Bring us a Shrubbery!! May 25-June 1, 2007!!

[oybolshoi]

Ever so excited and just had to share...

You know that May 29th is our anniversary and I wanted to have some spa treatments as a nice way to relax before our Chef's Table dinner.

Well, the spa offerings at Saratoga Springs just weren't doing it for me. To my jaded eye their menu seems very limited.

So I was talking (via email) with the hubby about it and he just emailed me back and said, "Forget about SSR's spa, let's just go back to the Mandara again."



This is actually what I wanted all along. In my mind the only thing SSR's spa had going for it was convenience. Their choices are more limited, their prices are as high, if not higher in some instances, than Mandara, and the DVC discount didn't apply to anything that we were really interested in doing.

The Mandara Spa over at the Dolphin is like something out of an exotic Balinese dream - I promise to take pictures this time so that you can see for yourselves.

I was able to book a 10:30AM Time for Two Massage. Here, read the description: Indulge together and enjoy a 50-minute aromatic massage side by side. You may then relax in your private hydrotherapy jacuzzi tub for an additional 30 minutes. We'll give you a bottle of Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt to take home for future indulgence.



That moisture melt is awesome - I received some in a gift box and it was wonderful. You have to place the bottle in hot water to turn it back to liquid and then you have this wonderful scented oil that feels great!

Anyway, I just wanted to share the excitement. This will be a lovely way to spend the late morning and early afternoon...I can't wait.

 

[winkers]

May 29th is a good day...........it's my birthday and my parents anniversary! That spa package sounds wonderfull! I wonder if I can get my dh to take the kids for an afternoon while I endulge myself???

 

[mlill]

OK, someone needs to turn an ice-cold garden hose on Brenda!

Sheeesh! It's gettin' hot in here!

The Spa sounds great!

-Michelle

 

[oybolshoi]

May 29th is a good day...........it's my birthday and my parents anniversary! That spa package sounds wonderfull! I wonder if I can get my dh to take the kids for an afternoon while I endulge myself???

Too funny! May 29th is also my oldest nephew's birthday. Obviously a great date!

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Mandara has some really nice packages for individuals, too. I think you can get a copy of their spa menu from the hotel link on the Walt Disney World Resort website. If you want to look at it and have any trouble just send me a PM and I'll try to help you find it.

 

[oybolshoi]

OK, someone needs to turn an ice-cold garden hose on Brenda!

Sheeesh! It's gettin' hot in here!

The Spa sounds great!

-Michelle

The air conditioning is blowing all over my desk here at work, isn't that enough?

It's good to see you Michelle - are you on the road to Spring Break recovery?

 

[winkers]

The air conditioning is blowing all over my desk here at work, isn't that enough?

It's good to see you Michelle - are you on the road to Spring Break recovery?

It's march and you have to use air conditioning???? That just isn't fair. I still haven't packed away my thermals!

 

[oybolshoi]

It's march and you have to use air conditioning???? That just isn't fair. I still haven't packed away my thermals!

The joy of working in an operations center is that when the temperature hits 70 degrees outside, regardless of the time of year, the air conditioner turns on inside.

I had a space heater going under my desk this afternoon with the air conditioning blowing down across my neck. It will be like a meat locker in my office for the next six months.

 

[zweihund]

The joy of working in an operations center is that when the temperature hits 70 degrees outside, regardless of the time of year, the air conditioner turns on inside.

I had a space heater going under my desk this afternoon with the air conditioning blowing down across my neck. It will be like a meat locker in my office for the next six months.

That's funny, because at my hospital, when the outside temperature goes BELOW 70 the heat kicks in and we all swelter to death. Well, maybe not to death. But we certainly do swelter.

See? There are negatives to living in Florida.

 

[DisneyJo]

I'm jumping on here early, well 8 pages , that spa sounds lovely, can't wait to hear more

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

We'll give you a bottle of Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt to take home for future indulgence.

I have no idea what this is, but I kind of want to drink it. Grande, no whipped cream.

YAY for your spa day!!! Mucho excitement!

 

[BrerMama]

Well, I'm just having to post and get all excited because your trip will overlap mine for a bit. I have no doubt that you will be able to spot me in the crowd... I will be the mom with the newly dyed light brown hair (because I have to get a new color for Disney... currently scheduled for dying the first weekend of May), wearing a Mickey head print straight-jacket because yes, I am staying in one room with my 3 tweenage children and my husband who is really a child but masquerades as an adult. I'm seriously questioning my sanity, and the trip is eight weeks away. Ah, well, your food report from last fall has convinced me that WDW is full of wonderful alcohol filled drinks that are just begging me to sample them. So I'll take the cheap room and spend the money we're saving on alcohol. Sounds like a good compromise to me.

