AGLET – We're Gonna Tour The World Together! Updated 11/9!!!

[glennbo123]

Your restaurant reviews are always awesome Stringbean!

Parsnip creme brulee huh? My mother-in-law makes a parsnip and carrot dish that is excellent, so I wouldn't underestimate the parsnip's ability to deliver.

I'm rooting for you to stay at AKL someday!!!

 

[glennbo123]

BTW - Stacey and Clinton would run me down and beat with a coat hanger if they saw some of the stuff I wear.

 

[Joyciemc]

Mmmm... Jiko!! I love that place.

 

[emmysmommy]

That Jiko filet looks ahh-mazing!! I've never had corn risotto but I can definitely say that if there was some in front of me right now - it would be demolished! Lovely review - sorry that your allergies made an appearance.

 

[marDgreen88]

AKL just blows me away with how beautiful it is every time I see pictures. Sadly, I have never even been there in person!

I have no idea why, but I can't stop laughing at that picture of the ankole (????) cattle and the zebra. They both look incredibly bored, or something. It's just funny! (Forgive me.)

The meal looks great!!! Wahhh... no IllumiNations viewing? Aww, so sad! At least we always know there will be a 'next time.'

 

[Enchanted88]

Jiko!! It looks so yummy! We'll have to try it next time (2014 waaaahhhh lol)
I think it's great that you went to Jiko twice in one day!! That means it's super good!

Ben and I are going to Ohana one night and then Kona the next morning, so we'll be eating in the same resort in a 10 hr span...too bad we can't just sleeep there! haha (wishful thinking )

Sad to think about packing up and leaving! Especially when you know your next trip is farther away than you want it to be!!

Great update, can't wait to read more!

 

[ShortStuff]

Congratulations on your engagement!!!! k::

I was lucky enough to find your trip report and have enjoyed every moment of it!! I'll be looking forward to hearing more!!

Is there a Disney wedding, or Disneymoon in your future??!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

We certainly loved our stay there! Hope his happens for you.

The night before leaving takes on a sad air, no matter how much you fight it off with park fun.

It really does seem like an awesome place to stay!!

UGH right??? The last night is so depressing!!

Your Jiko meal looks wonderful!! I really wish I could convince my hubby to give it another shot as I think we just had a bad experience in '09. I think we would enjoy it based on all the recent reviews!!

I'm sad you weren't able to see Illuminations! We didn't get to it in '09 either and was so sad about it! But then it was my hubby's first trip so he has never seen it and I haven't seen it for YEARSSSS!!! Hopefully your next trip will be sooner than later and AKL will come into play for you!

Hopefully you guys give it another shot! We really love it there!

It's too bad we had to miss Illuminations, but it wasn't worth going with all of those crowds!!

I really have to try Jiko! My fella is itching to go there, but for some reason I keep putting it on the "next time" list. Silly me!

How sad that you had to miss the EMHs and Illuminations, but I totally would have done the same thing.

Oh, those last-night-at-Disney blues. The gloom! The despair! The misery! (I am nothing if not dramatic!)

Aww it should make your A list!!! It really is a great restaurant!

Yeah, it wasn't worth it, unfortunately. We'll catch it on our next trip, I'm sure.

LOL at your last-night dramatics!

Wow, Jiko looks awesome!
Too bad about Epcot being so busy
I can't believe it's almost over and you're heading back to pack!

It is a great place, we love it there! I can't believe our trip was almost over too!!!

I had to laugh that you apologized to Stacy and Clinton. I often get dressed and say "I hope that Stacy and Clinton don't pop out of the bushes today"

Jiko looks beautiful! Most of the AKL restaurants aren't really on my radar because it's kind of inconvenient to get to (dragging a 5 year old over there for dinner ). But I'll have to keep them in mind. The caramel ice cream looked amazing, and so did your filet!


I started a new job this week, and there's a beet salad with goat cheese on the menu there. I of course thought of you.

I'm sad that the trip is almost over!

Hahahaha I'll admit I do think of them sometimes like, "oh, they'd be SO sending this shirt up the chute!"

They are a bit inconvenient to get too, I will agree. But they are fantastic, and we always think they're worth the trip!

Congrats!!! Oooh I know what DF would be wanting to try there!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

What a beautiful ring! Congrats on your engagement! Really enjoying your TR!

Thanks!!!! Welcome, glad to have you here!!

I love Jiko!

Boo about the allergy snafu, but glad it wasn't bad!

I would have unfortunately made the same decision NOT to go into EPCOT with it being that crowded as well! It's sad!

