Back from Wonderland:wAlice,Madhatter,ChesCat&White Rabbit 11/11Thank You

[dismagiclover]

Oh so not fair to just give me a little taste of your photo shoot! You know how I feel about photo shoots, and I'm very interested in the AKL photo shoot because that is the next one I want to try And Jiko looks so yummy. I'd love to try that when I go with my boys in June, but I do have similar concerns as you about 7 year old boys in nice restaraunts. Add a 4 year old boy in the mix and things can get even a bit more dicey. (Granted they will be 8 & 5, but I don't think that will change much.) I'll be looking forward to your Saana review because I was thinking about there instead. If that is a little too fancy we may end up at Boma. Which is nothing to compain about. Can't wait for more!

 

[hhockman]

It sounds like you had a great afternoon! Man, would I love to be sitting on the balcony at the AKL with a good book, the back side of some animals, an iced tea, and peace and quiet right now! And the kids had a great time too. Poor Hatter...oh well. He's a keeper, right?!

Jiko looked very nice...and it looks like it's a restaurant where we will never eat. I love to eat out, but a foodie I am not. I eat a lot more things than say, my brother, but about half of what you listed I probably wouldn't eat. And I seriously doubt my kids would eat there. Not sure even Matt would find anything. But it looks really nice.

That cake looks super yummy! I'm really thinking of getting a cake for the boys when we go in June.

 

[praisehisname]

Glad you enjoyed your dinner. It looked delicious!!!

Denise

 

[Lady Lallie]

Jiko look sand sounds amazing!! Mmmmm. I can't wait. I have been drooling over that flatbread for over a year now.

How did the Mickey cake taste? It's very cute.

 

[MrsSpratt]

Another amazing update!

Mrs. Spratt

 

[mousescrapper]

Thank you for another wonderful update!

The ears look great My Mom had a blast picking out her b-days ears in March from me.

sorry Em couldn't quite get the perfect combination...I'd probably have the same problem.

We haven't got ears since 05, the classic black for the twins and pink one for Mae, Margaret just has her "first haircut" ears and matt has a classic black pair (no name though) that is in my scraproom w/ all my Disney stuff.

we may just have to visit the ear shop next year, I'd love to get a family shot of all of us w/ the ears on

Jiko sounds and looks delish! I have an old school friend who works at Disney at the AKV and AK dinning services (like in management or something)

I am so glad you got your balcony time, and your stinky pic's are cute

and also just love how much you love AKV...you truly are at home there

 

[Charleston Princess]

David's ears turned out darling, and I love Emily's! Very dashing and elegant!

AKL accolades are always fun to read, in my opinion! You know I agree 100% with everything you say about it!

Jiko looks fabulous -- I would love to try that curried shrimp! Yum!

 

[jenjolt]

Great update!! I loved your review of Jiko!! I'm really looking forward to eating there with Leslie in January!!!! Everything looked so yummy!! Loved the cake, how cute is that!!!!!

I loved the ears they both made!! I so want to that!!! I want my own personalized ears!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Just read page 1 and subbing, will be back in the morning to try to catch up! Loved the introductions!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Yes, I live in Massachusetts. I'm from Maine but make my home here now. We used to live right outside Lexington/Concord so we had fun exploring all the fun stuff out there. Though I still haven't gotten to the Louisa May Alcott house, while not Colonial but still want to go there. I'm watching the John Adams mini-series from HBO right now. IT's so GOOD! I want to find out if they have preserved his farm. Must go google!

As far as photobucket...I think when I use it there are options for larger sizes underneath. Just copy those codes and it should work.

I loved Lex & Concord-first its really pretty and when you stop to think of everything that happened there...you just have to be moved by the places...We did go to LMA's house-really charming...interesting how she was and wasn't like Jo in Little Women...didn't make it to Walden Pond... Would love to see your newest photos from Concord on your thread when you get a chance... (hmm-need to put John Adams on Netflix...)...

I'm going to go in today and fix the AK photos individually-that's next up...I'm keeping my fingers crossed-I have a lot of AK photos...

Ah, you are so sweet -- I do love teaching! The kids always get a kick out of the Brer Rabbit stories because I read them out loud and really put on the southern dialect for them.

