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

[ACDSNY]

Happy Belated Birthday!


Finally caught up on your TR. Amazing action shots on LMA and a nice lesson on B & B.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Great pics and interesting history! As much as I love TOT, I don't think I would go on if I had experienced what you did!

 

[rentayenta]

Oh my gosh, how did I miss your bday? Was it on FB? Anyway, Happy belated Birthday sweet friend. Hope it was amazing!


Going back to catch up!

 

[rentayenta]

I had no clue that happened to you on ToT. I wouldn't ride again either. This may sound dense but how did you know it was freefalling? I always feel like I'm freefalling until we stop.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice pictures from B&B. I always enjoy this show at DCA and still as good as ever even from reading your updates.

I can completely understand why you won't want to ride the ToT. I barely ride the ToT at DCA or DHS. But I have ridden it these last few years and once is enough for me. You know that I won't even ride the swinging-gondola on MFWoD.

 

[franandaj]

Quite an interesting little lesson on B&B, probably a lot like what Walt did to the Jungle Book. I heard Richard Sherman say that he asked, "How many of you read Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book?" Not a hand went up. "Good!" He said, "Here's how I want the story to go....."

Probably a lot like B&B!

I need to see that at DSH, but probably not going to happen this trip.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Quite an interesting little lesson on B&B, probably a lot like what Walt did to the Jungle Book. I heard Richard Sherman say that he asked, "How many of you read Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book?" Not a hand went up. "Good!" He said, "Here's how I want the story to go....." Probably a lot like B&B! I need to see that at DSH, but probably not going to happen this trip.

yes I thought the same thing Alison! Would love to see the show after the great photos and review from PIO but this trip is maxed out! Maybe in September! I love that about Disney! Always something left for next time

 

[tiggrbaby]

I had no clue that happened to you on ToT. I wouldn't ride again either. This may sound dense but how did you know it was freefalling? I always feel like I'm freefalling until we stop.

I think she meant it happened on a real elevator, so a simulated drop would not be so much fun.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Yes i'll definitely post some pictures!

Oh my word he was such a good baby. DS has definitely gotten better from when he was first born. He now sleeps about 10-11 hours at night AND still takes 2 naps a day, each for about an hour and a half. I'm lucky that he's still taking naps cause that's when I get to DIS.


I was a little obsessed going through all your photos and looking at the actors and the many roles they have to take on. Like one guy was holding the 'curtain and then he was a dancer in the ''Be Our Guest' scene and THEN he was in the mob scene! Geez that's a lot of changing and running around back scene.

Boo to veggies....well sometimes.

Gosh! I didn't even think to play spot the Cast Member!!! Well done.

Interesting stuff on B&B! Thanks!



Jud

How do you find all this information? You make me feel bad that I don't provide history lessons in my TRs

I'll take the lemonade slushie over the disgustingly healthy veggies any day

I used to read a lot as a little child. You can't even begin to imagine the number of fairy tale compendiums I got as birthday presents. Some discrepancies in stories stay seared in my memory forever!!!

Yup. A slushie trumps veggies any day.

I love B&B and Be Our Guest is my favorite Disney song. Love the history lesson! ToT is one of my favorite rides but I understand why you won't ride it!

And happy Belated Birthday!

Jill in CO

Thanks!

Happy Belated Birthday!


Finally caught up on your TR. Amazing action shots on LMA and a nice lesson on B & B.

Nice to see you back here, Angela. Thank you.

Great pics and interesting history! As much as I love TOT, I don't think I would go on if I had experienced what you did!

Thanks.

Yup. No ToT for me.

Oh my gosh, how did I miss your bday? Was it on FB? Anyway, Happy belated Birthday sweet friend. Hope it was amazing!


Going back to catch up!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. It was a good one this year.

And I get to celebrate a different FB birthday.

I had no clue that happened to you on ToT. I wouldn't ride again either. This may sound dense but how did you know it was freefalling? I always feel like I'm freefalling until we stop.

The elevator just dropped and it was going a LOT faster than normal. That....and the fact that the other 3 people in the lift with me....we all started to yell....a little.

Very nice pictures from B&B. I always enjoy this show at DCA and still as good as ever even from reading your updates.

I can completely understand why you won't want to ride the ToT. I barely ride the ToT at DCA or DHS. But I have ridden it these last few years and once is enough for me. You know that I won't even ride the swinging-gondola on MFWoD.

Someday.....I'm going to get you on that swinging gondola with me.


Thanks.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Quite an interesting little lesson on B&B, probably a lot like what Walt did to the Jungle Book. I heard Richard Sherman say that he asked, "How many of you read Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book?" Not a hand went up. "Good!" He said, "Here's how I want the story to go....."

