Team Renfroe's 2nd Trip Report - 1,500 pictures, dining reviews, and DISmeets!

[nodnol]

Hi Alan, I never told you, how much I enjoy your TR - and how much I missed it... It's great that you're back!!!

 

[inkedupmomma]

awesome review and pics.. I think we may need to try that place out! Although, unlike you, i do NOT like Sushi!!

 

[Colleen27]

That's the spicy kazan roll you had... I've been drooling over it in California Grill reviews for what seems like forever! Can't wait to get down there and dig in myself, but in the meantime, I'm happy to have such a great TR & pics to pass the time!

 

[MaryAz]

We missed you Alan but can understand how busy you are! Love the Shrimp Fest pics. Cool guitar. Poor girl falling asleep at the table. That food looked yummy!

 

[Mysteria]

You are one busy man! Weclome back. Loved the updates!

 

[Luis Rodriguez]

Hi Alan,

Nice to read you back!!

Hey, didn't know you are an accomplished musician!! Congrats for being on a big festival. BTW, I was able to read something about an upcoming CD!! Please post when it will be available on Amazon...

Love your photos of California Grill (Mercedes and I absolutely LOVE sushi). Pity that Juliana was so tired. It always breaks your heart a little when they fall asleep that way...

Regards,

Luis

 

[podsnel]

Is it true???? You're back???? We've all missed you sooo much!! I've really missed you on my TRs- I think I've written like TEN since you were last around!

So...a few comments- ok, first of all, all this time i thought Tracey was a GIRL- I never saw a photo of him before!! So all this time I thought you were roomates with a girl, your best friend was a girl, your band was YOU and a girl....really it all came as a shock to see- you're friend's a BOY!!!

Anyway...that festival looked INCREDIBLE!! I wish i lived a LOT closer!! The beach looks alot like Destin, where my MIL lives- nice white powdery sand. And way to go playin' there!!

And calli grill- yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmo! I have been there twice and BOTH times I had to get that Spicy Kazan roll. I miss the wasabi/soy thing, too, though, but I love it all the same.

Welcome back, buddy!

 

[MagicShell]

I'm glad to see you back. I had no idea that you were such a busy man. Your steak looks really good, but I can't agree with you about sushi. I am too picky to eat that.

 

[mblc14]

WOOHOO!! Your back! What a great gig for you guys, looked like a great time. In your absence I did discover Inkedupmomma's tr and am loving that as well!! Welcome back.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Welcome back! Love the pics of the festival - looks like it was a great time. I hope you are enjoying the hectic pace life has been giving you lately...at least a bit! How's everything with BF Dawgs?

That sushi looks aaaaaamazing!!! Oooh, I can't wait to eat there!! Poor Juliana being so sleepy. Despite the weather being a bummer, and Juliana sleeping-still looks like a great night out!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Welcome back!! The festival looks so fun. Congratulations on your success as a "weekend musician." Hope the restaurant is enjoying similar success.

Ah, California Grill. LOVE it. Poor Juliana asleep on the table! WDW takes a lot out of you but it is so worth it. That steak is looking quite yummy - even first thing in the morning!

Looking forward to more when you have a chance.

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Alan !! We have indeed missed you!! Awesome update as usual and the shrimp Fest looked wonderful!!! I have also started a TR for our Sept. trip !! Maybe you will get time to check it out tooo!!!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Oh my gosh! I can't totally see my youngest falling asleep on the table! If he's tired...it's wherever he lays his head! Cali Grill looks wonderful! I can't wait to try it when we go in December. It'll be our first time in that restaurant. I was a bit leary about bringing 3 kids there, but hopefully it will be ok.

 

[Sue88]

I caught up!
Your reports are so heartfelt. It is no wonder that you have such a following of devoted readers.
I am enjoying the report so much and want to thank you for shareing. I really appreciate being invited along on your family vacation. At least it feels like I got to tag along and witness all the family love.
Your special days with Wil brought back the happiness I felt when my neice declared a day that I had spent with her (at Discovery Cove) as the best day she had ever had. That was some years ago but it is still one of MY best memories ever!
I wish your family lots of magic and continued blessings.

 

[CRdisMom]

A famous musician and a lover of disney--what more could we want. Glad things are going well. Love the sushi pics. My next trip will be difficult to decide where to eat. All the food porn is making me hungery.

Beth almost fell asleep at a few places too. Poor Juliana. Hope she rested well.

 

[ph-mtl]

Hi Alan,
Welcome Back enjoying your Tr. You are one busy guy. Keep up the great reports. Started to plan Our Next May Trip. Toughest part is deciding where to eat.

