A Disney Geek-tastic Trip to the World Updated 3/27!

[khertz]

A car is kind of a necessity for us now since we always stay at Bonnet Creek, but it has definitely changed our Disney experience. Even if we do go back to staying onsite at some point in the future, we will definitely still have a car! I thought the Disney transportation was so great and that we would miss out by having a car on our first trip offsite, but I'm a convert. Disney with a car is SO much easier, especially for DTD!

Never eaten at WPE, though I think we go look at the menu EVERY time we are hungry in DTD and we always end up at Earl of Sandwich instead.

Love the Boardwalk merch, especially the shirt! I kind of go nuts shopping in Disney too, especially the last couple of trips with our 20% AP discount. It's going to be hard going back this year with no discount and not being able to buy anything I see that I only kind of like. I will have to be much more discerning from now on!

 

[tiggerfan77]

I have always driven down and had a car. Although I love Disney transportation, I do love the flexibility of having a car especially when you need to get to a resort for a dinner reservation.

I have eaten at WPE, but it has been a while. I don't really remember if I liked it or not which means it's not as good as Earl of Sandwich

BTW I LOVE the Boardwalk tee. It is adorable!

 

[Marsheliz]

IS Wolfgang Puck a quick service credit on DDP?

That chocolate chip cookie and milk look to die for!!! I am the queen of chocolate chip cookies!! ))

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Found the review of your lunch with an imagineer to be really interesting. Definitely was great that you had an imagineer who was willing to share some intel too - wonder if they are told what they can say and what they can't.

The Mine Train ride so far looks great and if they can bring a Monster's Inc. coaster to life that would be awesome! That combined with Star Tours, RnR, and ToT would start to make DHS the "trill ride" park for WDW

 

[Missyrose]

We've eaten at WPE, all I can really remember was the incredible overload of onion in both of our orders despite the menu not saying anything about onion... we don't like onion so we didn't really have a great meal. I did like the different offerings they had, as well as the serve at your table style. I'd give it another try, I think, I'd just be more aware and ask questions about ingredients!
Love all the Boardwalk gear!

I would like to try the Mac and Cheese at WPE that so many people rave about, that will definitely be my order next time.

I had an opposite reaction to WPE, my dad and I went right after we landed in Orlando and we were both starving, so I have no idea if I really loved the meal or if I was just happy to be eating! I liked the spaghetti, but I hadn't eaten in hours so that could have been a contributing factor.

I actually have never been to Ghiradelli! Goofy's Candy Company is one of my favorite places in Disney, so I always fill up there. I should really save those snacks for later and eat Ghiradelli while I'm there!

I can see how being really hungry can make the WPE food really good! It wasn't bad food, I just think we weren't hungry enough to be wowed.

That's an excellent DTD plan: Head to Goofy's to stock up on snacks to take back to the room and stop at Ghiradelli to eat right then and there.

I've never tried WPE but was thinking about trying it in October. The food looks yummy!

You are not the only one with a Disney shopping problem.

For some reason I have only thought of Ghiardelli as a ice cream sundae kind of place... that big glass of milk and warm cookie look delicious. A new must-do!!

Lunch with an Imagineer sounds like a great experience. I'm glad to know that the imagineers volunteer to host it as opposed to being drafted - that way you don't get a "dud." And sure doesn't hurt that you get to eat yummy Brown Derby food too!!

Amazing photos, as always!

The Disney shopping problem sure is a fun problem to have, right? Well, fun for everything except my bank account.

Dine With an Imagineer was an incredible experience. And the cool thing was, we talked to several of the other people who were dining with us and they all do the lunches once a year. So Franklin and I might have to try it again!

I just found your trip report and I have enjoyed reading it! I would love to do the Dine with an Imagineer sometime! I can never go in to Basin and not buy something Lol I look forward to the rest of your trip

Glad you found us! I loooove Basin! I worry about when we stay at the new Villas at Grand Floridian and there's a Basin in my resort!

A car is kind of a necessity for us now since we always stay at Bonnet Creek, but it has definitely changed our Disney experience. Even if we do go back to staying onsite at some point in the future, we will definitely still have a car! I thought the Disney transportation was so great and that we would miss out by having a car on our first trip offsite, but I'm a convert. Disney with a car is SO much easier, especially for DTD!

Never eaten at WPE, though I think we go look at the menu EVERY time we are hungry in DTD and we always end up at Earl of Sandwich instead.

Love the Boardwalk merch, especially the shirt! I kind of go nuts shopping in Disney too, especially the last couple of trips with our 20% AP discount. It's going to be hard going back this year with no discount and not being able to buy anything I see that I only kind of like. I will have to be much more discerning from now on!

We are complete car converts. It's just so nice to be able to go where you want, when you want. We're on the lookout for a good deal for October. So far we've got a five-day rental at Firefly for $97 or at Dollar for $115. I'm keeping my eyes open as we approach the one-month mark.