We love it too! It definitely wasn't bad at all, but still annoying!

Yeah, I knew it would just be a frustrating evening if we decided to stay, unfortunately!

LOVED your Jiko review. Can't wait to try it.

BTW - Stacey and Clinton would run me down and beat with a coat hanger if they saw some of the stuff I wear.

on having to pack and leave.

Am I seeing an AKL Disneymoon in the works ??? I hear not_joanna_eggs rents points ..... LOL.

Seriously, though. Check into renting points. It really IS cheaper.

Thanks!!

Hahahahahaha probably the same with me too!!! I think I wear too many Disney shirts for their taste!

Oh I hate having to pack and leave. It's such a sad Disney moment!

Thanks for the tip!

Jiko sounds like it is so good, but I'm so scared to go there! I'm afraid everything is a little too exotic for me! I always read such great reviews of it, I'd love to try it someday!

I hope you get to stay at AKL someday, it is such a beautiful resort!

Don't be afraid of Jiko!! The ingredients are a bit more exotic than some of the other restaurants, but it is mostly very familiar ingredients, with a bit of an added flavor. Not scary at all, I promise!

It really is a gorgeous resort, I love the atmosphere there!

Ooooh, tempting me with Jiko! Rey & I rented points for AKL for three nights in November and we already have a Sanaa reservation, but we may just have to try Jiko too if we have enough money!

Hahaha sorry to be a bad influence!!! Sanaa is fantastic, great choice!! Jiko is wonderful too, especially since you'll be staying right at AKL!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Your Jiko meal looks amazing. Yum! I think that beet app looks better than the AP one. It seems to have more going on. Very yummy looking desserts indeed.

As far as Stacy and Clinton, they always say, "It doesn't have to match. It just has to go".

I love the AKL too. I hope you get your wish to stay there sooner rather than later.

Both of the beet appetizers were good, but I'm still voting for Artist Point's, personally! (And no, not just because I am stubborn!)

Those are excellent words of fashion wisdom!

I'd love to stay there someday, it really does look beautiful!

I had to run into Wal-Mart last night to pick something up - saw this and IMMEDIATELY thought of you for some reason

Sorry if the photo is HUGE - photobucket isn't cooperating with me this evening...

Hahahaha that's awesome!!! Thanks for sharing that!

Your restaurant reviews are always awesome Stringbean!

Parsnip creme brulee huh? My mother-in-law makes a parsnip and carrot dish that is excellent, so I wouldn't underestimate the parsnip's ability to deliver.

I'm rooting for you to stay at AKL someday!!!

Thanks!!!

I love parsnips, I think they're great! I would have loved to have tried that creme brulee!

Mmmm... Jiko!! I love that place.

I love it there too!!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

That Jiko filet looks ahh-mazing!! I've never had corn risotto but I can definitely say that if there was some in front of me right now - it would be demolished! Lovely review - sorry that your allergies made an appearance.

It was a great steak!! The corn risotto reminded me of pearl couscous, actually! It was really good!

AKL just blows me away with how beautiful it is every time I see pictures. Sadly, I have never even been there in person!

I have no idea why, but I can't stop laughing at that picture of the ankole (????) cattle and the zebra. They both look incredibly bored, or something. It's just funny! (Forgive me.)

The meal looks great!!! Wahhh... no IllumiNations viewing? Aww, so sad! At least we always know there will be a 'next time.'

You should stop by there in person! It really is a gorgeous resort!!

Hahahahaha I didn't notice that until you pointed it out!! They're all "Ugh. Another day in Disney. Whatev."

There will definitely be a next time, of course!!!

Jiko!! It looks so yummy! We'll have to try it next time (2014 waaaahhhh lol)
I think it's great that you went to Jiko twice in one day!! That means it's super good!

Ben and I are going to Ohana one night and then Kona the next morning, so we'll be eating in the same resort in a 10 hr span...too bad we can't just sleeep there! haha (wishful thinking )

Sad to think about packing up and leaving! Especially when you know your next trip is farther away than you want it to be!!

Great update, can't wait to read more!

Jiko really is great, we love it there! Definitely worth visiting AKL twice in a day!

We've never been to Ohana, but we LOVE Kona for breakfast! It's fabulous there!

Ugh, I know, packing to leave for home is the worst!

Congratulations on your engagement!!!! k::

I was lucky enough to find your trip report and have enjoyed every moment of it!! I'll be looking forward to hearing more!!

Is there a Disney wedding, or Disneymoon in your future??!!

Thank you!!! Welcome!! Glad to have you here!

