Who we are:
Me (Fiona) 41 – Commando and Food Planner and Holiday Booker.
DH (Steve) 41 – He really does not like the cheese of Disney! Has got rather keen on golf since our last visit.
DD1 (Kate) 17 – I am ashamed to say that she wants to know if there is a hairdryer everywhere we are staying…shame on her!!
DD2 (Laura) 14 – The Fantasmic Laura of old.
DD3 (Sally) 10 – she will out park the lot of us…… and needs the least sleep.
Pre Trip Report Saturday 16th December 2006 - Monday 1st January 2007
Day 1 Sat 16th Dec Are we nearly there?
Day 2 Sun 17th Dec AK and Boma.
Day 3 Mon 18th Dec EPCOT and Le Cellier
Day 4 Tues 19th Dec MK and Narcossees
Day 5 Wednesday 20th Dec MGM and Spoodles
Day 6 Thursday 21st December 2006
We have been hammering so far, so the plan today was to take it all a bit easier. Steve had golf booked at the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course (one of Disney’s 5 courses) for 11am, well I booked it for him as a sort of surprise, but told him a few days before so that he could change the booking if he wanted to. I knew an early start was not required, beautiful weather, great for golf. He took the car and cleared off around 9.30, he needed some “range” time and the girls headed off for the pool, they were under orders to stay together and to meet me back at the room by 11. I had a cunning plan!
I took the camera, my sun hat (required) and spent a lovely hour or so ambling down the river, I walked passed all the mansion buildings, and took lots of pictures.
Lots of flowers, even in December, and wildlife.
I crossed over the river and headed onto to Port Orleans French Quarter. Admired the shop and New Orleans style Christmas decs and headed back up to Riverside, realising I had been dawdling a bit too much.
I ummed and arred about waiting for a boat, if I had waited none would have come, but I was overtaken 5 minutes later, double drat! At this rate the children would be ripping me to bits for being late! The whole loop is only 1.3 miles, perhaps extra walking was a bit daft but it was so peaceful.
I stopped at Riverside Mill to buy a scoop of Cookies and Cream ice cream, and ended up with a whole carton full for a snack credit!! I took it back to the room and the girls devoured it, I didn’t get a look in. They had all got back in sensible time to have their showers, that’s the trouble with older girls (except me) they all now have to “do” their hair and primp and preen! Soon we were on the bus back to Animal Kingdom. Steve had no desire to go back to AK so we had decided it was our park of choice today.
Block 27, our “home”, Port Orleans Riverside.
We were on the bus at 11.15am, and after some character interaction at the entrance we headed for Expedition Everest, but unfortunately the FP times were already 5.30pm, so I never did get another ride. We were going to try and ride Dinosaur, but it was busy and the “line” for Finding Nemo musical, another “must see” today was quite long. So we stood in it and were ushered into the 12.45pm performance. This show hasn’t had it’s opening yet, there are only 4 shows a day, perhaps after “opening” there will be more. The theatre was cleverly decorated, with amusing “goings on” in the bubbles, keep an eye on Nemo! It was a shame that Nemo had to replace Tarzan, why not as well?! The show was very different, the staging, costumes, puppetry and use of film was very effective and clever, but it was let down by the music. Nothing memorable like Lion King, you don’t come out “singing” the tunes. Well worth seeing though. Fortunately we had a very sharp exit and so didn’t get caught up, there are a lot of people in that theatre. I tried to persuade the girls that we should try Tusker House for lunch, they were having none of that, and back to Flame tree BBQ we go for those ribs and beans! We order 1 Rib meal and 2 Rotisserie Chicken meals (and the snack order of onion rings), and thoroughly enjoyed it all again. 2 chocolate cakes and a Key Lime also went down well, we noticed the chocolate cake was now enhanced with seasonal icing. Christmas is coming, even in 25 degree heat! Flame Tree BBQ is still highly recommended. Walking round to Camp Minnie Mickey, we spied Tigger, and bounced down a trail to find Pooh and Eeyore too, all packed up to go away for the “holidays” with their own individual trees.
Best bit, not many waiting and you queue once to see all of them in sequence. We carried on to Camp Minnie Mickey, after all we were going to see the “mouse” today, and I had planned to be there before the previous Lion King finished so again we bypassed the queues.
