to hold my ground, and not get shoved in the back. But, it was annoying to have people trying to get in front of me.

The parade itself was good. The last time I had seen it, it had still been using snowglobes, but I liked the floats better without them. I didn't like the music better however, and preffered the old music.

Since I had been at the start of the parade route, and the whole thing had passed by me first, I was able to walk to Big Thunder Mt Railroad with the parade mob behing me.

The stand-by line was pretty long, and it seemed a lot of people who had viewed the parade had decided to come here next, and started to fill up the queue, and make the line even longer. I was glad a had a Fast Pass.

After riding Big Thunder Mt Railroad, I saw the Enchanted Tiki birds for the first time ever. I'm glad I saw it once, but wouldn't bother to see it again. I never really liked either of the two main characters though, Iago and Zazu.

It was a little after 4:00 then, and I did some window shopping on Main Street. I then also saw the 4:35 showing of Dream Along with Mickey, which was good. I'm in the minority though, and liked Cinderellabration better. I'm a princess girl.

After the show, it was almost 5:00, and I had a 5:40 ADR at California Grill, that I did not want to be late for, so I headed for the park exit and the monorail.

California Grill

Out of all the restaurants I tried for the first time this trip this is one of the ones I was most excited about, even though I had read some semi-negative reviews saying that the service here had been lacking recently, and that the food had gone down in quality. This was not the case, I very much enjoyed my meal.

I checked in at 5:30, and was immediatly escorted upstairs in the elevator to the 15th floor. I thought the check-in desk was a little difficult to find. I didn't see any signs on the 4th floor, and only knew to go to the 2nd floor from reading posts here.

I was seated immediatly after going upstairs, since the restaurant was basically empty, but it filled up pretty fast. As far as the dress code goes, I had worn a nice top, and a pair of capris. I didn't feel out of place at all, as most were dressed in simmilar attire. There were a few who were more dressy, and a few less dressy, and out of the dress code, but most were in business casual, and I was fine with what I had decided to wear.

When I had originally made this ADR I thought that I would be miss viewing Wishes since I had such an early dinner time. But, this was a night that MVMCP was being held, so Wishes would be showing at 6:00, which I was informed of by the man who sat me, and my server, Laurie.

My server, Laurie, was fabulous. She shared her opinion when I asked for it, and I usually went with it.

I ended up getting a window table, and I asked Laurie if she thought it would be better to stay inside or go out to see Wishes. She said I'd have a good view from my table, and it was chilly that night, probably the coldest night of the trip, so I decided to stay inside, where it was nice and warm.

I ordered butternut squash soup as my appetizer, and for my entree, I ordered a flatbread. I was debating between the duck or black mission fig flatbreads. When I asked Laurie, she said her favorite was the black mission fig, so that's what I ordered.

I was served bread, which I believe was sourdough, which I enjoyed, though I didn't it was anything exceptional.

I was served my soup right before Wishes started. The soup, which was very good, had diced apples, and a mascarpone foam, which complmented it very nicely. It was served very hot, but as I was eating it Wishes started, and I stopped eating, as I was getting distracted by the fireworks. By the time Wishes ended I still had half a bowl of luke-warm soup left, which was still good, even at that temperature. Actually, I usually prefer things luke-warm to piping hot, though I'll get worried if it's luke-warm when I'm served it, since then I have to wonder how long it was sitting in the kitchen. But, since I knew it had only gone warm due to me watching the fireworks instead of eating I wasn't worried. Laurie was right, I did have a good view of Wishes from my seat.

After I finished my soup it was only a few minutes before my flatbread was served. As I mentioned above, I had the black mission fig flatbread, which was topped with; serrano ham, gorgonzola, arugula, and one-thousand flower honey. It was very good, though it was on the sweet side. I like sweet though, so it didn't bother me, I just wasn't expecting it to be that sweet. The fact that there was honey on it should of given me a clue. I was able to eat three-quarters of it, which is more then I ate of most of the other flatbreads I had later in the trip.

While I was eating my flatbread Laurie came around with the dessert menu, explaining that some of the desserts take awhile to make, and assemble. It's a good thing she came around with it as I was still eating my entree, since I ended up ordering one of the time-consuming ones.

I ordered the bananas and butterscotch buzz, which was caramelized bananas and butterscotch custard stack with coffee caramel, cocoa nib, and a piece of fried plantain.

I loved it. Especially the custard part, and the coffee-caramel sauce, which both complemented the bananas very nicely. Banana foster, is one of my all-time favorite desserts, and this reminded me a little of that, so it's no wonder that I enjoyed it.

When I was brought the bill, Laurie had already taken off the DDE discount without checking my card, which saved time, but this was also the only place I didn't show the card. Though I never got ID'ed when using the DDE, except once at Pop, which I thought was wierd, since the only time I got asked for my ID is when I saved about 25 cents. Dinner lasted over an hour and a half, but it seemed to move very quickly.

Day Two - Night

After dinner I was so full, and all I really wanted to do was relax in my room. I would of gone over to Epcot, except it was EMH, and I didn't feel like dealing with crowds, besides I knew I'd be there the next day.

So I took the monorail back over to the Magic Kingdom, and the bus there back to Pop.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day two is now complete, enjoy.

[MomofCKJ]

Sounds like a great day! And I love hearing about your Cali Grill meal. Having never been there it just sounds delicious, especially that dessert! Oh my!

Allyson :)

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Three or The Fifteen Hour Park Marathon

I'm not crazy, and I know my limits. I know I can go all day in a park, and not exhaust myself. And it's not like I had other people to worry about dragging into exhaustion. I'd gone all day in a park before, why not all day, but covering three parks instead of one? And I had two sit-down meals planned, they're like breaks, right?

I woke up at 6:15 AM. Which was easy to do, since I had done nothing after dinner the night before. It took me half an hour to get ready, and then I was out the door.

My plan for the day was to go to MGM for the morning extra magic hour morning, then go to Epcot for lunch and the afternoon, then have dinner at Citricos, then finish off the day at the Magic Kingdom with Wishes and Spectro Magic.

I skipped breakfast, except for the diet coke I always have to have, and headed straight for the bus stop. There was a bus for MGM there, and the driver saw me, and waited for me to get on before pulling away. Not that there was a bunch of people waiting, besides me, there was only one other couple on the bus.

I got to MGM at 7:10 AM, so had almost an hour to wait. Luckily, there was an entertaining CM at the turnstiles, who was giving the extremely early risers magical moment buttons with the Incredibles on them. Wow, something free at Disney, for some people, that would be a magical moment.

It was finally 8:00, and we were allowed into the park. I went straight for the Tower of Terror Fast Pass machines, and got a Fast Pass, then went and stood in the stand-by line. Actually, I didn't stand in the stand-by line since it was a walk-on, and I didn't have to wait.

After riding that I rode Rock N' Roller coaster, and remembered why it was not one of my must-dos. For me, this is the most intense coaster at Disney, and one ride is enough for me. It's just that my head keeps banging around every time I ride.

After that, I was about five minutes away from being able to use my Tower of Terror Fast Pass, and being able to get another. So I waited the five minutes, got another Fast Pass, and then rode Tower of Terror for the second time that morning using the first Fast Pass.

While in the library, (is that what it is?) I headed straight for the door that I knew would be opening to the basement area, and a lady commented that I must of ridden this before, since I knew exactly where to go, LOL, she'd been pulling her kids over to the library / basement door as well.

By then it was almost 9:00, and the return time for my second Fast Pass wasn't until like 9:30, so I walked out of the Sunset Boulevard area, and to the Great Movie Ride, which I walked right on, and as always, went through the gangster - bank robbing segment. I know there's a Western storyline thing as well, but I've never gotten that part, oh well.

I then walked past the Sorcerer's Hat, (where there were no characters that I "needed" to meet,) to Mickey Avenue so I could see one of my MGM favorites; Voyage of the Little Mermaid. I love this show, (okay, I love most of the stage shows at Disney,) and it feels so good to get in here on a really hot day. Not that it was really hot this day, but I've been here on days I'm sweating, and this is always so refreshing.

By then it was almost 10:00, (I'd had a fifteen minute wait to see Ariel and company, I think I had just missed the previous show,) and both that, and the Great Movie ride aren't short attractions, so it had killed an hour.

I had two hours before lunch, but I hate having to rush at the last minute, so I decided to use my second Tower of Terror Fast Pass, and then head to Epcot. And I did just that.

So, I had spent just over two hours at MGM, had ridden Tower of Terror, (my second favorite ride after Soarin,) three times, Rock N' Roller coaster, the Great Movie Ride, and had seen Voyage of the Little Mermaid. So I had had a very productive morning if I say so myself.

I had a short wait for the boat to Epcot, and once on the boat it took about half an hour to get there. I sat in the back of the boat, outside, and there was a nice breeze, and better views then inside. I had never been inside any of the Epcot-area resorts, and was looking foward to having meals at the Dolphin and the Boardwalk later in my trip. Though I never made it to the Boardwalk, but didn't happen until day eleven.

When I got to Epcot I walked quickly, (or as quickly as I could go without rushing, this was the first time I was in Epcot in over a year,) through the United Kingdom and Canada.

It was 11:10, the World Showcase had just opened, and it was pretty empty. There were a few CMs walking to there countries, but almost no guests.

I could of had a nice stroll if I had walked through France, and the countries in that direction to get to China, but I wanted to go and get a FP for Soarin before lunch.

When I did get to the Land, the FPs for Soarin were already pushed back to 4:40. I had a dinner ADR at 5:50 that night at Citricos, but figured an hour would give me just enough time to ride Soarin, and get over to the Grand Floridian. So I got the Fast Pass.

As I was leaving the land I made my first pin trade of the trip. Apparently I'm not one of those people who trade dozens to hundreds of pins in a trip, as I only traded about a dozen the whole time I was there.

I had purchased several official Disney pins, that I didn't personally care for, since I knew I'd have trouble letting go of pins I actually liked. So I had bought Lilo and Stitch pins, some villian pins, and some with the fab five, etc, since I collect mainly princess pins. And cat ones. And ones that are just so cute that I must have them in my collection.

After that I walked to China, for my lunch at Nine Dragons.

Nine Dragons

I arrived at Nine Dragons a few minutes early, and checked in right away, even though it was before the were officially open. I was taken to my table right at 12:00.

When they called my name to be seated, there seemed to be some confusion, as me, and another party both thought they had been called at the same time. Even though the host had said party of one. He showed us the slip, I guess he thought he might be pronouncing a name wrong, and sure enough, it was for me. I'm not sure if that other couple had just heard wrong, or were just trying to get a table quicker or what. And it may just be me, but I got the feeling the lady from that table was staring at me, and giving me dirty looks through out the meal.

This was my first time at Nine Dragons, and I had been anxious to try it. I had read lots of mixed reviews, probably with more being negative then positive. Plus the fact that I hadn't eaten anything since last night, and I was starving, may not have been helping my patience.

My server that day, was Pak Yan. She was good. But, she seemed to get flustered very easily. I'm assuming she was pretty new, since she had what seemed to be some sort of manager or other following around.

I started by telling her I had the DDE, and she didn't know what that was. Not a big deal, since the manager-type person was with her, and did. And like I said, I think she was new.

I had a small debate between weather to order the honey-sesame chicken, or general tso's chicken, and since I always get tso's chicken, and I had read lots about the honey-sesame chicken, decided to get the honey-sesame chicken.

I also had a jasmine green iced tea with my lunch, as that seemed more appropriate then diet coke.

The chicken was served quickly enough. There was plenty of chicken, and a nice sized serving of rice. The chicken was cooked well, it was crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside. The sauce was sweet, but not overly sweet, and it was very good. The rice was good too, and was not under, or over-cooked.

