A Very Lurkyloo Christmas is FINISHED! New 3/16: Last Day of the Trip!

[SleepingBeautyOH]

Whew. I have successfully procrastinated by catching up on your report!
I've lurked your reports and have decided it is finally time to break the silence
You'll love Disney at Christmas... and honestly, I've been twice in the past 3 yrs and the crowds are generally much less than the rumors make them out to be. Actually, our stays overlap... so maybe I'll run into you

Can't wait to read more

 

[eandesmom]

OK, here's how I did with my ADRs...
Kouzzina:

can't wait to read about!

Coral Reef:

I toy with this one, agian, can't wait to read about.

Jiko:

plan to try this one some day, look forward to reading about.

’50s Prime Time Cafe:

ok. I know you aren't sold on this one but I LOVED it. LOVED it. LOVED it. I have a dining report that waxes on and on about the tuna noodle casserole. As did my TR. Seriously. Still trying to duplicate it on my end.

Todd English’s bluezoo:

sadly, I confess to not having a clue as to what/where this is!

The Plaza:

no comment. not a bad thing, not a good thing, just no commentl. lol.

Yachtsman Steakhouse:

have heard good things, plan to try someday

California Grill:

I want this for a date night, sans kids!

Le Cellier: I dunno – I just made the reservation cuz I could!

and what a fabulous reason that is!

Biergarten Candlelight Processional Package: This is a restaurant that DH has been wanting to try and I have been avoiding as long as I can. It will be fine. Not exceptional, but fine. Awfully cute inside, fun show.

MUST HAVE Bavarian cheesecake. Even better with the raspberry thing drizzled on top. Aren't necessarily supposed to go together but really should!

The Wave: I’m not crazy about the menu descriptions here

me either and yet the reviews always make me rethink that and it's on my list as well.

is there anything you DIDN'T get?

that's a rather impressive list missy!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

"I'm sorry my world was so boring for so much of the time. Half the time my iPhone had been confiscated and the other half I was standing in line!"

IKWYM - hard to be a frustrated DIS reporter. I was trying to take pics at Lion King in Vegas (non-flash mind you) and I was warned by an usher to put my camera away. "But sir, how can I do a proper TR without pics of this show?" He didn't care.

 

[lurkyloo]

Awesome job on the ADR's! Some of them actually look very similar to mine! We have Coral Reef (lunch 12/18), Jiko (dinner 12/16), Bistro de Paris (dinner 12/18) and Le Cellier (lunch 12/20 although i wasn't able to book it yet) just like you! They are all new restaurants for us so we are pretty excited Do we have any that fall on the same day?

I missed replying to this earlier comment of yours - sorry about that!

Let's see... oh dang! Do you have any ADRs before the 16th? That's our last day and so far we have no ADRs so we can play it by ear. Also, if you make it to the DIS party, we can catch up there over some cotton candy and a few rounds of Toy Story Midway Mania!

Whew. I have successfully procrastinated by catching up on your report!
I've lurked your reports and have decided it is finally time to break the silence
You'll love Disney at Christmas... and honestly, I've been twice in the past 3 yrs and the crowds are generally much less than the rumors make them out to be. Actually, our stays overlap... so maybe I'll run into you

Can't wait to read more

Hi! I'm glad to hear your take on the crowds. Half the time you hear it's a great time to go, the other half you hear that *every single DVCer on the planet* is there in the first two weeks of December...

I'll keep an eye out for you when we go - judging by your avatar, I'll know you by your two white frosting buttons, chocolate mouse ears, and gingerbread-y goodness!

ok. I know you aren't sold on this one but I LOVED it. LOVED it. LOVED it. I have a dining report that waxes on and on about the tuna noodle casserole. As did my TR. Seriously. Still trying to duplicate it on my end.

Now this is interesting. I don't believe I've ever had tuna noodle casserole, and I was alive in the '70s!!! It has always sounded nice, though - does the recipe at 50s Primetime include peas? I'm not keen on peas... and I know what's gonna happen if the waiter sees I've picked them out...

Also, Todd English's bluezoo is at the Dolphin and it is A-Friggin-Mazing! (If you like seafood). I used to be all snobby about the restaurants at the Swolphin, but bluezoo turned out to be WAY better than Flying Fish and Narcoossee's... You can read about my last meal there in my Wedding Crasher trip report.

And yeah I guess there isn't anything we didn't get on our list - it's easier to do when you mostly eat at 2 TS places and skip character meals!

