*4/10*GF Cafe & final thoughts* Dead Lizards & Deluxe Dining: A December Trip Report

[All7OfUs]

Love your last update!! REALLY, I did, a lot!

We just missed the VoL last time, and were so bummed! It is at the tippy top of WS things to do next time. The show was moving, but if I had to choose (due to time)one or the other, I'd pick the group. I adore acappella, and would love a CD, but can't find one yet. Amazon. NO. I Tunes. NO. Disney?? From what I hear. NO.

Anyhow. The train set is a huge family favorite. I'd LOVE to see it all decked out for the holidays. How fun!

Italy has always seemed rather dull to me. I can't remember whose TR I just posted on (oh, it was 2xcited2sleep's) that I need to give it a fair chance next time and really explore some more. Another question: Does anyone know if I can get a pin with one of the Italian masks on it??

Not a fan of character meals, but you ladies sure are beaming! I think it's a fun pic. Courtney! So, it's a goofy face, but that's what makes it fun. Real life isnt' always a posed smile!

Ruh-oh.....

 

[courtney881]

Okay, ready for my news.....I booked my trip for October 12-16th at the POFQ!!!!! YAY!! I'm taking my Mom for a Mother/Daughter trip and will actually be there when Shann and her husband are there. Another perk is that I get to celebrate Shann's 40th with her in Disney too!! Thanks to Shannn I am officially hooked! I have even started the all important "trip planning binder"! I know October is a long way away, but it sure is fun having another trip to look forward to

 

[KathyRN137]

Okay, ready for my news.....I booked my trip for October 12-16th at the POFQ!!!!! YAY!! I'm taking my Mom for a Mother/Daughter trip and will actually be there when Shann and her husband are there. Another perk is that I get to celebrate Shann's 40th with her in Disney too!! Thanks to Shannn I am officially hooked! I have even started the all important "trip planning binder"! I know October is a long way away, but it sure is fun having another trip to look forward to

...and a binder, to boot!

She is one of us, now.......


Kathy

 

[manntra]

You should check out some NY Finger Lake Rieslings. They can challenge almost any German/Alsace one out there!

I agree with you!! I am about 35 minutes away from Ithaca and there are so many good wineries in the area

Tracy

 

[DisneyGuy758]

I honeymooned there. Beautiful area. Fantastic wines.

 

[manntra]

Yay Courtney for your October trip!! And how awesome that you will be there at the same time as Shann!

Shann.....loved the updates...the sisters in the windows cracked me up
Oooohh GGS!! I had the orange one and a Cosmo slush too....looking forward to the lemon slush too!!

Tracy

 

[yinyanggirls]

Hurray for a friend's 40th crossover trip! Is your mom already a fan or will you need to convert her too?

 

[ladybugmom]

Another great update!!! Glad you enjoyed CM!!! We have some great memories from eating there last May! And yay for Courtney booking a 2nd trip to celebrate your 40th!!!

 

[jenbear123]

Hi! I've lurked here for a couple days now but wanted to catch up first. I'm coming over from All7OfUs' PTR.

The pictures you got from the observation deck when you ate at Cali Grill are beautiful. You know you guys almost had the exact same meal there that we did?! The ravioli was so yummy, but I did like the one at Brown Derby better. We were almost sat in the wine room as well but I kindly asked to have a view of the castle. After all, I had set up our ADR time so we'd be there long enough to watch Wishes from our table.

Too bad you guys were kinda shoved into a corner table at Chef Mickey's. That has happened to me both times at 1900 Park Fare. Both times I sat at this crumby table at the edge of a wall, perpendicular to another table. Everytime I went to get up, I'd bang into the chairs right behind me Love the pictures with the characters!

Congrats on the October trip! It's hard not to keep going back more than once a year, isn't it?

 

[All7OfUs]

Okay, ready for my news.....I booked my trip for October 12-16th at the POFQ!!!!! YAY!! I'm taking my Mom for a Mother/Daughter trip and will actually be there when Shann and her husband are there. Another perk is that I get to celebrate Shann's 40th with her in Disney too!! Thanks to Shannn I am officially hooked! I have even started the all important "trip planning binder"! I know October is a long way away, but it sure is fun having another trip to look forward to

YAY!! Welcome Courtney! It's always good to have someone else "in the family"!

You even have a binder already!! You really ARE hooked!

 

[shannn]

Loving the WS details!

Thanks! This trip was all about noticing those details, since I wasn't chasing two children around!

Love your last update!! REALLY, I did, a lot!

We just missed the VoL last time, and were so bummed! It is at the tippy top of WS things to do next time. The show was moving, but if I had to choose (due to time)one or the other, I'd pick the group. I adore acappella, and would love a CD, but can't find one yet. Amazon. NO. I Tunes. NO. Disney?? From what I hear. NO.

Anyhow. The train set is a huge family favorite. I'd LOVE to see it all decked out for the holidays. How fun!

Italy has always seemed rather dull to me. I can't remember whose TR I just posted on (oh, it was 2xcited2sleep's) that I need to give it a fair chance next time and really explore some more. Another question: Does anyone know if I can get a pin with one of the Italian masks on it??

Not a fan of character meals, but you ladies sure are beaming! I think it's a fun pic. Courtney! So, it's a goofy face, but that's what makes it fun. Real life isnt' always a posed smile!

Ruh-oh.....

Loved VOL and wish I'd had time to just sit and stare at them!!