So I enjoyed my entree. It was not however, any better then I can get at my favorite Chinese places here at home, and about double the price as my favorite hometown Chinese place, though the DDE helped there.

Though the meal was very filling, I had been wanting to try the red bean ice cream out of curiostity. I had no idea what it would taste like, so I had to order a dish of it.

It was okay, kind of nutty tasting. Maybe a little bit like pistachio, but I prefer pistachio to red bean.

Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Nine Dragons, and I may return, though I probably won't, due to being able to get the same quality at home. Though if I feel like Chinese at Disney, I know this place was usually never fully booked, and would be good as a last minute ADR.

Day Three - Afternoon

After lunch, I decided it was only fitting that I see Reflections of China. Let me start off by saying that I had never seen any of the WS movies before. When I was young, I had no interest in them, and when I went in Oct 2005, I had been to busy with all the Food and Wine Festival activities. Not that I feel badly about that.

I really liked the film. I hadn't been sure exactly what to expect, but I liked the whole 360 thing they had going on. They could use some seats though.

After seeing Reflections of China I exited the building, (or is it considered a temple?) and right there were Mulan and Mushu! So of course, I had to have my picture taken with them. Mushu had to take my arm - I get so giddy when the characters do that.

I then walked from China to Germany, and walked around shops, and then walked to Italy, and looked around shops. I think I spent more time in shops this time then I did in all my other trips put together.

In Italy, I stopped at the wine store, I forget the name of it, and had a flute of Rosa Regale, which I had been wanting since I had tried it last year.

I also was in a doll shop, (it may have been in Germany, I can't keep track of which WS shop is which,) but they had dolls about the size of the American Girl dolls, (which I have two of,) and they had Disney princess dresses for them

I considered buying some, but seeing the price, and not knowing for sure if they would fit, I passed. They were really nice though, and if I'd had the money, (I mean it would have been over $500 for all the princess outfits,) and had been sure they would fit I would of bought them. Maybe I'll get BF to buy me one, or two, or three. . .

[disneyfav4ever]

I can't keep doing one post for each day. It's too frustrating. It takes me too long to complete a day, and I have too much other stuff going on, that by the time I get a chance to write my report is pushed to the second page of my subscribed threads, and it takes me forever to find it.

So, I'm going to start to just add a new post, and do the morning in each post, then another post for each afternoon, etc, and just break at a good place, so it doesn't get lost again.

I want to try and finsih this by the time I leave for my next trip, (2/12,) but I seriously doubt that's going to happen. Oh well, at least I got my dining reviews done.

[disneyfav4ever]

Starting where I left off with day three in my last post.

Day Three - Afternoon - Epcot - Future World

As much as I like World Showcase, I can't wander around there for hours on end. I think it's beautiful, and enjoy strolls through it, stopping for entertainment and characters, and browsing through shops when I please, but I can't do it continuiously for a whole afternoon. So I walked from World Showcase back to Future World. I had nowhere I "had" to be for a couple hours, until my Soarin FP time came around.

Remembering that the Wonders of Life pavillion was open for the season I headed over there, since I had missed it in 2005. (I hadn't missed it on purpose, it had been closed.) I wanted to see Cranium Command, and maybe Body Wars and / or the Making of Me.

It was about ten minutes to the next showing of Cranium Command, so I walked around the pavillion, which was virtually empty, of people and displays. The interactive stands were still up, but it was really quiet, and quite peaceful actually.

When the timer got to two minutes before showtime I got into the queue for Cranium Command, which was non-existant. There was maybe a dozen people around, and there got to be another dozen or so by the time the show started, but the theater was practically empty.

After Cranium Command, I walked over to Body Wars, where the wait was listed as ten minutes. The ten minute wait was non-existant as well, and I walked right on to a half-empty simulator.

I think Wonders of Life being off the map had something to do with no one being there. I saw maybe 100 people the whole time I was in the Wonders of Life, but honestly, there was no one there.

I missed Making of Me, which I had wanted to see, since I had never seen it before, but figured I could catch it another day.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Three - Afternoon - Epcot - Future World - Continued

So where was I? Right, I was just leaving the Wonders of Life pavillion. I still had an hour or so until my FP time for Soarin, which is the only FP I had gotten that day, nothing else really needed it.

I rode Spaceship Earth, which was a walk-on. I ride Spaceship Earth at least once every trip. It was the first Disney attraction I ever went on way back in 1998, which, okay, wasn't that long ago, but it seems like ages.

I walked around that whole Spaceship Earth - Innoventions area looking for Character Connection, which I didn't find at the moment, and instead, stumbled upon Club Cool.

I made a point of trying every flavor, including the Beverly. I didn't think it was that bad. It wasn't sweet, and did not taste like soda, but it wasn't horrible like I was expecting it to be. I think people drink it expecting sweet, and are suprised when it's bitter. I knew it was going to be bitter, so only took a sip and it was fine. My favorite was the watermelon soda, which I think was from China. Maybe if BF does in fact come with me next month I'll get him with the Beverly.

I then rode Journey Into Imagination with Figment for the first time. I liked it, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I thought it was well done. Certainly not a must-do for me, but I enjoyed it. Except for a certain smell during the "smell sense," part. LOL.

It was then almost 4:30, and my FP time would be soon. Deciding to save time after Soarin, I went to the restroom at the Imagination pavillion, and changed for dinner there. I wear my nice capris all day, but always were a t-shirt into the parks, and then just have a nicer top in my bag. So with just a change of tops, it's not necessary to go all the way back to Pop.

Then it was time for Soarin! As I was flying I had some sad memories, as someone who lived there died the month before my trip. :guilty: But, anyway, Soarin is still my favorite ride, though I never ride it without a FP unless I'm there at opening.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day 3 - Dinner - Citricos

After Soarin, I made my way to the Grand Floridian via the monorail, and got there a little after 5:00. My ADR was for 5:50, and since Citricos didn't even open until 5:30, and I had already changed, I had some time to see the gingerbread house in the lobby, which I had been looking foward to. I would of probably bought some gingerbread, had the line not been so long. But it was long, and seemed very slow moving, so I skipped it.

This was my first time eating at Citricos, and I, as I always am when trying a new restaurant, was very excited. But for Citricos I was especially excited. Even more so, since I rarely see many reviews for it on the boards, and from what I have read, has been good.

I checked in at 5:40, and was seated in five minutes. As I was waiting to be seated the doors to Victoria and Albert's were opening, and I got a glimpse inside. Very nice, and I'm going to make a point of eating there sooner or later.

I was seated towards the open kitchen area, and I was able to watch the chefs cook as I ate. I enjoy restaurants with open kitchens, becuase it seems like their cleaner, since they are in view of guests the whole time, and can't be messy. That's not to say I don't eat at restaurants that don't have open kitchens, or that I don't expect small messes, and at times, larger ones. I know all restaurants have their share of dropped food. But I like knowing that they can't just pick it back up off the floor and serve it anyway. I've worked in a restaurant before, and that has happened.

Anyway, now that I've destroyed your appetite with that lovely memory of mine, back on to my review.

My server for the evening was Jason. He was okay. He was fast enough. There was a small thing that kept on bugging me though. I was seated next to a railing, and every time Jason came over to take my order, or serve me something, he was always on the opposite side of the railing. I was right next to the opening of the railing, by the way, so it's not like he would of had to have walked halfway across the restaurant. It wasn't a big deal, it just seemed he could of come around, and it seemed a bit impersonnal.

I had already known before arriving that I wanted the gateau of crab. So I ordered that, along with the roasted butternut squash bisque.

I was served the soup first. I had had butternut squash soup the night before at CA Grill, and it had been very good, this one was even better. This one had orange-scented crab in it, and was topped with a citrus cream.

I was also served bread with the soup. There were two kinds of bread in the basket, some sort of multi-grain loaf, and a foccacia. The multi-grain bread was okay, but I love foccacia, so I basically stuck with that. It was very good. There was also a special house butter with citrus zest, and sea salt. I liked the citrus addition to the butter, and given the fact that both my soup, and the gateau of crab had orange flavors in them, it complemented my meal very nicely. I didn't like the salt sprinkled on top so much. I don't like very salty things so much. I used to love salty things, and hate peppery items, now the opposite is true.

I was served the gateau of crab after finishing the soup. It was delicious, and one of my favorite things I ate all week. There were huge lumps of crab, and a strong cheddar flavor. I love cheddar, so that was great for me. It came with two sauces, a orange fennel coulis, and a tomato and red onion chutney type one. I don't like raw onions so much, so didn't really like that one, but I really enjoyed the orange-fennel one. I couldn't get enough of this, and wish it had been larger, even though it was the same size as a good size crab cake.

After I had finished my two appetizers, one of the chefs came by and asked me how I was enjoying my food. He seemed very pleasant, and it was also between now and dessert that I had a nice little chat with Jason.

Now, on to dessert. The dessert menu was the same as it had been on All Ears, except that the Cinderellabration dessert had been removed from the menu. I had wanted to order that, but had already assumed that it had probably been taken off the menu after the Happiest Celebration on Earth had ended, and the Year of a Million Dreams had started, and had been hoping for a new dessert for the Year of a Million Dreams to try. I was in luck, they had added a pumpkin cheesecake to the menu. I love cheesecake, I love pumpkin. Guess what I ordered?

The presantation of the plate was beautiful, and I hope to get the pictures uploaded soon so I can post the one of this. The cheesecake, was covered in cream cheese, and surronded by whipped cream. The whipped cream was not usual whipped cream, and it was delicious, and extra fluffy, to what I assume, to look like a cloud. There was also a cranberry sauce on the plate. And a cocoa impression of Beauty and the Beast, next to a Year of a Million Dreams sign. The cheesecake itself, was sadly, just okay, I though it was a little on the dry side. The whipped cream may have been better then the cheesecake itself.

I will definatly be returning to Citricos at some point, as that gateau of crab is worth another trip alone.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Three - Night - Magic Kingdom

After dinner, it was still pretty early, before 7:00. Apparently eating solo is faster then eating with others. Of course solo, I pay attention to my food, and when I'm out with BF or whoever I don't shut up, and just pick at my food, making a simple meal last hours. I also take forever deciding what I'm going to order usually, but at Disney, know exactly what I want most of the time, since I always memorize the menus before I go.

Anyway, I had already planned to go to Magic Kingdom that night since it was open until 11:00, and I could see Spectro Magic and Wishes, two things that I had somehow both missed in 2005.

I got to MK around 7:00, and though Spectro Magic was less then an hour away, the streets were still pretty empty. Knowing there'd be another showing, (and knowing it'd be less crowded,) I went to Tomorrowland, since I had completely skipped it the day before.

The first thing I did was get a FP for Space Ranger Spin, which I've always enjoyed, but have never been very good at.

I had some time before my FP time came around, so I rode the Carrousel of Progress, which I had never been on before, and liked it. I think they could use a rehab, and make the decades a little more spread out, like instead of 1900, 20, and 40, and present day, they could do 1900, 1930, 1970, and present day. Just seems like from 1940 to now is a pretty big leap. I also rode the TTA which was a walk-on, and had a nice nighttime tour of Tomorrowland.

Then I was able to use my FP for Buzz, and as always, had an embarassing score. For whatever reason I never manage to get over 20,000 points. :rolleyes1

It was almost 8:00 then, and I wanted to avoid Main Street, since I knew Spectro Magic was starting, and knew I wouldn't be able to get through, so I walked to Toon Town instead, and decided to check on the lines at the Hall of Fame.

I walked right into the room with Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto, and since I hadn't seen them yet this trip, was glad I made the stop. Minnie and Pluto are my favorite of the Fab Five, (which I actually think of as the Fab Eight, since I always think Chip and Dale and Daisy, (more favorites, LOL,) should be included.)

