3 Generations! 2 Resorts! 10 Days! DxDp! 3000 Pictures! - Saying Good-Bye!

[Cinderella's slipper]

Thanks for a very enjoyable read. Loving your trip report and I'm all caught up.

 

[MollyMcDaniel]

I am loving your trip report. I'm usually just a lurkey-loo, but you have done such a great job w/narrative and photos. You have a gorgeous family. We were down for spring break and I just booked a last minute for August. We are DVC so that makes it a bit easier and w/Southwest rewards, it was virtually free (at least that is what I told my DH )

We stayed at BLT in March and loved being on the monorail and also the walkway to MK. But, neither DH nor myself really cared for the decor. Kind of felt like it could be a hotel in any major city. Did you feel that way? Don't get me wrong, we would stay again in a heartbeat!

Looking forward to your next post!

 

[hstrickland]

I've always wanted to stay over at the Boardwalk, so I keep looking there. But the purpose of this trip to go crazy at the MK...so BLT is the perfect location...then I look at the Poly, and the Grand Floridian...oh, and then the Wilderness Lodge...but then I look at the price I got for BLT and stay there I'm ridiculous... Did I mention we're thinking of moving to Florida?? We're looking at both the Orlando 'burbs, which would be awesome, Disney whenever I want, or the Space Coast (better for my fiancé's carreer, so we're leaning that way.) But the Space Coast is an hour and a half away...which means we'd still get to stay a night or two at Disney hotels in the future without seeming ridiculous...which I view as pretty awesome! I'd actually get to complete my quest of staying at all the hotels on property

Anyway, also wanted to show you this link if you wanted the H2O products that they use specifically at the Disney resorts http://www.disneyresortcollection.c...gory1=Bath&category1Name=Bath&categoryLevel=0

Gosh....you have the same agenda as me I wonder how long it will take me??? You, however, will finish the race way ahead of us if you move to FL And thanks for another link!!! It's already added to my 'favorites'.

Wow awesome TR! It's so much fun to read. Can't wait for more!

Thanks for a very enjoyable read. Loving your trip report and I'm all caught up.

Thanks, y'all!! Glad you came over....DH and I have enjoyed putting this thing together...it's kinda like reliving the trip all over again Hope you enjoy the rest.

Heather

 

[hstrickland]

I am loving your trip report. I'm usually just a lurkey-loo, but you have done such a great job w/narrative and photos. You have a gorgeous family. We were down for spring break and I just booked a last minute for August. We are DVC so that makes it a bit easier and w/Southwest rewards, it was virtually free (at least that is what I told my DH )

We stayed at BLT in March and loved being on the monorail and also the walkway to MK. But, neither DH nor myself really cared for the decor. Kind of felt like it could be a hotel in any major city. Did you feel that way? Don't get me wrong, we would stay again in a heartbeat!

Looking forward to your next post!

Hi Lurkey-loo You sound like my friend, PrincessDis....I called her the DisBoard Stalker She finally signed on!!! Thanks for the compliments...I'm very blessed to have a wonderful family.

So...did it feel like a major city hotel?? I'm only laughing because you sound like my DH and mother. They really liked it...especially the beds, size of room, bathroom, the view, etc....but they said it didn't have that same 'resort' feel they get when at the Poly or GF. Of course I reminded them that all of these resorts are sooooo different...kinda like comparing apples to oranges, ya know. The CR holds a special place in my heart because we stayed there as children....brings back sooooo many good memories with my family If my mother had it her way, she would be at the GF, DH would probably be at the WL and my dad would be at the Poly....me???...I'm a little partial to the monorail resorts, so I'll take any of the 3!

Quick question...since you are a DVC person....do y'all have APs or TIW cards?? Just being nosey...we skirt around the idea of DVC, so I'm always curious to see how DVC people do meals, tickets, etc.

Heather

 

[firechick139]

Subbing! I'm doing some research for ADR's for our upcoming trip and your TR sounds great!

