A Birthday Trip without a Birthday - 2/16: Conclusion and Bonus Birthday Tea

[englishrose47]

Great concluding comments Katarina !!I am heading to Las Vegas this year for the first time and am excited to explore a new state !!! Of course this is another of my free trips !!!!Please don't be a stranger on the Dis , I love hearing from my German Dis Friends !!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Great conclusion to your TR!!! I love October in Disney!!I do however agree that the F & W clutters up the World and makes Epcot super busy!!! I think I would enjoy it if by myself and NOT wi9th8 Individuals !!

The High Tea looked splendid !!

I am sure I will back at WDW in the autumn, I loved the weather we had. And every few years the F&W festival will be a nice event to visit. I can understand that it would be more relaxing for you if you weren't escorting a whole group!!

Great wrap up to the TR.


I totally agree on the DVC thing and being able to really slow down after I purchased.

I like F&W but have also been enough times to know when to avoid it becaus of the crowds. I like the variety and only being committed to a small portion so if I don't like it I have not blown a whole meal price on it.

Of course I still need to work out the whole - what is in this question before this year. I think I will email when the food and wine website comes up and try to get out in front of it. I know last year they had a special email to inquire about allergies but I never got around to it.
I just really need to know what is in it and then I can plan.



Have a blast on your next adventure. Looking forward to hearing all about it.

I was thinking about you quite a few times during the trip when I realised how much easier it was slowing down knowing that I would be back as that was what you wrote about in your long AP trip report. You mentioned there how having the AP made you more relaxed!

I can understand the allergy problem. Katharina was rather restricted in what she could try and that made it less enjoyable I think for her. For the F&G they have a number of food booths and I see quite a few have dishes with shrimps or crab and I can't eat those. I find it a bit annoying that this limits me... But I am excited to try the stuff at the German booth!

 

[Poolrat]

I was thinking about you quite a few times during the trip when I realised how much easier it was slowing down knowing that I would be back as that was what you wrote about in your long AP trip report. You mentioned there how having the AP made you more relaxed!

The AP and DVC make me want to run down there on a whim.

I am looking forward to Flower and Garden and really am looking forward to going slow.

I can understand the allergy problem. Katharina was rather restricted in what she could try and that made it less enjoyable I think for her. For the F&G they have a number of food booths and I see quite a few have dishes with shrimps or crab and I can't eat those. I find it a bit annoying that this limits me... But I am excited to try the stuff at the German booth!

That reminded me - I just emailed the special diets area and asked for ingredient list for Flower and garden. Hopefully that might be an easier way for me to navigate.

 

[Flossbolna]

Getting caught up today! I enjoyed your review of Fountain and Fresh, need to check those out at some point, they sounds very appealing!

Hope you will enjoy them! They aren't as heavily themed as maybe some of the Disney places, but the food was lovely and I liked the Swan&Dolphin much better than I thought I would. And that DVC discount is nice, too!

That truly is the beauty of DVC, being able to try so many different wonderful places. I bought sight unseen at SSR so we'd have the treehouse advantage but it was definitely staying at BWV that had me wanting our add on to be there. I do think that if you know you like the BW area then it's really not all that risky to own there, more a matter of preference between BC and BWV.

I definitely want to stay at BC ones - just to try out Stormalong Bay. But somehow perfer the flimsy atmosphere of the Boardwalk. And the location os just sooo perfect.

But I am also really looking forward to being at AKL again - I love it for its remoteness...

It does clutter it and weekends were a bit ugly but I do still like it. I think for me I tend to view it more of a series of snacks, than a dining experience so I am ok with the ambiance. I do agree though that the party impacts MK quite a bit and if that wasn't part of your plans, other times of year would be better. I did like the culinary seminars we did and felt it added a lot to my F&W experience.

Spring is wonderful, the weather is just perfection. And Flower and Garden didn't seem to me to be nearly as crowded as Food and Wine. I think you will have a wonderful trip, it sounds absolutely lovely!

I was really worried about them adding new food locations to Flower and Garden, but it seems like there aren't too many, so I think it will be fine! I am really looking forward to checking it out soon!

Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us Magdalene! I can't wait for your new report! Something new and different for you and sounds wonderful!

Loved the tea pictures! Everything looked really yummy especially those raspberry tarts! Looks like you had a lovely visit with Katharina. I can't wait to visit with you both in 2014..

It's funny you mentioned spices, as that is what I was thinking also when DD comes to visit. I was going to ask what it is you wanted. Do you still have a catalog? I can send one if you wish. I was thinking of sending some to her host family as well. Not sure what to get though??? Thoughts???

