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

[Kleese]

Hi everyone, it seems like time is flying and I still have lots of comments from you guys which I never replied to! Sorry!! I try to be better with keeping up here for the last 13 days!! I still want to post the rest of the DLP pictures before the trip and I have a special Germany update which I want to do for you - but I need to get the pictures for that first!!

Special Germany update Hope you have time before your trip as it is coming up very fast.

It was very interesting when you said that Europeans don't really shop on vacation like Americans. I have to say that I do buy a lot of little stuff on vacations that I could live without. At the time you think it's a good idea and then when you get home your like where am I going to put that or I come home with 6 pens that I will use once or twice because I already have a drawer full of regular pens. wish I would have kept all the receipts last time i went to Disney to see how much I spent on things that I 've never used.

 

[brookelizabeth]

It actually makes me sad because when I visited Epcot for the first time, I was expecting something very cheesy and full of stereotypes and was extremely impressed how tastefully, historically and culturally correct and classy it was. For me it has lost a lot of this appeal with this one little shop I am sad to say...

Congratulations for getting China!! You have seen France as well, I think? So you are still two films ahead of me.

Ahhh, that makes sense. When I think about it that way, it is sad. Disney is pretty good at making the fake seem real - very few know the difference.

And yes! I have seen France! I'm two up!

Ok, there really is not much to say, just look at those pictures. And I think you will understand why the Magic Kingdom at the WDW was never able to touch my heart the same way as Disneyland Paris does.

Wow. I completely understand!!! Beautiful!


Your trip is getting SO close. I'm glad I made it back here before you leave! If I don't again (which I hope I do!), I want to wish you a wonderful trip and safe travels! I look forward to hearing all about it on the other side!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Your ticker says 11 days today....

 

[Flossbolna]

Hey Magdalene,

So excited for you that your trip is getting so close!...

I am going to DWD and Universal in March so I am really curious to see your thoughts on the rides and restaurants...

I've always wished that they would add an additional restaurant to the German Pavilion...something a little authentic...

If they didn't want to commit to an entire full service restaurant...I think a nice German style coffee house might have been nice...I agree that the new bakery in Germany while perhaps tasty-although I haven't experienced it yet-looks more American than German...

It would have been interested to really have a kind of German coffee house with a turn of the century decor... with authentic German pastry...Cupcakes aren't really German as far as I know...

hmmm...or am I confused were the coffee houses Austrian or where they German also?

Hi Patricia, it is so great to see you here again!!

I will certainly report back on Universal. I am so excited about that part of our trip and am really looking forward to it - nearly more than Disney... And I just started to re-read my Harry Potter books, figured it would be a good way to prepare!

And I fully agree with your thoughts about a German bakery! Yes, cupcakes aren't German, but we have a lot of cakes which are wonderful and a coffee house like you mention would be wonderful (and you gave me an idea for another Germany update there... I just need to get the pictures... ).

Vienna is famous for coffee houses and there is certainly a very strong tradition for this in Austria as well (especially coffee, the Viennese discovered coffee when they were under siege by the Turkish and once the Turkish groups the left, the discovered the left over coffee beans).

 

[Flossbolna]

ONE MONTH, (well actually a little less now)!!!!

I think changes are inevitable in every plan as you get closer. What changes I'm seeing look great! Going budget over WAY-over-priced is never a bad thing. The price increase at Boma is outrageous, and I'm so glad I tried it before it went up to $39 a head! WOW!

You're right- Kona looks like a way better deal than 'Ohaha. As you know, while I liked it, it wasn't spectacular, and you can probably get most of what's "over there" too.

Anyway, counting down with you!!!

Wow, time is passing so quickly... It is a bit embarrassing how long it took me for these replies...

I must say that I am starting to get a bit annoyed at the Disney dining prices this trip. While I never found food to be cheap there, it starts to become so expensive that I am shying away from paying for it... It seems like they want to increase the DDP price every year and in order to keep it looking like a deal they must increase dining prices as well. I checked my old receipts and in 2009 we payed $28.99 per person at Boma for dinner - now it is $39.40.