Do they serve alcohol at character meals?

 

[DisneyMom5]

Do they serve alcohol at character meals?

Yes, they do!!!

Not at Magic Kingdom, mind you. But my dh definately had him some beer at Chef Mickey's. I think they can get anything alcohol based that is served by the Outer Rim (is that right?) Bar.

I feel your pain, only I am taking a teen, a tween, a couple of pre-tweens, a couple of preschoolers, and an infant. Whole lot of nuttiness there. LOL

Have a great trip!

 

[oybolshoi]

That's funny, because at my hospital, when the outside temperature goes BELOW 70 the heat kicks in and we all swelter to death. Well, maybe not to death. But we certainly do swelter.

See? There are negatives to living in Florida.

I don't think it's living in Florida that's the negative...it's having to work that's the problem!

I'm jumping on here early, well 8 pages , that spa sounds lovely, can't wait to hear more

DisneyJo, hello and thanks for jumping aboard!! I love Mandara spas...I only to get to try them when we vacation in Florida or Vegas so I'm very excited to pay them a visit.

I have no idea what this is, but I kind of want to drink it. Grande, no whipped cream.

YAY for your spa day!!! Mucho excitement!

Crystal, whatever you do, don't drink the moisture melt!!

BUT...if you must, then how can you forgo the whipped cream???

 

[oybolshoi]

Well, I'm just having to post and get all excited because your trip will overlap mine for a bit. I have no doubt that you will be able to spot me in the crowd... I will be the mom with the newly dyed light brown hair (because I have to get a new color for Disney... currently scheduled for dying the first weekend of May), wearing a Mickey head print straight-jacket because yes, I am staying in one room with my 3 tweenage children and my husband who is really a child but masquerades as an adult. I'm seriously questioning my sanity, and the trip is eight weeks away. Ah, well, your food report from last fall has convinced me that WDW is full of wonderful alcohol filled drinks that are just begging me to sample them. So I'll take the cheap room and spend the money we're saving on alcohol. Sounds like a good compromise to me.

Do they serve alcohol at character meals?

Hi BrerMama! Thanks for reading - I'm always excited to see new DISfriends popping in. I like your vacation attitude, by the way! And yes, there are myriad alcoholic opportunities awaiting you at the World...I hope to try a few more of them myself next month!

I'll keep an eye out for you!

Yes, they do!!!

Not at Magic Kingdom, mind you. But my dh definately had him some beer at Chef Mickey's. I think they can get anything alcohol based that is served by the Outer Rim (is that right?) Bar.

I feel your pain, only I am taking a teen, a tween, a couple of pre-tweens, a couple of preschoolers, and an infant. Whole lot of nuttiness there. LOL

Have a great trip!

Your DH didn't have beer with breakfast, did he? 'Cause if he did I think you may actually be married to Homer Simpson's long lost brother.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Your DH didn't have beer with breakfast, did he? 'Cause if he did I think you may actually be married to Homer Simpson's long lost brother.

No, but one time in college--he's not proud of this mind you--he was out of milk so he put apple wine cooler on apple jacks.

Chef Mickey's pina colada smoothie was the next best thing to alcohol for me, as I was still nursing #6. It was VERY tasty!

I have to tell you, dh is saying he wants to "beer taste around the world," and he has this description that starts out walking in Mexico and ends with him draped over the double stroller in Canada. Has us in stitches.

And he's a deacon at our church!!!
(Shhh, don't tell...)
Not that he actually would do it. The prices start to hit him in his most painful part, his wallet. LOL

 

[oybolshoi]

No, but one time in college--he's not proud of this mind you--he was out of milk so he put apple wine cooler on apple jacks.

I have to tell you, dh is saying he wants to "beer taste around the world," and he has this description that starts out walking in Mexico and ends with him draped over the double stroller in Canada. Has us in stitches.

And he's a deacon at our church!!!
(Shhh, don't tell...)
Not that he actually would do it. The prices start to hit him in his most painful part, his wallet. LOL

I had a friend in college who ran out of milk and poured beer on her cheerios one morning. She actually liked it so much that she started doing it on a regular basis.

Mmmmm..beerios!

I've since lost touch with her but I wonder sometimes if she's on the 12-step plan...

The beers around the world thing does get pricey - if you're there during F&W make sure DH gets to the free beer seminars - Sam Adams hosts one a couple of times per day and so does InBev. Four or five beers for "free"...not too bad a deal!

 

[oybolshoi]

This is totally out of order in terms of our itinerary, but I started wondering about our dinner reservation for Blue Zoo (which is on 5/28).

