A Belated PTR: Mom & Daughter Take On WDW, again UPDATE 9.22: LIVE FROM WDW!!!!!!!!!!

[lacrosse_lady72]

First... I LOVE that photo of Michael Phelps!

And aren't flights a pain in the butt?! Hopefully they don't change your flights too much!

Me too... or pretty much ANY picture of Michael Phelps, all I need is his body though, his face if ok but that is one amazing body. Swimmers and skiers are the hottest!

Yes they are! I'm sure they'll change them again but as long as our outgoing flight end with a PM and not AM, I'll be ok with it.

Sounds like you have a great trip planned! Great idea for your Mom too....staying at WL.
And it's coming up so soon!!!!!!

Tracy

Hi Tracy!

Yes, the trip is coming up very soon! If everything goes as usual and they end up sending out ME stuff 6 weeks ahead of time- we should get ours soonish.

You know that feeling that you start to get about a week before the trip like you didn't plan enough or something is wrong or you're missing something... I'm getting that feeling now! I can only imagine what it'll be like come early September.

ahhh..PDX...I don't think I've been up there since they finished renovating PDX...I think the last time I was up there was 2000....man, too long!

I usually fly that red eye delta flight from lax...

Your resort changes...crazy, but cool.....nothing like checking out other resorts.

I gotta stop complaining about the 88 degee heat!

PDX is awesome now- hands down the best airport I have ever been to. It's very Dayna friendly, good coffee, GREAT food and a laptop users haven- they have areas specifically for laptop users with free WiFi, tons of outlets and great seating... it's not one of those alcoves a lot of airports have, it's in the main dining areas.

I've never flown that route before but it looks like a good one to me! If it works out I think I am going to use it for future trips if possible.

Yes, those are kind of wacky resort changes but it's ok Plus, I seem to remember reading someone else's report that had him switching from Pop to BCV...

 

[jordanyosh]

I did a Pop to BCV back to Pop..this trip is Pop to BWV...

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I did a Pop to BCV back to Pop..this trip is Pop to BWV...

So it's been a long day, I could remember the details I thought you had gone back to Pop on one of the trips then I couldn't remember sometimes, I amaze myself.

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Hey, have you two noticed it is only use west coasters up posting late... All those east coasters are snoring away right now...

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Hey, have you two noticed it is only use west coasters up posting late... All those east coasters are snoring away right now...

Hahaha..and now its us east coasters that are up early for work that are posting

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Hey, have you two noticed it is only use west coasters up posting late... All those east coasters are snoring away right now...

Hahaha..and now its us east coasters that are up early for work that are posting

Yep. Usually I catch the beginning of the east coast morning posting rush since I'm always up pretty late but I was summoned away from my computer.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Some Pictures from September 2008 Part 1

Food and drink:

A Raspberry Mojitocoossee from Narcoossee's, my favorite mixed drink of the trip.

This was my favorite kiosk at the Food & Wine Festival, the Hops and Barley Market.

At the Hops and Barley Market I had the lobster roll, $7 AND on the DDP

And naturally, I had to get that crab cake also.

Wet my whistle with water??? Come on now... from H&BM I got the cream stout, soooooo good.

Pomegranate Kir from Lyon, France kiosk Yummy also.

Some quiche from Lyon... it was ok.

Goat cheese ravoli, hold the mushrooms from California Grill. This was VERY good, I'm going to get it again this next trip.

Flatbread from California Grill... also good.

Here's the oh-so DISfamous cheddar cheese soup from Le Cellier...

Oh look, you can get it outside of Le Cellier at the Montreal F&WF kiosk and you don't have to make an ADR for that!

Next: Some Pictures from September 2008 Part 2: More Food & Wine Festival 2008 Pictures

 

[jordanyosh]

I haven't eaten yet..you're making me hungry

 

[manntra]

Thanks for your pictures of food and drinks!! And for the cream stout! If I am going to drink beer I want to drink beer ya know!!?
Good to know about the soup in Montreal....my first F&W and I again failed to make a ressie at Le Cellier so at least I can try the soup!

Tracy

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I haven't eaten yet..you're making me hungry

Sorry

Thanks for your pictures of food and drinks!! And for the cream stout! If I am going to drink beer I want to drink beer ya know!!?
Good to know about the soup in Montreal....my first F&W and I again failed to make a ressie at Le Cellier so at least I can try the soup!

Tracy

You're welcome, I'm going to post more here but I'm eating some soup right now so it might take me a while...

Yes, I am definitely with you! A lot of people my age are sissies imo, they all drink Bud light... Coors... I tell them, YOU LIVE IN PORTLAND! There's some amazing microbrews here! Stop drinking that water beer and at least drink an IPA! I'll stick to my stouts and porters. We have this chocolate stout at a local brewery that is one of my favorite drinks, especially in the winter.

