Anyone Game? 2 Castles and a Road Trip TR! Last Day and TR Wrap Up! #2796; 10/01

[PrincessInOz]

BTMRR was down EVERY single time I had a FP for it. In each case I was automatically given an magic fp for anything, at any time that autoloaded to my band. Interestingly enough the email that told me this showed up hours after the actual FP window was, for when it was down but it did pop up. I wonder if the manual entry "broke" that feature?

Every single time? Wow! Remind me not to organise a FP on BTMRR with you.

I also got the notification about TSMM about 2 hours after the FP window.

The first time I went on the new Star Tours, in fact all 3 times that trip...I got the SAME experience every time. Since then though, totally different and that's over 2 coasts in the last 4 months. Go figure. Love Star Tours!

I. completely. understand.

Sometimes screeching is what it takes. Unfortunate that you have to go there but you have to do what you have to do.

Lots of great PP shots on top of all of yours, photo bonanza!

It's funny, I heard a lot about the lights moving before the holidays. Since then, not a peep. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Thanks. Yes. It will be interesting to see what happens this year.

We recently discovered the Studio Catering Company back by the Honey I Shrunk the kids playground. They have a great veggie sandwich and Greek salad, both fresh and delicious. That will be our go to QS at DHS from now on.

Glad you were able to ride TSM but sorry your gut was right. You sure had a tight battle with DS!

Hooray for a new ride on Star Tours! Cool that you were able to enjoy it crowd free

The last time we ate at the SCC was in 2005. I think it was one of the few places that offered vegetarian fare for DH then. Of course the menu had completely changed since then.

I have another partner to walk out of the parks very late now

You are going to need those afternoon naps and need to start reading up about long exposure shots for when you come back here in a few weeks.

Wow you weren't kidding about Star Tours. It really was empty! Kind of weird to see it not filled up like that.

I love the photo of DH on the cruiser!

How funny, in one of my updates I wrote about the ABC Commissary. We were definitely surprised by how much better it has gotten since 2008.

I love that you still took a ton of pictures on TSMM, but still managed to get a high score! That's what I call a FANTASTIC multi-tasker!

It was pretty empty, wasn't it?

Yes, I believe the food has gotten better at ABC Commissary. We just weren't hungry enough to have anything more than that cupcake.

Thanks!

Maybe some day, but not this trip. I've got so much jam packed into each day and Fran needs me to get her home and tucked in at night. Now if we can get her on board.

I love long exposure shots. They were amongst my favorites In my heyday of photography, which would have been 7th and 8th grade.

I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures now that the photobug has bitten.

Oh goody - I was wondering if I would be able to do this though out of order times yes is annoying. (OCD planner hangs head in shame!)

I think Alison said that selecting the other attractions was not possible on MDE anymore.

Maybe it'll be there when you get round to planning on MDE.

Duck, duck, duck you unbeliever you...and this family did enjoy IJ no. 4 too! but new star wars - the jury is out til we see what Disney and co do --we loved all 4 Pirates so there's hope..

I suspect that we're all going to be out in the theatres en-force when the new star wars comes out. Did you head to the Star Wars marathon on May the 4th?

My last post for today I promise. Glad you stood up to the CM and got in to TSM. On our upcoming trip I will have a chat to that robot too as if I see the pod racing sequence one more time...as yes we also got the same sequence was it 3 or 4 times-I forget? It was a nice touch of nostalgia to ride the original in DLP though...and still enjoyable even if not in 3D.

I wonder if they are going to update DLP? It's the only one left that is still "original".

 

[scottny]

I have to ride the Friendship boat at least once while we are there.
LOL about the name. I thought the sun was hitting it and that was why.
LOL about getting the same sequence on Star Tours. That is strange.
Nice you did that. Too much planning for me. I like a go with the flow attitude now.
Nice Indy pics. I should go see that again.
Nice robot pics. Um, where was everyone? LOL. Never seen a ride so empty.
YEAH! You got a new sequence.
I would have fought with them to let me on Toy Story. Glad you said something.
Great updates and pics.

 

[ACDSNY]

By the next trip your DS maybe the winning hand on TSMM, good thing you won this round.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I have to ride the Friendship boat at least once while we are there.
LOL about the name. I thought the sun was hitting it and that was why.
LOL about getting the same sequence on Star Tours. That is strange.
Nice you did that. Too much planning for me. I like a go with the flow attitude now.
Nice Indy pics. I should go see that again.
Nice robot pics. Um, where was everyone? LOL. Never seen a ride so empty.
YEAH! You got a new sequence.
I would have fought with them to let me on Toy Story. Glad you said something.
Great updates and pics.