I then went to Fantasyland, since I wanted to watch Wishes from there. Since I still had about twenty minutes until Wishes, (I don't know how it took half an hour to get from Tomorrowland to Toon Town to Fantasyland, I must have been dawdling,) I decided to ride It's a Small World, since it was a walk-on, and I knew I'd be off before Wishes started.

Big mistake! It ended up stopping in the last room with all the white-dressed children, which is my favorite room, but I did not want to miss Wishes, so was getting really antsy waiting for it to start again. It did start again, but then in the room with all of the good-bye signs, it stopped again.

Do you have any idea how annoying it is to be stuck in a boat when you can see the exit, and be in a hurry to get off to see something else, all the while with that song playing over and over? :rolleyes1 Not the best circumstances.

Luckily, it did start moving, and I did have just enough time to get to "my spot," to watch Wishes from.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Three - Night - Magic Kingdom - Continued

I love Wishes. My trip didn't seem complete in 2005 without it, even with Hallo-Wishes, and watching it from California Grill the night before was nice, but nothing is the same as seeing it in person.

I especially love the princess part, and the finale. And I love the music the fireworks are set to. I have the cd at home, which I listen to a lot, but, like watching Wishes from CA Grill, it's just not that same.

After Wishes, there was less then an hour until the second showing of Spectro Magic, which I had no intention of missing.

I was a little hungry, and wanted a snack. It only been a few hours since dinner, and as good as dinner had been, the portions hadn't been huge, and I needed a snack.

Since I was still in Fantasyland, I decided to go to Pinocchio Village Haus, since I remembered they had special fries, and I didn't want anything sweet. I ordered the fries, which are called Figaro fries, and are topped with bacon, cheese, dressing, (which I'm pretty sure was ranch,) lettuce, and tomatoes, except I had it without the lettuce and tomatoes. No point in attempting to be healthy with this dish. LOL.

They were sooo good, and probably sooo fattening. I think I'll definatly have to limit myself to one order of these per trip. The same way I limit myself to one of Ghiradelli's sundaes each trip, or one Dole Whip each trip, they're more special that way.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Three - Night - Magic Kingdom - Continued Again

After I had finished eating my Figaro fries I walked over to Liberty Square to get a seat for Spectro Magic, about half an hour early, and was right in the front.

This was my first time seeing Spectro "in person," since 1998, and I was really excited, and looking foward too it.

On my left side there was a family with the parents, and a son about my age, on my right side there was a couple. Or, let me rephrase that, there was a couple on my right side until about five minutes before the parade started, then it was the couple, and their three grown children, (also about my age,) who came from the street, and duck under the ropes to their parents.

I wasn't going to budge, I had waited half an hour and had a good spot I wasn't going to give up. So the five of them, (the kids and the parents,) where in a spot that should of only fit the couple, maybe three people. It's not like they had just come back from getting a snack or using the restroom. They were talking loudly, since they'd been on rides, and wanted their parents to know what they'd been doing for the last hour or so.

I hate it when people show up at the last minute, and try to take over space that others had already claimed. If you care about the event, and want a good view, get there early. It's as simple as that.

That being said, Spectro Magic was great. I had a great spot right where they turn from Main Street to Liberty Square, so was able to take pictures of the front of all the floats, and then the sides after they turned.

After Spectro I was really tired, (I had been at the parks since 7:00 that morning remember.) I was going to go back over to Tomorrowland, and try the stand-by line for Space Mountain, but that was at the opposite end of the park, and I just didn't feel like walking back over there.

So I started to walk to the exit, going in and out of the shops on Main Street. I picked up a bag of peanut brittle at the candy store. Yummy. That bag actually lasted awhile.

I crashed as soon as I got back to Pop.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Four - Morning

After my late night the night before, I had decided to sleep in and have an easy morning the next day. This of course was planned out months before to be my Downtown Disney morning.

I had set my alarm for 8:00 AM, which is a late wake-up for me while in Disney, though it's the time I usually get up at home. Turns out, I wouldn't of had to bother with the alarm. I ended up waking up at 7:00 AM on my own.

How is it, that when I'm home, I never want to get out of bed, but then at Disney I'm up and ready to go super fast?

I wasn't that hungry, but went down to Everything Pop anyway, to see if there was anything I felt like getting for breakfast anyway. Nope, I just got my usual breakfast of diet coke. Thank god for those refillable mugs.

Honestly, I think the mugs are a great investment if you drink at least two sodas a day, and stay at least three days. Now me, I drink a soda or two in the morning, and a soda or two at night, and if I did bother to go back to Pop during the day, I always had another soda or two then as well. I did keep track the first two days to how many sodas I had drunk, and was at seven on day two. So between when I arrived at noon on day one, and when I went to bed on day two, (neither day taking a break,) the mug had already paid for itself with ten days left to go.

At 9:15, after an hour of catching up on filling in my Pass Porter, and writing in my journal, I headed to the bus stop to catch a bus to DTD. It was time to do some (Christmas) shopping.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Four - Morning - Downtow Disney

On the bus on the ride to Downtown Disney, there was an older lady that was complaining when the driver said the bus was only going to stop at Marketplace, and not at the Pleasure Island - West Side stop, since those shops and restaurants didn't open for another hour or so.

Apparently, she had a lunch reservation somewhere, (this was at 9:30 mind you,) and she didn't want to be late. :sad2: The earliest DTD lunches don't start until 11:00, 11:30 at the earliest. I don't know why she got so snappy.

After all, I had a lunch ADR at West Side as well. I was just going to go to Marketplace early, do some shopping while it was slow, and then walk to West Side from Marketplace.

At Marketplace I walked from shop to shop making a mental list of things I should buy for Christmas gifts. I also realized it's really hard to find dark chocolate at Disney, with the exception of Ghiradellis.

I ended up not buying any Christmas gifts at all, but did buy some things for myself; two pairs of earring, MLP at Once Upon a Toy, and Dead Man's Chest on DVD.

When it got to be 11:00 I started to walk over to West Side, it wasn't a long walk, and couldn't of taken more then five minutes or so.

I think I've decided I like the shops better at Marketplace. They are definatly more Disney then the ones at West Side. There is a huge cd - dvd store at West Side, with two stories, and another candy store, as well as a magnet store that I went into.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Four - Lunch - Wolfgang Puck Cafe

I arrived at Wolfgang Puck at 11:23. I remember the exact time, becuase the lady inside said I couldn't check-in yet because they didn't open for another seven minutes. She was nice about it, and I didn't care that I had to wait. I went across the street to the Virgin music store. That was a bad idea. They were playing Pirates - Dead Man's Chest, which of course, I started watching, even though I had seen it before, and had just bought it that morning. So I didn't make it back to Wolfgang Puck until about 11:40.

I was seated immediatly, right near the kitchen. My server for this meal was Antavius, and he was good. He was fast, and asked me how my food was. But he wasn't anything spectacular, or over-the-top, so I have no need to mention him again in this review.

I was brought out a bread basket with two kinds of foccacia, olive, and herb. Along with the bread came a plate of olive and balsamic oils for dipping. I said in my Citrico's review that I love foccacia. Well, this may be the best foccacia bread I've ever had. There were two pieces of herb foccacia, and one of the olive. I ate half a piece of herb, then half a piece of olive, then the other half of the herb, and then the other half of the olives. These were big pieces too by the way. I was debating what a pig the waiter would think I was if I ate the other piece of herb foccacia, and completely cleaned out the bread basket, when I was served my entree.

I had ordered the pumpkin ravioli. It was regular pasta, filled with a pumpkin filling, which was slightly sweet, but not sweet enough to make it taste like pumpkin pie. Which I love, but I don't like savory pumpkin items to taste too much like dessert. It had a brown butter sauce with fried sage, port wine glaze, toasted pine nuts and aged parmesan cheese. It all went very well together. Especially the sauce and wine glaze. I ate everything on the plate except for some larger pieces of sage and parmesan.

You'd think I'd be full after this. And I pretty much was. But, I had heard really good things about the creme brulee here. And I told myself I could cancel my dinner reservation, which didn't happen by the way. So I ordered the vanilla bean creme brulee.

It was good, very good even, but I've had just as good at home, and I wouldn't of really needed to order this.

I'm very glad it's on the dining plan, since I have that next year. Though I can't imagine getting an appetizer in addition to all the rest of the food.

[Tinkerbell's Mom]

Jumping on board for the ride, I'm loving the solo trip, I want one myself!!!!!

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Four - Afternoon - Animal Kingdom

After eating lunch I walked to the Pleasure Island - West Side bus stop, which, being that the West Side attractions were now open, was operating. While at the bus stop I called my BF, and for the first time of the trip got a hold of him.

I know four days isn't a long time. But, usually we talk at least once a day. I'd been so busy running around the parks, that I'd rarely had my phone on the past few days. (I won't turn it on in the parks, unless I'm outside, (and not on a ride or at a show,) and just feel like calling someone.)

I was off the phone before the AK Lodge bus arrived, (BF was at work, and could onlt talk for a few minutes.) I took the bus from DTD to AK Lodge, and switched buses there to go to AK.

I don't understand why there can't be buses going to and from DTD to the parks. It would make transportation easier, especially for guests who don't know which resort is in which area. For instance, it would of taken me more time if I went to Pop, my "home" for the trip, and switch, then it did going to AK Lodge, since that's much closer to AK then Pop is.

I arrived at Animal Kingdom around 1:30. Even with going to AK Lodge, I didn't arrive at AK for almost an hour from when I left DTD. I think that was the longest it took me to get anywhere all week.

I saw a favorite of mine for the first and only time this trip, Festival of the Lion King. As much as I love it, I always have a hard time scheduling it, since I don't spend a lot of time at AK. On my last two trips I've only spent two half-days at AK. I think I may need to figure in three half-days from now on.

After Lion King, which ended around 2:30, I hurried over to Dinoland hoping I could make the 3:00 showing of Nemo. The line ran back to the big yellow dinosaur, and when I did get into the theater, there were almost no seats left. I got a half-decent seat that wouldn't of been possible if I'd not been solo. There are times when I'm glad I'm not part of a big group. This was one of them.

Once again I loved the show. I can't believe I thought about skipping this on the first day!

After Nemo, I got to my parade spot by Tamu Tamu, and was able to see the parade both times it passed.

[disneyfav4ever]

After the parade, I went straight to AK Lodge for dinner.

Day Four - Dinner - Jiko

To be added from my dining reviews, coming up soon.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Four - Night

I was originally, planning on going to MK since they had EMH this night, and I could see Spectro Magic.

But, since I had just seen Spectro the night before, didn't feel like facing the mob, and my throat started feeling a little sore, went back to Pop instead.

It was about 7:30 when I got back to my room, and I remembered that the season finale of the Amazing Race was on at 8:00. All of a sudden, going back to Pop instead of MK seemed like a great choice!

Great finale, as all the finales always are.

After AR, I went to bed. This was around 10:30. Around midnight I woke up. My throat had really started to bother me, and it felt like I had a huge headache starting.

I blamed it on eating too much food, and seeing too many shows that day, and didn't really think anything of it. I took a couple asprin, and tried to fall back asleep, which didn't happen until after 2:00.

Then around 4:00, I woke up again. I think I felt worse when I woke up at midnight, but didn't feel much better now. My head hurt less, but my throat was still really bothering me.

I tried to fall back asleep, but couldn't. I kept watching the clock all night, trying to sleep.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Five - Morning - Epcot

When it got to be after 6:00, I didn't feel that great, but got up anyway, thinking maybe a shower would make me feel better. My headache seemed to go away, so I figured I'd stick with my plans, go to Epcot, and just be careful about what I ate.

I skipped breakfast. I wasn't hungry at all, but was really thirsty. I probably should of just drunk water all day, but drank a lot of soda, thinking whatever I had, would just go away.