And I was suprised when I saw that soup and tried it. We had Le Cellier the night before and it was the same thing! Also, let me see if I can dig it up but there was a thread on the Restaurant Board talking about getting take-out from Le Cellier. I think I am going to try that myself just for that pretzel bread. Let me see if I can find it...

ETA: I can't find it. But the OP said he/she got the pretzel bread and cheddar soup. Idk if they'd sell you entrees to go but you could always try it

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Some Pictures from September 2008 Part 2: More Food & Wine Festival 2008 Pictures


The Athen, Greece menu located close to the entrance of Le Cellier.

This is the Spanakopita from Athens... I think. I remember waiting in a very long line for it and it wasn't so good, not a lot of flavor. I wanted to dip it in some Frank's Red Hot!

Montreal, Canada menu in between Athens and Le Cellier entrance.

And this is what that booth looks like

Maple Glazed Salmon and Arugula salad.

The Lyon, France menu.

Lyon, France venue.

Creme Brulee Chocolat au lait aka a chocolate creme brulee... my favorite of the F&WF desserts.

SAKE!

I'm not an adventurous eater when it comes to seafood so it's hard to eat raw fish... I stuck to the Califorinia Rolls at Tokyo.

Oh yes... here's the menu for Tokyo.

Cork, Ireland, probably my second favorite kiosk after Lyon, France.

Cork, Ireland menu. I had everything on this menu but I didn't get a picture of the Irish coffee or cheese... I failed my DIS friends.

Potato leek soup from Cork... better than the Montreal cheddar cheese soup, imo.

That boxty thing, my lanyard, my Evian, a pin and part of my shirt that says "The House the Ruth Built." The boxty was good, buttery though but I like butter.

Next: Some Pictures from September 2008 Part 3

 

[dallastxcpa]

Yeah! So glad I found your pre-trippie!

Me and DH are going to be at POP from Sept 22 - 28th. DH birthday is on the 23rd and mine is on the 24th. We are eating at Jiko for his birthday and Cali Grille for mine.

How wonderful that you guys are also getting to sample the deluxes.

And thank you for posting the F&W pictures this will be our first and the pictures are a great help.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Some Pictures from September 2008 Part 3


So.......... I thought this was September?!?!?! Please advise: If you do not have park hoppers STAY AWAY from Hollywood Studios on a PM EMH day! ToT was a 65+ minute wait all day long.

Now this wait time is much better imo, EE entrance.

In line for EE... the things I would do for a front row seat...

Still in line but at least we're inside, best queue out there I think... those Imagineers, they did this ride so well.

Oh no... here we go. Did I ever mention my mom doesn't like rollercoasters too much and we're sitting up front? First time on Space Mountain she kept saying 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3... she's gotten WAY better now.

Going up.

Oh no!!! The track is broken!!!!!

This is the view you get from Expedition Everest from the front row... WELL worth the extra 10 minute wait!

So this is cheating, it's from September 2007 but I just really like it... and that's why it's bigger than the others

The Grand Floridian from the ferry? I think.

Old Key West... look at how cool those clouds look!

This is the view of Illuminations from Pop Century.

Next: Some Pictures from September 2008 Part 4: Jiko & California Grill

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Yeah! So glad I found your pre-trippie!

Me and DH are going to be at POP from Sept 22 - 28th. DH birthday is on the 23rd and mine is on the 24th. We are eating at Jiko for his birthday and Cali Grille for mine.

How wonderful that you guys are also getting to sample the deluxes.

And thank you for posting the F&W pictures this will be our first and the pictures are a great help.

Oh very fun, those birthday dinners sound great! We ate at both during that last trip, I'll post some pictures of both restaurants and the food... so I'll post some pictures for you! Great choices on those! My birthday is July 2 so I'm probably never going to go to WDW on my birthday since it's so crowded At least we can go for my mom's!

I'm really excited about staying at the WL especially... I think I'm more excited than my mom will be, lol.

It was our first time for the Food & Wine Festival in 2008 and it was hard finding pictures then so I happy to help. I have a lot more I'm going to post soon

ETA: I have to get ready for work now so I probably won't be posting again until later on tonight... also, we'll be at Pop at the same time!!!!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

nice photos! i can't wait to try the mass amounts of food at the food and wine festival! mmmmm!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I was on the Theme Parks & Strategies Board just now and someone posted a thread to discuss things are are firsts for one's upcoming trip. I thought it'd be fun to write them here too!

1. This will be my first time doing a MNSSHP on our arrival night I'm kind of scared about that one. I've been to a MNSSHP but not right after a travel day.

2. This will be the first time I ever go to a water park... I still have no intention to go swim at the water park just perhaps go along the lazy river. I have no intention of tanning either since I like to fake-n-bake before I go to WDW so I don't burn (yes I know it's bad for me).