Thanks Scott.

I only did that kind of planning for one day. It is WAAAAY too much planning for me too. But I was curious enough to try it out. I hope I never have to put that kind of effort in again. But I suspect it might be the way we have to plan....if Disney has it's way.

By the next trip your DS maybe the winning hand on TSMM, good thing you won this round.

I know. That's why I put the camera down and picked up the gun instead. But I know I'm fighting a losing battle.....much like me still *claiming* that DH and I are about the same height.

 

[PrincessInOz]

OT - Happy Mother's Day



Happy Mother's Day everyone! I hope you have a great day with your loved ones.


I've been busy the last couple of days and instead of the regular update (apologies), I thought I'd share with you how I celebrated Mother's Day.



The fine art of the Afternoon High Tea originates from Britain. Traditionally served with scones, sandwiches and cake, it is a very filling meal to have between lunch and dinner.....although in many instances, diners of the Afternoon High Tea have been known to eschew further eating for the rest of the day.

I didn't quite go as far as serving my take on this in my formal lounge and comfy chairs.....afterall, it was family attending and I know my family's eating habits well. Shall I just say that we're not exactly the daintiest of eaters and leave it at that?


I did open up the formal dining room for their use.






I even went as far as decorating the room so that it kinda qualified for the use of the word "High". A friend of mine made those tulle pom poms for me.






Aren't they fun?






I even splurged to get the matching sheers. They were 40% off retail price at the local haberdashery....bargain!






I was rather cruel. I made everyone wait whilst I took pictures of the table and the food.






I made 3 types of sandwiches for the tea. There were a Mediterranean vegetables medley (roasted eggplant, bell peppers, olives, marinated mushrooms, artichoke, red onion, parsley with some red wine vinegar) that I served with hummous, cucumber and cream cheese with dill, and; egg and chives with sprouts.






Tick for the sandwich component.






Whilst we're ticking the list away, let's tick the scones off as well. Yes, these were home made......as was the strawberry jam, which I made in January.







Which only leaves us the cakes to tick off, right?



I decorated my table with flowers from the garden. Lavender and those yellow daisies were in bloom.






The cupcakes?



I made the vanilla cupcakes last night and iced them this morning. Sadly, the buttercream icing was way too runny and it just didn't sit the way I wanted it to. Even with trying to fix it with adding more icing sugar didn't help and in the end I just gave up and did the best I could with what I had.






Thank goodness I had bought the edible flowers from a nearby cake decorating shop. They certainly helped hide a few flaws. I think I might shop there more often.






The traditional three-tiered platter.






I made two types of savoury puffs. On one side, we had beef curry puffs. On the other side were Thai Tuna puffs. I didn't have very many puffs left at the end of the day.






I completely outsourced the sweet petit four layer. It was a lot easier than having to find extra hours in the day to make these. I ended up with stawberry tarts, lemon meringue.....







.....and chocolate eclairs. So yum!







I found these raspberry meringues at a shop in the city and couldn't resist. So cute!






They definitely made a great top layer.







So.....I completely went over the top with this one. But it was Mother's Day and I thought we needed a 'cake'.







Yeah. I ordered this profiterole cake about 3 weeks ago and completely forgot that I said "pink" instead of "purple". The irony? I'm so not a pink girl. Go figure!







My Afternoon High Tea table from the other end. It was a very satisfying outcome!







By this stage, there was no holding back the hungry mob.



It was a very satisfying outcome. No one left hungry.....and no one had plans for dinner!





Happy Mother's Day to everyone celebrating.

 

[franandaj]

Wow! That was amazing! That's all I can say! Just amazing. Does the Grand Flordian shame.

 

[ejud]

OT - Happy Mother's Day

Wow.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Your high tea looked amazing! We are just having a barbeque as we are squeezing my son's birthday in as well.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Happy Mother's Day to you my dear friend Amazing job you did there I always love when you open up your home to us Fun to have a little peek into your real life

 

[LegoMom3]

I wanna come to YOUR house for Tea!!!!!

.

 

[jedijill]

Yum! Your tea looks amazing!

Jill in CO

 

[zanzibar138]

Yummy looking high tea, and nice work with the decorating too My mum also threw an afternoon tea over in Perth for all the rellies. DH's family don't really 'do' holidays, and since I was just getting out of hospital anyway, it was just a laid back sort of day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very impressive PiO.