Note - I never get sick. Never. The last time I got even remotly sick was in 2003 when I was in college, and had, what I considered, a stomach ache. But that wasn't too bad, and I never missed any classes. The last time I was really-really sick, was back in 1999. So I never get sick.

I got at Epcot before opening, at 8:15. I traded some pin I had, (I bought a bunch of pins I wasn't interested in off of E-Bay, to use for traders,) and got this Aurora pin I really like.

As soon as Epcot opened, I got a FP for Soarin, and then rode it using the stand-by line. After riding Soarin, I waited until I could get another FP. Killing time by getting a soda at Sunshine Seasons. So, when I left the Land pavillion I had two FPs for Soarin, both of which would be good before noon.

At 10:00, I went to the Living Seas pavillion to see Turtle Talk. What a cute show! There was, however, some lady, who wanted to sit on the floor with her kids, in the middle of the aisle. :sad2: Poor CM had to keep asking her to move.

After seeing Turtle Talk, I was walking back to the Land to use my FPs, when I got a call from BF. When I got off the phone with BF, my first FP had hit its end time. Of course, I blamed BF, who wasn't even in Florida for this. ;)

Luckily, it was only late by about ten minutes, so I didn't feel badly about using it. Then I used the second one, which was still in its return time. After that, I grabbed another FP.

Now, my throat didn't feel any better, but I decided to head over to France, to keep my lunch ADR, and try and get something in me other then soda.

[disneyfav4ever]

I will be trying to finish this report within the next few weeks. I just finished my Feb 07 one, (yes the later trip had its TR written first,) but I'm going to finish this one before I start my pre-TR, which I want to start. But I set a goal for myself to finish my halfway done TRs first. So this is now back in progress.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Five - Lunch at Chefs de France

I had a short wait. My ADR was for 12:00, and I was not seated until 12:05. Not that I really cared about five minutes.

I realized something this day. For the most part, French boys are really hot, and have the cutest accents. My server, was Aurelien. He was very pleasant.

For my appetizer, I ordered the lobster bisque. Soup seemed like a good idea, with my throat hurting I really didn't feel like eating anything that would require chewing.

I was served a roll. It was good, but me being in my non-chewing state, ate very little of it. I was offered another, but of course, I declined.

The lobster bisque was good, better then the one I had at Coral Reef last year, which up to this point is the only Disney seafood type bisque I had to compare it to besides the crab soup at Boma, which is above excellant. So this was better then Coral Reef's bisque, but nowhere near as incredible as Boma's crab soup. That may have been the best soup I ever had, that, and the cheddar cheese soup at Le Cellier, and the butternut squash soup at Citrico's. I could write a whole review on why Disney has some of the best soups ever.

Although my throat still hurt, like that had gone away in the last ten - fifteen minutes, the soup did make me feel a little better. And although I could of also probably gotten away with just the soup as my lunch, I had been looking foward to the tarte a la flamme alsacienne. Since I had wanted that since I had booked my ADR here, (way back in June,) my common sense went out the window, and I ordered it anyway.

Tarte a la flamme alsacienne is a flatbread topped with creme fraiche, (which, for those of you who don't know, is soured milk,) bacon, and onions.
It was very good, though I thought there was a little too much onion on it. I really liked the crust, taste-wise anyway, it was very crispy, which usually I would of loved, except with my throat, made it almost painful to eat. I managed to eat about a third of it.

I was debating weather or not to let my common sense go out the window again, and order dessert, when I actually looked out the window and saw Belle and Aurora coming out of the back and saw they were going to do meets and greets.

So I liked Chefs de France, even though I know I would have been able to enjoy it better had my throat not been bothering me.

Day Five - Continued

I rushed out of the restaurant so I could see Aurora and Belle before they had to go back inside. Yes I'm sick, but no, that won't stop me from meeting characters, and I hadn't seen either of them yet this trip.

After I saw them I walked to Morocco, and there was Jasmine! She was wearing a robe over her usual outfit, and I'd never seen her like that before, at least out meeting. She did have a robe whenever she'd been in Cinderellabration, which had been the stage show the year before.

When I walked to the America pavillion I traded for an Ariel pin, that I had been considering buying, so I was happy to trade for it. Then I saw the American Adventure Show. Yeah, I won't be needing to see that again. I'm glad to be an American and all, but that almost put me to sleep. It was more interesting then the Hall of Presidents though, but that really doesn't say much.

After I saw the show I walked back to Future World. I had gotten a Disney Visa more then a year ago for my 2005 trip, just for the Visa holders meet and greet, (see, this is the character obsession I have,) and I never took advantage of it that year. That was not going to happen again!

There was like a ten minute wait, which I don't get, since there was no one in line ahead of me, so I guess they had to go get the characters from somewhere. But I had a pleasant conversation with the CM there, so it wasn't too bad.

I ended up having a private audience with Mickey and Pluto, and got a free 5X7 with their autographs magically added. So it was worth the ten minute wait.

After that I was still in a character mood, so I went to the Character Connection. There was a short wait there, mainly because Mickey and everyone needed a break as soon as I got there. There was a toddler there who was absolutly transfixed with Pluto. She kept on crawling over to him, away from the other characters, CMs, and her parents. She only wanted to see Pluto. Who could blame her? He's always been one of my favorites too.

So obviously Pluto was there, as well as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Chip and Dale. All of them were in their Year of a Million Dreams outfits, which are cute, and I absolutly love Minnie's dress for it. I'm partial to the color blue.

Aftet that I was kind of thirsty, but instead of actually spending money and buying a soda, I went to Club Cool, and tried a few samples there. (I did this every time I got thirsty in Future World.)

I then went to the Living Seas, and rode the Seas with Nemo and Friends. It had a five minute wait listed. And I guess you could say I did spend five minutes in line, but that was because it took so long to walk through the queue. I think that is the longest queue in Disney World. The ride was cute, but I'd never ride it if the line was out the door of the pavillion, which at one point I saw it was. Disney is definatly cashing in on Nemo, but between this, the Nemo musical at AK, and Turtle Talk, was definatly my least favorite.

After Nemo it was getting close to my ADR time, but I had a Fast Pass fpr Soarin that I wanted to use before leaving the park. So I used that and then walked to the International Gateway, to get a boat to the Dolphin Resort.

Day Five - Dinner at Blue Zoo

I just made it to the Dolphin at 5:00, which was my ADR time, and I was able to find Blue Zoo quickly, since it was right inside the doors.

I was seated almost right away, at 5:05. I must say, they make a spectacle of being seated, and placed my napkin in my lap for me. Which I'm sure is the way it is done in fancy restaurants, though I rarely eat at any.

As much as I love fancy-gourmet food, I am not a fancy person. So when I go out at home, a good Italian place is Olive Garden, and a good seafood place is Red Lobster, throwing in a few local places for good mix. But, I'm not one of those people who go into the city, (I'm less then an hour away from Philly,) and get all dressed up for a fancy dinner.

So Disney is my favorite place to dine. Besides the almost always excellant service, and good, if not great, food, I never feel the need to dress up. I enjoy knowing that the most I have to dress up is a pair of nice capris and a nice top, and that is the norm. With the exception of Victoria and Albert's, which I do hope to experience one day.

After I had been seated I was greeted by my server, Paul, almost immediatly. He was excellant. He quickly took my drink order, recommending the Blue Zoo special drink, the Zooberry Martini, which he said was made with blueberry-infused vodka. I love berries of all king, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc, and I remember reading a review awhile back, which I believe was written by Mister Disney, saying that it was good, so I ordered that along with a glass of water.

Paul also went over the appetizer selections, explaining that they sold clams by the half shell, which I skipped, I don't care for raw clams, and usually will only eat them fried or in clam chowder. He also mentioned they were selling crab claws by the piece that night, which I didn't get, but looking back now, I'm not sure why. Must of been my throat. I do enjoy crab legs when we have them here at home, which is only once every couple of months.

What I did order was the teppan seared jumbo sea scallops, and the yellowfin tuna tartare. Which, according to Paul were two of Todd English's specialities. The scallops are the special appetizer at Blue Zoo, and the tuna tartare is the special at Olive's. So I felt good about my choices.

After my order was taken I was served bread. This was my one dissapointment of the night. I had heard many, many, great things about Blue Zoo's bread basket, featuring three different types of bread. But, I only got one kind, so I was sad not to be able to try the other two.
The bread was served with fennel butter, which I didn't really like that much. I like flavored butters, and I don't mind fennel, but for whatever reason I really didn't care for this.

I was served the tuna tartare first. The tuna was wrapped in cucumber, on top of crispy-fried rock shrimp, and had an orange glaze and a scallion cream.

It was good, though a bit more spicy then I had expected. I remember thinking to myself that it would clear my throat up, lol. My favorite part of the dish were the shrimp.

After I had finished my tuna, or almost finished, I can only eat so much raw fish. I was served the seared sea scallops. They were on top of braised beef short ribs and silky cauliflower puree.

These were excellant. I'm not a huge scallop fan, and only have them once in awhile, and while they were very good, it was the short ribs that really stood out. And also, the sauce, which I'm not quite sure what was in it, was very good with it.

After that it was time for dessert. I had looked at the menu before entering the restaurant, and while my original choice back home would of been the sampler, I had switched to either the molten chocolate cake, which had a lot of Asian sounding accompianments, or the creme brulee bar. When I recieved the dessert menu, it was different then the one outside the restaurant, there was still a molten chocolate cake on the menu, but the accompianments had changed, so I ordered the creme brulee bar.

Paul was quick to explain that this was not a traditional creme brulee, and instead was a layered bar thing with different layers, which had a caramelized top, hence the name, creme brulee bar.

The bottom of the bar was a lemon shortbread cookie, then there was a layer of custard, a layer of raspberry jam, for lack of a better word, and then the caramelized top. It also came with a shot glass of some kind of raspberry liquor.

This is one of the best desserts I had all week. I tried a forkful of it with the raspberry liquor, and that made it taste a bit to bitter for me. But it was excellant nontheless. I'm so glad I ordered this over the chocolate cake though I'm sure that would of been wonderful as well.

So I really liked Blue Zoo. The service was excellant, and the food was very good. I had felt better then I had at lunch, and had I been in my normal state, I would probably have said I love Blue Zoo. I will definatly be returning, though they don't use the DDP, so I won't make it back here in 2007. They also don't accept the DDE, not that I'm complaining, it was worth it, but two appetizers, a drink, and dessert cost me $60.

I hate to say I'm going to skip it due to the lack of DDP, but another meal on top of the one's I'm already going to be getting with the DDP, would be too much. Plus with the DDP, I'm going to need meals open to make use of the CS credits, which I'm actually looking foward to trying lots of new CS restaurants, since I usually eat at mainly TS.

Day Five - Night

I had planned on going to MGM that night after dinner, to see a second showing of Fantasmic, but I really didn't feel up to it, and I had a long day ahead of me coming up. So I went back to Pop instead, and went to bed.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Six - Early Morning

I woke up early the next morning at 5:30 AM. I hadn't slept very well again, though I had slept better then the previous night. I went down to the food court to get a diet coke, and then went back to my room to get ready for the day.

I had an 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace, and I wanted to get to MK in plenty of time. I hate being late. I went to the bus stop at 7:10, and it's a good thing I went down as early as I did, since I had a wait for a bus, and I didn't get to MK until 7:50, but I had time to spare, and that is all that matters.

Day Six - Breakfast at Crystal Palace

I was let into MK as soon as I arrived, so was able to take a few pictures of Main Street and the castle, though this being the second time I've done an before park-opening ADR I'm starting to have an abundance of empty Main Street and uncrowded castle pictures.

I really wasn't that hungry, but I loved the breakfast I had there last year, and I hadn't seen Pooh and the gang yet this year, and I have a thing for Eeyore.

I was seated at 8:10, on the opposite side of the restaurant I had been on last year, in the circular booth thing. I'm sure those of you who have been there before will know what I'm talking about.

