A Birthday Trip without a Birthday - 2/16: Conclusion and Bonus Birthday Tea

[mom3sonstt]

I just wanted to chime in and say that I also enjoy all that you share with us about your area and celebrations.

My dad's family has a strong German ancestry so we have always felt a kinship with things with a German influence. My uncle was stationed in Germany when he was in the Army during the Vietnam war. My brother was also stationed in Germany in the mid-80s. He was in or near a town called Hanau. He loved it over there and wanted to extend his tour, but being a habitual procrastinator, did not get the request for an extension filed in time and was sent back to the States.

On my mom's side, her ancestry is rather muddled, but with the name of Armstrong she identifies more with the Scottish. Her younger sister, however, met a man online that was an American civilian worker in Germany at one of the military bases. She eventually moved there to be with and marry him. They lived over there a couple years before he retired and they moved back here. She also loved it there.

My husband, about 10 years ago, zipped through briefly. He was on a business trip around the area but had no time to really see anything. They would meet with their suppliers during the day, have a meal, drive to the next destination in time to go to bed and get up and do it again. His only comment was that the meals "over there" - so I guess Europe in general since he wasn't in the same place twice - seemed to take "forever". But that could also be because they had no down-time and knew they had a long drive ahead of them each night.

 

[vamassey1]

Once again caught up.

Wonderful pictures from DLP. Everything looks so perfect.

I love Harry Potter too! I just reread the last book so I'll be ready for the movie next month. After so many books it 's so hard to come back to the real world. What will we do once the last movie is over with? I'm so happy you two will get a chance to experience the World of Harry Potter.

Thanks again for sharing so more of Germany. I know I enjoy the information so much.

 

[englishrose47]

Just popping in to say Hi!!!!

 

[jenb1023]

Hi Ladies! Getting all caught up after my short DIS hiatus!

Love all of the info about Germany and really love the DLP photos! It is amazing how much is similar and how much is different.

We enjoyed MNSSHP - especially the decorations and the parade. The trick or treating was okay. The best of all of the parties was pirate and princess.

We went to the Dark Side last year (May 2010). It was just before WWoHP opened so I can't give any advice there. Here is my brief two cents. . . IOA is much better themed than Universal. I found it very difficult to get help/information there so try to learn as much as you can before you go. Seuss Landing is amazing even if you just do a quick walk through. My DD loved Men in Black and we all enjoyed simpsons. Be careful of some of the more intense rides - my DH (who rides everything) said the Hulk was too intense even for him. We had a great meal at Mythos if you are looking for a TS meal. Circus McGurkus was good for a CS meal. Hope that helps!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Ladies! Getting all caught up after my short DIS hiatus!

Love all of the info about Germany and really love the DLP photos! It is amazing how much is similar and how much is different.

We enjoyed MNSSHP - especially the decorations and the parade. The trick or treating was okay. The best of all of the parties was pirate and princess.

We went to the Dark Side last year (May 2010). It was just before WWoHP opened so I can't give any advice there. Here is my brief two cents. . . IOA is much better themed than Universal. I found it very difficult to get help/information there so try to learn as much as you can before you go. Seuss Landing is amazing even if you just do a quick walk through. My DD loved Men in Black and we all enjoyed simpsons. Be careful of some of the more intense rides - my DH (who rides everything) said the Hulk was too intense even for him. We had a great meal at Mythos if you are looking for a TS meal. Circus McGurkus was good for a CS meal. Hope that helps!

I am planning a trip to the Dark Side next year with People and Places and Mythos was one I was looking at for a meal in the parks !!Glad to hear you liked it !!What did you have???

 

[jenb1023]

I am planning a trip to the Dark Side next year with People and Places and Mythos was one I was looking at for a meal in the parks !!Glad to hear you liked it !!What did you have???

I know we had the tempura sushi appetizer. I had a chicken sandwich. DH can't remember if he had steak or fish. But we liked the food and the theming. My picky DD ate off of the kids menu and liked whatever she had. Sorry I am not more help - I am a bad DISer and never take food porn pics and don't write it down either!

 

[englishrose47]

I know we had the tempura sushi appetizer. I had a chicken sandwich. DH can't remember if he had steak or fish. But we liked the food and the theming. My picky DD ate off of the kids menu and liked whatever she had. Sorry I am not more help - I am a bad DISer and never take food porn pics and don't write it down either!

Thanks !! I wish they had a more updated menu and prices !!!