 

[hstrickland]

Subbing! I'm doing some research for ADR's for our upcoming trip and your TR sounds great!

Glad to have you follow along...hopefully some of my dining reviews will help in your decision making...I think we had 17 or 18 total ADRs...we love to dine...can ya tell?!

I'm trying to get my Chef Mickey review finished....hopefully it will be done before I go to bed

Happy planning!!!!
Heather

 

[RGirl]

I'm trying to get my Chef Mickey review finished....hopefully it will be done before I go to bed

Yay! . Can't wait for those cute character pics!

 

[cdotla]

Another great TR Heather! Hopping on!

Love all of your reviews, beautiful photos, and of course, your early morning Disney shots. Keep it coming!

 

[hstrickland]

Chef Mickey's - 8:45am
Day 4​

After an early morning walk around the CR, it was time for breakfast. Notice the late ADR...I say 'late'....the word is relative depending on who you ask. If we were going to a park, we would already be in line for rope drop! So...we traveled a very short distance to get here....It was so nice to hope on the elevator and be at breakfast within minutes!

After you check in, they take a group photo that you can purchase during your meal....of course...we did. It can also be added to your photopass.

Even though there were lots of people, we didn't wait but maybe 5 minutes. We had a great table that wasn't too far from the buffet.

The following was taken from Allears.net
Served Daily 7:00 Until 11:20 a.m.
Featuirng Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald
$26.62 for Adults, $13.99 for Children 3-9
Characters are subject to change


PREMIUM FRUIT BAR
Seasonal Melon and Fresh Fruit Display, Assorted Flavored Yogurts & More

CEREAL SELECTIONS
Corn Flakes, Fruit Loops, Rice Krispies, Crunchero's, Hot Oatmeal

BREAKFAST SPECIALTIES
Pluto's Cheese Blintz
Scrambled eggs
Three-cheese Omelet
Chef's Daily Omelet
Goofy's Vegetable Lasagna
Mickey Mouse Waffles
Bacon and Cheese Potatoes
Breakfast potatoes
Minnie's Breakfast Pizza
Powder-Sugar Dusted French Toast
Pancakes
Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy
Sausage Links and Bacon
Tator Crisps

PASTRY CHEF'S CREATIONS
Bagels, Chocolate Croissants, Muffins
Cinnamon Rolls, Rice Krispy Treats
Assorted Danish & More

Bacon & Sausage Links
Breakfast Potatoes
Cheese Potatoes
Assorted Flavored Yogurts & More

Picture taken from Disney Blog ( Can you believe I FORGOT to make a picture of the buffet??!!!)

The buffet was your basic breakfast buffet...nothing like really outstanding, but still very good. For some reason, the line moved really, really slow...I don't remember it being like that the last time we dined there. The kids thought the Mickey Waffles were the best! I guess anything shaped like Mickey is pretty cool to them!

Within a very short time of getting our food, the music started, the napkins were waving madly in the air, and the characters came through the restaurant dancing around!

This is a very high energy dining experience that can be a bit loud!....and guess what??....the kids love it!!

The characters came around fairly quickly...we didn't have to wait too long at all. I'll be honest, though, I don't remember which ones came out first, so the pictures may be a little out of order.

No matter how old I get, I never get tired of having my picture made with Mickey and Minnie! Any true Disney lover would agree

Next up....

Years ago on one of our Disney trips, dad had the same photo taken....him pulling Pluto's tongue....Pluto was a good sport and played along while we got the picture!

While we were eating and waiting on characters, dad snapped this photo....

What's more 'Disney' than breakfast with the characters at the CR with the monorail passing through??!! This moment (as cheesy as it may be) brought back lots of childhood memories. I use to think it was so unbelievably cool that a train could pass through a hotel!

Up next.....

