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

[NeverlandClub23]

I have to say, it would be a heckuva lot quicker to podcast this dang trip report than to write it, but I'm not sure how it would work with the pictures...

You could post the pics on here (or on Twitter) and then we could listen to the Podcast and read along. You'd be like our Teddy Bear Ruxpin!

 

[Becx N Gav]

You could post the pics on here (or on Twitter) and then we could listen to the Podcast and read along. You'd be like our Teddy Bear Ruxpin!

I remeber Teddy Ruxpin I always wanted one but was never allowed

I will try and listen to the podcast tonight, last night I was waiting for DH to get home (took him 3 hours because of the snow instead of 50 mins/1 hour ) so I forgot. Looking forward to 'hearing' you

 

[shippedtosea]

hi, I have to admit my reading your TRs and never posting! SO....I am coming out and saying hi! your Reports are really entertaining and I highly enjoy them. AND I am beyond jealous of your DH's job...

 

[lurkyloo]

You could post the pics on here (or on Twitter) and then we could listen to the Podcast and read along. You'd be like our Teddy Bear Ruxpin! :

BWAAAAAAhahahahahahahaaaa! [Where's the smiley for milk coming out of yer nose?] My brother and I had a Teddy Ruxpin! He was really freaky when the batteries started running down, though...

I remeber Teddy Ruxpin I always wanted one but was never allowed

I will try and listen to the podcast tonight, last night I was waiting for DH to get home (took him 3 hours because of the snow instead of 50 mins/1 hour ) so I forgot. Looking forward to 'hearing' you

Oh my goodness! I hope he has an easier commute tonight.

hi, I have to admit my reading your TRs and never posting! SO....I am coming out and saying hi! your Reports are really entertaining and I highly enjoy them. AND I am beyond jealous of your DH's job...

Welcome out of lurkdom - thanks for joining in! I'm so glad you like to read the reports. And, if you're interested, the cure for puppeteer-envy is to research what it costs to buy your own health insurance these days.

 

[lurkyloo]

OK, I admit I don't have a new update for you yet - BUT, if you're interested, I just posted pix of our finally finished full wedding album over on the Weddings Board.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2401199

This album is kinda the reason I never finished my D23 Expo trip report. It took 3 weeks of 12-hour days to select and edit photos and lay out the book, and I had to get it done in time to be delivered for Christmas (after sitting on it for, oh, 18 months!).

So I thought you might like to look at the purdy pictures while I get the next installment of this trip report together.

 

[annnewjerz]

OK, I admit I don't have a new update for you yet - BUT, if you're interested, I just posted pix of our finally finished full wedding album over on the Weddings Board.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2401199

I almost squeeled out loud when I saw this. The album looks beautiful and glad to see you got one, a lot of people these days get Digital files and never actually print them out into an album or photobook---they are doomed to stay on the computer forever.

If the Roots are still in business in a few years, I'm going to have to try to schedule a shoot for DH and I for no reason other than I love their style and don't want to be a complete creepster drooling over their pics of random strangers.

Great non-update update, seeing your pics again makes me want to get married all over again, only this time in Disney!

 

[cdotla]

Wow Carrie...I have so much catching up to do!!!

First off, you win hands down for the most awesome Valentine's Day gift! That photo actually had my mouth watering!!!

In fact, I am now wishing we decided to cut short our tour of the Griffith Observatory and Walt Disney Concert Hall in September to ensure that we could have endulged in some Sprinkles cupcakes before I had to leave for the airport! Just kidding! (Although I prolly wld be serious if I hadn't already tasted some that week in Newport!)

They do sell a mix now - we'll have to see if DISer cdotla can report on whether the ones from the mix taste as good as the fresh ones....

To answer your question: unfortunately, the Sprinkles mix cupcakes do not come even remotely close to the real things. In fact, I can bake my own red velvet from scratch which taste a lot better. So my hunt for a close local version or replication of the Sprinkles red velvet cupcakes continues.

I should qualify my answer by saying that I have only ever tried the Red Velvet mix so I can't speak for other flavours. But I have made the red velvets on 3 separate occasions, so I can assure you that you should not shell out your hard-earned cash for this waste-of-time mix!

I actually received the banana Sprinkles mix from someone as a Christmas gift but I haven't made them yet. In part because banana would be about the last flavour in the Sprinkles kitchen that I would be interested in trying. However, once I try them out, I will be sure to report back!

 

[cdotla]

OMG Carrie!!! You were on a podcast! Wow, wow, wow! I can't wait to check that out!

I was thrilled when I had my voicemails played on the Disunplugged and the WDWRadio show, (which of course hardly compare to this - LOL!) so this must be terribly exciting for you! I wholeheartedly agree that you would make a fantabulous podcast host!

Can't wait to listen!

And congrats on your book and on your fabulous wedding album! You have been a busy girl indeed!

 

[cdotla]

Just listened to the podcast - you were great Carrie! A natural! So polished and relaxed! I really think you should run with this podcast idea!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

When ever I want a Disney Fix I find one of your updates...it gets me all excited for the next trip...