My server advised me that the characters would be starting on the opposite end of the room, and even that wouldn't be for a few minutes, so I had time to go up to the buffet.

I had a piece of sausage, and two pieces of bacon. They were good but nothing special. I would also like to take a moment to say I never eat like this at home, my breakfast at home usually consists of diet coke. I know, breakfast of champions. So bacon, and all the other fatty delicous foods I eat are a once-a-year treat.

I also had a piece of breakfast pizza, which I also had last year and loved, this year, it was good, but I think I liked last years better. I'm not sure why. I also had some potato casserole, which was way too salty, last year the potatoes were too peppery. It seems like Crystal Palace can't get the seasoning right on potatoes. Though I didn't mind the overly-peppery potatoes last year I don't like things that are overly salty. There was however also roasted potatoes with onions, (the red-skinned ones,) that were perfectly cooked, and very good. And I finally tried the puffed french toast, which somehow I missed last year. I thought it tasted like funnel cake. That was very good as well, though I was only able to eat one piece of it.

As I was eating that I was visited by Tigger and Piglet, and one of the character handlers offered to take my picture for me with them. After being visited by those two, Eeyore and Pooh were just getting to the side of the restaurant I was on, when they, (the characters,) all took a break, so I went up to the buffet for a second plate of food.

I had a helping of breakfast lasagna, which was less sweet then the one I had last year, even though it had the same kinds of fruit, blueberries and bananas, so I'm not sure why this one was different. I liked it better less-sweet though, since last time it was too sweet to eat more then a few bites.

I also had a honey-berry mini-muffin, I think that's what it was called, but I'm not sure, and some vegetable fritata, which was all right, I didn't eat it all. I can be kind of picky about eggs, and usually won't eat them out since I need them prepared a certain way, and usually they're either to runny or dried out or there's something wrong with them that I won't eat them. I usually load mine, (when I make them at home,) with cheese, so it's more cheesy then eggy. For whatever reason though, I do love quiche. Not that that has anything to do with breakfast, but it's kind of ironic that I'm that picky about eggs, and that we have quiche at home a few times a month. I also had some more of the red-skinned potatoes that I had on my first plate.

My server, had left me the bill right after I had been seated, so I just had to give him my DDE card, and have him revise the bill.

After I had finished eating I would have left, but I still hadn't seen Pooh and Eeyore. Had it been anyone other then Eeyore, I would have just left, and not bothered to see them, but I had to wait, and see Eeyore. Then right after I saw him, Pooh was only two tables away, so I waited, and saw him too.

I still really like Crystal Palace, and have to have breakfast here every trip.

Day Six - Morning

After breakfast it was 9:00 AM exactly, and the park had just opened. I made a beeline for Tomorrowland, grabbed a FP for Space Mountain, and then got in the stand-by line. It only took a few minutes to get through the line, ride, and get back outside.

I decided to go on Astro Orbiter next, since I'd never been on it before, and I knew it'd get longer lines later in the day. I was by myself in the elevator going up, but I figured there'd be other people up there waiting to ride. But nope, I was by myself. I felt really weird for the first half of the ride since I was the on it, but after I got over that, I was really able to enjoy having the whole ride, and the great views of Tomorrowland and the rest of the park to myself. I bet not many people can say they had a ride to themselves. :laughing:

After my solo flight, I walked right on to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which is another favorite of mine.

There wasn't anything else I wanted to do in Tomorrowland after that, and my FP time for Space Mountain hadn't come around yet, so I walked to Fantasyland, so I could get in line for Ariel. On the way to Fantasyland I saw the Mad Hatter and Alice by the Mad Tea Party, so I got my picture taken with them.

I got there about quarter of ten, and since Ariel doesn't open until ten, I had a few minutes to wait, but I knew it was worth it, since Ariel gets mobbed later in the day, and I did not want to be stuck in that line. :rolleyes:

After seeing Ariel, who was very nice as always, I got my second FP of the day for the Many Adventures of Pooh. (I get made fun of all the time for this being one of my favorite rides. :rolleyes1 )

I didn't have anything else I needed to see in Fantasyland, so I walked to Toon Town, and toured Mickey's House, which I hadn't been in for years. After that I got to meet Mickey. How cool am I? :cool2:

I decided to take the train from Toon Town to Frontierland, and then I could ride the other mountains over there. I walked right on to Splash Mountain, and then was able to get a FP for Big Thunder Mt. Railroad, which already had a decent line, so I decided to wait for my FP time then ride it on stand-by.

Instead I walked to Adventureland, (I did a lot of walking around this day,) and rode Pirates of the Caribbean with just a five minute wait. As I exited that there was a showing of Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial, which is a cute show, but really isn't worth seeing more then once. Except that it is Captain Jack, :cloud9: so I ended up seeing it three times. :rolleyes1

After the Pirate Tutorial was over I walked back to Fantasyland, and saw Mickey's Phillarmagic, and then got a FP for Peter Pan's flight.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Six - Afternoon

I had a lunch ADR at Grand Floridian Cafe, but my throat was bothering me, so I decided not to go. Plus I was really enjoying MK, and really in my park touring mode.

I left Fantasyland, and walked to Tomorrowland, (I do a lot of zig-zagging across the park all day,) and decided to get a burger at Cosmic Ray's since I wasn't going to be having a sit down meal. It was a decent burger, and the topping bar made it even better, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again.

After my lunch, I was just in time to see the High School Musical Pep Rally, which hadn't been a priority of mine, since I didn't like the movie that much, but for the rest of the afternoon I found myself humming the songs.

I then got a FP for Space Mountain, and used the one I had gotten first thing that morning. I then walked back to Fantasyland and used the FP that I had for the Adventures of Pooh, and the one that I had for Peter Pan's Flight. I was able to get another FP for Adventures of Pooh after riding both of those.

I walked to Frontierland then, and used the Fast Pass I had gotten earlier, for Big Thunder Mt. Railroad, and also got a new one after riding. I was having a great time with Fast Passes today! :goodvibes

After that I went and got a spot for the 3:00 parade, and saw that. I think I may like it better since they removed the snow globes. Even though I love snow globes I think the floats may be better with the added decorations since they've been removed.

I was hungry again after the parade. I had a dinner ADR at Ohana, but didn't feel like going. With my sore throat I knew I wouldn't be eating a lot, or getting my money's worth. So instead, I just got a hot dog at Casey's Corner. I don't get why everyone makes such a big deal out of the hot dogs here. :confused3 They taste the same as the ones I have at home.

I couldn't get the High School Musical songs out of my head from earlier, and decided I wanted to see the Pep Rally again. I also decided I wanted to buy the soundtrack, which I had the hardest time finding BTW.

While I was in Tomorrowland I used my Space Mt. FP. I then walked to the castle so I could see the last showing of the day of Dream Along with Mickey, which I had seen the other day, but hadn't gotten any good pictures of, so I wanted to see it again. Besides I liked the show.

After the show I went back to Fantasyland, and used my FP for the Adventures of Pooh, and saw Mickey's Phillarmagic again. It was almost time for Wishes then, so I watched them from Fantasyland.

After that I used my last Fast Pass for Big Thunder Mt. Railroad. It was then almost park closing, and time for my first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. :santa:

[Tinkerbell's Mom]

Ok I HAVE to ask, less then an hour from Philly? Me too . . . WHERE are you?

[disneyfav4ever]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - Take One

That night I was attending my first-ever Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, soon to be followed in two nights by me secong-ever MVMCP. I would've liked them spaced out a little more, but that's what fit my schedule best, so that's what I did.

I go to these parties for the special entertainment, and things special to the parties. Not for going on rides I can do anytime on normal park days.

I walked over to Tomorrowland so I could see the first showing of Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas. By the time I got there, half an hour early I might add, it was already standing room early. I ended up standing right behind the last row of bleachers, and this little girl stared at me the whole time until the show started. The show was cute, but nothing I'd need to see again.

I then walked to Toon Town, and went into one of the character greeting rooms where I saw Princess Aurora and Phillip, and Cinderella and Prince Charming. It was my first time meeting both Phillip and Prince Charming, so I was pretty excited about that.

I then walked to Fantasyland, and when I was near Pooh's Playful Spot I got to meet Scrooge Duck, who I had never seen before either.

[disneyfav4ever]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - Take One Continued

After seeing Scrooge I grabbed some cocoa. I could've gotten some cookies too, but my throat was still bothering me, so I just had the cocoa. Which I swear was like the best cocoa I've ever had. Maybe that's because it was in Disney. :goodvibes

I decided to wait for the parade then, and watched from the stocks in Liberty Square. I didn't feel like messing with my camera then, so I just watched, and didn't take any pictures.

I only watched about half of the parade, since I knew Belle and Snow White were alternating over in Fantasyland, and I wanted to see both of them. I knew one was scheduled to come out at 9:00, so I skipped the rest of the parade, so I wouldn't have a wait with the characters.

At 9:00 exactly out came Snow White and her prince, and I was third in line to meet them. I'd never met Snow White's prince before, (seriously, he needs a name though,) and was excited to meet him. Snow White was very flirty. I had just asked for the prince's autograph, since I already had hers, and she said most people had wanted his and not hers, but who could blame them. ;) Of course, I let her be in the picture.

I went back to Toon Town then, and got in line to see Minnie and Mickey, since I wanted a picture with them in their Christmas outfits. There was a really cute baby in the room, who was completely fascinated with them, and spent five minutes grabbing their mouths and noses, and getting pictures taken. No one in line seemed to mind though, it was just too adorable.

After meeting Mickey and Minnie, it was time for Holiday Wishes, which even though I'd heard 1,000 times since I own the soundtrack, I'd never actually seen, so I was glad to finally see that.

I then got in line again for Snow White, since the CM there said she'd be leaving soon, and Belle and the Beast would be coming out. I figured I'd stay in line now, and let people ahead of me if Snow White was still there when I got to the front. But that wasn't necessary, there was still one family in front of me when Belle did come out.

Of course, the girl who was in front of me didn't want to have anything to do with the Beast, and would only go near Belle, and poor Beast had to stand off to the side when her parents took a picture.

Now I've met both Belle and the Beast several times before, but I had really wanted a picture with Belle in her Christmas dress, so it was worth the wait. And Beast was in his formal outfit, so those were two new outfits that I hadn't seen characters in yet.

I was pretty tired by then, (I had gotten up at 5:30 that morning remember,) so I decided to go buy my AP pin, and leave. I bought the pin, and when leaving the store ran into Bert, Mary Poppins, and two penguins. So I had a group picture with them, and was able to get Bert's autograph, as he was another new one for me.

I left the park then, I hadn't seen the whole parade yet, but I was going to another MVMCP in two nights, so I wasn't too worried about it.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Seven

I woke up around 6:30, but I didn't feel like getting out of bed or doing anything. My original plan was to wake up, and get to Epcot at rope drop. But that just wasn't going to happen. I didn't feel that great, and my throat was still bothering me. Plus having a really long day the day before probably hadn't helped at all.

At 10:30 I finally got up, and instead of going to Epcot, like I'd planned, I went to Downtown Disney. Beating the mob at a theme park was just not something I felt like doing.

I got a sandwich from Earl of Sandwich, but didn't eat most of it. It was good, don't get me wrong, but bread was apparently really irritating me, so I gave up on the bread and just picked out the beef and cheese.

I went to a few of the stores in the Marketplace, and bought a few gifts, some for other people, and some as a self-pitying, I'm sick at Disney pick-me-up.

I stopped at Ghiradelli's too, and got a sundae. I figured the ice cream wouldn't be too hard to get down. I had a new sundae, that was inspired by the intense dark chocolate line. I think it was called espresso escape, or something and it was really good. And, like I thought, wasn't too hard to eat.