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Alan,
Welcome Back enjoying your Tr. You are one busy guy. Keep up the great reports. Started to plan Our Next May Trip. Toughest part is deciding where to eat.

Hi agin Gail!!!I am soooo torn with when to go next year !! May is definately my favorite time with the flowers at Epcot !! But free dining keeps calling me !! I am pretty sure that in 2011 we will all be going in August for FD and the girls 16th birthday !!! Then in 2012 it is the PEEP FEST in June soo that is a definate !!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Oh my gosh! I don't even care for sushi and your pictures make me want to give it another try!

Poor Juliana, so tired she fell asleep on the table.

That Spicy Kazan Roll was different....perhaps even non-sushi lovers would enjoy it. Poor Juliana indeed! I think by this time we were all pretty tired.

I'm so glad you're back, we've missed you! I'm excited you were able to post your Cali Grill review as we'll be dining there Sunday night! We'll be doing the DxDDP for the first time and I'm really looking forward to the sushi!!

Hi Kathy! Glad to be back. Hope your meal last night was WONDERFUL! Let us know how you liked the DxDDP. It really is too much food....but you certainly feel like a V.I.P.!

Hi Alan, I never told you, how much I enjoy your TR - and how much I missed it... It's great that you're back!!!

Thanks very much! Glad to be back.

awesome review and pics.. I think we may need to try that place out! Although, unlike you, i do NOT like Sushi!!

I think you would enjoy Cali Grill even if you are not a sushi lover. That Oak Fired Filet is wonderful!

That's the spicy kazan roll you had... I've been drooling over it in California Grill reviews for what seems like forever! Can't wait to get down there and dig in myself, but in the meantime, I'm happy to have such a great TR & pics to pass the time!

Yep, that's it! The sauce was unlike any I've ever had with sushi. It was spicy, but not too spicy. I enjoyed it very much.

We missed you Alan but can understand how busy you are! Love the Shrimp Fest pics. Cool guitar. Poor girl falling asleep at the table. That food looked yummy!

Thanks, Mary! The Shrimp Festival was a blast!
Poor little Juliana had just reached her limit that evening. It was a late reservation and we didn't leave the restaurant until after 10pm. (She's our 'early to bed, early to rise' child.)

You are one busy man! Weclome back. Loved the updates!

Thanks, Myst! Hope all is well with you!

Hi Alan,

Nice to read you back!!

Hey, didn't know you are an accomplished musician!! Congrats for being on a big festival. BTW, I was able to read something about an upcoming CD!! Please post when it will be available on Amazon...

Love your photos of California Grill (Mercedes and I absolutely LOVE sushi). Pity that Juliana was so tired. It always breaks your heart a little when they fall asleep that way...

Regards,

Luis

Hi Luis! Yep, I'm definitely a busy guy. I do my best to juggle my job, my restaurant, my musicianship, and my family. I've been playing music since I was 15, and it has always been a big part of my life. I really don't have any aspirations of "making it big" or anything....I just enjoy getting to perform with my best friend and getting paid for it! It is pretty much a win/win situation. Our c.d. is a long way from being ready, but I will definitely let everyone know when it is finished.

I didn't know you and Mercedes were sushi lovers! Living in North Alabama, good sushi is a real treat for me.

Hope all is well with you and your family. Tell everyone the Renfroe's say "hello!"

Is it true???? You're back???? We've all missed you sooo much!! I've really missed you on my TRs- I think I've written like TEN since you were last around!

So...a few comments- ok, first of all, all this time i thought Tracey was a GIRL- I never saw a photo of him before!! So all this time I thought you were roomates with a girl, your best friend was a girl, your band was YOU and a girl....really it all came as a shock to see- you're friend's a BOY!!!

Anyway...that festival looked INCREDIBLE!! I wish i lived a LOT closer!! The beach looks alot like Destin, where my MIL lives- nice white powdery sand. And way to go playin' there!!

And calli grill- yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmo! I have been there twice and BOTH times I had to get that Spicy Kazan roll. I miss the wasabi/soy thing, too, though, but I love it all the same.

Welcome back, buddy!

Hahahaha.....I'll have to tell Tracey you thought HE was a SHE!!! LOL! Nah, Tracey and I grew up about 8 miles from each other and we've been friends most of our lives. He is actually more like a brother than a friend. He was the best man at our wedding. We have a guest room at our house that is affectionately referred to as "Tracey's room." He's married with four children....so if it weren't for our gigs, we would never see each other!

Whoa! I've missed soooo much! I am definitely going to have to make time to check out your most recent trip reports!

Your MIL lives in Destin? Cool place! Gulf Shores, Alabama is about 80 miles West of Destin, and the beaches are virtually the same. I love the white sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico! It is my dream to live on the coast one day.