Mickey and Minnie were all dolled up in their winter best too! Kate and Laura had been watching a show, we all lined up and there was no panic to get into 3pm Lion King, just as good as Sunday, we are all enjoying ourselves.
As planned, we are nicely placed for the Mickey’s Jingle Jangle Parade at 3.45pm, we were shoved out several times, and finally stood behind people at Island Mercantile. A whole bank of tall adults then stand up when the parade starts, why the flip can’t they sit down? We didn’t see much, but at least we saw some of it.
A spot of shopping follows, and Laura has been eyeing up the hair wrap stand again, and has another “wrap”. Look how fast her hands go!
I manage to find some great animal T shirts as a present from me to everyone for Christmas. The eyes follow you around, elephant for Steve, Gorilla for Sally and lions for the older two. Hair wrap finished, and secret purchases still just about secret we head off out the park for the bus stop. A bit late back at 5 and no sign of Steve, but he comes in 15 minutes later having really enjoyed his golf. He played with a couple from Maine who were very welcoming, and told him that Maine lobster is beautiful, and they buy a bucket load back home for $20, not $50 each like at Narcossees! He had a CS meal somewhere, and had had time after getting back to get the boat to Downtown. My goodness, the Disney Cheese hater is getting into this, there was a reason, he had managed to get a pink Nintendo DS Lite and Nin Ten Dogs Labrador (all the acronyms are very important when you are 10) for Sally’s Christmas present. We had just not had time to go Christmas shopping at home, and hoped getting a UK charger would not be too difficult. They were a bit cheaper, but the games definitely are. The successful purchases were surreptitiously “signed” to me as we all dashed around to get ready for dinner.
Off to the car and over to the Polynesian for our Kona Café reservation at 6.40. The Polynesian has great atmosphere, but Kona Café wasn’t as special as I had hoped, very open and very noisy. None of us were feeling particularly hungry, but we still ordered 4 meals, smoothies were allowed as drinks here so we had a Raspberry Smoothie, a Passion Fruit Smoothie and Laura (a smoothie fan) ordered Pink Lemonade, heathen.
The appetisers were:
Sticky Wings - crispy wings in a garlic glaze with a tangy mustard drizzle and toasted sesame seeds $7.99 …declared excellent
2 x Lump Crab Cakes - pan-seared lump crab cakes with Asian tartar and pineapple relish $10.49…good, but nowhere near Narcossees Crab Cakes!
1 x Caesar Salad - crispy romaine lettuce in creamy Caesar dressing with Pecorino Romano $5.19 …well, it was as it says on the menu!
For our main courses, I haven’t written down what we had!! I just know it wasn’t as earth shattering as we’d hoped, too full and too much food (we had all had lunch too late). I think it was:
Beef Teriyaki - 10 ounce sirloin strip, grilled with pineapple teriyaki sauce, mashed Yukon gold potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli florets $22.49
Pan Asian Noodles - Asian noodles with sliced chicken, seasonal vegetables, and a housemade vegetarian stir-fry sauce $15.49
Char Crusted Filet Mignon - mashed yukon gold potatoes, asparagus and a 5-spice mushroom sauce $25.49 good, but so similar to Le Cellier etc
And either another steak of some sort or seafood. Can you tell the food is all getting too much!
We finish with
Kilauea Torte - an explosion of warm liquid chocolate inside a brownie volcano, this was amazing, a close second to Narcossees cheescake, and we all had a taste. Come to Kona and save room for this dessert!
I think we had two White Chocolate cakes to go and a Kiddie Kone for Sally (sundae) and a coffee.
We were bloated, and the service had been not the best, we wanted to get out and I persuaded the rabble that we would wander down to the beach and not just go and collapse back in our room. A lovely balmy night, and there were loads of empty loungers so we let dinner go down and enjoyed MVMCP Holiday Wishes and Electrical Water Pageant, the first time for the children.
Back home to bed, but a good day. Quite an achievement for our family to go off food.
Tomorrow: EPCOT, Le Cellier AGAIN and Candelight Processional. Move to villa
Day 7 Fri 22nd Dec EPCOT, Le Cellier and Candlelight Processional
Me (Fiona) 41 – Commando and Food Planner and Holiday Booker.