Faulkner? No, thank you -- the man needed to learn how to use a few more periods. LOL! "A Rose for Emily" is the only story by him that I loved -- although I did get a collection of Faulkner stories when we were in New Orleans since he lived on Pirates Alley (I always like to get books by authors who lived in a place for souvenirs).

I just checked out a book from the library that I think is going to make a great Halloween read. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe about the Salem Witch Trials -- it has been getting a lot of great praise and the author is descended from Elizabeth Proctor which I thought was kind of neat. I'll let you know how it is when I read it. (You know I can talk about books all day long. )

I would PAY to hear you do the Brer Rabbit, Fox and Bear voices...could you please tape that......ah Faulkner...it's the period thing...I though it was a Southern thing I didn't have the insight too... Another great sounding book....it's so good that I have a library card...in addition to a B & N membership card......SHOUTOUT FOR the Library...

I get what you're saying about the signature restaurants. As much as my husband and I would love them, we purposefully don't book them so as not to be 'that' family with the kids at the next table.

And I love the hats!

I hear you-I just think some people don't care...but I always remember before I had kids really noticing the difference between the way some parents has a handle on things and others...

Pretty much I think that you can book just about any of the Dis Restaurants as long as you use common sense...don't dine with hunger/tired children too late, have something to do at the table and basic manners go a long way...my kids are certainly not angels......but its always been important to me that they know how to behave in public and to respect other people...

That being said there are times when you don't really want to be more casual...

The Hats were A LOT of FUN to make...

Sounds like a PERFECT plan to me!!

I definitely have a sweet tooth, so I'll take a morsel of that yummy cake, please!!

(Oooh, but that Mickey cake looks good, too!!)


Kathy

I don't know why but I am extra excited about going next year for the Halloween party...

The Mickey cake was super yummy (I was a white cake with a vanilla icing covering with that chocolate ganache-very fresh and perfect ratio (for us at least... of vanilla to chocolate...) and it looks small on the picture but you you could have easily gotten 12-16 slices out of it...the boys snacked on it during the rest of the week...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh so not fair to just give me a little taste of your photo shoot! You know how I feel about photo shoots, and I'm very interested in the AKL photo shoot because that is the next one I want to try And Jiko looks so yummy. I'd love to try that when I go with my boys in June, but I do have similar concerns as you about 7 year old boys in nice restaraunts. Add a 4 year old boy in the mix and things can get even a bit more dicey. (Granted they will be 8 & 5, but I don't think that will change much.) I'll be looking forward to your Saana review because I was thinking about there instead. If that is a little too fancy we may end up at Boma. Which is nothing to compain about. Can't wait for more!

Yes I've seen and heard about your photo love... I love photos too-I just have need to learn some basic Photography 101... Your boys would be just fine at Jiko but Sanaa is mellower...it was my favorite restaurant on site...based on atmosphere, food, service- the whole package-having said that you have to like/ or be open open to Indian food-the flavors, etc. if you are-that would be my choice...or you could try them all and decide for yourselves...we did...

It sounds like you had a great afternoon! Man, would I love to be sitting on the balcony at the AKL with a good book, the back side of some animals, an iced tea, and peace and quiet right now! And the kids had a great time too. Poor Hatter...oh well. He's a keeper, right?!

Jiko looked very nice...and it looks like it's a restaurant where we will never eat. I love to eat out, but a foodie I am not. I eat a lot more things than say, my brother, but about half of what you listed I probably wouldn't eat. And I seriously doubt my kids would eat there. Not sure even Matt would find anything. But it looks really nice.

That cake looks super yummy! I'm really thinking of getting a cake for the boys when we go in June.

Hatter is a really good guy...it just cracks me up when he spends time in an activity that he has to keep tabs on the kids and he comes back and tells me something like its something I'm unaware of...

Jiko was awesome...having said that my brother probably wouldn't go either...he's a "American" food guy-he might do Yachtsmen or Cali Grill if he was feeling adventuresome...The cool thing is that there are plenty of choices to keep everyone happy...

Glad you enjoyed your dinner. It looked delicious!!!

Denise

Hi Denise......It was really yummy...I could go for some of that shrimp or lamb for dinner tonight in fact....

Jiko look sand sounds amazing!! Mmmmm. I can't wait. I have been drooling over that flatbread for over a year now.

How did the Mickey cake taste? It's very cute.