One month away! Awesome! (can I come?)

I think you will be very happy with Kona Cafe for dinner. Julie and I really enjoyed it (just be ready for a loud atmosphere, that's all).

We would love to take you (and Julie and the kids) along, that would certainly be a highly entertaining trip!!

I am looking forward to Kona quite a bit, I have been there before and know what you mean by loud atmosphere.

Sounds like you are ready to go! It will be here before you know it!

Yes, time has been flying those last weeks!!

 

[Flossbolna]

The price for Cape May is scary, I wouldn't do it if not on the dining plan I don't think. Very cool about the DVC discount at the Swolphin locations, I've heard good things about Fresh.

The BC Marketplace isn't a food court but it's not bad for a deluxe CS.

Yes, it is scary. As I said in the reply to Liesa's post I think Disney is going from expensive, but somehow justifiable, to ridiculous IMHO. And I think it is done to get people to get the DDP which in itself is getting more and more expensive... It's $51.50 next year per adult per night. Up from $46 this year. It includes the refillable mug, but that's a $5.50 price increase... In 2007 when it still included an appetiser for the table service meal and tip it was $39 and then in 2008 when it was the same as it is now it was $38. I really don't like this development...

Hoping everything is okay as you haven't been on the boards for a while !!I have been posting my plans and hoping we can set a definate meet!!!!!

Thanks for looking out for me Rosie!!

It's been so long since I've been to the boards that today was my catch up day for your thread. I was so happy to hear about Harry Potter! I can't wait to hear about all of it. It seems that you have left nothing out of your birthday celebration and I'm so happy for the both of us because I know you will tell us all about it I am very sad though that I can't seem to pull up your trip pics and will have to try again from another computer. I hope that is the trouble because I would hate to miss your wonderful pictures. I love to live through you. I can see so many places that otherwise I would never be able to and for that I am thankful.

Hope all is well over there in Germany it's good to be back on and reading your posts. You don't have much longer now and I'm sure you both can't stop smiling thinking about how much fun your going to have

Hi there! Great to see you again!! We are really excited about Harry Potter, but also the rest of the parks there, they sound very exciting!

The pics you have problem with are those the DLP pictures? You need to enter a password: Flossbolna. Did you manage to see them?

 

[Flossbolna]

19 days! WOW time really has flown by! Can't wait to see the pictures!

Yes it is flying faster and faster the closer we get to the trip!!

9 days today!!!

I'm excited for you, I'm excited for Katherina, I'm excited for Rosie!

I'm excited for you all to come back and write wonderful TRs to get me excited for my turn in November!

I'm really interested to hear what you think of the food court over there at the Swalphin- I really have not seen much written about it, and I do seem to spend alot of time over there at that Epcot area....

My friend Evie just got to BWV with her family today- I am thrilled for them, hoping they have an incredible time!

Oh, don't expect a full TR to be finished in time for your November trip!! But I am sure we will be back with some impressions!!

Yes, it seems like people bot staying at the Swolphin don't make much use of it. But we are really looking forward to it, especially with the 20% DVC discount!

13 days now!!!

If you can make AK for EMH with sunset at that time, you must ride EE in the dark. It is amazing!!!!

9 days today!!!

Unfortunately it won't be really dark when AK closes... I am still planning on going to guest services at AK one day to file a complaint that they no longer offer evening EMH at that park. They need to know that people really miss it!

 

[Flossbolna]

I too have never heard of Egg in the Hole !!Scotch Eggs yes !!But it was Marv so who knows !!!! Did he say if you need a Wooden Spoon to make it !!!!

Let's hope that Marv will find the time to tell us about it then!! Sounds a bit strange, but you are right maybe he meant Scotch Eggs... Which remind me of pork pies, one of my favourite British delicacies!!

Special Germany update Hope you have time before your trip as it is coming up very fast.

It was very interesting when you said that Europeans don't really shop on vacation like Americans. I have to say that I do buy a lot of little stuff on vacations that I could live without. At the time you think it's a good idea and then when you get home your like where am I going to put that or I come home with 6 pens that I will use once or twice because I already have a drawer full of regular pens. wish I would have kept all the receipts last time i went to Disney to see how much I spent on things that I 've never used.