DH (Steve) 41 – He really does not like the cheese of Disney! Has got rather keen on golf since our last visit.
DD1 (Kate) 17 – I am ashamed to say that she wants to know if there is a hairdryer everywhere we are staying…shame on her!!
DD2 (Laura) 14 – The Fantasmic Laura of old.
DD3 (Sally) 10 – she will out park the lot of us…… and needs the least sleep.
Pre Trip Report Saturday 16th December 2006 - Monday 1st January 2007
Day 1 Sat 16th Dec Are we nearly there?
Day 2 Sun 17th Dec AK and Boma.
Day 3 Mon 18th Dec EPCOT and Le Cellier
Day 4 Tues 19th Dec MK and Narcossees
Day 5 Wednesday 20th Dec MGM and Spoodles
Day 6 Thursday 21st December 2006
We have been hammering so far, so the plan today was to take it all a bit easier. Steve had golf booked at the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course (one of Disney’s 5 courses) for 11am, well I booked it for him as a sort of surprise, but told him a few days before so that he could change the booking if he wanted to. I knew an early start was not required, beautiful weather, great for golf. He took the car and cleared off around 9.30, he needed some “range” time and the girls headed off for the pool, they were under orders to stay together and to meet me back at the room by 11. I had a cunning plan!
I took the camera, my sun hat (required) and spent a lovely hour or so ambling down the river, I walked passed all the mansion buildings, and took lots of pictures.
Lots of flowers, even in December, and wildlife.
I crossed over the river and headed onto to Port Orleans French Quarter. Admired the shop and New Orleans style Christmas decs and headed back up to Riverside, realising I had been dawdling a bit too much.
I ummed and arred about waiting for a boat, if I had waited none would have come, but I was overtaken 5 minutes later, double drat! At this rate the children would be ripping me to bits for being late! The whole loop is only 1.3 miles, perhaps extra walking was a bit daft but it was so peaceful.
I stopped at Riverside Mill to buy a scoop of Cookies and Cream ice cream, and ended up with a whole carton full for a snack credit!! I took it back to the room and the girls devoured it, I didn’t get a look in. They had all got back in sensible time to have their showers, that’s the trouble with older girls (except me) they all now have to “do” their hair and primp and preen! Soon we were on the bus back to Animal Kingdom. Steve had no desire to go back to AK so we had decided it was our park of choice today.
Block 27, our “home”, Port Orleans Riverside.
We were on the bus at 11.15am, and after some character interaction at the entrance we headed for Expedition Everest, but unfortunately the FP times were already 5.30pm, so I never did get another ride. We were going to try and ride Dinosaur, but it was busy and the “line” for Finding Nemo musical, another “must see” today was quite long. So we stood in it and were ushered into the 12.45pm performance. This show hasn’t had it’s opening yet, there are only 4 shows a day, perhaps after “opening” there will be more. The theatre was cleverly decorated, with amusing “goings on” in the bubbles, keep an eye on Nemo! It was a shame that Nemo had to replace Tarzan, why not as well?! The show was very different, the staging, costumes, puppetry and use of film was very effective and clever, but it was let down by the music. Nothing memorable like Lion King, you don’t come out “singing” the tunes. Well worth seeing though. Fortunately we had a very sharp exit and so didn’t get caught up, there are a lot of people in that theatre. I tried to persuade the girls that we should try Tusker House for lunch, they were having none of that, and back to Flame tree BBQ we go for those ribs and beans! We order 1 Rib meal and 2 Rotisserie Chicken meals (and the snack order of onion rings), and thoroughly enjoyed it all again. 2 chocolate cakes and a Key Lime also went down well, we noticed the chocolate cake was now enhanced with seasonal icing. Christmas is coming, even in 25 degree heat! Flame Tree BBQ is still highly recommended. Walking round to Camp Minnie Mickey, we spied Tigger, and bounced down a trail to find Pooh and Eeyore too, all packed up to go away for the “holidays” with their own individual trees.
Best bit, not many waiting and you queue once to see all of them in sequence. We carried on to Camp Minnie Mickey, after all we were going to see the “mouse” today, and I had planned to be there before the previous Lion King finished so again we bypassed the queues.