 

[Simba22]

OK so I'm finally all caught up!!

The next morning, we headed out not-yet-bright and early for a breakfast that Wingnut was especially excited for: Boma! This had been one of his favorites from the year before, and so we were sure to fit it in to our schedule.

I LOVE Boma for breakfast but we've only been there twice because it's so tough to get to without a car. We're staying at AKL next year so it will be a definite! I have to try those Goat Cheese Eggs! I've never had them before!

Despite our roundabout route that morning of traveling from the Poly to AKL and back, we still made it to the MK in plenty of time for rope drop! I enjoy watching the opening show, so we milled around the front of the entrance, rather than queuing up at the tunnels.

Wow, I'm impressed!

The one. The only. THE DOLE WHIP.

When we were ordering, I wasn't sure whether to start with the basic Dole Whip, or try my hand at the Dole Whip Float. And what flavors to choose? I decided to start with the most simple and classic-seeming combo I could, the vanilla and pineapple swirl.

I don't like the float so I just get the soft serve, myself, but I only ever get the pineapple!

Of course, my brilliant now-fiance had found Le Chapeau. The hat store. Hope began to rise as I walked quickly into the store and scanned the shelves.

And there, near the bottom of the wall of hats, did I find my Beaker hat!!!!!!!!

I am SOOO glad you found this because I saw a MILLION of them EVERY WHERE when we were there last week and I kept thinking 'maybe I should get one for her just in case she never found it...' But of course, I completely forgot by the time we left so I'm really really really happy you ended up finding one!

On a slightly random note, check out what I found at Target last night!!!



Wingnut: Don't you already have Hello Kitty band-aids?

Me: NO. I used them all up.

I bought the Kermit and Animal ones! AND...I found Perry ones although I got those at Walmart...and I ALSO have Hello Kitty ones!

"Just get both!"

Sounds good to me!

I love hearing those words!

I LOVE this one! I was in MouseGear for like an hour and never saw it!

Wingnut: "You know, I think that AKL would be a really nice place to stay someday."
Me: Oh really? Because that's EXACTLY what I said the other day.

We settled in to our seats by the sunset wall, and Wingnut decided to try one of the Kenyan coffee/liquor drinks, which was technically one of those after-dinner drinks, but hey, carpe diem.

I tried one at California Grill (although I waited until AFTER dinner) and I really liked it! The one I tried had Bailey's in it...I do love Bailey's!

By the time I was around 2/3 of the way into this soup, I realized I had either hit my spice threshold for the week, or I had found a variety of curry I was not yet immune to. My reaction was extremely slight, but I took that as a bit of a figurative Yield sign for the rest of the meal, and was a bit wary of the spices going forward.

That stinks! Glad it wasn't bad though! That could have really ruined your night!

When we pulled up at Epcot, we got off the bus and started walking towards the bag check area. This was when we were instantly able to see that Epcot was completely and entirely PACKED. The line for bag check extended out until approximately forever, and more and more people just kept arriving from the busses, monorail, tram, everywhere.

While I had really wanted to see Illuminations at least once during our trip, I just knew that it wasn't worth it to battle this level of crowd. And once we had stayed for the show, leaving afterwards was just going to be exponentially more difficult. DF left the decision up to me, and I steered us in the direction of the shortest bag check line that I could find, and then we veered left to go straight over to the monorail.

Ugh, that stinks! I would have made the same decision though...not worth fighting the crowds, and Illuminations is my favorite!

It was a quick trip back to the Polynesian, where we packed sad in anticipation of checking out bright and early the next morning before breakfast sad:).

Aww! I hate packing for home!

 

[Charleston Princess]

You would love staying at AKL one day! Most definitely! Still my favorite resort!

That Kenyan coffee drink looks fabulous! I want one right now!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

OK so I'm finally all caught up!!

I LOVE Boma for breakfast but we've only been there twice because it's so tough to get to without a car. We're staying at AKL next year so it will be a definite! I have to try those Goat Cheese Eggs! I've never had them before!

Wow, I'm impressed!

I don't like the float so I just get the soft serve, myself, but I only ever get the pineapple!

I am SOOO glad you found this because I saw a MILLION of them EVERY WHERE when we were there last week and I kept thinking 'maybe I should get one for her just in case she never found it...' But of course, I completely forgot by the time we left so I'm really really really happy you ended up finding one!

I bought the Kermit and Animal ones! AND...I found Perry ones although I got those at Walmart...and I ALSO have Hello Kitty ones!

I love hearing those words!