IKWYM - hard to be a frustrated DIS reporter. I was trying to take pics at Lion King in Vegas (non-flash mind you) and I was warned by an usher to put my camera away. "But sir, how can I do a proper TR without pics of this show?" He didn't care.

Cretin! Doesn't he know that TRs are *all* about the photos?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I was just reading on the budget board and don't know if you're planning on doing this this time but Costco no longer ships water (or I guess anything) to hotels

 

[eandesmom]

Now this is interesting. I don't believe I've ever had tuna noodle casserole, and I was alive in the '70s!!! It has always sounded nice, though - does the recipe at 50s Primetime include peas? I'm not keen on peas... and I know what's gonna happen if the waiter sees I've picked them out...

Also, Todd English's bluezoo is at the Dolphin and it is A-Friggin-Mazing! (If you like seafood). I used to be all snobby about the restaurants at the Swolphin, but bluezoo turned out to be WAY better than Flying Fish and Narcoossee's... You can read about my last meal there in my Wedding Crasher trip report.

And yeah I guess there isn't anything we didn't get on our list - it's easier to do when you mostly eat at 2 TS places and skip character meals!

Good point on the 2TS locations! Ah...that explains why I couldn't place bluezoo! Not that I've tried FF or Narcoossee's yet..but plan to at some point!

What is amazing about the tuna noodle casserole is that it is really NOT a traditional one at all! Yes, in the sense that is is creamy but not at all in the type of tuna (an ahi steak) or the veggies. I am SO with you on the peas. I don't do peas. Or anything that pops (blueberries, cherry tomatoes...)

lol!

As you can see it is a full 8oz piece of grilled tuna served on top of the casserole. This was unbelievable good. This is a classic creamy casserole with egg noodles, peppers, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and celery topped with grilled tuna steak and crunchy bread crumbs. The best part for me was no peas! The peppers just made the dish and the cream sauce was very light, heavy at all which was perfect. It never would have occurred to me to set a grilled tuna steak on top and it just really elevated the dish to an entirely different level. The best tuna noodle casserole I've ever had. I intend to try and replicate this at home.

I've tried once, and need to do it again. The first time was just ok. Good but not PTC good!

 

[Donald'sGirl]

I missed replying to this earlier comment of yours - sorry about that!

Let's see... oh dang! Do you have any ADRs before the 16th? That's our last day and so far we have no ADRs so we can play it by ear. Also, if you make it to the DIS party, we can catch up there over some cotton candy and a few rounds of Toy Story Midway Mania!

I only have one on the 11th at Big River Grille but that's it. Hopefully we will be able to see each other at the DIS party!

I was just reading on the budget board and don't know if you're planning on doing this this time but Costco no longer ships water (or I guess anything) to hotels

No Way! That stinks! I wanted to do that for my wedding in December. I wonder if BJ's will?

 

[Donald'sGirl]

eandesmom that tuna casserole looks good! I love tuna (not the can) I would never figured that 50's Primetime would have something like that. Hmm..might have to make a stop there at some point.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I was just reading on the budget board and don't know if you're planning on doing this this time but Costco no longer ships water (or I guess anything) to hotels

Bummer!!! We did this on our last trip and it worked out really well and saved us a bundle on bottled water. Wonder why Costco put the kibosh on this .

 

[lurkyloo]

I was just reading on the budget board and don't know if you're planning on doing this this time but Costco no longer ships water (or I guess anything) to hotels

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

That is LAME! Bad enough that the convention center hotels have started charging to deliver packages - now this!

I guess I can use Staples, but then I'll have to pay for shipping. Oh wait - or I could ship them to the Roots! Whew! Stoopid Costco... I'll have to check out that thread.

What is amazing about the tuna noodle casserole is that it is really NOT a traditional one at all! Yes, in the sense that is is creamy but not at all in the type of tuna (an ahi steak) or the veggies. I am SO with you on the peas. I don't do peas. Or anything that pops (blueberries, cherry tomatoes...)

That is really interesting - I just assumed everything at 50sPT was straight-up traditional... maybe we will like the food there after all. Thanks so much for sharing!

I only have one on the 11th at Big River Grille but that's it. Hopefully we will be able to see each other at the DIS party!

OK, DIS party it is!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Wow that tuna "casserole" does look good.
Ohhhhhhhh Carrie, they have yummy Smores at 50's Primetime.

Waiting for the D23 mini-trippie.

 

[eandesmom]

eandesmom that tuna casserole looks good! I love tuna (not the can) I would never figured that 50's Primetime would have something like that. Hmm..might have to make a stop there at some point.