Oh, I really hope i will find the time to do one last special Germany update... I was so stupid, would have had the chance yesterday to get the pictures, but forgot my camera...

I know exactly what you mean and have in recent years started to try to buy less little things on vacation and instead get a few bigger, but useful things. Especially mugs, kitchen accessoirs etc are really nice because they remind you of the trip daily while not adding to the clutter...

Ahhh, that makes sense. When I think about it that way, it is sad. Disney is pretty good at making the fake seem real - very few know the difference.

It really makes me feel even angry towards Disney in a way... And the newest rumour is that they are changing the former sweet shop into a shop selling beer steins and are going to call it "Stein Laden" - which would be absolutely ridiculous as the proper translation for this would be "rock shop". "Stein" in German means "rock" or "stone", while the German word for "beer stein" is "Bierkrug". It is never called anything with "stein"...

And yes! I have seen France! I'm two up!

Your trip is getting SO close. I'm glad I made it back here before you leave! If I don't again (which I hope I do!), I want to wish you a wonderful trip and safe travels! I look forward to hearing all about it on the other side!

Thanks for the good wishes!! And I hope that on the other side we will be ahead of you with regard to Epcot films!!

Your ticker says 11 days today....

Today it says 9 days!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

The title says it all: 9 days until we arrive at WDW!! So here is our single digit dance:



We have nearly everything planned, not much more today besides some last minute errands like shopping, getting a pedicure, running a 10k (well, maybe not the normal last minute errand, but that is what I am going to do tomorrow... with way too little training because I had a nasty ear infection for most of the summer).

We have arranged a meeting with Rosie for October 13th - watching Illuminations together. I am really looking forward to meet her and her group! I think we might even find a pole for a little dance together.

So now we just have to wait, to finish stuff at work and to pack. The trip will be here sooner than we can imagine, I think...

 

[Flossbolna]

Finally we arrive at the last land of Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris: Discoveryland.

Instead of a Tomorrowland, DLP has a Discoveryland. It is focused on the great discoveries of mankind and has taken it's main design from the future as it was envisaged by the people in the 19th century, mainly Jules Verne. In my opinion it makes for the most spectacular of these lands in the parks in the Disney empire...

The main draw there is Space Mountain. While it share the name with its American cousins, it is a totally different ride. It is a launched coaster with multiple inversions. A fantastic experience. It used to be themed according to Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon" (De la Terre a la Lune) and you entered the rocket which would be shoot by cannon to the moon. Now it is called "Mission 2" and the decorations have changed considerably. The best part of the coaster is that it has onboard sound - the first Disney coaster to have it, Rock'n Roller Coaster copied it from Space Mountain.

But you want to see pictures I guess, so here they are. Password is once again Flossbolna (be careful, it is case sensitive).

 

[tiggrbaby]

Woo hoo to single digits!

Thanks for sharing the pics; someday I hope to see DLP myself!

 

[marvali]

Let's hope that Marv will find the time to tell us about it then!! Sounds a bit strange, but you are right maybe he meant Scotch Eggs... Which remind me of pork pies, one of my favourite British delicacies!!

Toad in the Hole (egg style) is the Americanized version.

It is very simple. You cut a circle out of the middle of a slice of bread, place it in a skillet, crack an egg into the middle and fry it in the skillet. I looked up the British version and it looks really good. Would love to try it sometime.

Wow Magdalene, single digits dance going on!!! Must be great to have a trip so close! I know you and Katharina are getting so excited!

 

[glennbo123]

for single digits!

It's neat to see Star Tours with other futuristic rides. It makes sense!

Space Mountain looks cool too.

Toad in the Hole (egg style) is the Americanized version.

We call that "an egg in a nest". I still make them on occasion.

 

[englishrose47]

I will have to try Marv's Toad in the hole one day!! Sounds good to me !! As for Pork Pies Hmmmmmm Love them and especially with some pickled onions !!!!