I LOVE this one! I was in MouseGear for like an hour and never saw it!



I tried one at California Grill (although I waited until AFTER dinner) and I really liked it! The one I tried had Bailey's in it...I do love Bailey's!

That stinks! Glad it wasn't bad though! That could have really ruined your night!

Ugh, that stinks! I would have made the same decision though...not worth fighting the crowds, and Illuminations is my favorite!

Aww! I hate packing for home!

Yay for staying at AKL!!! Yes, you MUST do Boma for breakfast!! It's a really great selection there!

I wasn't sure how I'd like the float, I'm glad I just got the regular whip. I really liked it!

Awww thanks for thinking of me!!! I'm glad I was able to find it too! Isn't it funny how the merchandise rotates so much so quickly?

DF likes Bailey's too - I'm not as much of a fan of coffee flavors, so most after-dinner drinks are lost on me!

I'm glad my allergies weren't too bad also! Yeah, unfortunately, Illuminations just wasn't in the cards for us this trip, it seems!

You would love staying at AKL one day! Most definitely! Still my favorite resort!

That Kenyan coffee drink looks fabulous! I want one right now!

Someday I definitely would love to stay there! It really is gorgeous!

Hahaha he liked it a lot!

 

[MEK]

Both of the beet appetizers were good, but I'm still voting for Artist Point's, personally! (And no, not just because I am stubborn!)

Denny just got his first beets out of the garden on Sunday and he made this wonderful beet salad with feta cheese. OMG! Best Beets EVER! Wish you guys lived closer, but at least I thought about you when I was eating them.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Denny just got his first beets out of the garden on Sunday and he made this wonderful beet salad with feta cheese. OMG! Best Beets EVER! Wish you guys lived closer, but at least I thought about you when I was eating them.

Mmm that sounds awesome!!! I wish we could grow vegetables, but we're limited to anything that would flourish indoors in little containers and wouldn't take over our living room . Enjoy your fresh beets!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

This just in from the Not-Very-Surprising News Department:





I am very excited to announce that, yes, we will be having a Disneymoon!!!!!!!!!





















(Which will be closely following OUR DISNEY WEDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)







When we told our families that we wanted to have a smaller, family-focused wedding and get married in Disney, exactly nobody was surprised.

Our brother-in-law told us he had actually already started researching Disney weddings for us. ("I think that this would be a great ceremony site...")

And Wingnut’s sister (my completely awesome future SIL) had already made this cross-stitch for us, which I find very appropriate:



Our 4-year-old niece was excited at the prospect of a Disney wedding: “I will watch the wedding and then I will go on Winnie the Pooh.” "

(Hey, she’s got a plan. Who can blame her?)

And my parents were super-excited over the potential menu options:

Them: WAIT. You can have Napoleons?????

Us: YES. And School Bread. And Grey Goose Slushies. And carrot cake cookies.

Them:

(Side note: I'm very happy that exclamation points don't count as pictures in posts, I'd have reached my limit many sentences ago!!!)

But...wait...of course...there's more!!

When you are planning a Disney wedding, you have the option to go to Disney and attend a site visit, planning session, and tasting session. Which, of course, we will be doing....

...this October!!!

(FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL, HERE WE COME!!!)

Okay! Have you kept track of all of that??? I'm SUPER excited, and can't wait to really start planning! Wingnut is also really excited! (And not just because we can have Pooh's puffed French toast on our menu! )

I've been debating what to do as far as a PTR/TR, and what I definitely want to do is finish up this current TR, with updates on the wedding incorporated in. (I don't think I have the DIS stamina to keep up two reports at once! ) After that, I'll start something else separate for our planning trip/wedding/Disneymoon.

(A few more for good measure: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh my goodness, Stringbean!!! I can't begin to tell you how excited I am that you are having a Disney wedding and a Disneymoon (and a planning trip beforehand)!!! I am going to have so much fun living vicariously through you that I am absolutely giddy (I am even doing Kermit hands in my mind with a yeay!!! ).

The cross-stitch is so cute! I love to cross-stitch.

And how cute is your niece with her plans!!!

This is going to be so great!!!

 

[Megablocks]

I am SO excited for you!!! My DBF hasn't been to Disney (I know ) so he doesn't "get" my Disney craziness...so I am so, so excited for you!!! I already cant wait to read about your plans for a Disney wedding AND honeymoon!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

That is amazing, even if not surprising!! So will it be a full out trip in October? Where will you stay??? Cannot wait to hear about the wedding plans! You can have SLUSHIES?!?!?!?!? *drools*