You'll love Jiko-they'll take great care of you there...and there is really enough diversity on the menu to find something that should appeal...

Flatbread sooooooo GOOD...

The cake was really good-Fresh, vanilla cake with vanilla frosting under chocolate ganache...surprisingly difficult to cut into Mickey's face...

Another amazing update!

Mrs. Spratt

Thank you Mrs. Spratt...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Thank you for another wonderful update!

The ears look great My Mom had a blast picking out her b-days ears in March from me.

sorry Em couldn't quite get the perfect combination...I'd probably have the same problem.

We haven't got ears since 05, the classic black for the twins and pink one for Mae, Margaret just has her "first haircut" ears and matt has a classic black pair (no name though) that is in my scraproom w/ all my Disney stuff.

we may just have to visit the ear shop next year, I'd love to get a family shot of all of us w/ the ears on

Jiko sounds and looks delish! I have an old school friend who works at Disney at the AKV and AK dinning services (like in management or something)

I am so glad you got your balcony time, and your stinky pic's are cute

and also just love how much you love AKV...you truly are at home there

The ear building was a lot of fun-it would be a great activity/photo op---those ears start to add up though...

I'd recommend Jiko in a heartbeat...how cool to have a friend that works at AK...

I do love AKL but it also has something to do with just being at WDW-i feel comfortable, safe, happy...

(I was just thinking about Michael-he and David would have such fun sharing their bodies of knowledge and special interests...

David's ears turned out darling, and I love Emily's! Very dashing and elegant!

AKL accolades are always fun to read, in my opinion! You know I agree 100% with everything you say about it!

Jiko looks fabulous -- I would love to try that curried shrimp! Yum!

hmmm darling and dashing...they would be good names for 2 more dwarfs...maybe I should have them shirts made up...

Yeah that AKL love sneaks up strong...

Curried Shrimp for dinner...I wonder if they deliver...

Great update!! I loved your review of Jiko!! I'm really looking forward to eating there with Leslie in January!!!! Everything looked so yummy!! Loved the cake, how cute is that!!!!!

I loved the ears they both made!! I so want to that!!! I want my own personalized ears!!!

I remembered that you guys are going there-you will have a very awesome time there-fabulous service, great food, awesome service...they'll treat you like princesses...

I can so picture you in your own personalized ears...I think you should put it on your list...

hmm I'm trying to remember how small they come...maybe Nobby would like some...he'd look dashing......there is the issue of his pointy hat though...

Just read page 1 and subbing, will be back in the morning to try to catch up! Loved the introductions!

glad to have you here...I've been lurking around your TR-it's very good...i just haven't signed on yet.......

 

[mousescrapper]

(I was just thinking about Michael-he and David would have such fun sharing their bodies of knowledge and special interests...

Yes that would fun...Michael loves talking to anyone about something....

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I tried to respond to your update last night but a certain little 2 year old hit something when I was almost finished and deleted it!!!

So I'm giving it another try!

Sounds like you had a great afternoon at MK! I love the ears!

Sitting on the balcony at AKL with an ice tea and a good book sounds like absolute heaven

Your dinner and Jiko sounds lovely! Although I completely agree with you about all the dining experiences, I really can get to be too much!! Sometimes sitting on Main Street with a hot dog from Casey's is much more enjoyable after a long day!

I love your little preview of your AKL photoshot!! We did it at WL in January and I LOVE the pictures we got from it! I can't wait to see more!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

By Gosh I think I've got it...with much help from Hatter, advice from my fellow DISers (Thank You!) and more time than I would have thought...

WE HAVE...

LARGER PHOTOS...

I'm inspired to start our Animal Kingdom Day ASAP...& take a couple sips of that drink in the last photo-It's a Shanghai Express...

 

[Sarilas]

I'm gonna need a Shanghai Express of my very own! YUM

 

[Charleston Princess]

Liking the name and looks of The Shanghai Express!

Emily's skirt is very cute and perfect for a day at Animal Kingdom -- where did she get it?

 

[Flossbolna]

yeah for larger photos!!! I am impressed!! But too tired for any good comments on your post. Will follow up with that later

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

DW DAY 3:AK Bright & Early, Seeing Donald and Smelling Coffee and Bacon

(This is actually very self indulgent on my part-but I am so EXCITED to have larger photos-even just ok photos are better larger...) but I have to do a short update on our day at AK beginning with our Tusker house breakfast...