Mmmmm Earl of Sandwich, I love that place.

I always say I'm going to reign in my purchases at Disney and somehow I keep shipping a box home.

I have always driven down and had a car. Although I love Disney transportation, I do love the flexibility of having a car especially when you need to get to a resort for a dinner reservation.

I have eaten at WPE, but it has been a while. I don't really remember if I liked it or not which means it's not as good as Earl of Sandwich

BTW I LOVE the Boardwalk tee. It is adorable!

I'm with you on getting to an from resort ADRs, a car makes it so easy! Thanks! I love the Boardwalk shirt too, it's become one of my (much overused) favorites. And my Cinderella's Castle bow matches it perfectly! I love Disney accessories.

IS Wolfgang Puck a quick service credit on DDP?

That chocolate chip cookie and milk look to die for!!! I am the queen of chocolate chip cookies!! ))

WPE is a QS on DDP, which is kind of like the best of both worlds, a QS/TS hybrid! The cookie was really good, a smidge dry, but we'll definitely be back for another.

Found the review of your lunch with an imagineer to be really interesting. Definitely was great that you had an imagineer who was willing to share some intel too - wonder if they are told what they can say and what they can't.

The Mine Train ride so far looks great and if they can bring a Monster's Inc. coaster to life that would be awesome! That combined with Star Tours, RnR, and ToT would start to make DHS the "trill ride" park for WDW

It seems like the Imagineers have a pretty good idea of what lines they can't cross when it comes to doling out the info. The Mine Train sounds awesome, it was great to hear him describe it in such detail!

I'm really hoping some of the DHS rumors come to fruition. The park could use a kick in the pants.​

 

[Missyrose]

We last left off with Franklin and I passing out after a jam-packed day that included a princess breakfast, Dine With an Imagineer and a dinner at DTD. We were up early again the next day, we had one of Franklin’s favorite Disney meals to get to: Kona!

It was another foggy morning as we headed to the Magic Kingdom area.

It took almost no time getting to the Poly, so we were about 10 minutes early for our 7:30 breakfast. No worries, they were ready to seat us anyway.

I want everyone to be shocked that Franklin ordered Tonga Toast.

I’m pretty sure one of his goals in life is to bathe in the strawberry sauce that comes with the Tonga Toast.

I had the French toast, which was excellent -- as always!

And what’s a breakfast without a birthday cupcake?

We paid the bill and walked out to the monorail.

We made it to MK with plenty of time before park opening. Our plan was to dash to Enchanted Tales with Belle as soon as the park opened. So we snagged a spot right in front of the right tunnels under the train station.

We knew we’d have to book it back to New Fantasyland because the line for ETWB gets ridiculous, ridiculously quickly. I’m not even sure how Franklin took all these pictures on the way back there.

Don’t forget everyone, the FP machines for Under the Sea with Ariel are located near Mickey’s Philharmagic. I think this is a function of the new FP+ system. There won’t be FP machines at each ride, you’ll sign up for FPs using your phone or a kiosk in specific places throughout the park.

We made it back to NewFL quickly!

The park opened at 9 and by 9:03, we were in line. The line already reached outside Maurice’s cottage. But it gave us plenty of time to look around.

We took a glance backward and saw the line had grown as quickly as we anticipated.

I just love all the theming in the Enchanted Forest park of NewFL.

It was time to head into the cottage.

 

[Missyrose]

There were books, so many books in the cottage! Oh Belle, a girl after my own heart.

I was pretty excited to finally be in the cottage and about to experience the new attraction.

And now it’s our time to see the magic mirror. Now, I’m a fairly logical, level-headed adult. But I don’t think there has ever been anything at Disney World that has amazed me the way the transformation of the magic mirror did.

And now it was time to take the magical trip to Beast’s castle.

We were greeted by a very loquacious wardrobe.

The wardrobe (and her helper) assigned roles to help Belle tell her story.

Just a side note, everything in the castle was so luxe and detailed. Disney does such an excellent job with the smallest details.

Soon, we heard a familiar voice calling for us from the other room.

Why hello there, Lumiere. You are the coolest animatronic I’ve ever seen.

The library itself is gorgeous. I want a library, Franklin take note.

Our host swept into the library, a vision of gold.

​

 

[Missyrose]

She told the harrowing story of how she and the beast fell in love. Have you heard that one?

The whole attraction is incredible. The rooms are exquisite, the animatronics are mind-blowing and the kids interacting with Belle is adorable. My only qualm with the whole thing (and this could have very well changed between January and now) is that it would be nice for the CMs to announce that you could leave after Belle’s story is finished. It’s a long attraction to begin with, but to be trapped while every kid lined up to take a picture with Belle felt a bit frustrating. We had gotten in line at 9:03 and got out at 9:43, so 40 minutes start to finish as the first attraction of the day. It’s a great attraction and well worth doing at least once. But I doubt we’ll be rushing back until we have a little princess to take.

