Welcome, Foolish Muggles! IoA/US/MK/SW *July 2013 Trip Report Link*
- Thread starter natebenma
- Start date
Missyrose
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
Just joining in, sorry to be so late! What a fun trip so far! Love, love, LOVE your Gryffindor T-shirt. I got the Hogwarts Express T-shirt when we were at WWoHP last fall, but I'm still kicking myself for not picking up a Gryffindor shirt while I was there.
Can't wait to read more...
Can't wait to read more...
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Enjoying your TR. Looks like your family had a great time at Universal, in spite of the heat and crowds.
Thank you so much! Fortunately, the heat we can handle! We prefer the heat to the rain/thunderstorms and we do not regret our trips to Florida in July one bit.
Fortunately, we were able to minimize the crowds by staying on site and using the Front of the Line perk. But there was not much we could do about the crowds in the Wizarding World!
oh my goodness I'm just now getting here and it's already 18 pages in. I have a lot of catching up to do - off to the table of contents
I am so glad you are here, but I am so sorry that I haven't maintained my chapter links!!! I will go back and do that now.
Just joining in, sorry to be so late! What a fun trip so far! Love, love, LOVE your Gryffindor T-shirt. I got the Hogwarts Express T-shirt when we were at WWoHP last fall, but I'm still kicking myself for not picking up a Gryffindor shirt while I was there.
Can't wait to read more...
I really liked that the Gryffindor shirt is more than a t-shirt.
I can't remember if I mentioned that the back has a 7, and says Potter.
Anyone know if in the book or movies, do any of the Quiddich players have numbers? 7 is of course a very magical number according to J.K. Rowling.
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Let’s recap:
We have left Sea World and we are headed to City Walk to find something to eat.
We arrive at City Walk and find:
A swarm of people. Most of them heading out of City Walk. We were like salmon swimming upstream.
At this point we start wandering a bit aimlessly- we don’t know City Walk, the locations of the restaurants, how long the waits for a table are…
We see the sign for the “Food Court” type area- Panda Express, Burger King Whopper Bar, Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Someone mentions that will be fine. Ben loves Chinese food and he enjoyed a meal he had at a Panda Express in some airport (Washington, DC?). This food area is on the second floor at City Walk. When we got in and looked at the food, though, it really didn’t appeal to any of us. Except Ben. So he ordered a dinner, but none of the rest of us wanted to eat there.
While he was eating, I volunteered to scout out some sit down places. My obvious choice, based on my adoration of Jimmy Buffett, was Margaritaville.
Down the stairs. Over to Margaritaville.
The hostess said it would be a 40 minute wait. I took the beeper and returned to tell the family at Panda Express.
Up the Stairs.
I check in with them, and then I decide to check on Bubba Gumps.
Down the Stairs. Over to Bubba’s.
They tell me 10-15 minutes, so I give my name there (actually I think this is where they ask you your favorite drink instead of your name. Mine is Ting, a Jamaican Grapefruit drink)
Up the Stairs.
I return to Panda Express, Ben is finishing up his meal, and we all head to Bubba’s.
Down the Stairs.
When we arrive, they tell us they have already called our name (drink?) and are ready to seat us.
This saved an evening that was going downhill rapidly. We were wet, tired and hungry and some of us may have been a wee bit cranky. I won’t mention any names here.
We ordered our drinks and meals.
As we waited for the food to be delivered, the waitress came over and asked us some trivia questions from the movie Forrest Gump. I did ok, considering I haven’t seen the movie since it came out in theaters.
I also had another task I had to do- return the beeper I had from Margaritaville.
Out the door, over to Margaritaville and back again.
Somebody earned her supper!!!
Maybe not surprisingly, the menu at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Company consists of mostly shrimp!
Mark ordered:
Shrimp New Orleans
An authentic spicy recipe from our staff in the
French Quarter. Lots of tender Shrimp broiled
with Butter, Garlic, and Spices, and served with
Jasmine Rice. 17.29
He loved this!
My meal:
Pear & Berry Salad
Fresh Greens with charbroiled Chicken,
Strawberries, Pears, and glazed Pecans.
We toss it all together with Raspberry
Vinaigrette, and top it with Feta Cheese. 11.99
Here is a second picture, because I noticed halfway through the meal that there were no glazed pecans!