 

[ddpaints]

That was a very beautiful table. I'm setting here with my mouth watering.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wow! That was amazing! That's all I can say! Just amazing. Does the Grand Flordian shame.

Thanks Alison.

Wow.

Your high tea looked amazing! We are just having a barbeque as we are squeezing my son's birthday in as well.

Hope your Mother's Day was great and that the weather was kind for you. HB to your son!

Happy Mother's Day to you my dear friend Amazing job you did there I always love when you open up your home to us Fun to have a little peek into your real life

Ruthie - anytime you plan a visit to Australia, you can have more than a little peek.

I wanna come to YOUR house for Tea!!!!!

.

Just tell me when. I need at least 3 day's notice to get this tea together.

Yum! Your tea looks amazing!

Jill in CO

Thanks Jill.

Yummy looking high tea, and nice work with the decorating too My mum also threw an afternoon tea over in Perth for all the rellies. DH's family don't really 'do' holidays, and since I was just getting out of hospital anyway, it was just a laid back sort of day.

Pity you had to miss your mum's afternoon tea in Perth. Hope you're feeling better from the visit to the hospital and I hope to see you soon.

Very impressive PiO.

Thanks Bret.

That was a very beautiful table. I'm setting here with my mouth watering.

Thanks ddpaints.

Welcome; and I appreciate you posting on this thread.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Brilliant PIO you past the approval from an English woman who adores afternoon tea! I love the selection you have and pleased to see you did finger sandwiches! It was fitting for The Ritz. I agree it is filling Jo and I book it early when we go and have it as our lunch! I am truly amazed by your offerings. Nearly worth a flight to Oz

 

[rentayenta]

Holy wow woman, that's an amazing tea. Your treats as well as the outsourced look fantastic! What a beautiful table as well. Hope your guests enjoyed your effort.

 

[ddpaints]

Thanks ddpaints.

Welcome; and I appreciate you posting on this thread.

I'm going to become your photo stalker (not in a bad way I promise). I've read through the whole thread and have been trying to soak up any photography knowledge you have been willing to share. I guess I never realized there was a board just for photography so thank you for introducing me to that. Once my late night job ends and the kids school year is over I may try to join that board so that I can soak up some more knowledge before my next 2 trips to Disney world. Only six more horse babies to be born ( I am a horse midwife, night shift) and I can get back to the land of the living.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Your Mother's Day tea looks like it was amazing. Well done!

I feel like I am so far behind with your TR. I'm going to enjoy catching up over the next few days.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Brilliant PIO you past the approval from an English woman who adores afternoon tea! I love the selection you have and pleased to see you did finger sandwiches! It was fitting for The Ritz. I agree it is filling Jo and I book it early when we go and have it as our lunch! I am truly amazed by your offerings. Nearly worth a flight to Oz

YAY!! My afternoon tea passed muster. Although......maybe you'll still consider the flight to Oz sometime.

Glad you liked the offerings. I did contemplate cutting those sandwiches into triangle but then I figured that I probably would be better cutting them as fingers/soldiers instead.

Holy wow woman, that's an amazing tea. Your treats as well as the outsourced look fantastic! What a beautiful table as well. Hope your guests enjoyed your effort.

Yes, my guests enjoyed the tea and the effort. A couple of them enjoyed playing with the pom poms.

I'm going to become your photo stalker (not in a bad way I promise). I've read through the whole thread and have been trying to soak up any photography knowledge you have been willing to share. I guess I never realized there was a board just for photography so thank you for introducing me to that. Once my late night job ends and the kids school year is over I may try to join that board so that I can soak up some more knowledge before my next 2 trips to Disney world. Only six more horse babies to be born ( I am a horse midwife, night shift) and I can get back to the land of the living.

A stalker?




Although.....there is almost a whole continent and one whole ocean between where you are and where I am. So.....stalk away.

(And there are a lot of better photographers on that photoboard than me; all with a lot more technical expertise than me.)


That's a great job you have. I bet it's incredibly rewarding helping the foals come into the world.
I wonder if luvchefmic has seen this post yet? She loves horses and has one in her back paddock.

Your Mother's Day tea looks like it was amazing. Well done!

I feel like I am so far behind with your TR. I'm going to enjoy catching up over the next few days.

Thanks.

Hope the reading is not too bad.