After a couple hours at the Marketplace, I decided I wanted a nap, so I went back to Pop. When I got back the cleaning lady was at my room, so I went back down to the main building so I could kill some time in the gift shop as she finished. I ended up buying the soundtrack for High School Musical, since I still had the songs stuck in my head from the day before.

I then went back to my room, and took my nap. I didn't nap for very long though, maybe about two hours, and most of that was resting, I don't think I actually slept that much. Yeah soda and espresso sundaes, and it's not that easy to fall asleep.

I went to Epcot around 4:00 since I did have a CP dinner package, and since there was a CC deposit on that, I didn't want to cancel. Plus Le Cellier was one of my favorite restaurants, and I hadn't had a TS meal since the morning before. And after my nap I felt up to going to a park.

When I got to Epcot I decided I had just enough time to see Honey I Shrunk the Audience before I had to be in Canada for dinner. When the show ended I had five minutes before my ADR time, and I had to rush over to Canada quickly, since I don't like to be late.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Seven - Dinner at Le Cellier

My ADR was for 5:00, and I was seated at 5:05. There was a lady at the door making sure everyone who entered had an ADR for that evening, so I'm assuming walk-ups were turned away.

My server for the evening was Patrick. He was good, and as quick as possible considering how busy the restaurant was. I usually get early ADR times in order to avoid crowded restaurants. But Le Cellier was filled despite the fact that it was only the early evening.

I felt better this evening than I had the last couple days. Maybe it was because I hadn't forced myself to go to the last few previous meals, and I was looking foward to being waited on again. My last sit-down meal had been breakfast at Crystal Palace the day before, and I had missed three ADRs inbetween.

As always the bread was, the pretzel, multi-grain, and sourdough. And I liked them just as much as I did last year, except I wished I had soup to dip the pretzel bread into. Next year, with the DDP and my DM, I think one of us will get the soup, to have it, and we can split our appetizers.

Since I had the CP dinner package, I was entitled to an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I had been debating over the beef kabob and shrimp cocktail for an appetizer. I've had the cheddar cheese soup previously, and it's very good, so if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend the soup. But, I make it at home, and it's "almost" the same, and I wanted to try something new. Since I knew I was going to have steak for my entree, I decided to order the shrimp cocktail.

The shrimp cocktail on the menu is described as Asian. The idea of a non-traditional Asian shrimp cocktail intrigued me.

It was served in a bowl, with a set of chopsticks, like I would use them. I've attemped to use chopsticks before, and that has resulted in flying food. Thankfully, that's only been at home, where I had no one to embarass at my lack of chopstick skills except for myslef.

The shrimp was covered in a horseradish-chili sauce, on top of a wasabi coleslaw. It was very good. It was a little on the spicy side, though with the three ingrediants listed on the menu, horseradish, chili, and wasabi, it would have been shocking had it not been spicy. It wasn't so spicy however, that it was over-powering and inedible. The combination worked well together, and I ate all the shrimp, and a good portion of the coleslaw.

For my entree I had the 14 oz New York strip steak. I'd been looking foward to this all week, since I had such a wonderful steak here last year, the maple-bbq filet mignon. I had ordered it medium, knowing that Disney has a tendancy to cook steaks a little more on the rare side. One of the worst things you could do, in my opinion, is order a steak well-done. I never understood why people, (and there's some in my family,) want meat cooked so much that it gets to the point of being almost dried out. On the flip side I also have a friend who will just sear something off so only the very outer edge is cooked, and everything else is raw. That's a little too rare for me.

The steak was served with sauteed leeks, frise and roasted Yukon potatoes. It also had a veal demi-glace sauce. The sauce, went well with the steak. I did not however care for any of the other accompianments. The potatoes weren't seasoned at all, and were cold, and the other two just didn't taste right with the steak.

The steak itself was very good, and more medium-rare then medium, which is what I had expected. It being a fourteen ounce steak, was more then I could of ever eaten. But I did a pretty good job at it if I say so myself, and ate probably at least ten ounces of it. I do think I like the maple-bbq filet mignon better though.

Then it was time for dessert. Which I really wasn't that hungry for. But it was included, and it's me, so skipping it was not an option. Along with dessert I decided to order a drink. I had the berries and cream tini. It was a mix of stoli razberi vodka, chambord, and amarula cream. It really didn't have a huge berry taste, and actually, what I thought it tasted like was some kind of milky liquor. It wasn't bad though, and I really liked the chocolate rim, which I'm sure ended up all over my mouth.

For dessert, even though Patrick recommended the creme brulee, I had decided on the chocolate cake a long time ago. It had changed since the Happiest Celebration on Earth, when it was a chocolate-orange concoction, and what I had been looking foward too. And it was now a chocolate on chocolate whiskey cake. The cake was brushed with whiskey, and had a chocolate mousse filling. There was a small dish of tarragon-anglaise as well, to pour over the cake.

The cake was sooo good, and so rich, and very moist. I only ate about half of it. It was very chocolaty, and the first really chocolate dessert I believe I had all week. The tarragon-anglaise had just the slightest hint of tarragon, that could easily be missed if you weren't trying to find it. It's one of the best restaurant-made chocolate cakes I've ever had.

I still love Le Cellier, except for my wallet. Both times I've eaten here it was $50+. Not that I'm complaining, both meals have been excellant. But, I'll be glad when I'm there next year, that I have the DDP for free, and that it won't cost me a cent. :goodvibes

Day Seven - Night

After dinner I decided to see the O Canada movie since I'd never seen it before. I only had a short wait. It was all right, I like the movie in China better.

I then walked back to Future World, and watched the Fountain of Nations and the Christmas lights for awhile. They really are beautiful, and, suprisignly, my favorite live entertainment at Epcot. Not that I don't like the other entertainment, I just really enjoy the Fountain.

I then walked back to World Showcase, so I could get in line for the Candlelight Processional. By Showcase Lagoon there was a cart set up, and they were selling candied pecans and eggnog. How could I pass that up? :santa: The eggnog was great, the best I've had. And so were the pecans. The pecans were a great deal, and I could only eat a few at a time. So few in fact that they lasted me a few days, and I had them to snack on in my room for the rest of the trip.

By the time I got to American Adventure the line for the dinner package guests was already through Japan and into Morocco. :eek: I was very glad right then that I'd gotten the dinner package. I don't think there was much room for guests from the stand-by line.

I had a little while to wait before the show started. I had a seat pretty close to the front, so was able to see everything quite cleary. I knew that the show was a retelling of the Christmas story, so I wasn't quite sure that it was going to be my kind of thing, and, I was right.

I really liked the singing, and it's not that I thought the show was bad, but I'm just not that religous. I know why we celebrate Christmas, and Easter, and all that, but I'm just not one of those people who go to church every week. That being said, this was way cooler then any church service I've ever been to, but I wouldn't have to see it again. If I went with my family at Christmas-time, (which is unlikely,) and had the dinner package, (I don't think I'd ever go without the dinner package,) I'd go again. But solo, it's just not something on my must-do list. I am glad I saw it though.

After the CP, I was tired, so I went back to Pop, and went to bed.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Eight - Morning

When I woke up I felt better then I had the previous morning. I was glad, especially since I had MVMCP to attend that night. I had pre-purchased the ticket months ago, and it was non-refundable, so there was no way I wanted to waste it.

Magic Kingdom had EMH that morning, and I was up and out at MK at 7:50, so I made it there just in time for that. I was however, not in a mood for ride. While my first two MK mornings I rushed to Fantasyland or Tomorrowland, this time I walked down Main Street, and made my first stop, the Main Street Bakery.

Yep, that's right, I got up extra early, made it to a park in time for rope drop on an EMH morning, and went straight to a restaurant. But I wanted something to eat, and I had always wanted to try the french toast loaf. It was good, but it didn't live up to its hype enough for me. I'd get it again though.

While I was eating a woman asked me if I had eaten at Le Cellier the night before. Apparently, she recognized me. :rotfl:

After my breakfast, if you can count french toast loaf as a breakfast food I walked to Tomorrowland and rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin two times with no wait. So apparently my breakfast hadn't cost me any no-lines time. Of course, I wasn't doing any thrill rides.

[bsmcneil]

i really appreciate the TR - keep it coming! :-)

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Eight - Morning Continued

After riding Buzz I walked to Fantasyland, and rode Snow White's Scary Adventures, and the saw Phillarmagic in an almost-empty theater. Seriously there were only a couple dozen people in the theater, and everyone was able to sit in the middle of the theater, and have a great seat.

I then walked back to Main Street, just kind of wandering around, since there was nothing I really felt like doing. I decided to check which characters were out, and boy, was I glad I did! Horace the horse, and Clarabelle the cow, two new ones for me, were both out by the train station, so I was able to get my picture with both of them. :goodvibes

I also saw the Main Street Trolley show, which isn't a huge thing, but for some reason I really like the songs "Main Street USA" and "The Trolley Song." I think that's what they're called anyway. I have the cd, but have no idea where the case is at the moment, so I can't check right now.

I went to Adventureland then, and saw Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial, since seeing Captain Jack always makes me feel good. :cloud9: And I needed a pick-me-up, since the heat and crowds were starting to bother me.

After that I still had some time until my 12:00 lunch ADR. I had missed three of my last five ADRs, and did not want to miss anymore, so I saw Phillarmagic again, this time with a full theater, and then headed to the Poly.

Day Eight - Lunch at Kona Cafe

My ADR was for 12:00, and I had checked-in at about 11:50, with only two other groups ahead of me. So I had ten minutes until Kona opened, so I looked at the menu, staying right near the entrance.

Promptly at 12:00, they started seating tables. Thinking I was going to be one of the first ones seated, given I was one of the first ones there, and had the earliest possible ADR time, I waited. . . and waited. The waiting area had gotten somewhat crowded, and filled about 1/3 of the restaurant, seated ahead of me.

Now I know that waits are usual, but I had been there early, and most of the people being seated had gotten there after me. It was about half an hour after I checked in that the one hostess lady realized I had not yet been seated. I don't know if it was a computer problem, or what, but I did not get seated for awhile.

When I did get seated, it was in a corner, near a huge party of about twenty people in front of me, and only empty tables behind me. It wasn't a bad table, but I did feel out of place.

I also think I recognized the waitress I had there last year that I hadn't cared for, and had seemed snippy.

So, so far, I was not really enjoying my meal. Luckily, things only got better from this point on.

My waitress for lunch, was Fatima, who I was happy with. She wasn't spectacular, or went out of her way for anything, but I always had a full glass, and served quickly, and not snippy like that other waitress, who was on the other side of the restaurant.

Since I had missed eating at Ohana two nights before, I ordered the sticky wings, since I assumed they would be almost the same as Ohana's. I also ordered a bowl of seafood chowder, since I've heard many good thing about it, and I do like soup.

I was served the seafood chowder first.

This was good. It had lots of big chunks of seafood, and was very hearty. Except, my local grocery store has a seafood chowder, and I actually prefer the grocery store's. Not that this wasn't good, it was, I've just had better.

After I had finished my soup, I was seved the chicken wings. They came with a small salad.

These chicken wings are very similar to the ones at Ohana, though I don't think they're exactly the same. I think Ohana's may of been a little bit sweeter, (and also a little bit messier, LOL.) I ate all of them though, as neatly as possible, and not knawing on the bones, like I will when I'm at home. LOL. There was mustard and sesame seeds on the wings, but neither was really noticeable. Overall, I prefer the wings at Ohana.

As far as the salad goes, I didn't eat it. There was no dressing on it, and I can't eat dry lettuce. Why would they serve a salad with no dressing?

For dessert, I had the caramel-banana creme brulee. I had wanted to try this since the first time I ate at Kona, but had the chocolate lava cake then. (There are too many desserts I want to try at Kona, except it looks like they just removed a bunch, going from the updated menu on All Ears.)