WE had ressies for 8 and by God you know with Hatter on the case...we would be on time...

We got ourselves up and everyone was pretty perky (my perkiness was helped along with my freshly, room- brewed coffee & knowing that we'd be meeting Donald shortly...(in his extra cute safari outfit-well, I think his safari outfit is extra cute...)

So off we hurried...We were at the bus stop by 7:20-it's not even quite 5 minutes to the AK from AKL and the rope drop wasn't schedule until 9 but since we had 8:00 Breakfast ressies-we'd be let in to get back there...

Hatter was in an extra good mood...he likes when everyone is up, out with no fuss and no drama...it was too early for Alice to instigate any drama...so he was joking that everytime he approached AK-he's reminded of Jurrasic Park and when Jeff Goldblum asked what was behind there- that they needed such big gates...(he was quite pleased with his joke...)...

WE made it closer toward the entrance...

By the time we got there...it was about 7:35 and we were told that they would start letting people in by 7:45...

While waiting I was trying to figure out what it is about this park that disappoints some people (maybe there isn't a ton for little kids...CA has a little "Bugs" land with kid friendly/focused rides...it would be great in AK) but anyhow ...I love AK...I think it might just be the most evocative of all the parks...and the detailing is absolutely amazing...I was also thinking how cool it would be if they had finished the alternative transportation of boat rides from the AKL to the AK...how cool would it be to take a ferry down an African or Asian "river" to the park. Also it would be nice, if they "finished" and added the land of the "fantasy" animals..

But to me -there are so many lovely walks in here in addition to the rides...Maharajah Jungle Trek is gorgeous ...but we'll get back to that...

Tusker House...at 7:45 a CM who was obviously from TH arrived and let me tell you-this lady was brooking no nonsense-she had a list of the adrs... and I'd not want to be in that line without one...after she "verified" our adr-we were able to go through and back to Tusker House...

It was a pretty and blissfully empty walk back...once there it was apparent that this is a well oiled character breakfast machine-which didn't take away from it...they just really wanted you to focus...we checked in again...and got a beeper...

I wanted to take photos but Hatter wasn't happy with the idea of missing our beep-so we compromised and I was "allowed" to take a couple of close photos...not too far from the podium...

Our Beeper went off and we got in line to have our photo taken with Donald as he was the "host"

(photo on my photpass CD which is hopefully hurtling its way in the mail right now...)

We were then seated and our server was attentive...and told us we had about 15 minutes before Mickey, Daisy and Goofy would be around...so we had time to get some food...he also brought us the famous Frunch and some Coffee...(While I didn't feel rushed per se...I would also say this isn't a hang back and linger place...)

I love the way the buffet is set up here...I find the room/area where its set up to be spacious enough to not get that "kind of bumping into each other" thing you get at some other buffets...having done the breakfast buffet at Boma-I'd guess it's kind of Boma light...in terms of food -the "African" influence is there but minimal...the food at Boma is better but Boma doesn't have characters...I'd recommend both for different reasons...

There was a ton to choose from...eggs, breakfast pizzas, bacon, roasted pork loin-yum-like ham but better... sausage, Pap-which is kind of like grits...fruits, cereals, bagels, pastries and Rabbit's favorite, Mickey Waffles...

I asked to Hatter to take some photos of the food
stations while I took the kids to the restroom-he sort of took overviews of the room instead...

The characters came around...the interaction was good but moderately quick...I love these costumes though...and its hard to get Daisy at a breakfast...I kind of wished Donald walked around too but it seems that's the way their doing the CBs now with the host outside to greet...

All in all...this was an aweome way to start our day, very good food and characters and now we were primed...to be in place for Expedition Everest...this time...we were all going to take on Everest...

NEXT UP: SO WHAT IF I LOOK SCARED...

 

[dismagiclover]

for larger pictures. They look great! I didn't realize they now had Donald acting as host at Tusker House. When we went (which was January 2008) our picture was taken by some African motif (I didn't buy it so I don't quite remember what it was.) Donald then greeted us at the meal just like everyone else. Anyone know when this changed? Anyway, I love those Safari outfits too They just all look so cute in them, especially Daisy. Can't wait to hear about Everest