I was a little shocked to see DS9 give Goofy such a big hug. He's getting older, but still seems to enjoy the characters. I guess I keep waiting for the day that he thinks Disney and characters are 'boring'...maybe it won't happen. I still love it, right?!

Faith was steady talking to Donald...I couldn't make out everything she was saying....these are the sweet moments that parents love.

So....final thoughts....we like Chef Mickeys, however it's not one of our 'must dos' for each trip. I think all kids should experience this at least once, for sure. If we were to stay at the CR again, we would certainly go back...a very convenient breakfast. The food was good, the service was nice, the atmosphere was great!! Our kids had a ball....and because they had a wonderful time, we did, also.


Stay tuned....up next....The guys go to Disney Quest!....we have a pool day!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Great report about Chef Mickey's and very nice pictures from there.

 

[cdotla]

Great update Heather!

I agree Chef Mickey's is a "must-do" for any first-timers, and is certainly great when staying at the CR.

Laughing at your "late" 8:45am breakfast. You are just like my family. Even on vacation, this would be "late" for us as well.

Just noticed you are doing the Princess Half...have you done a Disney race before? Have you done a Half before? Are you travelling alone, with DH, or with the whole family for this one?

 

[hstrickland]

Yay! . Can't wait for those cute character pics!

It was ridiculous the number of pictures I made during breakfast!!! DH asked me if I was going to post ALL of them...I reassured him that I wouldn't bore yall with 40 pictures of the characters

Great report about Chef Mickey's and very nice pictures from there.

Thanks!!

Great update Heather!

I agree Chef Mickey's is a "must-do" for any first-timers, and is certainly great when staying at the CR.

Laughing at your "late" 8:45am breakfast. You are just like my family. Even on vacation, this would be "late" for us as well.

Just noticed you are doing the Princess Half...have you done a Disney race before? Have you done a Half before? Are you travelling alone, with DH, or with the whole family for this one?

Nice to 'see' you again, too! Glad you came over to check out things!

I've never done a Disney race before, and have never done a Half Marathon either! I use to run before I had my first son, then little by little...stopped. I decided a while back that I need to do something, so running was the perfect fit for my lifestyle. One of my personal goals in life was to do a half before I'm 40...well...the Princess Half is the end of February, and I'll be 40 at the beginning of March. So, we shall see! My husband is behind me 100%, so I feel like I'm going to meet this goal. DH will definitely be going with me for support...probably DS9 (he'll be 10 very soon). The 2 younger ones might stay behind. Not sure if they would really enjoy getting up super early and standing on the side of the road watching crazy women run by And not sure where we will stay, yet

 

[RGirl]

Great update! It looks like your kiddos had a great time with the characters.

Have you done the Cape May character breakfast? We have an ADR for October, so I'm curious what you think of it if you have been.

 

[cdotla]

I've never done a Disney race before, and have never done a Half Marathon either! I use to run before I had my first son, then little by little...stopped. I decided a while back that I need to do something, so running was the perfect fit for my lifestyle. One of my personal goals in life was to do a half before I'm 40...well...the Princess Half is the end of February, and I'll be 40 at the beginning of March. So, we shall see! My husband is behind me 100%, so I feel like I'm going to meet this goal. DH will definitely be going with me for support...probably DS9 (he'll be 10 very soon). The 2 younger ones might stay behind. Not sure if they would really enjoy getting up super early and standing on the side of the road watching crazy women run by And not sure where we will stay, yet

That is awesome Heather! Have a great time preparing for your Half. That will be so nice to enjoy that trip with just you and your husband, or even the two of you with just your oldest. DH and I recently had occasion to have some time with each of our kids on a two-on-one basis, and it is really nice to do things like that and connect with just one kid and make them feel special.

 

[hstrickland]

Great update! It looks like your kiddos had a great time with the characters.

Have you done the Cape May character breakfast? We have an ADR for October, so I'm curious what you think of it if you have been.