I am happy that you enjoyed the report! And Katharina and I are both looking forward to seeing you next year!

I will email you about the spices! If I don't remind me that I intended to... :

 

[Flossbolna]

Magdalene, I really enjoyed the report! It was interesting reading a TR that wasn't in strict chronological order.

Sounds like you and Pat (Poolrat) have both experienced DVC Zen now.

Glad that you enjoyed the TR! And I like the term: DVC Zen!

I'm really glad to got to meet up with them! I've found the folks here on the DISBoards to be uniformly wonderful people.

Yes they are - until they start to threaten you with emberassing posts on their TR!!!!

I'm sure each season has its good points and bad. The important thing is that they do enough things right to make you want to keep coming back.

I like it that every season has it own offerings - I never thought I want to be in Florida over Christmas, but I am starting to see the appeal of WDW in the Christmas season...

Well, PTR's are overrated anyway.

Anyway, sounds like a great trip! 3 weeks sounds heavenly.

Can't wait for the vacation to finally start. But I do miss doing a PTR. It is a great outlet for all the planning excitement!

By the way, any good tips for dealing with jet lag?

Well, most importantly make sure that your sister does change the time in her mobile phone before she uses it as an alarm clock so that you won't get up at 1am thinking it is already 7am...

But on a more serious note: Going westwards try to stay up as long as you can on your first day so that you are able to sleep until a reasonable time in the morning. And then on the next few days just enjoy that you can get up totally well rested at 6am (but be prepared to fall into bed by 9pm...). Going eastwards is more difficult. If your flight time cooperates try to get as much sleep as possible during the flight (ear plugs help with sleeping on a plane as well as those little pillows that you put around your head as they prevent your head falling to the side. Once at your destination try to not take a nap, but get into the new rythm as soon as possible. Drink lots of water, but stay away from caffein. And try to spend a lot of time in the sun/outside after the flight. The daylight will help your body to adjust.

Excited for you and your upcoming trip! We love going to WDW in the fall because of the lower crowds, even though, I do agree-it can be hard to schedule due the parties. But! The spring is wonderful!!!! The F&GF is, hands-down, my favorite. I'm not hugely into the F&WF either, it just seems very overpriced to me...and most of the items I can find outside my front door living where I do. It sort of lost it's appeal/wonder for me. I do like the idea of it all though, giving people a chance to try things they otherwise might not! I think I will also enjoy the mix of the F&GF with the food & beverages this year.

So glad you enjoyed the Boardwalk too! I remember you asking me about it. We seem to have similar opinions on most anything - so I figured you might like it. It's a beautiful resort, and the location is superb. We haven't stayed at the Beach Club or the Villas at WL yet, but so far the Boardwalk is my favorite, followed by Old Key West.

Very much looking forward to your next TR! If you remember, please alert me when you start it in case I miss it!

I absolutely agree with your take on the F&W festival! Yes, it seems indeed as if we indeed on most things!! I noticed it first with our resort choices, so you liking the BW was one of the things that made me quite confident that I would love it, too!

I will send out PMs to my "regular TR readers" once I start it, but it will still be a while!

The tea looked beautiful! Happy belated birthday!

So glad yu enjoyed olivia's- we are hoping to have breakfast there May 3rd, before we move over to AKV!

Hope you will enjoy Olivia's! You can report how you liked it when we meet!

Happy very Belated birthday to Katharina!

That tea looked absolutely wonderful... I love that kind of thing...


It does sound like you have some lovely plans between the stay at AKL... love, love, your cruise and some further exploration of Florida... I'm starting to feel the desire to do some further exploration in Florida myself... when you know you're going to come back... I think you feel less necessary to see everything in Disney every single time...

You are the third person who's mentioned Olivia's recently... it was not on my radar but I now feel I really should check it out...

Yes, I can see that the tea would be just your thing!

There is actually quite a bit to see in Florida. I loved the Ringling museum in Sarasota, swimming with the manatees in Crystal River and the architecture in South Beach in Miami a lot! There are still a number of places I want to check out at some time, like St Augustine.

 

[marvali]

I had read most of your dining reviews, but somehow never got around to commenting on them. BD is one I haven't yet had any desire to try, but it sounds like FF may be a place I need to plan a meal at in the near future! I totally agree on your assessment of Olivia's as I think it is a wonderful restaurant and easy to add at the last minute! Great experiences with the food AND the service there, and I definitely agree with those who think it is one of Disney's hidden secrets!