Glad to read that you love the spicy kazan roll too, but that you also miss the wasabi/soy. I wish you could get a small portion of spicy kazan roll on the Yoshi's Platter....that way you could have it all!

Hope all is well with you and your family. Tell Pods and the boys the Renfroe's said hello!

I'm glad to see you back. I had no idea that you were such a busy man. Your steak looks really good, but I can't agree with you about sushi. I am too picky to eat that.

Elizabeth used to not like sushi, but I eventually got her to like it! YuM!

 

[alan_renfroe]

WOOHOO!! Your back! What a great gig for you guys, looked like a great time. In your absence I did discover Inkedupmomma's tr and am loving that as well!! Welcome back.

I still have not made it over to IUM's TR, but I promise I will soon! Thanks for the welcome back!

Welcome back! Love the pics of the festival - looks like it was a great time. I hope you are enjoying the hectic pace life has been giving you lately...at least a bit! How's everything with BF Dawgs?

That sushi looks aaaaaamazing!!! Oooh, I can't wait to eat there!! Poor Juliana being so sleepy. Despite the weather being a bummer, and Juliana sleeping-still looks like a great night out!

Oh yeah, don't let me fool ya....I'm loving every minute of it. I think it would drive most people crazy to run at this pace, but it works for me. Besides, the restaurant is like a hobby for me. Some men fish, some men golf, some men hunt....I like to make hot dogs!

I can honestly say that California Grill has THE BEST sushi I've ever eaten anywhere. Next time, we will make an earlier reservation. Last year, our reservation was too early and this year it was too late. Poor Juliana: we were able to wake her up, but just barely! We all slept in the next morning.

Welcome back!! The festival looks so fun. Congratulations on your success as a "weekend musician." Hope the restaurant is enjoying similar success.

Ah, California Grill. LOVE it. Poor Juliana asleep on the table! WDW takes a lot out of you but it is so worth it. That steak is looking quite yummy - even first thing in the morning!

Looking forward to more when you have a chance.

Hi Christine! Hope all is well with you.

That steak....oh, that steak! Wish I had one right now!

Hi Alan !! We have indeed missed you!! Awesome update as usual and the shrimp Fest looked wonderful!!! I have also started a TR for our Sept. trip !! Maybe you will get time to check it out tooo!!!

Definitely, Rosie. I will check it out.

Oh my gosh! I can't totally see my youngest falling asleep on the table! If he's tired...it's wherever he lays his head! Cali Grill looks wonderful! I can't wait to try it when we go in December. It'll be our first time in that restaurant. I was a bit leary about bringing 3 kids there, but hopefully it will be ok.

Yep, that's Juliana! We have never, ever had to beg her to go to bed....she goes willingly! (She needs her beauty sleep....like her mother!)

I think you all will love California Grill, especially if you are there for the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. There is absolutely nothing better than watching Wishes from the top of the Contemporary Resort - true Disney magic!

I caught up!
Your reports are so heartfelt. It is no wonder that you have such a following of devoted readers.
I am enjoying the report so much and want to thank you for shareing. I really appreciate being invited along on your family vacation. At least it feels like I got to tag along and witness all the family love.
Your special days with Wil brought back the happiness I felt when my neice declared a day that I had spent with her (at Discovery Cove) as the best day she had ever had. That was some years ago but it is still one of MY best memories ever!
I wish your family lots of magic and continued blessings.

Awww...thanks for the kind compliments! I wish I could say that we are always spending time together like that, but of course life gets in the way. My family is my priority, but it is difficult to spend enough time together when I am gone from home so much. Maybe that is one of the reasons our Disney trips have been so special. I am truly Clark W. Griswold!

A famous musician and a lover of disney--what more could we want. Glad things are going well. Love the sushi pics. My next trip will be difficult to decide where to eat. All the food porn is making me hungery.

Beth almost fell asleep at a few places too. Poor Juliana. Hope she rested well.

Hahahaha....musician, yes. Famous? Not so much!

It is difficult to keep up the Disney pace for an entire week. Fortunately, we all got to sleep in the next day.

Hi Alan,
Welcome Back enjoying your Tr. You are one busy guy. Keep up the great reports. Started to plan Our Next May Trip. Toughest part is deciding where to eat.

Yep, it always is for us too! BUT, it is one of the most fun parts! I can spend hours and hours surfing through the DISboards trip reports and food threads trying to figure out exactly where all we want to eat!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I can honestly say that California Grill has THE BEST sushi I've ever eaten anywhere.

you have me very excited about my ressie in December now!!

I love me some sushi!