Probably a lot like B&B!

I need to see that at DSH, but probably not going to happen this trip.

Yup. Just like Jungle Book.

I hope you get to fit B&B in during one of your trips to WDW.

yes I thought the same thing Alison! Would love to see the show after the great photos and review from PIO but this trip is maxed out! Maybe in September! I love that about Disney! Always something left for next time

I hope you enjoy it in September. I'm really looking forward to seeing yours and Alison's TRs for this coming visit. Can't. wait.

I think she meant it happened on a real elevator, so a simulated drop would not be so much fun.

I don't even wanna think about it.

 

[Pinkocto]

Back from my trip and playing catch up.

Happy belated Birthday!!!!! A staycation sounds lovely


Great updates. Loved the history of Beauty and the Beast.

Glad you found DS's MB without much trouble.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Back from my trip and playing catch up.

Happy belated Birthday!!!!! A staycation sounds lovely


Great updates. Loved the history of Beauty and the Beast.

Glad you found DS's MB without much trouble.

Welcome back! Hope you had a great trip and I can't wait to read all about it.


Thanks. Glad you're all caught up.

 

[PrincessInOz]

DisMeet #11: Meet Me at the Derby



Hollywood Brown Derby used to be one of those institution chain restaurants on the West Coast in the golden age of Hollywood. The chain was started by Robert H. Cobb and Herbert Somborn (a former husband of film star Gloria Swanson). One of the restaurants - the one at Hollywood and Vine - was close enough to quite a few of the network radio offices that a number of the radio stars would head to the Hollywood Brown Derby between shows for East Coast and West Coast transmissions. In addition, the legendary Hollywood gossip columnists Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper had made the Derby their unofficial headquarters. The establishment was commonly mentioned by the radio stars on the various shows. And we all know that if you mention it, they will come.



When television came along, the Hollywood Brown Derby was firmly entrenched as the place to see stars. This was immortalised in an episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy, Fred and Ethyl came to eat where the stars ate.
The restaurant chain declined in the '80's....bad food, poor service, bad luck with a fire and all that.....and they all closed. But through the very clever reincarnation of licensing, the name and menu continues to live on.



Meet me at the Derby....the one at Disney Hollywood Studios.







That's what Alison and I decided we would do for dinner tonight. In particular.....the Fantasmic! Dining Experience, which meant that we would get reserved seating to Fantasmic without having to queue. We had asked the other Gamers if anyone was interested to join us, but they all had other plans. So, I rang in to make the booking. Would you believe the LATEST time they would give us was 3.50 pm? That's so close to lunch, especially when the lunch menu runs to 3pm, that it's not funny!







The Fantasmic! Dining Experience at Brown Derby included 3 courses for the fixed price. At least we had a big breakfast to nearly tide us through lunch. Yes, I know we did stop at Anaheim Produce for a snack and we did indulge some 30 minutes ago....and I did know that the dining experience at Brown Derby was going to be one of absolute Fine Dining (or as much as fine dining gets at DHS) but the boys insisted on stopping. Let's just grin and bear it, shall we?






Just like in the West Coast originals, the walls of this establishment were covered with caricatures of celebrities.






Alison, Fran and us are getting to the stage where we probably shouldn't call our catch-ups DisMeets anymore but I'm claiming this as an official DisMeet. And here's the picture record. I know I'm not in it....but someone had to take the picture!
Our conversations just flow on from the last time we met. Is it bad to admit that we did get some 3D chat time in at the start but when the food started to arrive, no one spoke much??






Those caricatures are great, aren't they?






Rumour has it (and it really is a rumour) that a Polish immigrant approached Robert H Cobb and offered to draw pictures of celebrities in exchange for soup and bread. That Polish immigrant was one Eddie Vitch. Whether true or not, what matters is that the walls of a Hollywood Brown Derby are plastered with amazing artwork drawn by Vitch....and subsequently by others (Zel, Pancho, Lane and Bunn).



The view from our table into the dining area of Hollywood Brown Derby.







I did get up to take the cross-section view as well.







Our waiter was suitably attentive whilst we were contemplating the menu.








Warm, delicious bread for the table.....







.....with whipped butter.







We were definitely in a table service restaurant of distinction. That bread was wonderful.


Our drinks arrived promptly.


Alison's Belvedere Gibson martini was shaken and poured at the table.






DS got a light-up drink. I can't remember what he got now. But it was definitely blue.






I ordered a mocktail. I'm pretty sure it had pineapple juice in it. I’m also pretty sure it would have had a citrus and possibly some lychee or some other exotic fruit in it. I think DH also ordered the same as me.....or he could have stuck with iced water.