50’s Prime Time Café

We had lunch here during the morning we spent with Marv and Jonathan at DHS. Marv had volunteered to go there with us as I had complained at some point that my previous experiences there were rather boring as it seemed that the servers were too hesitant to “play” with the foreigners. So Marv did his best to get into trouble! We did have quite some fun – got an additional family member from a neighbouring table as she was sent away from her family. And Jonathan was so quick in finishing his drink that he got multiple refills – all at once!!

That is a great picture of Jonathan! We both had a wonderful time meeting and doing some park touring with you and Katharina! We too felt like we made some very good friends during that trip! I was hoping I didn't embarrass the two of you too much with my antics at 50s PT, but since you felt we probably should have planned a few more meals together, I guess I didn't!

As you can see I substituted the green beans for corn while Katharina substituted the southern greens for green beans. However, Marv got the southern greens (well, he is from the South so I guess it’s in his blood…) and he let us try some. Not at all my kind of vegetable!!! The food was good, but I did not find it great. It was a bit bland and felt very “mass produced”.

Yes, I guess growing up in the south I have a different palate from some people who post here, and definitely someone who is from another country! I agree that some of the food at 50s PT seems "mass produced" and I would definitely lump the meatloaf in that category. The one time I tried it I was far from impressed as this tasted nothing like my definition of meatloaf! The chicken and the pot roast are my definite favorites, but I understand they have a new item on the menu (pork chop) that sounds really good, so I may have to give that one a try the next time I am there!

Sorry you didn't enjoy your meal at Kona so much! I agree on the bread, and the steak I had there one night was one of the best I have had at Disney, so I guess that is what happens when you order TOFU!!! (and you think I have strange tastes in food.........)

50's PT and Kona are two of my favorite places on property! They may not be "signature" dining but they fit my tastes to a T.

Sounds like we have very similar tastes in food! I guess I can plan my future meals around your positive Disney dining reviews!!!

I understand your travel partner's misgivings about posting information beforehand. Sometimes I wonder about it myself!

Yes, look at the high price you paid that one fateful early trip staying at Kidani..........

Yes they are - until they start to threaten you with emberassing posts on their TR!!!!

Now WHO would do such a horrible thing to such a wonderful lady???

The tea for Katharina's birthday looked like a wonderful event! I can't wait to hear about your upcoming trip!!! I hope you have a wonderful time!!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We started in Kentucky, visiting with friends close to Elizabethtown. Remy stayed with them more then 20 years ago as an exchange student. So there were many places for him to re-visit, but we also went to Mammoth Caves and on a distillery tour. I don't know whether I ever mentioned it on your TR, how I impressed Remy at Mammoth Caves how I knew everything about the desinfection of shoes, hehe. The Dis is educating! Oh, and about the Slugger factory Thank you very much
We then flew to Las Vegas and drove to San Francisco - but not on a direct route: via Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Painted Forest NP, Momunent Valley, Natural Bridges NM, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Cedar Breaks NM, Capitol Reef NP, Wendover, Great Basin NP ...... and San Francisco. We didn't spend as much time as we wanted at most of the parks, but it was too hot for hiking anyway - at least for us. That's why we have to get back...

Sounds like it was amazing! We have a lot of those western NP's on our bucket list. Someday we'll get to see it all!

Yes they are - until they start to threaten you with emberassing posts on their TR!!!!

Nobody is that cruel...are they???

Well, most importantly make sure that your sister does change the time in her mobile phone before she uses it as an alarm clock so that you won't get up at 1am thinking it is already 7am...

But on a more serious note: Going westwards try to stay up as long as you can on your first day so that you are able to sleep until a reasonable time in the morning. And then on the next few days just enjoy that you can get up totally well rested at 6am (but be prepared to fall into bed by 9pm...). Going eastwards is more difficult. If your flight time cooperates try to get as much sleep as possible during the flight (ear plugs help with sleeping on a plane as well as those little pillows that you put around your head as they prevent your head falling to the side. Once at your destination try to not take a nap, but get into the new rythm as soon as possible. Drink lots of water, but stay away from caffein. And try to spend a lot of time in the sun/outside after the flight. The daylight will help your body to adjust.

Thanks for the tips! I have always had more trouble traveling back east as well. I've never been very good at sleeping on a plane, so that's part of the problem.

Sounds like we have very similar tastes in food! I guess I can plan my future meals around your positive Disney dining reviews!!!

I'm always shocked when people don't like my favorite places...