3. Honestly, I have never taken a picture with a character or asked for an autograph... I plan on doing both this year! Including a picture with Snow White and all seven dwarfs so I'm going to try to be first in line at MNSSHP since I've heard that line gets long.

4. This will be the first trip that I plan on scrapbooking! I even have a page already put together for either Akershus or CRT... it's princessy.

5. This was going to be the first trip that we ride in the front of the monorail... it's ok that we probably won't be able to now.

6. First race at WDW in the Expedition Everest Challenge.

7. First stay at both WL and AKL.

8. First time I don't go to NYC or Universal along with going to WDW.

9. All new restaurants include: Kouzzina, The Wave, Donald's Safari Breakfast, HDDR, Crystal Palace, Grand Floridian Cafe, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Raglan Road, CRT, Citricos, Flying Fish Cafe and Chef Mickey's. The only repeats are California Grill, Kona Cafe, Akershus, 'Ohana and Narcoossee's.

10. Kim Possible missions, Epcot and Animal Kingdom passports will all be new.

11. First time being an AP holder... I might even get the WP AP since I might make my way over to the water parks in January or April

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

nice photos! i can't wait to try the mass amounts of food at the food and wine festival! mmmmm!

Me too!!! Any food really, they're probably going to have to roll me on the airplane.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Some Pictures from September 2008 Part 4: Jiko & California Grill

As promised to dallastxcpa, here are some pictures from Jiko and California Grill from 2008:

Jiko first:
Well I took a picture from the AKL lobby since our we weren't quite at our ADR time, we had some time to kill.

Just a picture of the posted menu. I know you can't read it but I'm sure some of it has changed anyway.

Sorry some of these aren't great but I somehow forgot to bring my good camera with us, my point and shoot didn't take great indoor dark pictures.
The next 2 are just of the inside.

I don't remember what kind of flatbread this is... I'm getting old, my memory is disappearing.

The bread.

We both had the filet with mac & cheese.

The desserts.

California Grill:
I have to admit, it was 8PM and for some reason I was very tired so I wasn't too much in the picture taking mode. We had an 8PM ADR for 10PM Wishes which was PERFECT. We got there at 7:50PM and asked for a MK view table and were seated by 8:10PM or so.

View from our table.

Inside CG.

Yeah... we both got pina coladas.

I posted the appitizers on a previous post.

Bread.

I got the filet... I do love steak and green beans

My mom got the pork with polenta and mushrooms.

Chocolate Temptation, no sugar added (I didn't read that part- it was part gross, part OK... I'm not one of those people who send back food to the kitchen ESPECIALLY if it's my fault)

The "Peachy Keen" My mom had no idea what a bubble tea was so the tapioca scared her when she drank it, lol.

Next: ADRs!!! I think I might die of over-eating

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

OK listen up, I'm wacky... just in case you didn't know.

So our Pop Century 14 night reservation has the free basic DDP.
AND our Wilderness Lodge 3 night reservation has the free DDP offer upgraded to the Deluxe DDP.

Which makes credit totals per person as such:
TS: 23
CS: 14
Snack: 20

That's a lot of food! It's a good thing I like to eat

Let me tell you, I started making a spreadsheet for potential ADRs in... December 2008. Putting in mock hours from past Septembers, guessing the nights of MNSSHP, knowing when the Food & Wine Festival starts, etc.

Afterall that, I switched things around a lot after I initially made ADRs and I wish I had different times for a couple of hard to get restaurants now, oh well.

So here they are...

Sept 18
No ADR, arrival day and most likely MNSSHP this night. (Changed to Raglan Road 5:15PM, no MNSSHP)

Sept 19
Kouzzina 7:35PM

Sept 20
The Wave 5:30PM

Sept 21
No ADR, rental car off-site day

Sept 22
CRT 8:25AM
California Grill 5:30PM

Sept 23
Kona Cafe 7:30AM
Citricos 7:00PM

Sept 24
Akershus 1:50PM
Whispering Canyon Cafe 8:25PM

Sept 25
Chef Mickey's 7:00AM
Flying Fish Cafe 7:15PM (Changed to MNSSHP night, no FFC)

Sept 26
Grand Floridian Cafe 7:55AM

Sept 27
Donald's Safari Breakfast 8:00AM

Sept 28
HDDR 7:15PM

Sept 29
Crystal Palace 8:05AM
'Ohana 8:05PM

Sept 30
Raglan Road 8:00PM (Changed to: Flying Fish Cafe 6:10PM)

Oct 1
Narcoossee's 7:55PM


Come on now, you gotta admit... ADRs are totally fun to make! I think they are, it's like a game or a competition to see who can get what- really fun to me!!!

Next: Changes to the ADRs and MNSSHP

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Your list of ADR's is making me hungry...