JerseyJanice
A Disboards original...
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
- Messages
- 10,764
After yesterdays big day at Universal and our plans to go to Pleasure Island tonight (sans DS, of course), we decided to make this a pool day. Midmorning, a bad thunderstorm came through. It happened so quickly. Half the sky was bright and sunny, and the other half was nasty-looking clouds. The cloudy part took over, and BOOM, rain gushed from the sky. We grabbed our stuff and waited for the storm to clear underneath the overhang near the food court entrance. We didnt have time to grab the towels, but what the heck. They were the resort pool towels; plenty more where those came from.
The good thing about the storm was that we were able to get good seats near the shallow end afterward. Now, this is something I was displeased about at the Lodge. The shallow end of the pool is near the boardwalk, which is a walkway and not a place for chaises. There was little space for chairs near the shallow end. Whoever worked out the design wasnt thinking clearly. Little kids are who use the shallow end of a pool, and little kids need to be watched by their parents. So just where are those parents supposed to sit?
Another issue with the pool is that it is made of concrete to match the "carved from stone" theme. It has a very rough finish and destroyed my new bathing suit. Good thing I got it cheap from Costco, or Id have been livid. We all scraped our knees and ankles at different times. When youre swimming there, the view of the Lodge is spectacular, but that rough surface is horrible.
So, we went back to swimming for awhile, using the wet towels to clean off the chaises. I do like the perk of having a credit card linked to your room key. It was all I needed to bring with me down to the pool, so I didn't have to deal with a tote bag in the pool area.
Another wild thunderstorm rolled in a little later, and again, we waited under the overhang near the food court. I could have used lunch at that point, but we were waiting for my parents-in-law to arrive in case they wanted to have lunch with us.
I went up to the room to see if they had checked in and sure enough, they did. Somehow, my husband found them, and we met up in the food court for lunch. Mom-in-law was feeling knocked out from taking Bonine for the flight. They wanted to explore the Lodge after we ate, so they did that and we went back to the pool. Later, we met our niece and nephew in the pool. They had done the Magic Kingdom with their parents earlier that day.
As we planned months in advance, we were having an anniversary dinner for my in-laws at the Yachtsman Steak House. When we settled on the restaurant, I was hoping to book an Illuminations cruise, but no such luck. It was just as well because my mother-in-law was wiped out from her medication.
At 5:30 p.m. after showering and dressing up, all of us met in the lobby and took the boat to the Magic Kingdom, so we could hook up with a bus to the Yacht Club. This was the first time we'd taken the boat this stay, and it was very pleasant. It went to Fort Wilderness, though, before heading to the MK. It took better than 20 minutes to get to MK, and as the week went on, I got very unhappy with this arrangement.
It took a while for the Yacht Club bus to come. A couple was waiting there; they told us for 15 minutes and seemed quite annoyed. Finally, we arrived at the Yacht Club to a hostess who seemed quite put out that we were late--like it was our fault!
All went well, though, once we were seated. Our waiter was very professional. Both my brother and father-in-law are wine aficionado's, so BIL choose a bottle of red. DH got a bloody Mary, and the rest of us got soda.
Grandma and Grandpa started the meal with a few words about how they never imagined 40 years ago on their wedding day that they would have created such a wonderful family. It was so sweet and touching, and they made sure to mention that their children had chosen excellent spouses. (I agree!)
I knew the menu was all ala carte and suggested to my sister and brother-in-law that we get a few appetizers and share them. They were game, but my in-laws either didn't hear us or thought salads came with their meals because they both ordered caesar salads. Too funny--when the waiter came around to take our orders, he offered my husband the different vegetable selections. I knew they were an extra charge, so I told him that in front of the waiter, who seemed slightly annoyed at me for doing so. He said, "madam, all items here are ala carte." Well I knew that, but my husband didnt. I guess these guys try to crank up the bills (not that theres much need since most entrees are in the $25 to $30 range). My husband would have eaten about two bites out of the creamed spinach if he went ahead with the order.
Our appetizers were the two caesar salads my in-laws ordered, a crabcake order (note: I swear the menu said crabcakeS, but we got one), a baby spinach salad, and a tomato-and-buffalo-mozzarella salad. The caesar salads were excellent, as were the rolls with carmelized garlic. Yum! I could have eaten just that and been happy. The crabcake was delicious, but it was a skimpy portion. The baby spinach salad was just O.K., but the tomato/mozzarella salad was outstanding.