This was good, but not memorable. There was just the slightest banana flavor, though there was a good amount of banana slices on top. I definatly preferred the lava cake last year.

I preferred the food the first time I ate here, but the service was much better this time. I'll be eating here again in Oct, for dinner, with the free DDP, with my DM. Is it bad that I already know what I'll be ordering? ;)

Day Eight - Afternoon

After lunch I was "scheduled" to go back to MK, but I just didn't feel up to it, and I wanted to save my strength for MVMCP that night. Which I didn't really feel like going to either, but I already had my non-refundable ticket, and I hadn't seen the parade yet.

So I went back to Pop, got a soda, and spent the afternoon in my room, watching some movie on tv. I have no idea what the movie was, and on a regular day, it never would of held my attention. It was one of those made-for-tv movies on Lifetime, that are always quite lacklaster.

Day Eight - Dinner at Artist Point

After resting for a few hours I took the bus from Pop to MK, and just as soon as I arrived at MK, a bus arrived to go to Wilderness Lodge. Which is just as well, since I don't think the boats are the fastest option. I really didn't need to worry about time though, I arrived at Wilderness Lodge before 5:00.

Since my ADR wasn't until 5:30, and the restaurant didn't even open until then, I had quite a bit of time to kill. I was hungry, and thristy, so I went down to Roaring Forks. And even though I knew I wouldn't get anything to eat, since dinner was so close, I did want a soda.

Roaring Forks is a very pretty quick-service location. I think I'm going to have to stay at Wilderness Lodge sooner or later, it is a very pretty resort.

When I checked-in for dinner, it was still a few minutes early, but I was seated as soon as the restaurant opened, right at 5:30.

My server for dinner was Andres. He was fast, but not rushed. I've never felt rushed at a signature restaurant for that matter.

I was served bread, though I hadn't been enjoying bread the last few days, due to whatever it was I had caught. Well, that's not 100% true, I still managed to eat bunch of pretzel bread at Le Cellier the night before. But, ususually I'm a big bread eater, but not so much at the moment. I think something about the crust was bothering my throat, and made bread hard to eat.

Artist Point does have good bread though, and even better butter. This is the one place I would put the quality of butter over the quality of the bread, except maybe Citricos, since they have the citrus-infused butter, though that was extremely salty.

I started my meal with a salad, the fresh field greens. I almost never order salads a la carte. I have no problem eating ones that come with my meal, but I'm not a big salad eater unless it has lots of toppings.

This salad, was topped with roasted beets, hazelnut gremolata, and blue cheese. It also had a blackberry vinaigrette dressing. It sounded really good, but I was pretty dissapointed with it.

It wasn't bad, it just wasn't to my liking that much. There were lots of greens, and a good amount of dressing, but not enough toppings, and like I said, I like lots of topping on my salad. Heck, the salads I make at home sometimes have more toppings then lettuce.

Plus, all of the toppings were in little pieces, so it was very hard to tell what was what, especially with the cheese and the hazelnut stuff. For $8, there could of been more cheese. I really like blue cheese, and there was hardly any to be seen.

Also, the blackberry vinaigrette, and I'm not a huge fan of vinaigrettes, but I really liked the apple cider vinaigrette I had had here last year, was not blackberry tasting, or not strong tasting enough to pick up on, and I can usually taste things pretty well.

Okay, so the salad had been dissapointing. I could get over that. It was, after all, just a salad. I just hoped I would be pleased with my entree.

I splurged, and had ordered the buffalo sirlion steak since I had heard so many good things about it. I had ordered it medium well, which is more well done then I usually order things, but with me never have having had buffalo before, I felt it would be a safer option to get this a little more on the well done side.

This was, absolutly, one of the best things I ate all week. It was cooked perfectly, (Disney does cook things a little on the rare side,) and I ate the whole thing up.

I also loved the sweet potato-hazelnut gratin that came with it. I do love sweet potatoes. (Though when I got home my DM had made some sweet potato thing for dinner, and by then I was sick of them, LOL.) There was also onion jam on there that was a nice accompianment.

I was glad to be inside then, since it had started pouring, and I mean, it was pouring, when I was eating. It wasn't so much fun leaving the restaurant, going outside, and waiting for an MK bus in the rain.

Which I ended up doing, even though I could of post-poned that, and had dessert. But I was full by then, and there was nothing on the dessert menu that sounded like I had to have it, except for the coffee two ways, which I've had before, and highly reccommend, except that I knew I was already too full, and that was too rich, that I wouldn't of eaten more then a few bites.

[disneyfav4ever]

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party - Take Two

It was really - really raining when I left Artist Point, and my umbrella didn't help much on the way to the bus stop. I breifly considered skipping the party alltogether, but I had to go back to MK anyway to get a bus back to Pop, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to at least go in for a little while.

I went to Adventureland first, and saw Jasmine and Aladdin. So I got my picture taken with them, which turned out great BTW, and I have that one framed in my "A Whole New World" frame. Jasmine is my favorite princess though, so maybe I'm biased. ;)

The first showing of the parade was at 8:15. Since I didn't think I would make it to the second parade, I decided to see the first one, though I'll usually always see the later showings. But I didn't want to miss the parade, so I got some cocoa, and got a seat, on a bench, at 7:15.

Two older ladies joined me on the parade about a half hour til, and we had a nice conversations. They were really into Disney, so they were fun to talk to. The parade started on time, which I was afraid might have been delayed, because of the storm, but it went as scheduled.

After the parade, I went and got more cocoa, and went back to Adventureland, where instead of Jasmine and Aladdin, it was now the Genie and Abu. So I had my picture taken with them as well. For some reason, everytime I have my picture taken with Abu it doesn't turn out quite right. The lighting's always wrong.

I spent some time on Main Street then, and spent a small fortune at the candy store, for presents to take home. Which actually, when given as Christmas gifts, didn't go over as hot as I'd hoped. Though by then my throat was better, (this was more then a week after I got home,) and I was able to eat quite a bit.

I saw Santa Goofy :santa: outside the train station, though by then I was so out of it, I remember thinking to myself, "Oh, that's cute, Goofy's in a Santa outfit," only though me, with my constant DISing, already knew he wore one.

It was time for me to go back to Pop. I had awhile to wait for a bus, but I was able to see most of Holiday Wishes from the bus stop. What really suprised me though were the amount of people either just arriving or already leaving. If I hadn't been sick, I would never arrive that late or leave that early, but maybe that's just me.

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm finally getting back to continuing my TR. From here on out I spend very little time at the parks, and a lot of time in my room.

Day Nine

I woke up at 6:00 AM. I had a breakfast ADR at Donald's Breakfastasorus at 10:00, but I wasn't hungry, and didn't feel like getting up at all.

I didn't end up leaving my room until 11:00, and then went down to the food court, and had a healthy meal of worms and dirt, which for those of you who don't know, is pudding.

I did have a Fantasmic dinner package, and since that is my favorite night show, and I hadn't seen it yet this trip, I was not going to cancel. I was through missing ADRs gosh darn it! I had already spent a week in Disney, but had only spent a total of two and a half hours at MGM, so I had a lot I wanted to do.

I made it to MGM around noon. The first thing I did was check the times guide for the show times of Beauty and the Beast, which was not scheduled at all for that week, so I got a Fast Pass for Star Tours instead. I then saw Muppets 3D, and then went to see Lights Motors Action. I'm glad I saw it, but I don't get why so many people rave about it the way they do.

I also saw the Narnia exhibit. I love the Narnia series, I've read the books, and think Disney did a great job with the movie. Sadly, I can not say the same thing about this so called "attraction." They could of done a much better job of it. All it is, is a very elaborated trailer, or an extremely short version of the movie, depending on how you look at it. The actual set is pretty cool, but it is a complete waste of time.

I then used my FP for Star Tours, before getting a seat for the parade. I got a great spot, and was able to take great pictures. I like the Christmas version better then the regular one.

After the parade I went to see Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which I had seen the day before, but it is one of my favorites, and there was no reason not to see it again.

[disneyfav4ever]

Dinner - Brown Derby

I had booked Brown Derby with the Fantasmic dinner package, which to me, is a great deal, since Fantasmic is my favorite nighttime entertainment, and this knocks out the waiting time for me. My ADR was at 4:15, but I arrived at 4:00 right after the Little Mermaid, and was seated right away.

My server was Clifford, and he was very good. Though the hostess or whomever hadn't notified him that I was on the Fantasmic package, but as soon as I mentioned it, he said he'd take care of it, and I recieved my voucher at the end of the meal just like always.

This was my thrid time using a Fantasmic dinner package, (first time this trip,) so by then I knew what was included, and where the special V.I.P. entrance was for dinner package guests.

Since I was on the Fantasmic dinner package, I was entitled to an appetizer, entree, and dessert.

I was served bread, which I was under-impressed with last year, and even though it was the same kind as far as I could tell, I liked it better this year.

For an appetizer, I had debated over the crab cake or the scallops, but since I'd had an almost identical scallop dish at Blue Zoo, I went for the crab cake. I prefer crab over scallops anyway.

Last year I had a crab cake as my appetizer as well, (I do like crab cakes,) but this one was different. Last years had been sake-laced with Asian sides and sauces, this one had a potato crust and came with avocado-mustard sauce, and napa slaw.

I had preferred last years, (I also really like Asian food,) but this one was good as well. The avocado sauce, (which I did not taste the mustard in,) tasted the same to me as guacamole, (something else I really like.) The napa slaw was okay, but as I've said before, I'm not a big vegetable eater. And I prefer to have my coleslaws creamy. Yup, take something healthy, and add fatting dressing to it, that's what I do.

Note to self - this is why I never lose any weight.

Note to readers - I'm a little over weight, and could afford to lose a few pounds, but I refuse to be one of those girls who just orders salads whenever she eats out. When I'm at home I usually am on a diet of diet coke and lean cuisine.

Anyway, I'm usually less then impressed with entrees, with the exception of some of steaks I've had, the only entree I've ever been crazy about is the lamb I had at Brown Derby last year, which is sadly, no longer on the menu.

That is however, good for me in a way, since then I got to order something new. It was between the tuna, and the duck. I went with the tuna. I was sooo glad I ordered this. It was fantastic. So, entrees at Brown Derby, (or at least the three I've had,) are really good.

With the tuna there was honey-gingered spaghetti squash, every entree I've had at Brown Derby has also come with spaghetti squash, which I'm not a big fan of, but both times I really liked it. So either Brown Derby cooks really know how to prepare squash, or it's the sauce, or both. There was also soy vinaigrette, and wasabi oil, as well as a wonton chip on top of the duck, and lots of pieces of ginger. Mmmm, I love ginger as well.

I ate everything on the plate. Well, I ate all of the tuna and spaghetti squash, I didn't eat all the ginger, that would've probably made me sick. But other then that, I cleaned my plate.

Of course, after this I still got dessert. And if it's included, I get it. I'm going to be in trouble next year with the DDP. I mean, if I'm paying out of pocket, and full, I skip dessert, usually. But when it's included, I think, why not? At least me and DM are splitting a bunch of meals next year.

For dessert I had the tiramisu creme brulee. Wow, two of my favorite desserts combined. I really had high hopes for this. But, it just wasn't that great. It wasn't bad, but I definatly wouldn't order it again. It also said it came with a chocolate-covered lady finger, it came with a chocolate-covered biscotti. Not a big deal, but they really should say on the menu what it was. I wish I had ordered the banana-toffee dome, as I saw them coming out of the kitchen. They looked really good. (I tried that during my Feb trip, two months later, it was really good.)

So I had another good meal at Brown Derby. I preferred last years, since I liked the crab cake slightly more last year, and the dessert was much better last year. The tuna this time may have had a slight edge over the lamb from last year though. But it was still a really good meal, and I will of course be returning here next month, with the dinner package, again. I have a fourth meal booked at Brown Derby in October.