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

I'm getting caught up on your trip report -- we just got back from a week at WDW. Had a piece of peanut butter cake from BW Bakery in your honor. So good! After we devoured it I thought it would've been cute to take a picture of it with "Hi Lurkyloo" written on a napkin next to it - so just try to picture it. Thanks for the tip -- DH said it was his favorite dessert of the trip.

Oh, when I eat my Piece of yummy cake next month, I am so going to do that !!!

 

[LouDisney]

I am holding you PERSONALLY responsible for that bad cupcake!

 

[lurkyloo]

I almost squeeled out loud when I saw this. The album looks beautiful and glad to see you got one, a lot of people these days get Digital files and never actually print them out into an album or photobook---they are doomed to stay on the computer forever.

Good point! I confess at more than one point I thought "Aw, why do I need to do an album - I see the pix on the Internets every DAY! But I'm glad I have them in hard copy - in most cases, it was the first time I'd ever seen them printed!

If the Roots are still in business in a few years, I'm going to have to try to schedule a shoot for DH and I for no reason other than I love their style and don't want to be a complete creepster drooling over their pics of random strangers.

Great non-update update, seeing your pics again makes me want to get married all over again, only this time in Disney!

I like BOTH these ideas! Especially the second one b/c then I could crash another Disney wedding (OK, vow renewal)!!!

To answer your question: unfortunately, the Sprinkles mix cupcakes do not come even remotely close to the real things. In fact, I can bake my own red velvet from scratch which taste a lot better. So my hunt for a close local version or replication of the Sprinkles red velvet cupcakes continues.

I should qualify my answer by saying that I have only ever tried the Red Velvet mix so I can't speak for other flavours. But I have made the red velvets on 3 separate occasions, so I can assure you that you should not shell out your hard-earned cash for this waste-of-time mix!

Oh no! Well thank you for letting me know, because it will save me $$$ buying the mix for friends who don't live close to Sprinkles. What a bummer!

OMG Carrie!!! You were on a podcast! Wow, wow, wow! I can't wait to check that out!

I was thrilled when I had my voicemails played on the Disunplugged and the WDWRadio show, (which of course hardly compare to this - LOL!) so this must be terribly exciting for you! I wholeheartedly agree that you would make a fantabulous podcast host!

Can't wait to listen!

And congrats on your book and on your fabulous wedding album! You have been a busy girl indeed!

Just listened to the podcast - you were great Carrie! A natural! So polished and relaxed! I really think you should run with this podcast idea!

You are so sweet! Thank you for all the kind comments. I'm so glad you liked the podcast!

When ever I want a Disney Fix I find one of your updates...it gets me all excited for the next trip...

Then I have done my job.

Oh, when I eat my Piece of yummy cake next month, I am so going to do that !!!

I cannot wait to see this...!

 

[lurkyloo]

After we walked back to our room and changed for dinner, we walked from the BoardWalk over to the Dolphin for our dinner at bluezoo.

As we walked over the bridge to the Swolphin, DH paused, held his camera up to the hotel and commanded, “All right, SMILE, you piece of garbage!” If I’d been drinking milk, it woulda shot out my nose…

“Uh…. Cheeeeeeese..?”

We got there a little early for our reservation, so we poked around a bit. I asked DH to shoot Fresh Market b/c sometimes brides use it for wedding-related meals.

DH loves him some architectural models…

In the lobby we discovered The World’s Widest Christmas Tree. I dunno… this photo doesn’t give you the scale of the thing – it was abnormally wide around the bottom. (Obviously it likes to eat at bluezoo too!)

We were also kinda shocked by how badly executed the decorations were – check out the rumpled bathmat of snow…

It still wasn’t time yet for the restaurant to open, so we went back and sat in the foyer and made the hostess nervous.

At last, we were ushered past the iced fish display and skewers of “dancing” fish (it’s quite macabre, really) to our table.

Fish – On ICE!

“Dancing” machine!

We got a table along the back wall of windows but could have had our pick. The place was cannon-practice empty!

I told DH he had to take pix of the carpet cuz I love it so much.

 

[lurkyloo]

After months of dreaming about my replicating my May meal here for DH, I let my eyes get a bit too big for our stomachs when it came time to order. Instead of splitting an appetizer and a meal like we usually do, I had us each order our own scallop and short rib appetizer. Then we got the Simply Fish to split with crabmeat butter sauce and a totally gratuitous (and outrageously priced) abalone add-on because I’m still trying to figure out what abalone tastes like (having only had it twice). It turned out to be waaaaaaay too much rich food all in one sitting.


Do not eat this if you plan to finish dinner!

Teppan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops - braised beef short rib, silky cauliflower puree

Simply Fish – We picked salmon done on a teppanyaki grill, served with warm crabmeat, dijon mustard, and chives suspended in PURE BUTTER!

Sorry this looks like monster chow – it’s the abalone add-on. The meat was cut into thin strips and just tasted like “chewy.” The vegetable… matter it was mixed into was quite tasty, though.

How about some more glamour shots of the restaurant to clear away the memory of that grody-looking abalone dish?

This is part of the private room. It runs the length of the restaurant and can be divided into thirds for smaller parties.