I don't go for character meals most of the time, but I have to get in with the main guys!! It's not Disney without meeting Mickey.

I loved exploring the WS this time, and I have big plans for more exploration in October!

...and a binder, to boot!

She is one of us, now.......
Kathy

Sam looked at this and shook his head. "She drank the Kool Aid!"

Yay Courtney for your October trip!! And how awesome that you will be there at the same time as Shann!

Shann.....loved the updates...the sisters in the windows cracked me up
Oooohh GGS!! I had the orange one and a Cosmo slush too....looking forward to the lemon slush too!!

Tracy

The GGS was the best thing ever. I don't think I can go back to Epcot without one!! We'll just call it "Mommy's alcoholic tradition"!

Another great update!!! Glad you enjoyed CM!!! We have some great memories from eating there last May! And yay for Courtney booking a 2nd trip to celebrate your 40th!!!

The food at CM's is just okay, but the company is wonderful!

Hi! I've lurked here for a couple days now but wanted to catch up first. I'm coming over from All7OfUs' PTR.

The pictures you got from the observation deck when you ate at Cali Grill are beautiful. You know you guys almost had the exact same meal there that we did?! The ravioli was so yummy, but I did like the one at Brown Derby better. We were almost sat in the wine room as well but I kindly asked to have a view of the castle. After all, I had set up our ADR time so we'd be there long enough to watch Wishes from our table.

Too bad you guys were kinda shoved into a corner table at Chef Mickey's. That has happened to me both times at 1900 Park Fare. Both times I sat at this crumby table at the edge of a wall, perpendicular to another table. Everytime I went to get up, I'd bang into the chairs right behind me Love the pictures with the characters!

Congrats on the October trip! It's hard not to keep going back more than once a year, isn't it?

I need to go and check out your trip report!

I was going to ask to move from the wine room, but Courtney actually preferred the quiet in there, so we didn't. The view out of the back is quite beautiful as well. As for the ravioli, I might have to do another taste test to decide which one is better!

That tiny little table was a pain! Thank goodness that the family next to us was very gracious!

I've been researching and I think an AP is the way to go next year. If I end up with one, I have *NO* idea how I'll be able to keep myself from just driving down there all the time!

 

[shannn]

We left Mouse Gears and headed for the monorail to make yet another hop back to the Magic Kingdom. When we got there, the Celebrate parade was going on again. We found a place on Main Street and watched the parade.

After standing outside Casey's for a few minutes, we decided that a snack would be a great idea!! We didn't have our dinner ADR until very late that night (and our lunch had been a buffet rather than all the courses we had been having), so that smell was calling us in. We headed into Casey's and ordered up some hot dogs. Oh my gosh, that toppings bar!!

(Yes, that's cheese, ketchup, mustard, & onion! Good thing that Courtney & I weren't planning on kissing later! )

This is going to be a picture intensive entry since we then went and found a place to sit for the castle lighting ceremony. We sat right in the center of the hub and set up camp!

First, the castle was just its many beautiful colors!!

The ceremony began as a discussion of how to decorate the castle for Christmas. There were lots of suggestions of how to decorate from all the characters:

Cinderella asked the fairy godmother to make it look like it was covered with ice icicles. She lit it up one section at a time:

Whew!! Those were all the steps to the final lighting.

Continued in the next post

 

[shannn]

I went crazy with the castle pictures, so here are some more!

We went over to the Christmas store that night and Courtney bought an ornament for her brother in law. She had searched all over for something...anything... with Peter Pan on it, and she finally found an ornament with Peter!! Once again, I said I'd wait to buy the ornaments I wanted.

We also went on the Tiki Room ~~ the first ride that Courtney was really disappointed in. She remembered it from her childhood, and of course the new ownership has changed it greatly! She had me write "BITTER" in big letters in my notes after that! (I think a lot of people feel that way.)

Our ADR at The Yachtsman was getting close and I was really excited to show Courtney my favorite resort, the Beach Club, so we headed off to the buses and found one that was on its way to the Yacht Club.

Coming up next:two tired chicks = one silly tiff!! and yet another steak?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Really pretty pictures of the castle lighting! Call me bad but I can't wait to read about your bit of drama!

 

[lthiesfeld07]

Your pictures are GORGEOUS!! My favorties are from California Grill!

 

[floydfamily4]

I have just read your entire report! Yes, I burned the rice and had to recook it because I couldn't pull myself away but it was worth it!! Thanks for sharing and I can't wait for the rest!

 

[KathyRN137]

I went crazy with the castle pictures, so here are some more!

Don't worry, you're not the only one!

How can you ever tire of looking at it, though? It's so gorgeous!

Not looking forward to "the tiff" but it's not a true Disney TR without some drama!!


Kathy

 

[praisehisname]

It's only 6:30am right now, but I wish I had that right now!

Coming up next:two tired chicks = one silly tiff!

Oh no!

Denise

 

[jenbear123]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU for posting the lighting ceremony in such detail. It made me feel like I actually saw it. If I scroll down fast enough, it's like it's lighting up right before my eyes

I've been seeing a lot of raves about Casey's. I don't know why, but I've never had the urge for a hot dog. Are they really that good? I think I ate there once before as a last resort but I had chicken nuggets or something. That was back in '05 when I didn't know about the importance of ADRs

 

[ladybugmom]

Love, Love, LOVE the pictures of the castle all lit up!! BEAUTIFUL!!! I cannot wait to see this in Dec!!! Thank you for all of the pics!!