Day Nine - Night

I spent two hours at Brown Derby, and finished eating right before 6:00. I decided to start walking to where the Fantasmic entrance is, and on the way, called DBF, (who is now DF.) I remember the conversation pretty well, as he told me someone we used to work with died. Apparently this guy had died over the summer, but DF thought I had started after he quit, and hadn't remembered me meeting him. I wasn't that upset, it wasn't someone I was close to at all, and I had just lost someone I used to be extremely close to two weeks before my trip, so I may of been all grieved out. He had died of some kind of alcohol or drug overdose, DF wasn't exactly sure what. He wasn't exactly the nicest person, always drinking, or getting in trouble in some way, he had been arrested several times for various reasons. Anyway, off of passed away ex-coworkers, and back to my Disney vacation.

Fantasmic was at 7:00, so I did have a bit of a wait, but I don't mind the waits. I'd rather arrive early and wait with a great seat, then get there at the last minute and have a not-so-great view. What bugs me is people who show up at the last minute and think they deserve a great seat over people who have been there for an hour or more, but since I was in the dinner package section, that wasn't really an issue.

After Fantasmic, which was great as always, I wanted to go see the Christmas lights since I knew this would be my last night at MGM. I didn't mean to spend a lot of time there, but ended up staying there for close to an hour. After that, I went back to Pop.

[disneyfav4ever]

Day Ten - Morning

Once again I woke up early, at 6:00 AM, but once again, I also didn't feel like getting up. I watched another made for TV movie. I wasted so much time this trip watching stupid things I would usually never watch, it's really pathetic.

I went to Epcot around 10:00, I had a lunch ADR at Garden Grill at 11:00, and even though I wasn't that hungry, I decided I wanted to keep it, at least too see the characters.

I went to the Land right away, and got a Fast Pass for Soarin, then waited near Garden Grill until it opened, since my ADR time was only fifteen minutes away.

Day Ten - Lunch - Garden Grill

I had wanted to eat here for two reasons, 1) the characters, and 2) the idea of a moving-revolving restaurant amused me. As far as the moving goes it was actually a little faster then I thought it would be, but I could only tell when I stared at the floor and watched it moving. If I just looked at my table, or even the scenes that we were revolving around, I couldn't really tell I was moving at all. Other then the fact that the scenes changed, it really wasn't noticeable that the room was moving. Unless, like I said, you stare at the floor.

My server was Kimberly, and she was good. She brought out my food quickly, and, unlike other family-style meals I've eaten at solo, this is the only one that seemed to have some kind of portion control. I was brought out a plate with the meats, vegetables, and stuffing all together, as well as a bowl of mashed potatoes, and some bread.

I thought the food quality varied here, some of it was very good, some of it was okay, some of it was almost inedible. Going item by item, from worst to best;

Without a doubt, the only thing I did not like, and like I said, was almost inedible, was the bread. There was a biscuit, and a regular roll. You'd think with two kinds of bread, one of them would've been decent, but that was not the case. Both of them were hard, and tasted kind of stale. The butter however, was good, and it's a shame the bread was so bad, becuase I really would of liked more of the butter. Which was sweet by the way.

My next least to favorite thing was the turkey, but it was way better then the bread. The only reason I'm listing the turkey next is beacause it was pretty dry, and I really like my meats moist, and this turkey, was a little over-cooked. It came with a cranberry sauce, which I had on the side. I ate that by itself, it was good, but not as good as the one my grandmother makes, but what beats home-cooking, when it comes to Thanksgiving type foods, and that's what this meal was.

Next up, the mashed potatoes. They were okay, a little lumpy, and tasted a lot like instant. Which I don't hate, but like I said about the turkey, not nearly as good as my grandma's. (This review may be biased on me being spoiled by my grandmother's cooking. )

Next up, the vegetables, they were good, but I'm not a big veggie eater, as I've said in my other reviews. I did eat most of the sweet potato on my plate, but I just picked at the rest of them.

Then, the stuffing, which was good, but tasted like instant again. Though I did have seconds of the stuffing. But I am a big fan of stuffing, that's always my favorite part of turkey dinners.

I also liked the catfish, even though I ate a lot more stuffing then catfish. I'm not a big fan of catfish, but this was good.

The only thing I absolutly loved, was the steak. I don't know what it had been marinated in, but it had a great flavor. It was cooked well-done, but I still ate a lot of it, and had seconds of it along with the stuffing. This came with a sauce as well, a mushroom a jus, which I had on the side, but didn't use, since I don't really like mushrooms.

The dessert, which was no longer the sampler, which I had been looking foward too, was a bread pudding with a hard cream sauce.

It was good, but I would have preferred a sampler. Though by that point I really wasn't hungry anymore anyway, since I had eaten a lot of steak.

As far as the characters go, I was visited by Dale, Mickey, and Pluto twice, and by Chip three times. All of them, especially Chip and Dale were very interactive. Chip, (or was it Dale?) spent a few minutes by me, pointing at my plate, and rubbing his belly. Those two crack me up.

I probably would eat here again, but it's not a must-do for me. The food, with the exception of the steak, was just average. The character interaction here was very good though.

Day Ten - Afternoon

After lunch I was able to get a second Fast Pass for Soarin, even though the return time of my first Fast Pass hadn't come around yet. After that I left the Land, and walked to Future World East. I rode Ellen's Energy Adventure, which I hadn't ridden since the 90's, and it was the same as I remembered it, though it didn't seem as long as it says it is.

I then went to the Wonders of Life Pavillion and saw a first-time attraction for me, The Making of Me. It's a cute little movie, and is worth seeing once, though I didn't really learn anything since I'm well aware of where babies come from. :rolleyes1

I then rode Test Track, with an unusually long wait in the singles line, and then went to Club Cool. Then I went back to the Land, and got a third Fast Pass for Soarin, and used the first one I had gotten before lunch.

After that I walked around World Showcase, just going through shops and wandering around with no real purpose until my dinner ADR time at Rose and Crown. By that time, I was feeling worse though.

Day Ten - Dinner - Rose and Crown

My ADR was for 4:50, but when I checked in it was about 4:30. After checking in I was looking at the menu they have posted outside. Now, usually, I don't get aggravated, but there were these two women trying to push there way in front of me, and I was going to say something to them - I do get aggravated and moody when I don't feel well, when my pager / beeper thing went off. Luckily for those ladies, and the ears of all the little children around, my table was ready.

After being seated it seemed like an unusually long wait before my server, Michael came over. But I was really tired, and time just seemed to be going really slowly at this point, and I was desperate for something to drink.

Usually I'm not a big water drinker, with me, it's usually diet coke, but for the last few days all I had wanted was water. Which is even stranger still, is that usually I won't drink the tap water at Disney, I don't like the way it tastes, but I had been drinking it down since I had gotten sick.

By this point I had also given up hope that I would be better before my vacation was over, I only had one day left, and it seemed like nothing would help. I at least thought I probably couldn't feel any worse.

Okay, so I finally got my water, and some bread. The bread had cheese on it, but I couldn't really taste it. I managed to eat almost two whole rolls. So they were good, even though I couldn't taste the cheese. I also liked the basket the bread came in, with the paper from London.

For my entee I had the beef stew. It came with mashed potatoes, and a cheddar cheese crisp. I did not like the cheese crisp. Though the ones I usually get at home are parmesan and come on ceasar salads. This one tasted kind of funny, like it was a little burnt.

I didn't eat much of the stew. I did eat most of the mashed potatoes on it, but not that much of the stew itself. It was good, I just did not have an appetite at this point, or for the remainder of my trip.

I would of probably, no, definatly, been able to enjoy my dinner better had I not been sick. Why did I force myself to go to dinner when I felt like crap? Because I had wanted to try the restaurant, and I had sworn I wasn't going to miss any more ADRs.

Day Ten - Night

After dinner, I went back to the Land, and used the second Fast Pass I had for Soarin, which at that point, was just past its time, but I had no problem using it anyway.

I then went to the Living Seas, and saw Turtle Talk with Crush. After that I had about an hour until I could use my third Soarin Fast Pass, but I didn't feel like waiting, so just went back to Pop, and was in bed by 8:00.

Day Eleven - Morning

For the third day in a row I woke up at 6:00, but didn't get to a park until 10:30. I was at MGM again today, and the first thing I did was go see the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and then I rode the Great Movie ride. Then it was time for lunch.

Day Eleven - Lunch - Mama Melrose's

My throat was back to being sore again, actually, it was worse then it had been before. First, I had just not been hungry, then I was eating again, but not feeling so great. Now, I still felt bad, but I also did not want to eat. Seriously, who does this to themselves? I think going to lunch this day was probably one of the worse decisions I could of made, I felt that bad.

I checked in early, and pin traded with one of the hostesses before the restaurant opened. See, getting there early pays off, since I ended up getting an Ariel pin I had wanted. Maybe keeping my ADR wasn't a total waste after all.

At noon, when the restaurant opened, I was the first one seated. My waiter, A.J., came right over, took my drink order - once again, all I wanted was water, and brought me some bread.

I'd had the same kind of bread last year, but there had been no butter served with it last year, and I remember the dipping oil being slightly different. This one was a mix of sun-dried tomatoes and pesto, and it was very good, and very garlicy.

I was really in a toss-up about what to order. I was thinking about the chicken bruschetta, but ended up ordering the chicken flatbread, which I'd also had last year.

Maybe it was because I was sick, or maybe it was just the flatbread, (I hope it's because I didn't feel well,) but this one wasn't nearly as good as the one I had last year. Even more depressing is the fact that I only ate about a quater of it, and last year I ate more then half of one, as well as a salad, steak dinner, and dessert. So I really wasn't feeling well.

Day Eleven - Afternoon

After lunch I was hot, really hot, and all I wanted was to be someplace cool, so I decided to see Voyage of the Little Mermaid again, since that is literally, probably the coolest place in all of the World, and besides, I could never get sick of that show.

After that, I was delighted to see that Beauty and the Beast was showing today, since it had been cancelled the previous days, and I had never gone a whole trip without seeing it before.

After the show I felt horrible. There was nothing I wanted to do, and I felt like I was going to pass out if I stayed in the park. I had an arguement with myself, the reasonable part of my brain saying to just go back to Pop and sleep, and my Disney-obsessed side of the brain telling me to stay at MGM for the rest of the afternoon, since I did not want to miss my ADR at Flying Fish, which was, along with California Grill, the most highly anticipated restaurant of my trip.

I went back to Pop, and was in my room by 3:00, and fell asleep.

Day Eleven - Night

I woke up at 5:00, and thought about trying to make it to the Boardwalk for my 5:30 ADR, but I just couldn't get up, and ended up falling back asleep. I woke up again two hours later, but this time with an alarm. Since I was apparently going to be in my room all night, I was at least not going to miss the season finale of Survivor. So I watched Survivor, and then went back to sleep.

Day Twelve

I woke up knowing I was going home. Usually, I feel like there are a thousand things I want to do, but I was just glad that I was going to be able to sleep in my own bed that night, and see my cats and DF again.

The whole day is a blur to me, I know I made it to my DME pick-up on time, and had no trouble at the airport. I slept for most of the flight home, then my dad picked me up at the airport.

Post Trip

I have no idea what I was sick with. My mom kept on saying I must have picked up some kind of germ, but I was really careful, I always washed my hands and used Purell a thousand times a day.

I spent the whole day after I got home in bed. My throat went back to normal within a week, probably because I wasn't forcing myself to eat things, but I had a cough for at least a month after getting home. The fact that I had to get through the holidays, (usually something I really enjoy,) didn't help.

My parents just wonder why after seeing the Disney Christmas parade live at MVMCP, I had to make a point of watching it again on TV on Christmas Day. Hey, it's tradition.

The End.