 

[PennyLane1084]

Just dropping by to say hi!

 

[SnoopyDancer]

I'm just dropping by to tell you how much I enjoyed your other trip report. I found it pretty late, but liked the extra touches you included about your adventures in Germany. I bet you can't wait until your October trip.

 

[manntra]

Thanks for sharing your German culture once again Love hearing everything you have to share

Hmmmm a day spent at the dark side.....I may have to investigate into this It sounds like so much to do in one day but it CAN be done I know my niece would love to go and of course I want to also ....I can't justify staying at Universal (where you get the coveted front of line and early entry) when I can stay at DVC for "free." so this may just work for us.

Off to check this out

Tracy

 

[Flossbolna]

Like others have said, I always enjoy the cultural updates you share with us! It is always interesting to see and hear about traditions and customs in other countries.

Thanks Marv! I really appreciate how much you and the others enjoy all the German stuff!

Thanks for sharing this Magdalene!

I am glad you liked it!

You mean like "Wooden Spoon Award "!!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Well, as you know very shortly we will be getting to the actual TR part that covers both IOA and US (as well as Jimmy Buffets) which may have far more than anyone wants to hear but what I will say is mid day should definitely be better, I've heard good things about the DU shuttle plan and you should be able to see a fair amount at both if you plan things right.

Oh and I vote for Margaritaville. Hands down.



Loved the blue night update!

I am really enjoying your Universal report so far. It made me even more excited about our day there. And thanks for the vote for Margaritaville. I am more leaning towards it anyway since I have been to Bubba Gump in San Francisco (or was it in Monterey???) and New York and I am not a fan of shrimps... But it is such a fun concept!!

Thank you Magdalene for the pictures! Love learning about all these neat festivals Germany has!

Wendy, thanks! I always enjoy posting stuff like this because I know how much you (and some others) like it!

Enjoyed the Blue Night link! I think they did a very nice job of matching the music to the video clips.

Thanks! I think it was a very well done show. I think the matching music with pictures is what reminded me of Disney.

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi Magdalene and Katharina!

I'm so excited for you (yes, you will love Universal! )!!

The one thing that makes me sad is that I will miss you by a couple days this time. My trip is from 9/29-10/9.

Happy planning and I'll be reading along!

Hi Laura! That is really sad that we will miss you, Katharina and I really enjoyed meeting you last year! I am getting more and more excited about Universal the more I read about it. It looks like a really pretty place. I can absolutely see it becoming a regular side trip on my Orlando vacations in the future.

Thanks for sharing the pictures of Blue Night. I know I repeat this, but I love the glimpses of German culture that you give us!

Thanks Mark! I am glad that you enjoy it! And for some reason, I just remembered how your kids loved the old German money in the Ellis Island museum which said "one million mark" or whatever it was. I thought that was very funny!! Especially because Mark is a common first name here as well and I never thought about it that this was also the name of our money - of course it is now replaced by the Euro.

No, like the "British" tradition of lap dancing piglets!!!

Well Magdalene, I made it over and got all caught up! Hmmm, you HAVE been busy and away a lot lately haven't you young lady!!!! You and Katharina have GOT to find some DIS time so you can keep us culturally updated, and get those trip plans out there for us to enjoy!

I'm still hoping for a chance to take a quick solo trip while you are at Disney so we can do a DISmeet. It would be a great honor to actually meet you two!

Good to know that you have caught up! Sorry for being so lazy here on the DIS recently. I need to find some interesting stuff for a new update... I have a few ideas for trip related ones, but not so much for German culture ones... Will see what I can figure out!

As I already said on your TR: Katharina and I would be very excited if we got the chance to meet you!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hello girls!! Sorry I have been missing- I am here and catching up, enjoying all your beautiful photos from DLP. I have a picture I took for you last month-

Lies! All Lies!! You may like this one more-

TTYS!!

Ellen

Thanks Ellen!! I got such a great laugh from your pickles tree picture and your comment about it!! Oh, and I can't wait until we will stay at the Boardwalk! I need to get started on your TR form there!!

Gorgeous photos and an education as always- love the beautiful shops in DLP- and learning about the Statue of liberty (which I have PROMISED myself we will be visiting this summer- it is only about 1/2 an hour away from my home and I STILL haven't been!!! Shame on me!!!). The Blue Night looks amazing- I would really love to visit your city someday, it does look so lovely!

