Mom & Son Going Back with Dad + 1 - 10/3 - Rose & Crown and now Complete!

Hello! I am finally going back to WDW to do another dining report! For those of you that have read my previous reviews, you must know that I am going thru withdrawals since my last trip with the Dining Divas in December 2013!



Prior to that trip, DS (Andrew) and I had many wonderful Disney trips with and without Dad. This is one of my very favorite pics from our last trip in August 2013.





Alas, DS left me to head off to college in August 2014 and I had my first "Disney-less" year since 2004!

I survived Andrew's first year away from home ( )by planning this trip! So who is going?

Of course DS and I plus we are bringing Dad along. Here we are at graduation in June 2014 ...



And our plus one this year ... Andrew's DGF, Julia! Here they are recently in Lake George, NY

http://s265.photobucket.com/user/vs...hotos/Photo0006FourBySix_zpsebe7cf46.jpg.html


They have been together for 3+ years now and we adore her. She has not been to WDW since she was 9 and has never eaten in a sit down Disney restaurant!

So when are we going? One week from today!

Because I want Julia's trip to be absolutely perfect, I have planned, re-planned and then planned some more! It is safe to say that I have made and cancelled hundreds of ADRs even making some tweaks this morning! I am going to say that our plans are final at this point but really with me you just never know!

So, please come along for the ride! I would never attempt a live dining review but I hope to maybe post a daily sneak peek of things to come!

[URL='http://www.disboards.com/threads/mom-son-going-back-with-dad-1-update-8-17-ghiardellis.3432570/page-2#post-54245574']Saved for if I figure out how to set the links for the index![/URL]

So what are the thoroughly planned and re-planned plans? We arrive late Friday, 7/31 – actually our plane lands after midnight so it is really VERY early on Saturday, 8/1. We will be staying the one night at POP Century before getting up and walking over the bridge to our destination for the week – Art of Animation’s Lion King suites! Originally we planned to stay at Caribbean Beach (hench my ticker) but our tax refund was more than we had expected so we upgraded to AoA! I am beyond excited. LK is DS’s favorite Disney movie so this is just perfect.

Saturday 8/1 –

First up – Magic Kingdom. No real lunch or breakfast plans as I am not real sure when we will get there. So the plan will be Nutella waffles and then probably Columbia Harbor House. Dinner is at Be Our Guest mostly to meet Beast. I have to say this is the one meal I am nervous about. DS and I had our worst Disney meal at BOG during the AP soft opening in November 2012. Lunch the following year was better so I am really planning soup and dessert. We’ll see how this one goes. Ok so I couldn't do it. I changed dinner to The Plaza. Just couldn't take the chance of a repeat awful BoG dinner.

(Side note: I have planned Mickey’s Welcome from the Disney Florist for when we get back to our room to surprise the “kids”. Yes, at 19 they are still my “kids”. I have struggled keeping the secret. One more week to not spill the beans)

Sunday 8/2 –

First up, a DS request, ‘Ohana for breakfast. Hoping to then head over to plan mini-golf. We have had two family tournaments in Lake George (Andrew and I vs Dad and Julia – we are undefeated). Then over to EPCOT. No real lunch planned, just snacks. Dinner at Via Napoli before an Illuminations Cruise. If we are hungry after the cruise we plan to stop in to Beaches and Cream.

Monday 8/3 –

DHS day. I booked the Frozen Premium Package so I guess there will be snacks for the Royal Welcome parade. Also hoping to stop in to Starring Rolls and of course get a carrot cake cookie at Writers Stop. Dinner will be at 50’s Prime Time (a DGF request) and then there will be the Frozen dessert party.

Tuesday 8/4 –

Planning to head to DTD for breakfast at WPE. I have a groupon for the Characters in Flight balloon ride. May try to hit Spiltsville. Lunch will be later at Sanaa mostly to show DGF the resort. May just end up sharing the bread service depending on how things go at DTD. Then back to EPCOT for a later dinner at Le Cellier (another DS request)

Wednesday 8/5 –

DS & DGF are heading to Typhoon Lagoon for the day. DH and I had no real plans until I was able just last week to get us Lunch with an Imagineer at HBD. I am so excited. It is something I have wanted to do for years. I had tried back in February to get an ADR but had no luck. Kept trying for a few months then gave up. One day last week I don’t know what made me try but there it was! Pixie dust for sure. Dinner will be at La Hacienda. If A&J are too tired they will just head back to AoA. It is their call.