 

[englishrose47]

Have to bump this up !!Can't waoit to meet you both on the 13th!!!!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Very cool Discoveryland pictures! I agree with Glenn--Space Mountain looks really neat. How does the ride compare with WDW or DL?

 

[Flossbolna]

Woo hoo to single digits!

Thanks for sharing the pics; someday I hope to see DLP myself!

Time is flying, only 5 days today!!

I hope you will make it to DLP, it is definitely worth a trip for every Disney fan!

Toad in the Hole (egg style) is the Americanized version.

It is very simple. You cut a circle out of the middle of a slice of bread, place it in a skillet, crack an egg into the middle and fry it in the skillet. I looked up the British version and it looks really good. Would love to try it sometime.

Wow Magdalene, single digits dance going on!!! Must be great to have a trip so close! I know you and Katharina are getting so excited!

Ok, your toad in the hole version sounds very interesting as well! I might have to try that this weekend...

I am very excited about the upcoming trip and am very sorry for everyone who has to wait much longer until their next trip!!

for single digits!

It's neat to see Star Tours with other futuristic rides. It makes sense!

Space Mountain looks cool too.

At first I was surprised what you meant about Star Tours and other futuristic rides... At DL it is in Tomorrowland as well. Even though the "purists" would tell you that it does not belong into a place with "tomorrow" in its name because of: "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." So there is something about the placement in DHS which makes more sense...

Space Mountain looks many times better in person, it does not photograph very well because it is too large. It is very impressive and when a train is launched the canon moves and there is smoke (if the effect works...).

 

[Flossbolna]

I will have to try Marv's Toad in the hole one day!! Sounds good to me !! As for Pork Pies Hmmmmmm Love them and especially with some pickled onions !!!!

No pickled onions for me!!

Have to bump this up !!Can't waoit to meet you both on the 13th!!!!

Yes, we are both excited about this as well and I need to reply to your PM!!

Very cool Discoveryland pictures! I agree with Glenn--Space Mountain looks really neat. How does the ride compare with WDW or DL?

Space Mountain at DLP cannot be compared with its counterparts at WDW or DL... It is in a totally different league. If you want to compare it to another Disney coaster it would have to be RnRC - with a launch up a hill and then there are stars around you with onboard audio. I think it has less inversions than RnRC, but unfortunately it has now become very rough, so it throws you around quite a lot.

 

[Flossbolna]

The ticker says it is only five days and I thought I would give you a bit of an update about how the last minute planning is going...

First, we have checked in online for our studio at BWV. Worked fine once I did not try to give them my mobile phone number. Their system did not like my format, even though it seemed to realize that I had a foreign number. Well, since we will arrive after check-in time they won't need it to inform us when our room is ready and that was the reason they wanted it for...

Katharina and I have finalised the "travel library". We tried to each bring books the other one might want to read as well so that we can share. Since we intend to spend quite some time at the pool and have a very long flight we wanted to make sure to have enough variety.

We have now definite plans on when we will meet Rosie: Thursday evening at Japan in Epcot to see Illuminations!

So the weekend will be spent with last preparation things: laundry, some shopping (pharmacy, snacks for the trip) and then start the packing! We also still need to collect all our travel documents: all the confirmation numbers for the tickets we need to pick up (WDW, Universal and MNSSHP), confirmation numbers for ADRs etc. I also need to print out the post about "new things to do" so that we won't forget what we wanted to see during this trip!! And Katharina needs to read menus for the counter service places to find out where they have things she can eat without problem (and which is something else than a plain burger with fries).

Sounds like a busy weekend!! And I will also have a friend come and visit me for part of the weekend... But for me tomorrow is the last day at work, so I also have Monday to get things done.

 

[lovealldisney]

WOW time sure has flown by! I'm so excited for you two, I hope you have a fabulous time and enjoy all the fun Halloween fun! I so wish I could be there to visit again with you two. Still working on DW plans (possibly) for next year, but that could all change if DD gets to come Germany to study!

Have a great weekend and I hope you get a chance to relax before the trip.