For entrees, we ordered the child's steak for my son because it wasn't mac & cheese or chicken strips, of which I knew hed be eating a lot during the trip. I got the beef tenderloin over fresh spinach and tomatoes, topped with bleu cheese and wine sauce. Oh, baby! Was that dish ever good! Yummy! I could barely finish it though. It was very rich, and the au gratin potatoes that accompanied it were also very filling. It tasted as though they were packed with Gruyere cheese. My DH got the prime rib (one of three things he orders at restaurants). I dont remember what everyone else had, except for dad getting a T-bone steak and Linda getting the same entrée as mine.
Dessert was next, which my sister-in-law pre-ordered. It was a dessert sampler platter for the adults to share and "puzzles" for my son and niece. The dessert sampler contained at least a chocolate tower (cake and mousse concoction), key lime tart, 3 flavor sorbet, maybe cheesecake? I dont remember everything, and it was all I could do to taste it. I was stuffed from everything else.
The kids dessert consisted of a cupcake decorated with gummy worms placed on a platter with "paints" of different colored icing and a white chocolate puzzle. The child is supposed to put the puzzle together and then paint it--a brush was provided for this task. My son had a bit of trouble getting the puzzle together, and the chocolate started to melt. I helped him with it, and then he tried to paint it. The paint doesn't stick very well, and he started to get very frustrated. I told him to just go ahead and eat it, and he answered, "But Mommy! Im not supposed to eat paint!"
It was all I could do to keep from laughing while I explained that it wasn't real paint, but icing. Kids!
The restaurant also served a glass of champagne each for my parents-in-law and presented Mom with a long-stemmed rose. Very nicely done! The Yachtsman Steakhouse is an excellent choice for a special occasion. Expensive ($500), but it was well executed.
We left the restaurant with DH and me heading back to the WL to change our clothes. We were decked for the Yachtsman and wanted to get into clothing more suitable for Pleasure Island. The kids were all spending the night in Grandma and Grandpa's room. I suggested they go explore the Boardwalk, but Mom was really wiped from taking Bonine. So I told them how nice the marina beach is at night to see the EWP and fireworks. They decided that's what they wanted to do, so all of us took the Yacht Club bus back to the MK and the ferry to the WL from there.
After changing into less formal clothing, DH and I set out for the bus to Downtown. After what seemed like a long drive, we arrived at Fort Wilderness, made a stop there and then went to DD via some of the darkest back roads Ive ever been on. Wow! The trip took close to 45 minutes, and I wasnt thrilled about that.
Our PI admission was included in our "plus" passes so we didnt need to buy admission there. We went through the gates quickly where they wristbands on us to signify that were of age to buy alcohol. Sigh! At one time, I hated getting "proofed," now I wish someone would ask if I were over 21. (Not going to happen, though, I think.)
We moved through the streets to get a handle on what was there. I asked to go into the Adventurer's Club, so we did, and DH was like, "what the heck kind of place is this?" Definitely not for him. We went into 8 Traxx and bought beers for $3.25 each. Ouch! It looked like it would cost a bundle to get a buzz going here. We moved on to Mannequins for a little while, where the whole dance floor did the Electric Slide to a different song--I forget what, but it wasnt the standard Slide song. Then, we went up to the Rock & Roll Beach Club. DH bought us each a beer, and they were only $2.00 apiece. Yee haw! Party time! What we didn't know at the time is that it was a Monday night special, but boy, were we glad we wouldn't have to pay through the nose for cheap beer.
We went up to the top level to check out the dancing below. Fun, fun, fun! This place reminded us of a club at the Jersey shoreour kind of thing totally. The cutest band ever came out to do a few shows. Woo hoo! What handsome young men! DH found some girls to watch on the dance floor, I had the band to look at, and we were both very happy.
I kept watching the time so we could experience Midnight outdoors, so we headed up to the West End Stage around ten of. A band fronted by a man named Herb Williams was performing. They were excellent! We shouted in the New Year and watched the fireworks. Then the band played Van Halens "Jump" and we couldnt have been partying hardier.
We went back to the R&R Beach Club and stayed there until the lights came up. I tipped our bartender (Thom) well and told him I was coming back on Friday with my sister, so hed better take care of us then. He was so sweet and cute.