Mickey and Minnie were all dolled up in their winter best too! Kate and Laura had been watching a show, we all lined up and there was no panic to get into 3pm Lion King, just as good as Sunday, we are all enjoying ourselves.
As planned, we are nicely placed for the Mickey’s Jingle Jangle Parade at 3.45pm, we were shoved out several times, and finally stood behind people at Island Mercantile. A whole bank of tall adults then stand up when the parade starts, why the flip can’t they sit down? We didn’t see much, but at least we saw some of it.
A spot of shopping follows, and Laura has been eyeing up the hair wrap stand again, and has another “wrap”. Look how fast her hands go!
I manage to find some great animal T shirts as a present from me to everyone for Christmas. The eyes follow you around, elephant for Steve, Gorilla for Sally and lions for the older two. Hair wrap finished, and secret purchases still just about secret we head off out the park for the bus stop. A bit late back at 5 and no sign of Steve, but he comes in 15 minutes later having really enjoyed his golf. He played with a couple from Maine who were very welcoming, and told him that Maine lobster is beautiful, and they buy a bucket load back home for $20, not $50 each like at Narcossees! He had a CS meal somewhere, and had had time after getting back to get the boat to Downtown. My goodness, the Disney Cheese hater is getting into this, there was a reason, he had managed to get a pink Nintendo DS Lite and Nin Ten Dogs Labrador (all the acronyms are very important when you are 10) for Sally’s Christmas present. We had just not had time to go Christmas shopping at home, and hoped getting a UK charger would not be too difficult. They were a bit cheaper, but the games definitely are. The successful purchases were surreptitiously “signed” to me as we all dashed around to get ready for dinner.
Off to the car and over to the Polynesian for our Kona Café reservation at 6.40. The Polynesian has great atmosphere, but Kona Café wasn’t as special as I had hoped, very open and very noisy. None of us were feeling particularly hungry, but we still ordered 4 meals, smoothies were allowed as drinks here so we had a Raspberry Smoothie, a Passion Fruit Smoothie and Laura (a smoothie fan) ordered Pink Lemonade, heathen.
The appetisers were:
Sticky Wings - crispy wings in a garlic glaze with a tangy mustard drizzle and toasted sesame seeds $7.99 …declared excellent
2 x Lump Crab Cakes - pan-seared lump crab cakes with Asian tartar and pineapple relish $10.49…good, but nowhere near Narcossees Crab Cakes!
1 x Caesar Salad - crispy romaine lettuce in creamy Caesar dressing with Pecorino Romano $5.19 …well, it was as it says on the menu!
For our main courses, I haven’t written down what we had!! I just know it wasn’t as earth shattering as we’d hoped, too full and too much food (we had all had lunch too late). I think it was:
Beef Teriyaki - 10 ounce sirloin strip, grilled with pineapple teriyaki sauce, mashed Yukon gold potatoes, and stir-fried broccoli florets $22.49
Pan Asian Noodles - Asian noodles with sliced chicken, seasonal vegetables, and a housemade vegetarian stir-fry sauce $15.49
Char Crusted Filet Mignon - mashed yukon gold potatoes, asparagus and a 5-spice mushroom sauce $25.49 good, but so similar to Le Cellier etc
And either another steak of some sort or seafood. Can you tell the food is all getting too much!
We finish with
Kilauea Torte - an explosion of warm liquid chocolate inside a brownie volcano, this was amazing, a close second to Narcossees cheescake, and we all had a taste. Come to Kona and save room for this dessert!
I think we had two White Chocolate cakes to go and a Kiddie Kone for Sally (sundae) and a coffee.
We were bloated, and the service had been not the best, we wanted to get out and I persuaded the rabble that we would wander down to the beach and not just go and collapse back in our room. A lovely balmy night, and there were loads of empty loungers so we let dinner go down and enjoyed MVMCP Holiday Wishes and Electrical Water Pageant, the first time for the children.
Back home to bed, but a good day. Quite an achievement for our family to go off food.
Tomorrow: EPCOT, Le Cellier AGAIN and Candelight Processional. Move to villa
Day 7 Fri 22nd Dec EPCOT, Le Cellier and Candlelight Processional
Beautiful piccies