Thanks for the nice comments! You really ought to visit the Statue of Liberty, I have been there and there is an Atlantic Ocean between me and the statue!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Yep, pages behind.

While there is public transport from DLP to Paris, I would not recommend staying at DLP for visiting Paris. It is still a 40 minute train ride. I guess a bit like staying in a hotel in New Jersey when you want to see the sights in Manhattan. But WHEN you start planning your trip to Paris, I will be happy to help with more detailed suggestions on how to plan such a trip!

Casey's sells normal hot dogs, no corn dog nuggets anywhere in DLP. I think there might be one location selling corn dogs (not nuggets), but I am not sure. When we were there for the first time in 1995 they had really great counter service food which was themed appropriately. There is a Deli on Main Street which had wonderful club sandwiches with pickle spear. Now they sell the French version of the grilled cheese sandwhich: Croque Monsieur. There are still some places which sell "themed" food, but generally the offerings are rather bland.

Ah...that makes sense! So perhaps a few days at DLP, then we'd move hotels. I look forward to planning that trip-I really should just set a date instead of saying "someday", then we'd be motivated to save and work toward it!

That is a shame about the themed food disappearing!

The shops of Main Street were extremely heavily themed. However, when DLP opened, the Europeans did not buy as much merchandise as Disney had expected they would. Some people said that people did not buy anything because they were too distracted by all the theming. So a lot disappeared, but you can still notice some of it in the shops and I include some pictures about that as well.

I'm really enjoying all your DLP pictures - and your upcoming plans! I remember reading about this on "the other board" and that is why all gift shops are mostly only themed at 3/4 of the way up the wall and higher. I never noticed this at WDW until after I read that thread! I imagine all the Disney parks are like this now too.

The arcades look beautiful! What a clever design. I have been in a couple of similar buildings here in America - one that stands out to me is near my Mom's home in Minnesota, it connects two buildings and then has shops within the arcade itself, along with a glass ceiling. It's almost like being outside-but not quite...which is good for Minnesotans in those cold winters!

I wish I could add hints about Universal for you, but I'm sure you've got plenty from other readers! We plan to adventure that way eventually as well - maybe in a couple years.

 

[nodnol]

It is summer in Germany now, although today is really cold, and this means for me personally less stress at work – hopefully, and for you a livelier PTR – again hopefully. As I didn't discuss a PTR update with Magdalene and she has all our pictures from Paris, I though I give you an insight in the life in the part of Berlin I live in this weekend. There is a lot going on!

1.There is a photography exhibition, actually there are 40 exhibitions: It is a big project whre about 40 photographers, well known ones as well as young artists present their work in about 40 locations in our area: in galleries, cafes, shops, restaurants, etc. We have seen only three so far, but luckily it runs for two more weeks.

2.We have a fair on our main street with three stages, live music, lots of food stalls and so on. We were there yesterday and had some Bratwurst and I tried Churros for the first time (as this part of Berlin is the “multicultural” one there are lots of offerings from all around the world, even from Africa and Caucasia.

3.Today is the 52th Berlin soap box derby, the only one in Germany with three lines, as I learned today. So I hope there is someone among you who is a soap box racing fan and who appreciates all the pictures we took! I had never been to a soap box race before, so this was very interesting for me, for example the lift the have for the cars....

4.And now we will check out a game fair, the have a big American school bus painted in red with the logo of Settlers of Catan in front, so we hope this will be interesting!

And I hope we will be back to regular broadcasting soon!
Have a great Sunday!

 

[jenb1023]

I've never been to a soap box derby either. Looks like fun! So did you like the churro? I think they are good but are certainly not a favorite dessert of mine. I love taking photos so the photography exhibition sounds very interesting. Of course, these days all of my photos are of my DD or WDW - LOL!

 

[Flossbolna]

Katharina, what a lovely surprise to see the pictures from the soap box derby!!

 

[nodnol]

I've never been to a soap box derby either. Looks like fun! So did you like the churro? I think they are good but are certainly not a favorite dessert of mine. I love taking photos so the photography exhibition sounds very interesting. Of course, these days all of my photos are of my DD or WDW - LOL!

The churro was good, but I would agree, not a must have. At least it was really fresh made!

Katharina, what a lovely surprise to see the pictures from the soap box derby!!

It was fun, I only regretted that I didn't take some cofee with me in my refillable mug.

 

[lovealldisney]

Thanks Katharina for the pictures! Love seeing thoses especially from Germany! Looks like Berlin is busy, wish I could be there.....sigh......