This was Fran's margarita.









(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


We have 3 courses worth of food coming up!



For apertizer, DS ordered the Artisan Cheese plate. The cheeses were seasonal and there was a selection of hard and soft cheeses (Champignon Brie, Midnight Moon Goat Cheese, Flora Nell Blue Cheese with Raisins on the Vine and Spiced Pecans) on the plate. DS absolutely loved this!








DH ordered the Lettuce Salad drizzled with a peppercorn sweet onion dressing, cherry tomatoes, shaved radishes, and parmesan-seed frico. He said it was lovely.








Alison went with the Famous Cobb Salad, with finely chopped greens, turkey breast, egg, bacon, tomatoes, crumbled bleu cheese, avocado, chives and Cobb dressing. Yes, it is named after one of the original owners, Robert H. Cobb. Rumour has it that he made the salad late one night for him and Sid Grauman (of Grauman's Chinese Theatre) with whatever he could find in the fridge. He chopped the ingredients up finely because Sid Grauman had been to the dentist that day and could only eat small bits. It was so good that Grauman reputedly came back in the next day and asked for the Cobb Salad. It became a staple on the menu after this.







Fran and I ordered the Portsmouth Lobster Bisque. YUM!







Entrees next.

I was gobsmacked when my DS ordered the Duck Two Ways. Sauteed confit with swiss chard over an herb and goat cheese polenta cake finished with a pan-seared maple bourbon duck magret with a sun-dried cherry sauce. We've been having Peking Duck pancakes at home and I think he's developed a liking to duck. I thought is was a rather grown-up thing for him to order. Great. Choice!








DH had the Grilled Salmon.







Alison went with the Rack of Lamb.








Fran and I ended up with the same order again. We both wanted the Fillet of Beef. For my taste, this was amazing.







Pixie Dust continued to sparkle for the birthday boy here!







The birthday dessert on offer was a chocolate mousse cake! So. Good!








Poor DH! What. a. travesty. He also had to eat the Banana-White Chocolate Toffee Tower on Cocoa-Almond Cookie and Bananas Foster.






Stuffed and about to ooze everything out, he was!







DS also ordered the same as DH. I know he absolutely loved his dinner on this day. That dessert was beautiful!





Alison ordered the Strawberry Champagne Cheesecake, which she shared with Fran. They both loved this.







This was the only course that Fran and I deviated from our chosen options.

Fran went with the Brown Derby Famous Grapefruit Cake.








This cake was created because Louella Parsons, one of those gossip columnists complained to Derby owner Robert Cobb that all of his desserts were too fattening and requested something healthier. Cobb quickly told the chef "to put grapefruit on something, because everyone knows it’s slimming". Yeah! We. Can. See. That!







My sublime dessert was the Crème Brulee. I want one now.







I found it hard to believe that the West Coast establishments shut down because of deteriorating food quality (and maybe one shut because of fire) because the food was Fantasmic! here. That Fantasmic! Dining Experience in 2013 was absolutely a gastronomic delight at the Hollywood Brown Derby.....and this is before we got the VIP tickets to Fantasmic! When you add the VIP tickets to the equation, its a winner in my book.



Plus.....It was a wonderful way to enjoy another DisMeet; but I think you can see why we didn't really talk all that much after the food started to arrive.




One other thing to note. I believe that the 2014 experience has removed the apertiser from the experience. For two courses, I'm not so sure that it holds the same value!

 

[skier_pete]

That is most definitely Illeana Douglas in RnRC. I think she's great also, though I admit I can't think specifically what I think of her from. Probably the very short-lived Jay Mohr TV Show "Action".

Those Brown Derby pix do look good. We haven't dined there since the turn of the century. (Sorry, I love using that phrase when I get the chance.)

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

The Fantasmic package and BD look great! Wow those dishes how do you pick! The duck looks amazing and oh my those desserts! What heaven. Yes I agree hard to believe it shut down but pleased one is alive and well in DHS!

 

[Leshaface]

Ahh the food looks DELICIOUS! In my next update, we were supposed to go to the HBD, but went somewhere else.

That's too funny about the grapefruit cake. I had never heard that story before but I bet people would believe it....like me

 

[tiggrbaby]

The meal looked fabulous! I've never eaten there.

 

[zanzibar138]

O.M.G. That food! I'm so glad someone ordered the strawberries and champagne cheesecake so I could drool over it.

And I agree, DS made a very grown up choice with the duck!

 

[Pinkocto]

Wow, what an amazing dinner. Loved all the history about the restaurant.