More carpet…. Sorry…

We were stuffed to the gills (if you’ll pardon the expression) so we skipped dessert. But if you know me, you know that I was not really going to pass up the opportunity to eat that chocolate-peanut butter concoction on their dessert menu, so I asked how late they were open with the intention of returning after Osbourne Lights.


We left bluezoo with our stomachs heavier and our wallets lighter and waddled down the path toward Hollywood Studios.

I was excited to see what all the fuss was about with the Osbourne Family Dancing Lights. We came around the corner and….

Holy crap!

 

[lurkyloo]

The only thing is, I’d just assumed that they would be playing traditional instrumental Christmas carols, but our introduction to the Osbourne Lights was set to the squealing faux hair metal of Trans Siberian Orchestra.

We banged our heads accordingly….

Eventually we figured out that we’d stumbled on one of the special music breaks that happen every 15 minutes and that we wouldn’t be perpetually compelled to play air guitar.


This is what it looks like when you don’t bring The Roots!

OMG! Is it on me? …It’s SOAPING!!!

"The lights are on the TREE. You know, the one next to you...?"

It started to get WAY crowded because Fantasmic! had just let out, so we ducked off the main drag and went to investigate the Muppet store and catch the last showing of MuppetVision of 3D.

We allllmost got this for DH but decided that his wearing it would just be overkill…

 

[lurkyloo]

This turned out to be a great idea – by the time Muppetvision 3D let out, San Francisco Street was almost empty, and it was possible to enjoy the Osbourne Lights sans crowds. We later found out they keep them on for something like an hour after park closing – a great time to go!


This is also what it looks like when you don’t bring the Roots with you

Tastes like soap!

On the way out, we saw this!

…And this!

On the way back into the Dolphin, DH spotted this priceless opportunity for a gag photo and we spent about 15 giggly minutes attempting to capture it…

We discovered bluezoo a bit more hoppin’ than when we’d had our solitary meal there at 5:30, but we still got seated right away for dessert in the bar area.


(He just loves those stringy glass things they have!)

Warm Chocolate Cake - with liquid ganache center, maracaibo chocolate cream pudding, peanut ice cream (no that’s not butter on the side – it’s a teeny-tiny extra scoop of ice cream!)

Somehow, it wasn’t as amazing as I’d remembered, but it was still fun to be out on a hot date with DH and all the hipsters at bluezoo!


When we left the Dolphin and headed back to our hotel, we rounded the corner just in time to catch IllumiNations over the BoardWalk – cool!

And then, as if the day couldn’t get any better, we came home to this: Our first Towel… Donut…?

Maybe it’s a snail taking a nap inside his shell….


Up next: We finally meet up with the Roots again, plus: 58 Degrees, eh? Feels like Water Park Weather!!!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

And then, as if the day couldn’t get any better, we came home to this: Our first Towel… Donut…?

Maybe it’s a snail taking a nap inside his shell….

Maybe they did a circle and it just popped out before you guys got back? That happened to me all the time when I'd try and do towel animals at BW. The only "animals" I could ever do successfully were candy canes and fish. The candy cane was just rolled up and then part of it was folded over and a red ribbon wrapped around it. The fish was rolled up, folded in half, and then fixed with a rubber band to look like the Jesus fish people sometimes have on their cars.

I really really sucked at them, though... They tried to teach me when I was on light duty (I somehow sprained my foot walking out of a vacant room one day; I think I tripped over the other one), but it just didn't work.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Carrie, I listened to the podcast, you were fantastic!! Very natural and extremely informative. You should become a regular contributor for them.
I am in love with your blurb book. It is amazing. The "first look" picture of Patrick, is so heartwarming, you can see all the love he has for you, magical.

As we walked over the bridge to the Swolphin, DH paused, held his camera up to the hotel and commanded, “All right, SMILE, you piece of garbage!” If I’d been drinking milk, it woulda shot out my nose…

This is utterly hilarious, so funny. You two have a great time no matter what you are doing.

Wonderful pictures of the resort, we have never been there. The rumpled bathmat of snow is very bad. Eww to the dancing fish. I like the carpet pictures.

I am amazed at your night pictures at DHS. WOW! Loved the Osbourne Lights pictures. The head banging picture was perfect! You both look great even without the Roots.

The "amazement" picture cracked me up, you two have so much fun together! Bill thinks I am crazy reading on the computer then laughing out loud, that is what I did when I saw the shirt from the Muppet store and read your commentary.

The gag photo is hilarious. I loved the Illuminations photos too. I know you have probably said before but I forgot, what kind of camera does Patrick use, the pictures are wonderful.

 

[cdotla]

“All right, SMILE, you piece of garbage!” - too, too funny!!!

Food looks yummy at Bluezoo. Except for the abalone. Hmmmm....you may have persuaded me that I need to fit this into our schedule.

Great shots of Osborne Lights. Continue to be amazed at the great nighttime shots Patrick keeps getting.

Loved the fountain shot with Patrick. Definitely worth the 15 min intermission.

And I think you win hands-down for the guess-that-towel-animal contest!