Between the quality of the tuna and the peppers, it really was to die for. Not at all what I think of when I think "tuna noodle casserole"

 

[SleepingBeautyOH]

Yep! That's me

 

[beatlesblonde]

OK, DIS party it is!

Do we have any more details on the DIS party yet? I keep watching the thread but they've yet to post anything

 

[Handbag Lady]

I tried to find you again but I couldn't! Was that the only day you were there? I wanted to have an actual conversation, but I figured if I didn't do as the CM told me I'd never get back into the presentation to meet DH.

I was there on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. (As well as Wednesday night for the Haunted Mansion Event.)

I saw you one or two more times, but it was again a line situation. I certainly saw you and your Mister walking into the Pixar in the Parks presentation with Lassester and Co. We were in the standby line but we got in, too.

I loved all of the presentations, but I hated that in order to see one, you had to sacrifice seeing another one that followed.

I am most disappointed in missing the Muppets presentation. The Lasseter morning event just went too long and it took FOREVER to get our cell phones and cameras back. It didn't help that we were at the far right and thus, the last ones to exit.

And the food was utter crap! We ended up walking across the way to the hotel to eat at Sabarro's.

 

[lurkyloo]

OK, you guys! I started writing up our trip to D23 Expo!

I decided to make it a separate thread cuz, as usual, it's already running long.... You can check it out here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2286071

 

[lurkyloo]

Wow that tuna "casserole" does look good.
Ohhhhhhhh Carrie, they have yummy Smores at 50's Primetime.

Oh yeah - I forgot about those! Maybe we'll have to check 'em out!

Do we have any more details on the DIS party yet? I keep watching the thread but they've yet to post anything

So far nothing that I can see - and, yeah, that thread has gone crazy OT! I wish they'd start a separate informational one to strain out the chitchat. (ahem.... says the Queen of Chitchat...)

I was there on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. (As well as Wednesday night for the Haunted Mansion Event.)

I saw you one or two more times, but it was again a line situation. I certainly saw you and your Mister walking into the Pixar in the Parks presentation with Lassester and Co. We were in the standby line but we got in, too.

I loved all of the presentations, but I hated that in order to see one, you had to sacrifice seeing another one that followed.

EXACTLY! They did that on purpose, and it irks me to no end. And if we'd just been at a park, we would have run into each other when we actually had time to chat, not when one or both of us was headed off to another line.

I am most disappointed in missing the Muppets presentation.

Don't be! We got there almost 3 hours early to get front-row seats, and it ended up being a cross between a corporate PowerPoint and The Price Is Right - they woke us up every few minutes to raffle off various Muppets merchandise that, with a few exceptions, anyone can buy.

I was Tweeting announcements like they were a big deal, but only a few of them were very interesting. Mostly it was a litany of products coming out in the next few months. The only live puppetry was about 2 minutes of Sam the Eagle, and that was it!

And the food was utter crap! We ended up walking across the way to the hotel to eat at Sabarro's.

Amen to that, sister! We finally figured out that the cafe in the Arena was making hot food fresh (i.e., actually grilling the raw burger instead of pulling it already cooked out of a tub of warm grease) and then ate there for all our meals.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Everyone, go read it!

She's great! And she's right!

 

[PrincessShea]

Carrie,

Forget Halloween for your next trip...I have a grander idea. After drooling over pics and reading TR's in micechat, I have decided my new life goal is to go to Tokyo Disneyland (especially DisneySea).

I have found in casual research that there is virtually zero planning help out there, and very little assistance for those outside Japan in terms of the traveling logistics.

So basically, you need to take the Roots there and write the planning bible for TDL

Thanks in advance

 

[lurkyloo]

Everyone, go read it!

She's great! And she's right!

Well now I feel vindicated knowing I'm not the only one who didn't think D23 Expo was the greatest thing since sliced bread!

Carrie,

Forget Halloween for your next trip...I have a grander idea. After drooling over pics and reading TR's in micechat, I have decided my new life goal is to go to Tokyo Disneyland (especially DisneySea).

I have found in casual research that there is virtually zero planning help out there, and very little assistance for those outside Japan in terms of the traveling logistics.

So basically, you need to take the Roots there and write the planning bible for TDL

Thanks in advance

Whoa - it's like you read my mind! This has been my dream for a while now. Throw in a lil' vow renewal at the gorgeous wedding chapel at Hotel Mira Costa, and it would be the ultimate trip report!

I'll keep you posted...