We hiked back to our bus stop and climbed on the bus. It was the last one back to the resort, so we had to wait quite a while before it left. It was all I could do to stay awake on the ride back to the Lodge. It seemed so far away.
The good thing about the storm was that we were able to get good seats near the shallow end afterward. Now, this is something I was displeased about at the Lodge. The shallow end of the pool is near the boardwalk, which is a walkway and not a place for chaises. There was little space for chairs near the shallow end. Whoever worked out the design wasnt thinking clearly. Little kids are who use the shallow end of a pool, and little kids need to be watched by their parents. So just where are those parents supposed to sit?
Another issue with the pool is that it is made of concrete to match the "carved from stone" theme. It has a very rough finish and destroyed my new bathing suit. Good thing I got it cheap from Costco, or Id have been livid. We all scraped our knees and ankles at different times. When youre swimming there, the view of the Lodge is spectacular, but that rough surface is horrible.
So, we went back to swimming for awhile, using the wet towels to clean off the chaises. I do like the perk of having a credit card linked to your room key. It was all I needed to bring with me down to the pool, so I didn't have to deal with a tote bag in the pool area.
Another wild thunderstorm rolled in a little later, and again, we waited under the overhang near the food court. I could have used lunch at that point, but we were waiting for my parents-in-law to arrive in case they wanted to have lunch with us.
I went up to the room to see if they had checked in and sure enough, they did. Somehow, my husband found them, and we met up in the food court for lunch. Mom-in-law was feeling knocked out from taking Bonine for the flight. They wanted to explore the Lodge after we ate, so they did that and we went back to the pool. Later, we met our niece and nephew in the pool. They had done the Magic Kingdom with their parents earlier that day.
As we planned months in advance, we were having an anniversary dinner for my in-laws at the Yachtsman Steak House. When we settled on the restaurant, I was hoping to book an Illuminations cruise, but no such luck. It was just as well because my mother-in-law was wiped out from her medication.
At 5:30 p.m. after showering and dressing up, all of us met in the lobby and took the boat to the Magic Kingdom, so we could hook up with a bus to the Yacht Club. This was the first time we'd taken the boat this stay, and it was very pleasant. It went to Fort Wilderness, though, before heading to the MK. It took better than 20 minutes to get to MK, and as the week went on, I got very unhappy with this arrangement.
It took a while for the Yacht Club bus to come. A couple was waiting there; they told us for 15 minutes and seemed quite annoyed. Finally, we arrived at the Yacht Club to a hostess who seemed quite put out that we were late--like it was our fault!
All went well, though, once we were seated. Our waiter was very professional. Both my brother and father-in-law are wine aficionado's, so BIL choose a bottle of red. DH got a bloody Mary, and the rest of us got soda.
Grandma and Grandpa started the meal with a few words about how they never imagined 40 years ago on their wedding day that they would have created such a wonderful family. It was so sweet and touching, and they made sure to mention that their children had chosen excellent spouses. (I agree!)
I knew the menu was all ala carte and suggested to my sister and brother-in-law that we get a few appetizers and share them. They were game, but my in-laws either didn't hear us or thought salads came with their meals because they both ordered caesar salads. Too funny--when the waiter came around to take our orders, he offered my husband the different vegetable selections. I knew they were an extra charge, so I told him that in front of the waiter, who seemed slightly annoyed at me for doing so. He said, "madam, all items here are ala carte." Well I knew that, but my husband didnt. I guess these guys try to crank up the bills (not that theres much need since most entrees are in the $25 to $30 range). My husband would have eaten about two bites out of the creamed spinach if he went ahead with the order.
Our appetizers were the two caesar salads my in-laws ordered, a crabcake order (note: I swear the menu said crabcakeS, but we got one), a baby spinach salad, and a tomato-and-buffalo-mozzarella salad. The caesar salads were excellent, as were the rolls with carmelized garlic. Yum! I could have eaten just that and been happy. The crabcake was delicious, but it was a skimpy portion. The baby spinach salad was just O.K., but the tomato/mozzarella salad was outstanding.