Jay and I have never seen Fantasmic...do you believe that? We hear all these great things about it and then we never go.

So...if I know how to read WDW's operating calendar (and I'm not sure that I do) it looks like MGM is open late on the evening that we'll be sweeping the seas clean at Blue Zoo.

What I need to figure out is what time MGM shows Fantasmic...for some reason I'm under the impression that during the busy times MGM has two showings. If that's true, we could gorge at the restaurant and then catch a Friendship over to MGM, if the boat doesn't sink along the way from our combined after-dinner weight.

Anyone ever been to Fantasmic? What's the scoop? We have a 7PM ADR at BZ, so would we even be able to make the second show?

So many questions...

I know - let's look at the menu and think about all the yummies that have to taste better than this Yoplait Whip I'm eating for lunch.

For an appetizer I'm torn between the Garlic Roasted Jumbo Shrimp with creamy polenta and fennel butter (I'm a sucker for good polenta!) or the Vietnemese Crab Salad with street vendor style melon and mango, aromatic herbs, and coconut green curry.

Maybe we can order both... ?

As far as entrees go...I have no idea. I think I'll hold out for the fish of the day and see what happens.

I wonder if Jay will order lobster or the Chilean Sea Bass? I'm putting my money on the sea bass.

Desserts...oh I am so disappointed! When we canceled our ADR here in October they had something called the Bluezoo 5d, which was a sampling of five different desserts, mostly chocolate in nature.

Now it's gone!

The best option (since Jay and I tend to split dessert) is the C4...Cirtus in 4 Textures:

yuzu creme brulee and kumquat confit, grapefruit sorbet, orange vanilla soup, and lemon mango molten cake.

I guess I can suffer through that.

Here's something exciting: They offer a Blueezoo drink flight for $15... yummy!!

Drink #1: The Caribbean - bacardi limon rum and lemoncello shaken with fresh lemon and pineapple juices.

Drink #2: The Bluezoo Cosmo - ketel one citroen, cointreau, and lime juice topped with cranberry foam. **I've read good good things about this one!**

Drink #3: Haiku Screw: hangar mandarin and rock candy topped with an orange ginger foam.

Something tells me we're really going to enjoy Fantasmic if we can actually walk out of Bluezoo under our own power.

 

[DisneyMom5]

This is totally out of order in terms of our itinerary, but I started wondering about our dinner reservation for Blue Zoo (which is on 5/28).

Jay and I have never seen Fantasmic...do you believe that? We hear all these great things about it and then we never go.

So...if I know how to read WDW's operating calendar (and I'm not sure that I do) it looks like MGM is open late on the evening that we'll be sweeping the seas clean at Blue Zoo.

What I need to figure out is what time MGM shows Fantasmic...for some reason I'm under the impression that during the busy times MGM has two showings. If that's true, we could gorge at the restaurant and then catch a Friendship over to MGM, if the boat doesn't sink along the way from our combined after-dinner weight.

Anyone ever been to Fantasmic? What's the scoop? We have a 7PM ADR at BZ, so would we even be able to make the second show?

Per Disney site Calendar:
May 28
MGM DS Park Hours 9 am - 10 pm
Fantasmic 9:00 pm, and 10:30 pm

Looks like you're good to go!

 

[oybolshoi]

Per Disney site Calendar:
May 28
MGM DS Park Hours 9 am - 10 pm
Fantasmic 9:00 pm, and 10:30 pm

Looks like you're good to go!

Excellent! 10:30PM here we come!

I guess I'll have to go back and look again - when I tried to check earlier all the park hours were unavailable. I thought it was supposed to be a left-over April Fool's joke...but I'm not laughing.

 

[mlill]

Teppan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops

Lobster Broccoli Stuffed Cheddar Potato

Two-pound Maine "Cantonese" Lobster

Warm Chocolate Cake

That's what I had in December, and everything was AWESOME! (No, I couldn't finish the whole 2 pound lobster, but I sure tried! The soy glaze is amazing!) We have dinner at Blue Zoo at least once each trip, (sometimes twice!) Never had a bad meal. Oh, and the Cosmo is TO DIE FOR! (I almost didn't make it out of the restaurant after having a couple of those )

Fantasmic isn't my favorite show... (so shoot me! ) I hate being in that huge theatre with the masses. But, you have to see it at least once! Going to the last show is the way to go. You might need to bump up your ADR to 6:30 to give you enough time for a nice dinner & the transportation time over there... EDIT: Well, if the Fantasmic time is really 10:30, then no need to change anything!

mmmmm....Blue Zoo.... now I want Lobster!

C-ya!
-Michelle