Nate, who doesn’t really like shrimp, ordered this:
Prime Top Sirloin
A tender 11 oz. USDA Prime Top Sirloin served
with Mashed Potatoes, a crispy Onion Ring
and juicy sliced Tomato. 20.99
Ben was not finished eating for the evening, he wanted a Caesar salad, so I ordered a side salad to go with my meal ($5.59)
I think I just took one picture of the inside of the restaurant, and none of the exterior!
Our check total was $70.75 before tip. Since this is a chain restaurant, there was no AAA discount.
It was close to 9 PM when we finished our meal. We didn’t order dessert, but Nate wanted to get a churro from a stand he had seen at City Walk.
Mark and Ben decided to go back to the Portofino, and Nate and I stayed to pay for the meal.
Nate got his churro ($3.19) and we waited for a boat back to the Portofino.
City Walk is beautiful at night!
We stopped by the club lounge for some sweet treats- tonight it was cannoli and a tiramisu thing.
Next up- Day 3: Open to the Close (almost)- 12 ½ hours at the Magic Kingdom
Why Wednesday? and
Surprise!
.
We have left Sea World and we are headed to City Walk to find something to eat.
We arrive at City Walk and find:
A swarm of people. Most of them heading out of City Walk. We were like salmon swimming upstream.
At this point we start wandering a bit aimlessly- we don’t know City Walk, the locations of the restaurants, how long the waits for a table are…
We see the sign for the “Food Court” type area- Panda Express, Burger King Whopper Bar, Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Someone mentions that will be fine. Ben loves Chinese food and he enjoyed a meal he had at a Panda Express in some airport (Washington, DC?). This food area is on the second floor at City Walk. When we got in and looked at the food, though, it really didn’t appeal to any of us. Except Ben. So he ordered a dinner, but none of the rest of us wanted to eat there.
While he was eating, I volunteered to scout out some sit down places. My obvious choice, based on my adoration of Jimmy Buffett, was Margaritaville.
Down the stairs. Over to Margaritaville.
The hostess said it would be a 40 minute wait. I took the beeper and returned to tell the family at Panda Express.
Up the Stairs.
I check in with them, and then I decide to check on Bubba Gumps.
Down the Stairs. Over to Bubba’s.
They tell me 10-15 minutes, so I give my name there (actually I think this is where they ask you your favorite drink instead of your name. Mine is Ting, a Jamaican Grapefruit drink)
Up the Stairs.
I return to Panda Express, Ben is finishing up his meal, and we all head to Bubba’s.
Down the Stairs.
When we arrive, they tell us they have already called our name (drink?) and are ready to seat us.
This saved an evening that was going downhill rapidly. We were wet, tired and hungry and some of us may have been a wee bit cranky. I won’t mention any names here.
We ordered our drinks and meals.
As we waited for the food to be delivered, the waitress came over and asked us some trivia questions from the movie Forrest Gump. I did ok, considering I haven’t seen the movie since it came out in theaters.
I also had another task I had to do- return the beeper I had from Margaritaville.
Out the door, over to Margaritaville and back again.
Somebody earned her supper!!!
Maybe not surprisingly, the menu at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Company consists of mostly shrimp!
Mark ordered:
Shrimp New Orleans
An authentic spicy recipe from our staff in the
French Quarter. Lots of tender Shrimp broiled
with Butter, Garlic, and Spices, and served with
Jasmine Rice. 17.29
He loved this!
My meal:
Pear & Berry Salad
Fresh Greens with charbroiled Chicken,
Strawberries, Pears, and glazed Pecans.
We toss it all together with Raspberry
Vinaigrette, and top it with Feta Cheese. 11.99
Here is a second picture, because I noticed halfway through the meal that there were no glazed pecans!
Nate, who doesn’t really like shrimp, ordered this:
Prime Top Sirloin
A tender 11 oz. USDA Prime Top Sirloin served
with Mashed Potatoes, a crispy Onion Ring
and juicy sliced Tomato. 20.99
Ben was not finished eating for the evening, he wanted a Caesar salad, so I ordered a side salad to go with my meal ($5.59)
I think I just took one picture of the inside of the restaurant, and none of the exterior!
Our check total was $70.75 before tip. Since this is a chain restaurant, there was no AAA discount.
It was close to 9 PM when we finished our meal. We didn’t order dessert, but Nate wanted to get a churro from a stand he had seen at City Walk.
Mark and Ben decided to go back to the Portofino, and Nate and I stayed to pay for the meal.
Nate got his churro ($3.19) and we waited for a boat back to the Portofino.
City Walk is beautiful at night!