Thursday 8/6 –

Animal Kingdom day! Breakfast at Tusker House which DS hates! But DGF wants to meet Daisy Duck! Lunch will be at Yak & Yeti. This will be the only night we split up for dinner. A&J are heading to Artist Point (DS very favorite Disney restaurant). I booked them a carriage ride at Fort Wilderness before their dinner. DH and I will be going to Flying Fish for the Chef’s Table. I hope it is as wonderful this time as it was when DS and I went a few years back.

Friday 8/7 –

Another MK day. Breakfast at Be Our Guest. Julia and I will be going to the Grand Floridian Tea and Jay and Andrew will head to the ESPN Zone. Dinner at California Grill. A bit uncertain because of the recent not so great reviews. But how can we not take Julia to see the fireworks?! We ultimately may just split some appetizers, sushi and dessert.

Saturday 8/8 –

DS and I are going to the MK for a few hours while DGF and DH hang at AoA. I really wanted just a few hours with him alone. Will meet up at EPCOT to snack around the World. Dinner will be at Biergarten (DH's only request) before heading to MK for the evening.

Sunday 8/9 –

Last day. Our flight is later so right now the plan is Sunshine Seasons for breakfast and a later lunch at Rose & Crown before heading back to AoA to catch the ME. I am debating trying to do a breakfast this morning somewhere other than EPCOT but I know there will be the last minute packing scramble so I am unsure. May be best to just plan a low key EPCOT day.


So there you have. Any and all thoughts/comments are welcome!

Yay! I'm first to the party! What a great trip you have planned. Can't wait to hear all about it.

And don't worry about California Grill. I'm sure it will be great!

Hi Barb - welcome!

My fingers are definitely crossed for CG! I am so excited for this trip! Thanks for joining in!

So happy you are able to go back again to Disney with the whole family. Looks like you have some really fun things planned along with some great restaurants. Looking forward to your dining reviews as I think I have read most of them.

Nohal said:

So happy you are able to go back again to Disney with the whole family. Looks like you have some really fun things planned along with some great restaurants. Looking forward to your dining reviews as I think I have read most of them.

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Welcome! Happy to have you along for this one! I am a bit afraid that I have too much planned trying to fit everything in for Julia's first trip with us. We'll see what happens!

Just finding your report and so excited to hear about all your adventures. Sounds like you have an amazing week planned

Sounds like you planned a great week. Can't wait to hear about it.

kastoney said:

Just finding your report and so excited to hear about all your adventures. Sounds like you have an amazing week planned

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starousse said:

Sounds like you planned a great week. Can't wait to hear about it.

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Only 4 more days! Just three more days of work to get thru! I cannot believe how excited I am about this trip!

Thanks for joining in!

You have lots of awesome ADRs lined up - can't wait to hear about them!

It looks like you have an amazing week planned!

It's been a long time! So nice to see you're heading back for a long overdue visit! Can't wait to read your reviews...I hope it's a perfect trip for everyone.

First - thanks so much to those coming along! One more day of work, then stressful travel day, then we are there!

So I just couldn't do it. I cancelled our BoG dinner. As much as I want to meet Beast, I just can't shake the horrible meal Andrew and I had. So I changed to the always reliable Plaza. So we still get to see Beast's Castle, I made us all a breakfast ADR on Friday instead of Crystal Palace. DS and I will just grab Starbucks on Saturday.

Ok, there ... 48 hours before I board the plane I think I have made the last of the pre-arrival changes. Who knows what will happen when we are there but for now I am finally happy.

You sound like you have a great week planned! Can't wait to read all about it!!

Good move on BoG dinner, I'm not a fan either. Have an amazing trip!!!!!!!

Thank you! 24 hours from now we should be on the plane! Definitely too excited to sleep!

Will try to post a couple of sneak peeks along the way as long as Disney's WiFi cooperates!

Safe travels today and have a great trip!