We haven't done Cape May, yet. If I were staying over in one of the EP resorts, then I definitely would do it for the kids. We aren't really buffet people, but most of the character dining is just that...so, we do it. Maybe someone following along on this TR has been and has first hand knowledge

cdotla, did y'all do Cape May last year??? I know y'all had tons of ADRs...for some reason I was thinking yall ate there.

Heather

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Hi Heather!

I'm so excited to find you doing a new report! So - as I read - big changes from the original Beach Club plan - but I'm happy you got to be on the beloved monorail, and I'm so interested to hear more about your opinion of the CR.

Loved the WL cabin pics. I'm also an early riser, mug loving, gal, so loving those early morning pictures, so peaceful! I can almost smell the damp FL air!

Thanks for sharing with another trip report, I look forward to following along!

Cheers,
Erin

 

[cdotla]

We haven't done Cape May, yet. If I were staying over in one of the EP resorts, then I definitely would do it for the kids. We aren't really buffet people, but most of the character dining is just that...so, we do it. Maybe someone following along on this TR has been and has first hand knowledge

cdotla, did y'all do Cape May last year??? I know y'all had tons of ADRs...for some reason I was thinking yall ate there.

Heather

Yes, we actually did CM back in May 2010. Good standard buffet breakfast food, with typical character interaction, although no Mickey. (We thought we had just missed him, but I was advised by others after the fact he doesn't make an appearance).

I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for it, but if staying at BC, YC, BW or Dolphin/Swan, it is a great place to start the day.

 

[onelilspark]

My brother is 23 and still loves Disney...so there's hope And on my last trip with him I was able to get him to wait in line to see Mickey with me...I just had to give him coffee first!

 

[hstrickland]

Hi Heather!

I'm so excited to find you doing a new report! So - as I read - big changes from the original Beach Club plan - but I'm happy you got to be on the beloved monorail, and I'm so interested to hear more about your opinion of the CR.

Loved the WL cabin pics. I'm also an early riser, mug loving, gal, so loving those early morning pictures, so peaceful! I can almost smell the damp FL air!

Thanks for sharing with another trip report, I look forward to following along!

Cheers,
Erin

Hi Erin Glad to hear from you again!! You would NOT believe the changes I made last year when booking our trip! One word for ya....RIDICULOUS!! I literally booked BCV 2 bedroom, then we did a last minute trip in October at the WL and stopped by AKL for a visit. We changed our minds...so...we returned home and I booked AKL CL....then, after making all the ADRs, I realized most of them were located near MK...THEN I booked CR garden wing...then decided I REALLY needed to stay in the Tower....and THAT was my last change...CR Tower BLV.... did you get all that?! Told ya...ridiculous! BCV is still on my to-do list!!

I see you are going on a cruise in 2012...which one?

Yes, we actually did CM back in May 2010. Good standard buffet breakfast food, with typical character interaction, although no Mickey. (We thought we had just missed him, but I was advised by others after the fact he doesn't make an appearance).

I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for it, but if staying at BC, YC, BW or Dolphin/Swan, it is a great place to start the day.

Thanks! I thought I remembered you doing this....did you get this RGirl!

My brother is 23 and still loves Disney...so there's hope And on my last trip with him I was able to get him to wait in line to see Mickey with me...I just had to give him coffee first!

You are the of hope! Thanks!!

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Yes, can't wait for the cruise! We are doing the Fantasy, Eastern Caribbean 7 nights, 2 oceanview deluxe family suites (taking my mom). DH and I cruise often and actually did NOT want a verandah - DS12 sleep walks! This is my 40th b-day present (turning 40 next June 29, 2012, but we have a school break in Nov.). I was very torn about a WDW trip vs. the cruise, but we will get back to WDW for sure and the kids are the perfect ages. We love the E. Caribbean, so that week in Nov. worked out great and DS12 won't miss any football.

Time to go to sleep - I'm addicted to the boards!