We stopped by the club lounge for some sweet treats- tonight it was cannoli and a tiramisu thing.
Next up- Day 3: Open to the Close (almost)- 12 ½ hours at the Magic Kingdom
Why Wednesday? and
Surprise!
.
ddluvsdisney
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2010
My DH loves Bubba Gumps! I thought it was ok. We both do love that movie and he has probably seen 100 times so as you can guess he got all or most of the trivia right. He even started giving the server ideas for new questions LOL (how embarrasing)
I think he might have had the same as your DH it looked familiar.
So needless to say we are eating here again this year. Have I mentioned we a leaving 2 weeks from today. I am so EXCITED!!!!!! My ticker only shows the day we arrive at the Poly.
I think he might have had the same as your DH it looked familiar.
So needless to say we are eating here again this year. Have I mentioned we a leaving 2 weeks from today. I am so EXCITED!!!!!! My ticker only shows the day we arrive at the Poly.
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
My DH loves Bubba Gumps! I thought it was ok. We both do love that movie and he has probably seen 100 times so as you can guess he got all or most of the trivia right. He even started giving the server ideas for new questions LOL (how embarrasing)
I think he might have had the same as your DH it looked familiar.
So needless to say we are eating here again this year. Have I mentioned we a leaving 2 weeks from today. I am so EXCITED!!!!!! My ticker only shows the day we arrive at the Poly.
Is it a guy thing???
Mark loved his meal there.
Of course, when I was pulling up the meal descriptions from the menu today, I saw about 3-4 meals that looked fantastic, but at the time we were eating there, I was exhausted and a bit on edge, so I really hadn't focused on the menu. Shrimp is one of my favorite food choices, and I go to a place that specializes in shrimp...
And I order salad???
Go poking around the net for coupons! Before I left, there was a post on the Universal boards about a free smoothie coupon. I didn't print it because we weren't planning on going here- and of course, Nate ordered a smoothie!!!
Google "Bubba Gump coupons"
You may have mentioned you are excited about going soon!
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Very enjoyable trip report so far! But listen, I'll be leaving on the 16th, and I'll be needing those top ten tips by then, okay?
Done!
ProudMommyof2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2007
How would you compare Citywalk with DTD?
natebenma
Beach Club Dee
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
Hmmm- there's no Lego store at City Walk.
I have to say, my family does not do a lot of shopping, so at DTD, pretty much what we do is go to the Lego Store and eat at T-Rex. We have been to Disney Quest, it is ok, but not my favorite. We make the obligatory walk through World of Disney, haven't been to Goofy's Candy Company since 2008 and that's about it!
We didn't spend a ton of time at City Walk- mostly arrival and departure on the resort boats. We shopped at NBA (expensive, but the boy enjoyed it), we ate at Bubba's which was good, I would have liked to spend some time at Margaritaville, but that just didn't happen.
I guess my point is, I'm probably not the best person to ask, but if I had to choose one, I would say DTD, because the Lego creations at and outside the store intrigue me.
I have to say, my family does not do a lot of shopping, so at DTD, pretty much what we do is go to the Lego Store and eat at T-Rex. We have been to Disney Quest, it is ok, but not my favorite. We make the obligatory walk through World of Disney, haven't been to Goofy's Candy Company since 2008 and that's about it!
We didn't spend a ton of time at City Walk- mostly arrival and departure on the resort boats. We shopped at NBA (expensive, but the boy enjoyed it), we ate at Bubba's which was good, I would have liked to spend some time at Margaritaville, but that just didn't happen.
I guess my point is, I'm probably not the best person to ask, but if I had to choose one, I would say DTD, because the Lego creations at and outside the store intrigue me.
Marlton Mom
My favorite ride is the "ladies room"...... it's a
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2003
My DH loves Bubba Gumps! I thought it was ok. We both do love that movie and he has probably seen 100 times so as you can guess he got all or most of the trivia right. He even started giving the server ideas for new questions LOL (how embarrasing)
ProudMommyof2- just noticed your ticker! How did you win your trip??? Where are you staying?
Yes!! Do tell!!!
~Marlton Mom
ProudMommyof2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2007
Hey Dee-
There is a little story here.
So everyone that knows me knows Disney is my happy place. Friends and family call me Tour Guide Pam! We took the kids in 2007 & 2009 so last summer I started planning for 2011. When DH realized he sadly had to impart some reality. With him starting Grad school this year (soo proud of him!) a big Disney trip was probably not in the cards. SO being the "adult" I am, I said "No problem- I'll win us a trip!" DH practically patted me on the head and sent me on my fruitless way.