For entrees, we ordered the child's steak for my son because it wasn't mac & cheese or chicken strips, of which I knew hed be eating a lot during the trip. I got the beef tenderloin over fresh spinach and tomatoes, topped with bleu cheese and wine sauce. Oh, baby! Was that dish ever good! Yummy! I could barely finish it though. It was very rich, and the au gratin potatoes that accompanied it were also very filling. It tasted as though they were packed with Gruyere cheese. My DH got the prime rib (one of three things he orders at restaurants). I dont remember what everyone else had, except for dad getting a T-bone steak and Linda getting the same entrée as mine.
Dessert was next, which my sister-in-law pre-ordered. It was a dessert sampler platter for the adults to share and "puzzles" for my son and niece. The dessert sampler contained at least a chocolate tower (cake and mousse concoction), key lime tart, 3 flavor sorbet, maybe cheesecake? I dont remember everything, and it was all I could do to taste it. I was stuffed from everything else.
The kids dessert consisted of a cupcake decorated with gummy worms placed on a platter with "paints" of different colored icing and a white chocolate puzzle. The child is supposed to put the puzzle together and then paint it--a brush was provided for this task. My son had a bit of trouble getting the puzzle together, and the chocolate started to melt. I helped him with it, and then he tried to paint it. The paint doesn't stick very well, and he started to get very frustrated. I told him to just go ahead and eat it, and he answered, "But Mommy! Im not supposed to eat paint!"
It was all I could do to keep from laughing while I explained that it wasn't real paint, but icing. Kids!
The restaurant also served a glass of champagne each for my parents-in-law and presented Mom with a long-stemmed rose. Very nicely done! The Yachtsman Steakhouse is an excellent choice for a special occasion. Expensive ($500), but it was well executed.
We left the restaurant with DH and me heading back to the WL to change our clothes. We were decked for the Yachtsman and wanted to get into clothing more suitable for Pleasure Island. The kids were all spending the night in Grandma and Grandpa's room. I suggested they go explore the Boardwalk, but Mom was really wiped from taking Bonine. So I told them how nice the marina beach is at night to see the EWP and fireworks. They decided that's what they wanted to do, so all of us took the Yacht Club bus back to the MK and the ferry to the WL from there.
After changing into less formal clothing, DH and I set out for the bus to Downtown. After what seemed like a long drive, we arrived at Fort Wilderness, made a stop there and then went to DD via some of the darkest back roads Ive ever been on. Wow! The trip took close to 45 minutes, and I wasnt thrilled about that.
Our PI admission was included in our "plus" passes so we didnt need to buy admission there. We went through the gates quickly where they wristbands on us to signify that were of age to buy alcohol. Sigh! At one time, I hated getting "proofed," now I wish someone would ask if I were over 21. (Not going to happen, though, I think.)
We moved through the streets to get a handle on what was there. I asked to go into the Adventurer's Club, so we did, and DH was like, "what the heck kind of place is this?" Definitely not for him. We went into 8 Traxx and bought beers for $3.25 each. Ouch! It looked like it would cost a bundle to get a buzz going here. We moved on to Mannequins for a little while, where the whole dance floor did the Electric Slide to a different song--I forget what, but it wasnt the standard Slide song. Then, we went up to the Rock & Roll Beach Club. DH bought us each a beer, and they were only $2.00 apiece. Yee haw! Party time! What we didn't know at the time is that it was a Monday night special, but boy, were we glad we wouldn't have to pay through the nose for cheap beer.
We went up to the top level to check out the dancing below. Fun, fun, fun! This place reminded us of a club at the Jersey shoreour kind of thing totally. The cutest band ever came out to do a few shows. Woo hoo! What handsome young men! DH found some girls to watch on the dance floor, I had the band to look at, and we were both very happy.
I kept watching the time so we could experience Midnight outdoors, so we headed up to the West End Stage around ten of. A band fronted by a man named Herb Williams was performing. They were excellent! We shouted in the New Year and watched the fireworks. Then the band played Van Halens "Jump" and we couldnt have been partying hardier.
We went back to the R&R Beach Club and stayed there until the lights came up. I tipped our bartender (Thom) well and told him I was coming back on Friday with my sister, so hed better take care of us then. He was so sweet and cute.
We hiked back to our bus stop and climbed on the bus. It was the last one back to the resort, so we had to wait quite a while before it left. It was all I could do to stay awake on the ride back to the Lodge. It seemed so far away.