The cool thing is they have specialized Photopass cards for the attraction.

And for the record, the posted wait time when we got out was 50 minutes.

We took a right into Fantasyland, but were in the mood for something darker. We did grab a couple of Peter Pan FPs though.

The Tangled bathrooms were really coming along at that point.

Soon, we made it to our haunted destination. Hello FP+ readers. It does make me a little sad to think about queues that move as quickly and well as Haunted Mansion getting an additional line that slows down the flow.

Her eyes move!

That's where we'll leave off this time, but there's still plenty of MK fun still ahead!​

 

[courtneybelle]

KONA! I tried Tonga Toast for the first time last week...I was in heaven! My sister had the French toast as well and liked it very much.

I'm always in the ETWB show haha but I definitely agree that people who don't get a picture should be able to leave! It can be a really long process.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Love all the pics, but especially this one - looks like it could be for a WDW advertisement .... if it wasn't for that dang crane

 

[beachphotog]

I'm with Franklin- I would bathe in that dang strawberry sauce! Seriously, so so good.

I think the problem with FP in general is that it tends to bog down the regular loading line. To add FP+, you're basically guaranteeing a trip that loses all spontaneity. It's hard enough for me to plan 180 days out where I want to eat, let alone what I want to ride and when...

Great start to the morning! I love all the details at the Enchanted tales with Belle!

 

[PrincessAmongPrinces]

Wow! You're on quite the TR updating roll! Great updates!

 

[natebenma]

Way, way behind!!!

What a great lunch with an Imagineer! Delicious looking food!!! And an opportunity to listen to and question Chad. What a supremely cool experience!!!

I enjoyed hearing about your walk back to BW and trip to DTD. We haven't been to WPE, but like you, we have heard many raves.

Kona- YUM!

Nice job booking your way to NFL and ETWB! Spoiler Alert- as expected, we did not step a food into NFL on our trip, so I appreciate hearing all about it and seeing all the wonderful pictures. The ETWB experience reminds me a lot of the Olivander's show at WWoHP. Lines get long quickly for the chance to participate in the show, and I'm sure there are a lot of disappointed kiddos.

Love the pictures at Haunted Mansion and I'm excited about your upcoming visit to Neverland!

 

[crepemyrtle]

Okay, #1 - great trip report, and B) spectacular photos, and finally - congratulations on your engagement.

 

[tiggerfan77]

Oh my Gosh! The Tonga Toast looks soooo good! I must try it one of these days!! Great pics of New Fantasyland! You got to love all that attention to details by the Imagineers. Just amazingly cool stuff to look at!

 

[khertz]

Breakfast looks like it was really delicious! I have seen Tonga Toast on so many TR's and wanted to try it, but I just don't see convincing DH to go for a TS breakfast unless it is a character meal. He's not a big breakfast person. Maybe one day when we take that dream trip and stay at the Polynesian...

I won't quote it again, but the photo TheMaxRebo quoted of the people walking up to the castle might be one of my favorite photos I've ever seen on your TRs! And that's saying a lot!

40 minutes for Enchanted Tales! I know I definitely want to do this at least once, but may have to reconsider doing it first thing in the morning and missing out on those prime touring minutes. I guess I will have to stalk the wait times on the TP app to see what time might work better. But both the queue and the show look really adorable, so I know we have to fit it in somewhere!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Just back from our trip and catching up on yours. Awesome updates. Loved Franklin's HM photos!
And also the Belle photos. DD and I did this our last day there. Thought it was so cute, and the mirror was amazing. Didn't see that coming.
Your wedding is really coming up soon! Hope all is going well.

 

[teekathepony]

TONGA TOAST! My favourite!!! I'm counting down the days until I can eat it again.
Etwb looks sweet, the details around it are lovely.

 

[teekathepony]

** Whoops! It appears I double posted and didn't notice until far too late. Sorry!**

 

[JustTinking]

Took DH to ETWB in May when we were there. Middle of the day, wait was about 30 minutes. Unfortunately there were technical difficulties and the 'magic mirror' refused to do its thing. The CM was embarrassed and bewildered, but then got very resourceful and ad-libbed with all the little kids in the audience for about 15 minutes, keeping their eyes focused on the back of the room while workmen in the front of the room tried to fix the darn mirror. Anything to keep the magic alive! She got a special round of applause from us for staying in character and making up stuff on the spot. Above and beyond, but just another day for a Disney CM I guess.

I'm with you Missy about the picture taking - would have been nice to know we could leave. All in all, between wait, and tech delays, we spent an hour and half on ETWB. DH says never again - LOL.