Well starting last August, I went to Mousesavers.com every day and entered every sweepstakes I could. Took about 10 minutes a day and lots of "You know how bad your odds are, right?" from DS. At the end of January, I got the magical email that I won!
It was a Radio Delilah contest. I had to write in 500 words or less my favorite Disney memory. There were 10 winners. It included a trip for 4 with airfare(we are going direct on Southwest out of Providence), Park tickets with hoppers, $200 gift card and 3 nights in a Deluxe Hotel (We are staying at the Poly!!!!). I extended the trip an additional 3 nights by renting points to stay at AKV.
SO now there are homages instead of pats on the head from DH and "You Rock" from DS! And just about every person I tell says "I can't believe a real person actually wins those trips!"
Hope that is not too long of an answer to your kind question.
Pam
There is a little story here.
So everyone that knows me knows Disney is my happy place. Friends and family call me Tour Guide Pam! We took the kids in 2007 & 2009 so last summer I started planning for 2011. When DH realized he sadly had to impart some reality. With him starting Grad school this year (soo proud of him!) a big Disney trip was probably not in the cards. SO being the "adult" I am, I said "No problem- I'll win us a trip!" DH practically patted me on the head and sent me on my fruitless way.
Well starting last August, I went to Mousesavers.com every day and entered every sweepstakes I could. Took about 10 minutes a day and lots of "You know how bad your odds are, right?" from DS. At the end of January, I got the magical email that I won!
It was a Radio Delilah contest. I had to write in 500 words or less my favorite Disney memory. There were 10 winners. It included a trip for 4 with airfare(we are going direct on Southwest out of Providence), Park tickets with hoppers, $200 gift card and 3 nights in a Deluxe Hotel (We are staying at the Poly!!!!). I extended the trip an additional 3 nights by renting points to stay at AKV.
SO now there are homages instead of pats on the head from DH and "You Rock" from DS! And just about every person I tell says "I can't believe a real person actually wins those trips!"
Hope that is not too long of an answer to your kind question.
Pam
Congrats!!!!! 
I'm going to have to remember to enter the contests more often!
bubba's mom
<font color=red>Proud Redhead<br><font color=darko
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2004
Glad you were able to get something to eat in a quick!
notes: Bubba's usually seats faster than Mville. But you really need to like seafood/shrimp to eat at Bubba's. There's only a few offerings of non-seafood...the burger and southern fried chicken being a couple of them. Mville is always a must for us....at least once.
Bubba's will take AP discount.
Answers to trivia questions at Bubba's are on the kid's menu. Get one and color/play games to pass the time AND review answers to questions
oh...and comparing DTD to CW: CW is more food and eating, music/dancing...DTD is more of a 'shopping' place. While there is some shopping at CW, it's not like the shopping at DTD. hth
notes: Bubba's usually seats faster than Mville. But you really need to like seafood/shrimp to eat at Bubba's. There's only a few offerings of non-seafood...the burger and southern fried chicken being a couple of them. Mville is always a must for us....at least once.
Bubba's will take AP discount.
Answers to trivia questions at Bubba's are on the kid's menu. Get one and color/play games to pass the time AND review answers to questions
oh...and comparing DTD to CW: CW is more food and eating, music/dancing...DTD is more of a 'shopping' place. While there is some shopping at CW, it's not like the shopping at DTD. hth
ddluvsdisney
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2010
Is it a guy thing???
Mark loved his meal there.
Of course, when I was pulling up the meal descriptions from the menu today, I saw about 3-4 meals that looked fantastic, but at the time we were eating there, I was exhausted and a bit on edge, so I really hadn't focused on the menu. Shrimp is one of my favorite food choices, and I go to a place that specializes in shrimp...
And I order salad???
Go poking around the net for coupons! Before I left, there was a post on the Universal boards about a free smoothie coupon. I didn't print it because we weren't planning on going here- and of course, Nate ordered a smoothie!!!
Google "Bubba Gump coupons"
You may have mentioned you are excited about going soon!
Thanks Dee I will try to get the coupons
Shrimp is one of our favs as well must be why we wanted to eat here- duh?
We actually ate at Bubba Gumps for the first time in S.C. so when we saw that Universal had one it was the first restaurant we picked.
Deb
ddluvsdisney
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2010
That is so awesome!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!
I would love to rub that in my DH's face after thinking it would NEVER happen! so fun
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