ABD London/Paris Show is Up!

[WaltD4Me]

.... Oh my gosh ... there are 3 segments!

 

[BriarRosie]

This should be interesting, since I went on this trip. I can't wait to hear all their opinions. (I'm sure I know some of them already... heheheh.)

 

[sayhello]

This should be interesting, since I went on this trip. I can't wait to hear all their opinions. (I'm sure I know some of them already... heheheh.)

Seriously!

Sayhello

 

[erinreid]

Very strange and odd. iTunes is asking for me to log in to www.wdwinfo.com to access the new podcasts. "Authorization is needed to access /podcast/unplugged.xml" is the exact error. I'm sure it's just a momentary glitch.

 

[Herkemer]

Very strange and odd. iTunes is asking for me to log in to www.wdwinfo.com to access the new podcasts. "Authorization is needed to access /podcast/unplugged.xml" is the exact error. I'm sure it's just a momentary glitch.

Same thing is happening to me.

 

[mikelan6]

WooHoo!

 

[erinreid]

Fixed now...

Oh my........ THREE AND A HALF HOURS????

On my honor, I am never, ever complaining again when a week without a podcast goes by! Thanks, everyone!

 

[sayhello]

I'm listening to this on "Listen Now", and I can't get to Part 2. It goes straight from Part 1 to Part 3, and if I click on Part 2, it goes off into LaLa Land...

Sayhello

 

[SoScary'09]

Can't wait to hear this! Probably the closest I'll ever get to going to London or Paris, at least for now, anyway

 

[Cherinva]

I can't get the 2nd segment to download....oh well, I'll try it later.

 

[dixiegirl]

Listening to the first part and I just heard Max barking - got me misty I have to admit!

Good job on the amazing detail you are all sharing about this trip. Wonderful!

 

[luke]

Loving this. Hearing you guys talk about things that are familiar to me like taxis and pounds. Just sounds so funny

 

[k5jm]

The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower

 

[belle41379]

Can't wait to listen and relive the trip!

 

[ssuriano]

Sweeeeeeet! I can't wait to listen to it tonight!

 

[daneenm]

I am still having trouble downloading from iTunes. Even when I go to the iTunes Store these don't show on the list of available downloads.

 

[HollyMac71]

I cannot wait to listen to this show! I kept checking all day and now it is up!

SOOOO happy!

 

[daneenm]

I am still having trouble downloading from iTunes. Even when I go to the iTunes Store these don't show on the list of available downloads.

OK, all better now, it finally downloaded! Can't wait to listen.

 

[Revan]

EVeryone - Pete, John, Kevin and Walter - thank you for producing this episode, 3 hours is an incredible effort and after listening to the first part - it's delightful to hear the excitement and enthusiasm when you are reviewing this trip.

 

[BriarRosie]

I didn't know that Kevin and John tried to get into California Grill that first evening at Disneyland Paris. When I listened to their story, I wanted to share my experience.

For the sake of comparing timelines, John and Kevin tried to get in to California Grill around 6pm or so. At that time, I was just getting into Disneyland about to discover they close Phantom Manor at 6pm. I stayed until park closing and stayed behind to shop for a while before heading back to the Disneyland Hotel.

I thought I'd try walking up to check for available tables at California Grill sometime between 7:45pm and 8pm. I asked the hostess if there was availability for me later, if it was busy at that time. I mentioned I could go back to my room and come back if needed. I think I said the magic words, because she told me that she had availability immediately. I don't know if she did that because I mentioned I was a guest at the hotel. I have to wonder if John and Kevin would have gotten a table if they mentioned being hotel guests.

At first, I thought I'd be under-dressed.
I had originally planned to wear something a bit nicer than the shirt and jeans I wore to the park, but everyone around me was dressed in theme park casual clothing, as well. I found that odd because the restaurant did look like a nicer place that should be more resort casual.

And as Pete mentioned the price of the buffet, I have to say the prices at this California Grill were also enough to make my eyes pop out of my head. They had different tasting menus as well as ordering a la carte. Many entrées were 40 Euros or more. I chose a menu called the "Tinkerbell Menu", which meant I could chose a starter, a main course and a dessert for the economical price of 68 Euros. The first page of the menu had a six-course tasting menu with wine pairings for 98 Euros. Without wine, 79 Euros.

This decorative charger was the place setting at the table. It was removed after the dinner order was taken.

So I wanted something that I tried to get in Paris but couldn't. Seared foie gras. The bistro I went to listed "seared foie gras" on the menu but served the kind meant to be a cold paté. I like foie gras when I can get it, but when I want seared, I think of something served warm.

This is what I really wanted:

And it was excellent! Two seared portions of meat butter, please!

My main course was a grilled hangar steak with steak fries and a salad.

I can't complain about anything but the price. Captive audiences pay a premium. I won't complain about signature dinner restaurant prices at WDW again, that's for sure. The steak was cooked as I wanted, and it was a good meal.

Dessert was a "chocolate bar" kind of thing with mousse layered on what reminded me of the fun sized Nestle Crunch. The name was Chocolate Trio because they served elements of dark, milk and white chocolate on the plate. This was as good as it was pretty to look at.

I didn't really mean to do a mini review of the dinner, but I am sorry that nobody else was around to join me for dinner there. If there was anything that reminded me I was at a Disney restaurant, it would be that many families were coming in with young children.

You can't tell by the photo there were three kids seated with this larger party, but they were more well behaved than many kids I see at WDW restaurants. There were other kids seated at other tables, as well.

By the time I was ready for dessert, the volume of the restaurant was getting to me. More families with young kids were being seated, and I knew I had reached my limit. I was ready to ask for my check when they served dessert.